🐶 How to stop a robo pup and Google can't get out if its own way

👨 A deepfake who will be your wingman anytime

The Good

sleep paralysis demon @LenKusov

PSA: if you or someone nearby are being brutalized by a police Spot robot and can get a hand or something underneath, grab this handle and yank it forward. This releases the battery, instantly disabling the robot. Keep your hands away from joints, Spot WILL crush your fingers.

New York Post @nypost

Video shows NYPD's new robotic dog in action in the Bronx https://t.co/4PwuA7gjDk https://t.co/RkMCSoGRUV

Welp, the NYPD has at least one robo-dog roaming the city streets. I’m not totally opposed to this tech in this setting but so much for pandemic budget considerations! Still, since this tech is a tool, there is always a chance that it will be misused just like their live counterparts have in the past. Someone went ahead and made a guide on how to disable this robot if it ever becomes a problem for you.

It reminds me of being taught how to defend myself if I was sexually threatened. An assistant high school coach stuck with teaching health, explained to a class of giggling 14-year-olds that you should just go ahead and pretend you will give the man a blow job, and when you are down there, yank on the balls like you are “trying to start a lawnmower.” Despite it being uncomfortable at the time, the clear language stuck with me. I think this robot advice (which is actually pretty similar!!) will stick with me in a similar way.

The Bad

Hours after I sent the last newsletter, Google tried to bury their firing of the Ethics team co-lead in a Friday news dump. I try to write about very tangible things in this here newsletter, and I include this because I think it is a very bad prescedent for the world with the biggest tech provider firing ethic employees when they don’t like their research.

But it’s also been terrible for Google. I can’t think of a worse PR nightmare drawn out for this long with consequences that far outway what they were trying to stop (a research paper that would have been covered by a few tech-oriented places but not stopped Google from doing anything it wanted).

In case you need a refreshed, this Fast Company article goes over the timeline and how it’s invigorated the Google Union and other tech advocates. I’m not sure it could get worse, but we will see what happens.

More News

Tom Cruise deepfakes are big on TikTok, but even deepfakes can’t hide that this faker is too tall.

An algo can generate a pianist playing musical pieces within seconds, but I’m disappointed they didn’t try the Gattaca scene that had a 12-fingered piano player.

There is a book to explain AI to kids as young as six now.

MyHeritage got into the deepfake game and lets users animate old family photos.

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Until we find out if Top Gun 2 is any good,

Jackie