Is Google making AI weapons?

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GOOGLE DROPS PLEDGE NOT TO CREATE AI WEAPONS 👀

Q: Did you check out my Google review of the sun?

A: I gave it one star. ☀️

What happened? Google has quietly removed its 2018 pledge not to develop AI for weapons or surveillance.

Want the details? The original promise came after backlash over Project Maven, a Department of Defense initiative using AI for drone imaging. At the time, Google assured the public it would avoid AI applications that could cause harm or violate human rights. Now, that language is gone. Instead, Google’s updated AI principles emphasize “Bold Innovation” and balancing benefits against risks. Ethical concerns are addressed more vaguely, leaving room for broader interpretations.

Why? This change aligns with a growing trend in Big Tech, which is increasingly interested in securing lucrative government contracts. Google knows it may be able to get massive funding if it secures one of these contracts, similar to OpenAI, which recently received approval from the federal government for a $500 billion initiative to build data centers alongside its other big tech buddies.

APPLE RELEASES NEW AI PARTY PLANNER 🥳

There ain’t no party like an AI party! 🎊

What’s new? Apple has introduced Apple Invites, a new app designed to make planning and sharing event invitations easier than ever.

How does it work? Available for iPhone and on the web, the app allows users to create custom invitations, manage RSVPs, and even contribute photos to Shared Albums for lasting memories. With Apple Invites, hosts can personalize invitations using their own photos or select from a curated gallery. The app also integrates with Apple Maps and Weather, ensuring guests have directions and forecasts for the big day. Apple Music subscribers can even create collaborative playlists to set the perfect event atmosphere. Anyone can RSVP for parties, even without an Apple device, while iCloud+ subscribers gain extra features like expanded storage and advanced privacy tools.

EUROPEAN COUNTRIES BEGIN JOINING DEEPSEEK BAN 🚫

Q: Why was the bodybuilder banned from Walmart?

A: Shoplifting. 🏋️‍♀️

What happened? Italy’s data protection authority, Garante, has ordered the Chinese AI startup DeepSeek to block its chatbot in Italy after the company failed to address concerns about its privacy policy. This comes after bans from Taiwan and U.S. Government agencies like the Pentagon, NASA, and the U.S. Navy.

Want the details? DeepSeek’s AI assistant has gained significant popularity, even surpassing ChatGPT in Apple’s U.S. App Store at one point. However, government agencies across the globe have been questioning where DeepSeek got its data. The Garante questioned DeepSeek’s handling of personal data, including what data is collected, sources, purposes, legal basis, and data storage locations. The response from DeepSeek, considered insufficient and uncooperative, led to the immediate block order and an ongoing investigation. Despite the order, some users in Italy reported the chatbot still functioning on their mobile devices. The web version also remains operational. European regulators in Ireland and France are also scrutinizing DeepSeek’s privacy practices. The Garante has continually emphasized the importance of user consent and data protection, as the country enacted a similar ban of ChatGPT back in 2023.

Why is this significant? This action underscores the increasing scrutiny by European regulators on data privacy practices of AI applications around the globe, emphasizing the importance of transparent data handling and user consent in the deployment of AI technologies.

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