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Beware the beguiling Doctor Chatbot

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:00:19 GMT

Tom Melvin is an associate professor in Medical Device Regulatory Affairs in the School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin.Many of us have engaged with chatbots, the computerized conversational programs meant to help with things like our banking or a utility company query. The recent introduction of large language models (LLMs) has turbocharged these bots and their abilities, as neural network language models can now use patterns of speech from vast numbers of sources to generate human-like interactive conversations.  The use of chatbots in medicine, specifically, has a much longer history than one might think. In 1966, Joseph Weizenbaum at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology developed the ELIZA program, which used natural language processing to mimic a psychotherapist by offering questions or reflections based on text input from a “patient.”As one might imagine, given the early stages of computer programming, this was a simple program. However, for some of those who use...

Trump is a serious threat to the union of American states

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:00:19 GMT

Peter van Dalen is a Dutch member of the European Parliament.Standing in front of the Capitol building in Washington on March 4, 1865, then President Abraham Lincoln stirred the hearts of his audience, declaring America should have “malice toward none and charity for all.”It was Lincoln’s second inaugural address, and he was determined to heal a divided nation just weeks away from the formal end of its bloody civil war, setting out his aim “to achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.”But this magnificent and evocative speech, as well as the actions of one of America’s greatest Republicans, now stands in brutal contrast to the words and deeds of another Republican — former United States President Donald J. Trump.Trump is focused on his own glory, on his own interests — not the nation’s. He hurls grapes of wrath around the country. And his real menace was finally brought home in the report by the Bipartisan Congressional Inquiry Committee on...

Musk vs. Zuckerberg: Round-by-round scoring of the cage fight of the century

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:00:19 GMT

Musk vs. Zuckerberg: Round-by-round scoring of the cage fight of the centuryIt’s just not a fight without the pre-fight hype.Photo-illustration by Giulia Poloni/POLITICO (source images via Getty and iStock)Get ready for Zuck vs. Musk.When Elon Musk challenged Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to a “cage match” in June, it looked like just another trollish joke by the head of Tesla, SpaceX and the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. Now it increasingly looks like the fight might actually happen. The tech moguls are reportedly working with Dana White, president of Mixed Martial Arts organization UFC, to set up a charity punch-up in the next few months. Among the venues that have been mooted are Las Vegas’ Octagon Arena and Rome’s Colosseum (Italy’s Ministry of Culture told POLITICO that’s not an option owing to upcoming maintenance of the ancient arena). The two tech titans haven’t waited for the details to be worked out to start throwing sucker...

Pope Francis warns about AI’s dangers

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:00:19 GMT

Washington (CNN) — Pope Francis warned that artificial intelligence could pose a risk to society, highlighting its “disruptive possibilities and ambivalent effects” and urging those who would develop or use AI to do so responsibly.In a statement Tuesday, Francis alluded to the threat of algorithmic bias in technology and called on the public for vigilance “so that a logic of violence and discrimination does not take root in the production and use of such devices, at the expense of the most fragile and excluded.”“Injustice and inequalities fuel conflicts and antagonisms,” Francis continued. “The urgent need to orient the concept and use of artificial intelligence in a responsible way, so that it may be at the service of humanity and the protection of our common home, requires that ethical reflection be extended to the sphere of education and law.”Francis’s remarks dovetail with calls by some AI experts to ensure that algorithms are properly “aligned” in development to ...

Alex Verdugo drives in 2 runs in the Red Sox’s 4-3 victory over the Royals

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:00:19 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Alex Verdugo had a two-run double to help the Boston Red Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 4-3 on Wednesday night in a game with one of the strangest ground-rule doubles in Fenway Park history.In the top of the second inning with two out and Matt Duffy on first base, Kyle Isbel lashed a drive to left field that looked as if it would be caught by Masataka Yoshida, who lunged and clasped his glove. But Yoshida missed the ball, crashing into the wall. He got up, clearly confused, looking around for the ball.The ball was not on the field. It had smashed through one of the red lights on the wall that denote the number of outs. Yoshida picked the ball through the hole in the light, with the play ruled a ground-rule double.The Red Sox scored three runs in fourth to erase a one-run deficit. Masataka Yoshida led off with a double and Rafael Devers had a one-out walk, with Verdugo driving in both with his double. Luis Urias reached on catcher’s interference, and Reese McGuir...

Jeff McNeil’s go-ahead solo homer helps give Mets series victory over Chicago Cubs

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:00:19 GMT

It’s been a while, but the squirrel finally clawed his way to its nut. Jeff McNeil’s go-ahead solo homer in the bottom of the sixth inning propelled the Mets to a series victory over the Chicago Cubs Wednesday night at Citi Field, taking the rubber match, 4-3.The 31-year-old’s homer off of Hayden Wesneski was his second since June 13 and fifth of the season. McNeil has had a rough go of it in 2023 after winning the NL batting title last season after hitting .326. McNeil entered Thursday sporting a .254 average.Pete Alonso continued his torrid stretch, blasting a two-run homer off of Kyle Hendricks with the Mets trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth. The first baseman mashed his fourth homer of the three-game series off of the second deck, totaling his 35th of the season. Alonso is the first player in Mets history to have four seasons of 35-plus homers. Dave Kingman, Darryl Strawberry, Howard Johnson and Mike Piazza all had three seasons of such numbers for the A...

Orioles CEO John Angelos paused lease negotiations until new governor took office, planned 2-year extension, document says

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:00:19 GMT

As Orioles and Maryland Stadium Authority officials continue to reassure fans that the team is on track to sign a new stadium lease by the end of the year, a letter obtained by The Baltimore Sun reveals team CEO John Angelos temporarily halted negotiations last winter until Gov. Wes Moore took office.Angelos also floated the idea of a two-year extension to allow time to craft an ambitious redevelopment plan for the entire stadium complex. That didn’t come to pass, leaving the parties staring down a Dec. 31 deadline for a lease or an extension that would renew the team’s commitment to the city.“After the 2022 general election, I made the decision to pause our ongoing discussions with the Maryland Stadium Authority out of deference to your incoming Administration and my belief that you should have input into the finalized vision for Camden Yards,” Angelos told the governor in the Jan. 31 letter.Moore, a Democrat, was elected on Nov. 8, 2022, and took office on ...

Michael Lorenzen throws a no-hitter in his home debut with the Phillies, 14th in franchise history

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:00:19 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Michael Lorenzen walked to the mound to start the ninth inning — of just his second start with the Phillies, his first in Philadelphia — engrossed in the passion of fans roaring for him to complete a no-hitter, and considered the scene the coolest moment of his baseball career.“Just walking out of the dugout, hearing the fans go wild, it gave me the chills,” Lorenzen said. “It gave that boost of energy that I needed, for sure.”Boy, did it get wild in Philly just three outs later.Lorenzen threw the 14th no-hitter in Phillies history, a dazzling performance that led Philadelphia to a 7-0 win over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night. He became the fifth pitcher in major league history, and only the second since 1900, to throw a no-hitter in his home debut with a new team.“Unbelievable, bro,” manager Rob Thomson said during a clubhouse toast. “Welcome to Philadelphia, buddy.”The Phillies cheered for one of their newest teammates, who has settled in to near-pe...

Why state polls this Saturday are pivotal to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar’s rule

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:00:19 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — In the past two weeks, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has zig-zagged across the country on an election campaign that pitched the appeal of political stability and his concept of a progressive government. Just nine months into power, his nascent government will face its first test of popularity in pivotal state elections Saturday.The polls are widely viewed as an early referendum both for Anwar’s leadership and also the strength of the Islamist opposition after a divisive general election in November. The outcome of the state polls could influence the direction of national politics — and the country’s stability. Before Anwar, Malaysia had three prime ministers since 2018 after lawmakers switched support for political mileage. Here’s a look at the significance of the local polls and what it means for Anwar and the country.WHY ARE THE POLLS HELD NOW? Six of Malaysia’s 13 states are holding elections now because the local governments refused to call...

2 more arrested in Alabama riverfront brawl more that drew national attention

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:00:19 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Police in Alabama on Wednesday arrested two more boaters on misdemeanor assault charges in connection with a riverside brawl that drew national attention. Major Saba Coleman of the Montgomery Police Department said the two men turned themselves in on Wednesday to be arrested. A total of three men are charged in connection with an attack on a riverboat captain and another dock worker that sparked a riverside brawl in Alabama’s capital city. One man turned himself in earlier in the week. The melee, where sides broke down along racial lines, began Saturday evening when a moored pontoon boat blocked the Harriott II riverboat from docking in its designated space along the city’s riverfront. The riverboat co-captain took another vessel to shore to attempt to move the pontoon boat and was attacked by several white people from the private boat, police said. Video showed him being punched and shoved. Crew members and others later confronted the pontoon boat part...