🔥 Meta's AI Flaws, Bitcoin's Surge, Clean Tech Costs Rise
Good morning. It’s Monday, November 25. Today we are covering:
Meta-Powered Military Chatbot Advertised Giving 'Worthless' Advice on Airstrikes
What Does Bitcoin's Price Explosion Mean for Crypto in 2025?
How Trump's tariffs could drive up the cost of batteries, EVs, and more
The Future of Online Privacy Hinges on Thousands of New Jersey Cops
Google's empire is under siege
Let’s dive in
Meta-Powered Military Chatbot Advertised Giving 'Worthless' Advice on Airstrikes
By Sam Biddle via The Intercept
Meta's Llama 3.0, marketed for military use as "Defense Llama," has faced criticism for providing flawed and dangerous advice on airstrike planning in promotional materials, raising concerns among experts.
Despite claims of training on military doctrine and international law, the chatbot's recommendations in a demo were deemed inaccurate, nonsensical, and dangerous, with experts highlighting errors in munitions data and context.
Scale AI, a defense contractor partnering with Meta, defended the hypothetical marketing scenario as illustrative, not representative, sparking further debate about the role of AI in sensitive military operations.
𝕏: A chatbot for military users powered by Meta's LLM is being advertised giving advice on bombing buildings. Munitions experts who reviewed the marketing materials told The Intercept the information is dangerously inaccurate and completely worthless. - Sam Biddle (@samfbiddle)
What Does Bitcoin's Price Explosion Mean for Crypto in 2025?
By Kate Irwin via PCMag
Bitcoin's price has surged to over $98,000, a 141% increase over the past year, driven by Donald Trump’s re-election, regulatory shifts like the approval of Bitcoin ETFs, and Europe’s MiCA regulation.
The crypto industry, including major players like Coinbase, has ramped up political influence, with $50 million in donations and direct engagement with Trump, fueling optimism for favorable U.S. crypto regulations.
Experts caution against the market's volatility, noting that Bitcoin’s rally reflects broader sentiment shifts, but sudden "black swan" events could still disrupt the crypto landscape.
𝕏: Just imagine this: It's May 2025 Bitcoin is close to hitting $150,000 $ETH is making a move toward $10,000 $SOL is close to $1,000 The US just bought 1 million Bitcoin and has established a Bitcoin reserve Multiple countries are in the process of establishing their own Bitcoin reserves… - Lark Davis (@TheCryptoLark)
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How Trump's tariffs could drive up the cost of batteries, EVs, and more
By James Temple via MIT Technology Review
Trump's proposed tariffs, ranging from 10% to 100%, could significantly raise the costs of crucial clean energy components like batteries, steel, and electric vehicles (EVs), impacting the transition to low-emissions technologies.
Experts warn that the tariffs, coupled with potential rollbacks of federal climate incentives, could stifle innovation, escalate competition for domestic resources, and drive up consumer costs, with households facing an estimated $2,600 per year in additional expenses.
While the tariffs aim to bolster domestic manufacturing, critics argue that hostile trade policies against key suppliers like China could hinder economic growth and delay the U.S. clean energy revolution, requiring collaborative approaches instead.
The Future of Online Privacy Hinges on Thousands of New Jersey Cops
By Paresh Dave via WIRED
Daniel’s Law, enacted in New Jersey after the 2020 murder of a judge’s son, allows criminal justice workers to demand the removal of personal data from websites, with penalties of at least $1,000 per violation.
Matt Adkisson’s startup, Atlas Data Privacy, has filed lawsuits on behalf of 20,000 plaintiffs, targeting 150 companies to enforce the law and pressure data brokers to stop publishing sensitive personal information.
Defendants argue that the law violates First Amendment rights, while Adkisson aims to expand privacy protections nationwide through litigation and public advocacy.
𝕏: The right to privacy & proposed measures to prevent / remove data from being online, needs to apply to everyone not just individuals of a particular professional status such as judges. Privacy is a universal human right after all. - Privacy Matters (@PrivacyMatters)
Google's empire is under siege
By Emma Roth via The Verge
Google faces antitrust challenges from the DOJ, EU, and private entities like Yelp and Epic Games, with lawsuits targeting its dominance in search, advertising, and app stores that could force divestitures or operational changes.
The DOJ proposes breaking up Google’s business, including requiring the sale of Chrome and potentially Android, alongside measures to open its systems to competitors and limit self-preferencing across its platforms.
Google’s legal battles, spanning multiple jurisdictions and industries, threaten to reshape its operations, with the outcomes potentially influenced by the incoming Trump administration's regulatory stance.
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