AI Scams

I pass on this warning with a warning – I don’t doubt that it is true, but I am uncertain of how widespread the problem actually is. The Washington Post recently featured an article warning that some unnamed AI bots and extensions were scams and recommended that users limit their experimentation to 5 specific services. The article also claimed that just because Apple and other stores make apps available one should not assume the apps are safe.

This seems a tricky situation. I would not want to limit the opportunity of less prominent companies wanting to compete in this space, but I also can understand how the fever associated with AI applications provides a great opportunity for scammers. I encourage any experimenter to read the article, explore a bit, and make a personal decision,

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Brave Browser

I have written before about why I like the Brave Browser. Brave is really an ecosystem that offers users a way to address both privacy and the compensation of content creators. This combination is at the core of so many online issues. The reality is that all providers of content and services must have a way to address their labor and infrastructure expenses. Often, they do so by collecting user information to more accurately target ads. Some users adopt the unethical approach of blocking ads (blocking cookies) to protect their privacy. This type of action protects the privacy of users but then denies content and service creators compensation. Brave provides an alternate approach.

Brave is based on chromium so the extensions you use in the Chrome browser also work in Brave.

The Brave browser is a privacy-focused web browser that blocks ads and trackers by default. It also has a built-in ad blocker, tracker blocker, and HTTPS Everywhere, which encrypts all of your traffic.

Here are some of the advantages of using the Brave browser:

Privacy: Brave is designed to protect your privacy. It blocks ads and trackers by default, so you can browse the web without being tracked.

Security: Brave is also designed to be secure. It uses HTTPS Everywhere to encrypt all of your traffic, and it has a built-in firewall to protect you from malware.

Speed: Brave is also designed to be fast. It blocks ads and trackers, which can slow down your browsing experience.

Rewards: Brave also has a rewards program that allows you to earn BAT (Basic Attention Token) for viewing privacy-respecting ads. You can then use these BAT to tip your favorite websites or donate to charities.

Brave browser compensates content creators through a system called Brave Rewards. Brave Rewards is a built-in feature of the Brave browser that allows users to earn BAT (Basic Attention Token) cryptocurrency by viewing privacy-preserving ads. Users can then tip their BAT to their favorite content creators, or they can keep it for themselves.

To use Brave Rewards, users need to enable it in the browser’s settings. Once enabled, users will see a small BAT icon in the address bar. When they visit a website that supports Brave Rewards, they will see an option to tip the website’s owner with BAT. Users can also set up recurring tips for their favorite websites.

Brave Rewards is a new way for content creators to earn money from their work. It is a more direct and transparent way of monetization than traditional advertising, and it gives users more control over how their data is used.

Here are the steps on how to earn BAT and tip content creators using Brave Rewards:

1. Install the Brave browser on your computer or mobile device.

2. Open the Brave browser and click on the “Menu” icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner of the screen.

3. Select “Settings” from the menu.

4. In the Settings window, click on the “Brave Rewards” tab.

5. Enable Brave Rewards by clicking on the “Turn On” button.

6. Once Brave Rewards is enabled, you will see a small BAT icon in the address bar.

7. When you visit a website that supports Brave Rewards, you will see an option to tip the website’s owner with BAT.

8. To tip a website, click on the BAT icon in the address bar and enter the amount of BAT you want to tip.

9. Click on the “Tip” button to send the tip.

You can also set up recurring tips for your favorite websites. To do this, click on the “Manage Tips” button in the Brave Rewards settings. Then, click on the “Add New Tip” button and enter the website’s address and the amount of BAT you want to tip. Click on the “Save” button to create the recurring tip.

Brave Rewards is a great way to support your favorite content creators. It is a more direct and transparent way of monetization than traditional advertising, and it gives users more control over how their data is used.

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Protecting Kids on Social Media Act

I will begin with a couple of caveats. First, while this post describes and comments on federal legislation, this legislation has not been voted on. Second, while this legislation would place restrictions on social media use by teens and tweens, these restrictions apply only to accounts that require a login. So, for example, a 12-year-old could legally watch YouTube videos as long as that child did not establish and make use of a login. 

A bipartisan group of Senators has proposed the “Protecting Kids on Social Media Act”. In justifying the proposed legislation, the Senators note the amount of screen time accumulated by young individuals and the relationship (correlation) between screen time and mental health. 

The specific requirements included in the legislation include the following (remember that the requirements apply only to social media use that involves a signing):

  • Children under 13 would not be allowed to use social media.
  • Social media companies would be required to implement a system for validating the age of social media participants. The government would establish a system, but companies could create their own as long as the effectiveness of the system could be verified.
  • Individuals between the age of 13 and 18 could only create a social media account with the approval of a parent or guardian.
  • Social media companies could not make use of algorithms to recommend content to those under the age of 18.

In total, it would seem to me that the goal of these requirements would be to limit algorithmic recommendations because such recommendations could result in emotional consequences for young people. I say this because anyone of any age could continue to access online content as long as this content could not be tied to the identity of that individual and the denial of recommendations (e.g., YouTube) or control of a content feed (e.g., Twitter, Facebook) linked to an individual. 

Although it is not clear to me how this combination of requirements would work (e.g., a social media service would have to create a mechanism for using or not using algorithms to impact the content viewed as a function of age), I do give the lawmakers credit for volunteering the government to create a system for validating age. I think this is trickier than it sounds as it would first be necessary to verify that a parent or guardian was actually a parent or guardian and then determine what documentation would be required to verify age). The only document I can think of would be a birth certificate. 

Any bets on the likelihood of implementation?

Other sources. 

NPR

Wired

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Kahn explains Kahnmigo

Sal Kahn recently prepared a TED talk explaining his plans for Kahnmigo. This addition to the Kahn Academy provides AI-powered support for learners and educators. My interest was in Kahn’s description of the potential of this addition as a student for learners. He makes similar arguments to my own thinking. For example, he uses Bloom’s two-sigma argument to explain why tutoring is potentially the most productive way to improve learning. Of course, Bloom was describing human tutors.

I have written about AI as a tutor myself and provide some suggestions for using ChatPDF as a tutor.

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Books on AI application

Large language model AI services have only been widely available to the public for months which really does not seem lot a lot of time for evaluation and best use investigations. Yet, there are many books on ChatGPT and similar services and AI tools in the classroom. When I encounter a new technology category and find myself intrigued, my first reaction is to purchase a book or two. My shelves used to contain multiple volumes first on hypertalk (the scripting language for HyperCard) and later PHP and MySQL. I now have four books on ChatGPT and ChatGPT in education. Although I even recognize some of the authors, I have been disappointed. 

I wonder if it is too early to expect quality books about AI in education because the field of AI is still rapidly evolving and its potential applications in education are not yet fully understood. The integration of AI in the education system is relatively new, and the implementation is still in its initial stage. The development of AI technology requires a long time and extensive testing to ensure its accurate and correct application.

I in the education sector is still undergoing experimentation and application, which makes it difficult to produce an authoritative and comprehensive guide on how AI can be integrated into learning. Owing to the ever-evolving nature of AI technology, it is difficult to predict its full range of effects on education. Thus, writing books on AI in education would still be considered superficial and vague. It might take several years before we can get comprehensive and in-depth books on AI in education, given the constantly adapting nature of the technology’s scope.

I have located a journal focused on AI in education, Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence. For those looking for content with an academic approach, this journal is open source so you can read any article you want without visiting a library or purchasing a subscription. The journal has been sharing content since 2020.

As an open access journal with no subscription charges, a fee (Article Publishing Charge, APC) is payable by the author or research funder to cover the costs associated with publication. This ensures your article will be immediately and permanently free to access by everyone. A side comment – the cost of journals to libraries and access by the public is an important issue. This journal deals with this by charging authors ($1800) rather than charging readers. I just don’t think this is a good model and content creators should not be paying to share their content.

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Earth Day 2023

It is Earth Day 2023. Imagine a humpback coming up to take a look. Not a pretty sight with the environment deteriorating under the impact of human indifference. Politicians are prioritizing short-term issues and the greed of large corporations over the opportunities to address the crisis.

We all can make a difference.

Kids and Earth Day

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