Nearly three-quarters of U.S. teens (72%) say they use AI for companionship, with more than half of those doing so at least a few times a month, a new survey released Wednesday finds.
Why it matters: AI companions can be dangerous to young users, posing an "unacceptable risk," according to Common Sense Media, who published the findings.
Firefighters in Arizona were tackling two out-of-control wildfires in extreme heat on Tuesday — including one at the Grand Canyon National Park's North Rim that's forced evacuations, road closures and razed a historic lodge and other structures.
The big picture: The Dragon Bravo Fire that destroyed the Grand Canyon Lodge and prompted parts of the park to close had grown to an estimated 8,570 acres and the White Sage Fire to nearly 52,000 acres by Tuesday evening.
New renderings and deets on a first-of-its-kind exhibit coming to the Franklin Institute have dropped.
The big picture: The world premiere of "Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition" is just oneof several big attractions heading to Philly next year, during the nation's 250th birthday.
Google is launching AI Works for America, a new initiative to train workers and small businesses in essential AI skills, the company announced Tuesday.
Why it matters: The AI leaders who say the tech will reinvigorate — and not decimate — the workforce have yet to reveal many concrete plans to train workers whose jobs could become obsolete.
A surprising new study finding that AI tools can reduce programmers' productivity is upending assumptions about the technology's world-changing potential.
Why it matters: Software runs our civilization, and AI is already transforming the business of making it — but no one really knows whether AI will decimate programming jobs, or turn every coder into a miracle worker, or both.
Widespread heavy rainfall along the I-95 corridor in the Mid-Atlantic Monday night prompted flash flood warnings and watches in New York City, the D.C. area and across the region.
The big picture: Heavy rains and flash floods in the Tri-State area and Virginia prompted water rescues, road closures and train and bus delays. Parts of Virginia were under a flash flood emergency and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declared an emergency due to flooding rains.
