The stock market experienced a series of punishing selloffs over the past two weeks, fueled by conflicting anxieties surrounding the artificial-intelligence industry, according to Fortune. Investors are grappling with the potential for AI to disrupt the economy while also questioning the return on investment for the billions of dollars being poured into the technology by tech giants like Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Alphabet.
The market turmoil reflects two primary fears, as reported by Fortune. One is the concern that AI could dramatically disrupt entire economic segments, leading investors to divest from companies seen as vulnerable. The other is skepticism about the potential for the massive investments in AI to yield significant returns in the near future.
Meanwhile, in the realm of consumer technology, The Verge reported on the experience of living with an AI-powered pet, Moflin. Reporter Robert Hart, after a few weeks with the device, expressed frustration, stating, "I hate my AI pet with every fiber of my being." The device, designed to offer calm, instead proved to be a "lovable robot nuisance."
In other news, former President Barack Obama responded to a racist AI video shared by President Donald Trump's social media account earlier this month, as reported by NPR News. During an interview with YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen, Obama said many Americans "find this behavior deeply troubling." He added that "there doesn't seem to be any shame about this among people who used to feel like you had to have some sort of decorum and a sense of propriety and respect for the office."
The rapid advancements in AI are also prompting discussions about its impact on various sectors. VentureBeat highlighted the ongoing "limestone race" in AI, comparing the development to the construction of the Great Pyramid, where the illusion of smoothness vanishes upon close inspection.
In a different context, Vox explored the reasons behind people's love for playing games. According to Sean Illing, host of The Gray Area podcast, games are often treated as trivial, but philosopher C. Thi Nguyen argues that games offer a window into how human agency works, demonstrating how people choose goals and submit to constraints.
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