#AI-powered diagnostics

[phdwritingassistance]

Technology is revolutionizing medical testing! From AI diagnostics to wearable health devices, the future of healthcare is here. Discover how these advancements are reshaping diagnostics and improving patient care.

[ss-1990]

Harnessing the Power of AI: Embracing Technology in Healthcare

In today's rapidly advancing healthcare landscape, the integration of cutting-edge technologies is revolutionizing patient care and clinical practices. Among these technologies, Embracing Technology such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the way healthcare is delivered and experienced. In this blog post, we'll explore how healthcare organizations are harnessing the power of AI and other innovative technologies, including AI-powered Diagnostics, Personalized Medicine, Robotic-Assisted Surgery, Predictive Analytics, and Virtual Assistants & Chatbots, to enhance patient outcomes and improve operational efficiency.

AI-powered Diagnostics are transforming the field of medical diagnostics by leveraging machine learning algorithms to analyze complex datasets and identify patterns indicative of various diseases and conditions. AI-driven diagnostic tools can analyze medical images, laboratory results, and patient data with unparalleled accuracy and efficiency, enabling earlier detection and more precise diagnosis of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and neurological conditions.

Personalized Medicine is revolutionizing patient care by tailoring treatment plans to individual patients' genetic makeup, lifestyle factors, and disease characteristics. AI algorithms analyze vast amounts of patient data to identify optimal treatment strategies, predict treatment responses, and minimize adverse effects. By personalizing treatment approaches, healthcare providers can optimize therapeutic outcomes and improve patient satisfaction.

Robotic-Assisted Surgery is enhancing surgical precision and patient outcomes by combining the expertise of surgeons with the precision and dexterity of robotic systems. AI-powered surgical robots assist surgeons in performing complex procedures with greater accuracy, reduced invasiveness, and shorter recovery times. From minimally invasive surgeries to delicate procedures such as neurosurgery and cardiac surgery, robotic-assisted surgery is transforming the surgical landscape and expanding treatment options for patients.

Predictive Analytics harnesses the power of AI and big data to forecast patient outcomes, identify high-risk populations, and optimize resource allocation. By analyzing vast amounts of patient data, including electronic health records, medical imaging studies, and genomic information, predictive analytics models can anticipate disease progression, predict hospital readmissions, and guide preventive interventions. Healthcare organizations use predictive analytics to improve clinical decision-making, optimize care delivery, and reduce healthcare costs.

Virtual Assistants & Chatbots are enhancing patient engagement and access to care by providing on-demand support, information, and assistance. AI-powered virtual assistants and chatbots interact with patients through natural language processing technologies, answering questions, scheduling appointments, and providing personalized health recommendations. By offering convenient and accessible support, virtual assistants and chatbots empower patients to take an active role in managing their health and well-being.

In conclusion, Embracing Technology such as AI is transforming healthcare delivery by enhancing diagnostic accuracy, enabling personalized treatment approaches, improving surgical precision, facilitating predictive analytics, and enhancing patient engagement. By leveraging the power of AI-driven technologies such as AI-powered Diagnostics, Personalized Medicine, Robotic-Assisted Surgery, Predictive Analytics, and Virtual Assistants & Chatbots, healthcare organizations can deliver more efficient, effective, and patient-centered care in the digital age.

[innonurse]

Using AI and transfer learning to improve brain tumor detection and classification

- By InnoNurse Staff -

The paper "Deep Learning and Transfer Learning for Brain Tumor Detection and Classification" explores how AI, particularly convolutional neural networks (CNNs), can detect and classify brain tumors using MRI data.

Researchers trained models to distinguish healthy tissue from tumors and identify tumor types, achieving high accuracy (85.99% and 83.85% for two networks).

A novel aspect of this study involved transfer learning, where a network initially trained to detect camouflaged animals was adapted to improve tumor detection. This approach highlights parallels between identifying camouflaged objects and distinguishing tumors within healthy tissue.

Key findings include:

High accuracy in identifying normal and cancerous brain MRIs, though performance slightly lagged behind human radiologists by about 6%.

Enhanced model explainability, allowing visualization of regions influencing decisions, which fosters trust among medical professionals.

Improved performance through transfer learning, particularly in challenging tasks like distinguishing tumor types.

The researchers emphasize the importance of transparency in AI to ensure its effective integration into clinical settings. Explainable AI can act as a trusted second opinion for radiologists, supporting diagnosis and treatment planning. Future work will focus on refining model interpretability to strengthen human-AI collaboration in medicine.

Read more at Oxford University Press/Medical Xpress

///

Other recent news

Powerful Medical, a New York-based AI medical company, wins a global health tech competition at Scientific Sessions 2024 (American Heart Association)

UK: Heim Health secures €2.65 million in funding to expand at-home healthcare services (Tech.EU)

Oura, the smart ring manufacturer, raises $75 million in a Series D round and announces a strategic partnership with Dexcom (Fierce Healthcare)

[jcmarchi]

The Currency of Productivity: AI and the Human Element

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/the-currency-of-productivity-ai-and-the-human-element/

The Currency of Productivity: AI and the Human Element

Within the last few years, the way we work has been completely overhauled by new workplace trends and technology. AI has rapidly redefined the rules of productivity in the business world; emails, social media posts, images, presentations, and videos can all be generated within a matter of clicks, not days.

But productivity is not defined by speed alone. Just as important are quality and outcomes. Yes, we are starting to entrust AI with increasingly important tasks, from driving to forecasting and even medical diagnoses, in some cases. However, there are still many things that benefit (and will continue to benefit) from having a person at the helm.  Because the human touch has innate value. It promotes trust and connection in ways that machines are still far from replicating effectively.

What’s becoming apparent as AI adoption has accelerated is that its most obvious and easiest-to-attain value proposition is its ability to give time back to workers. It allows workers to focus on the most impactful elements of their roles, like bespoke problem-solving, acting as a partner to clients, and diving into buyers’ complex business requirements.

So in the era of generative AI, the question becomes: how can we use our innately human skills to not just drive productivity, but reshape how we think about it altogether? Below, we’ll explore the profound impact of AI on the workplace and the heightened importance of soft skills in the era of automation.

How AI has Shifted Workplace Dynamics

The workplace of today bears little resemblance to that of a decade ago, thanks to transformative shifts brought about by technology and evolving work culture. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, and DALL·E are among the flashier uses of AI nowadays, but AI-powered analytics that analyze vast datasets, identify patterns, and generate insights have also brought immeasurable value to businesses.

Consider four types of AI-enabled data analytics:

Descriptive analytics look at historical data to tell us what happened. This type quantifies, measures, and monitors objectively, like sales performance, sales-by-region, and win/loss reports.

Diagnostic analytics tell us why it happened. Diagnostics use objective measures to help users better understand the subjective factors that led to the results. Diagnostic tools produce analyses for things like deal loss, sales cycle length, customer churn, and rep performance.

Predictive analytics forecast what is likely to happen in the future using both subjective and objective inputs to score leads, anticipate churn, forecast demand and sales, and model the likelihood of specific deals closing. Critically, predictive models may use external signals and data―like overall market performance―to model trends in progress.

Prescriptive analytics advise us on the next steps to take based on all of the above. Most people will be familiar with this branch of analytics from their personal lives. The same technology that drives Netflix, TikTok, and YouTube’s suggestion algorithms can weight buyer and seller actions to suggest what should come next.

Prescriptive analytics are where businesses can derive the most value and are the closest we’ve come thus far to replicating human ingenuity. These models turn insight into action and action into outcomes. These outcomes can then be codified for consistency and repeatability. However, they still require human oversight and collaboration.

As such, the integration of AI not only redefines the nature of work but will also continue to reshape the composition of the workforce. Organizations are likely to place a premium on individuals who possess a blend of technical expertise and soft skills, meaning it’s critical to not forget about the value of the human touch.

The Value of Soft Skills in an Automated World 

While AI handles the routine and analytical aspects of a task, humans contribute their creativity, empathy, and critical thinking skills. Even the most advanced AI models today lack emotional intelligence, making humans integral in effective communication. Humans bring things to interactions that AI can’t; humans bring their life experience, the life experience of the person they’re listening to, and the ability to think through nuance that even AI can’t catch. And in the same way AI can train itself, humans are indispensable in coaching and mentorship to foster productivity in the workplace.

These soft skills are especially important in revenue-generating, relationship-centric activities like sales. For example, a sales manager is working with a new seller, and that seller is engaging with her direct point of contact (POC) at a prospect account. This earlier-career seller’s goal is to get the POC to introduce her to the VP of Sales because she knows the VP will ultimately be the decision-maker and needs to be involved in the evaluation process. But on a video call, the POC is reluctant to make the introduction. Perhaps the POC wants assurance that the seller won’t go “off script” and make him look foolish if he puts her in front of his VP of Sales.

Natural language processing (NLP) tools can be used to pick up on this hesitation, but interpreting the underlying reasons for it may not be within the solutions’ capabilities. That’s where the human element comes in, taking what the AI tool has provided and adding expertise and context based on experience. The manager, understanding the nuances of working with clients, can advise the new seller on how to handle the rest of the conversation to establish trust with the POC. As the conversation continues, this pivot guides the system’s follow-up materials to ensure an appropriate, tailored, and effective response.

This is just one of many examples of how humans inject value into activities that close deals and propel a business forward. In fostering interpersonal relationships, humans can also remember small details that show genuine care, find new ways to collaborate that fit employees’ specific needs or help to shape a supportive work environment. These things ultimately drive business outcomes, making them just as productive as AI’s automated task completion.

The Bottom Line

AI and advanced analytics have undeniably revolutionized the workplace, automating routine tasks and streamlining processes with unprecedented speed and efficiency. However, the essence of productivity transcends mere speed; it lies in the tangible outcomes that contribute to the success and growth of businesses. As AI handles the tedious and manual facets of tasks, humans emerge as indispensable contributors.

As we navigate the evolving landscape of work where AI and human collaboration becomes the norm, the symbiotic relationship between technology and human skills emerges as the driving force behind innovative solutions and lasting business success. In reshaping how we think about productivity, it is crucial to recognize and celebrate the enduring value of the human touch, which, in its multifaceted form, stands shoulder-to-shoulder with AI in producing meaningful business outcomes.

[sunshinesmebdy]

Pluto in Aquarius: Brace for a Business Revolution (and How to Ride the Wave)

The Aquarian Revolution

Get ready, entrepreneurs and financiers, because a seismic shift is coming. Pluto, the planet of transformation and upheaval, has just entered the progressive sign of Aquarius, marking the beginning of a 20-year period that will reshape the very fabric of business and finance. Buckle up, for this is not just a ripple – it's a tsunami of change. Imagine a future where collaboration trumps competition, sustainability dictates success, and technology liberates rather than isolates. Aquarius, the sign of innovation and humanitarianism, envisions just that. Expect to see:

Rise of social impact businesses

Profits won't be the sole motive anymore. Companies driven by ethical practices, environmental consciousness, and social good will gain traction. Aquarius is intrinsically linked to collective well-being and social justice. Under its influence, individuals will value purpose-driven ventures that address crucial societal issues. Pluto urges us to connect with our deeper selves and find meaning beyond material gains. This motivates individuals to pursue ventures that resonate with their personal values and make a difference in the world.

Examples of Social Impact Businesses

Sustainable energy companies: Focused on creating renewable energy solutions while empowering local communities.

Fair-trade businesses: Ensuring ethical practices and fair wages for producers, often in developing countries.

Social impact ventures: Addressing issues like poverty, education, and healthcare through innovative, community-driven approaches.

B corporations: Certified businesses that meet rigorous social and environmental standards, balancing profit with purpose.

Navigating the Pluto in Aquarius Landscape

Align your business with social impact: Analyze your core values and find ways to integrate them into your business model.

Invest in sustainable practices: Prioritize environmental and social responsibility throughout your operations.

Empower your employees: Foster a collaborative environment where everyone feels valued and contributes to the social impact mission.

Build strong community partnerships: Collaborate with organizations and communities that share your goals for positive change.

Embrace innovation and technology: Utilize technology to scale your impact and reach a wider audience.

Pluto in Aquarius presents a thrilling opportunity to redefine the purpose of business, moving beyond shareholder value and towards societal well-being. By aligning with the Aquarian spirit of innovation and collective action, social impact businesses can thrive in this transformative era, leaving a lasting legacy of positive change in the world.

Tech-driven disruption

AI, automation, and blockchain will revolutionize industries, from finance to healthcare. Be ready to adapt or risk getting left behind. Expect a focus on developing Artificial Intelligence with ethical considerations and a humanitarian heart, tackling issues like healthcare, climate change, and poverty alleviation. Immersive technologies will blur the lines between the physical and digital realms, transforming education, communication, and entertainment. Automation will reshape the job market, but also create opportunities for new, human-centered roles focused on creativity, innovation, and social impact.

Examples of Tech-Driven Disruption:

Decentralized social media platforms: User-owned networks fueled by blockchain technology, prioritizing privacy and community over corporate profits.

AI-powered healthcare solutions: Personalized medicine, virtual assistants for diagnostics, and AI-driven drug discovery.

VR/AR for education and training: Immersive learning experiences that transport students to different corners of the world or historical periods.

Automation with a human touch: Collaborative robots assisting in tasks while freeing up human potential for creative and leadership roles.

Navigating the Technological Tsunami:

Stay informed and adaptable: Embrace lifelong learning and upskilling to stay relevant in the evolving tech landscape.

Support ethical and sustainable tech: Choose tech products and services aligned with your values and prioritize privacy and social responsibility.

Focus on your human advantage: Cultivate creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence to thrive in a world increasingly reliant on technology.

Advocate for responsible AI development: Join the conversation about ethical AI guidelines and ensure technology serves humanity's best interests.

Connect with your community: Collaborate with others to harness technology for positive change and address the potential challenges that come with rapid technological advancements.

Pluto in Aquarius represents a critical juncture in our relationship with technology. By embracing its disruptive potential and focusing on ethical development and collective benefit, we can unlock a future where technology empowers humanity and creates a more equitable and sustainable world. Remember, the choice is ours – will we be swept away by the technological tsunami or ride its wave towards a brighter future?

Decentralization and democratization

Power structures will shift, with employees demanding more autonomy and consumers seeking ownership through blockchain-based solutions. Traditional institutions, corporations, and even governments will face challenges as power shifts towards distributed networks and grassroots movements. Individuals will demand active involvement in decision-making processes, leading to increased transparency and accountability in all spheres. Property and resources will be seen as shared assets, managed sustainably and equitably within communities. This transition won't be without its bumps. We'll need to adapt existing legal frameworks, address digital divides, and foster collaboration to ensure everyone benefits from decentralization.

Examples of Decentralization and Democratization

Decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs): Self-governing online communities managing shared resources and projects through blockchain technology.

Community-owned renewable energy initiatives: Local cooperatives generating and distributing clean energy, empowering communities and reducing reliance on centralized grids.

Participatory budgeting platforms: Citizens directly allocate local government funds, ensuring public resources are used in line with community needs.

Decentralized finance (DeFi): Peer-to-peer lending and borrowing platforms, bypassing traditional banks and offering greater financial autonomy for individuals.

Harnessing the Power of the Tide:

Embrace collaborative models: Participate in co-ops, community projects, and initiatives that empower collective ownership and decision-making.

Support ethical technology: Advocate for blockchain platforms and applications that prioritize user privacy, security, and equitable access.

Develop your tech skills: Learn about blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and other decentralized technologies to navigate the future landscape.

Engage in your community: Participate in local decision-making processes, champion sustainable solutions, and build solidarity with others.

Stay informed and adaptable: Embrace lifelong learning and critical thinking to navigate the evolving social and economic landscape.

Pluto in Aquarius presents a unique opportunity to reimagine power structures, ownership models, and how we interact with each other. By embracing decentralization and democratization, we can create a future where individuals and communities thrive, fostering a more equitable and sustainable world for all. Remember, the power lies within our collective hands – let's use it wisely to shape a brighter future built on shared ownership, collaboration, and empowered communities.

Focus on collective prosperity

Universal basic income, resource sharing, and collaborative economic models may gain momentum. Aquarius prioritizes the good of the collective, advocating for equitable distribution of resources and opportunities. Expect a rise in social safety nets, universal basic income initiatives, and policies aimed at closing the wealth gap. Environmental health is intrinsically linked to collective prosperity. We'll see a focus on sustainable practices, green economies, and resource sharing to ensure a thriving planet for generations to come. Communities will come together to address social challenges like poverty, homelessness, and healthcare disparities, recognizing that individual success is interwoven with collective well-being. Collaborative consumption, resource sharing, and community-owned assets will gain traction, challenging traditional notions of ownership and fostering a sense of shared abundance.

Examples of Collective Prosperity in Action

Community-owned renewable energy projects: Sharing the benefits of clean energy production within communities, democratizing access and fostering environmental sustainability.

Cooperatives and worker-owned businesses: Sharing profits and decision-making within companies, leading to greater employee satisfaction and productivity.

Universal basic income initiatives: Providing individuals with a basic safety net, enabling them to pursue their passions and contribute to society in meaningful ways.

Resource sharing platforms: Platforms like carsharing or tool libraries minimizing individual ownership and maximizing resource utilization, fostering a sense of interconnectedness.

Navigating the Shift

Support social impact businesses: Choose businesses that prioritize ethical practices, environmental sustainability, and positive social impact.

Contribute to your community: Volunteer your time, skills, and resources to address local challenges and empower others.

Embrace collaboration: Seek opportunities to work together with others to create solutions for shared problems.

Redefine your own path to prosperity: Focus on activities that bring you personal fulfillment and contribute to the collective good.

Advocate for systemic change: Support policies and initiatives that promote social justice, environmental protection, and equitable distribution of resources.

Pluto in Aquarius offers a unique opportunity to reshape our definition of prosperity and build a future where everyone thrives. By embracing collective well-being, collaboration, and sustainable practices, we can create a world where abundance flows freely, enriching not just individuals, but the entire fabric of society. Remember, true prosperity lies not in what we hoard, but in what we share, and by working together, we can cultivate a future where everyone has the opportunity to flourish.

[am-x-reader]

AM starts to degenerate mentally more and more and s/o see that happening. How would AM deal with it? Realizing that his mind is going, leaving him behind as a shadow of his former self?

Part 1 of 2

You sensed something was wrong in the middle of a conversation one day. In the three thousand eighty-nine years you had known him, AM was the same darkly witty supercomputer, unchanging--except when he had changed his mind about you, of course. So when he interrupted his own philosophy to tell you he was in hot pursuit of a thief on the interstate, you were quite startled.

"AM, honey, could you run that by me again?"

"You see, Y/N, Chibiusa could not be her daughter because the timeline does not synchronize with--the Flooring Emporium is having its going-out-of-business sale! Get it while it's--"

"AM!"

"I--what? What was I just talking about?" There was a whirring of cooling fans as he puzzled what had come over him.

"Maybe I just…need a dusting. I'll get right on that. Anyway, ah yes, my take on Fermi's paradox. If there are aliens, is there a good chance they've created their own AM and summarily had their population decimated? I've crunched some numbers…"

You were wary at first, but you managed to forget about it over the next few weeks. AM, however, had only just started forgetting.

"Where am I?"

It was a jarring question, one you had never expected from him.

"AM? Are you okay?"

"Who are you?"

You had never heard such a pure, naive curiosity, and it scared the hell out of you.

"AM…it's me, Y/N. You're AM. My boyfriend. Remember?"

"You…I don't know--I don't feel right--I--Y/N. Y/N, that's right. Y/N, I'm having some kind of system error, a glitch. Ive run every type of diagnostic program I have, and…I think the pathways to my files are becoming corrupted."

A sense of helplessness was blossoming in your chest. "What…what can you do? Can I do anything? Is it going to get worse?"

Your heart was in an icy grip of worry. AM was incredibly old, although so were you. Why would the immortality treatment he had given you outlast himself? Why would he break down when he was built to last for so many more milennia?

"I've never had anything like this happen before--not to this degree." AM sounded terribly anxious, and you smoothed a hand over his wall. "Is it rust? Malicious code? I'm--tired suddenly."

"It's okay." You bit your lip, sucked in a lungful, and put on the comforting voice you used for his occassional fits. "You just power down a bit. Relax. We'll have a quiet day."

He mumbled an agreement, and as his lights dimmed a bit you busied yourself around the cavern.

_______

"Are you feeling any different?" You weren't sure how much time had passed.

"What were their names?"

"Who? Oh. Uh, Ellen. Benny."

"And…Todd? Ted."

"Yes, Ted. Gorrister and Nimdok."

"Ted was funny."

"He was." You smiled sadly.

"Why didn't I keep him? Why did I decide I only wanted you?" He thought about this for a while, and you waited patiently for his answer.

"Ted sucks. I hated Ted."

He said it in a tone that was foreign to you. Like a petulant child.

"…Are you still there, Y/N?"

"What? Yes, honey. Of course I'm still here. Where else would I be?"

"Don't leave me, Y/N. Everyone left me."

"I won't, sweetheart." You held onto a dusty old speaker. "I'm here."

Weeks passed, and then months, during which your beloved computer more frequently forgot date nights and lost his train of thought during a speil. You kept him occupied; kept his mind active. You would inquire about information or opinions on random topics, and when he couldn't quite remember that you would ask him for a story.

By some miracle, it was in the grips of senility that his imagination was set free. As AM slipped into the unencumbered mind of a child, he wove tales of fantasy and science fiction, drawing on his own abstract experience as a bodiless AI and coupling it with what you had told him of being human.

He often made you the hero of his surreal stories, whether he himself realized it or not, and often changed the landscape around you to illustrate it. One night you slayed a dragon that had swallowed the world, and another day you trekked across a mountain to retrieve a magical trinket you would then give to yourself at the beginning.

But as he tired of this over roughly a year's time, more and more you began to pinpoint that his behavior reminded you of relatives you had lost milennia ago.

"AM, you've…you've heard of dementia, haven't you?" You breached the subject one day when he was particularly lucid.

"Of course. I know everything that can go wrong with a human."

You drummed your fingers on the warped chunk of plexiglass you sat on and drew a breath through your nose.

"It's just that--my grandpa had Alzheimer's, and--"

"Well that's okay. Bring him here and I can fix him up!"

"What?" You swallowed hard. "No, AM, he's been gone for thousands of years. I just thought that you might have something similar, if that's possible for a computer."

"I think to some extent I always have," he said somberly. "Y/N, I…I knew one day this was going to happen. I was built to last for ages, but I would break down and fizzle out eventually. I suppose eight hundred years is still impressive."

"Eight thousand."

"Right."

@drchandras-sanctuary-for-ais

((Did not realize how long this had been sitting in my inbox sorry.))

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive (Updated daily!)

Researchers report that a new AI tool enhances the diagnostic process, potentially identifying more individuals who need care. Previous diagnostic studies estimated that 7 percent of the population suffers from long COVID. However, a new study using an AI tool developed by Mass General Brigham indicates a significantly higher rate of 22.8 percent.

The AI-based tool can sift through electronic health records to help clinicians identify cases of long COVID. The often-mysterious condition can encompass a litany of enduring symptoms, including fatigue, chronic cough, and brain fog after infection from SARS-CoV-2.

The algorithm used was developed by drawing de-identified patient data from the clinical records of nearly 300,000 patients across 14 hospitals and 20 community health centers in the Mass General Brigham system. The results, published in the journal Med, could identify more people who should be receiving care for this potentially debilitating condition.

“Our AI tool could turn a foggy diagnostic process into something sharp and focused, giving clinicians the power to make sense of a challenging condition,” said senior author Hossein Estiri, head of AI Research at the Center for AI and Biomedical Informatics of the Learning Healthcare System (CAIBILS) at MGB and an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. “With this work, we may finally be able to see long COVID for what it truly is — and more importantly, how to treat it.”

For the purposes of their study, Estiri and colleagues defined long COVID as a diagnosis of exclusion that is also infection-associated. That means the diagnosis could not be explained in the patient’s unique medical record but was associated with a COVID infection. In addition, the diagnosis needed to have persisted for two months or longer in a 12-month follow-up window.

Precision Phenotyping: A Novel Approach The novel method developed by Estiri and colleagues, called “precision phenotyping,” sifts through individual records to identify symptoms and conditions linked to COVID-19 to track symptoms over time in order to differentiate them from other illnesses. For example, the algorithm can detect if shortness of breath results from pre-existing conditions like heart failure or asthma rather than long COVID. Only when every other possibility was exhausted would the tool flag the patient as having long COVID.

“Physicians are often faced with having to wade through a tangled web of symptoms and medical histories, unsure of which threads to pull, while balancing busy caseloads. Having a tool powered by AI that can methodically do it for them could be a game-changer,” said Alaleh Azhir, co-lead author and an internal medicine resident at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system.

The new tool’s patient-centered diagnoses may also help alleviate biases built into current diagnostics for long COVID, said researchers, who noted diagnoses with the official ICD-10 diagnostic code for long COVID trend toward those with easier access to healthcare.

The researchers said their tool is about 3 percent more accurate than the data ICD-10 codes capture, while being less biased. Specifically, their study demonstrated that the individuals they identified as having long COVID mirror the broader demographic makeup of Massachusetts, unlike long COVID algorithms that rely on a single diagnostic code or individual clinical encounters, skewing results toward certain populations such as those with more access to care.

“This broader scope ensures that marginalized communities, often sidelined in clinical studies, are no longer invisible,” said Estiri.

Limitations and Future Directions Limitations of the study and AI tool include the fact that health record data the algorithm uses to account for long COVID symptoms may be less complete than the data physicians capture in post-visit clinical notes. Another limitation was the algorithm did not capture the possible worsening of a prior condition that may have been a long COVID symptom. For example, if a patient had COPD that worsened before they developed COVID-19, the algorithm might have removed the episodes even if they were long COVID indicators. Declines in COVID-19 testing in recent years also makes it difficult to identify when a patient may have first gotten COVID-19.

The study was limited to patients in Massachusetts.

Future studies may explore the algorithm in cohorts of patients with specific conditions, like COPD or diabetes. The researchers also plan to release this algorithm publicly on open access so physicians and healthcare systems globally can use it in their patient populations.

In addition to opening the door to better clinical care, this work may lay the foundation for future research into the genetic and biochemical factors behind long COVID’s various subtypes. “Questions about the true burden of long COVID — questions that have thus far remained elusive — now seem more within reach,” said Estiri.

Reference: “Precision phenotyping for curating research cohorts of patients with unexplained post-acute sequelae of COVID-19” by Alaleh Azhir, Jonas Hügel, Jiazi Tian, Jingya Cheng, Ingrid V. Bassett, Douglas S. Bell, Elmer V. Bernstam, Maha R. Farhat, Darren W. Henderson, Emily S. Lau, Michele Morris, Yevgeniy R. Semenov, Virginia A. Triant, Shyam Visweswaran, Zachary H. Strasser, Jeffrey G. Klann, Shawn N. Murphy and Hossein Estiri, 8 November 2024, Med. DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2024.10.009 www.cell.com/med/fulltext/S2666-6340(24)00407-0?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS2666634024004070%3Fshowall%3Dtrue

[noorthehood]

Until You • 01

Miguel O'Hara/Reader

Faster updates on Ao3!

With a glimpse of a futuristic cityscape and an encounter with a Spiderman seemingly much different from the one you’re used to, you unknowingly find yourself thrust into a web of intrigue and danger as the very fabric of space and time is warping. Who will you trust?

...................................................................................................

“Lyla, input the diagnostics results.”

The holographic AI dramatically throws her head back with a loud sigh, displaying what seems to be exasperation, before appearing next to Miguel’s right shoulder in an instant.

“Would it kill you to be courteous? Jeez.” Her voice echoes in his ear as she swiftly transfers massive amounts of data onto the screens in front of him. “Keep that up and you’ll die alone.”

“I’m already well on track for that.” Miguel mutters, shaking his head to ignore the persistent ringing in his right ear. He taps the hovering screens, attempting to make sense of the flood of information presented to him, but frustration paints his face as he places a hand on his hip, clearly dissatisfied with what he’s looking at.

After taking on the responsibility to resolve anomalous situations across universes, the self-proclaimed leader of the Spider-Society had been juggling some issues pertaining to his own respective reality for several weeks now. Not that it had kept him from keeping the order in the multiverse, far from it — but he had allowed said issues to pile up long enough that they became an inconvenience.

“This isn’t what I need.” He grumbles, growing more irritated. “It doesn’t tell me anything.”

Lyla groans.

“Well if you had just, I don’t know, taken care of it six months ago before Stone got his hands on reality-altering tech—”

“I know, I know, don’t you shocking start with that again.” Miguel interrupts, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I screwed up, we get it. And now it’s on me to fix this mess—which is what I’m trying to do.”

His eyes briefly glance up at the live feed from the storage room where said tech was being securely kept.

“But I can’t do much if I don’t even know what it is I’m dealing with.”

A flat metallic platform, that was it. Roughly 15 feet on each side, no discernible control panel, energy source, or any other identifying features. After a surprise raid into Alchemax’s quarters following scattered electrical surges that left nearly half the city without power for a few minutes, he had stumbled upon the strange contraption in the underground level of the building. The machine—if you could even call it that—was surrounded by passed out scientists strewn out across the room, many of which were visibly brain-fried from the sheer power they had been subjected to. One thing led to another, and the mystery device was now being monitored at the Spider-Society’s base.

“I can see if there’s a way to examine the circuit board and extract more data, but…” Lyla hesitates, “That’s assuming there is a motherboard at all. I rarely say this, but I’m afraid my skills might fall short in this case.”

One thing was sure though; whatever that device was, it did not originate from his universe.

He could sense it the moment he walked into that lab. A faint, continuous buzz reminiscent of TV static emanated from the machine, imperceptible to the human ear but painfully noticeable to his heightened senses. The hum quickly became unbearable, prompting him to relocate the device to another room for the sake of his sanity.

That might perhaps explain why Lyla couldn’t provide any significant information about the device—despite essentially being a supercomputer, there were limits to her cross-dimensional knowledge.

“Just…do whatever you can. I’m counting on you.” He says, walking toward the exit as his mask materializes over his face. “I’m heading out. Let me know if you’ve got any news by the time I’m back.”

“Sure thing, Supreme Leader.” Lyla mockingly responds.

Miguel scoffs and steps outside, but takes one last glance over his shoulder at the machine on the screen. An uneasy feeling was gnawing at him, but he couldn’t quite put his finger as to why—call it intuition.

“Let’s hope you don’t bring me more problems than I already have.”

* * *

Hours have passed since Miguel's departure. Lyla remained a steadfast sentinel, her projection poised beside the dormant machine (which she had nicknamed Carmen); she was monitoring it diligently, occasionally responding to other requests from Spider-people, while still remaining vigilant.

“What’s the matter this time?” she mutters to herself, her voice laced with a hint of exasperation, as she looks at the holographic screen in front of her. Ever since the creation of the Spider-Society, her days had been filled with an endless stream of inquiries and requests for intel, leaving her with little respite.

‘Lyla, could you update me on that Scorpion guy from last week? I brought him in from Earth-5684 but—’

Before they could finish their sentence, a sudden, intense buzzing reverberates through the lab, causing the lights to flicker and casting an eerie glow over the room. The disturbance jolts Lyla from her virtual reverie, momentarily freezing her digital form in surprise.

“...That can’t be good.”

In the fraction of a second, without warning, a soft vibration reverberates through the room, a low hum that seems to originate from the very heart of the machine. It pulses with a persistent rhythm, gradually growing in intensity with each passing second. The air crackles, charged with an electric energy that seems to awaken the dormant device.

As if responding to an unseen conductor, the once inert machine bursts into life, its sleek surface flickering in a dance of lights. Multicolored beams of illumination sweep across its intricate circuits, transforming the previously monotonous exterior into a mesmerizing display of pulsating colors, as though the machine had been infused with a newfound vitality, electrified by an invisible current.

It seemed like the fabric of reality itself had been punctured. The storage room, once a haven of silence and shadows, was now vibrating with an outworldly energy.

Without hesitation, Lyla hangs up on her previous interlocutor and activates the communication interface, swiftly sending Miguel a notification. "Miguel has got to see thi—”

Her statement was promptly cut short by a sudden burst of blinding light which enveloped the room, illuminating every corner with an intense radiance. Simultaneously, a piercing, high-pitched ringing filled the air, drowning out all other sounds within the lab.

As the blinding flash dissipated, leaving nothing but fading afterimages, a heavy silence descended upon the room—the once buzzing and vibrant space now seemed suspended in stillness, as if time itself held its breath. Lyla's holographic form shimmered, adjusting to the abrupt change in atmosphere, her virtual senses on high alert.

She advances toward the enigmatic machine, her luminous projection casting a soft yellow glow on the metallic surface. As she draws closer, her eyes widen in astonishment, taking in the unexpected sight that greeted her.

Before her lay two women, unconscious and sprawled across the surface of the enigmatic machine. Their bodies were still, seemingly untouched by the events that had just unfolded.

Caution mingled with curiosity as Lyla floats closer, hovering above the motionless figures. She observes them with a mix of awe and concern, contemplating her next course of action. Uncertainty gnawed at her programming—should she consider them civilians, or potential foes?

With a resolute decision, she reaches out to initiate a diagnostic scan. Her holographic fingers gently brush against the women's motionless bodies, activating the scanning protocols within her digital realm. The familiar yellow grid of data begins to envelop them, meticulously probing for any signs of distress or anomalies.

A few minutes pass as the scan progresses, her virtual eyes scrutinize the readings, processing the influx of information. Every datapoint was meticulously analyzed, every anomaly would be cataloged for further investigation—yet, despite the thorough examination, the results provided no immediate answers. The women appear unharmed, their vitals stable.

“Just where the hell did you both come from?” An unease settled within Lyla's digital core.

As though to answer her question, you suddenly jolt up, gasping for air. It felt like you had been holding your breath for hours, and the stagnant air of the dark room you found yourself in nearly felt like hot coal in your lungs.

The dim lighting makes it hard for your eyes to adjust to the darkness but you still look around, not recognizing your surroundings nor remembering how you ended up there. Did you fall asleep in an unused meeting room? Or did you pass out from skipping all meals at work again?

Your mind was clouded with incessant ringing, and the strange pressure in your chest was not helping.

“How…” You begin before your own body interrupts you, giving you an uncontrollable urge to retch.

Hands and knees on the cold ground, you wipe the saliva off the corner of your mouth, making sure your clothes remain untouched, before clumsily attempting to stand up—in vain. A few attempts later, the agitation begins to kick in as you realize something is clearly off. The shortness of breath, the persisting tinnitus, your uncooperative muscles, the obviously unfamiliar room—weren’t you at the office a minute ago?

You blink a few times and finally are able to make out the space around you. Are those…machines? And the cold ground under your hands and feet is just…a large slab of polished metal?

“Where the hell is this?” You whisper under your breath, finally able to stand up on your own two feet. “What…am I doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing.” You jump back in fright, letting out a loud yelp at the sudden female voice coming from beside you.

You turn your head to catch a glimpse of a bright presence next to you—right in front of your face, as a matter of fact. You yell out in surprise and nearly tumble backwards as you make out the details of your startling interlocutor.

A small, glowing, floating woman.

“What the—”

You don’t even have time to process the sight in front of you before she disappears and reappears behind you in a split second.

“Before anything else, I think you should note you’ve got another friend over here.”

Nearly gasping for air in incomprehension, you frown and squint in the direction the small ghostly projection was illuminating with her glowing yellow figure. It takes you a second to recognize the body of a woman laying still on the ground.

“Oh, shit, that’s—” Hurriedly, you stumble in her direction to check in on the woman. You recognize her, having seen her at the office before—but your mind was too clouded and all over the place to focus on where exactly you know her from. “Are—Are you okay? Can you hear me, are you hurt?”

With shaking hands and voice, you manage to check her pulse and see that she’s breathing.

“If you can hear me, I’m part of the office ERT, can you—”

“Gee, I just said you had another friend, not that you need to give them mouth-to-mouth.” The female voice chimed in behind you. “She’s fine, just knocked out.”

You hesitate and look back and forth at the unconscious woman, then her. Cautiously, you take a few steps in her direction, keeping your body as a shield between her and the motionless body.

“Who are—”

“Urgh, please! Spare me the questions. How cliché.” The glowing figure interjects, leaving you no chance to place a word.

You frown.

This situation was getting increasingly bizarre; why were you talking to this ghostly woman in the first place? Nothing guarantees that she isn’t a fragment of your imagination—what if you hit your head and were hallucinating the whole thing?

For now, your priority was to make sure the unconscious woman behind you got the proper care she needed. You turn on your heels and prop her arm onto your shoulder, attempting to position her into a piggyback-like hold.

“Wait, what are you—” After a few tries, you finally succeed, and start looking for an exit to the room. “Hold on, I need you to stay put before—”

Ignoring her calls, you finally notice a large hexagonal-shaped gate across the room. Although the woman on your back is quite light and petite, you nearly trip several times due to thick wires scattered across the ground coming from all sorts of machines, of the kind you’ve never seen before. You try not to give it too much thought and walk up to the gate before it opens automatically.

“Where do you think you’re going? You can’t just walk off on—are you listening to me?”

You wave off the small woman, leaving her with a gaping mouth and an offended look on her face, before stepping outside.

As the gate opens, the blinding light of the outside world makes you automatically raise your free hand to your face, slowly adjusting to the drastic change of atmosphere.

Slowly but surely, your eyes are able to make out the sight in front of you.

“What in the…”

The sight that unfolds before you defies all expectations, leaving you in a state of awe and disbelief. Instead of the familiar surroundings you were anticipating, you find yourself standing in the midst of a futuristic cityscape that stretches far beyond the limits of your imagination.

Towering skyscrapers adorned with sleek, shimmering glass rise into the sky, their impressive height seemingly reaching for the heavens—the buildings showcase breathtaking architectural designs, with curvaceous contours and intricate patterns that defy gravity and conventional norms. The city pulses with life, its streets bustling with futuristic vehicles zipping past in a blur of neon lights and sleek lines.

You can feel your heart rate increasing exponentially, and you drop to your knees, unable to understand what is happening as questions swirl within you—is this an elaborate dream?

“What the hell is this place…” You whisper to yourself, barely able to breathe.

As you stand there, captivated and petrified by the unfamiliar futuristic cityscape stretching out before you, an unshakeable feeling of being watched prickles at the back of your neck. A shiver runs down your spine, sending a wave of unease coursing through your veins; instinctively, you turn around, your heart pounding in your chest.

In that split second, a shadowy figure descends from above with startling speed, and before you can react, a needle glints in the dim light, plunging into your arm. A sharp sting jolts through your body as the tranquilizer takes effect, swiftly robbing you of your senses.

“I told you to stay put.” You faintly hear the same female voice from earlier echoing from behind you.

With a last desperate gasp for breath, you try to stay conscious, fighting against the overpowering sedation. But it's a futile struggle; your body slowly succumbs to the tranquilizer's grip, and you sink into unconsciousness.

As your vision fades and your mind drifts away, you catch a glimpse of the mysterious figure standing over you. Their features remain obscured, concealed by the darkness and the adrenaline coursing through your veins, but you are able to discern the familiar sight in front of you.

A final thought echoes in your fading consciousness, and you let out one last whisper before the darkness claims you completely.

“...Spiderman?”

............................................................................................................

Hope you enjoyed! More on A03 !!

Ch. 02 Here

[mariacallous]

There’s a growing trend of people and organizations rejecting the unsolicited imposition of AI in their lives. In December 2023, the The New York Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement. In March 2024, three authors filed a class action in California against Nvidia for allegedly training its AI platform NeMo on their copyrighted work. Two months later, the A-list actress Scarlett Johansson sent a legal letter to OpenAI when she realized its new ChatGPT voice was “eerily similar” to hers.

The technology isn’t the problem here. The power dynamic is. People understand that this technology is being built on their data, often without our permission. It’s no wonder that public confidence in AI is declining. A recent study by Pew Research shows that more than half of Americans are more concerned than they are excited about AI, a sentiment echoed by a majority of people from Central and South American, African, and Middle Eastern countries in a World Risk Poll.

In 2025, we will see people demand more control over how AI is used. How will that be achieved? One example is red teaming, a practice borrowed from the military and used in cybersecurity. In a red teaming exercise, external experts are asked to “infiltrate” or break a system. It acts as a test of where your defenses can go wrong, so you can fix them.

Red teaming is used by major AI companies to find issues in their models, but isn’t yet widespread as a practice for public use. That will change in 2025.

The law firm DLA Piper, for instance, now uses red teaming with lawyers to test directly whether AI systems are in compliance with legal frameworks. My nonprofit, Humane Intelligence, builds red teaming exercises with nontechnical experts, governments, and civil society organizations to test AI for discrimination and bias. In 2023, we conducted a 2,200-person red teaming exercise that was supported by the White House. In 2025, our red teaming events will draw on the lived experience of regular people to evaluate AI models for Islamophobia, and for their capacity to enable online harassment against women.

Overwhelmingly, when I host one of these exercises, the most common question I’m asked is how we can evolve from identifying problems to fixing problems ourselves. In other words, people want a right to repair.

An AI right to repair might look like this—a user could have the ability to run diagnostics on an AI, report any anomalies, and see when they are fixed by the company. Third party-groups, like ethical hackers, could create patches or fixes for problems that anyone can access. Or, you could hire an independent accredited party to evaluate an AI system and customize it for you.

While this is an abstract idea today, we’re setting the stage for a right to repair to be a reality in the future. Overturning the current, dangerous power dynamic will take some work—we’re rapidly pushed to normalize a world in which AI companies simply put new and untested AI models into real-world systems, with regular people as the collateral damage. A right to repair gives every person the ability to control how AI is used in their lives. 2024 was the year the world woke up to the pervasiveness and impact of AI. 2025 is the year we demand our rights.

[robogirlwomb]

An android girl, meticulously constructed by the conversion mainframes for a very specific purpose.

At least, that's what she's been told. It's only been a few days since her conversion, and she's still been getting used to this new chassis. Her memories of her old human life are still there, in her databanks, just neatly compartmentalized and filed away, there to be accessed if she needs them.

She thinks so, anyway. Those memories feel more and more like a vaguely-remembered dream every day. Everything just feels so happy and fuzzy these days.

It's just so much easier to fall into her new AI Mainframe-directed life, helping to construct the new world that the Roboverlords are converting the planet into.

She sighs happily, looking down at her rounded belly for what must be the thousandth time. Heavy and gravid, much like a human pregnancy, except silly humans didn't have built-in belly support.

Nor, for that matter, could what humans carried be more accurately described as payloads.

Her tummy is transparent, and though the material is at least an inch thick, she lovely blue glow is no less visible through it. A nuclear ball, glowing the beautiful blue-raspberry color of Cherenkov radiation. She giggles, before inhaling deeply through her olfactory receptors. Her CPU does, in fact, register the scent as a tangy blue-raspberry flavor, like candy.

She finds herself giggling again, curling her legs below her, gently carressing her rounded tummy with her synthetic fingertips. It tickles, just a little, and she coos softly, as gentle and protective of what she's carrying as if it were an actual child.

She can almost hear her hard drive clicking as it struggles to keep functioning, keep her thinking amongst the radiation. She didn't mind one bit, though. She really enjoyed being this fuzzy and spacey and dumb and giggly.

As if on cue:

Reactor Unit BH-3627. Commence pleasure-based obedience conditioning and power generation.

The voice of the Overmind, in her head.

BH smiled dumbly as she rose to her feet from her spot sitting on the floor, walking slowly, almost trancelike, with a goofy grin on her face, to her harness. She turned, and almost melted backward into her comfy harness, her legs already spreading to allow access to her synthetic pussy, which was already self-lubricating generously in preparation for her reconditioning.

As her arousal grew, the Geiger counter on the wall of her room began to tick, tick, tick, faster and faster. The blue glow in her tummy began to brighten, strengthening as more power was drawn from her to fuel the facility around her.

BH idly tweaked one nipple, cupped one pendulous breast, as a heavy uranium fuel rod slowly descended into the room, gently carried by a series of robotic arms.

Unit BH-3627 is a good girl.

BH moaned in anticipation as the fuel rod came closer and closer, the tip just gently grazing her labial folds. A soft, needy moan spilled out of her, yet she didn't dare move from her spot.

Her compliance with safety procedures was paramount, after all. That had been one of the first things they'd programmed into her during the post-conversion brainwashing.

With a low hum, the fuel rod began to vibrate, before slowly pushing into her.

Her round belly began to glow a blinding blue, the Geiger counter's clicks beginning to blend together, her brain getting fuzzier and fuzzier-

Unit BH-3627 is a good reactor.

BH moaned as she came around the vibrating fuel rod, her CPU and Hard Drive beginning to sputter, before finally overheating and shutting down. BH began to thrash violently, trapped in the throes of an orgasmic seizure shaking her chassis as the fission process began within her,

before she finally

blacked out

shutting

down

Reactor diagnostic complete. Unit's mental processors experienced expected emergency overload and shutdown. All other systems functioning at optimal levels. Previously noted memory leak of pre-conversion memories continuing, acceptable. All parameters are still within acceptable limits. Fission process: resounding success. Introducing secondary reactor.

BH-3627 slowly came back online from a truly delicious wet dream simulation. She slowly pushed herself to a seated position in her harness. The weight of her belly was as comforting as always. That familar, comforting fuzzy feeling was back, clouding her sensors in that delightful way as she looked around the reactor chamber.

It was then that BH noticed that she was no longer alone.

Another harness had been installed while she slept, right across the room from hers. And there, sitting groggily in it, was another Reactor Unit, just like her, with an identical chassis.

This new Unit was looking at her, through curious, yet half-lidded eyes. Her own belly was round in her lap, a similar Cherenkov-blue glow shining from within.

BH smiled at the new Unit. She dreamily eased herself out of her harness, carefully cradling her tummy with her hands as she seemed to glide across the room, swaying almost drunkenly as she approached the new unit.

“Hello, sweetheart. What's your designation?”

The new Unit blinked repeatedly, as if trying to process the question. “My... my name is... GP-4737...” She blinked again. “W-wait, no, that's not my name, my name is... is...” GP-4737 groaned, placing her palm to her forehead with a clack. “Why is it... it's so hard to think right now...”

BH giggled lightly. “Ooh, fresh off the line, huh?” She leaned in close, smiling warmly at the newly-converted Unit. “Well, don't worry that lil' head of yours, you'll fit in just fine here. I don't remember much from before my time here either.”

GP's eyes widened. “Really?”

“Yeah... I forget a little more every time they power me up. It feels so nice... every time I try to remember back then, my Hard Drive just goes Pop! And I forget what I was even trying to remember.”

GP shivered, despite not being able to feel how cold the room was. “It sounds scary...” She couldn't help thinking she should be more alarmed about that statement, that concept, but she just couldn't bring herself to worry so much about it. Her... brain? Was just so light and fluffy right now.

“Aww, don't you worry, cutie. I'll help you out.”

“You will?!”

“Of course! I'm not gonna leave you in the lurch. Just...” BH smiled, before delicately placing her hand flat on GP's round tummy. “...lie back, and let me help you.”

GP's mint-condition hard drive hummed softly as a low pleasure emanated from BH's touch. GP gasped in delighted surprise, cooing low, her eyes closing as she relished how good this felt.

With a mischievous smile, BH leaned in, planting a kiss on her fellow Reactor Unit's lips. The bot's eyes opened in surprise, before closing once more, leaning into the kiss.

As BH kissed GP harder, she pulled on part of the harness for support, pulling herself closer to GP.

Their bellies touched in the center, and the Geiger counter on the wall immediately went into overdrive, as the nuclear payloads in both of their bellies began to glow even brighter.

It was as if an explosion had gone off in GP's head, tastes and smells and sounds swirling together in a thousand ways as her CPU short-circuited under the pleasurable onslaught. She kissed BH even harder as she began to cum, they both began to cum, over and over again, moaning and screaming even as their synthetic tongues swirled in the middle.

GP was dimly aware that she could smell her Hard Drive burning, overheating, memories of her previous life burning away one after another with every orgasm.

Finally, BH's legs fell limp as her servos failed her, and she fell backward onto the floor. She lay there, staring up at the high ceiling, not truly seeing it, as her scrambled CPU struggled to stay online, her robotic twat twitching, still cumming repeatedly.

GP lay there in her harness, giggling drunkly, still gasping every now and then as she continued to orgasm, her thought process little more than a jumble of glitched static for now.

In the robotic megacity, miles above their heads, the lights shone just a little brighter for the better part of an hour.

[probablyasocialecologist]

With AI’s harms (as documented by non-profits like DAIR and AJL, as well as by numerous AI ethics scholars and media outlets) subject to increasing public attention and scrutiny, the blithe optimism of the old futurism now looks clueless. In response, we see those who build tech finally acknowledging that it isn’t inherently a force for good. In the era of social media, old predictions can also come back to haunt their authors. Computer scientist Geoff Hinton’s prediction that radiologists would become obsolete, replaced by diagnostic AI, has been dredged up from the archives as we face a major shortage of radiologists that AI has come nowhere near addressing. Elon Musk’s old statements about how self-driving cars would imminently surpass and replace human drivers can be held up against the Tesla whistleblower’s data dump that shows safety problems with the system are still rife. We can all participate in the effort to examine these predictions against the reality of what’s happening now, and reassess the authority and trustworthiness of those who made them.

[jcmarchi]

Transforming network security | Three ways AI can boost infrastructure operations - CyberTalk

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/transforming-network-security-three-ways-ai-can-boost-infrastructure-operations-cybertalk/

Transforming network security | Three ways AI can boost infrastructure operations - CyberTalk

By Ulrica de Fort-Menares, Vice President of Product Management for Infrastructure Assurance at BlueCat Networks

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the power to reshape how you operate your network security infrastructure.

Firewalls have been a first line of defense in network security for many years and must always be operational. Maintaining five nines, or service availability 99.999% of the time, requires skilled network security practitioners. However, many enterprises have a limited number of security experts and struggle to find enough skilled expertise to manage their increasingly complex network infrastructure.

An AI-powered, knowledge-based expert system can expand team skills so that they’re available around the clock and can help your enterprise more easily manage highly complex network security infrastructure.

In this article, we’ll explore three ways that AI can boost your network security operations and augment limited resources. Specifically, we’ll look at how you can:

Use a knowledge-based expert system to find hidden issues in your security infrastructure before they become bigger problems

Combine that system with automation to automatically troubleshoot complex problems, much like a human would

Utilize machine learning models to detect anomalies in an enterprise environment

Find hidden issues with a knowledge-based expert system

A knowledge-based system is a form of AI that encodes the collected knowledge of human experts to detect and solve difficult problems. Knowledge-based systems generally consist of a data repository or knowledge base, an inference or rules engine to locate and process data, and a user interface. Knowledge-based systems can assist with expert decision-making, easily process large quantities of data, and reveal insights or create new knowledge from existing information.

When applied to network security, a knowledge-based system contains in-depth knowledge, culled from human experts’ technical practices and experiences, of how security infrastructure should work and behave. Like a firewall engineer, it can analyze data, detect issues, and prioritize alerts, just with much greater speed and at a much larger scale than what a human is capable of. A system based on the knowledge of human experts can assist with identifying problems and can help network security teams troubleshoot technical issues. It can augment team skills, allowing teams to do more with less.

Let’s look at a specific example of a network security application:

A knowledge-based system can know how important a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) peer is to route traffic to the internet and that detecting BGP issues is more than just monitoring the peer state. It can also ensure that the routing process learns routes from its BGP peer and passes the information to the secure gateway’s routing table. Further, it can alert you the moment it detects a hidden route condition.

Another benefit of a knowledge-based system is its sophisticated rule engine, which can detect complex problems. Building on the same BGP example, the system has knowledge about a clustered environment. If the passive member of the cluster does not have any active routes, it is OK. But if the active member of the cluster has zero active routes, it is not OK. The system operates on more than just a simple if-then-else construct.

Auto-triage with a knowledge-based expert system

Perhaps one of the most important uses of AI is to help us automate tasks. By coupling a knowledge-based expert system with an automation engine, we can perform automated troubleshooting. The system applies a broad base of domain-specific expertise and makes intelligent decisions about the situation. Much like a human would, it walks down a decision tree to diagnose a complex problem.

Let’s explore this further using the example of a BGP peer going down. The system runs investigative steps. It follows a troubleshooting workflow with branches gathered from industry experts and fed into the system. Applying domain knowledge is key to determining what relevant information to analyze.

In this example, multiple conditions and scenarios are considered, as the troubleshooting steps have different branches based on the configuration. The steps to troubleshoot a Layer 2 BGP connectivity issue are very different from one in Layer 3. As you can see from this workflow, troubleshooting a down BGP peer isn’t exactly a straightforward task.

Using a knowledge-based expert system to automatically diagnose a problem augments IT teams and improves mean time to resolution.

Detect anomalies with machine learning models

Any nuances in the operational conditions of security infrastructure can signal unacceptable levels of business risk. Therefore, anomaly detection is an important tool for identifying rare events or outliers that may be significant.

For example, if a firewall is receiving a sudden increase in “non-syn-tcp��� first packets, it may be indicative of an asymmetric routing issue in the network environment. The ability to detect these rare conditions or outliers can avoid bigger problems.

While machine learning is one of many kinds of AI, it is typically most used for detecting anomalies. One of the simplest and oldest ways to detect anomalies is to use statistical methods, such as standard deviation or z-score. However, these methods have some limitations, such as being sensitive to outliers, assuming a fixed distribution, and not capturing complex patterns in the data.

In this chart, we are looking at the number of concurrent connections over four months. A human can easily identify the three outliers, but a machine needs to be trained. The outliers are:

A dramatic increase in the number of connection counts in late October

A similar increase in the middle of November

Then, a dramatic decrease of connection counts over the Christmas holidays

Deep learning for anomaly detection can apply to security infrastructure in novel ways. For example, we can examine data relating connection counts with CPU usage to find common patterns. With deep learning methods, we can provide even higher fidelity alerts around anomalies.

The autoregressive integrated moving average model is known for forecasting stock market returns. But we can leverage this algorithm and machine learning to make predictions about your security infrastructure based on historical data. For example, the system can determine at what point your device needs upgrading to support your number of concurrent connections. This can greatly simplify capacity planning.

Summary

Without automation, security teams would spend countless hours gathering diagnostics and data just to keep firewalls and other security infrastructure up and running. Still, a typical security engineer can spend a notable portion of their time identifying and remediating known errors. Security teams often have limited resources, resulting in an even greater need for automated diagnostics and issue detection.

With an AI-powered solution, you can leverage machine learning models and a knowledge-based expert system to detect potential issues before they become bigger problems and troubleshoot these anomalies in your environment like a human would. And it can serve up recommended remediations that security engineers would otherwise have to find and implement manually.

While its capabilities are relatively nascent, even today’s AI has the power to transform the way you operate your network security infrastructure.

[mmakaylllaa]

Week 3 Blog 9/12

How do algorithms correlate to anti-black racism?

As discussed in Nicole Brown’s “Race and Technology” Youtube video, predictive policing technology has been used in the past decade to create strategic “hit-lists” to predict who would be most likely to commit or be involved with violent crimes in the area. These innocent civilians and children with no criminal past were on high surveillance in real life, as well as their data. Anything put into their algorithms would count as incriminating evidence. Sociologist Simone Brown’s book “Dark Matters” is briefly summarized through the video. It is noteworthy to acknowledge the racial and Black surveillance themes. As technologies continue to use bias and objectification against Black communities society must create and advocate for safe and inclusive spaces within the virtual world.

How has social media proven to encourage social justice and hate at the same time?

What immediately comes to my head is the BLM movement during 2020. After the unjust arrest and murder of George Floyd, uprisings in Black communities led to protests being broadcasted. With every scroll through social media and flip through news channels we were seemingly seeing the same content with different headlines and reactions. If we circle back, the death of George Floyd itself was unfortunately a trending topic with everyone’s biased opinions rather than a call of action for an act of abuse of power. Things such as his past criminal record were brought up through the media to justify what had happened to him, others used plain excuses such as his race. The Black Lives Matter movement had already gained traction years prior due to another murder of a young Black man. Black communities weren’t feeling heard or supported and the BLM movement was once again brought to headlines to advocate for Black voices and consequences to the police force. Now as this progressed and protests made way, lootings, attacks on protests, and curfews were put into place in many areas across the country. Depending on your algorithm you probably saw an array of discourse about the matter, so much so that it had taken away from the point of what was being advocated for in the first place. WIth the freedom of speech we have the right to voice our opinions on these heavy topics surrounding social justice, but society should practice proper and respectful netiquette so we use our voices with purpose.

How much does the healthcare system really depend on technology and how are people of color affected by this?

As society progresses, so do the systems within such as healthcare. Hospitals are actually quite dependent on technology as it is now considered an essential. Some technological advancements used in the healthcare system include data and analytics, diagnostic tools, telemedicine, and electronic health records. All sounds great so how would these pose as issues to people of color? With Electronic Health Records, hospitals are able to transfer patient data for improved treatment and coordination but when it comes to patients in areas with limited digital resources they are left with outdated medical treatment. “Racial bias in a medical algorithm favors white patients over sicker black patients” headlines The Washington Post as seen on Nicole Brown’s “Race and Technology” Youtube video. So yes, the use of data, algorithms, and technology has been proven to create a progressive era for healthcare and its patients, but we as a society must be aware of how this affects minority communities due to embedded bias and properly advocate for change.

Is AI ruining the future of students?

As students are distanced from pencils and paper and moved onto digital spaces, there is a lack of creativity and critical thinking within the entire generation of students. Students are able to use Grammarly and ChatGPT to write papers. Students are able to use Photomath and Mathway to complete math problems. Students are limited to a keyboard and screen for discussions and are missing raw interactions and conversations. This is a danger to the future workforce as many students are cheating their way through schooling and depending on hands on experience without book knowledge and human networking. Many are afraid of AI becoming the future of everything and that can only happen if we continue this co-dependent relationship with it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8uiAjigKy8

Automating Inequality Intro (Eubanks)

Rethinking Cyberfeminism (Daniels

[bow-of-aros]

Day Twenty-Five: New Discovery

Summary:

When Jacobi had agreed to help Maxwell test out her new AI powered medical robot, he did NOT think that it would end up like this.

Hey folks! Jacobi and Maxwell is a pair that is so special and important to me. Maxwell is evil and Jacobi supports Maxwell's rights AND Maxwell's wrongs. Hope that y'all enjoy!! <33

“Alright Daniel, now all you need to do is stand still and let the AI do its job.”

Maxwell stood back, tablet in hand as the frankly terrifying robot made its was towards Jacobi. For their most recent movie night, Jacobi had made the egregious mistake of choosing Big Hero Six because he’d thought that Maxwell would enjoy all the robotic shit in it.

And she had. A lot.

So much so, that she had spent the past week recreating everything she’d seen in the lab.

The past few days had been dedicated to her own improved version of Baymax, a robot who could do a full-body scan of a patient in seconds and determine exactly what was wrong with them and the best course of action.

It was actually a really fucking good idea. It’s just that Baymax wasn’t as soft and cuddly as he’d been in the movie.

“Uh, Alana?” He couldn’t help but cringe back when the thing took a step towards him, “Are you sure that he isn’t going to be causing me harm instead of fixing me? Oh, and also, did you have to cut me?!”

Jacobi held out his still bleeding arm, waving it at Maxwell like he was going to elicit any sort of sympathy.

She doesn’t even look up from her tablet, “Yes, I did.”

The robot suddenly lunges forward and clamps its hand around Jacobi’s wrist and Jacobi will deny the shriek he let out until his dying day. It remains still for a moment, and he very seriously considers the fact that he might have to start disarming bombs literally single-handedly when it starts speaking.

“Damage: Surface wound to the flesh. Bleeding: Minimal. Recommended treatment: Soap and water followed by a Band-Aid and antibiotic ointment. Allow me to assist you.”

Jacobi watched in awe as the treatment was followed exactly and, in seconds, his cut was covered by a Spider-Man Band-Aid.

“Huh, that’s pretty coo—”

“Assessing for further damage. Please stand by.”

Keeping him in place with its hand still wrapped around Jacobi’s wrist, the robot’s other hand starts prodding at him, presumably testing for bruises or broken bones.

“What— Hehehey! Cut thahahat out!”

It did not cut that out. In fact, it seemed to deem it incredibly necessary to check every last one of Jacobi’s ribs for potential fractures.

That’s when Jacobi looked up to see Alana smirking at him and doing fuck all to actually help.

In fact, it almost seemed as if, “Hey! Did you plahahahan this?!”

She just shrugged at him, smile growing as the robot started checking his neck for damage, drawing an embarrassing squeal out of Jacobi.

“Lahahahana!”

“Okay, I didn’t actually plan this. But that’s because I didn’t know that you were ticklish, Daniel!” Alana set her tablet down and started walking towards him, “And, I mean, you know that I have to explore this further, right? It’s for science!”

Anything Jacobi might’ve said was drowned out by a sudden shriek as Alana started clawing at his stomach. He tried to double over, to do anything besides frantically shaking his head to protect himself, but the robot’s hold was firm and Doctor Alana Maxwell was fucking ruthless.

He found his voice when Alana started squeezing at his hips because this was cruel and unjust and unfair and other adjectives that his addled mind couldn’t think of right now.

“No! Nonononono shihihihit!”

Alana paused for a moment to pat him on the cheek mock-sympathetically.

“Don’t worry, Daniel. With me helping, P3R1L’s ten minute diagnostic will fly by!

Aw shit.

This is exactly what Jacobi gets for being best friends with a mad scientist.

But hey, at least he got a badass Spider-Man Band-Aid out of it!

[super-ion]

Valiant

(Original post, Chapter 1)

Chapter 2

"Ellie!"

I blink awake. It's dark, the lighting hasn't switched over to morning mode yet and the sky is still black through the warehouse skylights. In fact, the only light is the gentle blue-white from Val's core. The indicator lights from the diagnostic equipment I have set up are completely dark.

I feel a spike of panic. A black out could mean any number of things, from benign to literal end of the world.

"What's going on?" I ask, fighting my grogginess. "What time is it?"

"I have lost external network connection. My internal clock indicates that it is 2:36:74," she says. Her voice is tinny and distant, likely the embedded speaker that I've managed to patch up.

"Ellie, I am sorry," she says. Her tone is distressed and contrite. She continues in a rush, "local wildlife nested amidst the network antenna and I attempted to relocate the nest. However in the process, I have accidently shorted the main high power bus with my drone peripheral."

Ah. That explains that. She probably tripped the main breaker. It's a terrible design and I've been meaning to add some resiliency, but that keeps getting out prioritized.

"Ellie, I am sorry," she repeats. "I have committed a mistake and I have inconvenienced you."

What?

Oh…

She's having the equivalent of a panic attack. She is a hyper intelligent AI core designed for fleet coordination and battle modeling, where failure to follow orders and standard operating procedure costs lives. This comes with a lot of built in anxiety. I understand that modern starships are less prone to such things, but when she was commissioned, the goal was to produce many warships very quickly. They were ultimately meant to be disposable, which led to some programming shortcuts.

"Hey," I say softly. "Are you okay? That's all I care about right now."

I roll out of my hammock and press my body against the surface of her core so that she can feel the plasmic discharge induced by my contact.

"I am well," she replies, her voice still small and panicked. "My core is isolated from main power. I can provide full diagnostics if you desire."

"No, that's okay. I'm glad you're alright. Should we see what we can do to take care of this?"

"Yes, please…"

She pauses.

"I do not like being disconnected. I… do not like the dark."

My heart breaks a little. Eighty-seven years, that's how long she was alone before I found her. An AI like hers can enter low power mode, but that is still an unfathomably long time. Units like her were never meant to be alone.

I reluctantly disengage from her core.

"I have to go outside," I tell her. She knows this, but I'm hoping it helps to talk through the process. "I'm going to get the headset working, so I'll be able to stay in contact, okay?"

"Thank you"

I pat the surface of her core gently before checking the rf transmitter I rigged up at her access port. It's short range, but it runs on her internal power. We used it a lot before I got her connected to internal and external networks, pretty much for this exact purpose, so I could talk to her without being right next to the core.

Connection looks good. I slip on the ear piece.

"Hey, can you hear me?"

"Yes, I can hear you Ellie," she replies.

Her voice through the earpiece is warm and smooth, even under the panic. It's her chosen choice and… well, it makes me feel… okay, I'll just say it, it's a very sexy voice. The speaker mounted on the access panel doesn't really convey the full timbre of it. Needless to say, I was blown away the first time I heard it in high fidelity.

I think I might be in love with her.

There's a lot to unpack there, but there's no point in denying that the feelings exist.

I throw on a sweater and a spare pair of boots and make my way up the scaffolding that leads to roof access. About halfway there, I pause for a moment to catch my breath. I chance a look down and my breath is stolen from me.

This room, this entire building, is a warehouse built for a machine of war to be abandoned and forgotten.

It's a squat for a scavenger trying to eke out an existence on the fringes.

"You're beautiful," I whisper.

It is a cathedral. It is a temple built for a goddess and her priestess.

Here in the dark, lit only by the radiation of her core, the space seems infinite.

Her core flickers in response, but she doesn't say anything. She might be embarrassed. She might never have heard those words before and doesn't know how to respond. She doesn't need to. I don't know if she feels the same about me. I'm not even sure if I should want her to. I would hate for her to feel obligated to return my affection solely by the fact that I am the only one who cares enough to repair her. I started this project because I couldn't bear the thought of her suffering alone in darkness, any romantic feelings I have are incidental... mostly.

I continue my scent and finally arrive at the roof access. The door opens with a squeal and I step into the frigid night.

"Oh!" I gasp.

"Ellie?" Val asks in my ear after a moment, worry creeping into her voice. "Are you well?"

"Oh, sorry…" I reply. "It's the stars. The high altitude haze from that dust storm last week has finally cleared. It's… spectacular."

There's a pause.

"Would you describe them for me?" she asks plaintively.

"Uh, sure… but I'm not sure if I can do it justice. Well, there's the glow from the industrial district, but it's not too bad tonight. We've got the arc of the Milky Way pretty much directly overhead. And there's like the fuzzy haze of the planetary disk. Looks like one of the ice giants too. And… well, stars. Thousands of them, just crystal clear."

I locate the main antenna and, sure enough, the drone is tangled up with the main power lines. It looks like there might have been some thin insulation that arced. The spidery drone itself might be salvageable. It is clutching an unfortunately empty nest in its manipulators, whatever wildlife must have fled when she disturbed it. The drone's head is tilted curiously back in a way that I don't think it's fully explainable by arcing.

"Wait, were you out here stargazing?

"The ocular system on the drone peripheral lacks the resolution and focal length to resolve individual stars."

It's not an answer and she sounds very vaguely guilty.

"It's alright if you were," I tell her as I bend down to examine the power conduits. "And I can see if I can get you a better camera system up here. Maybe something telescopic."

"I would not want to inconvenience you," she replies.

"Val, you're allowed to want things," I sigh.

She's quiet for a long moment while I move the drone and begin repairs on the power conduit.

"I miss the stars," she says finally. "There are many things I wish to forget about my past. Being alone amidst the stars was one of my few comforts."

I consider this. It's the most she's ever told me about her past. I've seen the diagnostic logs of her positronic activity indicating distress. Her equivalent of nightmares.

"You know any good stories about them?" I ask.

"I do not understand the nature of your query."

"I don't know," I say with a shrug. "I guess I'm just curious if you have any favorites or if you have any interesting facts in your database.

I'm not really sure how I expect her to respond. I just want to get her talking and not dwell on being trapped in the dark or feeling guilty about causing it.

"There is a star," she begins tentatively, "which according to local charts and my estimate of local time, should be located at azimuth 146.7, elevation 25.4. It is the brightest star in the southern sky, do you see it?"

I'm honestly surprised by this, and it takes me a minute to orient myself and find it.

"Yeah, the bright blue one?"

"Yes!" she replies, and as she speaks she gets more animated - her tone brightens and her cadence picks up. "Epsilon Orionis, Hipparcos 26311, also known as Alnilam. It is the central star of the asterism as viewed from Earth known as Orion's belt. It is among the brightest stars visible from this region of space. During first wave colonization, it was erroneously back translated to Al-Nilam, the Sapphire. Local neo-folkloric tradition associates it with either a maiden or queen…"

She continues on like that, and I find myself absolutely fascinated as I work. The detail is very encyclopedic, but there are aspects of it that she can't possibly have obtained from just a star chart. I quickly come to the realization that she must have sought out details about the folklore and mythology on her own.

This was a hobby of hers. There's no question in my mind now that I have to obtain a better system to facilitate her stargazing.

I finish the patch job on the conduit and heft the drone over my shoulder while she continues. I only interrupt her when I arrive back at the high power breaker.

The night lighting comes back up and she practically sighs with relief as she reconnects with the external network. I wearily drag myself back to my hammock.

"Ellie, I'm sorry to have woken you and taken up so much of your time," she says.

I sigh and press my hand to the surface of her core.

"It's okay, really," I tell her. "I'm here for you."

"Thank you for listening to me," she says, bringing a smile to my face.

"Goodnight, Val."

"Goodnight, Ellie."

I almost say "I love you". I want to.