🤖 School replaces teachers with AI

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☀️ On this day: On December 31, 1879, Thomas Edison publicly demonstrated electric incandescent lights by illuminating about 100 bulbs in his Menlo Park laboratory. This event highlighted the practicality of electric lighting and facilitated its widespread adoption.

What’s happening:

• 🤖 Arizona school replaces teachers with AI

• 📳 Meta to populate Facebook and Instagram with AI 'users'

• 🚨 Chinese hackers breach U.S. Treasury systems

• 🌈 Samsung becomes top investor in Rainbow Robotics

• 🎥 Apple TV+ goes free for New Year’s weekend

• + 📊 Daily poll and results

• + 📈 Trending tools and resources

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Hand-picked news:

🤖 Arizona school replaces teachers with AI ↗️LINK

• What: Arizona's Unbound Academy is introducing a bold educational model where AI handles teaching, replacing traditional teachers. The school will offer a two-hour academic day using AI platforms like IXL and Khan Academy for adaptive learning. Mentors will lead hands-on workshops in life skills outside the classroom.

• Why: Proponents claim this approach doubles learning efficiency and frees time for practical skills, aiming to prepare students for real-world challenges. Critics argue AI lacks the mentorship and emotional support that human teachers provide, raising concerns about student development.

• Impact: If successful, Unbound Academy could redefine education, influencing how public schools approach AI integration. However, its reliance on AI over human educators invites scrutiny over the long-term effects on student learning and well-being.

📳 Meta to populate Facebook and Instagram with AI 'users' ↗️LINK

• What: Meta plans to introduce AI-generated "users" on Facebook and Instagram, integrating custom AI avatars with profiles, bios, and content creation capabilities. This move builds on Meta's AI Studio, where users create personalized chatbots.

• Why: Struggling to engage younger audiences, Meta hopes these AI "users" will drive interaction and showcase its AI innovation. Critics question the appeal, given Meta’s history of AI missteps and broader concerns about AI overuse on its platforms.

• Impact: This shift could transform social media into bot-driven ecosystems, risking disinterest among real users. It raises ethical concerns over AI’s role in personal connections and the potential spread of misinformation.

🚨 Chinese hackers breach U.S. Treasury systems ↗️LINK

• What: Chinese state-sponsored hackers accessed unclassified U.S. Treasury documents by exploiting a compromised key from third-party cybersecurity provider BeyondTrust. The breach, labeled a "major incident," allowed hackers to bypass security and access Treasury Departmental Office workstations.

• Why: This attack reflects China's increasing use of third-party service vulnerabilities for cyber operations. It highlights weaknesses in cloud-based security tools used by critical U.S. agencies.

• Impact: The breach raises alarm over the security of federal systems and third-party partnerships. With ongoing investigations by CISA and the FBI, the incident underscores the need for strengthened defenses against state-backed cyber threats.

🌈 Samsung becomes top investor in Rainbow Robotics ↗️LINK

• What: Samsung has increased its stake in Rainbow Robotics from 14.7% to 35%, investing $181 million. Rainbow Robotics will become a Samsung subsidiary, with the deal finalized in February 2025.

• Why: The move strengthens Samsung's robotics division and accelerates development of humanoid robots, aligning with its focus on robotics as a key future initiative. Rainbow will leverage Samsung’s global reach to expand into overseas markets.

• Impact: By acquiring a majority stake, Samsung gains a strong foothold in the robotics race against players like Tesla and Nvidia. The deal signals Samsung's commitment to innovation in robotics, with plans to integrate Rainbow's expertise into global markets and advanced research.

🎥 Apple TV+ goes free for New Year’s weekend ↗️LINK

• What: Apple TV+ will offer free access to its full library of original series and films globally from January 3 to January 5, 2025. No subscription is required; users only need an Apple ID to stream.

• Why: The promotion allows Apple to showcase its growing collection of acclaimed content, including hits like Severance, For All Mankind, and Silo. This strategy mirrors similar free-streaming initiatives from competitors to attract potential subscribers.

• Impact: This free weekend offers non-subscribers a chance to explore Apple TV+ ahead of key releases like Severance Season 2. It’s a strategic move to boost visibility, grow its audience, and compete in the crowded streaming market.

Today’s Poll:

Vote and find out about the result tomorrow.

Yesterday’s Poll Result:

Does the "intention economy" pose a greater threat than the "attention economy"?

• A) Yes – It targets deeper aspects of human decision-making - 62% 🏆

• B) No – Both are equally concerning - 38%

Reader’s opinion:

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