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2025-01-11 - Frontier News

Mysterious Metal Ring Found in Kenya Sparks Space Junk Debate

A mysterious 1,100-pound metal ring found in a small village in Kenya has sparked a debate about whether it is space junk or not. Experts have conflicting opinions on its origin, with some suggesting it could be a part of the Ariane V rocket launched by the European Space Agency in 2008. The discovery highlights the ongoing issue of space debris and the potential risks associated with objects reentering Earth's atmosphere.

Source: https://techcrawlr.com/mysterious-metal-ring-in-kenya-stirs-space-junk-debate/


TikTok Faces Uncertain Future as Supreme Court Arguments Suggest Impending Ban

The Supreme Court seems unlikely to save TikTok from a potential ban in the US, with a January 19th deadline looming. There is speculation about possible lifelines for TikTok, including President-elect Donald Trump's involvement, but uncertainty remains as the future of the app hangs in the balance.

Source: https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/10/24340859/supreme-court-tiktok-divest-ban-oral-arguments


Chinese Regulators Impose 15-Hour Monthly Limit on Video Game Playing for Kids During School Break

Chinese regulators have imposed a strict limit of 15 hours per month on video game playing time for children during the winter school holiday to prevent addiction. Tencent and NetEase, China's two largest gaming companies, have signaled their compliance with the regulations. The government has softened its stance on gaming but continues to enforce regulations to prevent excessive gaming, using measures such as facial recognition to detect and punish those trying to bypass restrictions. Despite the restrictions, the domestic gaming market in China is facing challenges, leading Chinese gaming studios to venture overseas.

Source: https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3294239/chinese-regulators-limit-game-playing-time-kids-15-hours-month-during-school-break?module=top_story&pgtype=homepage


Content Creators Selling Unused Video to AI Companies for Algorithm Training

YouTubers and other digital content creators are selling their unused video footage to artificial intelligence companies like OpenAI and Google to better train their AI algorithms, often earning thousands of dollars per deal. This unique and unpublished content is considered valuable for training AI systems, providing creators with a way to diversify their income beyond advertising deals with brands.

Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-10/youtubers-are-selling-their-unused-video-footage-to-ai-companies


New Zealand farmer's 161-year-old letter foreshadowed concerns about AI doom

A 161-year-old letter from a New Zealand sheep farmer warned about the potential dangers of mechanical evolution and called for the destruction of machines, foreshadowing the development of what we now call artificial intelligence. The letter drew parallels between Charles Darwin's theory of evolution and the rapid development of machinery, suggesting that machines could evolve consciousness and eventually supplant humans as Earth's dominant species. This prescient vision addressed modern AI safety concerns, including the possibility of machine consciousness, self-replication, and humans losing control of their technological creations. The debate about AI safety and regulation continues today, echoing the concerns raised by the letter over 160 years ago.

Source: https://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/01/161-years-ago-a-new-zealand-sheep-farmer-predicted-ai-doom/


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