The metaverse could change our religious experiences, and create new ones
New technologies have always informed and changed our religious experiences. Listening to early radio broadcasts in the 1880s was experienced by many as religious because radio voices seemed to come from some other dimension. ...
May 14, 2024
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Just believing that an AI is helping boosts your performance, study finds
Sometimes it seems like an AI is helping, but the benefit is actually a placebo effect—people performing better simply because they expect to be doing so—according to new research from Aalto University. The study also ...
May 13, 2024
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Chatbots tell people what they want to hear, researchers find
Chatbots share limited information, reinforce ideologies, and, as a result, can lead to more polarized thinking when it comes to controversial issues, according to new Johns Hopkins University–led research.
May 13, 2024
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Coming out to a chatbot? Researchers explore the limitations of mental health chatbots in LGBTQ+ communities
Today, there are dozens of large language model (LLM) chatbots aimed at mental health care—addressing everything from loneliness among seniors to anxiety and depression in teens.
May 13, 2024
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Female health apps misuse highly sensitive data, study finds
Apps designed for female health monitoring are exposing users to unnecessary privacy and safety risks through their poor data handling practices, according to new research from King's College London and University College ...
May 13, 2024
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Amazon's new fees on sellers likened to 'kick in the gut'
Amazon.com Inc. merchants have found themselves caught in an economic vice. Earlier this year, the e-commerce giant rolled out changes to the fees its charges them—essentially shifting more of its operating costs onto the ...
May 10, 2024
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Wearable devices can now harvest neural data—urgent privacy reforms needed
Recent trends show Australians are increasingly buying wearables such as smartwatches and fitness trackers. These electronics track our body movements or vital signs to provide data throughout the day, with or without the ...
May 10, 2024
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Apple apologizes for iPad 'Crush' ad after backlash
Apple apologized on Thursday after an ad for its latest-edition iPad caused an uproar for showing an industrial press crushing objects linked to human creativity, infuriating artists.
May 10, 2024
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AI companions can relieve loneliness: Here are four red flags to watch for in your chatbot 'friend'
It's been seven years since the launch of Replika, an artificially intelligent chatbot designed to be a friend to human users. Despite early warnings about the dangers of such AI friends, interest in friendships and even ...
May 9, 2024
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Microsoft's Xbox is planning more cuts after studio closings
The sudden closure of several video-game studios at Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox division was the result of a widespread cost-cutting initiative that still isn't finished.
May 9, 2024
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