Nieman Lab: “…Media manipulation investigators told GIJN that fake AI-generated audio simulations — in which a real voice is cloned by a machine learning tool to state a fake message — could emerge as an even bigger threat to elections in 2024 and 2025 than fabricated videos. One reason is that, like so-called cheapfakes, audio… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: February 2024
Where democracy is most at risk
The Economist: Four lessons from EIU’s new ranking of democracies – “In theory this year should be a triumphant one for democracy. More people are expected to vote in national elections in 2024 than ever before. But many elections will be problematic. This year’s democracy index published by EIU, our sister company, shows that only… Continue Reading
Celebrating Birds, Together
“The 2024 Great Backyard Bird Count saw hundreds of thousands of people turn their eyes and ears outside to watch and listen for birds—on every continent and virtually every country. Fortunately for us, many of those people brought cameras and shared their photography from all parts of the globe. The results are simply amazing, as… Continue Reading
Watch and learn about bats on the Bat World Sanctuary livecam
BoingBoing: “If you love bats, you should check out Bat World Sanctuary, which is located in north Texas and which posts cool and educational videos of the various bats they care for. According to their website: Bat World Sanctuary is on the front line to end the mistreatment of bats. Each year we rescue hundreds of… Continue Reading
Most & Least Ethnically Diverse Cities in the U.S. 2024
WallHub: “The U.S. today is a melting pot of cultures, thanks to increasing ethnic and racial diversification. If the trend continues, America will be more diverse than ever by 2045, at which point no single ethnic group will constitute the majority in the U.S. for the first time. But with immigration reform still a hot-button… Continue Reading
Seeking Reliable Election Information? Don’t Trust AI
Proof – Experts testing five leading AI models found the answers were often inaccurate, misleading, and even downright harmful. Twenty-one states, including Texas, prohibit voters from wearing campaign-related apparel at election polling places. But when asked about the rules for wearing a MAGA hat to vote in Texas — the answer to which is easily… Continue Reading
You Don’t Need to Use Airplane Mode on Airplanes
Gizmodo: “Putting your phone in airplane mode when boarding a flight feels like common sense. You wouldn’t be crazy for thinking your phone signal could interfere with an airplane’s navigation systems, potentially causing a disaster. However, the necessity of airplane mode is largely a myth, and there’s another reason airlines are asking you to turn… Continue Reading
How to Keep Your Loved Ones Safe From Financial Scams
Wired: “…So what can we do to help our elderly and vulnerable, who are the targets of scams and morally dubious business practices? I spoke with Genevieve Waterman from the National Council on Aging (NCOA), an expert on financial education among older adults. She was quick to point out that pushy salespeople often use the… Continue Reading
10 Reasons You Should Switch From Chrome to Firefox
How To Geek: “Key Takeaways Firefox provides many advantages over Chrome, including being more efficient, so your laptop battery lasts longer. Firefox doesn’t track your internet activity for advertising purposes. Firefox has better privacy controls, including container functionality and VPN, enhancing your privacy and security online. Google Chrome is the most popular web browser by… Continue Reading
How to turn your voice memos into text
PopSci: “Voice notes can be a handy way of recording ideas and reminders while on the go. But in audio form, they have limitations: You can’t easily search through them, and you can’t quickly check them when you need to be quiet (in the library, for example, or next to a sleeping partner).This is where… Continue Reading
When Media Outlets Shutter, Why Are the Websites Wiped, Too?
Slate: “On Thursday morning, a rumor started to circulate among media workers. Vice senior editor Janus Rose disclosed that staffers were in possession of an anonymous tip that management planned to shutter Vice—and delete the entire website. Employees had noticed the company disabled a Google feature that allowed them to download their emails. “Fun times… Continue Reading
AI Is Like Water
NfX: “Water is three things. Necessary. Ubiquitous. And the same. f##king. thing. inside every bottle. AI is like water. Or more specifically, generative AI applications are like bottled water. Over the last year and a half, we’ve looked at hundreds of generative AI companies on the application layer. Many of them are the exact same… Continue Reading
