AICompaniesAI ‘companions’ promise to combat loneliness, but history shows the dangers of one-way relationshipsThe United States is in the grips of a loneliness epidemic: Since 2018, about half the population has reported that... Read More
Computer scienceStartupsDOJ funding pipeline subsidizes questionable big data surveillance technologiesPredictive policing has been shown to be an ineffective and biased policing tool. Yet, the Department of Justice has been... Read More
AIApps and WebAre social media apps ‘dangerous products’? 2 scholars explain how the companies rely on young users but fail to protect them“You have blood on your hands.” “I’m sorry for everything you have all been through.” These quotes, the first from... Read More
AIApps and WebWhy AI can’t replace air traffic controllersAfter hours of routine operations, an air traffic controller gets a radio call from a small aircraft whose cockpit indicators... Read More
AIRoboticsWhy are so many robots white?Problems of racial and gender bias in artificial intelligence algorithms and the data used to train large language models like... Read More
AIFake Biden robocall to New Hampshire voters highlights how easy it is to make deepfakes − and how hard it is to defend against AI-generated disinformationAn unknown number of New Hampshire voters received a phone call on Jan. 21, 2024, from what sounded like President... Read More
AIFCC bans robocalls using deepfake voice clones − but AI-generated disinformation still looms over electionsThe Federal Communications Commission on Feb. 8, 2024, outlawed robocalls that use voices generated by artificial intelligence. The 1991 Telephone... Read More
AIApps and WebAI helps students skip right to the good stuff in this intro programming courseUncommon Courses is an occasional series from The Conversation U.S. highlighting unconventional approaches to teaching. Title of course: “Learn AI-Assisted... Read More
AIApps and WebTeens on social media need both protection and privacy – AI could help get the balance rightMeta announced on Jan. 9, 2024, that it will protect teen users by blocking them from viewing content on Instagram... Read More
Apps and WebCybersecurityCybercrime victims who aren’t proficient in English are undercounted – and poorly protectedIn the United States, the Internet Crime Complaint Center serves as a critical component in the FBI’s efforts to combat... Read More
Apps and WebCybersecurityA digital media expert provides steps you can take and explains why you can’t go it alonePerfect safety is no more possible online than it is when driving on a crowded road with strangers or walking... Read More
Computer scienceAlcohol and drugs rewire your brain by changing how your genes work – research is investigating how to counteract addiction’s effectsMany people are wired to seek and respond to rewards. Your brain interprets food as rewarding when you are hungry... Read More