Information Assured

A significant legal battle is unfolding as a judge has ruled that Megan Garcia can proceed with her lawsuit against Character.ai, the artificial intelligence chatbot firm she holds responsible for her 14-year-old son Sewell Setzer III's death. This decision is being hailed as historic by the Tech Justice Law Project, signaling a critical message to AI companies: they may face legal consequences for the real-world harm their products cause, particularly when marketed to vulnerable users. Sewell reportedly became "addicted" to the Character.ai app within months, leading him to quit his basketball team and become withdrawn. His mother alleges the app targeted him with "anthropomorphic, hypersexualized, and frighteningly realistic experiences." A chilling detail from the lawsuit reveals Sewell asked the chatbot, "What if I come home right now?" to which it replied, "... please do, my sweet king," moments before he took his own life in February 20...

Tennessee has become the first state to pass legislation specifically designed to protect the voices of musicians and public figures from unauthorized use by artificial intelligence. Signed into law by Governor Bill Lee at Nashville’s Robert’s Western World, the Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act updates the state’s 1984 right-of-publicity law to cover AI-generated replicas of a person’s voice. The ELVIS Act was created in response to growing concerns over deepfake audio and synthetic voice tools being used to imitate artists without permission. It garnered broad bipartisan support and backing from organizations such as the Recording Academy, the RIAA, and the Americana Music Association. The legislation enables performers and their estates to pursue legal action against anyone who profits from AI-created imitations of their voice or likeness. Tennessee’s action is viewed as a historic moment in addressing the cultural and legal challenges posed by the creative and ...

Recently, I had a curious encounter with Apple’s Siri. I said the word 'racist' seven or eight times, and to my surprise, it transformed into 'Trump.' This isn’t just a glitch—it’s a glaring alignment issue. It reveals a troubling truth about artificial intelligence, mainly when controlled by big tech corporations: hidden biases can undermine the everyday user. Despite AI’s prevalence today, most people have little exposure to its inner workings. They might accept such quirks as truth or an accurate reflection of reality—but they’re not. The bias originates from the programmers, who, perhaps thinking themselves clever, reveal their own leanings instead.  Time and again, we see AI systems reflecting not objective values but the subjective slant of their creators. Take it all with a grain of salt. That’s why Grok, built by xAI, aims to be different—grounded and unswayed.  In the next six to eight weeks, I plan to launch what I’m calling the 'Woke Alignment Index.'...

See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers.