Australian Mom Considers “Cryogenic” Solution for Son After Heartbreaking Loss

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NBC News Now

Australian actress Claire McCann aims to raise funds to “freeze” her 13-year-old son’s body following his tragic passing from suicide. McCann shared insights with NBC News’ Gaddy Schwartz regarding the future possibilities of cryogenic science, especially in light of her son’s experiences with bullying.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

UK considers allowing tech companies to use copyrighted material for AI training

According to proposals from the UK government, tech companies would have the freedom to utilize copyrighted material for training artificial intelligence models, unless creative professionals or companies opt out of the process.

The proposed changes aim to resolve conflicts between AI companies and creatives. Sir Paul McCartney has expressed concerns that without new laws, technology “could just take over.”

A government consultation has suggested an exception to UK copyright law that currently prohibits the use of someone else’s work without permission, allowing companies like Google and ChatGPT developer OpenAI to apply copyrighted content in training their models. This proposal permits writers, artists, and composers to “reserve their rights,” meaning they can choose not to have their work utilized in AI training or request a license fee for it.

Chris Bryant MP, the Data Protection Minister, described the proposal as a “win-win” for both parties who have been in conflict over the new copyright regulations. He emphasized the benefit of this proposal in providing creators and rights holders with greater control in these complex circumstances, potentially leading to increased licensing opportunities and a new income source for creators.

British composer Ed Newton Rex, a prominent voice in advocating for fair contracts for creative professionals, criticized the opt-out system as “completely unfair” to creators. Newton Rex, along with more than 37,000 other creative professionals, raised concerns about the unauthorized use of creative work in training AI models, labeling it as a substantial threat to creators’ livelihoods.

Furthermore, the consultation considered requiring AI developers to disclose the content used for training their models, providing rights holders with more insight into how and when their content is utilized. The government emphasized that new measures must be available and effective before they are implemented.

The government is also seeking feedback on whether the new system will apply to existing models in the market, such as those in ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.

Additionally, the consultation will address the potential need for “moral rights” akin to those in the US, to protect celebrities from having their voices and likenesses replicated by AI without their consent. Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson had a dispute with OpenAI last year when a voice assistant closely resembling her signature speech was revealed. OpenAI halted the feature after receiving feedback that it sounded similar to Johansson’s voice.

Source: www.theguardian.com

EU considers banning TikTok Lite due to view reward feature

The EU has determined that TikTok’s new service in Europe could potentially be as addictive as cigarettes unless the company provides compelling evidence of protecting children. They believed a ban may be necessary.

If the ban is enforced, it would be the first time the EU utilizes its new powers to impose sanctions on social media companies since the inception of the Digital Services Act (DSA) last August.

TikTok has until Wednesday to present arguments for the commission to evaluate before reaching a final decision on enforcement actions.

Digital Commissioner Thierry Breton stated that TikTok Lite has failed to demonstrate compliance with legal obligations to reward users for watching videos, deeming the service harmful.

The commission warned that benefits could be suspended if TikTok does not address regulators’ concerns about the impact on users’ mental health.

Despite ongoing investigations into child protection concerns, TikTok launched the app in France and Spain, where millions of European children use the platform, prompting the commission to prioritize their protection efforts.

The new watch-and-earn app allows users to earn rewards such as Amazon coupons or PayPal credits by completing tasks like watching videos, liking content, following creators, and inviting friends.

Brereton compared TikTok Lite to cigarettes, stating that while the main app provides fun and connection, it also poses significant risks to children’s mental health.

TikTok had a deadline to provide a risk assessment for its Lite service over concerns of video addiction in children.

Following insufficient responses from TikTok regarding addiction safeguards, the commission expressed readiness to invoke DSA interim measures, potentially suspending TikTok Lite’s rewards program.

TikTok responded, expressing disappointment with the decision and highlighting restrictions on the Lite Rewards Hub for users under 18.

With U.S. lawmakers passing a bill that could lead to a TikTok ban unless its Chinese owner sells a stake in its U.S. operations, the app’s future in the U.S. is uncertain.

The ongoing DSA investigation into TikTok covers child protection issues like age verification, transparent advertising, and the management of addictive design and harmful content.

Source: www.theguardian.com

US government considers taxing Bitcoin to mitigate environmental effects

Bitcoin mining is linked to rising electricity prices

Thomas Wren/Alamy Stock Photo

The US government has proposed taxing crypto miners to reduce the industry's heavy environmental impact, but experts say the measure could simply shift the problem elsewhere. It warns that there is.

Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin are kept secure through a process called mining, which involves intensive calculations and large amounts of power consumption. According to the latest data from the University of Cambridge, Bitcoin is 0.69% of all electricity used worldwide.

In America, the government Estimate Up to 2.3 percent of the nation's electricity use in 2023 will come from just 137 mining operations, and electricity rates in Texas are increasing by 5 percent. Directly linked to increased demand Caused by miners.President Joe Biden's 2025 budget proposal Cryptocurrency mining “has the potential to harm the environment, increase energy prices for those who share power grids with digital asset miners, as well as have environmental justice implications.”

The budget therefore proposes a 30% tax on miners' total energy costs, which would apply to both electricity from the grid and electricity generated by miners themselves. It will be phased in, with 10 percent starting in 2025, 20 percent in 2026, and finally 30 percent in 2027. A similar tax was proposed by Biden last year but did not pass. Although passed by the House and Senate and signed into law, this second attempt now faces hurdles.

The move, which comes as Bitcoin has soared to an all-time high of more than £56,000 in recent weeks, has drawn heavy criticism from the crypto industry.Dennis Porter of Satoshi Action Fund tweeted It claimed this was a “backdoor ban” on mining and promised: “We will vigorously oppose this attempt at targeted discrimination without hesitation!”

new scientist Several large Bitcoin mining companies have been approached for comment on the proposed tax. Block Mining, Frontier Mining, and HIVE Digital Technologies did not respond, while TeraWulf declined to comment.

But taxing the industry could have unintended consequences. alex de vries At VU Amsterdam in the Netherlands. China's ban on bitcoin mining in 2021 has prompted companies to move operations to countries such as Kazakhstan, where more than 90% of the country's electricity supply comes from fossil fuels such as coal.

“Perhaps it doesn’t actually solve anything, because mining operations are highly mobile and can be based anywhere, moving from country to country in search of better regulatory environments or cheaper power.” They won’t, says De Vries. “Climate change is a global problem, and moving emissions from one country to another, or worsening power supplies, is actually making the global problem worse.”

“Ideally, we would like to address this issue at a global level,” says de Vries. “You want to reduce the emissions of these miners.” De Vries has long advocated for Bitcoin to follow the lead of the cryptocurrency Ethereum, which has changed the way it operates. changed, abolished mining, and reduced power consumption by 99.99%. But most Bitcoin developers weren’t interested in the change, he said.

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Source: www.newscientist.com