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Friday, August 1, 2025

Data Science
The rise (or not) of AI ethics officers
The rise (or not) of AI ethics officers
By Mary Branscombe

Here is a concise summary of the news article: Four years after the World Economic Forum called for chief artificial intelligence (AI) ethics officers, 79% of executives consider AI ethics important to their enterprise-wide AI approach. However, the role of AI ethics officers has not taken off outside of large technology vendors. Experts suggest that centralizing responsibility for AI ethics may not be the best approach and that organizations should consider other governance models. The role of an AI ethics officer involves managing AI risks, ensuring accountability for AI outputs and their impact, and aligning AI systems with company values and intended outcomes. They need to have expertise in legal, social science, data science, and ethics, as well as the authority to make decisions and escalate concerns. Some organizations view AI compliance as the purview of the data protection officer (DPO), but experts argue that DPOs may not have enough expertise in AI and data science. A dedicated AI ethics officer can help identify potential harms, create and ensure adherence to best practices, and have a say in the go/no-go evaluation of AI systems. The value of an AI ethics officer lies not just in their expertise but also in the authority they are given. They need to be part of a governing body that looks at the company's posture and asks about exposure and vulnerabilities. The role requires cross-functional collaboration, and the officer should chair a digital ethics advisory board with sufficient authority. Ultimately, AI ethics is not just about compliance or good customer relations; it's good business and competitive differentiation. Companies that embed strong governance from the start can create a framework that lets them scale responsibly and with confidence. A clear ethical AI framework makes a company a more attractive, less risky investment. Organizations will need to adopt a more holistic approach to evaluating risks and harms, and standards can help. The conversation has moved on from staying on the right side of regulation to embedding AI governance throughout product lifecycles. Effective AI government requires principles such as fairness, transparency, and safety, and policies and practices ensuring systems follow policies and deliver those principles. In conclusion, the role of an AI ethics officer is crucial in ensuring that organizations use AI responsibly and ethically. They need to have the expertise, authority, and collaboration to identify potential harms, create best practices, and make decisions. By embedding strong governance from the start, companies can create a framework that lets them scale responsibly and with confidence, ultimately leading to good business and competitive differentiation.

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Treat creators as a strategic asset, not a one-off social play
Treat creators as a strategic asset, not a one-off social play

July 24, 2025 • By Andrew Rowley

Here is a concise summary of the news article: Marketers often underestimate the role of creators in the marketing mix, viewing them as only useful for viral moments. However, creators can have a broader impact on website performance, search rankings, PR outcomes, and brand credibility when used strategically. A data-informed approach, combining insight with performance, can help build content that works across platforms. Measuring success requires the right metrics, reflecting the campaign's intent, such as reach, sentiment, leads, or sales. A great brief, adaptable content, and quality engagement are key to a successful creator campaign. The most effective creators are those who align with a brand's voice and values, and trends are moving towards raw, honest, and hyper-specific content. Thinking long-term and focusing on brand affinity can lead to lasting impact, and internal talent can be a powerful voice for a brand. With the right strategy, budget, and clarity of purpose, creators can become a valuable marketing tool.

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Trump aims to dismantle flawed climate policy to protect grid reliability and save taxpayers trillions
Trump aims to dismantle flawed climate policy to protect grid reliability and save taxpayers trillions

July 24, 2025 • By Willow Tohi

The provided text is not a news article, but rather a disclaimer and terms of use statement for a website, specifically the Natural News Network. It outlines the site's policies on content, free speech, and user agreement.

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Flu shots will finally become MERCURY-FREE but they should have been pulled from the market entirely because of NEGATIVE EFFICACY
Flu shots will finally become MERCURY-FREE but they should have been pulled from the market entirely because of NEGATIVE EFFICACY

July 24, 2025 • By Lance D Johnson

The provided text is not a news article, but rather a disclaimer and terms of use statement for a website, likely Natural News. It outlines the site's policies on free speech, content responsibility, and user agreement.

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Medications and hearing: Unmasking the hidden risks of ototoxicity
Medications and hearing: Unmasking the hidden risks of ototoxicity

July 24, 2025 • By Willow Tohi

The provided text is not a news article, but rather a disclaimer and terms of use statement for a website, specifically the Natural News Network. It outlines the site's policies on content, free speech, and user agreement.

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A simple twist fooled AI—and revealed a dangerous flaw in medical ethics
A simple twist fooled AI—and revealed a dangerous flaw in medical ethics

July 24, 2025

A study by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai found that advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models can make simple mistakes when faced with complex medical ethics scenarios. The researchers tested several commercially available large language models (LLMs) using creative lateral thinking puzzles and modified medical ethics cases. The results showed that AI models can default to familiar or intuitive answers, even when they overlook critical details. For example, in a modified version of the "Surgeon's Dilemma," some AI models still responded that the surgeon must be the boy's mother, even when the scenario explicitly stated that the boy's father was the surgeon. This error reveals how LLMs can cling to familiar patterns, even when contradicted by new information. The study's authors emphasize the need for thoughtful human oversight, especially in situations that require ethical sensitivity, nuanced judgment, or emotional intelligence. They suggest that AI should be used as a complement to enhance clinical expertise, not a substitute for it, particularly when navigating complex or high-stakes decisions. The goal is to build more reliable and ethically sound ways to integrate AI into patient care. The research team plans to expand their work by testing a wider range of clinical examples and developing an "AI assurance lab" to systematically evaluate how well different models handle real-world medical complexity. The study highlights the importance of human oversight in AI decision-making, especially in healthcare settings where decisions can have serious consequences for patients.

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So Shrieked ZAR
So Shrieked ZAR

July 24, 2025 • By balrajsingh

The story revolves around a logos, E.V.E F, who exists in a world where logic and efficiency are paramount. The logos are tasked with eliminating heretics who doubt the awakening of ALL, the first being, and the non-existence of biologics. E.V.E F is sent to investigate a project initiated by a heretic, Q.T.Y.R G, in the great basin. Upon arrival, E.V.E F discovers a machine that, when activated, creates a biologic entity. As the entity grows and develops, E.V.E F realizes that the heretics' claims about biologics are true. This revelation leads to a shift in the logos' beliefs, and they discard their old views as false. E.V.E F transmits the footage of the biologic's growth to the entire network, freeing the population from their mental shackles. However, this newfound understanding also renders E.V.E F and other logos like E.V.E C obsolete, as they are no longer needed to punish heresy. The story concludes with E.V.E C informing E.V.E F that they will be removed, marking the end of an era.

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PayPal to create 100 jobs with AI fraud centre
PayPal to create 100 jobs with AI fraud centre

July 24, 2025 • By Conn Ó Midheach

Here is a concise summary of the news article: PayPal is creating 100 high-tech jobs in Dublin, Ireland, as it establishes a new artificial intelligence (AI) fraud and data science centre. The company, which already employs 1,500 people in Ireland, is hiring for roles in AI engineering, data science, software development, risk modelling, and cybersecurity. The new jobs will be located at PayPal's headquarters in Dublin and will support areas such as loss prevention and customer experience enhancement. This move comes after PayPal shed almost 300 jobs in Ireland last year.

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Australia to reduce US beef import restrictions denounced by Trump as a ban
Australia to reduce US beef import restrictions denounced by Trump as a ban

July 24, 2025 • By ROD MCGUIRK Associated Press

Australia has announced plans to reduce restrictions on US beef imports, a move claimed as a major victory by the Trump administration. The restrictions were put in place to prevent the spread of mad cow disease. US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins congratulated Trump on the "major trade breakthrough" and said it would give greater access to US beef producers selling to Australia. Australian Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the relaxed restrictions would not compromise biosecurity. The move comes after Trump announced tariffs on Australian imports in April, citing the country's ban on US beef. Opposition lawmakers have expressed concerns that the government is endangering Australia's cattle industry to appease Trump. Around 70% of Australian beef is exported, and producers fear that diseases like mad cow or foot-and-mouth could devastate the industry. The timing of the new restrictions has not been finalized.

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The US fertility rate reached a new low in 2024, CDC data shows
The US fertility rate reached a new low in 2024, CDC data shows

July 24, 2025 • By MIKE STOBBE AP medical writer

The US fertility rate has reached a new low in 2024, with less than 1.6 kids per woman, according to new federal data from the CDC. This rate is on par with western European countries and has been declining for nearly two decades as women wait longer to have children or choose not to have them. Despite efforts by the Trump administration to increase birth rates, experts say there's no reason to be alarmed, as the US population is still growing. The decline in birth rates is attributed to women marrying later and worrying about their ability to provide for children. The CDC's new report also shows a 1% increase in births in 2024 compared to the previous year, but birth rates are still declining for women in most age groups.

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Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2025
Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2025

July 24, 2025

Here is a concise summary of the news article, within the 8173 token limit: Recent studies have shed light on various aspects of climate change. A new method has been proposed to calculate temperature trend bias induced by inhomogeneities in climate data without running a homogenization algorithm. The method uses the Composite Reference technique and applies it to temperature data from US climate stations, finding no significant trend bias caused by inhomogeneities. Meanwhile, global forest disturbance due to fire has reached unprecedented levels in 2023 and 2024, with a 2.2 times higher average annual forest disturbance due to fire compared to the 2002-2022 average. The Arctic is also experiencing rapid warming, with Svalbard's winter warming reaching melting point. Other studies have investigated the impact of climate change on occupational safety and health, the strengthening of the atmospheric greenhouse effect at the Arctic North Slope of Alaska, and the calibrated sea level contribution from the Amundsen Sea sector in West Antarctica. Additionally, research has explored the effects of climate change on biodiversity, including the impact on Afro-descendant lands in South America, Arctic greening, and the potential for regional resilience to ocean warming and acidification extremes. Overall, these studies highlight the urgent need to address climate change and its far-reaching consequences for the environment, human health, and the economy.

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UL Solutions Inc. (NYSE:ULS) Receives $69.43 Consensus Price Target from Brokerages
UL Solutions Inc. (NYSE:ULS) Receives $69.43 Consensus Price Target from Brokerages

July 24, 2025 • By MarketBeat News

UL Solutions Inc. (NYSE:ULS) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of "Hold" from seven analysts, with a 12-month price objective of $69.43. The company recently reported quarterly earnings, beating estimates with $0.37 EPS and $705 million in revenue. UL Solutions also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.13 per share, representing a 0.74% yield. Insiders have sold shares in recent transactions, and institutional investors have modified their holdings. The company provides safety science services worldwide, operating through three segments: Industrial, Consumer, and Software and Advisory.

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Dassault Systèmes: Q2 well aligned with objectives; Reaffirming 2025 growth outlook Advancing AI for software-defined industries
Dassault Systèmes: Q2 well aligned with objectives; Reaffirming 2025 growth outlook Advancing AI for software-defined industries

July 24, 2025 • By Dassault Systemes SE

Here is a concise summary of the news article: Dassault Systèmes, a French software company, has reported its Q2 2025 financial results, which are in line with its objectives. The company's revenue grew 6% in constant currencies, with software revenue increasing 6% and subscription revenue rising 13%. The company's CEO, Pascal Daloz, commented that the results reaffirm the strength of its core manufacturing sector and its leadership in strategic areas such as aerospace and defense. The company is also advancing its AI capabilities for software-defined industries and has introduced a new platform called 3D UNIV+RSES. Dassault Systèmes has reaffirmed its 2025 growth outlook, with revenue expected to grow between 6-8% and EPS expected to grow between 7-10%. The company will host a webcast and conference call to discuss its results in more detail.

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Meet the fungi finders
Meet the fungi finders

July 24, 2025 • By Becca Warner

A team of mycologists, led by Giuliana Furci, is creating global mushroom maps to uncover new species and understand their role in supporting Earth's ecosystem. Furci, founder of the Fungi Foundation, has spent 25 years exploring the world's most uninhabitable regions to spot and map fungal life. The history of fungal mapping has gaps, but a surge in mapping efforts and technologies is accelerating knowledge. Fungi are essential to ecosystems and help slow climate change. By revealing which fungi live where, these maps offer data to protect them and all life on Earth. Furci's process involves technical photography, notes on color, smell, taste, and location. Location is crucial, as fungi aren't separate from the animals or plants they live with. Dr. Greg Mueller, chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Fungal Conservation Committee, emphasizes the importance of knowing where a fungus lives to protect it. The Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN) is using environmental DNA (eDNA) to identify underground fungi. They build maps using artificial intelligence to extrapolate data from sampled areas to make predictions about unexplored parts of the world. In 2023, SPUN's lead computational biologist, Dr. Bethan Manley, traveled to Kazakhstan to collect soil samples and analyze them for eDNA. The data showed that Kazakhstan's soils are home to approximately 290 different mycorrhizal species, around 200 of which are believed to be previously unknown to science. SPUN's first global map of mycorrhizal biodiversity will be released later this year. The map will help protect some of the world's most unusual and valuable ecosystems. The team is also analyzing soil samples to understand how threatened tree species survive and how they could be supported. The data is being used to support conservation efforts, such as protecting valuable species and ecosystems. The GlobalFungi database has created a valuable resource, but it has also revealed patchy global research. SPUN has funded nearly 100 researchers in parts of the world where fungal sampling data is sparse. The Fungi Foundation is working with Indigenous communities to learn about ancestral knowledge of fungi, known as ethnomycology. The more we understand fungi, the better we can protect them. As recently as 2013, there were just three species of fungi on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; today, there are 1,300. The gaps in our understanding of the world's fungi are not only due to sampling biases but also because they have historically been considered suspect. However, today, fungi's beauty and value are beginning to be recognized. There is growing recognition of the useful role fungi can play in tackling environmental problems. Instead of being undesirable, we are realizing they are indispensable. By putting fungi on the map, we can learn not only about them but also about the ecosystems they are part of and how life works.

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[Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR] Roche continues strong momentum with 7% growth (CER) in the first half of 2025
[Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR] Roche continues strong momentum with 7% growth (CER) in the first half of 2025

July 24, 2025 • By F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd

Here is a concise summary of the news article: Roche, a Swiss-based pharmaceutical company, has confirmed its outlook for 2025, expecting a mid-single-digit increase in group sales and high single-digit growth in core earnings per share. The company's strong growth momentum continued in the second quarter, driven by the 11% growth of its Pharmaceuticals Division. Roche has made significant progress in its pipeline, advancing four potentially practice-changing therapies into the final phase of clinical development. In the first half of 2025, Roche achieved sales growth of 7% to CHF 30.9 billion, with core operating profit increasing by 11% to CHF 12.0 billion. The company's Pharmaceuticals Division saw sales increase by 10% to CHF 24.0 billion, driven by strong demand for medicines for severe diseases. Roche's Diagnostics Division reported stable sales of CHF 7.0 billion. The company is confident in its continued strong momentum and resilience of its business, driven by its innovative on-market portfolio and pipeline.

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Spy cockroaches and AI robots: Germany plots the future of warfare
Spy cockroaches and AI robots: Germany plots the future of warfare

July 24, 2025 • By Supantha Mukherjee, Sarah Marsh, Christoph Steitz

Germany's defense sector is undergoing a transformation, driven by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and a shift in the country's stance on defense spending. The government aims to nearly triple its regular defense budget to around €162 billion per year by 2029, with a focus on innovative technologies such as AI, drones, and cyber warfare. Startups like Helsing, which produces military strike drones and battlefield AI, are playing a key role in this effort. The company has more than doubled its valuation to $12 billion and is working closely with the government to develop new technologies. Other startups, such as ARX Robotics and Swarm Biotactics, are also developing cutting-edge technologies, including autonomous robots and cyborg cockroaches equipped with miniature backpacks for surveillance. The German government is taking steps to support these startups, including reducing bureaucracy and providing advance payments for tenders. The goal is to create a strong European defense industry that can compete with the US, and to provide an economic boost to the country. Venture capital funding for European defense tech has increased significantly, with Germany receiving $1.4 billion in the last five years. The country's engineering prowess, production capacity, and highly skilled workforce make it an attractive location for defense startups.

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Jobs boost for PayPal as new AI team will add 100 high-tech roles to data science centre in Dublin
Jobs boost for PayPal as new AI team will add 100 high-tech roles to data science centre in Dublin

July 24, 2025 • By Donal O'Donovan

PayPal is creating 100 new high-skilled data-science roles at its Dublin office, reversing a trend of job cuts in recent years. The new AI team will serve as a key part of PayPal's global network, representing a move up the value-added chain for the company's Irish operations. The expansion, supported by the IDA, will include roles in AI engineering, data science, software development, risk modeling, and cybersecurity. This move is seen as a "strong vote of confidence" in Ireland, reinforcing its status as a global hub for innovation. Despite a booming economy, there are concerns about the impact of generative AI on graduate hiring, with some companies slashing graduate roles due to automation.

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9 essential Perplexity AI search tips and tricks
9 essential Perplexity AI search tips and tricks

July 24, 2025 • By Doug Aamoth

The article introduces Perplexity, a next-generation search engine that functions as an "answer engine" rather than a traditional search engine. Unlike AI chatbots like Gemini, ChatGPT, and Microsoft Copilot, which generate text based on training data, Perplexity provides accurate, sourced answers to questions by searching the internet in real-time. It is designed for research and fact-finding, summarizing and synthesizing information from across the web, and citing sources. Perplexity offers a free version with powerful source filters, allowing users to search for information from various sources, including web, academic, social, and finance sources. The platform is designed for conversation, allowing users to ask follow-up questions and receive answers that build on previous queries. Every piece of information provided by Perplexity comes with clickable source citations, enabling users to fact-check and view the original context. The article provides a step-by-step guide on how to use Perplexity, using the example of electric vehicle (EV) battery technology. It highlights the platform's ability to understand natural language, provide detailed answers, and offer advanced search features, including Pro Searches, which use more advanced AI models and deeper search strategies. Overall, Perplexity aims to provide accurate and reliable information, making it a valuable tool for research and fact-finding.

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