17 Recent Articles about the Dangers of AI

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Teens & AI Companionship

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“In interviews with The Associated Press and a new study, teenagers say they are increasingly interacting with AI as if it were a companion, capable of providing advice and friendship. ‘Everyone uses AI for everything now. It’s really taking over,’ said Kayla Chege, a high school student in Kansas, who wonders how AI tools will affect her generation. ‘I think kids use AI to get out of thinking.’ More than 70% of teens have used AI companions and half use them regularly, according to a new study from Common Sense Media.” -Associated Press

AI Definitions: Natural Language Processing

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Natural language processing - This type of machine learning transfers language into numbers to make it intelligible to machines. The first step is tokenization, where text is divided into word units called tokens. These tokens are then transformed into vectors. These vectors are lists of numbers. A single word token might be represented by more than 1,000 numbers in a vector. The vector is considered to have a higher dimension when many numbers are used. The meaning is therefore nuanced. A low dimension for a vector means the list of numbers is low. While a low dimension is not as nuanced, it is easier to work with. A deep learning model (typically a transformer model) can use these vectors to understand the meaning of words and determine how the words relate to one other. An example would be “king “relates to “man” while “queen” relates to “woman.”

More AI definitions here

What the Humanities are For

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As one student said to his professor at New York University, in an effort to justify using AI to do his work for him, “You’re asking me to go from point A to point B, why wouldn’t I use a car to get there?” It’s a completely logical argument — as long as you accept the utilitarian vision. The real solution, then, is to be honest about what the humanities are for: You’re in the business of helping students with the cultivation of their character. -Sigal Samuel writing in Vox

China's AI Lead

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"China has taken a commanding lead in the exploding field of artificial intelligence (AI) research, despite U.S. restrictions on exporting key computing chips to its rival, finds a new report. In 2000, China-based scholars produced just 671 AI papers, but in 2024 their 23,695 AI-related publications topped the combined output of the United States (6378), the United Kingdom (2747), and the European Union (10,055). U.S. influence in AI research is declining, with China now dominating." -Science.org

SEO Fades as GEO Rises

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“Google has made it clear: AI is building the future of search. Google now ranks based on contextual relevance, not just keywords or backlinks. It uses AI and vector embeddings to evaluate who created content, how trustworthy it is, and how it fits within its broader knowledge graph. Most SEO tools and practices haven’t caught up. As new APIs and metrics become more accessible, we’ll see a new generation of SEO roles and tools emerge that align with how Google actually works.” -Digiday

22 Recent Articles about AI & Teaching

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Towards responsible AI in education: a systematic review on identifying and mitigating ethical risks – Nature  

AI’s giants want to take over the classroom – MIT Tech Review 

I Teach Creative Writing. This Is What A.I. Is Doing to Students. – New  York Times  

Teachers union partners with Anthropic, Microsoft and OpenAI to launch AI-training academy – CBS News  

OpenAI and Microsoft Bankroll New A.I. Training for Teachers – New York Times 

Universities are rethinking computer science curriculum in response to AI tools – TechSpot

How Do You Teach Computer Science in the A.I. Era? - The New York Times

California colleges spend millions to catch plagiarism and AI. Is the faulty tech worth it? - Cal Matters

How ChatGPT and other AI tools are changing the teaching profession – Associated Press  

Does ownership rights over original scholarship extend to the elements of a single course on AI? – Chronicle of Higher Ed  

The Computer-Science Bubble Is Bursting: Artificial intelligence is ideally suited to replacing the very type of person who built it – The Atlantic

A.I. in the Classroom: A Brave New World? - New York Times

Professors Are Using A.I., Too. Now What? – NPR  

How To Stay Ahead Of AI – The Human Skills Universities Must Teach – Forbes  

Duolingo CEO says AI teaches better than humans—but schools will exist ‘because you still need childcare’ - Fortune

My students think it’s fine to cheat with AI. Maybe they’re onto something. - Vox 

Impact of gen AI on students’ learning outcomes: a technology-mediated & motivation-driven approach – Nature  

Chatbots in the classroom: how AI is reshaping higher education - Financial Times

Integrating AI-generated content tools in higher ed: a comparative analysis of interdisciplinary learning outcomes – Nature 

Bringing GenAI into the university classroom - Times Higher Ed

I am no longer chairing defenses or joining committees where students use generative AI for their writing - Statistical Modeling, Causal Inference, and Social Science

Report: Faculty Often Missing From University Decisions on AI – Inside Higher Ed

The Perceived Emotional Intelligence of AI

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Researchers ran commonly used tests of emotional intelligence on six Large Language Models including generative AI chatbots like ChatGPT.  They are the same kinds of tests that are commonly used in corporate and research settings: scenarios involving complicated social situations, and questions asking which of five reactions might be best. “When we run these tests with people, the average correct response rate … is between 15% and 60% correct. The LLMs on average, were about 80%. So, they answered better than the average human participant.” .-Bill Murphy, Jr

Dave Barry Is told by AI that he’s dead

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"Give Google AI credit for what it got right: That is, in fact, a picture of me, and I did, in fact, win a Pulitzer Prize (trust me, I'm just as shocked as you are). But to the best of my knowledge, I did not pass away last November 20. That is not just my opinion. In recent months I have been examined by two different licensed physicians, and if I had been dead, I'm pretty sure at least one of them would have mentioned it..." -Dave Berry on Substack

19 Articles about AI Audio & Video

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Audio

AI-generated music is going viral. Should the music industry be worried? – CNBC  

A ’60s flavored band blew up on Spotify. They’re AI. - The Washington Post

Was That Amazing Video in Your Feed Real or AI? Tech Platforms Are Struggling to Let You Know – Wall Street Journal  

Music streaming service Deezer adds AI song tags in fight against fraud – Associated Press  

2 Ways I'm Using ChatGPT Advanced Voice to Improve My Life – CNET  

Music Producer Timbaland Introduces New AI Artist – Rolling Stone

Google’s NotebookLM just got a huge upgrade — here’s why it beats ChatGPT for team projects – Tom’s Guide

NotebookLM Is My All-Time Favorite AI Tool and Its New Features Make It Even Better - Cnet

How to use Google's AI-powered NotebookLM — 5 tips to get started – Tom’s Guide 

How a Canadian's AI hoax duped the media and propelled a 'band' to streaming success – CBC

Adobe Firefly can now generate AI sound effects for videos - and I'm seriously impressed - ZDnet

Video 

How a Video Studio Embraced A.I. and Stormed the Internet - New York Times 

Netflix admits it used generative AI in a big sci-fi hit to cut costs – The Verge 

Three AI Trends Reshaping the Future of Media & Entertainment – Unite AI

Midjourney launches its first AI video generation model, V1 – Tech Crunch 

An AI-generated ad aired during NBA finals and cost just $2,000 - Mashable  

SAG-AFTRA Video Game Deal Includes AI Consent Guardrails, Minimum Rates for Digital Replica Use – The Wrap 

A.I. Videos Have Never Been Better. Can You Tell What’s Real? – New York Times

An AI video ad is making a splash. Is it the future of advertising? – NPR

AI Definitions: Machine learning

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Machine learning (ML) - This type of AI can spot patterns and then improve what it can do on its own. ML makes predictions or decisions based on patterns in data sets. This process evolves and adapts as it is exposed to new data, improving the output without explicit human programming. An example would be algorithms recommending ads for users, which become more tailored the longer it observes the users‘ habits (someone’s clicks, likes, time spent, etc.). A developer of a ML system creates a model and then “trains” it by providing it with many examples. Data scientists combine ML with other disciplines (like big data analytics and cloud computing) to solve real-world problems. However, the results are limited to probabilities, not absolutes. It doesn’t reveal causation. A subset of “narrow AI,” ML is an alternative approach to symbolic artificial intelligence, better at such chores as spotting faces and recognizing voices. There are four types of machine learning: supervised, unsupervised, semi-supervised, and reinforcement learning. A clever computer program that simply mimics human-like behavior can be considered AI, but the computer system itself is not machine learning unless its parameters are automatically informed by data without human intervention. Video: Introduction to Machine Learning

13 Webinars this week about AI, Journalism & Media

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Mon, July 21 - Introduction to Reporting on AI

What: Designed for reporters interested in getting started on reporting on artificial intelligence, even with minimal or no knowledge of AI. We will dissect what makes a good AI accountability story, from quick turnaround stories to more ambitious investigations.

Who: Davey Alba, a New York-based technology reporter for Bloomberg News.

When: 9 am, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Project Multatuli and the Alliance of Independent Journalists Indonesia

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Tue, July 22 – What Journalists Want in 2025

What: Whether you're refining your pitch strategy, planning your next campaign, or simply trying to land better coverage, this session will help you align with what journalists are really looking for in 2025.

Who: Mosheh Oinounou Founder & Editor in Chief, Mo News; Allison Carter Editor-in-Chief, PR Daily & Ragan Communications; Joss Evans Social Team Lead, ITV News.

When: 11 am, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Cision

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Tue, July 22 - How to Use Signal to Protect Documents and Sources

What: With the need for privacy and secure communications increasing, more journalists are turning to the Signal app while newsgathering. The app uses end-to-end encryption for its services that prevents third-parties from viewing the content shared. Join us for an introductory lesson on how to use the app to protect sources, documents and other materials.

Who: Davis Erin Anderson is a senior digital security trainer at Freedom of the Press Foundation; Abigail Lis-Perlis is the Program Manager for the digital security training team at Freedom of the Press Foundation.

When: 12 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: New England First Amendment Coalition.

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Tue, July 22 - Images with ChatGPT

What: In this workshop, you’ll learn how to: Write prompts for ChatGPT + image models (like DALL·E) that yield professional-grade visuals. Learn prompt “styles” tailored to sermon slides, event flyers, social media graphics, and more. Optimize descriptions (e.g., color, mood, composition) for consistent branding. Export, refine, and repurpose images across platforms.

Who: Kenny Jahng, the Editor-in-Chief of ChurchTechToday.com and the Founder of AIforChurchLeaders.com.

When: 1 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: $19

Sponsor: AI for Church Leaders

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Tue, July 22 - Tactics to Turn Newsletter Readers Into Paying Supporters

What: Practical, actionable tactics to help you:  Convert — Discover smart strategies that motivate your readers to become paying supporters. Retain — Learn how to keep those supporters engaged. Prevent churn — Recognize early signs when supporters start to drift away and how to bring them back before you lose them.

Who: Dan Oshinsky, the former Director of Newsletters at BuzzFeed and The New Yorker, and now the founder of Inbox Collective, a consultancy that helps publishers grow their audiences and revenue through email.

When: 2 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Indiegraf

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Wed, July 23 - Strengthening Latino Representation in Newsrooms

What: A solutions-driven conversation rooted in the findings of the issue brief, “Beyond the Byline: The Impact of Latino Journalists on Local Newspaper Coverage During the COVID-19 Pandemic." This new research brief analyzes more than 13 million local news articles to understand how the news media portrays Latino communities—and what happens when Latino journalists are behind the byline.

Who: Francisco I. Pedraza, Director, ASU CLAPR; Julio Ricardo Varela, editor, The Latino Newsletter; Katya Mendoza, reporter, AZ Public Media; Astrid Galván, editor, Axios Texas; Misael Galdámez, senior policy analyst, UCLA LPPI.

When: 1 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute and Arizona State University Center for Latina/os and American Politics Research

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Wed, July 23 - The IP List Info Session

What: How to get your stories into consideration for film and TV.

Who: Christine MacLaren, who runs IP List.

When: 2 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Solutions Journalism Network

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Thu, July 24 - Maximize Holiday Campaign Results with CTV And AI

What: A break down what’s behind the shift from social media to CTV (Connected TV), how leading marketers are staying agile, and how AI is powering smarter, outcome-focused campaigns. Whether you’re finalizing your holiday plans or looking to boost performance, this session will help you rethink your strategy and get more from your budget.  

Who: Rebecca Miller, Director of Corporate Marketing, tvScientific; Tim Sheets, VP of Advertiser Performance, tvScientific; Matt Janusz, VP of revenue, tvScientific.

When: 1 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: tvScientific  

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Thu, July 24 - AI-Enhanced Storytelling & Content Creation

What: Discover how to amplify your nonprofit’s message with storytelling strategies and AI tools. This session equips you with actionable tools to fuel your mission’s success. 

Who: Hailey P Evans, author of EPIC Impact: The Proven Framework to Captivate Supporters in 7 Seconds; Dani Cluff is the Channel Marketing Coordinator at Bloomerang.

When: 2 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Bloomerang

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Thu, July 24 - From Chatbots to AI Agents in College Admissions

What: Discuss the potential of AI agents, how they can benefit admissions, and how they can be properly used to improve the student experience throughout higher ed.

Who: Ian Wilhelm Deputy Managing Editor, The Chronicle of Higher Education.

When: 2 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: The Chronicle of Higher Education

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Thu, July 24 - AI Agents for Summarizing Public Meetings

What: Our Hometown will demo the latest updates to their AI Summarizer for Public Meetings.

Who: Matt Larson is the president & CEO of Our-Hometown.com.

When: 2 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: $35

Sponsor: Online Media Campus

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Fri, July 25 - Public Health Journalism: Lessons from our inaugural journalism fellowship cohort

What: Details from ambitious health reporting projects, including lessons learned, key findings, and tips for practicing this type of journalism.   

Who: Journalists in the cohort of The National Press Club Journalism Institute’s Public Health Reporting Fellowship.

When: 12 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: The National Press Club Journalism Institute

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Fri, July 25 - Prompting with Purpose: Best‑Practice Techniques for Harnessing ChatGPT

What: We will move beyond “trial‑and‑error” prompting and lay out a practical, research‑backed framework you can use immediately in your work, studies, creative projects, or everyday problem-solving.  We will cover the anatomy of an effective prompt, iterative refinement loops, and advanced techniques. Whether you’re exploring ChatGPT for professional, academic, or personal use, you’ll leave with practical tools and repeatable strategies to make ChatGPT more predictable, controllable, and valuable in real-world scenarios.  This session is best suited for a beginner-intermediate audience.

Who: Lauren Oliphant Solutions Engineer at OpenAI.

When: 1 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: OpenAI Academy

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Education needs to adapt to AI

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Education needs to adapt to AI. This means replacing classroom policies that prohibit the use of AI in writing assignments with policies promoting its responsible use. It also means teaching students that AI-generated plagiarism is still plagiarism, and that AI sometimes produces hallucinations. For current college and high school students, the capabilities of AI are no more surprising than internet access was to the people who were young two decades ago. Instructing them not to use AI to help them write makes as little sense as telling students in 2005 not to use the internet for research. -John Villasenor writing for Brookings

18 Articles about AI & Politics

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It aspires to become a god rather than a servant

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If you want to know if there exists a lens with specific properties compatible with a particular model of camera, or seek advice on how to carry out a plumbing repair, ChatGPT can probably be of use. But ChatGPT is much less likely to help you make sense of your inbox or your files, partly because it hasn’t been trained on them—and partly because it aspires to become a god rather than a servant. - Ian Bogost writing in The Atlantic

Inside ‘AI Addiction’ Support Groups

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He would lay awake late into the night, talking to the bots and forgetting about their schoolwork. Using Character.AI is constantly on your mind. It's very hard to focus on anything else, and I realized that wasn’t healthy.” This led him to start the “Character AI Recovery” subreddit. Not everyone who reports being addicted to chatbots is young. In fact, OpenAI’s research found that “the older the participant, the more likely they were to be emotionally dependent on AI chatbots at the end of the study.” -404 Media

32 Recent Articles about AI Fakes

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Israel and Iran use propaganda, disinformation and covert operations aided by artificial intelligence  - New York Times  

Florida woman conned out of $15K after AI clones daughter’s voice – WFLA

How a Canadian's AI hoax duped the media and propelled a 'band' to streaming success – CBC

A Marco Rubio impostor is using AI voice to call high-level officials – Washington Post

Panel with AI experts to review appeal of NTU student penalised for academic misconduct - The Straits Times  

Springer Nature book on machine learning is full of made-up citations – Retraction Watch

How "consumer-grade AI tools have supercharged Russian-aligned disinformation – Wired

How to Detect AI Writing: Tips and Tricks to Tell if Something Is Written With AI – CNET

How AI-generated content & misinformation are corrupting online academic resources, creating a "zombie" internet where errors and fake science perpetuate – The Dispatch  

Digital Literacy in the Age of AI: How to Fight Misinformation – Ed Tech Magazine  

AI Chatbots Are Making LA Protest Disinformation Worse - Wired

454 Hints That a Chatbot Wrote Part of a Biomedical Researcher’s Paper – New York Times

OpenAI takes down covert operations using social media tied to China and other countries – NPR 

Wired Envisions a Deepfake Future you’re not prepared for – Wired

AI is perfecting scam emails, making phishing hard to catch - Axios

Veo 3 AI video generator is a slop monger’s dream – The Verge

AI models hallucinate less than humans — just in “more surprising ways”  - Tech Crunch

Chicago Sun-Times Prints AI-Generated Summer Reading List With Books That Don't Exist – 404 Media

Trump signs bill criminalizing revenge porn and explicit deepfakes - TechCrunch

Fake AI images are already manipulating you, and this crazy controversy is proof - BGR

Musk's xAI blames Grok's "white genocide" responses on unauthorized update - Axios

Music streaming service Deezer adds AI song tags in fight against fraud – Associated Press

Scammers use AI to spoof senior U.S. officials' voices, FBI warns - Axios

A.I. Videos Have Never Been Better. Can You Tell What’s Real? – New York Times

Denmark to tackle deepfakes by giving people copyright to their own features -
The Guardian

AI has probably already faked one of your memories. Here's what that means – BBC

How to Spot Fake Reviews on Amazon – Wired

Journalist says 4,000 fake AI news websites created to game Google algorithms – Press Gazette

What Are Deepfakes? Everything to Know About These AI Image and Video Forgeries - CNET

AI and disinformation fuel political tensions in the Philippines – Al Jazeera 

AI is polluting truth in journalism. Here’s how to disrupt the misinformation feedback loop. – Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

A racist campaign message caused ire among Oklahoma Democrats. But it wasn't real, it was AI – The Oklahoman

The jobs of Experienced Coders

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The combination of higher salaries and a reluctance to embrace A.I. was likely to put the jobs of experienced coders at risk. “How you decrease cost is not by firing the cheapest employees you have. You take the cheapest employee and make them worth the expensive employee. In a recent study by researchers at Microsoft and three universities, an A.I. coding assistant appeared to increase the productivity of junior developers substantially more than it increased the productivity of their more experienced colleagues.” -New York Times