Musk and Hawking want new regulation for AI – but at what cost?

Edition: US - Today's top story: Does regulating artificial intelligence save humanity or just stifle innovation? [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 23 October 2017 [[The Conversation]Academic rigor, journalistic flair]( Editor's note Artificial intelligence holds huge promise for helping people with tasks both complex and routine, but top technology thinkers like Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking worry that without aggressive regulation, robots might rise up and threaten humanity. Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg don’t agree. AI researcher Jeremy Straub discusses the regulations he already faces in his work and how [further restrictions might affect opportunities for innovation](. It’s not an easy time to be a journalist in America, and the thinned-out newsrooms of community newspapers have been especially vulnerable to industry upheaval. University of Oregon journalism professor Damian Radcliffe spent months interviewing editors and reporters at local media outlets in the Pacific Northwest to learn how they’re faring. While many outlets are still struggling to cobble together a reliable revenue model, he also found some [surprising reasons for optimism](. Finally, what does your boss know about your health? Big data could help employers predict whether their workers are likely to get sick in the future. Sharona Hoffman at Case Western Reserve University warns that existing [laws don’t protect employees’ health data]( from discrimination based on those predictions. Jeff Inglis Editor, Science + Technology Top story Should robots and artificial intelligence face additional restrictions? maxuser/Shutterstock.com [Does regulating artificial intelligence save humanity or just stifle innovation?]( Jeremy Straub, North Dakota State University Artificial intelligence has so much beneficial potential that fears about it shouldn't prompt new regulations. Existing rules already govern human and machine behavior. Arts + Culture - [Is local news on the cusp of a renaissance?]( Damian Radcliffe, University of Oregon A new study explores the state of an industry that's tapping creative revenue streams and incorporating new tools to engage with readers. Health + Medicine - [Will Obamacare marketplaces suffer as open enrollment begins?]( Michael Morrisey, Texas A&M University Frustrated with Congress for its failure to replace Obamacare, President Trump took matters into his own hands and issued an executive order to nix parts of it. How his order will play out is unknown. - [Our laws don't do enough to protect our health data]( Sharona Hoffman, Case Western Reserve University What can be done to prevent employers from rejecting individuals based on concern about future illnesses? Currently, nothing. Politics + Society - [Terrorist leaders in the Philippines are dead – will democracy be restored?]( Jessica Trisko Darden, American University School of International Service President Duterte declared martial law back in March to aid the fight against Islamic militants. Many fear he will continue using this power. - [In Central America, gangs like MS-13 are bad – but corrupt politicians may be worse]( Jose Miguel Cruz, Florida International University Corruption, not gang warfare, is the root cause of the record violence in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. Until public officials stop shielding criminal groups like MS-13, lawlessness will reign. Economy + Business - [The IRS targeting scandal was fake, but IRS budget woes are a real problem]( Philip Hackney, Louisiana State University The tax agency singled out both conservative and liberal groups seeking tax-exempt status for extra scrutiny. Trending on site - [Our calculator will guess how many healthy years of life you have left]( Jeyaraj Vadiveloo, University of Connecticut How many healthy years of life do you have ahead before you become unhealthy – and then die? One model tries to find the answer. - [How China's skewed sex ratio is making President Xi's job a whole lot harder]( David Skidmore, Drake University China's surplus of unmarriageable men poses a stark dilemma for Xi and other leaders as they set the country's economic course for the next five years. - [Why astrophysicists are over the moon about observing merging neutron stars]( Roy Kilgard, Wesleyan University The gravitational wave itself is the least exciting part of the announcement from LIGO and Virgo. Observing this new source answers many longstanding questions. Today’s chart - [Enable images to see the chart]( From the article: [The IRS targeting scandal was fake, but IRS budget woes are a real problem]( [Philip Hackney]Philip Hackney Louisiana State University [Follow us on Twitter.]( [Join us on Facebook.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly](. We’ll miss you. 625 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139 USA