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AI, Politics, and Retail: A Roundup of Recent Developments
In a week marked by technological disputes, political maneuvering, and retail promotions, several significant stories have emerged. From legal battles over AI voice replication to disagreements between tech companies and the Pentagon, and the ongoing debate surrounding the future of American politics, the news cycle has been busy. Additionally, retailers are offering discounts for Presidents Day.
David Greene, the former host of NPR's Morning Edition, filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging that the male podcast voice in the company's NotebookLM tool is based on his voice, according to TechCrunch. Greene stated that he became convinced the voice was replicating his cadence and intonation after friends, family, and coworkers pointed out the resemblance. "My voice is, like, the most important part of who I am," said Greene, who currently hosts the KCRW show Left, Right, & Center. A Google spokesperson told TechCrunch that the voice used in the product is unrelated to Greene's.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon is reportedly in a dispute with AI company Anthropic over the use of its technology, according to TechCrunch. The government is pushing AI companies to allow the U.S. military to use their technology for all lawful purposes. Anthropic has reportedly been the most resistant, and the Pentagon is threatening to pull the plug on its $200 million contract with the AI company. The Wall Street Journal reported in January that there was significant disagreement between Anthropic and Defense Department officials over how its Claude models could be used. The government is reportedly making the same demand to OpenAI, Google, and xAI.
In the political arena, Al Jazeera explored the state of American politics, questioning whether "Trumpism" is losing steam. The Republican Party currently controls the White House and both houses of Congress. However, the article questioned whether that will change in November. Among Republican voters, Donald Trump remains popular, despite criticism over economic conditions and anti-immigration tactics. Within the Democratic Party, there is no sign of a shift towards a more progressive platform, even as left-leaning Democratic Socialists make gains, according to Al Jazeera.
In other news, Ars Technica retracted an article containing fabricated quotations generated by an AI tool and attributed to a source who did not say them. "That is a serious failure of our standards," the publication stated in an editor's note. The publication has covered the risks of overreliance on AI tools for years.
Finally, retailers are offering discounts for Presidents Day, according to The Verge. The publication is rounding up the biggest discounts on earbuds, speakers, TVs, smart home tech, and other gadgets ahead of the holiday.
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