Tag Archives: AI

Meta adds parental controls for AI-teen interactions

Meta adds parental controls for AI-teen interactions

Meta is adding parental controls to kids’ interactions with artificial intelligence chatbots — including the ability to turn off one-on-one chats with AI characters altogether. However, parents won’t be able to turn off Meta’s AI assistant. Meta says the AI assistant will “will remain available to offer helpful information and educational opportunities, with default, age-appropriate protections in place to help keep teens safe.” Parents who don’t want to turn off chats with all AI characters will also be able to block specific characters.… Continue Reading

Duke researchers receive $15M federal grant to expand AI model designed to predict mental illness

Duke researchers receive $15M federal grant to expand AI model designed to predict mental illness

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Researchers at Duke University have received a $15 million federal grant to expand an artificial intelligence model designed to predict mental illness in adolescents. The Duke Predictive Model of Adolescent Mental Health is used to predict who is most likely to develop a mental illness within a year. It also identifies the key factors driving those predictions, creating the potential to offer preventive interventions. The model achieved 84% accuracy in identifying adolescents ranging in age from 10 to 15 who are at risk for future serious mental health issues. The new grant will fund a study of the tool in evaluating 2,000 adolescents in rural areas in North Carolina, Minnesota and North Dakota.… Continue Reading

Palantir, Nvidia and other AI stars dim as Wall Street pulls further from its records

Palantir, Nvidia and other AI stars dim as Wall Street pulls further from its records

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is edging further from its records. The S&P 500 fell 0.3% Tuesday and is on track for a third straight modest loss after setting its all-time high last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 86 points, and the Nasdaq composite was down 1%. Drops for Palantir Technologies, Nvidia and other stars bid up because of the mania around artificial-intelligence technology led the declines. Home Depot helped lift the Dow after standing by its forecast for profit and revenue this year. Treasury yields fell in the bond market on expectations for coming cuts for interest rates.… Continue Reading

YouTube to begin testing a new AI-powered age verification system in the U.S.

YouTube to begin testing a new AI-powered age verification system in the U.S.

YouTube is ready to start testing a new age-verification system in the U.S. using artificial intelligence to distinguish between adults and minors based on their viewing habits. The tests, scheduled to being Wednesday, initially affect a small portion of YouTube’s U.S. audience. If successful, the system could become more widespread. It works when viewers are logged into their accounts, regardless of the birth date entered. If flagged as under 18, users face restrictions like privacy warnings and limited video recommendations. Concerns about privacy and free speech have been raised by digital rights groups. The political pressure for better age verification has increased since a recent Supreme Court decision.… Continue Reading

Teens say they are turning to AI for friendship

Teens say they are turning to AI for friendship

Teenagers are increasingly turning to AI for advice, emotional support and decision-making, according to a new study. Common Sense Media found that over 70% of teens have used AI companions, with many finding the interactions as satisfying as talking to real friends. Experts warn this trend could harm social skills and mental health, as teens rely on AI for validation and avoid real-world challenges. Concerns also include inappropriate content and the lack of regulation of AI platforms. Researchers emphasize that while AI can assist, it should not replace human connections, especially during adolescence, a critical time for social and emotional development.… Continue Reading

Amazon planning $10B investment in North Carolina for data center and AI campus

Amazon planning $10B investment in North Carolina for data center and AI campus

HAMLET, N.C. (AP) — Amazon is expanding its cloud computing infrastructure and artificial intelligence activities into a rural North Carolina county. The company said Wednesday it intends to invest $10 billion toward building a campus in Richmond County. This will bring a shot in the arm to a region where textile and apparel jobs dried up a generation ago. Amazon said its investment should create at least 500 jobs and support thousands more through construction and data center supply chain providers. Gov. Josh Stein says the investment is one of the largest in state history.… Continue Reading

Schools use AI to monitor kids, hoping to prevent violence. Our investigation found security risks

Schools use AI to monitor kids, hoping to prevent violence. Our investigation found security risks

Schools are turning to AI-powered surveillance technology to monitor students on school-issued devices like laptops and tablets. The goal is to keep children safe, especially amid a mental health crisis and the threat of school shootings. Machine-learning algorithms flag suspected problems like bullying, self-harm or suicide and then alert school officials. But these tools raise serious questions about privacy and security. When The Seattle Times and The Associated Press partnered to investigate school surveillance, reporters inadvertently received access to almost 3,500 unredacted student documents through a records request. The documents were stored without a password or firewall, and anyone with the link could read them.… Continue Reading

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