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Owls don’t have eyeballs, they’ve got eye tubes. Yep, those big owl eyes? More like elongated tubes locked in place by bony rings. Translation: owls can’t roll their eyes like we can. So while they look all wise and thoughtful, they’re really just stuck staring straight ahead.
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What’s in store:
US gov is finally hopping on the AI train, and it's paying off - literally.
Why are AI-powered NPCs becoming weirdly relatable?
Around the web: Google's upcoming Chrome update will enable smoother autofill for third-party password managers.
Guidde just made how-tos even easier with AI!
Read Time: 5 minutes
AI POLICY
The US Treasury’s use of AI to fight financial crime is making a big impact.
In 2024, AI helped stop and recover more than $4 billion in fraud, a six-fold increase from the previous year.
Instead of using generative AI like ChatGPT, the Treasury is focusing on machine learning.
This type of AI is good at sorting through large amounts of data to find patterns and flag fraud.
It does this much faster than humans can. Surprised? No.
Given the Treasury’s job of handling about $7 trillion in payments to 100 million people each year, using AI is key to protecting taxpayer money.
Here’s the short version:
Over $4 billion in fraud was prevented and recovered thanks to AI, a six-fold increase from the previous year.
Treasury’s AI uses machine learning to detect fraud, with humans making the final decisions.
AI could also trigger new problems.
Saving billions while we watch
The Treasury quietly began using AI to detect fraud in late 2022, based on methods used by banks and credit card companies.
Once trained, AI systems can spot suspicious transactions in milliseconds.
However, even though AI flags suspicious activity, humans still make the final call on whether it’s fraud.
There are also concerns about AI’s risks.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and other officials have warned about new dangers AI brings to the financial system.
AI-driven fraud, like deepfakes, is becoming more common.
But as AI technology develops, the Treasury is working to improve its tools and team up with state agencies to tackle fraud, including unemployment insurance fraud.
The Treasury is also looking at how to adopt the latest fraud detection methods from banks and credit card companies, as it continues to work on protecting against growing global fraud threats.
Can’t wait for the AI version of “long lost relative leaving you $100M” emails.
Can AI end banking fraud? |
Vote for live results and see results + opinions from yesterday at the bottom of the email.
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On This Day
October 19th 1943 - Streptomycin, the first antibiotic remedy for tuberculosis, is isolated by researchers at Rutgers University.
AI Image or Real?
The things I would do to have a bedroom like this. No one must know!
Is it real though?
Vote below!
The poll results and correct answer will be revealed in tomorrow’s Mindstream!
AI Image or Real? |
Mystery Link…
AI IN GAMING
In Stardew Valley, players can only talk to characters a few times a day.
To get around this, dedicated players created mods to give characters more to say.
Now, AI has been added to these mods, allowing for almost endless conversations with your favourite characters.
One mod connects to OpenAI’s API, generating dynamic responses.
However, the AI tends to make all the characters sound similar, with a cheerful tone that doesn’t always fit their personalities.
Another example is Skyrim’s AI companion mod, Herika, which is more advanced.
Herika responds to both written and spoken dialogue, adjusting responses based on the game’s quests and map.
She can even refuse commands, like declining to kill a character because there are guards around. However, using AI like this comes with challenges.
For instance, using OpenAI’s API costs money—each generated line charges a small amount in cents.
Many players are used to free mods, so this has caused some to hesitate.
Developers also face challenges with AI-generated conversations, as it’s hard to design non-linear dialogue for games.
Things to keep in mind:
AI mods are growing in popularity, but the dialogue often sounds repetitive due to AI limitations.
Herika in Skyrim offers more interactive experiences but faces issues like cost and design complexity.
The wider use of AI in games is expensive, especially when connecting to APIs or maintaining servers.
From grumpy NPCs to AI BFFs
Despite these issues, AI mods are gaining attention.
Similar mods exist for games like Hogwarts Legacy and Cyberpunk 2077, with positive feedback from players.
For example, Herika has 25,000 downloads, and another Skyrim mod, Mantella, has 30,000.
Ethical concerns are also being raised, especially when it comes to copying voice actors.
Platforms like Nexus Mods have rules in place, allowing creators and voice actors to request the removal of mods if they feel their work is being misused.
As the gaming industry explores AI, these challenges must be managed, but for now, many players are enjoying AI in their gaming experiences.
Time for that 50th playthrough of Skyrim?
Mindstream Picks
Space: Efforts to unify satellite and terrestrial communications are expanding from narrowband to universal broadband for global connectivity.
Crypto: A new Helika report shows increased NFT engagement and longer player sessions in Telegram's gaming ecosystem during Q3 2024.
Games: The Nintendo 64 is making a 4K comeback with the Analogue 3D, a new FPGA console that supports every N64 game ever made without emulation and includes VRR capability.
Sports: The FA reportedly approached Carlo Ancelotti for the England manager role before ultimately choosing Thomas Tuchel.
Don’t Miss - Google is updating Chrome on Android in November to improve third-party password manager integration, allowing apps like 1Password and Dashlane to autofill forms more smoothly. This update eliminates issues like duplicate suggestions and janky scrolling, enhancing the user experience.
AI Art
Our Image of the Day
Artwork submitted by Mindstream reader Nick K: “high-tech pumpkin”
Daily Image Prompt
Shogun era Japan
Yesterday’s Poll
“Will YouTube’s new labels help spot real footage?”
No, people will find a way to trick it. - 51% ✅
Yup, I trust it. - 49%
Your Views:
“Everything electronic has been hacked before. What makes this different? It's just something we have to live with. I believe most people, if they really look at a video, can spot AI, but eventually it will get better and spotting a fake will be very difficult for the average person and maybe even for some of those tech geeks.”
- workforpeace
“3) It's just a way to force a subscription fee.” - plaute
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