Technology

New Institute Launched to Ensure AI Safety for Children

The New Youth AI Safety Institute has been established to assess the suitability of AI products for children, with backing from Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Hillary Clinton, former U.S. Secretary of State. This initiative aims to enhance safety standards in AI technology targeted at younger audiences.

SoftBank to Launch Battery Cell Production in Osaka

SoftBank Group Corp.'s mobile unit announced plans to initiate large-scale battery cell manufacturing at its Sakai, Osaka plant to meet rising power demands for AI services. The facility, which spans 440,000 square meters and was acquired for approximately 100 billion yen ($676 million), aims to produce energy storage systems starting in fiscal year 2027, targeting an output of one gigawatt-hour per year. SoftBank will collaborate with South Korea's Cosmos Lab and DeltaX Co. to potentially scale production to several gigawatt-hours by fiscal year 2028.

AI's Impact on Cognition May Outweigh Employment Effects

Tom Slater discusses his paper with Merryn Somerset Webb, arguing that the most significant impact of AI may not be on employment but on human cognition, potentially resulting in a society that appears more productive while undermining critical thinking and expertise.