Technology & innovation

AI ROUNDUP

Experts are increasingly concerned about how artificial intelligence could be "wielded as a weapon" of modern warfare. Since the conflict involving Iran, the U.S. and Israel began in mid-June, "AI-generated deepfake images and videos related to the conflict" have been popping up across social media platforms. Some images depicted "downed F-35 jets and B-2 bombers" while other fakes showed "damage from an Iranian missile strike in Tel Aviv." The goal of such images is to "create confusion" or "reinforce certain narratives," according to experts, who say they worry about the power of AI to "spread misinformation and shape public opinion" as a weapon of modern warfare. Cybersecurity experts say the "synthetic media and misattributed content" is being created and shared more quickly than it can be fact-checked. (Politico)

Seattle, Washington is looking to AI to "speed up" the city's "housing and small business permit process." Seattle's mayor recently issued a new executive order that is designed to use AI to assist both permit applicants and the city employees responsible for reviewing permits. The new pilot program began in April and is expected to be rolled out in full in 2026. It "could cut housing review cycles by 50% or more." (Geekwire)

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly been "intensely recruiting AI talent for Meta’s new Superintelligence lab." According to The Wall Street Journal, Zuckerberg has been trying to lure AI talent with "lucrative" offers, "spending his days firing off emails and WhatsApp messages to the sharpest minds in artificial intelligence." Some of the top talent who have received messages from Zuckerberg say they "were so surprised they didn’t believe it was really Zuckerberg." Last week, the Journal reported that Zuckerberg's efforts have been successful, with three OpenAI researchers signing onto Meta's Superintelligence lab in what the Journal called a “recruiting coup.” (The Wall Street Journal, The Wall Street Journal)

Walmart is "deploying AI-powered tools across its U.S. associate base," according to a recent announcement. The "suite of AI tools" will "aim to eliminate friction, simplify actions and make work more efficient, intuitive and rewarding." Walmart says AI has already "reduced the time team leads spend planning shifts — from 90 minutes to 30." An "AI-powered translation tool" will offer language translation across 44 languages to "facilitate multi-lingual conversations among associates and customers." (HR Dive, Walmart)