Monthly Archives: September 2022

Perceptron: Multilingual, laughing, Pitfall-playing and streetwise AI

Research in the field of machine learning and AI, now a key technology in practically every industry and company, is far too voluminous for anyone to read it all. This column, Perceptron, aims to collect some of the most relevant recent discoveries and papers — particularly in, but not limited to, artificial intelligence — and explain…

Scientists send robot into furious hurricane and capture wild footage

We can now see violent hurricanes like never before. Hurricane scientists have started a research campaign to send marine robots into the heart of churning cyclones. The unprecedented missions aim to improve researchers’ understanding of how hurricanes rapidly intensify into monstrous storms with destructive winds and deadly flooding. Most recently, the innovative collaboration between the…

A Colorado man who showed up to the Capitol riot wearing a ‘Guns don’t kill people, Clintons do’ shirt and got into a ‘tug-of-war’ with police received a 30-month prison sentence

Thomas Patrick Hamner in a “tug-of-war” with police at the Capitol riot. DOJ Thomas Patrick Hamner from Colorado was sentenced to 30 months in prison for his participation in the Capitol riot. Hamner showed up to the riot with a “Guns don’t kill people, Clintons do” shirt. At the riot, he engaged in a “tug-of-war”…

Digital Trust Benchmark Report 2021 Preview

In our Digital Trust Benchmark Report, we analyze the data from our fifth annual “US Digital Trust Survey” to evaluate how US social media users feel about nine major social media platforms—Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Reddit, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube—and reveal the extent to which trust affects usage and attitudes toward advertising. To download…

Donald Trump seems to turn to QAnon when he is feeling stressed and angry, online extremism researcher says

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. Mary Altaffer/AP In recent weeks Donald Trump has appeared to embrace QAnon more than ever. There’s a correlation between Trump’s stress and anger level and his engagement with QAnon, a researcher said.  While Trump faces mounting legal troubles, the QAnon…

Raphael Warnock has a 5-point lead over Herschel Walker in high-stakes Georgia Senate contest, while Brian Kemp is ahead 6 points against Stacey Abrams in the governor’s race: poll

Sen. Raphael Warnock arrives for a rally in Conyers, Ga., on August 18, 2022. AP Photo/Jeff Amy Warnock has a 47%-42% lead over Walker in the Georgia Senate race, per a new Marist Poll. In the poll, Warnock was backed by 94% of Democrats, while Walker earned 83% support among the GOP. The two candidates…

A wheelchair user filmed herself dragging her body to the bathroom on a plane after the cabin crew refused to help

Jenny Berrie’s video showing her dragging herself across the floor of the AlbaStar flight Jenny Berrie/TikTok A woman filmed herself dragging her body to the bathroom after the cabin crew refused to assist her.  The video posted by Jenny Berrie, a wheelchair user, has got over five million views on TikTok.  She said, “I know…

Recommended Reading: The phone-monitoring ‘shameware’ apps used by churches

The ungodly surveillance of anti-porn ‘shameware’ apps Dhruv Mehrotra, Wired Some churches ask congregants to install activity-tracking apps on their phones in the name of accountability. Many churchgoers aren’t aware some software monitors a lot more than internet history. Some even take screenshots every minute before sending them to an “accountability partner.” When asked about…

Real Virtual Beauty aims to “increase diversity and representation of female characters in games”

Women in Games, Unreal Engine’s Education Team, game studio Toya, and toiletry brand Dove have partnered to create “a series of actions to increase diversity and representation of female characters in games, alongside supporting young girls with self-esteem education across the virtual world”. In a joint statement, the partnership said that despite 1.3 billion women…