Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: The Attention Wars
This week, we discuss Spencer Pratt, bricking phones, and the FTC.
Deepfakes
How Deepfakes Tore a High School Apart
After five teen girls were targeted by AI-generated child sexual abuse material, Radnor Township High School in Pennsylvania has become a case study in how schools and police around the country grapple with how to response to deepfake crimes involving children.
AI
Lawyer for Guy Who Sued Women Who Called Him ‘Psycho’ Caught Using AI
The attorney for Nikko D’Ambrosio, who tried and failed to sue women for posting about him in an “Are We Dating the Same Guy” Facebook group, has apparently been using AI to file non-existent citations, according to a judge.
Podcast
Podcast: The Physical Politics of the Internet with Britt Paris
Britt Paris's new book 'Radical Infrastructure: Imagining the Internet from the Ground Up' tells the story of the physical internet, and how it can benefit people, not corporations.
AI
ArXiv to Ban Researchers for a Year if They Submit AI Slop
The change comes as arXiv and others struggle to manage an influx of AI-generated materials masquerading as rigorous science.
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: New Music and a Crash Out
This week, we discuss developers' AI woes, how the magic happens, and the Beach Boys.
AI
Students Boo Commencement Speaker After She Calls AI the ‘Next Industrial Revolution’
A commencement speaker at the University of Central Florida was booed, with graduating humanities students yelling out, "AI SUCKS!"
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Storage Woes and RSS
This week, we discuss storage, RSS, and a big reporting project.
age verification
UK iPhone and iPad Users Can Watch Porn Again
Following the latest iOS update which requires UK mobile Apple device users to verify their ages, Pornhub’s parent company Aylo is lifting its ban—but only for people using iPads and iPhones.
AI
OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft Back Bill to Fund ‘AI Literacy’ in Schools
A new bill introduced by Senators Adam Schiff and Mike Rounds would award grants to the National Science Foundation—which has endured massive funding cuts under the Trump Administration for science research—to put “AI literacy” in schools.
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Big Questions of Consciousness
This week, we discuss a wild message, a new anthology, and a visit to a museum.
Podcast
Podcast: How This Trippy Image Started A Massive Conspiracy Theory
A magic eye that isn't, an AI learning tool that sucks, and more in this week's podcast.