The Doomsday Clock remained at 85 seconds to midnight, representing the closest humanity has ever been to global catastrophe, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Science and Security Board (SABS) announced. The group cited the growing threat of nuclear weapons, disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence, biosecurity concerns, and the persistent climate crisis as key factors influencing their decision.
The Doomsday Clock, created in 1947 during the Cold War, serves as a symbolic representation of humanity's proximity to self-destruction. "It is, in essence, a symbolic representation of how close humanity is to the destruction of the world," according to Wired.
Concerns about the potential misuse and security risks associated with artificial intelligence have also surfaced recently. Madhu Gottumukkala, the acting director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), accidentally uploaded sensitive CISA contracting documents to a public version of ChatGPT last summer, Politico reported. According to four Department of Homeland Security officials, Gottumukkala's uploads triggered multiple internal cybersecurity warnings designed to prevent the theft or unintentional disclosure of government material from federal networks. Gottumukkala sought special permission to use OpenAI's chatbot shortly after joining the agency.
Despite concerns surrounding AI, some are embracing the technology. Dan Peguine, a tech entrepreneur and marketing consultant, uses an AI assistant called Moltbot to automate many aspects of his life, Wired reported. "I tried it, got interested, then got really obsessed," Peguine said. "I could basically automate anything. It was magical."
Meanwhile, in Europe, discussions continue regarding defense capabilities. European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius told Euronews that the EU can and must work towards becoming independent in conventional defense. Kubilius stated that while Europeans cannot replace the US nuclear umbrella "at least for the time being," the situation is different regarding conventional defense. This statement aligns with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's earlier comment that the European Union relies on US nuclear protections.
In other technology news, Life Biosciences, a Boston startup, received FDA approval to begin the first human test of a rejuvenation method aimed at treating eye disease, MIT Technology Review reported. The company plans to use a "reprogramming" concept that has attracted significant investment from Silicon Valley firms. Additionally, efforts to provide stratospheric internet access are gaining momentum, potentially bridging the internet divide.
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