AI Doomers vs Boosters
6–7 minutes read
News from Forbes
AI Startup Flock Thinks It Can Eliminate All Crime In America
With more than 80,000 AI-powered cameras across the U.S., Flock Safety has become one of cops’ go-to surveillance tools and a $7.5 billion business. Now CEO Garrett Langley has both police tech giant Axon and Chinese drone maker DJI in his sights on the way to his noble (if Sisyphean) goal: Preventing all crime in the U.S.
September 3, 2025
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News from Allsides
What is the Impact of AI in Education?
‘End of Critical Thinking’: An opinion piece in The Atlantic (Left bias) by a high school student said AI tools are “inescapable.” They gave examples of fellow students using ChatGPT in the classroom, saying, “The technology has also led students to focus on external results at the expense of internal growth.” The Wall Street Journal… shared mixed opinions on AI from college students, with one saying, “…AI-using students, especially younger children in a critical stage of development, will be more likely to struggle…[with] more complex or unconventional thinking.”…. A Baylor University student… said, “Improvements in student outcomes and higher test scores can be attributed to AI’s ability to offer personalized learning, immediate feedback and the breaking down of abstract concepts for students.” Another said, “Well-structured AI tutors can enhance rather than diminish problem-solving skills…The key is balance.”
September 5th, 2025
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News from the Forecasting Research Institute
What did forecasters get right and wrong in the largest existential risk forecasting tournament?
In 2022, the Existential Risk Persuasion Tournament (XPT) brought together 169 domain experts and superforecasters to gather predictions on a range of short-, medium-, and long-run questions related to threats facing humanity, including risks from artificial intelligence, climate change, nuclear war, and pandemics….The first tranche of questions from our 2022 forecasting study has now resolved. Here’s what we found out…. Respondents underestimated AI progress, especially superforecasters.
September 02, 2025
(Carolyn’s note: I was one of these superforecasters. My bad!)
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News from Bloomberg
Broadcom to Help OpenAI Create AI Chip to Take On Nvidia
Broadcom Inc. is helping OpenAI design and produce an artificial intelligence accelerator…. The two firms plan to ship the first chips in that lineup starting next year…. the company has secured more than $10 billion in orders
September 5, 2025
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More news from Bloomberg
FTC to Review AI Chatbot Risks With Focus on Privacy Harms
The study will focus on privacy harms and other risks to people who interact with artificial intelligence chatbots,,,, It will seek information on how data is stored and shared by the services as well as the dangers people can face from chatbot use,,,
September 4, 2025
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News from the White House
First Lady Melania Trump Hosts a Meeting of the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education
“I predict AI will represent the single largest growth category in our nation during the Trump Administration—and I won’t be surprised if AI becomes known as the greatest engine of progress in the history of the United States of America. But, as leaders and parents we must manage AI’s growth responsibly…. We are living in a moment of wonder, and it is our responsibility to prepare America’s children,” said First Lady Melania Erump.
September 4, 2025
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News from Bloomberg
China’s DeepSeek Preps AI Agent for End-2025 to Rival OpenAI
DeepSeek is developing an artificial intelligence model with more advanced AI agent features to compete with US rivals like OpenAI in a newer frontier of the technology…
September 4, 2025
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Are Existing Consumer Protections Enough for AI?
The goal of this exercise isn’t to advocate for particular policy outcomes but to inform AI policy debate with analysis about where consumers stand today.
September 3, 2025
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News from Observer
Meta’s Superintelligence Lab Faces Wave of Departures After High-Profile Hires
Through a recruiting frenzy that has included $100 million bonus offers, personal meetings and aggressive poaching tactics, Mark Zuckerberg has hired roughly 50 new A.I. researchers at Meta in record time. But keeping that talent at the company is proving to be a different challenge. Several recent hires, along with a few longtime staffers, have already left Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL) division…
September 3, 2025
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News from the Wall St. Journal
AI-Powered Drone Swarms Have Now Entered the Battlefield
In a new frontier for warfare, Ukraine is using technology to allow groups of drones to communicate and make decisions independent of their operator
Sept. 2, 2025
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News from the New York Times
The One Danger That Should Unite the U.S. and China
….A.I. will spread like a steam vapor and seep into everything….putting A.I. in the hands of every person and robot on the planet will super-empower bad people to levels no law enforcement agency has ever faced. Remember: Bad guys are always early adopters!
Sept. 2, 2025
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News from Politico
The AI Doomsday Machine Is Closer to Reality Than You Think
The Pentagon is racing to integrate AI into its weapons system to keep up with China and Russia. Where will that lead?… Almost all of the AI models showed a preference to escalate aggressively, use firepower indiscriminately and turn crises into shooting wars.
Sept. 2, 2025
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