What happens when AI decides for you

+ Parkinson’s disease linked to newly discovered genetic variant US Edition - Today's top story: The hidden risk of letting AI decide – losing the skills to choose for ourselves [View in browser]( US Edition | 12 April 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [How O.J.’s trial blurred the line between news and entertainment]( - [Southern storms expose shortcomings of aging infrastructure]( - [Test your news knowledge]( Lead story People worry about artificial intelligence replacing human workers – from truck drivers to middle managers. But there’s another type of replacement that also bears watching: AIs replacing aspects of being human, like composing music or writing an essay. USC psychologist Joe Árvai puts another aspect of the human experience in the spotlight: the ability to make thoughtful decisions. Árvai spells out what’s involved in thoughtful decisions and [how AI undermines the process](. And, like it or not, he writes, many of us have already received advice from AIs without being aware of it. [[How faith and religion drive the world. Sign up for our weekly newsletter, This Week in Religion.](] Eric Smalley Science + Technology Editor In the movie ‘WALL-E ,’ the technology-coddled humans of the future weren’t doing so well. Courtesy Pixar [The hidden risk of letting AI decide – losing the skills to choose for ourselves]( Joe Árvai, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences AI has the potential to diminish the human experience in several ways. One particularly concerning threat is to the ability to make thoughtful decisions. Arts + Culture - [Has the media learned anything since the O.J. Simpson trial?]( Frankie Bailey, University at Albany, State University of New York Since the ‘trial of the century,’ the lines between news and entertainment have become increasingly blurred. Environment + Energy - [The South’s aging water infrastructure is getting pounded by climate change – fixing it is also a struggle]( Jonathan Fisk, Auburn University; John C. Morris, Auburn University; Megan E. Heim LaFrombois, Auburn University Extreme downpours and droughts, both fueled by rising global temperatures, are taking a toll on water infrastructure. Communities trying to manage the threats face three big challenges. - [Colorado is latest state to try turning off the electrical grid to prevent wildfires − a complex, technical operation pioneered in California]( Kyri Baker, University of Colorado Boulder Turning off power is a last-ditch strategy for utilities to reduce the risk that their systems could spark wildfires. In most states, deciding whether to take that step is up to utilities. Science + Technology - [Newly discovered genetic variant that causes Parkinson’s disease clarifies why the condition develops and how to halt it]( Matthew Farrer, University of Florida No treatments are currently available to cure Parkinson’s disease. Better understanding the genetic foundation of this condition can help researchers find ways to slow or halt its progression. - [A young Black scientist discovered a pivotal leprosy treatment in the 1920s − but an older colleague took the credit]( Mark M. Lambert, Des Moines University Historians are working to shine a light on Alice Ball’s legacy and contributions to an early treatment of a dangerous and stigmatizing disease. Politics + Society - [A monumental case, unfolding in a court of law and a court of public opinion – Trump goes on trial]( Karrin Vasby Anderson, Colorado State University; Tim Bakken, United States Military Academy West Point Donald Trump stands trial – the first former president to do so – on April 15, 2024. - [The unfinished business of John F. Kennedy’s vision for world peace]( Philip A. Goduti, Jr., Quinnipiac University With wealth, charm and tactful leadership, John F. Kennedy set the standard for working toward the common good and decency in public discourse International - [How Iran responds to Damascus attack could determine trajectory of conflict in the Middle East]( Javed Ali, University of Michigan Tehran has warned that no Israeli embassy is safe following deadly bombing of its mission in Damascus. Health + Medicine - [Nitazenes found in 5 overdose deaths in Philly – here’s what they are and why they’re so deadly]( Christopher P. Holstege, University of Virginia Initially developed in the 1950s, nitazenes are a type of synthetic opioid that has reappeared in Philadelphia’s street drug supply. Ethics + Religion - [Medieval Europe was far from democratic, but that didn’t mean tyrants got a free pass]( Joelle Rollo-Koster, University of Rhode Island Medieval Europeans thought about politics in terms of leadership and often criticized rulers for ‘tyranny’ − both in government and in the church. - [Why Sikhs celebrate the festival of Baisakhi]( Anshu Malhotra, University of California, Santa Barbara The spirit of Baisakhi for Sikhs is reminiscent of the ideals of their gurus, who encouraged them to work toward building a just society. Trending on site - [Infections after surgery are more likely due to bacteria already on your skin than from microbes in the hospital − new research]( - [The backlash against diversity, equity and inclusion in business is in full force − but myths obscure the real value of DEI]( - [How jurors will be selected in Trump’s legal cases - a criminal law expert explains]( The Conversation Quiz 🧠Here’s the first question of [this week’s edition:]( Which of these is an actual rallying cry for baristas working to unionize Starbucks? - A. Pumpkin spice and union rights - B. Say no to scabbuccinos - C. Venti pay for skinny lattes - D. Solidarity is the extra shot [Test your knowledge]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? 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