The Register – “Microsoft is notifying users that its AI services should not be taken too seriously, echoing prior service-specific disclaimers – an update to the IT giant’s Service Agreement, which takes effect on September 30, 2024, Redmond has declared that its Assistive AI isn’t suitable for matters of consequence. “AI services are not designed,… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: August 2024
Google, Amazon and Meta are proposing changes to climate laws that would allow them to hide their actual emission numbers
FT.com: “By its own account, Amazon is a green business leader. The world’s most visited online marketplace and leading cloud services provider says it hit its 100 per cent renewable energy goal seven years ahead of a self-imposed target. But by another, Amazon is a heavy polluter, emitting much more climate-warming greenhouse gases through its… Continue Reading
The new Google AI Overview layout is a small win for publishers
Mashable: “Google’s AI Overviews got off to a rocky start, but it hasn’t deterred the tech giant from charging ahead with foisting AI-generated summaries upon your search results, like it or not. On Thursday Google announced new updates to AI Overviews, some of which might make publishers a little happier. As of today, Google is… Continue Reading
Go Beyond Google: The Best Alternative Search Engines for 2024
PC Mag: “A judge has ruled that Google has a monopoly on online search because it paid partners to make its search engine the default on phones and mobile browsers. But you don’t have to use Google, and there are many reasons not to. Alternative search engines often give you more privacy and sometimes come… Continue Reading
Most Adults are Not Confident They Can Tell Whether Information from AI Chatbots Is True or False
KFF: “…Most U.S. adults are not confident that they can tell what is true versus what is false when it comes to information from AI chatbots, such as Chat-GPT and Microsoft Copilot. Fewer than half say they are either “very confident” (9%) or “somewhat confident” (33%) that they can tell the difference between true and… Continue Reading
Google’s AI Search Gives Sites Dire Choice: Share Data or Die
Bloomberg [unpaywalled] – Publishers say blocking the company’s AI bot could also prevent their sites from showing up in search. Google now displays convenient artificial intelligence-based answers at the top of its search pages — meaning users may never click through to the websites whose data is being used to power those results. But many… Continue Reading
What Elected Officials Say and Do
Polarization Research Lab – America’s Political Pulse – Resources and data to understand and halt the growth of partisan animosity. What Elected Officials Say and Do – Explore data on the speech, effectiveness, and campaign support for elected U.S. legislators. Using AI to assess the rhetoric of all 535 legislators in the House and Senate.… Continue Reading
AI Risk Repository
What are the risks from Artificial Intelligence? A comprehensive living database of over 700 AI risks categorized by their cause and risk domain. Read preprint Explore database What is the AI Risk Repository? The AI Risk Repository has three parts: The AI Risk Database captures 700+ risks extracted from 43 existing frameworks, with quotes and… Continue Reading
FTC Announces Final Rule Banning Fake Reviews and Testimonials
The rule will allow agency to strengthen enforcement, seek civil penalties against violators, and deter AI-generated fake reviews. The final rule announced today follows an advance notice of proposed rulemaking and a notice of proposed rulemaking announced in November 2022 and June 2023, respectively. The final rule prohibits: Fake or False Consumer Reviews, Consumer Testimonials, and… Continue Reading
How the World Wide Web Gets Spun Out of Thin Air
The Washington Post [unpaywalled]: “The World Wide Web might sound metaphorical, but it’s actually grounded in a physical web of translucent glass filaments crisscrossing the globe. These fiber-optic cables transmit internet data through tiny beams of light, making it possible for us to be online. They run under oceans and across deserts. It is the… Continue Reading
Deceptive AI systems that give explanations are more convincing than honest AI systems
Deceptive AI systems that give explanations are more convincing than honest AI systems and can amplify belief in misinformation. Valdemar Danry, Pat Pataranutaporn, Matthew Groh, Ziv Epstein, Pattie Maes – Advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems, specifically large language models (LLMs), have the capability to generate not just misinformation, but also deceptive explanations that can justify… Continue Reading
How Loophole in Privacy Law Makes Opting Out of Facebook Data Sharing Difficult
“A new report from Consumer Watchdog shows how thousands of companies share your data with Facebook, including financial companies and health care providers, and how a loophole in California’s premier privacy law makes opting out difficult and time consuming. The report details how the big three web browsers do not offer a global opt out… Continue Reading
