Author: AI News First

Thiel made nearly identical comments in a 2015 essay arguing that technological progress should be accelerated. Science and technology, he wrote, are natural allies of “Judeo-Western optimism,” especially if “we remain open to an eschatological frame in which God works through us in building the kingdom of heaven today, here on Earth.”But what do Thiel, Trae Stephens, and other powerful tech figures actually mean when they say it’s possible to build a Christian heaven on this planet? For Trae, the idea is practically literal, and happens through his concept of “good quests,” first outlined in an article cowritten with entrepreneur…

Keeping my house clean can feel like an impossible task with a litter-kicking-happy cat and a two-year-old on a mission to throw everything, whether it’s Cheerios or pizza, onto the floor. One of the things that has made it easier, though, is my Shark handheld vacuum. The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus is one of our favorite handheld vacuums, and it’s made it easy to clean up messes from both my cat and tiny human without needing to lug my old vacuum out for every mess. If you want a mess-free home for less, check our Shark coupon code.But Shark…

AI company Sesame has released the base model that powers Maya, the impressively realistic voice assistant. The model, which is 1 billion parameters in size (“parameters” referring to individual components of the model), is under an Apache 2.0 license, meaning it can be used commercially with few restrictions. Called CSM-1B, the model generates “RVQ audio codes” from text and audio inputs, according to Sesame’s description on the AI dev platform Hugging Face. RVQ refers to “residual vector quantization,” a technique for encoding audio into discrete tokens called codes. RVQ is used in a number of recent AI audio technologies, including Google’s SoundStream and…

ServiceNow has launched its Yokohama platform which introduces AI agents across various sectors to boost workflows and maximise end-to-end business impact. The Yokohama platform release features teams of preconfigured AI agents designed to deliver immediate productivity gains. These agents operate on a single, unified platform, ensuring seamless integration and coordination across different business functions. The platform also includes capabilities to build, onboard, and manage the entire AI agent lifecycle, making it easier for enterprises to adopt and scale AI solutions. Data is the lifeblood of AI, and ServiceNow recognises this by expanding its Knowledge Graph with advancements to its Common…

The SSA did not respond to a request from WIRED about what the DOGE operatives are working on inside the agency.In a Tuesday meeting, United States DOGE Service administrator Amy Gleason told staff that Musk-affiliated engineers and some legacy USDS workers would be headed to SSA to improve “identity proofing,” say sources who were in the meeting. The US DOGE Service is a permanent rebranding of the US Digital Service. Identity proofing is the process SSA uses to identify that users are who they say they are in order to access their benefits. The process includes registering with identity apps…

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Stay connected wherever you roam with the Rocky Talkie 5 Watt Radio, your go-to companion for rugged adventures. –Built for the Outdoors: With IP67 waterproofing and shatterproof LED screen, this radio thrives in harsh conditions, whether you’re scaling peaks or paddling through rapids.–Long-Lasting Battery: Powered by an 1800 mAH battery, enjoy up to 5 days of battery life, even in freezing temperatures as low as -20°F.–5-Watt Power: The highest GMRS power allowed by the FCC, providing a range of over 35 miles in open terrain—perfect for backcountry communication.–Rugged & Convenient: Attach it easily to gear with the steel gator clip and…

Musk and Trump’s relationship was cemented on July 13, 2024, when a would-be assassin came within inches of killing the former president in Butler, Pennsylvania. Musk was impressed by the photo of Trump, blood streaming down his face, raising his fist in the air and shouting “Fight, fight, fight,” for the cameras. The image quickly became a meme—Musk’s love language. He endorsed Trump that day and pivoted his recently launched super PAC to get the former president reelected.The following month, during a live discussion on X, Musk floated the idea of working for Trump on a “government efficiency commission.” Trump’s…

Where do Elon Musk’s business interests end and Donald Trump’s political interests begin? Trick question—they’re one and the same.How else do you explain the jarring sight of the President of the United States hawking Teslas on the White House South Lawn? Trump has always been a salesman, lending his name to real estate, casinos, restaurants, steaks, vitamins, a fragrance for men, watches, water, a bicycle race, office chairs, sneakers, vodka, coins, another fragrance, NFTs. You could, at this very moment, buy a Trump pickleball paddle from the Trump Store online, or a Trump sea mist & sage candle.But Trump is…

The departures have strained a workforce that was already stretched thin. “We were running into [a] critical skills shortage previously,” says a second employee. “Most people are and have been doing the work of two or more full-time [staffers].”The CISA team that helps critical infrastructure operators respond to hacks has been understaffed for years. The agency added support positions for that team after a Government Accountability Office audit, but “most of those people got terminated,” a third employee says.CISA’s flagship programs have been mostly unscathed so far. That includes the threat-hunting branch, which analyzes threats, searches government networks for intruders,…