“Google launched its most ambitious AI model called Gemini on Wednesday [December 6, 2023], which is described as Google’s “largest and most capable AI model.” The company announced a “Gemini era” where the model will be used widely in companies and consumer devices like Google Pixel phones. Unlike existing AI…
Articles Posted in David Badertscher
Update to Open AI Terms of Use and Privacy
Yesterday, December 12, 2023, we received an email from Open AI announcing changes to their Terms of Use and Privacy Policy that will make it easier to understand what to expect from Open AI when you use their services. The changes will become effective on January 31, 2024. Below is…
Is It Time for a New US Constitutional Convention?
Introduction. This posting provides information to help explore the key arguments surrounding this question from both positive and negative perspectives and to provide a useful framework to inform the debate. Commentary is organized into the following categories: Survey Information, Historical Context, Current Challenges, Arguments for a New Constitutional Convention, Arguments…
American Bar Association and AI
In a previous posting on this blog, Reflections of a Retired Law Librarian: From Mimeograph to Generative AI, I urged professional organizations, including the American Bar Association (ABA) and the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL), to appoint committees or commissions at the highest level to facilitate the development and…
The Potential for Using Generative AI to Help Regulate Criminal Behavior
Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence technology that can produce various types of content, including text, imagery, audio and information that is artificially manufactured. The recent interest in generative AI has been driven by the simplicity of new user interfaces for creating high-quality content, including text, graphics and…
S.539, Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act of 2023
New from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Cost Estimate, August 23. 2023 As ordered reported by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, July 30, 2023 Summary: S. 359 would require the Supreme Court and other federal courts to implement several ethics and transparency practices, and would direct federal agencies to…
An Overview of Death Penalty in the United States
Introduction: The death penalty, also known as capital punishment, is the practice of executing individuals who have been convicted of certain serious crimes, typically murder. The United States has a complex and controversial history with the death penalty, involving legal, ethical, and societal considerations. This posting provides an overview of…
Congressional Budget Office: S.1464, Enhancing Department of Homeland Security Drug Seizures Act
As ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on May 17, 2023 This bill would: • Authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide danger pay allowances to employees who are stationed abroad in certain areas • Create new criminal penalties for destroying, damaging,…
The Urgency for Greater Cybersecurity
Cyber risk is one of the great concerns sitting at the top of any government, as hacker attacks and other security breaches have the potential to jeopardize the global economy and other aspects of everyday life. Wide reporting indicates the proliferation of cyber attacks worldwide at a substantial and increasing…
CBO Director: Testimony on Social Security’s Finances, July 12,2023
CBO’s Director, Phillip Swagel, testifies about the agency’s projections of Social Security’s finances before the Senate Budget Committee. Established in 1974, The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is a federal agency within the legislative branch of the United States government. It is charged with providing members of Congress objective analysis of…