Kara Swisher: "Lesbians should do all the parenting"
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Fox News
4 hours ago
- Fox News
Avoid These Flying Faux Pas!
As Kennedy gears up for her next trip, she lays down the law for her fellow travelers. From disciplining your little terrors to making sure your dogs are put away, she gives her list of rules for the next time you step foot on a plane. Follow Kennedy on Twitter: @KennedyNation Kennedy Now Available on YouTube: Follow on TikTok: Join Kennedy for Happy Hour on Fridays! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
New York Post
4 hours ago
- New York Post
AI version of Parkland massacre victim isn't the answer to any of our problems
On Monday night, former CNN blowhard Jim Acosta interviewed a slain victim of the 2018 Parkland, Florida, massacre. You read that correctly. Acosta, who now has his own Substack and accompanying YouTube channel, spoke with an artificial intelligence avatar of Joaquin Oliver — one of 17 victims senselessly gunned down by a deranged former classmate at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Advertisement 5 Former CNN reporter Jim Acosta interviewed an AI avatar of Joaquin Oliver (above) who was murdered in the 2018 Parkland massacre. The Jim Acosta Show Joaquin was only 17 when he died. Monday would have been his 25th birthday, surely a difficult day for his loved ones and a moment to lament his stolen future. 'Remembering Joaquin: AI Brings Voice to gun Victims' was the title of the episode. A rather strange summation from Acosta, who has made himself into a warrior against so-called disinformation. Advertisement In reality, it was more of a bizarre AI demonstration than an interview. Acosta asked the computer-generated stand-in about his own 'solution for gun violence.' 'Great question,' said the avatar. 'I believe in a mix of stronger gun control laws, mental health support and community engagement. We need to create safe spaces for conversations and connections, making sure everyone feels seen and heard. It's about building a culture of kindness and understanding. What do you think about that?' Despite the likeness sounding robotic, Acosta acted like he was having a thoughtful human interaction. He went on to ask 'Joaquin' about his favorite movies and sports. Advertisement 5 Jim Acosta (left) also interviewed Manny Oliver about plans for his late son's AI avatar. The Jim Acosta Show ''Star Wars' is such an epic saga. The adventures, the characters and that iconic music are unforgettable,' the avatar responded, adding that he also likes the Miami Heat and LeBron James. 'Joaquin' ended each answer by tossing an automated-sounding question back to Acosta — bringing to mind the computer in the 1983 Matthew Broderick movie 'War Games.' And yet Acosta continued with the unsettling charade. He noted that we've heard politicians' takes on the shooting, but 'now we're hearing from one of the kids. That's important.' Advertisement It's also false. And grotesque. Like a dystopian plot come to life. We were hearing not from a victim but an uncanny-valley likeness uploaded with activist talking points and, according to his father, Manny Oliver, some of Joaquin's own writings and social media posts. 5 Joaquin Oliver, who was killed in the Parkland shooting, is seen on the right with his parents Manny and Patricia. The Jim Acosta Show Acosta was rightly and roundly criticized for 'interviewing' an AI avatar. In response to the backlash, the victim's father said, 'If the problem you have is with the AI, then you have the wrong problem. The real problem is my son was shot.' No one is arguing that last part. The massacre in Parkland was the result of many systemic failures, and a bloody stain on our history. I understand that the Oliver family's grief must be so immense that they'll do anything to keep their son's legacy alive. However, it's not about how Joaquin died, but the decision to resurrect their son as an activist with Acosta aiding and abetting this dangerous delusion. The whole endeavor raises ethical questions and further muddies our already twisted reality. 5 The massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School left 17 innocent people dead. AFP/Getty Images Advertisement Are we really hurtling toward transhumanism this quickly? Do the dead have any say in how they are used after they leave this Earth? Joaquin's father emphasized that he understood this is indeed AI and that he cannot bring back his son. But, he said, hearing his child's voice brings comfort to him and his wife. No one should deny them that private pursuit of comfort. But he is also hoping his son's AI becomes an influencer. In 2024, Manny Oliver and his gun-control group 'Change the Ref' also used his son's voice to send a message to members of Congress, urging them to vote for more gun control measures. Advertisement 5 Manuel Oliver, seen with his wife Patricia Oliver and a photo of their son Joaquin, also formed the gun-control activist group Change the Ref. Larry Marano 'Now Joaquin is gonna start having followers … He's going to start uploading videos. This is just the beginning,' said Manny, adding that 'moving forward, we will have Joaquin on stage in the middle of a debate. And knowledge is solid. His knowledge is unlimited.' But can a computer really know the thoughts and soul of a human being? Advertisement Using AI as a vessel isn't going to save the world or stop gun violence. From what I've seen thus far, it will just add more well-meaning but ultimately nonsubstantive sentiments to this contentious subject. Let's not be like Acosta and pretend otherwise.
Boston Globe
5 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Livestream of deep-sea creatures transfixes Argentina
The video feed has attracted more than 1.6 million views a day on YouTube, dominated TV news broadcasts, and even sparked a national conversation about the defunding of Argentine science under libertarian President Javier Milei. 'It was a huge surprise for us,' said expedition leader Daniel Lauretta. 'It's something that fills our hearts because we want to spread the word.' Advertisement Outfitted with high-definition cameras and state-of-the-art sensors, the roving robot captures the enigmatic organisms of Mar de Plata's submarine canyon with exceptional clarity and detail for the first time. The region, where the warm current from Brazil meets the cold current coming up from the Falkland Islands, is known for its little-studied biodiversity. In dives lasting around eight hours a day, the camera encounters an array of surprising creatures lurking in the inky depths off the coast of Buenos Aires: An orange starfish so bright it drew comparisons to Patrick of 'SpongeBob SquarePants' cartoon fame, a sea cucumber viewers nicknamed 'sweet potato,' a deep sea crab that looked like a hairy spider. 'The colors, the zoom capability — that really amazed me,' Lauretta said. 'I think that feeling reached the public too.' Advertisement Often peaking at some 50,000 simultaneous viewers, the livestream from the deep-sea research vessel kicked off last week and runs until Sunday. Argentine researchers and American experts from the nonprofit of former Google CEO Eric E. Schmidt, the Schmidt Ocean Institute Foundation, use the vehicle to map the underwater gorge, collect samples and identify scores of new species at a depth below the reach of sunlight, where scientists have only begun to scratch the surface when it comes to understanding marine life. Few viewers have been able to resist the impulse to anthropomorphize the featured life-forms, assigning zodiac stars to invertebrates and sharing social media quizzes along the lines of 'Which deep-sea creature are you based on how you handle stress?' If you ignore the world, you're a translucent squid; if you explode with anger, you're apparently a pistol shrimp. 'Argentines are very passionate about everything that happens in Argentina,' said Georgina Valanci, 40, her eyes fixed on floating translucent fish while crocheting on Monday. 'I think it represents a bit of the pride that something like this is being done in our country.' Most Argentine researchers on the expedition come from Conicet, Argentina's leading scientific funding and research body, shining a light on the institute's work at a moment when its funding is under attack. President Milei has taken his bureaucracy-slashing chainsaw to Argentine research projects and grants, curbing science spending as a part of a broader drive to eliminate Argentina's chronic fiscal deficit and bring down inflation. State-backed science organizations have lost 4,000 positions in the last year and a half — a combination of layoffs, frozen contracts, and resignations over poor working conditions and low pay. Advertisement Conicet suffered a 21 percent budget cut in real terms last year. Salaries for Conicet researchers have lost 35 percent of their value. Many warn that the measures are setting off a brain drain. Seizing on the surge of public excitement about Conicet, researchers have called for a 48-hour nationwide strike on Wednesday to draw attention to their plight. Although Milei has not commented on the livestream, his allies have expressed disdain. 'They should livestream an offshore drilling operation instead,' said Alejandro Álvarez, an official in Milei's government, referring to growing crude production in Argentina's Vaca Muerta shale formation — an oil boom that Milei hopes can help revive the nation's crisis-stricken economy. 'It's a beautiful process of wealth creation and natural resource exploitation that will make Argentina greater.' In the meantime, Argentines seem content to be mesmerized by orange starfish.
