Software & IT

These creepy fake humans herald a new age in AI

Technology Review: You can see the faint stubble coming in on his upper lip, the wrinkles on his forehead, the blemishes on his skin. He isn’t a real person, but he’s meant to mimic one—as are the hundreds of thousands of…

Something Bothering You? Tell It to Woebot.

New York Times: “I understand that you’re experiencing a relationship problem, is that right?” Yes. “Okay, I’m delighted that you want to work on this K. I’ve good and bad news for you… Which do you want to hear first?” Good news….

Why Apple and Google’s Virus Alert Apps Had Limited Success

New York Times: Sarah Cavey, a real estate agent in Denver, was thrilled last fall when Colorado introduced an app to warn people of possible coronavirus exposures. Based on software from Apple and Google, the state’s smartphone app uses Bluetooth signals to…

How teachers can use video games to motivate students

The Conversation: If you ask your teens to do their homework they’ll find a thousand other things to do. But put them in front of a video game, and they’ll focus on it for hours. How exactly do game designers create…