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Over 1,000 Amazon Employees Raise Concerns About AI’s Impact on Jobs and the Environment

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An open letter signed by over 1,000 Amazon employees has raised “serious concerns” regarding AI development, criticizing the company’s “all costs justified and warp speed” approach. It warns that the implications of such powerful technologies will negatively affect “democracies, our jobs, and our planet.”

Released on Wednesday, this letter was signed anonymously by Amazon employees and comes a month after the company’s announcement about mass layoffs intended to ramp up AI integration within its operations.

The signatories represent a diverse range of roles, including engineers, product managers, and warehouse staff.

Echoing widespread concerns across the tech industry, the letter also gained support from over 2,400 employees at other companies such as Meta, Google, Apple, and Microsoft.

This letter outlines demands aimed at Amazon regarding workplace and environmental issues. Employees are urging the company to provide clean energy for all data centers, ensure that AI-driven products and services do not facilitate “violence, surveillance, and mass deportation,” and establish a working group composed of non-administrators. “They bear significant responsibility for overarching objectives within the organization, the application of AI, the implementation of AI-related layoffs, and addressing the collateral impacts of AI, such as environmental effects.”

This letter is a product of an advocacy group of Amazon employees advocating for climate justice. One worker involved in drafting the letter shared that employees felt compelled to speak out due to adverse experiences with AI tools at work and broader environmental concerns stemming from the AI boom. The employee emphasized the desire for more responsible methods in the development, deployment, and use of technology.

“I signed this letter because executives are increasingly fixated on arbitrary productivity metrics and quotas, using AI to justify pushing themselves and their colleagues to work longer hours or handle more projects with tighter deadlines,” stated a senior software engineer who preferred to remain anonymous.

Climate Change Goals

The letter claims that Amazon is “abandoning climate goals for AI development.”

Like its competitors in the generative AI space, Amazon is heavily investing in new data centers to support its AI tools, which are more resource-intensive and demand significant power. The company plans to allocate $150 billion over the next 15 years for data centers, and has recently disclosed an investment of $15 billion for a data center in northern Indiana and $3 billion for centers in Mississippi.

The letter reports that Amazon’s annual emissions have seen an “approximately 35% increase since 2019,” despite the company’s promises. The report cautions that many of Amazon’s AI infrastructure investments will be in areas where energy demands compel utilities to maintain coal plants or establish new gas facilities.

“‘AI’ is being used as a buzzword to mask a reckless investment in energy-hungry computer chips, which threaten worker power, accumulate resources, and supposedly save us from climate issues,” noted an Amazon customer researcher who requested to remain anonymous. “It would be fantastic to build AI that combats climate change! However, that’s not where Amazon’s billions are directed. They are investing in data centers that squander fossil fuel energy for AI aimed at monitoring, exploiting, and extracting profit from their customers, communities, and government entities.”

In a statement to the Guardian, Amazon spokesperson Brad Glasser refuted the employees’ claims and highlighted the company’s climate initiatives. “Alongside being a leading data center operator in efficiency, we have been the largest corporate buyer of renewable energy globally for five consecutive years, with over 600 projects globally,” Glasser stated. “We have also made substantial investments in nuclear energy through our current facilities and emerging SMR technology. These efforts are tangible actions demonstrating our commitment to achieving net-zero carbon across our global operations by 2040.”

AI for Enhanced Productivity

The letter also includes stringent demands regarding AI’s role within Amazon, arising from challenges employees are facing.

Three Amazon employees who spoke with the Guardian claimed that the company was pressuring them to leverage AI tools to boost productivity. “I received a message from my direct boss,” shared a software engineer with over two years at Amazon, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation, “about using AI in coding, writing, and general daily tasks to enhance efficiency, stressing that if I don’t actively use AI, I risk falling behind.”

The employee added that not long ago, their manager indicated they were “expected to double their work output due to AI tools,” expressing concern that the anticipated production levels would require fewer personnel and that “the tools simply aren’t bridging the gap.”

Customer researchers shared similar feelings. “I personally feel pressure to incorporate AI into my role, and I’ve heard from numerous colleagues who feel the same pressure…”

“Meanwhile, there is no dialogue about the direct repercussions for us as workers, from unprecedented layoffs to unrealistic output expectations.”

A senior software engineer highlighted that the introduction of AI has led to suboptimal outcomes. The most common scenario involves employees being compelled to use agent code generation tools. “Recently, I worked on a project that was merely cleaned up after an experienced engineer attempted to use AI to generate code for a complex assignment,” the employee revealed. “Unfortunately, none of it functioned as intended, and he had no idea why. In fact, we would have been better off starting from scratch.”

Amazon did not respond to questions regarding employee critiques of its AI workplace policies.

Employees stressed that they are not inherently opposed to AI but wish to see it developed sustainably and with input from those who are directly involved in its creation and application. “I believe Amazon is using AI to justify its control over local resources like water and energy, and it also legitimizes its power over its employees, who face increasing surveillance, accelerated workloads, and implicit termination threats,” a senior software engineer asserted. “There exists a workplace culture that discourages open discussions about the flaws of AI, and one of the objectives of this letter is to show colleagues that many of us share these sentiments and that an alternative route is achievable.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Scientists Raise Alarm Over Significant Design Flaws in Women’s Running Shoes

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A recent investigation reveals that women’s running shoes may be limiting their athletic potential.

Published in BMJ Open Sports & Exercise Medicine, the research indicates a “significant gap in running shoe design” that overlooks women’s anatomical differences.

“Most so-called women’s running shoes are not genuinely designed for women,” asserts the study’s lead author, Dr. Chris Napier, an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada, as noted in BBC Science Focus.

“We typically base our models on men’s feet, merely scaling them down and changing the color, a method often described as the ‘shrink and pink’ approach.”

However, Napier emphasized that this method does not “account for the real anatomical distinctions between male and female feet or the way women run.”

Consequently, women’s running shoes may not fit well, potentially hampering performance.

In this study, researchers gathered 21 women to discuss their preferences for running shoes and how their needs might evolve over their lifetimes.

The participants ranged in age from 20 to 70 and had between 6 and 58 years of running experience. Eleven individuals ran recreationally, averaging 30 km (19 miles) weekly, while 10 were competitive runners, averaging 45 km (28 miles) weekly.

Most women expressed a desire for shoes with a broader toe box, a narrower heel, and additional cushioning. Napier noted that this aligns with the general differences in foot shape between men and women.

“Women have distinct lower extremity anatomy, such as wider pelvises and shorter legs relative to body size. This influences running mechanics and the forces exerted on the legs,” says Napier.

Among the participants, mothers reported needing larger shoe sizes, wider fits, and more cushioning and support during and post-pregnancy.

Male and female runners have different shoe needs due to their diverse anatomy, preferences, and life stages – Credit: Alvaro Medina Jurado via Getty

This study is small and qualitative; participants were recruited via posters in stores in Vancouver, Canada, meaning findings may not be universally applicable.

Still, Napier hopes that the research will resonate with female runners.

“During our focus groups, many participants experienced an ‘aha’ moment when they realized their shoe issues were not isolated but a common experience among female runners,” he stated.

Napier also expressed hope that the study acts as a “wake-up call” for the footwear industry.

Footwear manufacturers have invested billions in developing running shoes that prevent injuries, enhance comfort, and improve performance.

Most running shoes are molded to a foot-shaped template based on male anatomy, which is then used across their products.

As a result, “a significant portion of the running community is essentially using shoes that are not intended for them,” Napier explained.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Using a Smartphone While on the Toilet May Raise Bleeding Risks

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It may be wise to keep your phone out of the bathroom

Ekaterina Demidova/Getty Images

Do you find yourself using your smartphone while on the toilet? If that’s the case, you might be spending more time there than anticipated, which could increase your risk of bleeding by nearly 50%.

“Our gastroenterologists consistently advise patients, ‘Limit your time in the bathroom,'” says Trisha Pasricha from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. “However, upon exploring the literature, I discovered substantial data backing this advice.”

Pasricha and her team are currently conducting their own study, asking 125 individuals scheduled for colonoscopy to complete a questionnaire regarding their bathroom habits, overall health, and physical activity. They then analyze the colonoscopy images to check for signs of bleeding, also referred to as a mass in the lower region.

“These conditions can be quite challenging for individuals to identify on their own,” Pasricha explains. “Sometimes they are internal and may not be felt, and what may be perceived externally doesn’t always correlate with actual bleeding.”

Among participants over 45, two-thirds reported using their smartphones in the bathroom. “If we surveyed college students, I suspect almost no one would skip bringing their phones to the restroom,” Pasricha remarked.

The study revealed that 37% of individuals who used smartphones in the bathroom averaged five or more minutes spent in there, whereas only 7% of non-users spent the same duration. Thus, phone users were about five times more likely to linger for five minutes or longer.

However, most participants seemed unaware of this, with only 5% acknowledging that smartphone usage extended their time spent in the bathroom. The data did not show any significant correlation between the participants’ gender and the time spent on the toilet.

After adjusting for age and physical activity levels, the research team concluded that smartphone use in the bathroom correlated with a 46% increase in bleeding risk. “It’s important to clarify that our study doesn’t establish a cause-and-effect relationship,” Pasricha noted. Moving forward, future research will involve interventions, asking some participants to refrain from using their phones while in the restroom.

The research also found no connection between tension and bleeding risk. This might seem surprising given common beliefs; however, the existing evidence is quite limited. In fact, some studies have indicated that the risk of bleeding correlates more with diarrhea rather than constipation.

Pasricha’s research suggests that the main risk factor is the prolonged time spent seated on the toilet. The consensus is that this position offers less pelvic support compared to sitting on a flat surface. “This leads to a passive rise in pressure affecting these muscles due to the lack of pelvic floor support,” she explained.

Lucinda Harris at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona agrees, noting that long durations in the bathroom can mimic the pressure experienced during pregnancy in the pelvic region.

If these findings hold true, the widespread use of smartphones might be contributing to increasing rates of bowel issues globally. Diagnosing such conditions can be tricky, so it remains unclear if the incidence rates are truly changing, Pasricha pointed out. Additionally, dietary changes could also be influencing these rates.

Pasricha advises keeping your smartphone outside the bathroom, although reading materials that aren’t designed to be addictive might be acceptable. “Consider reading things that promote moderation, and keep track of your time,” she suggested. Financial Times

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Antibiotics Generally Do Not Raise the Risk of Autoimmune Disorders

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Antibiotic use may impact the immune system adversely

City Image/Aramie

A comprehensive study involving over 6 million children reveals that those exposed to antibiotics prenatally or in early childhood do not generally face a heightened risk of developing autoimmune disorders during adolescence. However, the dynamics are quite intricate.

The notion that antibiotics may lead to autoimmunity dates back to the 1980s. David Strachan later proposed that the London’s Faculty of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine illustrates fewer infections in cleaner environments leading to a higher rate of childhood allergies.

This line of thought gave rise to the hygiene hypothesis, suggesting that limited early exposure to specific microorganisms fails to adequately train the immune system, which may react excessively to benign substances, leading to allergic responses or autoimmune disorders. Conditions like type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and lupus occur when immune cells mistakenly target the body’s own tissues.

Numerous studies since have demonstrated the crucial role of various microorganisms, particularly gut microbes, in shaping our immune responses. For instance, essential compounds for the maturation of specialized immune cells, such as regulatory T cells, play pivotal roles in preventing autoimmunity. This raises concerns over whether antibiotics that disrupt gut microbiota could facilitate the emergence of autoimmune diseases.

“Over time, numerous clinical studies, primarily using animal models, have substantiated the idea that antibiotics, or modifications to the gut microbiome, significantly affect immunity,” states Martin Kriegel from the University of Munster, Germany.

For instance, a 2016 study on mice illustrated that repeated antibiotic treatment at early life stages increased susceptibility to type 1 diabetes. Mice with genetic predisposition to this disorder were given their mothers’ breast milk alongside antibiotics thrice at 4 and 5 weeks old. Approximately 50% of the male and 80% of the female mice in this group developed type 1 diabetes by 30 weeks, while only about 25% of the male mice and 50% of the female mice that avoided antibiotics faced the same issue.

Similar correlations have surfaced in human research. An evaluation of over 10 million individuals released this year indicates that those prescribed antibiotics face an 40% higher risk of later developing inflammatory bowel disease. Additionally, a 2019 study involving over 110,000 participants linked antibiotic prescriptions to a 60% increased risk of developing rheumatic arthritis.

Conversely, other studies denote contrary findings. For example, a 2017 study involving over 15,000 children assessed for type 1 diabetes and celiac disease found no correlation between these conditions and antibiotic use prior to the age of four.

Recently, Eun-Young Choi from Sungkyunkwan University in Korea and her colleagues tracked the onset of six autoimmune conditions: type 1 diabetes, chronic pediatric arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, lupus, and Hashimoto’s disease. Around 1.5 million mothers received antibiotics during pregnancy, and a second group of 3.4 million children received similar treatment within the first six months post-birth, with 1.9 million treated with antibiotics.

After adjusting for variables like infection type, socioeconomic status, and gender, researchers found no collective correlation between antibiotic exposure in utero or early childhood and the likelihood of developing autoimmune conditions in adolescence.

Why do these findings differ so greatly? The gut microbiota’s complexity plays a significant role. Various factors influence it, making holistic explanations challenging. For instance, the studies referenced may fail to account for dietary influences on gut microbiota.

Different antibiotics also provoke varied effects. Choi’s study established a connection between broad-spectrum antibiotic use during pregnancy and subsequent development of Crohn’s disease in children. Additionally, the timing of antibiotic exposure appeared critical; antibiotics administered within two months of birth correlated with a 30% increased risk of Hashimoto’s disease.

This doesn’t imply that antibiotics should be entirely avoided. “When antibiotics are deemed necessary during pregnancy, it’s due to a belief that their benefits surpass potential risks,” asserts Christopher Zahn from the American University of Obstetricians in Washington, DC. For example, urinary tract infections can result in severe issues like preterm birth and low birth weight.

In fact, certain antibiotics may thwart autoimmunity. A 2018 study discovered that infections from pathogenic bacteria, notably Enterococcus gallinarum, induced autoimmunity in mice. Antibiotic treatment not only prevented mortality but also inhibited immune cells from attacking the organisms’ tissues.

“Thus, the situation is immensely complicated,” remarks Kriegel.

However, the latest findings should alleviate concerns for pregnant individuals and those with young children, reassures Zahn.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Gold can raise its temperature 14 times its melting point without actually melting.

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Researchers deployed lasers to overheat gold samples, measuring temperatures with ultra-bright X-ray pulses

Greg Stewart/SLAC National Accelerator Research Institute

A thin layer of wafers that fire laser shots can heat to 14 times the melting point, pushing solids well beyond predicted limits, with some solids potentially lacking any defined melting point.

Overheating is a well-known phenomenon where a solid can exceed its melting point or even its boiling point without altering its state. For instance, water heated in a microwave can reach temperatures above 100°C (212°F) if the container is smooth and undisturbed, but will boil vigorously as soon as disturbed.

Many physicists have suggested an upper overheating limit of approximately three times the standard melting point in Kelvin, termed the entropy catastrophe. This occurs because the entropy, often viewed as the degree of disorder in a system, is greater when the material transitions to a liquid state. Remaining solid at temperatures above this point contradicts the second law of thermodynamics.

Recently, Thomas White from the University of Nevada, Reno, and his team found that gold can heat up to 14 times its melting point, exceeding even the entropy catastrophe.

White and his colleagues directed a powerful laser at a 50-nanometer-thick gold sheet for 45 seconds, then measured the temperature using reflective X-rays through a novel approach. By analyzing shifts in the frequency of the reflected X-rays, they determined the excess energy transferred to the gold, allowing them to calculate the heating effect on the sheet.

“The temperatures we measured were astonishingly high,” White remarked.

After ensuring no errors in their measurements, White and his team revisited existing theories, realizing that the rapid heating of gold likely reduced the solid’s entropy compared to its potential liquid state, surpassing predicted temperature limits. “It’s crucial to state that we haven’t violated the second law of thermodynamics,” White clarified.

The actual limitations of overheating are still open questions, he noted. “I may have thought the overheating limit was resolved in the 1980s, but now I believe it’s a question worthy of further exploration. Can we heat materials beyond their melting point?”

Utilizing this X-ray technology for measuring solid heating may also help simulate the effects of extreme heat and pressure from planetary interiors on materials within very short timescales, according to Sam Vinco at Oxford University. “Currently, there isn’t an effective thermometer for solids that operates on such brief timescales,” he noted.

It will also be fascinating to ascertain if this phenomenon applies to other solids beyond gold, Vinco stated, particularly regarding whether there’s a limit to heating before melting occurs. “What’s captivating is considering whether rapid heating could essentially circumvent traditional thermodynamic principles,” he added.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Critics Raise Concerns as Workers Embrace Big Tech Opportunities

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Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt noted that the issue in the UK is that “there are many ways for people to decline.”

However, some critics of the Labour government argue that it struggles to say “yes.”

Schmidt made these comments during a Q&A with Keir Starmer at a major investment summit last October, where the presence of influential tech leaders underscored the sector’s significance for governments prioritizing growth.

Major US tech firms like Google, Meta (founded by Mark Zuckerberg), Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Palantir, alongside other data intelligence firms co-founded by Peter Thiel, significantly impact the UK landscape.

For governments aiming to stimulate growth, it’s challenging to overlook companies boasting trillions in market value.

This influence offers immediate access, according to a former employee from Big Tech familiar with how major US firms advocate for their interests in the UK.

“I had no trouble navigating Whitehall corridors, claiming to create thousands of jobs for the economy. The government adores job announcements,” the ex-employee remarked.

In this light, Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has engaged with tech sector representatives nearly 70% more than his predecessor, Michelle Donnellan, including multiple discussions with firms like Google, Amazon, Meta, and Apple.

Ukai, the UK’s leading trade body for the AI sector, expresses concern over the marginalization of smaller players.

“We worry about the significant imbalance in policy influence between a handful of global giants and the multitude of businesses that comprise the AI industry in the UK. We’re not being heard, yet the economic growth the government seeks will originate from these companies.”

Echoing the sentiments of a former Big Tech employee, Flagg emphasizes that large tech firms have the means to cultivate and sustain political relationships.

A source familiar with the industry’s interactions with the government noted that these large tech companies leveraged their resources before the general election and established relationships remained intact following the Labour landslide.

Another discussion regarding the “extraordinary” access to the Tony Blair Institute, which is financially backed by tech billionaire Larry Ellison, highlights its role as a key voice in AI policy debates, maintaining what it claims to be “intellectual independence” in policy work.

Critics of the government’s dealings with major tech entities cite proposed copyright law reforms as reflective of these imbalanced relationships. The Minister suggested that AI firms should utilize copyrighted works without permission to create products.

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A source close to Kyle indicates that the opt-out option is no longer favored, with significant repercussions underway. The opposition to this proposal includes prominent figures from the UK’s robust creative sector, ranging from Paul McCartney to Dua Lipa and Stone Port.

While technology is posited as a solution to the government’s economic growth dilemma, AI is central to this strategy and serves as a barometer of economic efficiency. However, misguided copyright policies result in PR disasters when juxtaposed with celebrity-driven narratives. News Media Associations, representing organizations like the Guardian, also contest the proposal, as do ChatGPT developers Google and OpenAI.

A former government advisor who was involved in technology policy suggests that diluting copyright protections—often referred to as the “lowest hanging fruit” in policy discussions—will not be the “key solution” to leading in global AI advancements.

“By taking this route, the governments are jeopardizing the worst aspects worldwide. This approach does not lead to the necessary actions to truly support the leading sectors and establish the UK as an AI superpower.”

A spokesperson from the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology stated that there is “no apology” for their engagements with a sector employing 2 million in the UK, emphasizing that “regular interaction” with tech companies of all sizes is crucial for driving economic growth.

During his conversation with Schmidt, Starmer posed the vital question about future policy: “Does this promote growth or hinder it?” The tech industry is positioned at the core of this inquiry, although the copyright discussion may undermine vital relationships in other areas.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Planetary scientists suggest ‘Nanoparticle heating’ could raise temperatures on Mars

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One-third of Mars’ surface has shallow groundwater, but it is currently too cold for life to harness it. Proposals to use greenhouse gases to heat Mars require large amounts of raw materials that are scarce on the Martian surface. But a new study shows that artificial aerosols made from materials readily available on Mars (such as conductive nanorods about 9 micrometers long) could heat Mars more than 5,000 times more effectively than the best gases.

This artist’s impression shows what Mars looked like about 4 billion years ago. Image credit: M. Kornmesser / ESO.

Mars geoengineering is a concept that frequently appears in science fiction.

But real-world researchers are also investigating techniques that could melt and release frozen groundwater, potentially making the Martian environment more hospitable to life.

Many of these strategies involve warming through greenhouse gases, but the Earth lacks the ingredients needed to produce them.

“A once habitable Martian surface is crossed by dry river valleys, but the current icy soil is too cold for Earth-derived life,” said Dr Samaneh Ansari of Northwestern University and his colleagues.

“Rivers may have flowed as far back as 600,000 years ago, suggesting the beginnings of a habitable planet.”

“Many methods have been proposed to heat the Martian surface by closing the spectral window centered on wavelengths of 22 and 10 micrometers, through which the surface would be cooled by thermal infrared radiation rising into space.”

“Modern Mars has a thin carbon dioxide atmosphere that provides a greenhouse effect of only 5 Kelvin through absorption in the 15 micrometer wavelength range, and Mars clearly lacks sufficient condensed or mineralized carbon dioxide to restore a temperate climate,” the researchers said.

“It is possible to close the spectral window using man-made greenhouse gases (e.g. chlorofluorocarbons), but this would require volatilizing about 100,000 megatons of fluorine, which is only present in trace amounts on the Martian surface.”

“An alternative approach is suggested by natural Martian dust aerosols, which are, after all, the result of the slow breakdown of iron-rich minerals on the Martian surface.”

“Due to its small size (effective radius of 1.5 micrometers), Martian dust rises to high altitudes (at an altitude of 15-25 km, where the dust mass mixing ratio peaks) and is consistently visible in the Martian sky, present at altitudes of up to 60 km or more.”

“Natural Martian dust aerosols reduce daytime surface temperatures because the composition and shape properties of man-made dust can be modified. For example, nanorods, which are about half the wavelength of upwelling thermal infrared light, should interact strongly with that infrared light.”

In the new paper, Dr Ansari and his co-authors propose an alternative strategy for heating Mars: aerosolizing 9-micrometre-long nanorods made from iron and aluminium, which are available on Mars.

The bars are about the same size as natural Martian dust — essentially a bit smaller than glitter — and should fly up into the air when dispersed.

However, other properties of the rod-shaped material mean it should settle 10 times slower than natural dust.

The researchers evaluated their proposal using a version of the MarsWRF global climate model and another complementary 1D model.

The study found that these bars amplify the amount of sunlight reaching the Martian surface and prevent heat from escaping.

In fact, a sustained release of 30 liters of nanorods per second could warm the entire planet by more than 30 Kelvin above baseline temperature, enough to melt the ice.

After a few months, atmospheric pressure will rise by 20%, creating conditions to initiate a feedforward loop involving the volatilization of carbon dioxide.

It’s worth noting that the nanorod process will still take centuries, and Mars certainly won’t be a suitable place for human habitation.

“The increase in Martian temperature alone will not be sufficient to make the Martian surface habitable for oxygenic photosynthetic organisms,” the scientists said.

“On the other hand, establishing a photosynthetic biosphere on the Martian surface, possibly with the help of synthetic biology, might increase the chances of human thriving in the solar system.”

Team work Published in today’s journal Scientific advances.

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Samaneh Ansari others2024. Nanoparticles could keep Mars warm. Scientific advances 10(32);doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adn4650

Source: www.sci.news