Rising and sinking land across the state of California could affect sea levels in the state in the coming decades, according to an analysis by researchers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The researchers studied satellite radar data to capture the vertical movement of land across more than one thousand miles (1,610 kilometers) of California coast. […]
Heavy Rains Could Trigger Mudslides in Fire-Ravaged Southern California
Heavy rains are expected to hit southern California this week, which carry the risk of mudslides to an area recently scarred by intense and widespread fires. Wildfires in California are a regular phenomenon, but last month’s fires in the Los Angeles area were a rare breed. The blazes grew rapidly, fueled by gusty Santa Ana winds […]
Trump’s Executive Order Is Making It Harder to Hire Firefighters
Southern California just suffered one of the most destructive wildfires in its history—and it happened outside of what is typically considered wildfire season for the region. With the state staring down conditions that could heighten the risk of further flames, California could use all the help it could get. Unfortunately, it won’t be able to […]
California Wants AI Chatbots to Remind Users They Aren’t People
Even if chatbots successfully pass the Turing test, they’ll have to give up the game if they’re operating in California. A new bill proposed by California Senator Steve Padilla would require chatbots that interact with children to offer occasional reminders that they are, in fact, a machine and not a real person. The bill, SB […]
Video Game Exec Pleads Guilty to Crashing Drone Into Firefighting Plane During LA Wildfires
Peter T. Akemann, the co-founder of the Treyarch video game studio, has pleaded guilty to recklessly flying a drone during the California wildfire. According to his own admission, the video game exec launched a DJI drone during the fires last month and it crashed into a firefighting plane. He’ll pay $65,169 to repair the plane […]
California’s AG Tells AI Companies Practically Everything They’re Doing Might Be Illegal
The legality of the AI industry’s business practices has long been a hanging question. As a “disruptive” new technology, artificial intelligence has caused a wealth of problems at the very same time that it has offered society new benefits. Notably, AI has been used to mislead consumers, to create new forms of disinformation and propaganda, […]