Originally published at: https://peakprosperity.com/daily-digest/gold-and-silver-hit-new-highs-ai-threat-detection-comes-to-american-law-enforcement/
Technology
Simon Dixon has announced the launch of GIDEON, described as America’s first AI threat detection platform for law enforcement. The system is said to monitor the internet continuously using advanced technology to identify threats and notify local agencies. The ACLU has raised concerns about potential privacy violations and risks of profiling due to the platform’s extensive data collection, according to their recent statement.
Separately, a Stanford University study found a 13 percent relative decline in employment for early-career workers aged 22-25 in AI-exposed roles such as software development, while older workers and less automatable fields showed greater stability. However, some industry leaders, like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman argue that AI also creates new job categories, such as roles in AI management, potentially offsetting losses.
Economy
Precious metals prices are rising, with gold surpassing $3,500 per ounce and silver reaching $40, its highest since 2011, amid market expectations of rate cuts and inflation concerns.
Energy prices are reflecting concerns about global economic conditions, with hedge funds reducing bullish crude oil bets to levels not seen in nearly two decades. This shift is attributed to fears of a supply glut and declining demand in major economies like the U.S. and the Eurozone, according to market analyses. Historically, falling oil prices have been associated with economic downturns, prompting questions about the Federal Reserve’s response to potential deflationary pressures.
Nvidia is facing competition from Alibaba, which has introduced a domestically built AI chip for inference tasks. This development comes amid regulatory barriers limiting Nvidia’s advanced products in China, with Nvidia’s shares reportedly dropping by 3 percent following the announcement.
Lastly, President Trump has closed the de minimis loophole, ending duty-free entry for packages under $800. This measure targets cheap Chinese imports and fentanyl precursors but has reportedly led to shipping disruptions in countries including Korea, Japan, and the UK. Logistics firms like DHL have warned about confusion and potential bottlenecks due to the new duty collection system.
US Politics
House Republicans, led by James Comer and Nancy Mace, have initiated an investigation into the Wikimedia Foundation to examine whether Wikipedia adequately addresses alleged bias and foreign manipulation of its content. The inquiry focuses on reported coordinated efforts to influence public opinion through edits on topics such as Middle East conflicts and pro-Kremlin messaging, with potential implications for AI systems trained on Wikipedia data. Lawmakers have requested records of editorial policies and actions against editors violating rules by early September, amid claims from some sources of a left-leaning bias on the platform. The Wikimedia Foundation has stated their commitment to maintaining a neutral platform and willingness to cooperate with the House Oversight Committee to address these concerns.
Health
The FDA has revoked the Emergency Use Authorization for Covid-19 vaccines, a policy change that ends mandates previously linked to job losses and school expulsions. Under the direction of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s administration, vaccine access is now limited to individuals over 65 or those with specific health conditions, while healthy individuals are no longer subject to government mandates. Some media outlets have reported this as an approval of updated shots, though the policy primarily restricts blanket recommendations and imposes strict conditions for children’s access. Critics, according to various reports, argue that while mandates have ended, issues such as pharmaceutical liability protections remain unresolved. Additionally, internal resistance at the CDC has reportedly resulted in several high-profile resignations. The American Academy of Pediatrics has expressed concern that these restrictions could hinder families’ ability to protect children, potentially impacting public health efforts, as per their recent statement.
Sources
FDA Revokes Covid Vaccine Emergency Authorization, Ends Mandates in Major Policy Shift
The EUA is gone. Mandates are dead. The whole “we’re all in this together or you’re fired” era has been quietly escorted out the side door.
Source | Submitted by Walberga
Simon Dixon Unveils GIDEON: America’s First AI Threat Detection Platform for Law Enforcement
“I’m about to launch GIDEON, America’s first-ever AI threat detection platform built for law enforcement.”
Source | Submitted by pnwdefector
AI Threatens Young Workers: Stanford Study Reveals Entry-Level Job Losses
“In contrast, employment for workers in less exposed fields and more experienced workers in the same occupations has remained stable or continued to grow.”
Energy Prices Signal Economic Weakness: Is the Fed Behind the Curve?
Historically, when oil prices fall significantly, the economy follows.
Nvidia Slips as Alibaba Unveils New AI Chip to Rival U.S. Tech Giant
Alibaba has developed a new AI chip “that is more versatile than its older chips” and could begin “filling the void left after Nvidia ran into regulatory barriers to selling its products in China.”
Trump Shuts Down De Minimis Loophole, Ending a Dark Era of Trade Abuse
“The de minimis exemption has been abused, with shippers sending illicit fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, precursors, and paraphernalia into the United States in reliance on the lower security measures applied to de minimis shipments, killing Americans.”
House Republicans Investigate Wikipedia for Bias and Foreign Influence
The GOP lawmakers warned that such edits not only shape public perception but also risk seeding bias into artificial intelligence systems that rely on Wikipedia for training data.
Hedge Funds Cut Bullish Oil Bets to 18-Year Low Amid Glut Fears
Hedge funds winnowed their bullish position on US crude to the lowest in about 18 years as uncertainty over economic policy compounded growing concerns about an oversupply.
Source (Paywalled)
Gold Prices Soar Past $3,500/oz Amid Rate Cut Expectations and Rising Inflation
BREAKING: Gold prices surge above $3,500/oz as markets price-in rate cuts into rising inflation.
Silver Surges to $40, Highest Since 2011
$Silver at $40, first time since 2011.
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: American Academy of Pediatrics, ACLU, Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO, DHL, Reuters, Wikimedia Foundation.