An Iraqi critic of Islam tore up and burnt a copy of the Quran outside Stockholm’s central mosque today in a stunt that could further jeopardise Sweden’s application to join Nato. (Crossland, The Times UK)
Read MoreWhile firms like OpenAI, Microsoft and Google rigorously train their AI models to avoid a host of taboos, including overly intimate conversations, Allie was built using open-source technology — code that’s freely available to the public and has no such restrictions. Based on a model created by Meta, called LLaMA, Allie is part of a rising tide of specialized AI products anyone can build, from writing tools to chatbots to data analysis applications. (Verma & Oremus, The Washington Post)
Read MoreThe mandate was an attempt by the Biden administration to define sex to include “gender identity” for the purposes of Health and Human Services (HHS) regulations. Critics say the rule would have required doctors, clinics, and hospitals to perform procedures to which they object and insurance companies to pay for such procedures. (Erlanson, Christianity Today)
Read MoreOne of the largest sociological studies in the country, the GSS has been tracking the beliefs and behaviors of U.S. adults for more than 50 years. In the latest survey, 34% say they never attend a religious service, up from 31% in 2021. (Earls, Lifeway Research)
Read MoreAll told, there were 2,120 reported hate crimes, a 20.2% jump from the year prior, figures from the California Department of Justice show. Overall, the number of such events has risen 145.7% since 2013. California’s all-time high in reported hate crimes was 2,261 in 2001. (Campa, Los Angeles Times)
Read More[The report] reveals 60% of Gen Z are open to viewing AI-based content, 82 percent create and curate content they want to consume. Unlike in earlier years, fans are no longer dependent on viral moments from films, music videos, and events for their pop-culture fix. Due to the tech revolution, fans are able to create content that reflects their interests and do it themselves. (The Economic Times)
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