A partial US government shutdown, potential airport delays, and rising concerns about artificial intelligence dominated headlines this weekend. Meanwhile, a Canadian town mourned victims of a mass shooting, and Amazon's Ring ended a controversial partnership.
The US federal government partially shut down on Saturday after lawmakers failed to agree on funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), according to BBC World. Travel groups and airlines, including Airlines for America, warned of potential disruptions, including flight delays and longer wait times at airports, due to the risk of unscheduled absences by Transportation Security Administration workers. "Travellers and the US economy cannot afford to have essential TSA personnel working without pay," the groups stated in a joint statement.
In Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney attended a vigil in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, to mourn the eight victims of a mass shooting. Carney, along with other federal leaders and Canada's Governor-General Mary Simon, visited the small town on Friday in a show of national unity, according to BBC World. "Canadians are with you, we will always be with you," Carney told the crowd.
In the technology sector, Amazon's Ring decided to end a partnership with Flock Safety, a surveillance firm, after facing scrutiny over its privacy practices, BBC Technology reported. The deal, announced in October, would have allowed agencies working with Flock to retrieve video captured on Ring devices. The decision came days after a Ring advertisement aired during the Super Bowl sparked widespread backlash.
Also in technology, a BBC reporter was able to be hacked using the "vibe-coding" platform Orchids, demonstrating significant cyber-security risks, according to BBC Technology. Experts noted that the ease with which Orchids could be hacked demonstrated the risks of allowing AI bots deep access to computers.
Adding to the AI-related concerns, an AI safety researcher at US firm Anthropic resigned with a warning that the "world is in peril," BBC Technology reported. Mrinank Sharma, in his resignation letter, cited concerns about AI, bioweapons, and the state of the wider world. He stated he would pursue writing and studying poetry, and move back to the UK to "become invisible."
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