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She posted about Charlie Kirk's death. Within eight hours, she was fired
Xinyue Chen for NPR

National

She posted about Charlie Kirk's death. Within eight hours, she was fired

Alexandra is among the people who lost their jobs for posting about the conservative influencer's death. She described the online mob that got her fired as "state-sponsored censorship."

KIRK TARGETS SPEAK UP

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Online safety experts say something else that is happening may be less obvious but more consequential to the future of the internet: OpenAI has essentially rebranded deepfakes as a light-hearted plaything and recommendation engines are loving it.

Online safety experts say something else that is happening may be less obvious but more consequential to the future of the internet: OpenAI has essentially rebranded deepfakes as a light-hearted plaything and recommendation engines are loving it. OpenAI hide caption

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OpenAI

Sora gives deepfakes 'a publicist and a distribution deal.' It could change the internet

OpenAI's new hit app has unleashed a new wave of AI slop across the internet. But what happens when there are no rules over hyper-realistic synthetic videos?

Craig Clark

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Here to Help

Need a laptop? This retiree refurbishes laptops, gives them away to those in need

Craig Clark, 79, calls himself the "Tech Fairy." Clark spends his time refurbishing old laptops and giving them away for free to people who need them.

Need a laptop? This retiree refurbishes laptops, gives them away to those in need

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Wind turbines stand next at the Neurath coal-fired power plant on April 15, 2024, in Ingendorf, Germany.

Wind turbines stand next to the Neurath coal-fired power plant on April 15, 2024, in Ingendorf, Germany. Andreas Rentz/Getty Images hide caption

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Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

Energy

Renewable energy outpaces coal for electricity generation in historic first, report says

For the first time on record, renewable energy generated more electricity for the planet than coal, a new report says.

Renewable energy outpaces coal for electricity generation in historic first

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Dotted prints were one of the trends predicted by Paris-based company Heuritech. They appeared on runways during Paris Fashion Week.

Dotted prints were one of the trends predicted by Paris-based company Heuritech. They appeared on runways during Paris Fashion Week. Kiran Ridley; Olga Gasnier; Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt/AFP via Getty Images; Julien De Rosa/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images hide caption

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Kiran Ridley; Olga Gasnier; Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt/AFP via Getty Images; Julien De Rosa/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images

Culture

Here's how the fashion industry is using AI to predict the next big trend

Once the province of elite fashion editors and forecasters, the art of figuring out what's likely to fly off future racks is getting an assist from AI algorithms.

Here's how the fashion industry is using AI to predict the next big trend

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A still showing an AI-created crowd at a big public event from OpenAI's publicity video for its new video generation platform Sora 2. AI crowd scenes have traditionally posed a big technical challenge for companies like OpenAI and Google. But their models are improving all the time.

A still showing an AI-created crowd at a big public event from OpenAI's publicity video for its new video generation platform Sora 2. AI crowd scenes have traditionally posed a big technical challenge for companies like OpenAI and Google. But their models are improving all the time. OpenAI hide caption

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OpenAI

AI's getting better at faking crowds. Here's why that's cause for concern

Odd fingers and faces in the crowd of a recent Will Smith concert video led to suspicions of AI. But AI is improving fast, and there are serious implications for how "fake" crowds might be coopted.

AI’s getting better at faking crowds. Here's why that's cause for concern

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Screenshots of AI-generated videos show the moon landing, NPR reporter Geoff Brumfiel on a boat and a dog driving a car.

Screenshots of AI-generated videos show the moon landing, NPR reporter Geoff Brumfiel on a boat and a dog driving a car. Sora/Open AI/Annotation by NPR hide caption

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Sora/Open AI/Annotation by NPR

Kiss reality goodbye: AI-generated social media has arrived

With the launch of Sora 2, OpenAI has opened a new chapter in addictive, and some worry dangerous, AI video content.

Kiss reality goodbye: AI-generated social media has arrived

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A new study found that artificial intelligence could design DNA for all kinds of dangerous proteins, and do it in such a way that DNA manufacturers' biosecurity screening measures would not reliably catch them.

A new study found that artificial intelligence could design DNA for all kinds of dangerous proteins, and do it in such a way that DNA manufacturers' biosecurity screening measures would not reliably catch them. Malte Mueller/fStoap/Getty Images hide caption

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Malte Mueller/fStoap/Getty Images

Science

AI designs for dangerous DNA can slip past biosecurity measures, study shows

Companies that make DNA for science labs screen out any requests for dangerous bits of genetic material. But a new study shows how AI could help malevolent actors get the stuff anyway.

AI and dangerous proteins

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An illustration of a teacher standing at the front of a college classroom, teaching about AI. Meanwhile, throughout the classroom, an image of the same teacher, but with bits of code on her clothing, is seen throughout the classroom, performing different tasks.
Chuyin Wang for NPR

Education

Research, curriculum and grading: new data sheds light on how professors are using AI

It's not just students, more professors are using AI in the classroom. But they say more guidance is needed on how to use the technology.

More college students are using AI for class. Their professors aren't far behind

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With therapy hard to get, people lean on AI for mental health. What are the risks?
Jackie Lay / NPR/NPR

Shots - Health News

With therapy hard to get, people lean on AI for mental health. What are the risks?

People are using ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence apps to help them with emotional issues, but experts say they are not a substitute for therapy or companionship.

With barriers to accessing therapy, people lean on AI chatbots for mental health

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A selection of Kia EV6 electric sedans are displayed at a dealership in Manchester, N.H., in July. The EV6 is eligible for a federal tax credit worth up to $7,500 for buyers under a certain income cap. And like all electric vehicles, it's eligible for a $7,500 tax credit on a lease. But the tax credits are expiring on Sept. 30th.

A selection of Kia EV6 electric sedans are displayed at a dealership in Manchester, N.H., in July. The EV6 is eligible for a federal tax credit worth up to $7,500 for buyers under a certain income cap. And like all electric vehicles, it's eligible for a $7,500 tax credit on a lease. But the tax credits are expiring on Sept. 30th. Charles Krupa/AP hide caption

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Charles Krupa/AP

Business

EV sales surge in the U.S. ahead of Sept. 30 tax credit deadline

A $7,500 tax credit is available for the lease or purchase of many electric vehicles — but only if contracts are inked by midnight on Sept. 30. The result: The market for EVs is a little distorted.

EV sales surge in the U.S. ahead of Sept. 30 tax credit deadline

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The YouTube logo is seen outside the company's corporate headquarters in San Bruno, California, in April 2025. The company settled a lawsuit brought against it by President Trump before his re-election.

The YouTube logo is seen outside the company's corporate headquarters in San Bruno, California, in April 2025. The company settled a lawsuit brought against it by President Trump before his re-election. Josh Edelson/AFP for Getty Images hide caption

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Josh Edelson/AFP for Getty Images

YouTube agrees to pay Trump $24 million to settle lawsuit over Jan. 6 suspension

YouTube is the latest social media company to pay Trump tens of millions of dollars to resolve lawsuits brought before he returned to power. The money will fund a new ballroom at the White House.

How AI impacts the environment (and your energy bill)

What impact does AI have on the environment and your utilities bill? Getty Images hide caption

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It's Been a Minute

How AI impacts the environment (and your energy bill)

AI is the future, but how is its infrastructure impacting your air, water, and utilities bills today?

How AI impacts the environment (and your energy bill)

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Vice President Vance watches as President Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office.

Vice President Vance looks on as President Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office on Thursday in Washington, D.C. Trump signed an order approving a partial sale of TikTok's U.S. operations, following a 2024 law requiring parent company ByteDance to divest or face a ban. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images hide caption

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Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Trump's TikTok deal payment criticized as 'shakedown scheme' by experts

The U.S. government will collect a multibillion-dollar fee from the American investors who will take over TikTok. Some experts call the fee and other deals like it "extortion."

The TikTok logo is displayed outside TikTok offices on March 12, 2024 in Culver City, California.

The TikTok logo is displayed outside TikTok offices on March 12, 2024 in Culver City, California. Mario Tama/Getty Images North America hide caption

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Mario Tama/Getty Images North America

Business

Trump advances TikTok deal with new executive order

The new order says that the deal to turn over a majority stake in TikTok to a group of U.S. investors meets the terms ordered by Congress, and will allow it to stay online in the U.S.

Trump signs executive order advancing TikTok deal

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They warned about AI before it was cool. They're still worried

The Anthropic website on a laptop arranged in New Hyde Park, New York, US, on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. Anthropic is nearing a deal to raise as much as $10 billion in a new round of funding, according to people familiar with the matter, a higher than expected sum and one of the largest megarounds to date for an artificial intelligence startup. Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Consider This from NPR

They warned about AI before it was cool. They're still worried

A superhuman artificial intelligence so smart it can decide to get rid of slower-witted humans is a pretty terrifying concept.

They warned about AI before it was cool. They're still worried

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An Amazon Prime delivery pedicab is parked on a Manhattan street. Amazon has agreed to settle with the U.S. government a lawsuit over its Prime membership program.

Amazon Prime pedicab delivery person on New York City Streets, Manhattan. Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images hide caption

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Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Business

Amazon to pay $2.5 billion to settle U.S. lawsuit that it 'tricked' people into Prime

Federal regulators say Amazon has agreed to pay a historic sum to resolve their allegations that its web designs manipulated millions of people into paying for Prime subscriptions, which were also purposefully hard to cancel. Affected shoppers are slated to receive payouts.

Amazon to pay $2.5 billion to settle U.S. lawsuit that it 'tricked' people into Prime

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The Anthropic website on a laptop arranged in New Hyde Park, New York, on Aug. 22. Anthropic is one of the leading artificial intelligence companies. The company's CEO was among those that signed a public statement in 2023 acknowledging the "risk of extinction from AI."

The Anthropic website on a laptop arranged in New Hyde Park, New York, on Aug. 22. Anthropic is one of the leading artificial intelligence companies. The company's CEO was among those that signed a public statement in 2023 acknowledging the "risk of extinction from AI." Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images

As AI advances, doomers warn the superintelligence apocalypse is nigh

AI is advancing fast, and AI doomers say humanity is at risk.

As AI advances, doomers warn the superintelligence apocalypse is nigh

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