RFK Jr.'s Vaccine Advisor Sparks Controversy with Polio Vaccine Doubts

Kirk Milhoan, the newly appointed chair of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ignited controversy after questioning the necessity of the polio vaccine during a recent podcast appearance. The American Medical Association (AMA) responded with a critical statement following Milhoan's remarks on the "Why Should I Trust You" podcast, according to Ars Technica.

Milhoan, a pediatrician, made a range of comments during the hour-long interview that concerned medical experts and raised eyebrows, Ars Technica reported. His appointment to the ACIP, a federal vaccine advisory panel, was made in December by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has a history of anti-vaccine views.

The AMA's response underscored the seriousness of Milhoan's statements, though specific details of the AMA statement were not available in the provided sources. The controversy surrounding Milhoan's views highlights ongoing debates about vaccine safety and efficacy.

OpenAI Expands into Scientific Research

OpenAI, the artificial intelligence research and deployment company behind ChatGPT, is making a concerted effort to integrate its technology into scientific research. According to MIT Technology Review, OpenAI launched a new team called "OpenAI for Science" in October. The team is dedicated to exploring how large language models (LLMs) can assist scientists and to tailoring OpenAI's tools to better support scientific endeavors.

Kevin Weil, a vice president at OpenAI, explained that the company aims to understand how its technology can aid scientists in their work. In recent months, mathematicians, physicists, biologists, and other researchers have reported using LLMs, including OpenAI's GPT-5, to facilitate discoveries and overcome obstacles, according to MIT Technology Review.

Tech Companies Grapple with Age Verification for Chatbots

Growing concerns about the potential dangers of children interacting with AI chatbots have spurred tech companies to explore new methods of age verification. MIT Technology Review reported that traditional methods, such as asking for birthdays, have proven insufficient due to the ease with which they can be circumvented.

The issue of age verification has become a battleground, particularly in the United States, with differing approaches among parents, child-safety advocates, and political parties. Republican lawmakers have supported laws in several states requiring sites with adult content to verify users' ages, according to MIT Technology Review.

TikTok Under Scrutiny for Alleged Censorship of Anti-ICE Content

TikTok faced criticism after reports surfaced that the platform was suppressing videos critical of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). CNN Business reported that comedian Megan Stalter attempted to share a video on TikTok protesting ICE raids in Minneapolis following the death of Alex Pretti, who was shot by federal immigration agents.

Stalter, who has a large following on TikTok and Instagram, urged her fellow Christians to speak out against ICE raids in the video, stating, "We have to abolish ICE." The incident raised questions about potential censorship on the platform and its impact on freedom of speech.