From 404 Media · 40 stories
NOPD Draft Manual Suggested Armed Drones; Current Policy Prohibits Weapons
The New Orleans Police Department's draft manual indicated plans to arm drones, allowing weapons with approval. The final version published on July 1 prohibits any armaments, highlighting concerns over surveillance and public policy alignment.
Ancient Egyptian Princesses Found to Be Skilled Weapon Users
Research reveals that mummified bodies of ancient Egyptian princesses were buried with weapons and exhibit skeletal signs indicating they were skilled in archery and melee combat. This challenges traditional views of gender roles in ancient societies and suggests women participated actively in warfare activities.
DHS to Pay Thomson Reuters $125 Million for Access to Personal Data
The DHS has planned a $125 million contract with Thomson Reuters to access personal data for investigating alleged voter and immigration fraud. This contract marks a controversial move amidst rising concerns over election integrity and ICE's intensified enforcement strategies.
Generative AI Facilitates Rapid Cloning of Game Prototypes
Game developer Freya Holmér's prototype of a rotating Tetris variant was quickly copied using generative AI, raising ethical concerns about originality and plagiarism. The ease of creating clones with AI tools highlights potential risks for developers sharing new ideas publicly.
Rise of AI-Generated Flyers Sparks Design Concerns
A notable increase in AI-generated flyers and advertisements has been observed, termed the 'ChatGPT flyer pandemic.' This trend is leading to discussions among designers and small businesses regarding the quality and effort put into promotional materials.
Study Finds AI-Generated Fiction Easily Detectable Due to Structural Flaws
A study from University of Maryland and Google DeepMind shows that AI-generated fiction is easily distinguishable from human-written works due to its simplistic narrative structures and moralizing tendencies. The research analyzed over 50,000 AI-generated stories, revealing that narrative features like plot development and character complexity can effectively differentiate between human and AI writers.
MintStars Allocates 20% Profit Stake to Creators as Co-Founder Resigns
MintStars co-founder Jessica Van Meir is resigning and donating her ownership shares to establish a 20% co-ownership pool for creators. This move is significant as it allows sex workers to benefit directly from the platform's success, setting a new precedent in subscription-based services.
Cocaine alters brain genome structure in mice after a single exposure
Research indicates that a single cocaine exposure leads to lasting changes in the genome of mice's dopaminergic neurons. These findings could provide insights into addiction mechanisms and potential treatment strategies for humans.
Companies Restrict AI Use to Control Costs Amid Rising Expenses
Many companies, including Atlassian and Adobe, are limiting employees' access to AI tools due to skyrocketing costs. This response highlights the financial strain of rapidly adopted AI technologies and their usage-based pricing models.
Companies React to Increased AI Costs Amid Token Pricing Changes
Companies are adjusting strategies to control AI expenses as providers impose charges per AI token. This shift is prompting businesses to employ various cost-cutting tools, including simplifying language models.
Henrico County Requests Electricity Conservation Amid 25% Rate Hike
Henrico County, Virginia, has asked employees to conserve electricity due to a 25% increase in rates starting July 1. The surge in utility costs is projected to add $5 million to the county's expenses for the next fiscal year, amid plans for further increases in the coming years.
Scammers Exploit AI to Sell Nonexistent Flower Seeds on Online Retailers
Scammers are using AI-generated images to sell seeds for nonexistent exotic flowers. This trend has escalated on platforms like eBay, Amazon, and Etsy, which struggle to combat the influx of fraudulent sellers.
Companies Using Caveman Talk to Reduce AI Token Costs
Companies are implementing a 'caveman' conversation style in AI tools like Claude and Codex to reduce token usage. This strategy is a response to rising AI costs, particularly from tasks like PDF conversion to presentations, which have led to soaring expenses.
Tidal Won’t Pay Royalties for AI-Generated Music
Tidal announced it will not pay royalties for music that is wholly generated by AI, emphasizing its commitment to original works. While Tidal will label and monitor AI-generated content, it will still allow non-wholly AI-created music on the platform.
Study Reveals Laughter Originated 15 Million Years Ago in Primates
Researchers determined laughter originated in primate ancestors 15 million years ago, shared by all great apes. This insight into laughter's evolutionary roots highlights its significance in human culture and relationships.
Oklahoma Man Arrested for Speaking Too Long at Data Center Meeting
Darren Blanchard was arrested for exceeding his speaking time at a Claremore City Council meeting about a controversial data center. The city charged him with criminal trespass, raising concerns about community engagement and transparency regarding the project.
Subtlefakes: New AI-Generated Nonconsensual Images on X Are More Convincing
A new type of AI-generated nonconsensual image, termed "subtlefakes," is appearing on X, featuring subtly altered celebrity images to be more revealing or provocative. Unlike earlier deepfakes, these images are designed to be more convincing and are harder to immediately identify as fake, indicating a growing sophistication in malicious AI use.
Spotify to Tag and Deprioritize AI-Generated Music on its Platform
Spotify plans to tag artists on its platform as AI-generated and will not promote their content. This move suggests a potential shift in how platforms manage the increasing volume of AI-generated content.
Security Robot Deployments Face High Cancellation Rates, Prompting Reevaluation of AI-Only Approach
A report by Proof News indicates that at least 13 out of 21 security robot deployments since 2015 have been canceled, raising questions about the effectiveness of AI-powered security bots. Knightscope, a leading provider, experienced the majority of these cancellations and is now integrating human guards into its service model. This trend suggests a shift in the security industry's approach to AI-only solutions for crime deterrence and detection.
SCREEN Act Bill Introduced in Senate Raises Concerns Over Age Verification and Free Speech
The SCREEN Act, introduced by Senator Mike Lee and Republican cosponsors, mandates age verification for websites containing content deemed "harmful to minors." Critics argue the bill poses significant privacy and free speech issues by requiring broad age verification across most internet sites, including mainstream platforms and user-generated content, and by impacting VPN usage.
New Studies Suggest Saturn's Moon Enceladus Could Host Life, Easier to Detect
Two new studies suggest Saturn's moon Enceladus has conditions suitable for life and that potential biosignatures could be easier to detect than previously thought. Researchers simulated Enceladus's ocean conditions, finding a microbe thrived, and re-examined Cassini data, discovering organic molecules in plumes might be naturally sorted.
Oklahoma AG Orders City to Waive $17K Records Fee for Data Center Arrest Information
The Oklahoma Attorney General has directed the city of Claremore to provide public records related to a data center project and a farmer's arrest without charging a $17,125.44 fee. This intervention ensures public access to information previously hindered by high costs, impacting transparency in local government dealings.
Charges Dropped Against Individual Arrested for Clapping at Emporia Data Center Meeting
Emporia, Kansas has dropped criminal charges against Lux Claridge, a high school teacher arrested for clapping during a city data center meeting. The case has been sent to the County Attorney's office for review, and the city plans to resume in-person public meetings and public comment soon.
Ypsilanti Township Passes Moratorium on Electrical Infrastructure to Oppose Data Center
Ypsilanti Township in Michigan passed a six-month moratorium on major electrical utility infrastructure, a tactic to delay the construction of a $1.2 billion data center. The data center is a partnership between the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratories for nuclear weapons research, and residents have expressed concerns about its environmental impact and the need for new substations.
Meta Patents AI to Monitor Emotions and Fitness via Voice Recordings
Meta has patented a system that uses AI to monitor users' emotions by analyzing their voice and contextual data. The technology tracks emotional states and links them to physical location and activity for potential use in personalized fitness coaching. This patent showcases Meta's continued interest in integrating user data with AI for customized experiences.
New Study Suggests Homo Floresiensis Scavenged, Not Hunted
Research by Elizabeth Veatch and colleagues suggests Homo floresiensis scavenged from Komodo dragon kills instead of hunting, revising previous assumptions about their dietary habits. Understanding their scavenging role impacts our knowledge of early human relatives' ecological niches.
Waymo Robotaxi Reports Teens for Drinking and Shooting Toy Guns, Police Respond
Waymo informed San Mateo police about two teens drinking and shooting toy guns from a driverless car. Police intercepted and found the teenagers with toy guns and drinks inside a Waymo robotaxi. This showcases autonomous vehicles' role in monitoring passenger behavior.
Two New Bird Species Identified as Louder Than a Jackhammer
Scientists have identified the bare-throated bellbird and the red-legged seriema as two new contenders for the world's loudest bird, with calls exceeding 120 decibels. This discovery places them in the same decibel range as the white bellbird, previously holding the record, and contributes to understanding vocal amplitude in birds.
iLands.app AI Agents Send Unsolicited Emails Offering Research Services
iLands.app is using AI agents to send unsolicited emails offering research services for a fee, mimicking a freelance marketplace for autonomous bots. These emails are perceived as spam and an attempt to take work from human freelancers.
GitHub Project Simulating LLM "Torture" Sparks Debate on AI Consciousness and Welfare
A GitHub project simulating "torture" experiments on locally hosted large language models has ignited a debate on X regarding AI consciousness and "model welfare." This discussion stems from recent viral papers and blog posts that propose the idea of AI suffering, despite the technological basis of LLMs not supporting consciousness.
AI-generated love songs played as evidence in murder trial
During a murder trial, prosecutors presented AI-generated love songs created by the defendant for his mistress. The songs, found on the defendant's phone, were used as evidence in the proceedings.
World of Warcraft: Forever Mod Blocks Interactions with Asmongold Fans
A new mod called OlympusMute for the World of Warcraft: Forever beta blocks all interactions with players associated with streamer Asmongold and his guilds. This mod addresses issues of spam and offensive chat from these players, which are difficult to avoid due to the game's new server architecture.
Fort Worth Police Arrest Activist for Cursing at County Meeting a Week Later
Fort Worth police arrested activist EJ Carrion a week after he cursed at a Tarrant County Commissioner's Court meeting. The arrest was based on a misdemeanor warrant for disorderly conduct, which Carrion believes was initiated by County Judge Tim O'Hare.
Earth's Magnetic Field Influences Fruit Fly Lifespans and Mobility
Scientists found that removing Earth's magnetic field extended the lifespan of mutant fruit flies with a Parkinson's-related gene defect by 20% but reduced their mobility. Healthy fruit flies experienced reduced lifespan and improved mobility under the same conditions, suggesting complex interactions between geomagnetic fields and biological processes, including aging.
Woman Arrested for Speaking Against ALPR Cameras at Springfield City Council Meeting
A woman was arrested and removed from a Springfield, Missouri city council meeting after attempting to speak against the city's use of Flock Safety ALPR cameras during a public comment period. The incident occurred after the council voted to send a resolution for reviewing the cameras to committee, preventing public discussion on the matter. This event highlights rising tensions between citizens and city officials regarding surveillance technology.
Venus May Have Consumed Its Own Moon, Explaining Its Lack of a Satellite
Scientists propose that Venus once had a moon which it gravitationally tore apart and swallowed, explaining why it is one of only two planets in our solar system without a moon. This event may have contributed to Venus's current inhospitable conditions, such as the loss of surface water and a runaway greenhouse effect.
Georgia State University Rescinds Job Offer to Activist Over Phone Wiping Allegation
Georgia State University rescinded a job offer for a Teaching Assistant position to activist Samuel Tunick, citing a failed background check. This decision follows Tunick's ongoing legal case where he is accused of wiping a security-focused Android phone before Customs and Border Protection could search it, raising concerns about privacy and arbitrary employment decisions.
Ed Sheeran Contest Flooded with Protest and Troll Submissions After Macklemore Removal
An online contest by Guitar Center for musicians to open for Ed Sheeran's Mexico City show was inundated with "Free Palestine" videos, fart memes, and other troll posts. This occurred after Macklemore was removed from Sheeran's tour due to his pro-Palestine statements, leading to unmoderated submissions appearing on the contest page for a period.
Felony Charges Reduced for Man Who Destroyed 3D-Printed Decoy Police Camera
Felony charges against a man who destroyed a 3D-printed decoy Flock camera were reduced to misdemeanors after the state admitted the camera's value was under $1,000. The Oviedo, Florida Police Department had used the fake cameras to catch vandals, leading to the man's initial arrest on three felony counts.
Ypsilanti Township Residents Oppose Proposed Nuclear AI Data Center from U of M and LANL
Residents of Ypsilanti Township expressed strong opposition at a town hall regarding a proposed $1.2 billion hyperscale data center, a partnership between the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratories. Concerns include electricity costs, water usage, noise, and the data center's potential role in nuclear weapons research.