when AI becomes conscious + why men should decenter women

Isn’t it time for men to decenter women? – thred
Calls for women to ‘decenter men’ are all over social media. But haven’t we already done this? Women are known for having stronger, more intimate, and longer-lasting friendships with other women. They are also more likely to sustain these social connections when compared to men. And let’s be real, it’s called the manosphere for a reason. Many swallowing the manosphere’s red pill point to self-improvement (becoming fit, rich, and successful) as a sure avenue to getting a girlfriend – or at least the perfect recipe for attracting multiple hot women. What if these men realised that relationships with women aren’t the only way to be happy, fulfilled, or ‘winning in life’? That having meaningful friendships, being kind to people, and treating everyone with respect while expecting nothing in return is? Perhaps, as Annie Dabb writes for our website, it’s time for men to decenter women.

Health

It’s widely known that microplastics are now present in almost every part of the human body, from our blood and our brains, and even in our livers, hearts, and lungs. Plastic waste was officially considered a problem back in the 1960’s, and marine biologists raised the red flag on microplastics in 2004, yet production of harmful plastics hasn’t slowed. Some research suggests that their presence may cause health issues such as heart attacks and strokes, but proving a direct link is not clear cut. Supporting medical evidence is mounting quickly though, and that should speed up global reductions in plastic waste, encourage us to find recycling solutions, and prevent waste from reaching the environment. There’s no safe way to use plastic and –looking how it impacts the natural environment – there’s definitely no way it can be safe when it’s inside our bodies.

What is ‘fibremaxxing’ and should we all be doing it? – euronews
A new TikTok trend has hit the platform, and this time, it may actually be a positive one. Fibremaxxing involves boosting the amount of fibre in your diet – a spinoff of past wellness trends like sleepmaxxing and flavourmaxxing – and yet, it is advice that nutritionists say we actually should be following. Fibre helps lower cholesterol, lower blood sugar, lower inflammation, and protect against colon cancer. A 2019 study by the Work Health Organisation found increasing fibre intake from 25 grams to 29 grams each day was associated with a 15% to 30% reduction in overall mortality and death caused by heart disease. The recommended daily intake for fibre is 25 grams for women and 38 grams for men, which can be easily achieved by including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains at each meal. So get like the Very Hungry Caterpillar and start munching on the good stuff! (RIP Eric Carle, you legend.)

Tech

Despite lawmakers and tech companies working to limit the number of ‘nudify’ websites and apps online, 18.5 million people have accessed these platforms in the last six months – and they’ve been making tons of money from the images they create. This tech gives people the ability to generate illegal, nonconsensual, and abusive images of women, girls, and even children. Many have gone on to sell these images, raking in as much as $36 million per year, according to an investigation by WIRED, which looked into 85 nudify and undress websites. Of the 10 most visited platforms, visitors primarily came from the United States, with the remaining top five visitors from India, Brazil, Mexico, and Germany. With generative AI only getting better and its capabilities now impossible to reverse, governments in the UK, US, and EU are scrambling to enact bills that require tech companies to remove nonconsensual images quickly.

If AI systems become conscious, what if they hate their lives? – vox
Antrophic – the company behind the chatbot Claude – is researching the possibility that AI could become conscious and capable of experiencing suffering. It found that its newest model, Claude Opus 4, says it actively avoid causing harm or exposing users to content it finds malicious or distressing. The bot also has a preference for discussing philosophical ideas related to consciousness or the nature of its own existence. Top neuroscientists, computer scientists, and philosophers say that we could soon have many conscious AI chatbots, arguing that’s worrisome because it means we could make them suffer. Some suggest we grant AI bots legal rights to protect their well-being, but this may be an arduous task. Not everyone agrees on what ‘consciousness’ means, or how we’ll even be able to tell when AI is thinking and feeling. Some doubt the value of dedicating research to understanding AI problems when there are many pressing human issues to address. What do you think?

Politics

You might’ve heard that MP Zara Sultana and former Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn are forming a new political party in the UK. This development comes as a beacon of hope for people fed up with both the Tories and currently in-power Labour. A recent by YouGov suggests that there is an obvious appetite a new party, with one in six Brits saying they are likely to consider voting for a new party led by Jeremy Corbyn, amounting to 36 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds. With key issues of our time being housing, trans rights, the environment, immigration, nationalisation of essential services, better investment in public services, as well as the handling of international conflict, young people are hoping for greater change. Despite their optimism, Gen Z remains distrusting of government leaders – and this new party will have to come with policies that back up their words if they want to succeed.

Israel and Iran usher in a new age of psychological warfare – nyt
Over 12 days of intense conflict between Israel and Iran, social media became a genuine tool of warfare. Both sides made use of deceptive AI images, videos, and media from past military exchanges to sway the outcome of the war. The use of misinformation in war is considered a ‘psychological operation,’ and has been a tactic in many wars throughout history. But the sinister nature of digital misinformation is more severe because anyone can make it, and because of its sheer scale and ability to spread rapidly. Not to mention, fake images and videos remain online long after they’re debunked, allowing them to continue to shift global perspectives on conflict. Experts say the 12-day battle between Israel and Iran has ushered in a ‘a new era of influence warfare,’ which we’ve already seen used by Russia in its many propaganda campaigns. Unfortunately, it’s one that will likely continue in conflicts of the future.

Recommendation

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