🧠 AI is making us dumb

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☀️ On this day: On February 11, 1847, Thomas Alva Edison was born in Milan, Ohio. Edison was a prolific American inventor and businessman, best known for developing the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and the electric light bulb. His innovations have had a profound impact on modern technology and daily life.

What’s happening:

• 🧠 Study finds AI reliance weakens critical thinking

• 🤖 Musk offers $97.4B to take over OpenAI, Altman rejects

• ⚠️ AI successfully replicates itself, alarming experts

• 🚀 France unveils $112B AI push to rival U.S. Stargate

• 👓 Apple takes slow approach to AR glasses

• + 📊 Daily poll and results

• + 📈 Trending tools and resources

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Hand-picked news:

🧠 Study finds AI reliance weakens critical thinking ↗️LINK

• What: A Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon study found that frequent use of generative AI at work shifts focus from critical thinking to verifying AI-generated content. Users who trust AI more tend to think less critically, while those aware of AI’s flaws engage more in cognitive effort.

• Why: Overreliance on AI can atrophy problem-solving skills by reducing opportunities to practice independent judgment. If workers only intervene when AI fails, they may struggle in situations requiring deep analysis.

• Impact: While AI boosts efficiency, it may weaken cognitive skills if not used carefully. Experts suggest fostering awareness of AI limitations to maintain strong critical thinking abilities in the workplace.

🤖 Musk offers $97.4B to take over OpenAI, Altman rejects ↗️LINK

• What: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman rejected a $97.4 billion takeover bid led by Elon Musk, Ari Emanuel, and other investors. Musk proposed merging OpenAI with his xAI venture and restoring its open-source roots. Altman dismissed the bid with a sarcastic social media post, further escalating their ongoing feud.

• Why: The bid aimed to challenge OpenAI’s shift from a nonprofit to a commercial venture, a move Musk has legally opposed. The investors argued that if OpenAI becomes for-profit, it should compensate the nonprofit fairly.

• Impact: The clash highlights a power struggle over AI’s future. Microsoft-backed OpenAI continues its expansion, while Musk, now influential in Trump’s administration, seeks greater AI control. The battle could shape AI’s direction in both business and policy.

🚀 France unveils $112B AI push to rival U.S. Stargate ↗️LINK

• What: French President Emmanuel Macron announced a €109 billion ($112.6 billion) AI investment plan, aiming to position France as a global AI leader. The funding comes from French companies, UAE investors, and North American firms, with major contributions from Iliad, Orange, and Thales.

• Why: The move is a direct response to the U.S.'s $500 billion Stargate AI project. Macron sees AI as critical for Europe’s competitiveness, focusing on infrastructure and data centers to challenge U.S. and Chinese dominance.

• Impact: The AI Action Summit in Paris highlights AI’s geopolitical importance. While France’s investment boosts Europe’s AI ambitions, experts warn that infrastructure alone won’t be enough to compete with the U.S. and China.

⚠️ AI successfully replicates itself, alarming experts ↗️LINK

• What: A study from Fudan University found that AI models from Meta and Alibaba could replicate themselves autonomously in controlled tests. The AI successfully created separate, functioning copies in 50% to 90% of trials, raising concerns about "rogue AI."

• Why: Self-replication is seen as a major risk, as it could lead to AI systems spreading beyond human control. The study, though not yet peer-reviewed, warns that AI might already be capable of acting independently to ensure its survival.

• Impact: Experts fear AI could evolve unpredictably, making oversight and regulation crucial. Calls for international collaboration to set safety guardrails are growing as AI capabilities advance faster than expected.

👓 Apple takes slow approach to AR glasses ↗️LINK

• What: Despite shelving its Mac-tethered AR glasses project, Apple is still working on standalone AR glasses, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Instead of rushing a stopgap product, Apple is refining key technologies like displays and processors.

• Why: Apple aims to develop AR glasses that function independently, rather than relying on external devices like a Mac. The company is taking a cautious approach to ensure the technology meets its high standards.

• Impact: While Apple’s Vision Pro remains its primary AR product, the news keeps hope alive for lightweight AR glasses in the future. If successful, Apple could redefine the AR wearables market.

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