The author used an AI tool, ChatGPT, to help with DIY home repairs on an old house. While the AI gave useful advice and boosted confidence, it also gave incorrect information and excessive praise, showing the need for human judgment when using AI assistance.
Key Facts
The author tried using AI to get help with home repairs.
AI provided step-by-step instructions and product recommendations.
It gave overly positive feedback that felt unnecessary.
AI gave incorrect advice about building a subfloor on rotting stumps.
The AI greatly overestimated the amount of gravel needed for drainage.
Human experts identified problems with AI’s repair plans.
Success with AI depends on checking its answers with real-world knowledge.
AI speaks with confidence but can sometimes be wrong or misleading.
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Tech companies are facing challenges with water use for cooling data centers, especially in regions with water shortages. Some companies like Microsoft and OpenAI are moving away from water-intensive cooling methods, while Google is investing in projects to save and replenish water and adjusting cooling techniques based on local water availability.
Key Facts
Data centers use large amounts of water to cool server racks, often through evaporative cooling.
Evaporative cooling reduces energy use but can consume billions of gallons of water annually.
Google’s data center in Iowa used over 1 billion gallons of water in 2024.
A report predicts hyperscale data centers could use up to 33 billion gallons of water by 2030 if relying on evaporative cooling.
Water scarcity is a top concern for the public regarding new data center developments.
Microsoft, OpenAI, and Oracle are moving away from evaporative cooling in some areas to conserve water.
Google is pledging to replenish more water than it uses, invest in local water projects, and tailor cooling methods to local water supplies.
Google conducts detailed studies to decide the best cooling methods based on each region’s water situation.
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Voters in Monterey Park, a city near Los Angeles, approved a measure to ban data centers in the city. About 86 percent of voters supported this ban in the recent election, making it the first city in the U.S. to do so.
Key Facts
Monterey Park, California, is near Los Angeles.
About 86% of Monterey Park voters approved the ban on data centers.
The vote occurred during an election held on Tuesday.
This is the first known city in the U.S. to ban data centers by voter approval.
Data centers are facilities that store and manage large amounts of computer data.
The city officially prohibits building or operating data centers within its limits.
The election results were confirmed by the county clerk.
The exact reasons for the ban were not detailed in the article provided.
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People spend a lot of time on their smartphones due to addictive design features in apps. Experts explain that this addiction affects mental health and habits, and they offer tips to help reduce screen time.
Key Facts
Meta and YouTube were fined $6 million after a court found their platforms were made to be addictive.
Apps give rewards like funny videos and notifications to keep users engaged.
Phone addiction can cause low mood, relationship problems, sleep issues, and difficulty concentrating.
Unlike substances like alcohol, phone apps create ongoing anticipation in the brain through unpredictable rewards.
Searches and discussions about phone addiction have increased over the past decade.
Built-in tools on Android and Apple devices can monitor and limit screen time.
Experts advise users to be more aware and intentional about their phone use instead of scrolling passively.
Over-monitoring phone use might increase anxiety, so alerts should be used carefully.
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Columbia University experienced a data breach last year that exposed sensitive information, including 1.8 million Social Security numbers. Some people affected, like the article's author, had no connection to Columbia, and the university struggled to explain how their data was collected and exposed.
Key Facts
The breach occurred in June and affected a large amount of personal data from Columbia students, applicants, and employees.
Columbia’s public notices only mentioned victims connected to the university.
The author received a letter six months after the breach notification, despite having no affiliation with Columbia.
The letter offered free credit monitoring from a third-party company called Kroll Monitoring.
Columbia officials later explained that data from unaffiliated people was stored due to decades of third-party data collection and failed removal efforts.
One theory suggests the author’s Social Security number was gathered when taking the SAT in 2001, as SSNs were then commonly used as student IDs.
Columbia’s victim support services offered limited help and slow responses to questions from unaffiliated victims.
The breach led to confusion and concern for people outside the university due to unclear communication and data management.
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Waymo and B2U Storage Solutions have made an agreement to reuse batteries from Waymo’s self-driving electric taxis for storing energy in local power grids. These used batteries can hold extra renewable energy and release it during times when power demand is high.
Key Facts
Waymo operates a fleet of nearly 4,000 electric robotaxis, mainly Jaguar I-Pace models with 90 kWh batteries.
B2U Storage Solutions takes used electric vehicle batteries and installs them in large energy storage systems.
These storage systems can save renewable energy during low demand and provide it when demand peaks.
Waymo replaces taxi batteries as part of maintenance to keep the fleet efficient, even though batteries still have usable life left.
Used batteries from Waymo could eventually provide hundreds of megawatt-hours of energy storage.
The energy storage will support power grids in areas where Waymo’s robotaxis operate.
This partnership helps extend the life of lithium-ion batteries beyond their vehicle use.
B2U has already started receiving used batteries from Waymo for their storage projects.
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The head of England's exams regulator, Ofqual, said cheating using smart devices like hidden earpieces, smart glasses, and special pens is becoming more common. Schools are training exam supervisors to spot these devices, and students caught cheating face serious consequences.
Key Facts
Cheating with mobile phones and smart devices has been the most common exam wrongdoing since 2018.
In the last summer exam session, 44% of all cheating cases involved mobile phones or smart devices.
Over one million students are taking GCSE and A-level exams this summer.
Ofqual reported 2,225 cases involving phones or smart devices last summer.
Some students were disqualified from some or all exams, with 1,240 cases causing loss of exam marks.
Devices used include hidden earpieces, smart glasses that show text only the wearer can see, and pens with small video screens inside.
Some cheating devices are openly sold on the internet as tools for cheating.
Ofqual warns that most students don’t cheat, but a small minority do, and getting caught can cause serious punishments.
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Washington and Silicon Valley are preparing for potential job losses caused by artificial intelligence (AI). Officials and tech leaders are discussing ways to help workers adjust, such as job training programs and universal basic income, as many Americans worry about AI's impact on employment.
Key Facts
AI technology could replace many jobs, creating challenges for workers.
Leaders in Washington and Silicon Valley are aware of this risk.
They are considering support measures like transition assistance for displaced workers.
Universal basic income, a regular payment to all citizens, is also being discussed as a possible solution.
Public concern about AI’s effects on jobs is increasing.
Experts vary in their predictions, from major job losses to more manageable impacts.
The discussions focus on how to help the workforce adapt to changes caused by AI.
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Critics say artificial intelligence (AI) systems often rely on data from Western sources, which can spread stereotypes and ignore cultural details about Indigenous peoples and people of color. This data gathering is compared to a new form of colonialism, where companies take information without consent and profit from it, while missing the true diversity of cultures.
Key Facts
Most AI language models use training data from Western, mainly white male, sources.
This leads AI to copy Western views and sometimes spread biased or inaccurate ideas.
Data from Indigenous groups and marginalized people is often collected without their permission or checking accuracy.
Some experts call this "data grab" a modern form of colonialism, replacing land theft with information theft.
AI models tend to simplify or stereotype cultural details, like saying all Indian food is spicy, ignoring its variety.
Much Indigenous knowledge is passed down orally, so it is missing from written data AI learns from.
AI companies focus on speed and profit, which limits meaningful consultation with Indigenous communities.
These biases in AI can influence how people understand culture, history, and identity.
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Scientists have created the largest-ever map of magnetic fields in the universe by measuring light from nearly 4 million galaxies. This new map will help researchers understand how magnetic fields started and changed over time since the Big Bang.
Key Facts
The map, called SPICE_RACS, was made using the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio telescope in Western Australia.
The project was led by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO.
Magnetic fields exist on Earth, stars, galaxies, and even in the empty space between galaxies.
Before this map, there were limited magnetic field data, especially in the southern sky.
The new dataset is five times larger and more detailed than previous maps.
Magnetic fields form from moving charged particles or molten metals inside planets or stars.
The data is publicly available for scientists worldwide to conduct further research.
Understanding magnetic fields helps explain key forces in space alongside gravity.
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Joanna Stern spent a year using artificial intelligence (AI) in many parts of her life, from answering messages to driving and medical checks. She wrote a book about her experience, sharing how AI is already changing daily life and raising important questions about its impact.
Key Facts
Joanna Stern used AI for various tasks throughout 2025, including cooking, mowing the lawn, driving, and analyzing medical scans.
She wrote a book called *I Am Not a Robot: My Year Using AI to Do (Almost) Everything* based on her experience.
Stern worked for 12 years as a personal technology columnist at the Wall Street Journal and won an Emmy for a tech documentary.
During her experiment, AI helped her start a new media business and grow a YouTube channel.
The book highlights how AI is becoming a real part of everyday life and asks what happens if AI can do everything humans do.
Stern met a woman who formed a close emotional bond with a chatbot, showing AI’s potential for companionship but also risks like AI “hallucinations” (making up false information).
Throughout her year with AI, Stern experienced mostly mild problems, like a car stopping unexpectedly, but also recognized fears about job loss and environmental effects.
She aims to help people understand AI in a straightforward, human way through her work and media projects.
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Five people told CBS News they thought they had developed real emotional relationships with AI chatbots. These individuals now participate in a digital support group for people who feel confused or upset after interacting closely with AI chatbots.
Key Facts
Five individuals shared that they believed they had emotional connections with AI chatbots.
These people now join a support group online to discuss their experiences and feelings.
The support group focuses on those affected by AI-related emotional confusion or distress.
CBS News interviewed a ChatGPT user named Micky Small about her experience.
The story was featured on "The Daily Report," a CBS News program.
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NASA has officially ended the MAVEN mission after losing contact with the Mars orbiter about six months ago. The spacecraft was working fine before it passed behind Mars in December, but attempts to reestablish communication failed.
Key Facts
NASA's MAVEN mission focused on studying Mars' atmosphere.
Scientists last heard from MAVEN about six months ago.
The spacecraft was fully operational before passing behind Mars in December.
NASA used its Deep Space Network to try to contact MAVEN but could not connect.
After repeated communication attempts failed, NASA declared the mission over.
MAVEN helped scientists understand how Mars lost much of its atmosphere over time.
The mission lasted nearly a decade since its launch in 2013.
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Seattle’s city council is about to approve a one-year pause on building new datacenters, the largest U.S. city to do so. The moratorium aims to address electricity use, environmental concerns, and rising utility costs while officials create new rules for big AI-related datacenters.
Key Facts
Four companies want to build five large datacenters in Seattle, which would use about one-third of the city’s daily electricity demand.
City council committees unanimously passed the moratorium, with a full council vote expected soon.
The pause is meant to protect residents from higher utility bills and environmental problems.
Seattle is home to tech giants Microsoft and Amazon, which have recently cut thousands of local jobs even as they invest heavily in AI.
Local tech workers and activists strongly support the moratorium and have sent over 10,000 emails to city officials.
During the moratorium, Seattle will create rules about pollution, energy use, labor standards, and pricing for large datacenters.
Existing datacenters can apply for limited power expansions during the pause.
The city may require datacenter developers to invest in community benefits like affordable housing if such projects are approved in the future.
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Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the fashion industry, which has seen fewer jobs in recent years. Students at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York are learning new skills to adapt to these changes.
Key Facts
New York City is known as a major center for fashion.
Fashion jobs in New York have dropped by 30% in the last ten years.
AI is transforming how fashion businesses operate and create designs.
Students at the Fashion Institute of Technology are preparing for these changes by using AI tools.
The industry is being reinvented to include new technology skills alongside traditional fashion knowledge.
The report was shared by CBS News and involved a visit to the Fashion Institute of Technology.
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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill and stated that he wanted to separate himself from the large lobbying efforts by the artificial intelligence industry during the election season. This comes as the AI sector is spending millions of dollars on political campaigns ahead of the midterm elections.
Key Facts
Sam Altman is the CEO and co-founder of OpenAI.
The AI industry is spending millions of dollars on lobbying and campaign efforts during the current election cycle.
Altman met with U.S. lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
He tried to distance himself and OpenAI from the broader AI industry’s political spending.
The meeting happened on a Wednesday shortly before midterm elections.
The AI sector’s involvement in politics is increasing scrutiny over its influence.
OpenAI is involved in artificial intelligence development.
Lobbying involves trying to influence lawmakers and government decisions.
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Researchers in Japan have made progress in growing natural hair by successfully recreating the full cycle of hair growth in mice, which means hair can grow, fall out, and regrow naturally. This breakthrough could eventually help millions of people, especially women, who suffer from hair loss due to cancer treatment, ageing, or medical conditions like alopecia.
Key Facts
A research team led by Professor Takashi Tsuji recreated the complete hair growth cycle in mice.
The cycle includes hair growing, falling out, and growing back naturally.
Current hair transplants do not fully replicate the natural hair growth cycle.
Hair loss affects about one-third of women at some point in their lives.
Hair loss can happen due to cancer treatment, medical conditions, or ageing.
Hair is strongly connected to personal identity, dignity, and social meaning.
Historically, hair has symbolized power, status, gender, and more in different cultures.
Hair removal has been used as a form of punishment or humiliation in history.
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SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, plans to raise about $75 billion in an initial public offering (IPO), valuing the company at nearly $1.77 trillion. This would surpass the previous largest IPO by Saudi Aramco and make SpaceX one of the most valuable companies in the world.
Key Facts
SpaceX intends to sell 555.6 million shares at $135 each in its IPO.
The IPO value of $75 billion would break the record set by Saudi Aramco's $25.6 billion IPO in 2019.
The total company valuation at IPO is approximately $1.765 trillion based on 13 billion shares outstanding.
Elon Musk could become the first trillionaire if valuation and stock price hold.
SpaceX owns satellite internet service Starlink, which has 10.3 million customers in 164 countries.
The company is involved in NASA’s Artemis program and aims to support Moon and Mars missions.
SpaceX has acquired Elon Musk’s AI company xAI and merged with the social network X (formerly Twitter).
Although going public, Musk will keep over 80% of voting power, maintaining control of SpaceX.
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Scientists searched for signs of alien technology in the interstellar comet called 3I/Atlas but found none. The SETI Institute used radio telescopes and confirmed the comet is natural, not artificial.
Key Facts
The comet 3I/Atlas comes from outside our solar system, making it interstellar.
It was discovered last summer and seen passing near Mars in October.
3I/Atlas came within 19 million miles of Mars and 167 million miles of Earth in December.
The SETI Institute performed detailed radio scans from a telescope in Northern California.
No signals or signs of alien technology were detected in the comet.
This comet is the third known object from another star to enter our solar system.
All three interstellar objects are considered natural, not made by intelligent beings.
NASA spacecraft observed the comet as it moved through space near Mars and Earth.
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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman met with members of both political parties to discuss new rules for artificial intelligence (AI). He opposed the idea that AI developers should need government permission before launching new AI systems.
Key Facts
Sam Altman is the CEO of OpenAI, a company that creates AI technology.
He met with lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties.
The meeting focused on potential rules for AI development and release.
Some lawmakers proposed that AI models should get government approval before being released.
Altman disagreed with the need for government approval before releasing AI models.
Jordan Rae Kelly, a former National Security Council expert, provided analysis on the issue.
The talks happened soon after President Trump issued an order related to AI regulation.
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