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Apple Stock Falls Nearly 2% Before Earnings as Upgrade Program Launches
Investors are weighing expected double-digit revenue growth against margins, component costs and Apple's new device-leasing strategy.
Mandela Barnes drops out of Democratic primary race for Wisconsin governor
The former lieutenant governor made the announcement in a video posted on his Facebook page as democratic socialist Francesca Hong has garnered strong support from the liberal wing of the party.
ICYMI: Sen. Banks Joins Kudlow on Fox Business Network
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) joined Kudlow on Fox Business Network to discussIran’s failed attack on U.S. military forces, the impending American response, the Republican agenda ahead of the 2026 Midterms, and the importance of passing the SAVE America Act. Click the image above for the full discussion. Key Excerpts on Iran strikes: Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.): “It’s the […]
Chrome Needs Twice-a-Week Patching Thanks to AI Bug Hunting
The two Chrome updates in June patched more bugs than the 23 updates before them. Now, Google is ramping up its patching schedule thanks to AI-assisted vulnerability discovery.
Essentia Health-Fosston expands access to specialty care
As rural health systems experience mounting challenges, Essentia Health-Fosston is embracing innovation to ensure patients can receive care from expert specialists close to home.
The New Friend AI Pendant Can Now Talk Back to You
Avi Schiffmann has a new version of his controversial AI companion. It’s more expensive, and you can’t change its personality.
Free Play Days – WWE 2K26, Polterguys: Possession Party and Wildgate
This weekend, Polterguys: Possession Party is available this weekend for XBOX Game Pass members, while WWE 2K26 and Wildgate are free for all. Jump in!
Hamilton County families urged to get school vaccines before classes begin
With the first day of school approaching, the Hamilton County Health and Social Services Division is encouraging parents to schedule their children's required v
Even GB News cringes as Reform turns dementia patients into a political football
Honest Bob was rattled at the idea of joining cross-party talks on social care. Why bother behaving as a serious opposition?
Hims & Hers sued over sending users health info to social media platforms
Digital telehealth platform Hims & Hers is facing a civil lawsuit over accusations of sending users’ health information to online advertisers after promising privacy.
Japanese politics is becoming less of a turn-off for the young
Social-media-savvy politicians are drawing them in
Preeclampsia rates in minority communities shed light on the social roots of maternal health disparities
Disproportionate rates of preeclampsia – a potentially dangerous pregnancy complication – in immigrant populations reflect the physical toll of social and economic insecurities.
Community Spotlight: Charm City Care Connection | Center for Mental Health and Addiction Policy
Charm City Care Connection built its East Baltimore drop-in center around health care, dignity, and belonging.
UNC Health Pardee Welcomes Three New Providers to Pardee BlueMD
UNC Health Pardee Welcomes Three New Providers to Pardee BlueMD
Research Says This Is The Best Way To Walk For Heart Health
In TODAY.com’s Expert Tip of the Day, a researcher reveals the best way to walk for a “higher, better” impact on health.
After Hobbes vs Rousseau: Politics must move beyond human nature
Since the great debate between Hobbes and Rousseau, our political theory has been organised around a single question: is human nature essentially good or essentially corrupt? Graham Harman, the philosopher behind object-oriented ontology, argues that this is simply the wrong question to be asking. The real forces governing our collective fate - climate change, artificial intelligence, geography, and pandemics - are non-human; therefore, questions about human nature are not the central ones. Instead, Harman proposes a politics reorganised around our relationship to non-human objects and environments, in which quasi-government institutions incentivise and deter actions with the aim of extending the survival of the human race. “It is easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism.” This has become one of the most popular phrases among twenty-first-century intellectuals. Often misattributed to Fredric Jameson, it has been warmly embraced by such influential authors as Slavoj Žižek and the tragically departed Mark Fisher, and has fueled the notion that the major problem with the political Left is that it simply needs to become more speculative and creative. Naturally, this is never a bad idea in any human pursuit. But what if the political distinction between Left, Right, and Center itself results from a failure of imagination? SUGGESTED READING Hobbes vs Rousseau: are we inherently evil? By Robin Douglass This particular division has been with us only since the summer of 1789. During the simmering prelude to the French Revolution, it referred originally to the physical position in the National Assembly of radical figures on one side and loyal monarchists on the other. These positions are linked with two entirely different camps of modern political theory. On the Left we find a series of authors ranging from the moderate (Locke) to the supercharged (Rousseau) to the truly radical (Marx), all of them contending that exploitation of the many by the few justifies revolutionary overthrow of the existing order. On the Right they are countered by the likes of Machiavelli, Hobbes, and Schmitt, a group of thinkers convinced that corrupt human nature can be tamed only by force. In the words of the Nazi supporter Schmitt: “One could test all theories of nature and state and political ideas according to their anthropology and classify these as to whether they consciously or unconsciously presuppose [humans] to be by nature evil or by nature good.” This is the division we continue to face today, even in the daily retail politics of Western democracies.___Our species has regularly proven itself capable of both the noblest gestures and the most scathing cruelties, making it hard to define us as essentially either emancipatory or brutal in our aims.___The most refreshing feature of David Graeber and David Wengrow’s 2021 book The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity was their awareness that the forced choice between Rousseau and Hobbes (as they put it) is no longer sufficient. Our species has regularly proven itself capable of both the noblest gestures and the most scathing cruelties, making it hard to define us as essentially either emancipatory or brutal in our aims. Far from being stationed “beyond good and evil,” we seem to be fully entangled with both. We are not naturally good or evil, Graeber and Wengrow contend, but naturally experimental and imaginative. They rest their case on the archaeological record, which seems to bear witness to numerous episodes of seasonally shifting governments and festivals, which vacillate in the same society (even in the same year) between the egalitarian and the dictatorial. Such praise of political experiment makes a good fit with the generally anarchist position defended by these authors. Yet it is also what I find most disappointing in their position. Although they are right that the forced choice between Hobbes and Rousseau falls short of what our new situation requires, the authors simply replace it with praise for the human being as a political tinkerer and performer. In other words, they give us just another theory of human nature, one that would not have been out of place in the sixteenth or seventeenth century. What other options might we have?___The time is ripe for a retheorization of politics on the basis of something other than human nature… We are not just alienated and limited by objects, but also empowered and unleashed by them___One fresh approach would be to treat politics within a broader framework than human nature, given that the polis does not exist in a vacuum filled exclusively with people. When Bruno Latour went to observe the baboons of Kenya with the San Diego anthropologist Shirley Strum, they jointly concluded that these primates were more socially interdependent than our own species. Each baboon is so reliant on the dynamics of the group that they find themselves locked into constant surveillance of their potentially dangerous peers. The group structure turns out to be inherently volatile. Humans, by contrast, are able to stabilize their societies to a large degree through the mediation of inanimate objects. Although one’s position in society may seem to fluctuate over time, considerable stability is produced through such items as apartment keys, wedding rings, and identification cards, all of them serving to secure us a place distinct from that of our fellows. The Italian philosopher Maurizio Ferraris has written at length about the crucial role of documents in establishing social relations, making him a hero among notaries in his country. Proper names and license plates cement our position amidst other humans, as do symbolic achievements such as graduation from a top university or distinguished wartime service with its various medals and ribbons. None of this is found among baboons, despite their closeness to us on the evolutionary tree: after all, we did share a common ancestor just 25 to 30 million years ago. SUGGESTED VIEWING The goodness paradox With Richard Wrangham The time is ripe for a retheorization of politics on the basis of something other than human nature, whether understood in the manner of the Left or of the Right. We are not just alienated and limited by objects, but also empowered and unleashed by them. But initially, it is true, we face non-human things primarily in the form of constraints. It would be difficult, perhaps impossible, to form a human civilization underwater, deep underground, atop Mount Everest, or in outer space. Human dependence on the non-social background takes on subtler form in discussions of political geography, especially unloved on the more idealistic Left. Consider the luckless position of Poland during World War II, sandwiched between Hitler on one side and Stalin on the other. By contrast, note the good fortune of the United States in not having a military peer positioned on any land border. Anglo-American geopolitics, since the writings of the American naval commander Alfred Thayer Mahan and the British geographer Sir Halford Mackinder, has been wedded to the notion that one or more liberal offshore naval powers should prevent any authoritarian “heartland” regime from gaining effective control of Eurasia. That remains the case whether the opponent is the impatient Napoleon, the swashbuckling German Kaiser, the villainous Hitler, the murderous Stalin, or the industrial juggernaut Chinese. In their current Foreign Affairs article “Heartland vs. Rimland,” Michael Beckley and Hal Brands analyze the current and coming state of the world on the basis of these same rather durable principles. In recent years a similar outlook has been embraced, in inverted form, by the Putin-loving Russian philosopher Aleksandr Dugin, an icon of the Rightist intellectual underworld. For Dugin, the Anglo-Saxons are an evil force bent on destroying the spiritually superior people of the land: much like Athens in its failed war with Sparta, or Carthage in its eventual collapse against Rome. But the shared notion on both sides is that any strategy that fails to take geography into account is likely to end up as a defeated form of excessive optimism.___When dealing with environmental degradation, then, we are doing business with forces that promise dire effects on our species as a whole.___More striking for us today than geography is the non-human object called climate, which threatens rimland and heartland equally. Even if we contend that humans are one hundred percent responsible for triggering the climate crisis, it remains non-human in the sense of being an independent force beyond our effective control. In a major work published just before his death in 2002, The Structure of Evolutionary Theory, the American paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould noted the tendency of evolutionary theorists to focus too closely on the fate of individuals in view of their successful or failed adaptation to circumstances. With climate change, however, we confront a force that goes well beyond the scope of any individual life. Whereas Richard Dawkins extended evolutionary questions downward from individuals to the sub-individual gene, Gould pushed it upward, speaking of entire species or clades as impacted by environmental change. The asteroid that struck the Yucatán 66 million years ago is only the most famous example of this sort. In the wake of that catastrophe, large animals needing abundant supplies of food were at a fatal disadvantage by contrast with the smaller birds and mammals of the planet. When dealing with environmental degradation, then, we are doing business with forces that promise dire effects on our species as a whole. The effect is to shift our attention away from individual beings towards the survival of the group.In the United States in particular, the COVID-19 pandemic sparked considerable backlash among those who asserted a nearly absolute degree of individual freedom. In California I encountered those who demanded that their businesses be allowed to reopen, that it was enough to cover their mouths but not their noses, or that they should have the right to enter any public area despite refusing vaccination. Yet public health is probably the clearest argument against libertarianism, which often merely asserts the autonomy of individuals against any claims of the commons. In normal times the individual is worth defending; under conditions that threaten the survival of part or all of our species, compulsion may be our only resort, as with perfectly reasonable blackouts and rations in wartime. To rebuild human society under the constraints of climate change will be one of the great challenges of the century to come, as will our improvised grappling with artificial intelligence. Such phenomena pose existential risks for humanity, and leave far less room for tolerance of individual brattiness. Cases are mounting of devastating wildfires caused by arson. Recently it was reported that there is even a website where one can bet on the location of coming wildfires, raising the specter of deliberate blazes set to collect on wagers. The death penalty has steadily lost support in a world where many stress the infinite value of human life. But if we focus instead on entire ecosystems, those who purposely burn the forests may begin to look worse than serial murderers.___The politics of the future may be splintered by disagreement over such topics as how to manage our environing background and how to permit or restrict the entry of new objects into the political sphere.___So far I have spoken of force, authority, and punishment: measures sure to have greater appeal to those who identify with what we know as the Right. But other implications of the post-anthropocentric world are likely to have different backers. If non-human objects are seen as structuring political space, it stands to reason that they can no longer be introduced solely by the pace of technical breakthrough. Fields ranging from cybernetics to energy will demand increased politicization once they are reconceived not just as products of individual human investment, but as renovations of collective political geography. This need not involve world government, with its inherent risk of tyranny, but may involve quasi-governmental enforcers of prestige along the lines of a less corrupt FIFA or International Olympic Committee, punishing deviant states not with violence but with less tangible incentives.Politics will never lose its historic links with conflict and faction. But rather than factions aligned by differing theories of human nature, the politics of the future may be splintered by disagreement over such topics as how to manage our environing background and how to permit or restrict the entry of new objects into the political sphere. This will prove just as incommensurable with the modern Left/Right spectrum as a globe is with a two-dimensional map.
Colorado’s 72-hour social media warrant law takes effect Aug. 12
A law requiring social media platforms to respond to search warrants within 72 hours goes into effect on Aug. 12. Senate Bill 011 also requires platforms to create a staffed hotline for Colorado law enforcement agencies to contact regarding pending search warrants. The bill is a pared-down version of last year’s Senate Bill 086, which […]
Most Americans say they would not back a democratic socialist for president
Left-leaning candidates have been gaining strength in recent primaries, posing challenges for a Democratic Party that is debating how to win mass appeal in 2028.
Hackers invaded the social site of a Miami business. Could yours be next?
How to protect your firm from online hackers.
ArcelorMittal Posts Fall in Net Profit But Sees Improved Outlook for European Business
The steelmaker said supportive trade measures had improved the prospects for its European business and expects second-half sales to outperform those of the first.
Michael Morales-UFC 330 rumors on potential fight debunked
Budding contender Michael Morales stirs up a possible fight booking on social media. Reports suggest otherwise, though.
North Dakota launches new round of Rural Health Transformation funding opportunities | Health and Human Services North Dakota
North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) is launching a new wave of funding opportunities totaling approximately $50.5 million through the North Dakota Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), with several applications now open and additional opportunities to be released over the coming days. Together, they represent another major step in implementing the state's nearly $200 million in Year 1 Rural Health Transformation Program funding to strengthen rural healthcare.
Meta stock drops 10% as free cash flow gets crushed—and Zuckerberg hints at launching cloud business with few details
Meta's quarterly results showcased the strength of its core social media business, as well as the gap in its business model in the AI arm's race.
Neither party is talking about what voters actually care about
Politicians are fixated on social media outrage while voters remain focused on the economy and inflation.
Childcare Gaps Cost NJ Businesses $2.28B
In New Jersey, childcare is often framed as a family issue, a social issue, or an education issue. It is all those things – but it is also a
Political Science 101: Socialism vs. Communism
Now, either the President of the United States doesn’t understand the differences between democratic socialism, which is an economic philosophy that is gaining some momentum on the far left right now, particularly among younger voters, and communism; or Trump is merely slinging emotionally-charged rhetoric at people who also don’t understand the distinctions. There is a word for that technique; it’s called “propaganda.”
Cigna Reports Earnings Thursday With New CEO, New Business Model
Cigna Group will report its earnings on Thursday under its new chief executive, Brian Evanko. It’s transitioning its pharmacy benefits business to a rebate-free model.
Dellinger closes out entertainment at 2026 San Diego County Fair
Temecula disc jockey Mikie Dellinger was the final entertainment act of the 2026 San Diego County Fair.This year’s fair began June 10 and concluded July 5. Dellinger performed on the O’Brien Stage by the fair’s entrance and exit July 5 from 10:00 p.m. to just before the fair’s 11:00 p.m. closing
Schumer dodges question on whether DSA belongs in Democratic Party
Chuck Schumer dodged a question about whether the Democratic Socialists of America platform belongs in the Democratic Party amid socialist primary wins.
Meta narrows annual capex forecast as AI buildout grows
Meta Platforms narrowed the range of its forecast for annual capital expenditure on Wednesday, as the social media giant doubles down on building a fleet of data centers to expand its AI computing power
Cyclosporiasis Outbreak 2026 Map, Foods to Avoid as Parasite Cases Hit 45 States
A massive outbreak of the “explosive diarrhea parasite” cyclospora has been linked to shredded lettuce. Where are cases rising, and what are the other possible sources?
Former Democratic staffers, DEI leaders shape Smithsonian leadership amid political firestorm
A Fox News Digital review of public biographies and social media profiles identified roughly two dozen individuals employed by the Smithsonian in leadership positions or as curators who worked for Democratic offices or progressive nonprofits before being hired.
Health-ISAC warns of rising ShinyHunters data theft attacks on healthcare
Health-ISAC is warning healthcare and medical technology organizations of an observed increase in successful attacks by ShinyHunters, which are using social engineering to compromise single sign-on accounts and steal data from cloud services.
Essentia Health to offer walk-in sports physical blitzes
Essentia Health will offer walk-in sports physical blitzes in early August to area student-athletes in preparation for the 2026-27 school year.
Essentia Health to offer walk-in sports physical blitzes
Essentia Health will offer walk-in sports physical blitzes in early August to area student-athletes in preparation for the 2026-27 school year.
Anthony Fauci Finally Turns Down an Interview Request
The doctor, not known to shy from a spotlight, invoked his Fifth Amendment rights rather than answer loaded questions from Senate Republicans.
Governor Meyer Announces Funding to Establish Four New School-Based Health Centers in Sussex County
The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services today announced awards to establish four new school-based health centers in Sussex County through the state's Rural Health Transformation Program.
AT&T Business and Palo Alto Networks Expand Collaboration
AT&T Dynamic Defense and AT&T SASE with Palo Alto Networks integrate connectivity and security to deliver fully managed protection.
Zombie sea cucumbers and the future of tissue engineering | Investors Lab
It's pretty cool, but not exactly news, that lizards can regrow their tails and starfish can regenerate arms. However, the lost or discarded body parts typically decay and die within a few days or weeks. Not so for those of at least one kind of sea cucumber. Researchers have found that detached tissue from these marine invertebrates can remain alive independently for years. Their findings could have a real impact on how we understand tissue culture, regeneration and aging in medical science. Saugat Bolakhe takes us beneath the surface for SN.
What's the Antidote to Political Polarization?
As the United States commemorates 250 years of independence in 2026, the landmark event has arrived during a time of increased political polarization. According to a recent Pew Research Center study, 69% of Americans are dissatisfied with how things are going in the U.S., and 59% believe the country’s best days are behind it. Yet a majority (68%) still feel hopeful about the nation’s future. Bestselling author, social scientist, and Vanderbilt University professor Dr. Arthur Brooks shares that optimism—in part because he sees a clear path out of the divisiveness.
Wellby Financial’s Path to Modernizing Its Security Foundation with AT&T Business and Palo Alto Networks
To advance their cybersecurity and resilience strategy, Wellby turned to AT&T Dynamic Defense® with Palo Alto Networks.
Doctor Reveals No. 1 Sign Your Stress Is Becoming a Chronic Condition
In TODAY.com’s Expert Tip of the Day, NBC News medical journalist Dr. Akshay Syal explains the main trait he looks for when diagnosing chronic stress in patients.
A new media ecosystem is taking root on the left, reshaping Democratic politics
A growing number of Americans are swearing off legacy media and turning to a mix of independent podcasts, social media accounts and anti-establishment digital news sites.
The Science Behind the AI Panic Is Shakier Than You Think
A column by Sascha Lobo Is AI making us dumb? So asked DER SPIEGEL on its cover a while ago. After a few weeks of recovery and a therapeutic intervention with the help of my AI, I feel able to respond. That’s a bit unfair, of course; the article itself is more nuanced than the loud cover, the image of a schoolkid with dull prompt questions, or the subtitle: “AI is conquering the schools, and educators fear a disaster.” The short answer to “Is AI making us dumb?” is: no. The long answer is more interesting, and even carries a preliminary glimmer of the spectacular. Unfortunately, it requires a detour into the sphere of artificial intelligence, into the mogul-field terrain of technology assessment, the attention economy, and the destructive virus of cultural pessimism. Along with narrowing the scope to AI’s effects on education and work rather than on intelligence. Because the honest version of the question would be: Does AI help us learn and work, or not? Generative AI, which set off the still-ongoing hype with ChatGPT, has only existed in relevant distribution since late 2022, early 2023. For a technology-driven transformation of people and society, that is extremely short. For that reason alone, research is still in its infancy. And technology assessment is not a fast discipline anyway. Prominent voices from Elizabeth Eisenstein to RAND to Tom Wheeler say we still cannot conclusively judge the consequences of the printing press. Its invention is a mere 580 years back, and some scholars would rather not circulate assessments that might have to be retracted in two or three hundred years. We’re Going Through Growing Pains A phenomenon that already caused upheaval in social media research makes serious assessment of AI’s consequences even harder: the “moving target” problem of LLM-ology, as the linguist Sean Trott called it in 2025. AI develops so quickly and so unpredictably that researchers often end up studying snapshots of the past. There are concepts, from morphological analysis to anticipatory governance, for keeping research, planning, and regulation halfway meaningful anyway. But even with those, universally valid statements are rare. DER SPIEGEL - The German View is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe We should therefore treat findings about the interplay between humans and AI as far more procedural and situational. Unfortunately, this challenge comes at the worst possible time. We are going through growing pains: AI’s everyday impact has grown very large very fast, and with it the longing for guidance. Annoyingly, the body of solid knowledge has not exploded along with it. Experts cannot be moved to broad consensus on even banal statements about AI. Sascha Lobo, born in 1975, is an author and strategy consultant focusing on the internet and digital technologies. Together with Jule Lobo, he explores the debates of the day in the podcast “Feel the News – Was Deutschland bewegt” (”What Moves Germany”). Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says software developers are dying out. Bill Gates considers coders one of only three professions that will survive the AI tsunami. Top tech economists find virtually irrefutable arguments both for and against an AI bubble. The same naturally applies to the structurally youth-hostile debate over whether AI is good or bad for young people. The gap between the demand for insight and the supply of solid knowledge creates an orientation vacuum. This vacuum of AI cluelessness is filled, as the attention economy described by Georg Franck in 1998 would have it, with half-knowledge (funnily enough, often AI-generated), marketing, and self-marketing. After all, infinite money is at stake, along with academia’s best current shot at global fame. But this iridescent froth of interpretation operates more by the algorithmic principles of the digital public sphere than by seriously earned insight. That is why dramatized, fear-feeding claims about AI are so promising. It tempts parts of academia into distorted drivel, and parts of the media then sensationalize the published drivel once more. Was the Research Aimed at a Desired Result? How badly this can influence academia and public perception is demonstrated by one of the most-discussed studies on AI’s effects: “Your Brain on ChatGPT.” The MIT study by Nataliya Kosmyna also gets plenty of space in the SPIEGEL cover story. What was measured and interpreted: lower brain activity in people who write with AI assistance, compared to people who only google or write without any tools. As is common with preprints, the study has not yet been peer-reviewed, and it contains substantial weaknesses that experts have sharply criticized. The first round had 54 participants in three groups, the second only 18, who reportedly also came from MIT’s own orbit. There was no preregistration (committing in advance to what you want to find out with which data). In their analysis, Stanković et al. even discovered an opposite effect that the study does not further explain. Some measurement data has not (yet) been published. And the EEG analysis method used is considered too imprecise to support such far-reaching conclusions. The biggest criticism, though, is the suspicion of an activism-driven study. In an interview with Time, lead author Kosmyna said she published the study immediately, rather than after full peer review, because she feared politicians might otherwise decide to put ChatGPT in kindergartens. She considers that absolutely harmful. It is legitimate to hold such a view. It just seems unscientific to approach a study with it, and then to design the setup so that the chance of a fitting desired result remains as high as possible. Ideologies Collide It is not easy to separate genuine AI insights from studies that trivialize and weaken well-founded AI criticism. The same goes for the opposing, AI-enthusiastic narratives, because the pro-AI side works against it with billions in resources. Ideologies collide, fed by egos, PR strategies, moral posturing, and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Doomsday marketing makes the search even harder: AI companies can profit from warnings about the dangers of AI, whether through the notoriety of apocalypse narratives or because, in some target groups, danger translates into power. Some seemingly negative findings are therefore quite welcome in the AI industry. If you try to get at the findings presumably less influenced by interest groups, the picture in education seems relatively clear: AI can improve educational outcomes when the right AI is used the right way, namely pedagogically. Simply dumping an AI chatbot into a classroom, by contrast, accomplishes little. Huge surprise. But something else is also obvious: whether they are allowed to or not, kids use AI for school, which is why the controlled integration of AI tools into education is, in the medium term, entirely without alternative. In the world of work, the landscape of findings is more complex and requires more differentiation. A series of serious studies points to an AI effect that suits neither the alarmists, regulation fetishists, and AI opponents, nor the trillion-dollar corporations with their armada of paid scientists, PR professionals, and ecosystems: working with AI helps the inexperienced (at least for now) considerably more than it helps the pros, in certain fields of work, and provided they know how to use it correctly. Missing Domain Knowledge Among the experienced, the professionals, and the high flyers, by contrast, despite frequent time savings, partially negative effects and new problems are emerging. Take the jagged frontier problem: AI solves task A brilliantly and fails completely at task B, even though both look similar even to professionals. Or the verification-cost problem, in which AI’s greater productivity gets eaten up by the enormous effort of checking its output. Or the illusion of competence, because AI makes new domains seem easily penetrable, until you painfully discover that deep domain knowledge is missing. Taken as a whole, the effects of working with AI do lean positive. But the promise that AI works as a turbocharger for everyone and boosts practically everything simply refuses to materialize. The AI magic the world has been feeling since ChatGPT arrived in late 2022 has so far barely shown up in most companies’ numbers. The consulting firm McKinsey has coined a term for this, the “gen AI paradox,” and believes that work processes and corporate structures would have to be rebuilt quite fundamentally to realize AI’s benefits at scale. Reuters just reported that only 3.3 percent of Microsoft’s customers have subscribed to the AI package Copilot. That may be down to the product; in other areas we continue to see soaring successes and new AI triumphs. But after the first quarter of 2026, disillusionment is the word for all too many AI projects at traditional companies: because the promised revolution of AI agents has so far failed to arrive or been postponed, and because of the leveling effect that many of the studies cited here suggest. Against Inequality The societal effects, on the other hand, appear rather encouraging. Many previous technologies operated on the Matthew principle, named for the Gospel verse about giving to those who already have: they tended to reward the more competent and more privileged. AI, however, seems more often to have an equalizing effect once a threshold of access and education is crossed. Some anecdotal insights point in this direction, for example, how an unemployed man in Leipzig successfully defended himself in court in 2025 against fraud accusations from Germany’s federal employment agency — without a lawyer, armed only with ChatGPT. The AI made mistakes and cited invented court rulings, but in the end the man walked away unpunished. And a key capability of artificial intelligence is its capacity to learn: set up correctly and fed with data, it can keep getting better. It is a question of time, or more precisely of AI innovations and training data, until even free AI chatbots write better legal briefs than law graduates with perfect exam scores. Whether that will make anyone dumb is something the world’s press will surely inform us of in due time. Subscribe Leave a comment
'Don't Make Me Think' author Steve Krug says social media is terrible
Steve Krug invented the frictionless internet with his book "Don't Make Me Think." Now he's in the frictionmaxxers' corner.
How progressive media is boosting insurgent Democrats ahead of midterms
More progressive Americans are swearing off traditional media. They’re turning to independent podcasts, social media and digital news for information.
A new media ecosystem is taking root on the left, reshaping Democratic politics
More progressive Americans are swearing off traditional media. They’re turning to independent podcasts, social media and digital news for information. This shift could impact Democratic primaries by...
Willie Nelson urges communities to ‘fight against data centers’ that are ‘destroying the environment’
Willie Nelson called on Americans to fight against rampant data center construction. The Central Texas native urged his social media followers to “fight against data centers invading our land” and “destroying the environment.”
New York finalizes social media restrictions for kids
The regulations, which take effect in January, limit the use of algorithmic feeds and nighttime notifications.
The science behind social media's 'Early Bird Dinner': How early dining may impact sleep and weight
The problem with eating later in the evening is often what's on your plate, one doctor says.
Visa Third-Quarter Revenue Climbs, Citing Resilient Consumer, Business Spending
The payments company said profit came in at $5.63 billion amid resilient consumer and business spending.
Caesars Entertainment Narrows Loss Ahead of Fertitta Acquisition
The hotel and casino company reported a loss of $62 million in its first earnings report since agreeing to be acquired by billionaire Tilman Fertitta in a $5.7 billion deal.
Exclusive | Medicare Part D Premiums Set to Rise as Trump Ends Subsidies
Program that held down premiums wouldn’t be renewed for 2027, resulting in higher costs for some seniors.
Caesars Entertainment, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results
LAS VEGAS & RENO, Nev., July 28, 2026--Caesars Entertainment, Inc., (NASDAQ: CZR) ("Caesars," "CZR," "CEI" or the "Company") today reported operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026.
Abbott gathering real-world data on FDA-approved TriClip system
Abbott's TriClip system for tricuspid regurgitation is approved by the FDA and covered by Medicare. To learn more about its real-world performance, researchers will now track 1,000 patients for a total of five years.
How Being an Involved Grandparent Improves Physical and Mental Health
The grandparenting role can provide a sense of purpose and improve physical and mental health
"Storm Emeralda" Secret Rares Revealed!
The secret rares from Storm Emeralda are now being posted to social media by fans! The set releases this Friday, July 31st. The main set list was revealed
Early voting begins in Wisconsin primary featuring chaotic Democratic governor's race
Early in-person voting is beginning in swing state Wisconsin’s chaotic Democratic primary for governor, with a democratic socialist trying to overcome the incumbent governor’s pick.
3 Plant-Based Proteins That Also Boost Gut Health, Per a Dietitian
These protein-rich plant foods also support healthy digestion.
This value predicts future quality of life. In Australia, it’s tanking
More than 600 scientists are sounding the alarm that our standard of living is under threat.
UNC Health Pardee Emergency Department Recognized for Excellence
UNC Health Pardee Emergency Department Recognized for Excellence
On Air and Online: Spectrum Business Powers Globecast Americas’ Broadcast Evolution
Working with Globecast during the relocation planning phase, Spectrum Business helped design a network foundation that could keep content moving quickly, securely and reliably from day one.
A Two-Person Startup Has Fixed One of the Most Hated Sounds in Modern Life
A couple of enterprising sound designers have taken on the challenge of producing more pleasant beeps for the humble microwave.
How 209 Mare Turned The Humble Towel Into A Luxury Fashion Business
How 209 Mare turned a €500 towelling blazer into a global luxury business, using Monaco, social media and smart distribution to create Rivierawear.
In China, sober-curious young people challenge a tradition of heavy drinking
Alcohol has been a fixture of professional and social life in China for decades, but a new generation is resisting pressure to drink excessively — or at all.
In China, sober-curious young people challenge a tradition of heavy drinking
Alcohol has been a fixture of professional and social life in China for decades, but a new generation is resisting pressure to drink excessively — or at all.
A Cockroach 'Collective Memory' Emerges From Their Social Networks, Study Suggests
Even cockroaches have peer pressure.
The Key Points of Tension Between Trump and RFK Jr. Over Vaccines
Takeaways from The Wall Street Journal’s coverage of Trump’s push on vaccines and autism.
Behind the Curtain: The 6 stages of political surrender
Watch how the language shifts, stage by stage, for signs of whether recent socialist wins are an anomaly, or the start of something bigger and broader.
Hugging Face Has a Deepfake Nudes Problem
Researchers tested top image editing models on Hugging Face and found they could easily create explicit deepfakes—and 1,000 image editing prompts show how people use the software.
The Hidden Path to Regime Change in Iran
Ending the war can strengthen the prospects for democracy.
Democratic Socialists of America is a 'flesh-eating virus,' political strategist says
Political and legal strategist Katie Zacharia discusses the Democratic Socialists of America's platform and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's proposal for city-run grocery stores on ‘Fox News @ Night.’
What is the left for?: The case for a politics of reciprocism
Our economy is failing to deliver better jobs, higher wages and access to the essentials for too many people. Politics feels like something done to people,
In the Grip of Politics
All of us, from academics to fishermen, have now internalized a practice of reading the social world as a field of political or latently political signs. TV watching habits, food choices, clothing, interpretive approaches to 19th-century British literature: Everything becomes an opportunity to take a political stand, and to position yourself in relation to others taking political stands—and in a profession where discourse is everything, such opportunities abound.
Mamdani Is Makes City-Owned Grocery Stores Sound Pretty Good
The mayor revealed that the five planned municipal stores will sell staples like produce, meat, and cheese at 30 percent below retail prices.
Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, Winn’s Pizza & Steakhouse and Winn & Sara’s Kitchen
Read the release on Sen. Ernst's website HERE. Throughout this Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties. RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Winn’s Pizza & Steakhouse and Winn & Sara’s Kitchen of Warren County. Throughout the 119th Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in each of Iowa's 99 counties. "Winn’s Pizza & Steakhouse has been an outstanding addition to the Indianola community," said Chair Ernst. "For 23 years, the Nguyen family has proudly served Iowans with their signature thin-crust pizzas and hand-cut steaks, building a loyal following through exceptional food and service. The Nguyen family’s dedication to their customers and community embodies the very best of Iowa’s entrepreneurial spirit." Founded in 2003 by Winn Nguyen, Winn’s Pizza & Steakhouse has become a beloved fixture in the Indianola community. In 2015, Winn expanded to Norwalk, bringing the business’ssignature hospitality and comfort food to even more Iowans. Most recently, the launch of Winn & Sara’s Kitchen in 2024 further strengthened the family’s connection to the community, earning widespread praise during its first three appearances at the Iowa State Fair. For over two decades, the Nguyen family has worked tirelessly to serve classic comfort food with a creative twist. Stay tuned as Chair Ernst continues to recognize outstanding Iowa small businesses with her Small Business of the Week award. ###
The “Odyssey” reveals secrets of ancient science, mobile phones don�
The “Odyssey” reveals secrets of ancient science, mobile phones don't cause cancer, scientists find an exomoon
Comey says seashells post was political speech — not a threat — as he presses to dismiss charges
James Comey is urging a judge to throw out federal charges against him. He's arguing that a photo of seashells he posted on social media was not a call to violence against President Donald Trump but protected political speech.
Private Claude Chats Exposed in Google and Bing Search Results
The screwup shows how tricky it can be to stop web crawlers from making ostensibly private conversations with AI chatbots entirely too public.
Republicans decry a new Democratic Socialists of America platform as Dem primaries split the party
A new platform from the progressive Democratic Socialists of America is sparking Republican attacks.
Chandler Economic Development launches "Let's Talk Business" to give companies direct access to economic development leadership
Monthly one-on-one meetings offer businesses, developers and investors dedicated time with Chandler's Economic Development Director
OPKO Health Reports Second Quarter 2026 Business Highlights and Financial Results
Conference Call to Begin Today at 4:30 p.m. ET MIAMI, July 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OPKO Health, Inc. (OPKO) (NASDAQ: OPK), a…...
OPKO Health Reports Second Quarter 2026 Business Highlights and Financial Results
Conference Call to Begin Today at 4:30 p.m. ET MIAMI, July 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OPKO Health, Inc. (OPKO) (NASDAQ: OPK), a…...
Mamdani and Netanyahu Are in a Vicious War of Words
Mamdani has accused Netanyahu of committing genocide while the prime minister claims the mayor is “fomenting hate.”
Carly Simon Reveals Parkinson’s Diagnosis
“I have learned to accept that every day will look a little different. But I am still very much here,” the singer said in a statement to NBC News.
I quit National Geographic for TikTok. I don't regret it.
Erin McGoff says leaving documentary filmmaking for social media allowed her to reach millions of job seekers directly.
Southern's Nelson Mandela Give Day Kick-Off Social raising money for social science education
Southern's Nelson Mandela Give Day Kick-Off Social raising money for social science education
How Much Red Meat Should You Eat a Week? Dietitian Reveals Answer
In TODAY.com’s Expert Tip of the Day, a dietitian shares her weekly recommendation for healthy red meat consumption.
Datavault AI Appoints Ronald M. Goldstein to Lead Professional Sports Licensing
Goldstein will direct professional sports and legacy athlete licensing programs on the Company’s NIL Vault (NILv) PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS…...
Washington’s Sensitive Secret: How Many U.S. Missiles Are Left Five Months into Iran War? | WSJ Politics Newsletter for July 27
Plus, Darline Graham gets on-the-job training in the Senate, and more House Democrats sour on aid to Israel
Darline Graham Joined the Senate and Began Her Campaign All Before Burying Her Brother Lindsey
Appointed to finish late brother Lindsey Graham’s term, the South Carolina senator now faces a competitive primary to keep the seat.
How Trump’s “America First” Administration Could Shut U.S. Scientists Out of the Next Nobel-Worthy Discovery
A proposed White House rule would give political appointees unprecedented control over scientific funding. One physicist, who helped discover the Higgs boson, explains how the rule would’ve stifled that breakthrough.
Baltimore will turn 911 into more than just an emergency number
Baltimore is rethinking what it means to call 911, and who responds. Callers who don't need police will get help finding social services and healthcare before they actually fall into crisis.