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AI tool translates what your baby’s cries mean

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If you’re a parent, then this quiet adult cry for help into the abyss is all too familiar in those first few months of parenthood.

“I just wish I knew what my baby wanted!”

Though babies tend to cry when they need a diaper change, food, or sleep, it’s not that straightforward. Any parent knows that even when you go through the checklist and address all of these, your baby could very well still be crying.

Now what? Do they want to be held? Do they want a pacifier? Are they in pain or uncomfortable? Is the room too cold? It’s hard to know. And, sometimes, if you’re guessing as to why they are crying, you may accidentally stir them when all they wanted was to fall asleep.

Much of it is a guessing game, no matter how many baby books you read. But, what if you could take the guessing part out? What if you could know what your baby was trying to say? What would it do for your sleep (and your sanity?) in those first few months of welcoming a baby into the world?

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Well, now you can with Capella, which promises to be “Your partner in your parenting journey.” Their new app is hoping to “alleviate the two biggest challenges of new parenthood: lack of sleep and worry over your baby’s [well-being].” Intrigued? Yeah, so are we.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

Now, you can analyze your baby’s cries with a new AI tool

Capella is a new AI tool that helps parents better understand their baby’s needs by analyzing their cries and what they mean. With this information, parents can better determine whether or not they should — for instance — go into the room and check in on them, get the bottle heated up or prepared to nurse, or let them try to settle on their own. Having this information can go a long way if you’re in the midst of the newborn phase.

PARENTING app 2

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How does the app work?

If you’re thinking, “Wow, I need this NOW,” we don’t blame you. But, if you’re equally baffled at how it all works, here’s the low-down according to Capella’s site:

Download the app on two smartphones: One phone is placed in the baby’s room and the other stays with you. You connect them both with a tap, and then they act as baby monitors.

Let Capella monitor your baby’s sounds: The app’s advanced AI listens to your baby’s sounds/cries and interprets what they mean.

Get alerts with actionable insights: Lastly — and, the reason you’re all here — is to find out why your baby is crying. If the baby cries, you’ll get an instant notification, and the app will tell you that your baby is hungry, tired, uncomfortable, in pain, etc., all by analyzing those cries. This means Capella takes it one step further than regular ordinary monitors, which only tell you that your baby is crying, but not why.

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Of course, the app isn’t able to tell you exactly what to do to make your baby comfortable; this is where human intuition trumps technology. Luckily, Capella also has a community of parents, which can be a great resource to help figure out what to do then after the app tells you why your baby is having a particular cry about something.

parenting app 3

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But, how does the AI tool actually work?

Good question. After all, an app that can translate a baby’s cries must have some magical superpower, right? Well, not quite. According to an interview with Capella’s CEO, Apolline Deroche, the company partners with hospitals to record the baby’s cries that are used to train the AI. Then, with the support of doctors who have years of experience understanding these cries, they can match the crying sounds to what we, as adults, understand them to mean.

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What else can the app do?

The app also allows you to track your baby’s sleep, feeding and diaper changes, too. Before Capella, parents would have to use a baby monitor and another tracking app to keep tabs on their babies and have a better understanding of their needs overall. Unfortunately, the mental fatigue of having to keep track of more and more apps and devices sometimes defeats the purpose for tired parents.

woman with baby

Mom holding her child (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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What parents need to know about technology

Capella’s CEO says that this technology should work anywhere in the world, as a baby’s cries generally mean the same regardless of the language spoken at home. However, this may not necessarily be the case and is just one of the many concerns regarding this technology. Additionally, it’s not foolproof. There’s still a lot of mystery to babies, and there is still a long way to go with technology, too. Not to mention, usually, after a few months, babies’ needs change, as do their cries. At the same time, parents tend to get a better hang of what their baby wants.

Additionally, an app can only go so far. AI cannot replace a human. It cannot replace what we’ve biologically been able to do with and for our newborns for hundreds of thousands of years. So, it must be used only as a tool and not as a replacement. And, if there are serious concerns about your baby’s crying that you don’t understand, always talk to your pediatrician, as it could be something neither Capella nor a parent can decipher.

All this considered, the idea is that Capella — and other AI apps in the baby industry — can give new parents even a little bit of relief. Whether it’s a hands-free stroller, monitoring your baby’s breathing with a special sock, or understanding what your baby is trying to tell you, it doesn’t hurt to have some help from the village — even if that village is a bunch of robots.

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Where can I try the app?

Right now, Capella is available to download at the App Store. The Android app will launch soon, though; you can sign up for the waitlist here.

Kurt’s key takeaways

Capella is just one of the many apps hitting the market that are utilizing AI technology and are being designed to help make life a little easier for their target audience. For parents who are finding out just how to get through that exhausting newborn phase, Capella may be part of the answer. But, only a part. We still have a long way to go before this technology gets anywhere close to how good a parent is at detecting the meaning of a baby’s cries. So, maybe we shouldn’t rely on this too much just yet. We’ll have to see.

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What are your thoughts on using an AI tool to interpret your baby’s cries? Do you think it’s a good thing, or are we relying too much on technology to raise our kids? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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Higher-dose naloxone spray doesn’t boost overdose survival, NY study finds

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  • A study comparing a new, higher-dose nasal spray for opioid overdoses to the standard dose found no increase in survival rates but more side effects.
  • The 8-milligram naloxone spray, approved two years ago, was compared to the previous standard dose in rural parts of New York.
  • The study, published by the CDC, found no added benefit from the higher dose, with survival rates remaining the same.

A new, higher-dose nasal spray for reversing opioid overdoses did not save more lives than the previous standard dose, but it did cause more vomiting and other side effects, researchers wrote in a study published Thursday.

The 8-milligram naloxone spray — twice as potent as the highest dose previously available — was approved two years ago after pressure from experts and patient advocates who noted lower-dose antidotes often were being given multiple times to people suffering overdoses.

The new study, which was limited to more rural parts of New York state, is being called the first to provide real-world data on the differences between the two sprays. The paper was published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but the federal health agency was not involved in the research.

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The higher-dose “did not provide added benefit,” the authors wrote.

Naloxone, used to treat narcotic overdoses, is seen at a safe injection site at OnPoint NYC on Jan. 24, 2022 in New York, NY. A new, higher-dose nasal spray for reversing opioid overdoses did not save more lives than the previous standard dose, but it did cause more vomiting and other side effects. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

“What was really remarkable was the survival was the same, but the amount of withdrawal symptoms was significantly larger in the people that got the 8-milligram dose,” said one of the authors, Dr. Michael Dailey of Albany Medical College.

Dailey said the study did not lead him to endorse one product over another. But, he said, “its important for us to recognize that the potential for increased side effects is real.”

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The researchers worked with the New York State Police, who respond to emergencies along highways and in rural areas.

Three troops in eastern New York were given 8-milligram sprays. Eight troops based further away from Albany were stocked with 4-milligram doses. The study results were based on 354 instances in which troopers administered naloxone sprays from late March 2022 to mid-August 2023.

In cases where overdose patients were still alive when troopers arrived, 99% survived after getting naloxone, no matter which dose was given.

People who got 4-milligram sprays usually got more than one dose — 1.67 doses on average, equivalent to 6.7 milligrams. But so too did those treated with the 8-milligram sprays, who got 1.58 doses, or 12.6 milligrams, on average.

In both groups, disorientation and lethargy were common when people came to.

But other problems were significantly more common in the patients who got the higher-dose sprays. About 38% experienced signs and symptoms of withdrawal, including vomiting, abdominal pain, sweating, shaking and diarrhea. Only 19% of those getting the lower dose had those problems, the study found.

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That’s a concern because it could actually contribute to future overdose deaths, said Dr. Alexander Walley, a Boston Medical Center addiction specialist who also works with the Massachusetts health department.

If someone has extra withdrawal symptoms when they are rescued from an overdose, they may remember the pain and discomfort of that experience and — experts fear — might actually avoid having someone with naloxone around when they take drugs in the future, Walley said.

The study is limited and imperfect in how it randomized who got which doses, Walley said, but it’s nevertheless “good quality evidence.”

“The solution to a more potent (illicit) drug supply is not necessarily a more potent naloxone,” he said. “It’s having people be witnessed when they use the drugs, and have that witness be someone who can administer naloxone and call for help.”

How Elon Musk’s Neuralink brain chip works

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Have you ever wished you could control your computer or phone with your mind?

Well, you might not have to wait too long for that to happen.

Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and visionary, has just announced that his brain-chip start-up Neuralink has successfully implanted a device in a human patient for the first time.

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operating room

An operating room (Neuralink)

A breakthrough in brain-computer interface technology

Earlier this month, Neuralink performed its first human implant of its BCI on a volunteer patient. A BCI is a device that can record, stimulate or modulate the electrical activity of neurons in the brain, allowing the user to control external devices or software with their thoughts.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

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Neuralink illustration (Neuralink)

The patient, whose identity has not been disclosed, received the implant in a region of the brain that controls movement. The implant consists of a small chip, slightly larger than a U.S. quarter, and ultra-fine threads that can detect and transmit neural signals.

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How the Neuralink brain chip is designed to work

The device is designed to replace a small chunk of a human skull and fit completely underneath a person’s skin. Once the device is in place, its 64 needle probes are inserted into the brain, which then allows 1,024 channels of two-way communication between the brain and a computer chip.

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Implant of BCI (Neuralink)

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Once that communication channel is set, then the device can communicate from the human brain to external devices, which would basically allow a person to communicate with a device like an iPhone, for example, using just their mind. The device can be charged wirelessly as well.

The device is currently in clinical trials, which are open to some individuals who have quadriplegia due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or a spinal cord injury. Musk says that the first Neuralink product will be called Telepathy and will initially be used by people who have lost the ability to use their limbs. If you are interested in learning whether you qualify for future Neuralink clinical trials, you can join their patient registry by logging on here.

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How is the human implant patient recovering?

According to Musk, the patient is recovering well, and the initial results show promising neuron spike detection. This means that the implant can capture the electrical impulses that the brain uses to communicate with the body.

elon musk gadget 4

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How the technology could improve the lives of people with neurological disorders

Neuralink’s technology could have a transformative impact on the lives of millions of people who suffer from neurological conditions, such as paralysis, ALS, or stroke. By using a BCI, they could regain some of their lost abilities, such as moving, speaking or typing. Neuralink also envisions a future where healthy people can use a BCI to enhance their cognitive and sensory capabilities, such as memory, learning or vision.

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The challenges and risks of Neuralink’s technology

While Neuralink’s goals are ambitious, so are its risks. At least forty-two people worldwide have had brain-computer implants, but not all of those products are as physically invasive as Elon Musk’s Neuralink.

Four U.S. lawmakers asked the Securities Exchange Commission to investigate whether Elon Musk had misled investors after veterinarian records indicated that neural link experiments on monkeys had resulted in debilitating health effects.

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Experiments on monkeys (Neuralink)

The technology does raise important questions about its safety, ethics and impact. Nevertheless, the brain-chip start-up charges ahead. Musk says that he wants to put humans on a path to “symbiosis with artificial intelligence,” and says he will put the chip in his own brain someday.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Neuralink is definitely a game-changer in the field of BCI, but it also comes with many uncertainties that will be uncovered down the road. Whether you are a fan or a skeptic of this technology, you have to admit that it is fascinating and worth exploring. However, as it advances, we need to carefully weigh the benefits and risks and ensure that it is used in a responsible and ethical manner.

What do you think about Neuralink and its technology? Would you ever consider getting a brain implant? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.



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How are prescription drugs named? A drug development expert shares the process

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Some drugs may seem like they were named by throwing darts at the alphabet – but the process of drug naming is actually very intentional.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Dave Latshaw, CEO of the AI health care company BioPhy, revealed how medicines are labeled.

The Philadelphia-based doctor, formerly the AI drug development lead at Johnson & Johnson, said that he, too, at first questioned, “How do they even come up with these [names]?”

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Naming drugs can be viewed as a “staged process,” based on drug advancement, which begins with the chemical name, Latshaw said.

“If you’re talking about a small molecule, which is the most prevalent type of drug in development, that’s usually a combination of chemical-type names that you’ve probably seen mashed into a single line,” he said.

Naming drugs can be viewed as a “staged process,” based on drug advancement, which begins with the chemical name, a doctor said. (iStock)

“If it’s a biologic molecule, its chemical name is typically whatever sequence it happens to be, so that’s the actual chemical composition of the drug itself.”

Once a drug program is picked up by a company, Latshaw said, it is given an “internal code name.”

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That code is generally “less complicated” than the chemical name.

“And it usually reflects something about the name of the company and potentially what number in the pipeline it is,” he said.

man taking viagra

Once a drug program is picked up by a company, it is given an “internal code name,” the doctor said. (BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

For example, the rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis drug Humira, which is developed by AbbVie (formerly Abbott), is referred to by its drug code, “ABT-D2E7.”

As the drug progresses, it is given a more formal yet generic name for its introduction to the public, Latshaw said.

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These evolved names are chosen through collaboration among a few different organizations, including the United States Adopted Names Council (USAN), which is part of the American Medical Association (AMA).

Since the 1960s, the USAN program has assigned generic names to all active drug ingredients in the U.S., in partnership with the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), according to the AMA Journal of Ethics.

pharmacist helps a customer

Drugs names are chosen through a collaboration among a few different organizations, including the United States Adopted Names Council (USAN), which is part of the American Medical Association (AMA). (iStock)

“With few exceptions – [such as] prophylactic vaccines and mixtures not named by the USAN Council – a drug cannot be marketed in the United States without a USAN,” the publication wrote.

A drug’s generic name involves nomenclature that “tells you what the drug is,” Latshaw said, but in words rather than chemical structure.

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The doctor used the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra as an example, noting its formal name of Sildenafil.

The generic name uses a prefix and a suffix – the suffix, or “stem,” identifies the drug family, and the prefix serves as the drug’s “unique identifier.”

viagra tablet

A drug’s generic name involves nomenclature that “tells you what the drug is,” an expert said, but in words rather than chemical structure. For the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra, its formal name is Sildenafil. (Alex Segre/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

“You have the suffix that is supposed to tell you what type of drug it is, and then they try to make the prefix as different as possible, relative to the other drugs within that family, so there’s minimal confusion when it comes to prescriptions … to minimize error,” Latshaw told Fox News Digital.

The prefix is most likely one or two syllables, according to the AMA.

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Once the drug is fully developed and ready for consumers, its brand name is used for commercial marketing, such as Humira or Viagra.

Humira’s generic name is “adalimumab,” with the “-mab” suffix identifying that the type of molecule in the drug is a monoclonal antibody.

The AMA offered the cancer drug “imatinib” as another example on its website, noting how the stem “-tinib” refers to the drug’s function as a tyrosine kinase (TYK) inhibitor.

humira in a pharmacy

Humira, the injectable rheumatoid arthritis treatment, is pictured in a pharmacy in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2006. (Jb Reed/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Latshaw shared that involved parties “do an incredible amount of research” when coming up with brand names to best differentiate them.

The USAN Council is “aware of the importance of coining names that will not be confused with other drug names, compromise patient safety, or mislead health care professionals and patients about the action or use of a new drug substance,” as stated in the AMA Journal of Ethics.

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“Once you know this information, if you start seeing the names of drugs referenced, at least you can sort of understand it … and know there’s a relationship there,” Latshaw said.

“If somebody’s talking about a particular drug that might be beneficial to them, that might help them understand, at least at face value, that there are other alternatives … within the same drug family that they might consider or at least bring up with their doctor.”

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A new company could aim to dethrone Google as the search king: report

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The way people search for information online could soon be changing as artificial intelligence continues to advance, and with it a new company could dethrone what has long been the king of online searching.

“It’s certainly conceivable that AI could ultimately replace search, especially if AI can learn what its user wants and deliver more relevant responses,” Jon Schweppe, the Policy Director of the American Principles Project, told Fox News Digital while cautioning that there are still a lot of unknowns with the technology. “We are in the nascent stages of the AI revolution and it’s still not clear that these companies know how to monetize it.”

The comments come as new search product called Perplexity has quickly become one of the most talked about platforms in technology, with an AI-driven search function that rivals or even bests traditional search platforms such as Google and Bing, according to a report from the New York Times.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

Google Headquarters is seen in Mountain View, California, United States. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

The company, which is a year old and was founded by people who previously worked in AI research at OpenAI and Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has been the benefactor of a boom of investments in recent months. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who also was an early investor in Google, is one such investor in a round that saw the company bring in $74 million and brought its total value to $520 million, according to the report.

The report notes that although the interface of the landing page has many similarities to Google, the user experience is much different and in some cases better than traditional search. One feature noted was Perplexity’s “Copilot,” which asks a user clarifying questions that help narrow down the search instead of presenting pages of possible results.

Jake Denton, a Research Associate at the Heritage Foundation’s Tech Policy Center, told Fox News Digital that issues with current search engines could open the door for companies such as Perplexity to take over the top spot in the industry. Among those issues is a desire to filter or censor results, Denton argued, denying users the information they were actually looking for.

“That’s why startups like Perplexity are taking a totally different approach – giving people unfiltered results without the usual Big Tech manipulation,” Denton said. “Perplexity already outperforms browsers like Google in so many areas because they’re focused on quality and accuracy, not this top-down censorship and control of information.”

But not everyone is convinced the technology will truly be able to take over search.

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“AI will probably not replace search engines, but it will likely become the way you interface with them,” Christopher Alexander, the Chief Analytics Officer of Pioneer Development Group, told Fox News Digital. “What AI agents can do effectively is make the unnatural way we search for information by entering key terms and make the process of researching information more human. This is accomplished through Natural Language Processing, which allows for a human conversation about what a user wants to understand.”

Perplexity logo on smart phone

Perplexity AI logo is seen on a smartphone screen. (Photo Illustration by Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Phil Siegel, the founder of the Center for Advanced Preparedness and Threat Response Simulation (CAPTRS), told Fox News Digital that AI is capable of replacing some of today’s search functions, most notably in cases the user is unsure of what they are searching for. However, Siegel questioned the business model for AI-driven search and whether it can be profitable.

“The question is the business model for open end search. When one searches for a movie quote the engine knows to serve you movies or theaters, maybe even like the one you’re searching for. And it can charge for that,” Siegel said.

Siegel argued that AI-driven search platforms may turn out to be more of a “niche” product, making money by charging people to use the service.

Perplexity may be ahead of that game when it comes to monetizing the platform, the New York Times report notes, releasing a Perplexity Pro product which charges users $20 per month and includes features such as a more powerful AI model and the ability to upload their own files.

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Another obstacle for Perplexity is that the company will also have to compete with companies such as Google and Microsoft in AI development, Bull Moose Project President Aiden Buzzetti argued, noting that both Google and Bing have begun refund their own AI tools in conjunction with their browsers.

“Its current form helps aggregate quick and easy information similar to the toolboxes they’d put in the browsers, just in a more responsive form,” Buzzetti told Fox News Digital. “I believe it’s highly likely that AI tools will become even more prevalent to sift through information.”

artificial intelligence language model

Microsoft Bing Chat and ChatGPT AI chat applications are seen on a mobile device in this photo illustration in Warsaw, Poland, on July 21, 2023.  (Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

But Buzzetti also noted some concerns for users of the technology, including censorship and hallucination from AI.

“Information literacy will be more important than ever — but how will we know when the AI gives us correct information, or how will we determine which source is the right source? Which data points are included or excluded? This debate exists within the current concept of search engines. It will likely accelerate,” Buzzetti said.

Chase Reid, the CEO of Mutable, offered similar concerns, telling Fox News Digital that questions still remain about whether AI should be trusted with searches.

“Should we delegate such a critical function to AI?” Reid asked. “If the potential for unsatisfactory performance lingers and exceeds just rudimentary hallucinations that lend themselves to technical solution, what implications will this have for broad adoption? And more importantly, what implications will it have for commercial or business use?” 

Meanwhile, Federalist staff editor Samuel Mangold-Lenett argued it is just as likely that Google or another large tech company will eventually buy out an upstart competitor like Perplexity. 

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“Realistically what will happen is Google’s parent company or another tech giant will buy these companies and incorporate them into their flagship programs,” Mangold-Lenett said. “That’s been their strategy with startups that could become competitors down the road for years.

For its part, a Google spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the company has been using AI such as large language models “for years” to “vastly improve the quality of search results and provide quick answers.”

“Now, we’re seeing strong user satisfaction with our gen AI experiments in Search, and we’re already rolling out these capabilities more broadly in features like Lens,” the spokesperson said. “With this technology, we’re capturing the opportunity to answer new types of questions and make Google radically more helpful for people.”

Man who shoveled new channel into Lake Michigan convicted

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A man accused of diverting a national park river to ease boat access to Lake Michigan has been convicted of two misdemeanors.

Andrew Howard of Frankfort, Michigan, was found guilty of tampering and vandalism Wednesday during a brief trial in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Ray Kent.

In August 2022, a National Park Service ranger witnessed Howard digging with a shovel so the Platte River in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore would be diverted into one of the Great Lakes, prosecutors said in a court filing.

 / Credit: U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan / Credit: U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan

/ Credit: U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan

“Within days, the natural power of the water and the constructed dam caused the river to divert and created a new channel to Lake Michigan that grew to approximately 200 feet wide,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Biksacky said.

“It stayed approximately that wide for the summer and fall season,” she added. “There was then an influx in the number of fishermen that came to Platte River boat launch to take advantage of the favorable conditions of access created by the new channel.”

The Associated Press left a voicemail and email seeking comment from Howard’s attorney Thursday.

U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said Howard had a policy dispute with the National Park Service and “took matters into his own hands.”

The Park Service no longer dredges the Platte River. As a result, sediment and sand build up, reducing the ability to get boats to Lake Michigan.

When the diversion first occurred, some state and local officials, businesses owners and angler groups expressed support for the increased boat access and argued that it actually benefitted the river, local news site Mlive.com reported. Township officials have called for the river mouth dredged, arguing that its shallowness is a safety hazard that impedes access to Platte Bay for rescue boats.

According to Mlive.com, since dredging stopped in 2016, two people have died in the bay —a teenager from Holt drowned swimming and a 21-year-old died when his kayak capsized.

“it would be nice for a rescue boat to be able to get out there in a timely fashion,” Kyle Orr, owner of Riverside Canoe Trips, told Mlive.com.

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US launches more ‘self-defense’ strikes targeting Houthi cruise missiles in Yemen

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The U.S. launched “self-defense” strikes against four Houthi unmanned surface vessels (USV) and seven mobile anti-ship cruise missiles prepared to launch into the Red Sea, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced.

In a post on the social media platform X, CENTCOM said cruise missiles were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea.

“CENTCOM identified these missiles and USVs in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined they presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region,” the post read. “These actions will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels.”

Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have launched 48 attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since Nov. 19.

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Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder told reporters on Thursday that since the first coalition strikes on Jan. 11, U.S. forces have destroyed or degraded over 100 missiles and launchers, including anti-ship land attack and surface-to-air missiles, numerous communication capabilities, unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned surface vessels, coastal radars, air surveillance capabilities and weapons storage areas.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital on the strikes.

While these self-defense strikes against Houthis and other Iranian-backed proxies continue, the U.S. continues to claim it is not looking for a war.

US RETALIATORY STRIKES WILL PROVE ‘INEFFECTIVE’: KIRK LIPPOLD

An aircraft takes off to join the U.S.-led coalition to conduct air strikes against military targets in Yemen, aimed at the Iran-backed Houthi militia that has been targeting international shipping in the Red Sea, from an undisclosed location, in this screengrab from a video released on Jan. 12.  (US Central Command via X/Reuters)

“I will repeat again, that the U.S. does not want escalation and that these strikes are directly in response to the actions by the Iranian-backed Houthis,” Ryder said. “Again, however, we will not hesitate to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most vital waterways.”

Earlier this week, CENTCOM published a video showing U.S. forces supporting joint strikes against Houthi militants.

The video showed rockets launching from the ships in pitch-black darkness. The efforts were part of joint strikes against the Houthis, which included support from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Bahrain, the Netherlands and New Zealand.

US STRIKES HOUTHI ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILE INSIDE YEMEN, OFFICIAL SAYS

Houthi militants stomping on US, UK flags

Houthi fighters walk over British and U.S flags at a rally in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and the recent Houthi strikes on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden on February 4, 2024, on the outskirts of Sana’a, Yemen. The rally comes amid U.S. and British strikes against 36 Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday, the second day of major U.S. attacks following an attack on American troops last weekend that killed three U.S. soldiers at a remote post in Jordan just across the border with Iraq by fighters with links to Iran.   (Mohammed Hamoud/Getty Images)

CENTCOM said that the Saturday strikes were launched by USS Carney, USS Gravely and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that the recent counterstrikes are aimed to “degrade the capabilities” of the Houthis.

“These strikes are intended to further disrupt and degrade the capabilities of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia to conduct their reckless and destabilizing attacks against U.S. and international vessels lawfully transiting the Red Sea,” Austin said in a statement on Saturday.

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“This collective action sends a clear message to the Houthis that they will continue to bear further consequences if they do not end their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels,” he added.

 Fox News Digital’s Liz Friden and Andrea Vacchiano contributed to this report.

‘Gender-affirming’ treatments don’t benefit youth, says pediatricians group: ‘Irreversible consequences’

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A national organization of pediatricians and other health care professionals claims that “gender-affirming” therapies have not been shown to benefit adolescents with gender dysphoria.

The American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds), based in Florida, released a position statement on Feb. 7 stating that “social transition, puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones have no demonstrable, long-term benefit on the psychosocial well-being of adolescents with gender dysphoria.”

“A review of at least 60 research papers demonstrates no benefit to social affirmation, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones or surgical interventions for these youth,” lead author and vice president of ACPeds, Dr. Jane Anderson, wrote in an email to Fox News Digital.

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All 60 of the reviewed studies focused on the mental health of adolescents struggling with gender dysphoria.

The position statement was voted on and passed by the ACPeds board and members, a spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

A national organization of pediatricians and other health care professionals claims that “gender-affirming” therapies have not been shown to benefit adolescents with gender dysphoria. (iStock)

In a fact sheet summarizing the findings, ACPeds noted that “youth whose perceived gender identity does not align with their biological sex have high rates of mental health problems regardless of any affirmation of their gender identities.”

Adolescents who identify as “gender-incongruent” often have existing mental health illnesses, including depression and anxiety, according to Anderson.

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ACPeds also stated that over half of LGBTQ+ sexual minority individuals experience “adverse childhood experiences,” including child abuse.

Transgender youth reported the highest levels of abuse and neglect, the data showed.

The researchers said their review “casts doubt on claims that social affirmation (like using desired pronouns) of transgender-identified youth helps their long-term psychosocial well-being.”

Men's and women's bathrooms

The researchers found that the use of puberty-blocking drugs — medications that delay puberty in children — did not have significant benefits for young people experiencing gender dysphoria. (iStock)

“Adolescents have immature brains and should not be allowed to make decisions with lifelong implications, such as decreased fertility, when they are so young,” Anderson told Fox News Digital.

In terms of specific therapies, the researchers found that the use of puberty-blocking drugs — medications that delay puberty in children — did not have significant benefits for youths experiencing gender dysphoria.

“Adolescents have immature brains and should not be allowed to make decisions with lifelong implications, such as decreased fertility, when they are so young.”

“A study [that] purported to show a ‘lifetime suicidal ideation’ reduction in those who received puberty blockers actually found twice as many serious suicidal attempts in participants who received the blockers than in those who just wished they had received them,” the study’s fact sheet noted.

Cross-sex hormonal interventions — treatments that trigger a transition to a desired gender — were also shown to have “little mental health benefit” and were even linked to a higher need for psychiatric care, ACPeds stated.

Mental health teens

The data shows that a large percentage of gender-dysphoric adolescents will ultimately identify with their birth sex — which means in those cases the treatments are proven unnecessary, a doctor said. (iStock)

The review also discovered that many teens who pursue gender-affirming therapy — whether surgical or hormonal — ultimately revert to their biological gender.

“There are individuals who now express regret regarding their transition,” Anderson told Fox News Digital.

Doctors react to the report

Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurologist and longevity expert, was not involved in the analysis but shared his input on the topic, which he said is “often fueled by political bias and religious undertones.”

“I agree with the position statement of the ACPeds,” he told Fox News Digital. “Namely, a holistic approach with intense psychiatric interventions should be adopted prior to any gender-altering therapeutic.”

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The data shows that a large percentage of gender-dysphoric adolescents will ultimately identify with their birth sex, which means in those cases the treatments are proven unnecessary, the doctor noted.

“Medical professionals should strive to address gender dysphoria primarily through a holistic psychological approach — involving both the patient and family — before more invasive pharmaceutical or surgical measures,” Osborn told Fox News Digital.

Dr. Brett Osborn

Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurologist and longevity expert, said he agrees with the position statement issued by the ACPeds. (Dr. Brett Osborn)

While taking hormone-altering therapies or transitioning to the opposite sex has become “all the rage,” he said, the data suggests there is no long-term mental health benefit. 

“In addition, those opting for hormone-altering therapies are potentially interfering with not only sexual development, but also brain development,” Osborn warned. “Testosterone and estrogen, the hormones primarily manipulated with such therapies, are integral to memory formation and mood.”

GENDER DYSPHORIA GROWING AMONG YOUNGER ADULTS AMID ‘INCREASING ACCEPTANCE,’ STUDY FINDS

The doctor also noted the dangers associated with “gender-affirming” surgeries. 

“Adolescents, prior to undergoing intense psychiatric therapy, are opting for sex-change operations in an almost whimsical manner,” he said. “But this is short-sighted, and the decision is often tainted by ongoing psychological issues.”

He added, “Such surgeries permanently alter one’s physical appearance, carrying with them irreversible consequences, such as infertility and sexual dysfunction.”

doctor medical professional medicine

“Adolescents, prior to undergoing intense psychiatric therapy, are opting for sex-change operations in an almost whimsical manner,” a doctor said. (Cyberguy.com)

Adolescents haven’t lived long enough to make such high-level decisions, according to Osborn.

“They’re confused,” he said. “An alternative must be sought.”

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, was also not involved in the ACPeds study, but commented on the findings of what he described as a “conservative advocacy group.”

“Hormone-altering therapies are potentially interfering with not only sexual development, but also brain development.”

“I am in favor of a more conservative approach as well in minors,” he told Fox News Digital.  

“Long-term effects of puberty blockers may include bone loss, trouble concentrating, interference with learning and interference with fertility.”

Siegel added, “I think it makes sense in most cases to treat underlying mental health concerns before jumping into treatments, including surgery, that may be difficult to reverse.”

Dr. Marc Siegel

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, warned of the long-term effects of puberty blockers. (Fox News)

The doctor also emphasized that gender issues should not be overly politicized. 

“This means not superimposing an ideology or pushing physicians to act in a certain way or under pressure,” Siegel said. 

INCREASING MAJORITY OF AMERICANS VIEW SEX AS BIOLOGICAL REALITY, NEW POLL REVEALS

“The welfare of the child must come first. In this case, it means going very slowly and providing support to a child or teen with gender dysphoria.”

Siegel also pointed out that many U.K. and European countries, from Sweden to France, have restricted gender-affirming care for adolescents in favor of mental health support.

Organizations in favor of gender-affirming procedures

The American Medical Association (AMA) states on its website that “improving access to gender-affirming care is an important means of improving health outcomes for the transgender population.” 

“Receipt of gender-affirming care has been linked to dramatically reduced rates of suicide attempts, decreased rates of depression and anxiety, decreased substance use, improved HIV medication adherence and reduced rates of harmful self-prescribed hormone use,” the organization claimed.

Depressed young woman

Many U.K. and European countries, from Sweden to France, have restricted gender-affirming care for adolescents in favor of mental health support. (iStock)

The AMA also said it supports public and private health insurance coverage for the treatment of gender dysphoria.

The Office of Population Affairs (OASH), part of the Department of Health and Human Services, released a similar statement in support of gender-affirming care, calling it a “supportive form of health care that may include medical, surgical, mental health and non-medical services for transgender and nonbinary people.” 

“The welfare of the child must come first.”

“Research demonstrates that gender-affirming care improves the mental health and overall well-being of gender-diverse children and adolescents,” the statement continued.

OASH claimed that gender-affirming care allows “transgender and nonbinary children and adolescents” to focus on social transitions and can increase their confidence in navigating the health care system.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also has expressed support of gender-affirming care, stating on its website that it recommends “providing youth with access to comprehensive gender-affirming and developmentally appropriate health care.”

The AAP also calls for electronic health records, notifications and research files to be updated to reflect the patient’s desired gender identity.

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Fox News Digital reached out to the AMA, OASH and the American Academy of Pediatrics requesting comment on the ACPeds study.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

A see-through grill with AI cooks steak in only 90 seconds

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If you love outdoor cooking, you know how tough it can be to achieve the perfect results every time. You have to deal with uneven heat, flare-ups, smoke and guesswork.

Not to mention the hassle of cleaning up afterward. But what if there was a grill that could do all the work for you and cook your food exactly the way you want it in a fraction of the time?

That’s the promise of the Perfecta, a groundbreaking grill that combines cutting-edge technology with culinary expertise. 

This innovative appliance could revolutionize outdoor cooking, providing you with a faster and more efficient way to prepare meals. Whether you’re a seasoned griller or a beginner, you’ll be amazed by what this grill can do.

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see-through grill 1

What makes this grill truly unique?

The Perfecta is unlike any other grill you’ve ever seen. It features a sleek and modern design, with a touchscreen display and a stainless steel body. But what makes it truly unique is its vertical orientation, dual infrared burners and NeuralFire AI chef.

grill diagram

Diagram of how the Perfecta works (Seergrills)

MORE: 24 MOST AMAZING COOKING GADGETS

What is vertical orientation?

The vertical orientation of the grill allows it to cook both sides of your food simultaneously, resulting in a significant reduction in cooking time. According to Seergrills, the company that makes Perfecta, it can prepare a mouthwatering, one-inch-thick rib-eye steak in just 90 seconds.

see-through grill 3

You also won’t have to deal with any smoke or flare-ups. The vertical orientation of the grill prevents any fat or grease from dripping onto the burners, eliminating the risk of fire. Instead, the fat and grease are collected in a dishwasher-safe drip pan at the bottom of the grill, making cleanup a breeze.

Man with grill

Man using the Perfecta (Seergrills)

How do the grill’s infrared burners perform?

The infrared burners are the secret behind the Perfecta’s incredible performance. They produce intense heat that sears the surface of the food, locking in the juices and flavor. The burners can reach temperatures of up to 1,000°C, which is nearly seven times hotter than the core of the sun.

see-through grill 5

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

The infrared burners also offer another advantage: they can adjust their position to ensure even heating throughout the cooking process, including the edges. This means you won’t have to worry about flipping or rotating your food or ending up with burnt or raw spots. So, how do you know when your food is done? That’s where the NeuralFire AI chef comes in.

see-through grill 6

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What is the brain behind the grill?

The NeuralFire AI chef is the brain behind the Perfecta. It’s an artificial intelligence system that takes into account your desired doneness and sear level and calculates the optimal cooking time and temperature for each dish.

SEE-through grill 7

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The NeuralFire AI chef uses sensors to detect the thickness of the food, preventing over or undercooking. It also monitors the internal temperature of the food, ensuring that it reaches the safe level for consumption.

see-through grill 8

All you have to do is input your preferred cooking parameters on the touchscreen display and let the NeuralFire AI chef do the rest. You can choose from preset options, such as rare, medium or well-done, or customize your own settings.

slab of steak

The NeuralFire AI chef will then guide you through the cooking process, telling you when to insert and remove your food, and alerting you when it’s ready. You can also check the status of your food on the display, or on your smartphone via the Seergrills app.

SEE-THROUGH grill 10

MORE: BEST ELECTRIC GRILLS THAT DON’T REQUIRE GAS OR CHARCOAL

How you can use the AI grill to prepare a wide variety of dishes

The NeuralFire AI chef is not only good at grilling, but also at baking, roasting and rotisserie. The Perfecta offers versatile cooking modes, making it capable of preparing a wide variety of dishes with ease. You can bake pizzas, roast chickens or make kebabs with the Perfecta, all in a fraction of the time and with minimal effort.

SEE-THROUGH grill 11

MORE: 24 MOST AMAZING COOKING GADGETS

How the grill offers a healthier alternative to traditional grills

By using infrared technology, the Perfecta reduces the formation of harmful compounds, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic amines (HCAs). The Perfecta also consumes less energy and emits less carbon dioxide than conventional grills, making it more eco-friendly.

see-through grill 12

MORE: EVE THE ROBOT CAN COOK, CLEAN AND GUARD YOUR HOME

Who’s behind the AI-powered grill?

The Perfecta is the brainchild of Seergrills, a U.K.-based startup that aims to bring the future of grilling to your backyard. It was founded by a team of engineers and chefs.

SEE-THROUGH grill 13

Perfecta specs (Seergrills)

When can I buy one of these grills?

The Perfecta is set to be released in the fourth quarter of 2024, with a retail price of $3,500. At the time of publishing, the company is offering a $900 savings on preorders.

Kurt’s key takeaways

Imagine enjoying restaurant-quality food in your own backyard without the hassle of traditional grilling. That’s what the Perfecta is all about. It features dual vertical infrared burners that can cook both sides of your food simultaneously, reducing cooking time. It also has a built-in AI chef named NeuralFire, which calculates the optimal cooking time and temperature for each dish. It also offers versatile cooking modes, including oven and rotisserie functions, making it capable of preparing a wide variety of dishes with ease. What doesn’t this thing do?

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What do you think of the Perfecta grill? Would you spend the money on one of these grills, or are you going to stick with your traditional grill? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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Carnival cruise ship hosting music festival at sea hits Jamaica pier, leaving passengers stuck on land

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Passengers on a music festival at sea had the blues when severe weather caused their Carnival cruise ship to hit a pier in Jamaica, damaging it so badly that cruisers were stuck on the island a lot longer than planned.

The incident impacted the Carnival Magic ship at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Ocho Rios, reports said. 

“Strong winds and swells caused the pier fender to collapse under pressure,” a Carnival spokesman told USA Today.

The ship had to leave the area where it was docked, dock at another nearby pier later on and guests who were ashore were then able to rejoin the ship, the spokesman said. 

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A closer look at the damage to the Carnival Magic as it was docked Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.  (Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

The trip was part of what was billed as ShipRocked 2024, is a music festival at sea consisting of “six terrifying nights of music & madness,” according to its website. As it turned out, they got more madness than they bargained for.

“We’re watching our ship sail off into the rainstorm. We’re like – nobody knew what was happening,” passenger Dyllon Price told FOX 35 Orlando. 

Passenger Adam Muddleton said the storm caused him and his group to be stuck on the Caribbean island for nearly 12 hours.

“We had a couple thousand people just out in a field in the pouring rain and no shelter, no food, no drinks. I think there was one toilet,” Middleton told FOX 35.

BAHAMAS TOUR BOAT SINKS, LEAVING 1 DEAD AS PASSENGER RECORDS TERRIFYING ORDEAL

Carnival Magic from afar

The Carnival Magic is seen docked in Ocho Rios, Jamaica during day three of the ShipRocked cruise on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

The ship left Miami Sunday, according to CruiseMapper. It was scheduled to be in Ocho Rios from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time Tuesday.

Passengers told FOX 35 the mishap caused them to spend another day in Jamaica, and crews spent Wednesday inspecting the damage.

Miami, Florida

The Carnival Magic left Miami, Florida Feb. 4 for the ShipRocked 2024 sailing. (GIORGIO VIERA/AFP via Getty Images)

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“I don’t think we ever should have docked,” Price said. “It might have been a bummer to skip Jamaica, but not as bad as it was to be stuck on the island for 12 hours.”

No injuries were reported, and the ship remained operational.