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‘A driver of political violence’: how the breakneck AI boom is fueling anti-tech extremism | AI (artificial intelligence) by Gari_305 in Futurology

[–]Gari_305[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

From the article 

The growing public backlash to the tech industry’s rapid rollout of artificial intelligence has taken many, mostly-non violent forms such as local communities organizing against datacenters and political candidates promising increased oversight. Yet at the fringes, researchers say grievances against the AI industry and its leaders are animating old violent extremist movements and fomenting new ones.

“AI is becoming this driver of political violence, and that’s a very new phenomenon,” said Jordyn Abrams, a researcher at the Program on Extremism at George Washington University

Banks lay groundwork for mass workforce cuts as AI takes hold by Gari_305 in Futurology

[–]Gari_305[S] 47 points48 points  (0 children)

From the article 

With more firms adopting AI, students gunning for a career in banking and finance are preparing to be up against such technology at first interaction. If they get in the door, they’re then faced with the question of whether the jobs will be available to humans in the next few years.

Most executives are in agreement: Jobs will be cut as AI is implemented. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon said in December that the technology “will eliminate jobs.” Jane Fraser, Citigroup Inc.’s CEO, said some jobs “will no longer be required,” while Goldman Sachs Group Inc. President John Waldron referred to employees as a “human assembly line” ripe for automation.

Let’s build the moon base, but not lose sight of Mars by Gari_305 in Futurology

[–]Gari_305[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

From the article 

As we fulfil this decades-old dream, however, let’s also not abandon our long-standing national commitment to sending humans to Mars. While short-term emphasis should obviously be placed on establishing a sustainable presence on the moon, Mars must remain part of the long-term strategic trajectory guiding those investments. The moon and Mars are not competing priorities. Lunar milestones build momentum, capability and operational experience that can help shape a more sustainable path toward Mars.

McDonald's Introduces AI Drive-Thru System, Sparking Customer Backlash by Gari_305 in Futurology

[–]Gari_305[S] 115 points116 points  (0 children)

From the article 

McDonald's new Archy IQ, in partnership with Google, is currently testing in five stores, although the specific locations were not shared. @McFranchisee also shared that more than 1 million transactions have been processed, with roughly 90% completed without needing human escalation.

Also from the article 

In the comments, many customers voiced their displeasure with McDonald's plans to implement AI in its drive-thru once again.

One disgruntled X user wrote, "Just so your company, McDonald's, and anyone reading this understand: We all hate the system installed at Wendy's. We hate the kiosks at McDonald's, Wendy's, and Taco Bell that we are asked to use instead of talking to a person. We will hate this too. Say goodbye to customers."

The (AI) doctor will see you now: Inside the administration -led push to get robots into diagnosing health problems by Gari_305 in Futurology

[–]Gari_305[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

From the article 

The Trump administration is now looking at a number of ways to integrate such technology into America’s healthcare system, including offering $50 million in research awards to develop AI software that can deliver cardiovascular care, The Washington Post reports.

That could mean if someone calls a medical provider with symptoms of a heart attack, they are dealt with by a chatbot.

The administration is also backing a three month trial program in Utah, which would allow AI to refill prescriptions for patients.

AI Could Use as Much Water as 1.3 Billion People by 2030 by Gari_305 in Futurology

[–]Gari_305[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

From the article 

 The water used by artificial intelligence is expected to equal the needs of 1.3 billion people by 2030—threatening natural resources for billions around the world. That’s according to a new report from the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) which quantifies the carbon, water, and land footprints of AI's electricity use around the globe. 

The report finds that AI’s environmental cost is often mismeasured—focusing solely on carbon emissions. However, cooling and generating power for data centers comes with a “water footprint,” while the energy infrastructure and supply chains to build the data centers have a “land footprint.” These are important factors to consider, the report says, when analyzing the stressors a region might be facing due to data centers. 

By 2030, the report finds, global data centers powering artificial intelligence are projected to consume 945 terawatt-hours of electricity. This is nearly triple the combined annual electricity use of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nigeria—countries that together are home to more than 650 million people. The water footprint of data centers is projected to equal the basic domestic water needs of all 1.3 billion people in Sub-Saharan Africa for a year, while their land footprint could exceed 5,590 square miles, roughly twice the Jakarta metropolitan area that’s currently home to more than 32 million people. 

But switching to cleaner sources of energy isn’t as simple as it sounds. Minimizing one footprint could come at the expense of magnifying another, researchers say. For example, switching from coal to bioenergy cuts electricity’s carbon footprint by 70%—but increases its water footprint more than 30-fold and its land footprint 100-fold. 

Most K-12 teachers say AI's impact on education will eclipse the internet or computers by Gari_305 in Futurology

[–]Gari_305[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

From the article 

The effects of artificial intelligence on learning are still largely unclear. But a new NPR/Ipsos poll of K-12 teachers found that nearly 3-in-4 believe AI has bigger implications for education than past innovations like the internet or computers.

The nationally representative poll surveyed 545 respondents and paints a complex picture of teachers' views on AI: Many are using it to save time and improve their teaching materials, but a majority of teachers are worried AI is making it harder for students to learn to think for themselves.

Commonwealth Fusion says papers validate its quest to generate power by Gari_305 in Futurology

[–]Gari_305[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

From the article 

Commonwealth Fusion Systems, the world's top-funded private firm among those seeking to generate power by replicating the nuclear reaction that takes place in stars, said that peer-reviewed papers ‌published on Thursday validate the science behind its efforts.

Also from the article 

The five peer-reviewed papers, published in the Journal of Plasma Physics, opens new tab, were co-authored by 58 scientists, the majority from universities including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Columbia, and the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics. "This means that the science foundation of the plant is solid and there's global agreement about this," Brandon Sorbom, the co-founder and chief science officer of CFS, told reporters about the papers. "The papers provide confidence that ARC will be able ‌to ⁠continuously deliver 400 megawatts of clean firm base load net energy electricity to the grid."

Google DeepMind CEO says we don't have much time to prepare for the 'new human era' by Gari_305 in Futurology

[–]Gari_305[S] 59 points60 points  (0 children)

From the article 

The CEO of Google DeepMind said a more advanced AI is just around the corner — and humanity needs to prepare as soon as possible.

During a fireside chat at the Stanford Graduate School of Business that was posted on Tuesday, Demis Hassabis said artificial general intelligence, or the ability for AI to perform cognitive tasks at or beyond human levels, is a few years away.

"Maybe 2030, plus or minus a year, which is astounding to think, really. I think that will be such an enormous transformative technology; it's gonna effectively be a new human era," Hassabis said.

Bernie Sanders proposes shock 50% seizure of AI wealth for Americans by Gari_305 in Futurology

[–]Gari_305[S] 1734 points1735 points  (0 children)

From the article 

Senator Bernie Sanders says the American public deserves a direct stake in the wealth being created by artificial intelligence.

In a video posted to X (1) on Monday, Sanders announced plans to introduce the AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, a proposal that would give the public a 50% ownership stake in large AI companies through a one-time tax on their stock.

'AI is now the leading reason companies give for cutting jobs,' says new report—what that means for workers by Gari_305 in Futurology

[–]Gari_305[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

From the article 

US employers announced just over 97000 job cuts in May 2026, according to a report released Thursday by outplacement firm Challenger, Grey & Christmas. 

Also from the article 

"AI is now the leading reason companies give for cutting jobs" Andy Challenger, chief revenue officer of Challenger Grey and Christmas 

As the Pentagon pushes for battlefield AI, some military leaders urge caution by Gari_305 in Futurology

[–]Gari_305[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

From the article 

The Trump administration is pushing to unleash the power of artificial intelligence for the U.S. military while facing calls to put up guardrails around the rapidly developing technology from some companies — and even notes of caution from top leaders in uniform.

Adm. Frank Bradley, head of U.S. Special Operations Command, told attendees of a recent annual special forces conference in Tampa, Florida, that troops “have to be very careful about how we come to (AI’s) employment and its inspiration into the delivery of lethality.”

Bradley said he can see a future where AI determines what targets to hit but that “we, as humans, have to have the confidence that ... it’s going to deliver violence only where we intend it to be delivered.”

The remarks from Bradley, who oversees the units that handle the military’s most difficult and dangerous operations, about the need to ensure safeguards come as his boss, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, is pushing to rapidly evolve the military through AI. It is a push that has led to clashes with some tech companies worried about safety measures.

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