A mathematician walks into a bar (of disinformation)
Disinformation, misinformation, infotainment, algowars — if the debates over the future of media the past few decades have meant anything, they’ve at least left a pungent imprint on the English language. There’s been a lot of invective and fear.....»»
Study finds media coverage focused on NASA mathematician"s achievements, but treated discrimination as past problem
Without Katherine Johnson, NASA would not have landed a man on the moon. The 2016 film "Hidden Figures" told Johnson's story as a brilliant mathematician, a trailblazer who overcame racism and sexism to succeed at NASA in the 1950s and '60s. That mon.....»»
Q&A: Bringing forest therapy indoors can improve your health
For centuries, people have found solace in walks through the forest and the practice of "forest bathing." Now, researchers at UBC are delving into the science behind this tradition to understand its benefits better and make them accessible to all......»»
Paper offers a mathematical approach to modeling a random walker moving across a random landscape
Tiny particles like pollen grains move constantly, pushed and pulled by environmental forces. To study this motion, physicists use a "random walk" model—a system in which every step is determined by a random process. Random walks are useful for stu.....»»
Apple walks away empty handed at the Oscars
Despite 13 Academy Award nominations, Apple TV+ won none at the Oscars ceremony, in a year that saw almost all streamers shut out. Here's why that matters.Lily Gladstone and Leonardo DiCaprio in 'Killers of the Flower Moon'It was already clear going.....»»
New study unveils strategies to combat disinformation wars on social media
In an era where social media platforms have become battlegrounds for information integrity, a new study sheds light on the mechanics of disinformation spread and offers innovative solutions to counteract it......»»
Algorithms are pushing AI-generated falsehoods at an alarming rate. How do we stop this?
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools are supercharging the problem of misinformation, disinformation and fake news. OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Gemini, and various image, voice and video generators have made it easier than ever to produce con.....»»
Vast majority views disinformation as a threat to democracy and social cohesion, German study finds
According to 84% of people in Germany, misinformation that is deliberately spread online is a big or even a very big threat to German society. Moreover, 81% believe that disinformation jeopardizes democracy and social cohesion. Those are the findings.....»»
Meta plans to prevent disinformation and AI-generated content from influencing voters
Meta, the company that owns some of the biggest social networks in use today, has explained how it means to tackle disinformation related to the upcoming EU Parliament elections, with a special emphasis on how it plans to treat AI-generated content t.....»»
Mercedes walks back EV sales target on waning demand
Variable cost parity between EVs and traditional cars "is many years away," Mercedes CEO Ola Kallenius said, as the automaker scaled back its target......»»
Disinformation threatens global elections: How to fight back
With over half the world's population heading to the polls in 2024, disinformation season is upon us—and the warnings are dire. The World Economic Forum declared misinformation a top societal threat over the next two years and major news organizati.....»»
Math conspiracy comes to Apple TV+ in new thriller series
Apple TV+ has announced a new thriller series, "Prime Target," centered on a mathematician whose theory could break the security on every computer in the world......»»
It may be too late to stop the great election disinformation campaigns of 2024 but we at least have to try
Global liberal democracy faces a near-unprecedented list of digital threats in 2024 as the increasing exploitation of AI and the rampant spread of disinformation threaten the integrity of elections in more than 60 countries. And we are woefully unpre.....»»
Report: Sam Altman seeking trillions for AI chip fabrication from UAE, others
WSJ: Audacious $5-$7 trillion investment would aim to expand global AI chip supply. Enlarge / OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman walks on the House side of the US Capitol on January 11, 2024, in Washington, DC. (Photo by K.....»»
AI could help cut voter fraud—but it"s far more likely to disenfranchise you, researchers say
Imagine the year is 2029. You have been living at the same address for a decade. The postman, who knows you well, smiles as he walks to your door and hands you a bunch of letters. As you sift through them, one card grabs your attention. It says, "Let.....»»
Deepfake scammer walks off with $25 million in first-of-its-kind AI heist
Hong Kong firm tricked by simulation of multiple real people in video chat, including voices. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images / Benj Edwards) On Sunday, a report from the South China Morning Post revealed a significant fin.....»»
EU walks farming minefield with new climate goals
The EU's climate goals for 2040 are set to further dial up the pressure on a farm sector that has yet to get tough on greenhouse gas emissions—but is already up in arms over existing environmental rules......»»
Disinformation may reinforce polarization in society
With over 4 billion people eligible to vote in elections, 2024 is the largest election year ever. At the same time, disinformation and polarization on social media pose unprecedented challenges to the democratic process......»»
Biden Audio Deepfake Alarms Experts in Lead-Up to Elections
A doctored audio clip of Joe Biden urging voters in New Hampshire not to cast their ballots in the Democratic primary has experts concerned. No political deepfake has alarmed the world’s disinformation experts more than the do.....»»
Investigating the role of "random walks" in particle diffusion
Several recent experiments identify unusual patterns in particle diffusion, hinting at some underlying complexity in the process which physicists have yet to discover. Through new analysis published in The European Physical Journal B, Adrian Pacheco-.....»»
Climate denialists find new ways to monetize disinformation on YouTube
Majority of climate-denial content posted now does not violate YouTube's policy. Enlarge (credit: PM Images | DigitalVision) Content creators have spent the past five years developing new tactics to evade YouTube's polic.....»»