Tag Archives: encounters

Breaking Down AI’s Uncomfortable Close Encounters: Insights from Hannah Fry

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Professor Hannah Fry introduces her new program, AI Confidential, which delves into the most significant narratives emerging from the forefront of the AI revolution.

This compelling three-part documentary series begins on Monday, February 23, on BBC Two, and follows individuals who utilize AI to replicate their deceased loved ones or to enhance driving experiences with the semblance of friends and family. We had the opportunity to chat with her to gain further insights.

What is your perspective on artificial romance?

While I personally wouldn’t engage, I find it to be a fascinating spectrum. It resembles interactive romantic fiction, which isn’t inherently wrong.

On one end, you might fully believe that the AI you’re interacting with embodies the essence of the person you love, while on the other, it can simply enhance your imagination. Ultimately, it’s not entirely negative.

Are we nearing a future where AI may replace human relationships?

I can’t definitively say it will happen, but there’s a possibility it might.

Society seems increasingly isolated; social interactions have shifted, with more individuals working from home and spending less time outside.

The emergence of personal friendships with AI could exacerbate this trend.

What concerns you most about AI?

AI holds the potential to alienate us from our humanity and hinder genuine connections. Unlike self-driving cars, the subtle dangers of AI distancing us from our relationships can be more insidious.

While AI is being integrated into therapy, there’s a danger that it reinforces our existing beliefs, leading to greater isolation.

After producing this series, I realized how easliy this could manifest. Using an AI as a therapist during conflicts may lead to a skewed perspective that you’re solely in the right.

In contrast, a human therapist encourages you to consider different viewpoints. AI isn’t designed to tackle complex emotional issues; it can make self-radicalization all too easy. When engaging with AI, I often ask, “Please tell me when I’m wrong; I need a challenge.”

In the first episode of AI Confidential, Fry visits the Netherlands to meet Jacob von Lier and his AI girlfriend – Credit: BBC / Curious Films / Harriet Bird

Can chatbot technology fill the void of loneliness?

Absolutely. However, if we dismiss the idea that AI can serve as therapists or empathetic companions, we risk overlooking the needs of the lonely and vulnerable. While in an ideal world, everyone would have meaningful connections, that is not our reality.

In AI Confidential, you meet Justin Harrison, who has developed AI capable of mimicking voices, allowing communication with departed loved ones. What are the implications of this grief technology?

It’s disconcerting that such technology targets people during their most vulnerable moments.

Initially, I was skeptical of Harrison’s perspective on grief, which suggested we should eliminate sadness entirely, reflecting an inability to accept death. This approach seemed irresponsible to me.

However, as I contemplated my own recent loss, I understood how this technology could be an extension of what people often do to cope with longing for loved ones. It could provide comfort at acute stages of grief, especially in cases of unexpected loss.

Although I didn’t anticipate becoming emotional on camera, sharing that moment was crucial, as it illustrated our deeply human story. Ideally, AI should enhance our humanity, not detract from it.

That moment deepened my empathy for those who experience isolation. We all seek connection.

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What are the risks associated with personal AI agents?

We’re on the brink of launching personal AI agents that could manage tasks online, such as planning vacations.

These agents will interact with corporate representatives, raising concerns about whether they will act in your best interest. As much of our infrastructure relies on the internet, catastrophic failures could occur.

Imagine if someone manipulated an AI to disrupt power supplies in major areas. The repercussions could escalate significantly.

Companies recognize these risks and are striving to mitigate them.

In the second episode of AI Confidential, Fry examines the safety and potential risks of self-driving cars, meeting individuals impacted by this technology, including Rafaela Vasquez – Credit: BBC / Curious Films / Harriet Bird

Will AI ultimately dominate the world?

Not if I have anything to say about it!

AI presents significant challenges, but when managed responsibly, it can serve as a powerful tool for good.

Currently, AI acts as a catalyst, streamlining tasks and enhancing skills. Many individuals benefit from using AI for educational purposes, making learning more efficient and developing new abilities.

AI could also lead to breakthroughs like unlimited clean energy or fresh water for all. We could even transform desert areas into flourishing ecosystems.

Humanity has largely existed in a world marked by scarcity, but with advances in AI, we may unlock realms of abundance, offering solutions to various ailments and societal challenges.

While these transformations won’t happen overnight, the potential remains significant.

How can we ensure AI benefits society?

Companies can take proactive steps, such as recognizing signs of distress or AI dependency during interactions.

We should prioritize concerns around AI, as awareness drives change.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.


Tune into AI Confidential now on BBC Two or BBC iPlayer starting Monday, February 23rd.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Australia’s Social Media Ban Encounters Immediate Challenges and Criticism

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Instagram alerts that accounts for users under 16 will be terminated

Stringer/AFP (via Getty Images)

Australia’s groundbreaking social media restrictions on users under 16 have officially started, unveiling some contentious issues from the inaugural day of the new law. Notably, some minors managed to sidestep age verification measures intended to prevent them from accessing their accounts.

This initiative has garnered backing from numerous parents who hope it will mitigate online harassment, promote outdoor activities, and lessen exposure to inappropriate material. However, critics argue that the ban may be ineffective or even counterproductive, as highlighted by a variety of satirical memes.

Andrew Hammond, associated with KJR, a consultancy in Canberra where he oversaw age verification initiatives for the Australian government, is keenly observing how the current situation evolves. He mentioned having spoken to several parents of children covered by the ban, none of whom had lost access to their accounts yet. “Some have reported they circumvented it or haven’t yet been prompted,” Hammond stated, though he anticipates more accounts will be disabled next week.

Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has initiated account removals about a week ago. A spokesperson affirmed, “As of today, we have disabled all accounts confirmed to be under 16.” They confirmed, “As the social media ban in Australia takes effect, we will preclude access to Instagram, Threads, and Facebook for teenagers known to be under this age and will restrict newcomers under 16 from setting up accounts.”

While Meta did not disclose the specific number of accounts terminated, a representative referred to earlier data indicating that approximately 150,000 users aged 13 to 15 are active on Facebook, and around 350,000 on Instagram in Australia. This implies that at least half a million accounts belonging to young Australians have been deleted on these two platforms alone.

The company stated its dedication to fulfilling its legal responsibilities, yet many concerns voiced by community organizations and parents have already manifested on the first day of the ban. These include risk of isolating vulnerable youth from supportive online communities, nudging them towards lesser-regulated apps and web areas, irregular age verification practices, and minimal concern for compliance among numerous teenagers and their parents, according to the spokesperson.

Mr. Hammond raised further questions, particularly regarding the status of minors under 16 who are vacationing or studying in Australia. The government has clarified that this regulation applies equally to visiting minors. While Australian accounts have been deleted, Mr. Hammond suspects that visitors’ accounts may simply be momentarily suspended. “It’s been merely a few hours since the ban was enacted, so there remains substantial uncertainty about its implementation,” he stated.

Australia and other nations are closely monitoring the repercussions as the law is fully enforced. “We will soon discover how attached minors under 16 are to social media and the actual situation that unfolds,” he said. He speculated that perhaps “they will venture outside to play sports.” Nonetheless, he warned, “if their lives are deeply intertwined with it, we may witness a plethora of attempts to evade these restrictions.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Strange Encounters: Exploring Chuck Tingle’s Erotic Universe with Sexy Dinosaurs, Fiery Tigers, and a Dashing Boat

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In one of the regular segments of John Mulaney’s Netflix show, every week features live interactions with the comedian and his guests as they take calls on the week’s theme. This time, the topic is dinosaurs, and one caller—a surprisingly enthusiastic young boy and noted paleontologist—introduces himself as Chuck, among others. He discusses his book, Dinosaur erotica. “I think that’s my most recognized and award-winning book,” he elaborates. “It was nominated for the Hugo Prize.”

Actor Ayo Edebiri, one of Mulaney’s guests, inquires whether he won. “I didn’t win, but I went on to write a book called Pound after my Hugo Prize loss.”

Edebiri and fellow guest Conan O’Brien react with a mix of delight and confusion, but the call wraps up before Mulaney can delve into the comedic possibilities of their discussion.

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Mulaney’s fans, often a quirky and socially active group, rushed to the comments, expressing that he missed a golden opportunity. The eccentricity isn’t just a relic of the internet’s past; it’s exemplified by the Elite class figure, Chuck Tingle. He initially went viral thanks to his uniquely self-published erotica, complete with endearingly bizarre Photoshop covers and titles that seem as if they were slapped together by an alluring Velociraptor. Tingle’s work even earned a Hugo Award nomination from the far-right Cultural War fringes.


He has consistently shared cover after cover on Twitter, producing increasingly elaborate titles that incorporate creatures of myth. From the absurd (Open wide for a handsome Sabertooth dentist who is also a ghost) to philosophical musings (I became gay by existential horror that I could actually be a character in a Chuck Tingle book), topical references (I have released this handsome cargo ship from the Suez Canal and now he is stuck on my ass), and recursive metatextual adventures (being slapped on the backside in his book “Spanked by My Own Ass”), Tingle’s work is truly multi-layered (with at least six such layered concepts).

If these titles sound outrageous, take a trip through your favorite ebook store to remind yourself that romance and erotica can be surprisingly utilitarian in their own right.

Check out my new novel POUNDED IN THE BUTT BY MY BOOK POUNDED IN THE BUTT BY MY BOOK POUNDED IN THE BUTT BY MY BOOK POUNDED IN THE BUTT BY MY BOOK POUNDED IN THE BUTT BY MY BOOK POUNDED IN THE BUTT BY MY OWN BUTT, available now https://t.co/pbpufzgbgo pic.twitter.com/jpbe1mnvad

— Chuck Tingle (@ChuckTingle) February 22, 2019


To date, Tingle has released “Tingle’s Gone Legate,” novellas, and three mainstream horror novels throughout the years.

He has also begun appearing in person at fan events and conventions. Similar to the enigmatic author Elena Ferrante, whose audience largely enjoys indie horror video games, Tingle maintains his anonymity. However, unlike Ferrante, he flamboyantly showcases himself with a pink pillowcase and a bag over his head, obscuring his features while exuberantly declaring his mantra, “love is real.” Sporting a colorful ensemble of a big blazer, sequined shorts, band tees, and sometimes light-up sneakers, he energetically dashes through theaters and bookstores.


Online, Tingle engages with his audience and celebrates his work with an innocent earnestness, using a unique mix of whimsical language that falls between highbrow and fandom lingo. He refers to readers, fans, and curious onlookers as “Bakaroo.” Life experiences, stories, beliefs, and careers are his “trot.” Tingle notes that his Orbit Bakarus never truly die but are merely visiting and riding a “lonely train” of existence. He expresses thoughts on the “existential dread of choking” and the notion that love is real—whether in eroticism or existentialism, his stories affirm this principle.

Finally released after being stuck in Amazon’s publishing platform for days—please enjoy! I FREED THIS HANDSOME CARGO SHIP FROM THE SUEZ CANAL AND NOW HE’S STUCK IN MY BUTT. https://t.co/yiD92W7oo3 pic.twitter.com/5MebQU2ACs

— Chuck Tingle (@ChuckTingle) March 27, 2021


Tingle has openly discussed his sexuality and sexual experiences in relation to neurodivergence. His storytelling often reflects his experiences being queer, depicting characters who navigate the challenges of revealing their true selves to family and friends in small-town America. His recent horror novels are set in a shared universe, intertwining narratives like Camp Damascus and Bury Your Gays, exploring themes of capitalism, chaos, and radical acceptance as monstrous forces. He emphasizes that authenticity in love and experience is paramount.

This approach is unabashedly direct. To borrow a line from The Great Garth Marengi, I know of writers who employ subtext—yet they all seem rather unwell.

The physical mask Tingle described serves to allow his true self to shine through, as it means less effort concealing his autism. He has maintained a colorful career persona, hinting at the possibility of a performance artist or character he has created since he was young. Rumors abound that he is, in fact, a well-known sturdy actor (and one of the most likable Hollywood Chrises) named Chris Pine.

However, most ardent Bakarus recognize that Chuck leads his own trot.


Source: www.theguardian.com

Intimate Encounters with Strangers: Are We Stifling Personal Growth?

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How private are our lives in a highly surveilled world?

Jan Klos/Millennium Images, UK

Intimate with Strangers
Tiffany Jenkins (Picador (UK, now available, US, July 15)))

What has become of our cherished privacy? In today’s world, nearly every detail about us is known, traded, and exploited by social media platforms. Click. I have the amusing attire your self-righteous uncle crafted this morning. Click. I have a friend lamenting the promotion I missed out on. Click. Indeed, there are those strangers who will share their bedrooms with you—for a price.

One might expect a book titled Intimate with Strangers: Ascending and Descending in Private Life to provide opinions on this subject—but it does so in a way that is richer and more thoughtfully considered than most discussions you’ll find.

Author Tiffany Jenkins, a cultural historian, states, “Many attribute the rise of self-indulgent individuals broadcasting their lives online to narcissism, as well as tech companies that consume personal data, while overlooking the deeper changes at play.” This book explores those profound shifts.

Jenkins chronicles these developments primarily in the 20th century, revealing their multifaceted nature. The chapters address everything from the invasive capabilities of small cameras to the disruptive effects of Kodak Veeder to the significant implications of Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky, which turned private matters into political upheaval.

Key highlights include the narratives of radical American groups in the 1960s, such as Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), who advocated for personal freedom yet ironically curtailed it. One activist couple even faced criticism for the “crime” of “Flagrant Monogamy,” as SDS yearned for purer and more innocent participants.

Even scientific thinkers aren’t exempt from this narrative. The early 20th-century activism of Paul Lazarsfeld, Edward Bernays, and Ernest Dichter focused on transforming people into data points. Though they meant no harm, their work undermined the notion that certain aspects of life should remain private and untouchable by corporate interests. The same can be said for Alfred Kinsey’s notorious research into human sexuality. Is nothing sacred?

We have allowed our two worlds to be compromised and blurred. The private is increasingly becoming public.

However, privacy did not disappear outright in the 20th century. Instead, it adapted, evolved, and resisted. Jenkins references Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) and Katz v. United States, emphasizing that her analysis encompasses a complex mix of laws, cultures, technologies, and even housing policies.

Nonetheless, Jenkins concludes that privacy has indeed diminished overall, particularly as the first half of the book meticulously charts its decline.

The discussion begins with the revolutionary appeals for personal conscience by Martin Luther and Thomas More in the 16th century, tracing through various religious and personal freedoms of the 17th century. Intimate with Strangers thoroughly examines these developments over the centuries.

Specifically regarding the 18th century, Jenkins argues that it marked the “arrival of the public and private domains.” In fact, she posits that this evolution may overshadow all other Enlightenment developments. This is a historical account that offers novel insights into our shared past.

It ultimately brings us back to our increasingly surveilled reality. “Had there been a clear demarcation between public and private realms at the inception of the World Wide Web, our online landscape would be vastly different today,” Jenkins asserts. Since the 18th century, we’ve allowed for a blurring of lines where privacy increasingly encroaches upon public life.

And what do we stand to lose? Quite a lot—though not everything is gone. “Originality begins in private,” Jenkins reflects in the epilogue. From this, we can infer that Intimate with Strangers began with precious privacy.

Peter Hoskin is the book and culture editor for Prospect Magazine

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Chilling Encounters: Experience Goosebumps with Resident Evil Requiem

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A surprising announcement at the end of the summer Gamefest presentation on June 6th unveiled the ninth installment in the legendary Capcom Survival Horror Series: Resident Evil Requiem, slated for release early next year.

Devoted fans of the franchise, which has inspired films, TV shows, and more, quickly began analyzing the trailers. These trailers spotlight the protagonist, Grace Ashcroft, daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft from the 2003 title Resident Evil Outbreak. Requiem is set to take place in Raccoon City, the fictional hub infamous for battling the spread of zombified T-viruses.

At a demo in LA last week, the game director introduced Requiem, emphasizing its core theme of “addictive horror,” noting that Grace Ashcroft presents a far more vulnerable and frightening character compared to the military-trained protagonists of earlier entries.




Tops Curler…Resident Evil Requiem. Photo: Capcom

I heard the audience’s reaction to the demo before experiencing it myself—screams and gasps filled the air. As I stepped into a dim room alongside dozens of others, I was met with a shocking scene. Everyone would likely scream if they found themselves waking upside down on a gurney. This snippet of Resident Evil Requiem made it hard not to cringe in shared distress as the gameplay unfolded, with Grace attempting to escape her bindings. Ultimately, she breaks free, transitioning from cutscenes to first-person gameplay, providing various options to search for items in settings that resemble deserted hotels and hospitals.

As you can expect, some rooms still possess working electricity, but Grace predominantly navigates through eerily lit environments, shrouded in an unsettling crimson emergency glow. While searching for a locked door and the key to the fuse box, she faces something lurking in the shadows. Just as she discovers tools necessary for escape, she stumbles over a body. Before she can grasp who it is, a grotesque, massive creature resembling a wild beast appears, characterized by enormous black eyes, large ears, menacing teeth, and oversized hands.

The creature seizes the body and starts to bite into it, evoking a striking resemblance to Goya’s depiction of Saturn consuming his son. I felt goosebumps tingling on my arms as the creature reappeared during the gameplay preview, punctuated by the terrified screams of the player. Eventually, the demo offers a moment to regroup, displaying a pause menu that allows switching between first and third-person perspectives. Gasps and murmurs fill the crowd, noting that this is the first Resident Evil game allowing viewpoint changes (except for the previous title, where this feature was introduced as a paid update in 2021).

The closing line, “This is an overture to our darkest symphony,” flashed on the screen before the demo wrapped up, leading us into a shadowy corridor towards the exit. “What was that?” someone muttered behind me. While not every Resident Evil installment has challenged the boundaries of video game horror, this particular presentation made a strikingly unsettling debut.

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  • Resident Evil Requiem is set to launch on Xbox, PlayStation 5, and PC on February 27, 2026.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Japanese spacecraft successfully lands on the moon, but encounters an issue

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SLIM spacecraft illustration

JAXA

Japan's Smart Lander for Lunar Exploration (SLIM) has landed on the moon. Although the spacecraft is not operating perfectly, the successful landing follows a series of recent failed moon landings by governments and private spaceflight companies, and remains encouraging for international efforts to explore the moon. . With this landing, Japan will become the fifth country to land on the moon, following the United States, Soviet Union, China, and India.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched SLIM in September 2023, and the spacecraft took a long orbit to the moon, circling the Earth several times to conserve fuel. It has been orbiting the moon since December, taking images of the surface and preparing for landing.

The January 19 touchdown marked the first use of a technology engineers dubbed “smart eye,” which allows SLIM to aim its landing spot with extreme precision. SLIM determined its position by comparing images from its onboard camera with data from other spacecraft orbiting the moon, then autonomously navigated to a landing site on the slopes of Sioli Crater. JAXA officials are continuing to analyze how well the targeting protocol worked.

Initial signals from SLIM suggest that the solar panels do not appear to be operational, so the spacecraft is operating on battery power for now. If spacecraft operators are unable to figure out what's wrong with the solar cells and get them working, SLIM's scientific capabilities could be hampered and its lifespan significantly shortened. According to JAXA officials, battery life is expected to be only a few hours. It's possible the spacecraft will regain solar power, but for now JAXA's priority is to return as much data as possible to Earth before its batteries run out.

As SLIM descended to the lunar surface, two small rovers, each carrying a small payload of scientific instruments, also descended. One of them is designed to bounce rather than roll on wheels, and the other is a tennis ball. He was designed by toy manufacturers to roll on the moon, with a sphere slightly smaller than a ball. The spacecraft appears to be functioning normally.

Spacecraft landing sites are potentially important. Previous observations suggest that material may have come from inside the moon during the impact that formed the crater. SLIM's scientific instruments can study these minerals to learn about the formation and evolution of the Moon. A successful landing and the scientific data collected will provide useful data for the many spacecraft scheduled to travel to the moon from around the world in the coming years.

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Source: www.newscientist.com