Each week, an estimated 230 million people are using ChatGPT to ask health-related questions, according to OpenAI. This figure provides context for the recent launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT Health product earlier this month. The central question surrounding this development is whether the inherent risks of using AI for health-related queries can be sufficiently mitigated to provide a net benefit to users.
For the past two decades, individuals experiencing new medical symptoms have commonly turned to the internet for information, a practice often referred to as "Dr. Google." Now, large language models (LLMs) are increasingly being used to seek medical information. The rise of AI in healthcare raises concerns about accuracy, privacy, and the potential for misdiagnosis or inappropriate self-treatment.
Grace Huckins reports on the escalating conflict over AI regulation in the United States. The battle reached a critical point in the final weeks of 2025. On December 11, after Congress failed to pass a law banning state AI laws on two occasions, then-President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at preventing states from regulating the rapidly growing AI industry. This action highlights the tension between fostering innovation and addressing potential risks associated with AI technologies.
The executive order sparked immediate controversy, with some states vowing to challenge its legality. Supporters of state-level regulation argue that a uniform national standard could stifle innovation and fail to address specific local concerns. Conversely, proponents of federal oversight claim that a patchwork of state laws would create confusion and hinder the development of AI technologies. The legal and political battles surrounding AI regulation are expected to continue, shaping the future of AI development and deployment in the US.
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Research indicates that the speed and effectiveness of nasal cell antiviral defenses determine the severity of a cold, suggesting the body's immune response is more critical than the virus itself. This finding has implications for understanding individual susceptibility to rhinovirus and developing targeted therapies to bolster these natural defenses, potentially reducing the impact of common colds and related respiratory issues.
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Vietnam's Communist Party re-elected To Lam as General Secretary, signaling a potential shift towards consolidated leadership reminiscent of China and Laos, as analysts anticipate he will also assume the presidency. This move, breaking from the country's tradition of collective leadership, aims to accelerate economic growth towards a targeted 10%, while also raising concerns about checks on power within the party. The political development occurs as Vietnam seeks to elevate its economic status on the global stage.
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A major winter storm is poised to impact over 200 million people across a large swath of the United States, prompting states of emergency and warnings of travel disruptions, power outages, and dangerous cold. The National Weather Service forecasts heavy snow, ice, and extreme cold from the Southern Rockies to New England, potentially hindering recovery efforts and underscoring the vulnerability of infrastructure in the face of increasingly extreme weather events.
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