June 10, 2026
Bioethics Pundit
Posts by Bioethics Pundit:
June 10, 2026
Could humanoid robots be heading for the battlefield?
(BBC) – While many companies are building autonomous humanoid robots for factories, homes or companions, Foundation claims it is the only US firm developing them specifically for a broad range of defence applications. That includes support roles like supply pickup, … Read More
June 9, 2026
David Sinclair plans to test whole-body rejuvenation drugs in the XPrize competition
(MIT Technology Review) – The next step in the youth quest is a technology called chemical reprogramming. The outspoken longevity scientist David Sinclair has been predicting that one day, you’ll go to the doctor and get a prescription that will … Read More
June 9, 2026
Smartphones broke dating. AI might finish the job.
(Vox) – Humanity may be scrolling its way out of existence. Across the globe, fertility rates are plummeting. In 2023, the average number of births per woman worldwide fell beneath 2.1 — the minimum level necessary for averting population decline … Read More
June 9, 2026
Hustle culture’s pricey hangover
(Axios) – Rest, longevity and fitness are the new status symbols, and burnt-out Americans are spending big on all of the above. Why it matters: The wellness economy is in its next phase, beyond fancy gym memberships and meditation apps. … Read More
June 9, 2026
New study casts doubt on reliability of mental health diagnosis interviews
(The Guardian) – Diagnostic interviews seen as ‘gold standard’ vary in reliability from condition to condition, study says Even though evidence on the reliability of these interviews has long been mixed, “they continue to be widely viewed as the best … Read More
June 9, 2026
Scientists Edit Human Embryo Genes With Startling Precision
(NYT) – Researchers relied on a newer gene-editing technique that may make it possible to engineer embryos, a prospect that has long alarmed bioethicists. Scientists at Columbia University have edited the DNA of early human embryos with unprecedented accuracy, an … Read More
June 9, 2026
What to know about Canada’s new AI strategy
(BBC) – Canada’s government has released a much-anticipated national artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, mapping out how the country plans to adopt the new technology over the next decade. It comes amid broader public concerns over trust of AI and its … Read More
June 9, 2026
The surprising science-backed reason being in nature makes you feel good
(Washington Post) – A new study suggests spending time in nature may boost body appreciation, self-compassion and overall life satisfaction. Decades of research suggests there are many positive mental and physical health effects of spending time outdoors, from boosting mood … Read More
June 9, 2026
Anthropic Urges Global Pause in AI Development, Flags ‘Self-Improvement’ Risk
(WSJ) – The $1 trillion startup warns artificial-intelligence models are nearing capability to improve without human intervention Anthropic is calling for top artificial intelligence labs to weigh slowing the pace of development, suggesting that AI systems are advancing so rapidly … Read More
June 8, 2026
Someone Finally Wants to Hire Philosophers
(The Atlantic) – As the AI boom has exploded, Silicon Valley has looked to philosophers to help the industry build what are, at least in theory, more virtuous machines. AI companies have to make all kinds of difficult decisions about … Read More
June 8, 2026
OpenAI and Anthropic Sign Letter to Prevent AI-Developed Biological Weapons
(Wired) – Leading AI labs, executives, and scientists are sending a letter to lawmakers urging them to improve tracking of synthetic DNA sequences that could be used for bioweapons. The CEOs of several major artificial intelligence companies are urging members … Read More
June 8, 2026
Microsoft Wants to ‘Make People Addicted’ to its New AI Assistant, Internal Documents Reveal
(404 Media) – Planning documents for “Scout” say the plan is to “make people addicted” to the tool before adding new features. An internal Microsoft strategy document says that the plan for its just-announced “Scout” personal assistant AI is to … Read More
June 8, 2026
Jeff Bezos Is Funding a Wild Hunt for the Brain’s ‘Core Algorithm’
(Wired) – With $500 million in funding and a reported $2.5 billion valuation, Flourish wants to reinvent AI by putting real neurons under the microscope. Here’s what Bezos, sitting on his yacht somewhere, read while Williams anxiously watched on Zoom: … Read More
June 8, 2026
How People Secretly Record You with Meta Glasses
(New Things with Joanna Stern on Youtube) – People across the country are offering a service on Facebook Marketplace to disable the recording light on Ray-Ban Meta glasses. They call it “Stealth Mode.” Joanna paid $100 for the modification and … Read More
June 8, 2026
No, Artificial Intelligence Is Not Conscious
(The Atlantic) – Should we seriously consider the possibility that Claude, or any large language model, might be conscious? And if it has feelings, is it capable of receiving moral instruction? No. Absolutely not. Generative AI is harmful enough when … Read More
June 5, 2026
China Aims A.I. at Predicting Who Could Pose a Political Risk
(NYT) – A Chinese company has been trying to develop artificial intelligence-powered technology that would enable authoritarian governments to not just monitor dissidents but also potentially predict who could become one in the future. The work, which appears to be … Read More
June 5, 2026
2 scientists charged with bringing deactivated mpox virus into the US and lying to authorities
(AP) – Two scientists at a U.S. government lab were charged with smuggling vials of deactivated mpox virus into the country from Africa and lying about it during interviews with investigators at a Michigan airport, authorities said Tuesday. A criminal … Read More
June 5, 2026
Data Center Operators Are Trying to Fix Their Water Use Problems
(Wired) – Google, Microsoft, and other hyperscalers have come under scrutiny for their impact on water quality and availability. On Monday, SpaceX amended its initial public offering to state that water conditions—including water scarcity, regulations around water, and drought—could constrain … Read More
June 5, 2026
Inside the unlikely Vatican-Anthropic relationship that’s reshaping the AI ethics debate
(RNS) – “It’s a little surprising, but I don’t think it’s unexpected,” he told Religion News Service this week. “The Vatican has been cultivating relationships with the tech community for about 10 years.” Green would know. As a leading tech … Read More
June 5, 2026
More Americans Are Aging Alone. One Woman Told Us What It’s Like.
(WSJ) – Solo agers must navigate complex financial, medical decisions without a built-in safety net Kant had long cherished the freedom that came with being single. She prided herself on doing headstands in yoga and walking 5 miles a day. … Read More
June 5, 2026
Jeffrey Epstein Banked His Sperm Years Before His Death
(NYT) – Mr. Epstein said that if he died, his sperm should be left in the control of his estate. Jeffrey Epstein died in 2019, but his genetic material may live on. Emails and records in the Epstein files released … Read More
June 5, 2026
The New Amenity in Luxury Living: Longevity Services
(WSJ) – Developers at a new New York luxury condo have leased its commercial space to a high-end longevity company that offers to lengthen the lives of its members The newest luxury condominium amenity for wealthy New Yorkers isn’t a … Read More
June 5, 2026
Moderna gets $50 million to develop mRNA Ebola vaccine against Bundibugyo
(Ars Technica) – The global health organization Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) announced Monday that it will “urgently accelerate development” of three vaccine candidates against Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV), pledging a little over $60 million in the effort to extinguish … Read More
June 5, 2026
The Perfect Storm for ADHD Overdiagnosis
(The Dispatch) – Screen time gets the blame, but the increase in diagnoses comes more from subjective criteria interacting with financial incentives. The diagnostic category itself has been steadily widened by the institutions that define it and the financial structure … Read More
