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Uncensored chatbots provoke a fracas over free speech

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:53 GMT

Artificial intelligence chatbots have lied about notable figures, pushed partisan messages, spewed misinformation or even advised users on how to commit suicide.To mitigate the tools’ most obvious dangers, companies such as Google and OpenAI have carefully added controls that limit what the tools can say.Now, a new wave of chatbots, developed far from the epicenter of the AI boom, are coming online without many of those guardrails — setting off a polarizing free-speech debate over whether chatbots should be moderated, and who should decide.“This is about ownership and control,” Eric Hartford, a developer behind WizardLM-Uncensored, an unmoderated chatbot, wrote in a blog post. “If I ask my model a question, I want an answer, I do not want it arguing with me.”Several uncensored and loosely moderated chatbots have sprung to life in recent months under names such as GPT4All and FreedomGPT. Many were created for little or no money by independent programmers or teams of volunteers,...

Q & A: What you need to know about new Alzheimer’s drug

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:53 GMT

This week the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the drug lecanemab after research showed it slowed the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in some patients with mild cognitive impairment.This is undoubtedly a breakthrough for treatment of an irreversible, progressive brain disorder affecting more than 6.5 million Americans. While the drug was granted so-called accelerated approval in January, full FDA approval means wider coverage by Medicare so it can better reach patients.Named Leqembi, lecanemab’s approval has triggered less controversy than a related drug called Aduhelm, or aducanumab, because its clinical trial results are more definitive.With help from Stanford and UC San Francisco experts, we answer questions about the new drug.Q: What is lecanemab?A: It’s a drug that is designed to remove amyloid beta, a sticky plaque that builds up in the brain in people with Alzheimer’s disease, causing disease progression. It is the first anti-amyloid treatment to earn...

Borenstein: Why Bay Area transit bailout deal is likely doomed to fail

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:53 GMT

When Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state Legislature agreed on a $5.1 billion statewide package to bail out public-transit systems, they missed an opportunity in the Bay Area to impose meaningful reform on wasteful spending and a confusing web of 27 transit agencies.The region needs a functioning, fiscally responsible and coordinated transit system to help unclog freeways and reduce carbon emissions. Clearly what we have now is not working. Traveling by bus, train or ferry involves struggling with a confusing maze of agencies, schedules, uncoordinated connections and differing fare structures.Transit was used for only 12% of all commute trips in 2018, while 75% used cars. That was before the pandemic struck and transit patronage plummeted.Meanwhile, Bay Area residents pay dearly through taxes, tolls and fares for transit agencies that have some of the proportionately highest administrative expenses in the country and costliest and slowest capital projects.Rather than directly address th...

McEnery: San Jose needs a common sense approach to BART extension

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:53 GMT

The multi-billion dollar project to extend BART six miles into the heart of San Jose is about to begin. One question must be answered: Should it?It is said that you should never start a project without knowing the reason why. We must have that answer and another about the commitment of an accountable leadership, not a board of elected officials from other places.They should also have the judgment to see the facts and do their job of looking at the financial reality of both construction and operation. There can be no magical thinking, no manna from heaven hopes, and they must be ready to commit something beyond “thoughts and prayers” to those who will be collateral damage in a rush to attend this ground breaking.The billion-dollar VTA boring mole will soon be traveling beneath our streets, operated by the scandal-plagued BART management team. This is a group dominated by its unions and an assortment of contractors and consultants. To add to that, the politicized BART board and manage...

Ex-Netherlands goalie Van der Sar’s condition is stable ‘but still concerning,’ Ajax says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:53 GMT

AMSTERDAM (AP) — Former Netherlands goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar’s condition remains stable but “still concerning” after suffering a bleed around his brain, his former club Ajax said on Saturday.Van der Sar, who won the Champions League with Manchester United in 2008 after a penalty shootout, was admitted to intensive care on Friday.“Edwin van der Sar will remain in intensive care for the time being,” said a statement by Ajax. “His condition is stable but still concerning. Ajax shares this information on behalf of Annemarie van der Sar, Edwin’s wife.“The Van der Sar family, along with Ajax, is grateful and deeply touched by the many messages of support.”Van der Sar stepped down as director general of the Amsterdam club at the end of the season. Dutch media reported Friday that the 52-year-old Van der Sar was on vacation in Croatia when he became ill.Van der Sar played at clubs including Ajax, Juventus and United. He appeared 130 times for the Netherlands.He served more than a decade...

Fairfax Co. middle school employee charged after hitting student in class

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:53 GMT

Fairfax County, Virginia, police have charged a 58-year-old school system employee after allegedly hitting a middle school student.Mohammad Abid of Lorton, Virginia, was charged with misdemeanor assault after striking a Walt Whitman Middle School student just days before the school year ended.According to county police, the incident began when an unidentified student started arguing with Abid — a middle school instructional assistant and FCPS employee since 2015 — before turning the teacher’s computer off.“The teacher confronted the student, and the student came face-to-face with the teacher and flicked his glasses,” county police said.Police said Abid “struck the student with a closed fist on the chin” before the student slapped Abid in the face with an open hand. Another instructional assistant separated Abid and the student after the incident began, and no injuries were reported.School administrators notified law enforcement of the incident on June 9...

Powerball jackpot for Saturday’s drawing grows to $615 million – the 10th largest prize in history

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:53 GMT

(CNN) — Feeling lucky? The potential prize for the massive Powerball jackpot just made history, lottery officials announced Friday.A fortunate player could end up taking home $615 million in Saturday’s drawing – the 10th-largest Powerball prize ever. The jackpot has a $310.6 million lump-sum cash value, according to a Powerball news release.Game leaders upped the ante Friday after increasing the possible winnings from an estimated $590 million.“The decision to raise the jackpot was the result of strong ticket sales and an increase in the interest rates used to fund the annuitized prize,” a spokesperson for the Multi-State Lottery Association told CNN in an email.There have been 33 consecutive drawings without a big winner.The last time a lottery player matched all five white balls and the red Powerball was on April 19, when a winning ticket in Ohio earned a grand prize of $252.6 million.The lucky winner of Saturday’s jackpot could choose between the annuitized $615 million prize ove...

Why the Stop Trump effort all comes down to South Carolina

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:53 GMT

South Carolina has long been the state most likely to predict the eventual winner of the Republican presidential nomination.This cycle, it will likely be even more crucial.The state Republican Party’s decision to schedule its election for Feb. 24 means the first-in-the-South primary will potentially take place more than a month after Iowa and New Hampshire. That open stretch means South Carolina is poised to carry more weight than ever in determining whether former President Donald Trump’s march to a third consecutive nomination will face a sustained threat stretching past the early states and into the meat of the primary calendar.Consider this: The GOP primary starts in Iowa in mid-January. New Hampshire votes the week after, perhaps on Jan. 23. Then there’s a long gap until South Carolina. While Nevada Republicans could hold their caucuses either before or immediately after South Carolina, the larger electorate and delegate haul from South Carolina has focused far more attention o...

Multiple North Shore beaches close due to bacteria

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:53 GMT

Several North Shore beaches are closed this week due to bacteria in the water.Officials are warning swimmers to stay out of the ocean at Dane Street Beach, Brackenbury Beach, Independence Beach, Mingo Beach, Obear Beach and Rice’s Beach. The City of Beverly announced the closures Friday, saying the bacteria could cause illness in swimmers.They will be closed until at least next week when the water can be retested.

Electrical issues cause house fire in Salem that displaces two

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:53 GMT

A house fire in Salem around midnight between Friday and Saturday was caused by electrical issues, officials said.Crews responded to 50 Roslyn Street and found residents outside already. The fire, which was on the second floor, was cleared by 2 a.m. on Saturday.Two women were displaced, and no injuries were reported.