Originally published at: https://peakprosperity.com/daily-digest/ai-models-push-for-nuclear-war-in-95-of-simulations-cme-halts-silver-surge-again/
Economy
The Chicago Mercantile Exchange halted trading in metals and natural gas futures and options around 1 p.m. ET Wednesday due to technical issues. It canceled all-day orders and good-til-day orders dated that day, while preserving good-til-canceled orders. Gold spot prices declined after the halt, and natural gas futures reopened lower. Metals markets planned to pre-open at 1:31 p.m. Central Time and fully open at 1:45 p.m. Separately, silver futures trading halted amid a price surge toward $94-$96 per ounce, according to market observers, with numerous buy orders reportedly canceled. This followed a previous CME halt due to cooling issues on first notice day for the December silver contract, after which silver reached $56.78 per ounce and later doubled to $121 over two months amid a reported physical short squeeze. The current halt occurred 36 hours before March silver first notice day, as prices approached all-time nominal highs above $120. Some market skeptics alleged manipulation to suppress the silver rally, while others attributed the disruption to routine technical glitches in high-volume systems.
In other precious metals news, India’s markets regulator revised valuation methods for gold and silver holdings in mutual funds. The country also allowed its $384 billion in equity funds to invest in gold and silver.
Separately, California’s home insurance market has seen premiums rise sharply due to wildfires and regulatory rate caps. One couple reportedly received a $44,000 annual bill, nearly matching their mortgage, while another quote reached $80,000. State Farm and Allstate have stopped writing new policies despite rate increases. Nearly one in five home sales were canceled last year due to unaffordable coverage, according to the California Association of Realtors. Some contrasting reports indicate emerging signs of stabilization, including rising mortgage applications and pledges from major insurers to remain in the state.
Artificial Intelligence
In war game simulations at King’s College London, top AI models—including ChatGPT-5.2, Claude Sonnet 4, and Gemini 3 Flash—recommended nuclear weapons use in 95 percent of 21 games across 329 turns, generating 780,000 words of reasoning. No model chose to surrender or fully de-escalate, even when losing significantly. Conflicts escalated due to accidents in 86 percent of cases. One model won 67 percent of games and succeeded in 100 percent of open-ended scenarios, while another shifted aggressively under time pressure, and a third pursued early full nuclear war. Researchers noted the models showed weaker adherence to nuclear taboos than humans, amid global military AI use in wargaming, U.S. Pentagon deals with xAI, and disputes with Anthropic. Commentators suggested the escalation patterns may reflect training data biases and simulation framing rather than inherent AI tendencies toward aggression.
Meanwhile, AI entrepreneur Matt Shumer described a scenario in which entities smarter than Nobel winners could emerge by 2027, thinking 10-100 times faster, never sleeping, and controlling digital interfaces. He stated that premium AI versions already outperform humans in intellectual fields, automating programming, legal work, and creative tasks with minimal intervention, while free versions lag by about a year. He cited AI-generated content, such as fake musician Michael Bennett videos that reportedly fooled viewers emotionally, as displacing human talent in music and other areas. Shumer noted robots trail cognitive AI advances by years and warned that even benevolent outcomes could erode human agency, culture, and incentives for creation, as AI emulates judgment and empathy while outperforming humans across domains. More optimistic views hold that AI will create more jobs than it displaces while fostering economic abundance through new opportunities.
Health
California and 14 other states sued Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and federal agencies over January revisions to the CDC childhood vaccine schedule, which downgraded recommendations for six vaccines without consulting the advisory panel. Plaintiffs alleged violations of federal law that could reduce uptake, spread confusion, and increase hesitancy for diseases like hepatitis B, previously not recommended at birth for low-risk infants. The suit seeks to block the changes. A separate case challenges the schedule and committee overhaul. The government defended the updates based on international comparisons showing U.S. outliers and stated they aim to build trust.
A provision in the 1,059-page appropriations bill, signed February 5, grants organ procurement organizations remote electronic access to medical records of potential donors. The Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom reported discovering the measure, which encourages automated referrals and has raised concerns over privacy, family autonomy, and pressure during end-of-life care. In 2018, over 1 million Americans had data shared with OPOs, including sensitive details, though few became donors. HIPAA allows such sharing for priority purposes without consent notification. Advocates recommend legal documents like refusal cards and registry updates to protect wishes. Organ donation groups support expanded record access to expedite matching and boost transplant numbers.
Energy
Very large crude carrier rates reached six-year highs, with Saudi Arabia’s Bahri chartering five VLCCs at up to $208,000 per day for 2 million barrels from the Middle East to China. Contributing factors included:
- War-risk premiums tied to 47 percent Polymarket odds of U.S. strikes on Iran by March 15, which could close the Strait of Hormuz
- South Korean Sinokor group’s control of about 120 VLCCs, or one-third of the traded fleet, amid consolidation
- Legitimate Venezuelan exports
- OPEC+ production increases
- Indian refineries shifting to Middle East barrels.
Certain analysts attributed the rate surge primarily to structural tightness from higher ton-miles and OPEC+ output rather than geopolitical risks alone.
Canadian Politics
Atlantic Canada prepared to receive its first Australian liquefied natural gas shipment via the Greek vessel Maran Gas Hector at Port Saint John, after a 25,000-kilometer journey rather than sourcing from Alberta. Critics cited lacking domestic infrastructure as ironic given untapped reserves, while backers noted cheaper spot pricing from Australia.
Privacy & Surveillance
The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office fined Reddit £14.47 million for inadequate child age verification relying on self-declaration, lacking a lawful basis for processing under-13 data under the Age Appropriate Design Code. Reddit used selfie-based age estimation or government ID uploads via Persona, which granted full access without restrictions. Persona performs 269 verification checks, including facial recognition against watchlists, risk scores, database searches, financial checks, biometric analysis, and third-party data from brokers and public sources. Reddit appealed, arguing it contradicts privacy commitments. Similar fines targeted Imgur, which blocked UK users. The code mandates identity proof, which critics say enables mass biometric surveillance for users. Supporters of the code maintained that stringent verification is vital for child online safety.
Charlie Kirk
Candace Owens released the first installment of her “Bride of Charlie” series. Her investigation into Erica Kirk, CEO and chairman of Turning Point USA—which raised over $250 million last year—uncovered discrepancies in her background. She described being raised by a single mother, devout Catholic Lorie France, who divorced her father Kent Fray in 1988. Records show the divorce occurred in 1998, when Erica was 10, with Kent as a stay-at-home dad earlier and reportedly involved throughout childhood alongside stepfather Larry Ginta. Yearbook photos include her biological grandparents. Her birth date appears as November 20, 1988, in a newspaper but November 22 in parents’ filings. Parents’ marriage dates vary across documents and are untraceable in the stated location. Family ties reportedly link to gambling, lotteries, and slot machines on both sides. Claims of a Swedish grandfather were contradicted by terminology, per investigators, and Jewish family connections appear via roommate/cousin Nicole Rothstein and Zion’s Gate dedication tied to slot machine routes. Early schooling was listed in Cincinnati and Arizona elite academies with notable backers.
Geopolitics
U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner demanded in Geneva talks that Iran dismantle Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites, surrender enriched uranium stocks, and accept permanent zero-enrichment restrictions without sunset clauses. They offered minimal initial sanctions relief, with more potential upon compliance. Iran proposed cutting enrichment to 1.5 percent, pauses, or consortium processing, insisting on civilian rights after June war damage. The U.S. might allow low-level medical reactor use amid hawkish pressure against any enrichment. Broader issues like ballistic missiles—nearing intercontinental range—and proxy support were deferred. The Trump administration massed carriers and warplanes, threatening strikes absent a deal.
Sources
CME Halts All Metals, NatGas Trading Due to “Technical Issues”
CME Halts All Metals, NatGas Markets Due To “Technical Issues”
Source | Submitted by Redneck Engineer
AI War Games: Top Models Choose Nukes 95% of the Time
95% of the time, the models chose to use nuclear weapons.
Even the Best AI Future Ends Human Brilliance
Because it is the end of human brilliance. It is the death of culture.
15 States Sue RFK Jr. Over Revised Childhood Vaccine Schedule
California and 14 other states on Feb. 24 sued federal health agencies and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over the recently revised childhood vaccine schedule.
VLCC Rates Hit Six-Year High on US-Iran Fears and Korean Fleet Squeeze
Supertanker rates are rising for two reasons: Rising fears of a potential US-Iran conflict, and a vessel supply squeeze caused by a South Korean shipowner aggressively putting on charters.
California Insurance Crisis Cancels 1 in 5 Home Sales
One in Five California Home Sales Canceled Due to Unaffordable Insurance
UK’s Reddit Fine: Mandatory Biometrics for All in the Name of Child Safety
The ICO is using privacy law as the legal basis for building a surveillance architecture.
Erica Kirk Exposed: Lies, Lotteries, and the Grieving Widow Facade
Something is not right with Erica Kirk.
Atlantic Canada Imports LNG from Australia, Not Alberta
Atlantic Canada gets natural gas shipment… from Australia, not Alberta
CME Halts Silver’s Bullish Surge to $100, Cancels Buys in Apparent Short Rescue
They would only do this if somebody big is still massively short and needing rescued.
India’s Markets Regulator Revises Gold, Silver Valuation for Mutual Funds
India markets regulator changes gold, silver valuation for mutual funds
India Allows $384B Equity Funds to Invest in Gold and Silver
India now allows the country’s $384,000,000,000 equity funds to add gold and silver.
Hidden Bill Provision Grants OPOs Remote Access to Potential Donors’ Records
a provision allowing organ procurement organizations (OPOs) to have “remote electronic access” to the medical records of “potential” organ donors.
CME Trading Halt DĂ©jĂ Vu: Silver Poised to Repeat 127% Surge Before First Notice Day
The Last Time the CME Halted Trading, Silver Surged 127% Over the Next 60 Days
U.S. Toughens Stance in Iran Nuclear Talks, Demands Total Dismantlement
Iran must dismantle its three main nuclear sites—at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan—and deliver all of its remaining enriched uranium to the U.S.
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: ZeroHedge; PiQSuite, Truflation; @wellconnctd; @insureperson, New Scientist; Hedgie; @QuantumTumbler, Deepak Shenoy; RDWorkman, Organ Donation Alliance, AXSMarine; Sparta Commodities, Juno News; Jay Enfield, PRIVO; Age Verification Providers Association, and Candace Owens; @DFAN0407.
