Tech / Technology

White House announces new AI initiatives at Global Summit on AI Safety

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Vice President Kamala Harris will reveal the US government’s new AI initiatives to advance the safe and responsible use of AI.
Vice President Kamala Harris delivers remarks about the Biden Administration's work to regulate artificial intelligence during an event in the East Room of the White House on October 30, 2023 in Washington, DC.

Vice President Kamala Harris will outline several new AI initiatives today, laying out the US government’s plans to advance the safe and responsible use of machine learning technology. We already know what many of them will be.

The White House previously announced an executive order on AI regulation earlier this week, with the intention to protect US citizens from the potential harm the technology can cause. It is now building further on this order, aiming to position itself as a global leader in ensuring AI is developed and used in the public interest internationally.

Currently in London to attend the Global Summit on AI Safety, Harris is scheduled to deliver her live-streamed speech on the US’ approach to AI at approximately 1:35 p.m. GMT / 9:35 a.m. ET.

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White House drops an AI regulation bombshell: 10 new mandates that’ll shake up the industry

“Just as AI has the potential to do profound good, it also has the potential to cause profound harm, from AI-enabled cyber-attacks at a scale beyond anything we have seen before to AI-formulated bioweapons that could endanger the lives of millions,” Harris said in an excerpt from her prepared speech. “These threats are often referred to as the ‘existential threats of AI,’ because they could endanger the very existence of humanity.”

“So, the urgency of this moment must compel us to create a collective vision of what this future must be. A future where AI is used to advance human rights and human dignity; where privacy is protected and people have equal access to opportunity; where we make our democracies stronger and our world safer. A future where AI is used to advance the public interest.”

Here are the new announcements and government initiatives Harris will reveal.

1. The US is establishing a United States AI Safety Institute

The US government is establishing a United States AI Safety Institute (US AISI), which will be part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Created through the Department of Commerce, the US AISI will be responsible for applying the NIST’s AI Risk Management Framework, developing benchmarks, best practices, and technical guidance to mitigate the risks of AI. These will then be used by regulators when developing or enforcing rules. The US AISI will also collaborate with similar institutions internationally.

2. The first draft of policy guidance for the US government’s use of AI is being made available for public comment

The US government is publishing the first draft of its policy guidance on its use of AI, with the public invited to comment. Released through the Office of Management and Budget, this policy is intended to outline tangible steps for the responsible use of AI by the US, and builds on previous guidance such as the NIST’s AI Risk Management Framework. The policy is intended for application across a wide range of departments, including health, law enforcement, and immigration, and requires that federal departments monitor the risks of AI, consult the public regarding its use, and provide an avenue of appeal to those harmed by it. 

You can read the draft policy and submit your comments here.

3. 30 nations have joined the Political Declaration on the Responsible Military Use of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy

The US made its Political Declaration on the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy in February, establishing standards for the lawful, responsible use and development of military AI. This included the requirement that it comply with international humanitarian law. Interestingly, a specific goal of the Political Declaration is to preserve nations’ “right to self-defense,” as well as their ability to develop and use AI for the military.

Thirty other nations have now endorsed this Declaration as well, specifically Albania, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kosovo, Latvia, Liberia, Malawi, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.

4. 10 foundations have pledged over $200 million for public interest AI initiatives

Ten foundations are collectively committing over $200 million to fund AI initiatives intended to further the best interests of the global public — specifically workers, consumers, communities, and historically marginalised people. The foundations are also creating a funders’ network, which will coordinate such giving with the specific aim of supporting AI work that protects democracy and rights, drives innovation in the public interest, empowers workers amidst the changes being brought about by AI, improves accountability, or supports international rules regarding AI.

The 10 foundations involved are the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Democracy Fund, the Ford Foundation, Heising-Simons Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Kapor Foundation, Mozilla Foundation, Omidyar Network, Open Society Foundations, and the Wallace Global Fund.

5. The US government will hold a hackathon to find a solution to scam AI robocalls 

The US government will host a virtual hackathon with the goal to build AI models which can detect and block robocalls and robotexts that can be used to scam people. The hackathon will have a particular focus on calls that use AI-generated voices.

6. The US is calling for international authentication standards for digital government messaging

The US is calling on the global community to support the development of international standards for digital and AI content produced by governments. Such standards would be aimed at helping the public identify whether or not an apparent government message is authentic, and may include labelling such as digital signatures or watermarks.

7. The US will develop a pledge committing to the responsible use of AI

Finally, the US government will work with the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) to develop a pledge that its development and implementation of AI will incorporate responsible practices. The FOC is a group of 38 countries whose stated aim is to advance internet freedom and protect human rights online worldwide.

Tech / Technology

Is The Cheesecake Factory a bad place to take a first date? The internet is divided.

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The online world is ablaze arguing about the places OK for a first date after a woman went viral for refusing to enter a Cheesecake Factory.
cheesecake factory viewed from parking lot

Lots of folks have experienced a bad date. But it’s not every day someone exposes the intimate details of their bad date online — down to the choice of restaurant their prospective date chose — garnering an audience of millions. For one woman, that happened when she pulled up to The Cheesecake Factory for a first date.

Yes, the popular chain restaurant famed for its Bible-length menu is going viral for reasons likely making its marketing department lose sleep. A TikTok of a woman refusing to exit a vehicle for a date at The Cheesecake Factory has made the rounds on social media platforms this past week.

The TikTok in question, posted by a woman speaking directly into a camera, went into detail about how this was, apparently, a great offense.

“Who takes someone that looks like this to a chain restaurant?” she said in the video.”Look at me: I cannot go in Cheesecake Factory. I will die.”

The whole thing has since taken on a life of its own. So much so that the original TikTok isn’t even the issue in question anymore. At more than six minutes long, the video features the woman dressing down her would-be suitor outside of The Cheesecake Factory. He also poked back at her for being late and they then went back and forth, arguing in the front seats of a car. And, not for nothing, these sorts of TikToks are often staged and played up for the camera because…well, duh…people want attention.

If it was for attention, it worked. Millions of people have watched the interaction. The response has largely been in defense of the guy and The Cheesecake Factory. Typical comments were: “What’s wrong with the cheesecake factory” to “he seems so nice I would’ve been so hyped for the cheesecake factory,” and “I like the Cheesecake Factory….Girl bye…. He dodged a bullet.. perfectly played.”

Then, of course, the online world began having a Discourse because that’s what people online do. A list of 28 places not to take a date went viral, for instance. Twenty-eight places! (What’s left?) Things only escalated from there.

Popular sports talking head Stephen A. Smith ranted about it. TL;DR: “Ain’t nothing wrong with the Cheesecake Factory.” The freaking View had a segment on it. The brands posted about it, including The Cheesecake Factory itself.

In some ways, you do begin to feel bad for the woman who posted the original TikTok. Was it shady, over-the-top, and slightly unnecessary? Yes, of course. There was no way, however, she could know it would be this big of a deal. But in our culture where everyone needs to post about going to the viral new place, the relatively bland reliability of The Cheesecake Factory might feel like an insult. Never mind the fact that the restaurant itself estimates the average guest spends about $30, which isn’t that cheap. If you’re springing for drinks, dessert, and tipping no less than 20 percent, it seems the bill for a first date is likely to be at least $100.

The jokes about the whole saga will keep on coming for a while.

First dates are tough. Picking a restaurant is difficult even for couples who’ve been together for years, let alone two people just meeting.

It’d be great to support locally owned restaurants, but sometimes people want to play it safe with a place that has hundreds of options. There are worse things. And hey, at least the dessert will be good. That is if you enter the restaurant from the parking lot.

Tech / Technology

TikTok users put their partners to ‘The Beckham Test’ inspired by David and Victoria

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Inspired by David and Victoria in ‘Beckham’ on Netflix, “The Beckham Test” challenges TikTok partners to dance along to “Island in the Streams.”
Young David and Victoria Beckham embracing tenderly in front of a football pitch.

David Beckham doesn’t just score goals — he and his wife Victoria are relationship goals.

For many viewers of Beckham, Netflix‘s limited documentary series about the footballer, the most memorable scene wasn’t David calling out Victoria for referring to herself as “working class” or David getting a football cleat to the head, but rather the couple casually grooving to “Island in the Streams” by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers. The married pair share a seemingly spontaneous dance to the tune in the kitchen toward the end of the doc.

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‘Beckham’ is wildly popular on Netflix for this 1 key reason

Fans circulated the clip of the pair on TikTok with captions like “The Real Power Couple” and “This is my Roman Empire.” Others posted videos dancing to the audio from the scene overlaid with their reactions. TikTok user @caitlinann wrote, “I did not know one of my major life goals was to dance to this song in my countryside home with my future husband, but apparently it is now.” Another TikTokker, @siennakitchener, said, “pov: you just watched the Beckham docuseries & this scene has occupied your brain all day.”

Admiration for the sweet moment quickly morphed into a challenge for people, most of whom are women, to see if their partners measure up to the football star’s fancy footwork. The challenge, aptly called “The Beckham Test,” has TikTokkers dance along to “Island in the Streams” and record their partner’s reaction. To pass the test, the partner must join in on the dancing.

While the trend is light-hearted, it encourages users to compare their relationships to the curated, public image of the Beckhams and requires TikTokkers to surveil their partners in pursuit of internet clout.

SEE ALSO:

Are all men obsessed with the Roman Empire? We investigate.

In one video that garnered over 5.6 million views, @rebeccavieirax dances in the kitchen before her husband quickly “passes” and copies her dance moves. In another with 3.9 million views, @tess.shananhan puts her husband to the test by dancing alone in the living room, but fear not — he enters the frame and starts dancing alongside her.

Single people may be unable to participate in The Beckham Test, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t posting the audio, too. In one funny take on the trend, TikTokker @user3693184408 dances, adding the caption, “seeing if my bf will do the Beckham dance with me.” Then the camera pans and reveals she is entirely alone. Another video of two friends moving together to the beat reads, “My best friend and I still living with each other 25 years from now.”

Rather than passing a test of rhythm, maybe the next Beckham-inspired trend will involve passing a football.

Tech / Technology

Best gifts for her 2023: Unique picks she’ll actually love

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Shop home, tech, and beauty gifts for the lucky lady in your life.
gifts for her

Buying gifts for the special women in your life can be tricky. What do you buy a person who has everything? What should you gift to someone who’s picky about their products?

Our advice is to curate a gift according to her interests and personality. Taking the generic route usually sends a bad message. A gift for the lady in your life should be just that: A gift for her. Specifically.

There’s a wealth of unique gift items littered across the internet, but having too many choices isn’t always helpful. Sometimes, product overload can trick you into impulse-buying something your special person may not even want. Consider how a mug looks to someone whose mug shelf is overflowing or how a heart necklace looks to someone who never wears mushy jewelry.

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The best gifts for teenage girls, according to teenage girls

We’ve put together a comprehensive guide to get you started on your important mission: Finding the gift of all gifts for the lady in your life, filled with classics that will be useful for years to come and trendy items you’ve never even heard of. From tech products to beauty must-haves, there’s a gift for every lady on this list.

Tech / Technology

Best Apple Watch deals: Save on the SE and more

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Prime Day may be over, but great Apple Watch deals still remain — here are the best ones as of Oct. 31.
person looking down at apple watch with price tag attached on their wrist

UPDATE: Oct. 31, 2023, 12:15 p.m. EDT We’ve updated this post to reflect the most recent pricing and availability on Apple Watches heading into Black Friday season.

Top Apple Watch deals this week:
Our top pick

Apple Watch Series 8 (41mm, GPS)

$305.91 at Amazon
(Save $93.09)

white 41mm series 8 apple watch

Best budget pick

Apple Watch SE (40mm, GPS + cellular)

$269 at Best Buy
(Save $30 )

Mashable Image

Best Ultra deal

Apple Watch Ultra (First generation, 49mm, GPS + cellular)

$629 at Best Buy
(Save $170)

apple watch ultra with yellow beige trail loop

It’s been over seven years since the first generation Apple Watch began to grace people’s wrists. In that time, the Apple wearable has evolved in size, power, and — because it’s Apple — price. If you’re into the idea of having a fitness tracker, an extension of your phone, and all the world’s conveniences (or, at least a few more than you’re used to) wrapped around your wrist, but aren’t into shelling out the max amount of cash, you’ve come to the right place. Every week, we’ll keep watch and update this post with the best Apple Watch deals from across the internet.

Apple Watch Series 9 deals


pink apple watch series 9

Credit: Apple


Our pick: Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm, GPS)

$389.99 at Amazon and Walmart (save $9.01)

Why we like it

Read our full review of the Apple Watch Series 9.

Double tap. Need we say more? If we had to, it would be that it may not be a surefire upgrade for anyone who already has an 8, but for folks with older Apple Watch models this is a pretty decent upgrade, and after being officially on store shelves for less than a week, it already has a small discount. It didn’t get any additional discounts during Prime Day, but we’re still keeping our fingers crossed for Black Friday.

More Apple Watch Series 9 deals

Apple Watch Series 8 deals


white 41mm series 8 apple watch

Credit: Apple


Our pick: Apple Watch Series 8 (41mm, GPS)

$305.91 at Amazon (save $93.09)

Why we like it

It may not come in pink like the Series 9, but feature-wise you’re not getting a vastly different experience with the Series 8 (though we do wish it had double tap). The Series 8 has hit some impressive lows this holiday shopping season — bottoming out at $225 — but at the time of writing, $319 is the absolute best price you can get on this smartwatch. It’s not amazing, but it’s not bad either. You’ll just have to go for the silver or midnight watch if you want the savings (as long as you don’t mind pre-owned).

More Apple Watch Series 8 deals

SEE ALSO:

Two new Apple Watches are here. How do their prices compare to older models?

Apple Watch Series 7 deals

None this week, check back next week.

Apple Watch SE deals


Apple Watch SE

Credit: Apple


Our pick: Apple Watch SE (40mm, GPS + cellular)

$269 at Best Buy (save $30)

Why we like it

The Apple Watch SE is a great option for those who don’t necessarily need all of the pricey bells and whistles that come with other Apple Watch models. You’ll get all the must-have features you need like health tracking, crash detection, Smart Stack, and emergency SOS options. Also, it’s $30 off at Best Buy — we’ll never turn down a discount on the already-most-affordable Apple Watch.

More Apple Watch SE deals

Second generation

Apple Watch Ultra deals


apple watch ultra with yellow beige trail loop

Credit: Apple


Our pick: Apple Watch Ultra (First generation, 49mm, GPS + cellular)

$629 at Amazon (save $170)

Why we like it

Best Buy is continuing to get into the holiday spirit early with this $170 markdown on the first-generation Apple Watch Ultra. This is the lowest price we’ve ever seen this watch hit — and it’s currently $100 cheaper than Amazon’s sale price. While it doesn’t have the same extra bright screen, S9 chip, or Double Tap capabilities as the second-gen Ultra, all in all, it’s a very similar watch that’s still rugged, well-built, and great for the adventurous among us. Plus, at $630, it’s way more affordable than this year’s release. You can grab it on sale in the yellow and beige loop only.

More Apple Watch Ultra deals

Even more Apple Watch deals