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Best moments of the 2026 Emmy Awards
From Mariska Hargitay's carefree hosting style and musical numbers to an emotional moment with Michael J. Fox and surprises by presenters, the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards were a pleasant evening of distraction.
From dyslexic kid to 'Resident Punk': Legs McNeil on surviving the scene that made him a writer
Legs McNeil doesn't come across as sentimental.
Southern California University of Health Sciences Names Dr. Russell Greenfield Founding Executive Director of Institute for the Advancement of Whole Health
/PRNewswire/ -- Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) today announced the appointment of Russell Greenfield, MD, as Founding Executive...
Injustice 3 is seemingly the mysterious, unannounced fighting game that's been hosting playtests in California
It seems very likely this "triple-A fighting game" playtest is for Injustice 3.
'DTF St. Louis' wins Emmy for limited series
Upon accepting the award for limited or anthology series, 'DTF St. Louis' creator Steven Conrad said he was proud of the "incredible cast."
'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' wins Emmy for variety series
'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,' which ended its 11-year run in May, has won the Emmy in the newly merged variety series category.
Want to lower your risk of dementia? It doesn't involve a blood test
New blood tests are helping doctors diagnose whether Alzheimer’s or something else is causing a patient’s memory problems
Sally Field wins lead actress Emmy for 'Remarkably Bright Creatures'
At 79, the actor whose decades-long career has spanned TV and film, becomes the oldest to win in the category for her portrayal of a widow named Tova Sullivan in 'Remarkably Bright Creatures.'
Health problem delays sentencing for Gov. Newsom's ex-chief of staff
Dana Williamson, a former top political aide to key Democratic leaders in California, including Gov. Newsom, is recovering from what appears to be an unplanned surgery, and court records show her attorney is asking a federal court to delay her sentencing.
Supreme Court halts Trump's proposed limits on mail ballots for this year's elections
The justices turned down an emergency appeal from Trump's lawyers, who argued the government needed a new and untested system of unique bar codes to track millions of mailed ballots.
2026 Emmys live chat: Our experts break down the big winners, best moments and more
Columnists Mary McNamara and Glenn Whipp discuss the top winners, biggest upsets, most entertaining moments and more from the 2026 Emmy Awards.
Gavin Newsom says he won’t run in 2028 if Kamala Harris does
The California governor said there was too much “crossover” between his base and Harris’, and that it would be an electoral “gift” for everybody else if they both ran.
Gavin Newsom says he won’t run for president if Kamala Harris does
The pair share deep roots in California politics.
Newsom says he won't run for president if Harris does
Newsom's effective yield to Harris diminishes the possibility of a 2028 showdown between two of California’s most powerful political figures.
Gavin Newsom Says He Won’t Run in 2028 if Kamala Harris Does
The comments made to CNN, if taken at face value, seemed to fly in the face of the California governor’s presidential ambitions.
Democratic leaders panic and GOP divides as AI fears spread
Top executives from three of the country’s leading AI companies issued exceptional calls for collaboration on a path forward that could “pace the frontier” of AI development.
Out of Office: Fishing with Gavin Newsom as he contemplates 2028 presidential run
California Gov. Gavin Newsom went fishing with Jake Tapper to talk about his tumultuous political and personal life and whether he will run for president.
Leeds 4-1 Newcastle: What Jaissle said
In the Premier League you need to bring the fundamentals on to the pitch, the physicality. Newcastle's six game unbeaten run against Leeds in the Premier League came to an end this evening (W2 D4), suffering their first defeat against them since January 2021.
Women's Business Center Director Sophia Kanaan empowers female entrepreneurs
Sophia Kanaan leads the Women's Business Center at Women's Business Center at California Capital Financial Development Corp., helping Sacramento entrepreneurs navigate the business side of starting companies.
Emmys red carpet: Best dressed at 2026 Emmy Awards
The best looks from the 2026 Emmys Awards include Ciara Miller and Melissa Rivers.
FDA warning patients who received mammogram from California health facility
Have you received a mammogram in the last three years? There is a new warning over concerns about the quality of mammograms at one California health facility.
OpenAI acquires Israeli-founded camera startup Glass Imaging for over $300 million
Founded by Israeli former Apple engineer Ziv Attar and his former colleague Tom Bishop, Glass Imaging uses AI to overcome limitations in compact cameras and has developed technology for smartphones, drones and wearables.
Oil Price Spike Strengthens Business Case for Replacing Polluting Diesel Trucks With Cleaner Alternatives, Especially RNG, Updated Energy Vision Report Finds
The NGO Energy Vision today issued an update of its 2025 report "A Path to a Healthier America: Ditching Old Diesel Trucks" which explores replacing aging, polluting heavy-duty diesel trucks with clean alternatives. The updated version takes into account the 60% rise in diesel prices (currently $6.23/gallon nationwide, $8.15 in California) since the Iran War.
Byron Sher, an uncomfortable politician who left an indelible mark on California's environment, dies at 98
Byron Sher, a Stanford law professor-turned California legislator who wrote some of the state’s most far-reaching environmental laws, died Saturday. He was 98.
California, others challenge Trump effort to deny green cards over past use of public aid
California and others filed lawsuits Monday challenging new Trump administration rules for denying green cards to applicants who have relied on public assistance.
Trump's $5,000 checks turn politics into shameless vote buying
"Money is the mother's milk of politics," said Jesse M. Unruh, who in the 1960s was a powerful Democratic politician and speaker of the California State Assembly.
Anthropic's AI panic has finally reached Congress
California lawmakers are demanding Congress pass AI safety laws.
Steve Carell, Keri Russell among actors who have never won acting Emmys
Emmy nominees Steve Carell, Jason Bateman, Keri Russell and Rhea Seehorn have earned critical praise throughout their careers but still haven't won an acting prize.
Some Democrats recalibrating approach to transgender issues
An increasing number of Democratic leaders have begun to push back against their party’s unflinching support for the transgender community this midterm season.
Empowering Youth Sports Culture helps kid's mental health
The Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind Campaign provides guidance and resources on physical activity and mental well-being for Californians of all ages. The goal is to increase awareness among all age groups about the benefits of movement, sport, nutrition, and overall physical and mental wellness. Now there's a sharper focus not just on the athletes but on the coaches, in making sure kids stay in the game. We spoke with Olympic Gold Medal figure skater, Fremont's own Kristi Yamaguchi to Mornings on 2, to talk about this.
California-born costume designer Bob Mackie dies at 87
From Hollywood studios to Palm Springs, Bob Mackie helped define generations of entertainment style.
Bob Mackie dead: Iconic designer who dressed Cher, Beyoncé was 87
Bob Mackie, the prolific fashion designer who fashioned elaborate garments for pop culture icons including Cher, Dolly Parton and Beyoncé, has died. He was 87.
'Water for Elephants' at the Pantages is a circus in a play
The touring production of Broadway's 'Water for Elephants' puts a circus on stage. It's not as easy as its highly trained acrobats make it look.
'Cognitive stunting' and the potential threat generative AI poses for children's brains
As LAUSD starts moratorium, there's not much data on what AI does to kids. The little information that is available doesn't look good
Some Democrats are recalibrating their approach to transgender issues as they seek a path to power
Issue affects small group of people but is one of GOP’s most common talking points.
Some Democrats are recalibrating their approach to transgender issues as they seek a path to power
Issue affects small group of people but is one of GOP’s most common talking points.
USA TODAY Sports Super 25 national high school football rankings, Week 5
Allen's (TX) three impressive wins over in-state powers vaults the Eagles up the rankings, and Mater Dei's win over Centennial shook up California rankings.
Cal Thomas: Mother’s milk of politics gone sour
“Money is the mother’s milk of politics,” said Jesse M. Unruh, who in the ’60s was a powerful Democratic politician and speaker of the California State Assembly. It is a disgrace, if much is disgraceful these days, that we spend so much on …
How California Latina, Latino voters differ on politics
A new study shows a gender gap on immigration, Donald Trump and protecting democracy.
How California Latina, Latino voters differ on politics
A new study shows a gender gap on immigration, Donald Trump and protecting democracy.
Monkeyflowers thrive in salty air that kills other plants
On the windswept coasts of Oregon and California lives an unassuming little plant called the monkeyflower, which can withstand salty blasts that kill its inland counterparts. Now, researchers at Michigan State University are beginning to understand how it manages to thrive in conditions that leave other plants burned, brown and withered.
Free Health & Wellness Fair To Offer Screenings, Vaccines And More In St. Mary’s County
LEONARDTOWN, Md. – It’s that time of year again! The 2026 Community Health & Wellness Fair, hosted by St. Mary’s County Government’s Department of Aging & Human Services, will be held on Friday, October 9, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the University of Maryland Southern – Maryland, located at 44219 Airport Road in California, […]
Some Democrats are recalibrating their approach to transgender issues as they seek a path to power
California Gov. Gavin Newsom does not like being on Donald Trump’s side on any issue. But when it comes to transgender girls and women in sports, particularly at the school level, the Democrat said he largely agrees with the Republican president. Newsom, one of his party’s leading White House prospects, believes it’s “deeply unfair” for […]
Column: California provides tax breaks to Hollywood. Why not struggling news outlets?
President Trump and the Republican Congress have unintentionally provided California state government with the financial means to subsidize — help save — endangered local news reporting.
More girls are harming themselves. Only some show up in the ER
Emergency room visits connected to self-harm climbed through 2021, and the numbers remain elevated above pandemic-levels in California even as other indicators of mental distress have declined.
Drugs for autoimmune diseases are pricey. This bill could switch patients to a cheaper one
Nearly 25,000 Californians could get switched to a cheaper drug next year — unless their doctor objects.
Monday Scaling the Rocks: Country Roads, Take Me Home
Colorado Rockies news and links for Monday, September 14th, 2026
Some Democrats are recalibrating their approach to transgender issues as they seek a path to power
An increasing number of Democratic leaders have begun to push back against their party’s unflinching support for the transgender community this midterm season.
GOP chairman in California makes rare apology for election fraud claim
The apology comes as President Donald Trump continues to criticize mail-in voting.
Union power vs. MAGA politics in California school superintendent race
Democrat Richard Barrera and conservative Sonja Shaw clash in a high-stakes battle for California’s state superintendent of public instruction post.
California attempts to crack down on health spending
Hospitals warn there will be consequences for patient access.
Is calisthenics as good as weight training? Here’s what the science says
Your muscles can’t tell the difference between a dumbbell and a push-up
California State Teachers Retirement System Purchases 5,106,487 Shares of Sphere Entertainment Co. $SPHR
California State Teachers Retirement System grew its holdings in shares of Sphere Entertainment Co. (NYSE:SPHR - Free Report) by 16,878.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,136,742 shares of the company's stoc
A Kelvin wave is about to hit California
El Niño's opening storm has already exposed a costly gap in California's coastal cover – worse may be coming
United Concordia, PDS Health launch saliva screening pilot
A joint pilot program between United Concordia and PDS Health will track gum disease progress and patient engagement across 125 California dental practices.
‘Daisy Chain Fields’ weaves together community
On Aug. 29, Olivia Rodrigo made history with her all-female music festival, Daisy Chain Fields. Staged in Irvine, Calif., the festival attracted about 45,000 fans, many of whom were adorned
In 'Lanterns,' Poorna Jagannathan plays another baddie: The Manhunter
The actor spoke about her role in HBO's DC Comics series as Zoe Macon, her big reveal in Episode 5 and why she likes playing powerful women.
Inside California Politics
Rep. Kevin Kiley joined Inside California Politics this week to discuss his race against Dr. Richard Pan for California's 6th Congressional seat.
Mercury may be shrinking faster than scientists expected, study reveals
A new study shows that little, wrinkly Mercury may be shrinking faster than expected.
California cheerleader diagnosed with narcolepsy after symptoms brushed off as 'teen laziness'
Prop 39 would make California the 37th state to require voter ID
California voters will decide this November whether to approve Proposition 39, a measure that would require government-issued identification for in-person voting and different verification for mail-in ballots.
Trump and Newsom take different approaches to energize voters ahead of midterms
With the midterm elections less than two months away, President Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom are employing contrasting strategies to energize their respective voter bases.
Should Californians worry about the chances of AI destroying humanity?
Stefano Bellasio, CEO of AI startup Anthropos, weighs in on the skepticism of the AI industry on California Politics 360.
Assemblyman Rick Zbur explains possible data center regulations he helped write
California lawmakers are working to regulate data centers, which consume significant water and electricity, to ensure they benefit the state’s economy without harming public resources.
California Politics 360 full episode | CA leaders respond to new AI concerns
California leaders are responding after a viral post warned artificial intelligence could end humanity within the next decade.
Nurses to sympathy strike, picket on September 15 at five Prime Healthcare hospitals in four states
Registered nurses at three Prime Healthcare hospitals in Nevada and California, as well as nurses and health care workers at an additional hospital in California, will hold a sympathy strike for one day on September 15 in solidarity with nurses at Olympia Fields Hospital in Illinois who are striking on the same day to protest the suspension of six nurses at Olympia Fields Hospital.
Inside California Politics
(Inside California Politics) — Rep. Kevin Kiley joined Inside California Politics this week to discuss his race against Dr. Richard Pan for California’s 6th Congressional seat. Kiley previous…
How California Latina, Latino voters differ on politics
A new study shows a gender gap on immigration, Donald Trump and protecting democracy.
How California Latina, Latino voters differ on politics
A new study shows a gender gap on immigration, Donald Trump and protecting democracy.
Vincent Bonsignore’s Week 1 NFL picks
California Post NFL columnist Vincent Bonsignore makes his Week 1 NFL picks (against the spread): TODAY’S GAMES VINCENT BONSIGNORE’S PICKS TITANS 1.5 (38.5) Jets (Sun., 10am, CBS) JetsBears 3.5 (48)...
Arsenal analysis: Raya proves worth with crucial contribution
Arsenal's first-half frustration was encapsulated in manager Mikel Arteta being booked shortly before the break for leaving his technical area too many times. Greece winger Christos Tzolis continued his inconsistent start to the season, more reminiscent here of his toothless showing against Aston Villa rather than the productive display at home to Chelsea. Konsa, even before giving away the penalty, struggled to deal with Sunderland's direct attacking approach and the physicality of striker Brian Brobbey.
Will California progressivism crush Newsom presidential hopes?
Gavin Newsom leaves office in a few months, allowing him to devote all of his time to a 2028 presidential run. The question is whether he can sell a progressive agenda outside the comfortable confines of California.
Will the economy motivate voters? This Central Valley swing district could be a test
The 22nd District is one of fewer than two dozen toss-up races nationwide that will likely determine which party controls the U.S. House in the second half of President Trump’s term.
Walters: California’s political hopefuls remain silent on state’s job losses, unemployment
California has lost jobs and its workforce. By many measures, it has some of the highest unemployment and underemployment rates in the country.
TST Images: USC defeats Lousiana, 49-30, in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES — The USC Trojans defeat Louisiana Ragin Cajuns 49-30 during an NCAA Football game on September 12th, 2026 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.
Deputies respond to trespasser reported at ex-Vice President Kamala Harris’ Malibu home
A trespasser was reported at former Vice President Kamala Harris' Malibu, California, home.
Amodei, Altman, Musk call for slowing AI model development
Leaders of the world’s biggest artificial intelligence platforms said it’s time to slow the development pace of their most advanced — and most lucrative — models, citing escalating risks of the technology.
San Diego State vs UCLA live updates: Score, highlights, analysis
The UCLA Bruins take on San Diego State for a Week 2 showdown between Southern California football programs.
Leaked Report Details Fallout if Paramount Exits California
Nearly 58,000 jobs and $21 billion in annual losses are on the line as the Oct. 1 merger deadline approaches.
Should The Miami Heat Pursue Darius Garland?
Following the blockbuster addition of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Miami could target Darius Garland to fix backcourt depth issues and solidify a championship-caliber big three.
Eggs tied to California producer recalled after salmonella outbreak
Happy Hens voluntarily recalled potentially contaminated eggs purchased by consumers and businesses in Southern California and along the Central Coast.
Video: Rare Mastodon Tooth Found in California Creek
Brigid Lynch, a geologist, was conducting a field survey in San Mateo County, Calif., when she saw a strange object sticking out from the creek. After a reverse Google image search, and an expert’s confirmation, she learned she had found a Pacific mastodon molar.
'It’s Triage': California's next governor will face destabilizing surge in uninsured
By 2030, the number of uninsured Californians under 65 is expected to nearly double from 2.4 million to 4.6 million.
'It's Triage': California's next governor will face destabilizing surge in uninsured
By 2030, the number of uninsured Californians under 65 is expected to nearly double from 2.4 million to 4.6 million.
Single California condor mother gets help raising her chick
After coming back from the brink of extinction in the 1980s, the birds are still considered critically endangered.
Scientists Spot Rare Bigfin Squid More Than 10,000 Feet Deep Off California Coast
The squid was seen moving with two large fins, eight trailing arms, and two tentacles.
Apple’s always-listening watch features test eavesdropping laws
Apple Inc.'s new always-listening artificial intelligence features for the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 could put eavesdropping laws to the test, according to legal experts.
Costco's newest store is about to open in SoCal after years of litigation
Following legal opposition that delayed the project, Costco is slated to open a new outpost in October.
The politics and possibilities of ‘AI could kill us all’
I found myself fielding a lot of questions from folks who don’t usually talk much about AI this week. They were mostly along the lines of “do you think AI is going to kill us all?” or “how worried should I be about this human extinction stuff?” Motivating this wave of existential anxiety was the highly dramatic resignation of now-former Anthropic employee Jacob Coxon, who quit his job while publicly sharing his concerns about safety practices at the leading AI companies. More specifically, he declared that almost everyone at OpenAI and Anthropic, the leading AI labs, believes that there’s a decent chance the AI systems they’re producing could “kill us all” by the end of the decade, and the companies aren’t “acting responsibly.” Other AI safety researchers, including those still employed at Anthropic and OpenAI, all confirmed that yes, Coxon is correct, they’re all worried that their company’s products might prove fatal for the entire human race as well. Two more AI employees quit and joined the chorus. Now, the warning shot has been covered everywhere from the Wall Street Journal to Fox News to WIRED to the Guardian. I understand why all this sounds scary, but my response to those who have asked, has generally been: No, you don’t need to worry that AI will kill go rogue and kill us all. But that does not mean we shouldn’t worry, period. Far from it. The companies building AI products are now among the wealthiest and most powerful entities in the world. And they very much are building enormous engines of mass surveillance, extraction, and automation. They can and have allowed their AI systems to carry out felony hacks of other companies, provided the government with autonomously generated kill lists, and sold enterprise technology to firms around the world that is explicitly intended to replace jobs. But “AI” has done these things not because they have all-powerful minds of their own but, ultimately, because people have programmed, calibrated, and directed them to. In other words, it’s not AI we need to worry the most about. It’s the people and corporations working to profit from and gain power by deploying it. The technology is sophisticated, sure, and, especially in cybersecurity contexts, potentially disruptive to plenty of existing systems. But if we want to stop this predatory, profiteering, and extractive form of AI—and it’s worth noting that at this point, most people do—we absolutely can. A quick note/plea: I can only do all of this with the support of readers like you, so if you find value in independent, critical tech journalism and analysis, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. I want to keep as much of this un-paywalled as absolutely possible, and I need your support to do so. Many thanks to all who continue to chip in, it’s very much appreciated. Onward. Subscribe First, some context: AI industry folks like Coxon have been discussing the prospect that AI will destroy humanity for years. Even before the beginning of the AI boom, many working in the industry, from the executive staff to the rank and file researchers, have obsessed over ‘x-risk’, or the possibility that AI will become sentient or semi-sentient and move one way or another to exterminate humanity. This is ostensibly why Elon Musk bankrolled OpenAI in the first place, and is the grounds for his lawsuit alleging OpenAI betrayed its charter by abandoning its nonprofit status to become a commercial enterprise. Many AI engineers and startup founders have calculated their own personal p(doom), or the probability that the tech product they are working on will initiate an actual humanity-extinguishing apocalypse. 10-25% p(doom)s are pretty common. (I wrote about a long weekend I spent among these folks at one of their top conferences here, to give you an idea of their ideas and belief systems.) Sam Altman himself drove the narrative of the imminent rise of a super-powerful AI, or artificial general intelligence, to prominence by declaring that the technology he was building posed an existential risk to humanity. This idea is in other words baked into the DNA of modern AI companies and into the products they engineer. It’s also why the industry is routinely accused, by myself and others, of “doom marketing,” ie, using such proclamations and framings to impart the sheer power of the technology behind your product onto investors, partners, consumers, and the state. Some ambient understanding of this tendency may have helped prevent the press from repeating the claim every time one of the x-risk folks made it over the years, including when they quit their jobs at AI companies while doing so. Yet Coxon’s AI x-risk alarm has broken containment, as they say, and has exposed the idea to the mainstream media once again. This has happened, I think, for a number of reasons. First, when AI CEOs were going around saying AI might kill everyone in 2023, their companies were well-capitalized, but not nearly to the extent they are today. They were more easily dismissed as eccentric geeks of the sort that Silicon Valley is supposed to produce. Now, not only do their products have much greater market saturation, but people are more aware of a) the often unethical ways the executives and companies comport themselves b) the other adverse impacts of AI that have already arrived, and c) the physical cost of building these systems, particularly when it comes to data centers. Finally, toss in the constant stream of headlines in 2026 about AI models going rogue or potentially upending the world’s infrastructure. [ ](https://www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/with-the-backlash-to-data-centers) [ With the backlash to data centers, Flock and AI glasses, a mass opposition to big tech is underway. Silicon Valley is in denial. ](https://www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/with-the-backlash-to-data-centers) Brian Merchant · Aug 27 [ Read full story ](https://www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/with-the-backlash-to-data-centers) As a result, general sentiment was already overwhelmingly skeptical of AI and its overlords, so the table was pretty well set for someone to come along and say ‘just a reminder, the companies that are building the product that promises to take your job and leave a data center in your neighborhood also think that it might exterminate the human race’ and get a strong reaction from the media and the public. The question is: Should we understand this stuff as hype, strategically fanned to feed already swelling valuations? Is it doom marketing? Genuine cause for alarm that the infrastructure that undergirds modern life is facing a novel threat vector? Or reason to be sincerely worried that AI companies are amassing too much power, and that their products are genuinely dangerous? The answer, I’m afraid, is “yes.” Let me try to untangle all of this a bit, because arguments over how to navigate this moment are extremely heated right now, as they are essentially arguments over how to approach the politics of AI at a moment where there may be a unique opening for action. Those sympathetic to AI alignment concerns and x risk arguments—which increasingly includes a faction on the left who want to shut down AI over safety concerns—argue that people who dismiss AI as all hype have their heads in the sand. Meanwhile, critics of the x-risk narrative—which I might note includes a cadre of investors and tech folks on the right, too—argue that it is hype and can be used to further inflate valuations or for pursuing regulatory capture. The challenge is that many feel that dismissing AI as just hype or purely marketing also diminishes the urgency of taking on the AI industry as the novel and threat to labor, civil society, and the public sphere it is; others that by accepting the industry’s own terms, we imbue it with undue power and enable it. But let’s be clear: Declarations that AI is so powerful it might end the world are a kind of marketing, and anyone who says otherwise is just as off base as those who say that’s all that it is. If you don’t think that these sub-trillion dollar companies have higher-ups who noticed that when their founders talked about super-powerful dangerous AI they got spikes in media interest and phone calls from investors, or that those founders didn’t notice that themselves, and lean into certain narratives to advantage their products, then I don’t know what to tell you. Not all marketing is a Pepsi ad campaign with a celebrity spokesperson. Yet confronting the AI industry should certainly be considered an urgent project. Do I share the x-riskers’ fear that out-of-control, super-intelligent AI agents might end the world? I do not. I’ve read a good deal of AI extinction literature over the last couple of years and I have not come across a credible, step-by-step documentation of how exactly AI might move from self-recursively improving AI to killing every single human on the planet. Most of what I’ve read seems predicated on a sort of reverse Ian Malcolmian logic: Eventually, it becomes smart enough and AI, uh, finds a way (to exterminate humanity). Are the AI companies also overstating and dramatizing what their products can do? Yes, pretty much all the time. They’re in a knife fight for market share and are trying to win customers and government contracts before their investors come knocking. And yet. They have concentrated enormous amounts of compute, have extensive data collection and surveillance capacities, have inserted themselves into the state in numerous capacities, including military kill chains, and they are being run by egomaniacal billionaires who are rushing to monopolize an entire new market. The way I think about their most recent frightening-seeming exploits is not as a “swarm of rogue AI agents building a new civilization” or whatever, but as corporations with a hitherto-unimaginable amount of compute at their disposal recklessly experimenting with automation programs, completely unafraid of any repercussions because we have been unwilling or unable to impose any on them. So I think we should welcome any newfound imperative to hold them accountable. I also think that ultimately, the AI critics, Pause AI folks, leftists, doomers, effective altruists, and, honestly, most of the public, want a lot of the same things: legitimate checks and limits on AI companies’ power, actual transparency into what the companies are doing, and for more of AI to be under public control. (Ultimately, a lot of what animates the x-risk fears are rooted in just that: a fear of losing control.) How we move towards all this, exactly, is the question of the day, and while there’s much to be argued over in terms of building a viable political platform to challenge the AI industry’s power, I do want to cast a vote against one particular approach. Not to pick on Chris here, as there are a lot of folks out there proposing stuff like this, and the policy ideas actually stem from AI safety groups. But not only would this be challenging to land politically (I can already hear the ‘China will beat us to AGI’ calls) and all but unworkable in practice, this approach is a) far too limiting, b) fails to address the current harms caused by AI and c) would likely only wind up serving Anthropic and OpenAI; it’s what regulatory capture looks like in action. Full model transparency is the floor for what should be on offer here. If these companies believe their products will kill us, the very least we deserve is to know how. It’s in the public interest. I would also argue we might get a lot of the way to stopping any currently envisioned robot apocalypse simply by forcing AI companies to assume liability, and to submit to the full brunt of the law. If Sam Altman were liable to be charged with a felony for approving the hack on Hugging Face1, if Google was forced to pay defamation fines each time it published a false and injurious AI Overviews, these companies might suddenly find cause to restrain their models’ output, and we might hear less about rogue AI. We would need to introduce new frameworks and available tools for tracking automated lawbreaking, to be sure, but I’d wager that little would frighten the AI companies more than actually being held accountable for what their products enable. To that end, Illinois has passed an AI liability law, which the industry fought tooth and nail, and Florida is considering one. The next steps would be towards moving AI under public control; again, it’s only reasonable, since everyone, not just AI insiders, should get a say over how a technology whose developers say might kill us is developed and deployed. Dismantling the whole industrial project as currently structured should be on the table, too, pending democratic input. But that’s for another post. For now, suffice to say that while I won’t be losing any sleep about an AI-enabled extinction event, Mr. Coxon and co. have given us an opportunity to underscore the urgency of the clear and present damage AI companies are doing, the extreme power they wield and the extent to which they hold themselves unaccountable, and the abundance of political capital there is out there for taking them on. Subscribe 1 Purely speculative! I do not know if he did or not.
Happy Hens farm in Ramona voluntarily recalls eggs after Salmonella outbreak
Following genetic testing that linked a regional salmonella outbreak that sickened dozens to eggs from Happy Hens poultry farm in Ramona, the farm voluntarily recalled its eggs this week, according to the California Department of Public Health.
'Mother Monster' Lady Gaga welcomes first child, report says
Pop singer Lady Gaga and her fiancé, tech investor Michael Polansky, were recently photographed with a newborn child during an outing in Northern California, according to Page Six.
Judge Judy retiring from TV, passing gavel to son Adam Levy
After 30 years on TV, Judge Judy is retiring and handing over the reins to her son, Judge Adam Levy, whose solo show 'Adam's Law' premieres this month.
Business the focus at reimagined State of Surf City at Pier Plaza
A business and city department showcase, business leadership panel and VIP reception highlighted Thursday night's event in Huntington Beach.
Shohei Ohtani injured list move effectively ends another Dodger’s season
The repercussions of Shohei Ohtani's injury impacted another Dodgers pitcher on Friday
Famed NFL columnist makes humiliating admission after Rams prediction backfired
Bill Plaschke’s perfect Rams season lasted exactly one game. Four days after predicting Los Angeles would finish 20-0 and win the Super Bowl, the longtime Los Angeles Times columnist opened...
'The Visit' at Pasadena Playhouse reunites the creative team from 'Amadeus'
Director Darko Tresnjak and star Jefferson Mays from Pasadena Playhouse's hit show 'Amadeus' are back with an adaptation of Friedrich Dürrenmatt's 'The Visit.'
Ocean Way canceled due to hurricane: Santa Monica beach festival is no more
Ocean Way, the groundbreaking beachfront Santa Monica music festival, has been canceled just two weeks before debuting. It was slated for headline sets by the Killers and Olivia Dean.
Lakers ‘strengthen’ basketball operations foundation with major hires
The Lakers’ front office makeover continued on Friday. The team announced it hired Keith D’Amelio as the franchise’s director of integrated performance systems, in addition to making the already-known hiring...
California breaks ground with first AI and social media laws curbing teenage use in the nation
California is enacting strict regulations on artificial intelligence and social media companies, with many of the bills meant to mitigate harm to teenagers.
Party business shuts down, leaving families out thousands of dollars before weddings, quinceañeras
A Southern California party venue business that once hosted weddings, quinceañeras and sweet 16 celebrations has shut down both of its locations.