Google dismisses claims its AI is sentient - June 13, 2022

The Senate struck a bipartisan deal on a narrow set of gun safety measures with sufficient support to move through the chamber. The deal – which would mark the most significant action on gun laws in nearly 30 years – could lead to more spending on mental health care and increased school security. The outline falls short of the sprawling reforms President Joe Biden, gun control activists and a majority of Democrats have long championed. Rallies across the U.S. this weekend brought out large crowds demanding an overhaul of the current gun-control legislation. Idaho police arrested 31 people over the weekend who are believed to be affiliated with the white nationalist group Patriot Front, after they were seen gathering near a Pride parade with gear that led law enforcement to suspect they had intentions to riot. The event prompted concerns surrounding other local Pride events, which have long been picketed by counter-protesters but historically haven’t been a major focus for armed extremist groups. While 2022 marks the return of many in-person Pride celebrations following the COVID-19 pandemic, it also brings a record number of anti-transgender bills and increased political focus on LGBTQ issues. Google placed an engineer on paid leave after dismissing his claims that its artificial intelligence is sentient, surfacing another issue with the company’s most advanced technology. Google said its systems did not have consciousness – a topic widely debated among AI researchers. Google announced its software called LaMDA last year, which it hopes will improve its conversational AI assistants and make for more natural conversation. U.S. lawmakers are taking up a measure that would toughen the oversight of international shipping companies in an attempt to rein in inflation. The bill would add new regulatory constraints to shipping operations and limit the ability of ocean carriers to levy fees that shipping customers say are driving up costs. DHL’s freight unit warned that port congestion will ease next year, but not en