The president blamed AI and embraced doing so. Is it becoming the new 'fake news'?
Politicians are increasingly blaming artificial intelligence to dodge accountability for embarrassing situations. AI can't defend itself, making it an easy target. This tactic is known as “the liar's dividend,” where the untruthful benefit when truth is hard to discern. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump dismissed a viral video of someone tossing something out a White House window as “probably AI.” Experts warn this practice can be dangerous, eroding trust in real evidence. Polls show many Americans are wary of AI, with concerns about its use in spreading fake information. This trend could lead to a future where accountability is lost.
Artificial intelligence helps break barriers for Hispanic homeownership
Some mortgage experts are using artificial intelligence to help Hispanic homebuyers navigate the loan application process. This new bilingual AI tool aims to assist loan officers in finding the best lenders for specific situations, while clearly explaining the process and navigating residency, visa, or income requirements. The Hispanic Organization of Mortgage Experts launched the AI platform called Wholesale Search last week. It helps loan officers quickly search requirements from over 150 lenders. This tool is designed to handle complex cases, like borrowers without a Social Security number. Experts acknowledge AI's risks but stress its potential to modernize the industry.
Subdued decision in Google antitrust trial may help keep a monopoly in power
After a five-year legal showdown pitting the U.S. Justice Department against Google, a federal judge concluded the disruptive forces of technology will have a better chance of hobbling an illegal monopoly than restraints imposed by a court order. That was one of the underlying themes of a highly anticipated ruling issued late Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta. Even as the Justice Department claimed victory on behalf of consumers, most analysts and antitrust experts viewed the decision as a light-handed punishment that will enable Google to mostly conduct business as usual. Investors celebrated by sending the market value of Google's corporate parent Alphabet to a new high Wednesday.
Welcome to wplace: A chaotic, collaborative digital canvas where users 'paint the world'
NEW YORK (AP) — A new online platform called wplace invites users to “paint the world” on a massive digital canvas. This ever-evolving map allows people to create art using a limited number of pixels over time. Many team up to produce larger and more elaborate images. Users have painted tributes to pop culture and symbols of local identity, as well messages of protest and global conflicts. Experts say this reflects an ongoing desire for collaboration and expression in digital spaces. However wplace also faces challenges with content moderation. Some have raised concerns about hate speech, as well as frustrations about others “griefing” their artwork.
Notorious online soccer piracy network Streameast shut down, antipiracy group says
Notorious online soccer piracy network Streameast has been shut down after more than 1.6 billion visits in the past year. The United States-based Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment says the shutdown was made in collaboration with Egyptian authorities. With its 80 associated domains Streameast was the largest illicit live sports streaming operation in the world, ACE says. ACE chairman Charles Rivkin says “Today ACE scored a resounding victory in its fight to detect, deter, and dismantle criminal perpetrators of digital piracy." Streameast offered users unauthorized access to matches across Europe’s top soccer leagues. It provided access to sport-specific piracy sites for American sports like the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL.
OpenAI and Meta say they're fixing AI chatbots to better respond to teens in distress
OpenAI and Meta are adjusting how their chatbots respond to teenagers showing signs of distress. OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, plans to introduce new controls for parents to link their accounts to their teen's account. Parents can choose which features to disable and receive notifications if their teen is in distress. The company says ChatGPT will redirect distressing conversations to more capable AI models. An attorney for parents who sued OpenAI for the wrongful death of their teenager criticized the changes as insufficient. Meta also says it is blocking its chatbots from discussing self-harm and suicide with teens, directing them to expert resources.
Trump will host top tech CEOs except Musk at a White House dinner
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will host a high-powered list of tech CEOs for a dinner at the White House. The White House says Thursday’s guest list includes Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and a dozen other executives from the biggest artificial intelligence and tech firms. One notable absence from the guest list is Elon Musk, once a close ally Trump tasked with running the government-slashing Department of Government Efficiency. Musk had a public breakup with the Republican president. Some dinner guests also are expected to participate in a meeting of the White House’s Artificial Intelligence Education task force, chaired by first lady Melania Trump.
Trump administration agrees to restore health websites and data
NEW YORK (AP) — Federal officials have agreed to restore health- and science-related webpages and data following a lawsuit settlement with doctors' groups and other organizations. The settlement was announced this week by the Washington State Medical Association, the lead plaintiffs in the case. Soon after President Donald Trump's inauguration, federal health officials deleted information on topics like pregnancy risks and opioid-use disorder. This was in response to a Trump executive order to stop using the term “gender” in federal policies. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has agreed to restore more than 100 websites and resources.
C-SPAN announces deal for its service to be carried on YouTube TV, Hulu
NEW YORK (AP) — C-SPAN's three public affairs networks will be carried beginning this fall on YouTube TV and Hulu's live television package, according to a deal announced on Wednesday. Cord-cutting has reduced the number of homes with access to the networks that have traditionally been carried on all cable and satellite systems. But the new streaming services with live TV packages hadn't been carrying C-SPAN. Representatives in Congress who provide much of the Washington-based network's programming passed a resolution urging parent companies Alphabet and Disney to include C-SPAN on their services. C-SPAN says the companies would pay the same fee charged to cable and satellite companies, roughly 87 cents per subscriber each year.
What to know about Russia's GPS jamming operation in Europe
LONDON (AP) — Bulgarian authorities aren't investigating a suspected Russian interference operation involving a plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen because they say the interference is now common. Since Russia invaded Ukraine, Nordic and Baltic nations have reported increased electronic disruptions. Russian authorities claim the jamming is defensive but NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte suggested the interference is part of a complex Russian campaign.
