Originally published at: https://peakprosperity.com/daily-digest/ai-predicts-human-behavior-concentration-camps-coming/
Geopolitics
In the Middle East, Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz has proposed a plan to establish a “humanitarian city” in Rafah, Gaza, for nearly 2 million Palestinians. Critics have reportedly labeled the plan as akin to a “concentration camp” due to forced relocations and armed perimeter control. This proposal appears to contradict earlier assurances made by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to Israel’s High Court. Plans for Palestinian emigration have faced international opposition over concerns of ethnic cleansing. Meanwhile, the Jerusalem Post has criticized the use of the term “concentration camp” as a mischaracterization, suggesting it inflames tensions unnecessarily.
Separately, following a ceasefire with Israel, Iran is reportedly strengthening its air defenses with Chinese surface-to-air missile systems, allegedly paid for with oil shipments, indicating a growing alliance between Beijing and Tehran, though the systems are said to have limited effectiveness against advanced Israeli aircraft. An Israeli defense analyst has further noted that Israel’s technological edge, particularly with F-35 aircraft, continues to pose a significant challenge to these systems.
Additionally, the U.S. is taking steps to ban Chinese ownership of American farmland due to national security concerns. The Department of Agriculture, as announced by Secretary Brooke Rollins on July 8, is implementing reforms to increase transparency and collaborate with states and Congress to restrict such holdings. China Daily, however, has criticized this move as protectionist, warning of potential retaliatory measures that could impact global trade relations.
US Politics
President Trump has resumed arms shipments to Ukraine, issuing a statement emphasizing the need to support their defense. This marks a shift from his earlier stance on mediation, a change that has drawn criticism from some, including Ron Paul, who reportedly views it as undermining neutrality. The Hill reports that administration officials justify the move as necessary to support Ukraine’s sovereignty against ongoing aggression.
Domestically, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-1 to allow Trump to proceed with federal workforce reductions across multiple departments, overturning a block by a San Francisco judge. This decision aligns with campaign promises tied to DOGE’s efficiency initiatives, though Justice Ketanji Jackson was the sole dissenter. The Washington Post notes concerns that such cuts could lead to job losses and disrupt essential federal services, echoing Jackson’s dissent.
Technology
Researchers in Munich have developed an AI system named Centaur, designed to predict human behavior across various decision-making scenarios, from everyday choices to complex problem-solving. Trained on data from 60,000 individuals making 10 million decisions, Centaur reportedly outperforms traditional cognitive models and mirrors human brain activity patterns, according to a study published in Nature. The system shows potential for applications in marketing and mental health, though concerns about privacy and manipulation have been raised. The research team has stated a commitment to ethical public research and plans to expand the dataset. Privacy Watch has highlighted the risk of misuse by corporations or governments, urging stricter regulations to prevent potential manipulation.
Economy
The U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has initiated cuts to Pentagon contracts, targeting a department with an $850 billion budget that has not passed an audit since 2018. Goldman analysts report notable cancellations affecting companies such as Booz Allen Hamilton and Leidos, as part of a broader push for efficiency amid ongoing concerns about financial mismanagement. Federal Times, however, warns that such aggressive cancellations could disrupt critical defense projects and potentially compromise national security.
Globally, the U.S. dollar’s share in foreign exchange reserves has reportedly fallen below 50%, with gold and other currencies now accounting for a combined 38% share, up from 22% in 2007, according to analyst Luke Gromen. Some commentators counter that the dollar remains the dominant reserve currency, suggesting the shift is not significant enough to undermine its position in the near term.
Additionally, Japan’s 30-year bond yield has risen above 3%, prompting questions about the Bank of Japan’s control over its financial markets. Bloomberg reports that the Bank of Japan remains committed to its yield curve control policy and is prepared to take necessary actions to manage yields.
Environment
More severe flooding has impacted parts of the U.S., with Ruidoso, New Mexico, experiencing water levels rising 20 feet in 30 minutes, breaking records and damaging structures, according to reports from Nick Sortor. In Texas, floods have resulted in over 100 deaths, following cloud seeding operations conducted two days prior by Rainmaker. The company’s CEO, Augustus Doricko, has denied any connection, citing meteorological evidence that attributes the flooding to a natural weather system driven by moist Gulf air. Experts have noted that weather modification technology has limited capacity to produce such extreme rainfall, though the debate over its impact persists. EcoJustice has called for more transparency and an independent review of Rainmaker’s operations to fully rule out any contribution to the disaster.
Energy
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a report warning that retiring over 100 gigawatts of power generation capacity by 2030 without sufficient replacement could significantly increase blackout risks. The report indicates that annual outage hours could rise from single digits to over 800, citing reliance on intermittent sources like wind and solar alongside growing demand from AI data centers. On July 8, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at enhancing grid reliability by prioritizing firm generation sources such as coal, gas, and nuclear, while ending subsidies for foreign-controlled energy sources. Additionally, a related bill reduces clean energy tax credits. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation has also expressed concerns about potential summer power shortages. However, some experts, as reported by The Guardian, argue that the risks of blackouts are overstated and that advancements in energy storage and grid management could address these concerns, advocating for continued investment in renewables.
Sources
DoE Warns of 100x Blackout Risk by 2030 as Trump Signs Energy Security Order
Allowing 104 GW of firm generation to retire by 2030—without timely replacement—could lead to significant outages when weather conditions do not accommodate wind and solar generation.
Source | Submitted by PhilH
Israel Defense Minister Unveils Plan for ‘Concentration Camp’ in Gaza’s Rafah
“Within a few months…Gaza will be totally destroyed. The Gazan citizens will be concentrated in the south. They will be totally despairing, understanding that there is no hope and nothing to look for in Gaza, and will be looking for relocation to begin a new life in other places.”
Centaur AI: The Mind-Reading Tech That Predicts Your Next Move
“We’ve created a tool that allows us to predict human behavior in any situation described in natural language – like a virtual laboratory.”
Deep State Trembles as DOGE Slashes Pentagon Contracts in Bold Efficiency Push
Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) contract cancellation activity has picked up at the Department of Defense.
Iran Bolsters Air Defenses with Chinese Missile Systems Post-Israel Ceasefire
Iran has taken possession of Chinese surface-to-air missile batteries as Tehran rapidly moves to rebuild defensives destroyed by Israel during their recent 12-day conflict.
U.S. Pushes to Ban Chinese Ownership of American Farmland Over Security Risks
Land owned by foreign nationals—particularly those from countries of concern…or other foreign adversaries—is a potential threat to national security and future economic prosperity.
Cloud Seeding in Texas Confirmed Days Before Deadly Flood, CEO Denies Link to Disaster
The CEO of a weather modification technology company has confirmed that cloud seeding operations took place in Texas just two days before the deadly central Texas flood occurred.
Dollar’s Dominance Dips: Gold and Other Currencies Gain Ground in Global Reserves
USD share of global FX reserves (including gold) now <50%.
Source | Submitted by Chris Martenson
Japanese 30-Year Bond Surges Past 3%, Raising Concerns Over Bank of Japan Control
The Japanese 30-year bond just blew past 3%.
Source | Submitted by Chris Martenson
Trump’s Ukraine U-Turn: Arms Shipments Resume Amid Policy Flip-Flops
Trump confirms arms for Ukraine U-turn days after Pentagon halts delivery.
Ruidoso, New Mexico Faces Catastrophic Flooding as Water Levels Surge 20 Feet in 30 Minutes
The water level has risen 20 FEET in a matter of 30 minutes, shattering previous records
Supreme Court Rules 8-1 in Favor of Trump’s Federal Workforce Cuts
Now the Supreme Court is giving the Trump administration victory some almost six months into the president’s second term here, saying that they can go forward with these reductions in forces.
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: The Guardian, Jerusalem Post, Israeli Defense Analyst, China Daily, Privacy Watch, Federal Times, Mohamed A. El-Erian, Bloomberg, EcoJustice, The Hill, and The Washington Post.
