Author: Frank Salvato

Artificial intelligence is rapidly eroding the traditional boundary between what is real and what is artificially generated, creating unprecedented challenges for individuals, institutions, and society. As AI systems become capable of producing convincing text, images, audio, and video, distinguishing authentic information from fabricated content is becoming increasingly difficult. The technology’s growing sophistication offers enormous benefits in productivity and creativity, but it also increases the potential for deception, fraud, misinformation, and manipulation. The accelerating pace of AI development suggests that technological innovation is outpacing society’s ability to establish reliable safeguards, making media literacy, authentication technologies, and responsible governance increasingly essential. Sources…

Amazon’s construction of a reported $2 billion data center in Gilroy, California, has ignited controversy after many residents discovered the project only after construction was already underway. Although the company followed existing local zoning rules and completed the required environmental review process, approval was granted administratively by a city official without public hearings or a city council vote because of decades-old zoning regulations. The episode has fueled broader concerns over transparency, public participation, and government accountability as communities across the country grapple with the rapid expansion of AI-driven data centers. Local officials are now considering changes that would require future…

A new generation of sodium-ion batteries is moving from the laboratory into commercial production, offering the United States and its allies a potentially significant alternative to lithium-ion technology and the China-dominated battery supply chain. Built from abundant materials such as sodium derived from table salt, these batteries promise lower costs, improved fire safety, longer operational life for stationary applications, and reduced reliance on critical minerals largely controlled by Beijing. While sodium-ion batteries remain less energy-dense than lithium-ion cells—making them less suitable for most passenger electric vehicles—they are increasingly viewed as an attractive solution for grid-scale energy storage, data centers, and…

A decade after AlphaGo’s astonishing “Move 37” stunned the world’s top Go players, that singular moment has become an enduring symbol of artificial intelligence’s transition from pattern recognition to genuine problem-solving and creative strategy. The article argues that the same type of unexpected breakthroughs once confined to board games are now appearing across mathematics, scientific research, software development, and autonomous AI systems. Demis Hassabis, the driving force behind AlphaGo and later AlphaFold, contends that AI has moved beyond theoretical promise into practical reality, while cautioning that humanity must pair these extraordinary advances with equally serious attention to safety, governance, and…

A new study has intensified debate over ideological balance in AI-driven news aggregation after finding that Yahoo News’ AI-powered “Yahoo 100” feature overwhelmingly favored left-leaning news outlets while drawing only about 3% of its featured articles from right-leaning publications during a three-month review period. According to the analysis, conducted by the Media Research Center using AllSides media-bias classifications, roughly 70% of the 1,218 articles examined originated from left-leaning sources. Yahoo has stated that its AI products prioritize “authoritative sources,” while critics argue that such standards are being applied in ways that systematically disadvantage conservative publishers. The findings add to a…

New York’s legal campaign against prediction market platform Kalshi has intensified debate over whether state officials are applying the law consistently, as critics question why Polymarket has not faced similar enforcement despite offering comparable event-based trading. The dispute centers on whether prediction markets should be treated as federally regulated financial exchanges or as state-regulated gambling operations. Kalshi argues that it operates under federal oversight through the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, while New York maintains that many of its contracts amount to illegal gambling under state law. The controversy has also become increasingly political, with opponents of Gov. Kathy Hochul and…

Uber is preparing to launch its own robotaxi service in the San Francisco Bay Area later this year, marking the company’s most aggressive push yet into autonomous ride-hailing after years of setbacks and strategic restructuring. Rather than developing its own self-driving technology, Uber has partnered with electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid and autonomous driving company Nuro to deploy premium Lucid Gravity SUVs equipped with Level 4 autonomous systems. The move places Uber in direct competition with Waymo and Zoox in one of the nation’s most closely watched autonomous vehicle markets. Company executives say the Bay Area rollout is the first step…

A growing majority of Americans believe the nation’s largest social media companies require stronger government oversight, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll that found 61% of respondents support increased regulation of the industry. The survey also found broad bipartisan support for age-verification requirements intended to prevent children under 16 from accessing social media platforms, underscoring mounting concern over youth mental health, addictive platform design, and the influence of algorithm-driven content. The findings arrive as technology companies continue facing lawsuits, state investigations, and legislative proposals centered on claims that social media platforms have failed to adequately protect younger users. Together, the…

Artificial intelligence is rapidly moving from the workplace and classroom into one of the most intimate corners of human life: the therapist’s chair. Millions of people already confide their fears, relationships, addictions, anxieties, and darkest thoughts to chatbots. As AI agents become more sophisticated, some will inevitably function as always-available psychotherapists—remembering conversations, detecting emotional patterns, offering advice, and developing what can feel remarkably like a relationship with the user. There are legitimate benefits here. But a society that enthusiastically hands psychological care to machines without first establishing firm ethical boundaries risks discovering that technological convenience is no substitute for human…

California lawmakers are advancing legislation that would place new guardrails around artificial intelligence systems marketed or used as therapists, reflecting growing concern that increasingly sophisticated chatbots are providing mental health advice without the oversight, training, accountability, or ethical obligations required of licensed professionals. The proposed legislation, SB 903, would prohibit companies from advertising or offering AI-powered therapy unless the service is conducted by a licensed mental health professional, while still allowing clinicians to use AI for limited administrative or supplementary purposes under strict supervision and with informed patient consent. Supporters argue the measure is necessary as more people—particularly younger users—turn…