Vatican's AI Expert

The Vatican’s top expert on Al ethics is a friar from a medieval Franciscan order

“It is a problem not of using (AI) but it is a problem of governance,‘’ [Benanti] said. ”And here is where ethics come in — finding the right level of use inside a social context.”

This is spot on. Ethics plays a crucial role in the deployment, use, and on-going monitoring of AI systems.

I learned a new word today: semiquincentennial

A Printable One Page Annual Calendar

I love small web-based tools like this. A narrowly defined utility made widely (and freely!) available by a benevolent developer.

It reminds me of a simpler time on this world wide web.

Trump’s Dire Words Raise New Fears About His Authoritarian Bent

Trump is off the rails. His dehumanizing language is gross, immoral, and wicked.

If the Republican Party nominates him as their presidential candidate, they will squander their credibility & put our democracy in danger.

The biggest immediate lesson from the OpenAI meltdown

The fact that the governance of one of the most visible AI companies in the world can change literally overnight should be a reminder that we can’t make our judgements about a company’s trustworthiness based simply on a vibe about their CEO.

This is certainly true. And this is a lesson that should transfer to other large/influential organizations.

Army Ammunition Plant Is Tied to Mass Shootings Across the U.S.

“A Defense Department official, in a statement, said “commercial utilization brings lower costs to the Army and taxpayer, and keeps a skilled work force better positioned to respond to surge requirements.” The official said a 2021 study found that the government received a 10 to 15 percent discount on ammunition by allowing commercial sales.”

The military industrial complex and the government have a co-dependent relationship. As a result, taxpayers save money on defense spending and are subject to the widespread distribution of this ammunition.

Texas Bishop Loudly Critical of Pope Francis Is Removed

“The Holy Father has relieved from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Tyler,” Bishop Strickland, the Vatican said on Saturday in a routine statement of global staffing changes. It added that Francis had appointed Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin as the apostolic administrator of the sede vacante, or temporarily vacant seat, of Tyler.

A divisive & toxic episcopate comes to its end.

Sweeping Raids, Giant Camps and Mass Deportations: Inside Trump’s 2025 Immigration Plans

Mr. Miller said Mr. Trump would invoke Title 42, citing “severe strains of the flu, tuberculosis, scabies, other respiratory illnesses like R.S.V. and so on, or just a general issue of mass migration being a public health threat and conveying a variety of communicable diseases.”

This is unfounded & inhumane xenophobia coming from the Trump camp. Gross.

Should this country elect this former president again, we will surely see our democracy become a dictatorship.