AI Gives Voice Back, Olympic Gold, and Scandal Brews

American speedskater Jordan Stolz secured his second gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Saturday, while a musician with ALS found a new way to perform thanks to AI, and a figure skater faced unexpected challenges in his Olympic debut. These stories, along with developments in AI security and a Justice Department lawsuit, highlight a busy news cycle.

According to NPR News, Stolz, competing in the men's 500 meters, added to his gold medal count, following his victory in the 1,000 meters. Stolz joined Eric Heiden as the only skaters to win both the 500 and 1,000 meter events.

Meanwhile, in the world of music, a musician named Patrick Darling, diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at age 29, experienced a poignant return to the stage. As reported by MIT Technology Review, Darling, who lost his ability to sing two years prior, performed with his bandmates using AI to recreate his voice. The performance was deeply emotional, marking his first time on stage since the loss of his singing ability.

Figure skater Ilia Malinin, considered a frontrunner, faced unexpected challenges at his first Olympics. Time reported that Malinin, a four-time U.S. champion, faltered in the short program of the team event, finishing behind Japan's Yuma Kagiyama. Although he won the free program segment in the team event, and finished first in the individual men's event, the gold was his to lose.

Other significant events, compiled from multiple sources by Vox, included a government shutdown, fallout from the Epstein files, and the arrest of a child by ICE. The report also covered developments in AI security and longevity research. Additionally, a judge's ruling allowed Venezuelan deportees to return to the US, a vigil was held in Canada for mass shooting victims, and the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Harvard University over admissions data.

In the realm of technology, Vox also highlighted the rise of AI romance scams, which are particularly prevalent around Valentine's Day. These scams, which cost Americans $3 billion last year, involve fraudsters building relationships to gain trust and money.