Good2Know is your daily dose of the stories impacting your life
SEAWEED BELT HEADED TO FLORIDA
A seaweed belt that is 5,000 miles long is making its way to the shores of south Florida. The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt has been gradually traveling from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico. Sargassum is a type of seaweed that's brown and leafy and has what looks like little berries dangling from it. It only becomes a problem when it starts decomposing, because it releases ammonia and hydrogen sulfide that creates a smell similar to rotten eggs.
GRINDR FIGHTS HIV
Grindr is taking more steps to slow the spread of HIV. The popular LGBTQ-plus dating app is distributing free at-home HIV tests to users in the U.S. The app is partnering with the CDC as a part of a new public health initiative called the "together take me home" campaign. To order your test, all you have to do is go to the app's main menu; look for the "free HIV home test" button; put in your info and wait for the test kit to arrive in the mail. The kit itself works by swabbing the gums and takes about 20 minutes to get results.
ADDERALL SHORTAGE
A new report says that the ongoing nationwide shortage of ADHD medication Adderall could pose a national security risk. The report from Democrats on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee states that new drug shortages increased 30 percent in 2022 from 2021. The shortages are a result of economic factors such as supply chain troubles and over reliance on foreign sources, according to the report. The report highlighted how many drug manufacturers moved overseas in the last several decades because foreign governments offer tax incentives and have lighter regulations.
Spain's government has fined Airbnb 64 million euros or $75 million for advertising unlicensed tourist rentals. The consumer rights ministry announced the fine on Monday. The ministry stated that many listings lacked proper license numbers or included incorrect information. The move is part of Spain's ongoing efforts to regulate short-term rental companies amid a housing affordability crisis especially in popular urban areas. The ministry ordered Airbnb in May to remove around 65,000 listings for similar violations. The government's consumer rights minister emphasized the impact on families struggling with housing. Airbnb said it plans to challenge the fine in court.
The Islamic State group and other militant organizations are experimenting with artificial intelligence as a tool to boost recruitment and refine their operations. National security experts say that just as businesses, governments and individuals have embraced AI, extremist groups also will look to harness the power of AI. That means aiming to improve their cyberattacks, breaking into sensitive networks and creating deepfakes that spread confusion and fear. Leaders in Washington have responded with calls to investigate how militant groups are using AI and seek ways to encourage tech companies to share more about how their products are being potentially misused.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to block states from regulating artificial intelligence. He argues that heavy regulations could stifle the industry, especially given competition from China. Trump says the U.S. needs a unified approach to AI regulation to avoid complications from state-by-state rules. The order directs the administration to draw up a list of problematic regulations for the Attorney General to challenge. States with laws could lose access to broadband funding, according to the text of the order. Some states have already passed AI laws focusing on transparency and limiting data collection.
Waymo's self-driving taxis have been in the spotlight for both negative and positive reasons. This week, the automated ride-hailing taxis went viral after a San Francisco woman gave birth inside a Waymo taxi while on her way to the hospital. A Waymo spokesperson on Wednesday confirmed the unusual delivery. It said the company's rider support team detected unusual activity inside the vehicle and alerted 911. The taxi arrived safely at the hospital before emergency services. Waymo's popularity is growing despite heightened scrutiny following an illegal U-turn and the death of a San Francisco cat. The company, owned by Alphabet, says it is proud to serve riders of all ages.
OpenAI has appointed Slack CEO Denise Dresser as its first chief of revenue. Dresser will oversee global revenue strategy and help businesses integrate AI into daily operations. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently emphasized improving ChatGPT, which now has over 800 million weekly users. Despite its success, OpenAI faces competition from companies like Google and concerns about profitability. The company earns money from premium ChatGPT subscriptions but hasn't ventured into advertising. Altman had recently announced delays in developing new products like AI agents and a personal assistant.
President Donald Trump says he will allow Nvidia to sell its H200 computer chip used in the development of artificial intelligence to “approved customers” in China. Trump said Monday on his social media site that he had informed China’s leader Xi Jinping and “President Xi responded positively!” There had been concerns about allowing advanced computer chips into China as it could help them to compete against the U.S. in building out AI capabilities. But there has also been a desire to develop the AI ecosystem with American companies such as chipmaker Nvidia.
