Audio explainer: why fact-checking alone isn't enough.

Transcript

Fact‐checking plays an important role in challenging false claims, but it is not enough on its own. When corrections are issued after misinformation has already spread on fast moving social media, they often fail to overcome the deep influence of false narratives. This happens because many people remain swayed by misleading ideas due to natural cognitive biases and strong emotional reactions that make post‐hoc corrections less effective. That is why a layered approach is needed. Combining fact‐checking with proactive measures such as media literacy training, interactive educational programs that teach how to verify sources, and pre‐emptive messages designed to build resistance against manipulation creates a more robust defense against misinformation. In addition, while automated fact‐checking tools can help monitor and flag false claims, human judgment is still essential to understand context and nuance. Together, these layered solutions work to build a healthier information ecosystem and empower citizens to make truly informed decisions.

Spot the biometric: Sensor or placebo?

What unique feature do the new multifunctional displays developed by researchers have? 📱✨
Difficulty: Easy
Which biometric technology is gaining popularity in fingerprint sensors? 🔍👆
Difficulty: Medium
What has been a significant challenge in using biometric sensors for urban mobility research? 🚦😟
Difficulty: Hard

What type of wearable are you?

What is a primary function of fitness trackers? 📊
Difficulty: Easy
Which wearable device is known for being discreet and not bulky? 💍
Difficulty: Medium
What advantage do smart rings typically have over smartwatches regarding battery life? 🔋
Difficulty: Hard

5 record figures in satellite internet latency

Starlink's typical latencies are about 20-50 ms.

Geostationary satellites produce round-trip latencies of roughly 600-650 ms.

Customers in Nigeria experience the highest average latency with LEO satellites.

Starlink's median latency averaged 41 ms in the UK.

O3b constellation satellites, in medium Earth orbit, have about 125 ms latency.

Can you identify these famous virtual worlds?

🌐 What is the first virtual world created for online users without a game focus?
Difficulty: Easy
🕹️ Which popular virtual world allows users to create their own avatars and interact in 3D environments?
Difficulty: Medium
🎮 What classic virtual world experienced a significant rise in popularity from 1995 to 2001 and allowed users to build their own environments?
Difficulty: Hard

leadership quotes from female biotech CEOs

If you focus on the difference you can make for the business you're working in, people will see the value.
Judy Chou[3]
We need to diversify beyond the whole orchestra. It's more about your instrument, and how you present it.
Judy Chou[3]
We built Sano with the goal of completely changing the field.
Charlotte Guzzo[2]
Women in biotech can make an impact that hasn't been heard.
Judy Chou[3]
There are always a million obstacles. Always keep a few people around to help validate your belief system.
Paula Ragan[3]

cautionary statements about algorithmic bias

The reproduction of harmful ideas is particularly dangerous now that AI is being tested at scale on millions of people.
Kate Crawford
Algorithmic biases are not only technical failures but often reflect systemic inequities embedded in historical and societal data.
Unknown
If left unchecked, biased algorithms can lead to decisions with disparate impact on certain groups, even without programmer’s intent to discriminate.
Nicol Turner Lee, Paul Resnick…
Fairness is a human, not a mathematical, determination, grounded in shared ethical beliefs.
Unknown
The reliance on AI may create a false sense of objectivity and fairness.
Röösli, Rice, and Hernandez-Bo…

Month-Long Digital Declutter Challenge: A Four-Week Roadmap for Reducing Non-Essential Screen Use

Introduction and Preparation

The One Month Digital Declutter Challenge: Are You In? - Shift Blog | Browser Tips, App Integrations, and Productivity | Shift Browser
Image from: shift.com

Begin your digital declutter challenge by assessing your current digital landscape and deciding which areas cause the most clutter. Make a list of your email accounts, device storage contents (files, downloads, apps), photo libraries, and social media feeds to identify where you need to start. Establish clear goals such as reducing screen time, organizing digital files, and removing non-essential notifications. As one guide explains, digital decluttering involves sorting through emails, photos, apps, and even social media content to remove what you no longer need[7].

Week 1: Declutter Your Inbox and Communication Channels

The first week focuses on your email and communication channels. Start by taking stock of your inbox: delete unnecessary emails, unsubscribe from newsletters that no longer add value, and create folders for important correspondence. For example, a four‐week challenge guide recommends beginning your decluttering by organizing your inbox and establishing clear folder systems[1]. In addition, review your contacts and remove outdated entries, and begin checking your notes application to delete redundant notes or merge similar entries. Integrating daily bite-sized tasks from a 30-day digital declutter plan can make this process less overwhelming and help you build habits that target communication clutter[2].

Week 2: Device Management and File Organization

During the second week, shift your focus to clearing clutter from your devices. Begin by cleaning up your digital workspace on computers and mobile devices. Remove unused apps, organize bookmarks into folders (for example, using workspace management tools), and delete excess downloads and unnecessary files. A detailed checklist suggests taking note of your frequently used bookmarks and deleting those that are no longer needed, as well as periodically wiping your desktop and digital downloads folder[1] Meanwhile, use the advice from a digital declutter checklist to review your browser extensions and calendar clutter, ensuring that only what is necessary remains active[6]. This step establishes a foundation for better performance, organization, and reduced non-essential screen use.

Week 3: Photo, Social Media, and App Declutter

Image from: cleanandscentsible.com

Week three targets photos, social media, and the apps on your devices. Start by sorting through your photo libraries: delete duplicates, blurry images, and organize the rest into clearly labeled albums. As some guides recommend, creating albums by event or subject can help save storage space and reduce the time spent searching for images[1]. In parallel, re-examine your social media feeds and the accounts you follow. Remove those that no longer resonate with your current interests and use tools such as Instagram's reset features or the options to mark content as 'Not Interested'[5]. Finally, delete unused apps or reorganize them into specific folders on your mobile phone, which not only declutters your home screen but also helps reduce temptations to spend excessive time on some applications[7].

Week 4: Desktop Optimization and Establishing Maintenance Habits

The final week of the challenge is about perfecting your desktop and creating lasting habits. Begin by cleaning up your computer's desktop—delete unneeded files, organize remaining ones into categorized folders, and update your background for a fresh visual appeal. This step also involves systematically clearing out caches and cookies from your browsers to enhance performance[1]. In addition, set up scheduled reminders (for instance, every three months) to revisit and clean your digital spaces gradually, thus maintaining your newfound organization. As part of establishing long-term habits, consider planning for digital detox periods, using strategies such as setting internet downtimes or designating screen-free zones in your home to encourage breaks from devices[4].

Troubleshooting and Post-Challenge Maintenance

During and after the challenge, expect some hurdles like feeling overwhelmed when facing large amounts of clutter or accidental deletions. When such issues arise, break the tasks into even smaller, daily sessions and use checklists to track your progress. Many guides suggest that if you have thousands of items (like hundreds or thousands of emails or photos), work in batches and assign specific days to different tasks to avoid burnout[2]. After completing the month-long challenge, integrate routine maintenance measures such as monthly decluttering sessions and quarterly system checks to ensure your digital environment remains organized. Also, consider using tool apps to track screen time and set digital boundaries, as these can help reinforce the habits you've built during the challenge[4].

5 real-world quantum sensor applications

Quantum sensors enhance gravitational mapping, revealing hidden underground structures.

Medical imaging benefits from quantum magnetometers, offering better diagnostic capabilities.

Quantum sensors can detect underground resources like oil and natural gas with high accuracy.

Quantum accelerometers enable precise navigation in GPS-denied environments.

Atomic clocks provide unparalleled time accuracy for GPS systems.

Transformation of Customer Service Workflows with Multimodal AI Agents

Overview of Multimodal AI in Customer Service

Your Complete Guide to Multimodal AI
Image from: quiq.com

Multimodal AI represents a significant advancement in customer service by enabling systems to integrate and analyze diverse data types—such as text, voice, images, and video—to create a unified and context-rich understanding of customer interactions[1]. This comprehensive approach allows organizations to address customer queries more intelligently, merging insights from different channels into a single workflow. By synthesizing varied data inputs into one cohesive model, these intelligent systems pave the way for more precise and responsive customer support that adapts in real time to customer needs[10].

Integration of Voice, Gesture, and Visual Recognition

Modern multimodal AI agents are designed to incorporate not only textual data but also voice, gesture, and visual inputs. For instance, advanced chatbots utilize natural language processing alongside computer vision techniques to analyze customer images and interpret voice tone and sentiment, resulting in a rich and human-like interaction experience[3]. In practice, solutions from Crescendo.ai demonstrate seamless integration where customers can switch between text, audio, and email within the same conversation, while visual troubleshooting capabilities enable the analysis of invoices, screenshots, and other images to instantly pinpoint issues[6]. Additionally, multimodal systems are capable of interpreting non-verbal cues such as facial expressions and gestures to refine sentiment analysis further, ensuring that the responses generated are empathetic and precisely tailored to the customer's emotional state[13].

Automation and Augmentation of Routine Tasks

By integrating multimodal capabilities with robust backend systems, customer service workflows are transformed through the automation of routine tasks and the augmentation of human agent efforts. Systems that analyze texts, images, voice recordings, and videos can automatically classify inquiries, initiate troubleshooting protocols, and even generate specific responses based on the context provided by the customer[4]. For example, when a customer submits an inquiry that involves a damaged product image together with a voice message, the AI system can autonomously verify the defect, cross-check customer history, and trigger a return or replacement process without additional human intervention[10]. Such integration not only lowers resolution times but also frees human agents to focus on more complex and critical issues by providing them with real-time recommendations and streamlined workflows based on comprehensive data analysis[12].

Evaluating Productivity Metrics and Efficiency Gains

The deployment of multimodal AI in customer service can dramatically improve key performance metrics by standardizing and automating a significant portion of interactions. Studies and analyses have shown that AI-driven platforms contribute to enhanced agent productivity by reducing average handling times and accelerating ticket resolutions[2]. Metrics such as the percentage of customer queries resolved entirely by AI, reduced response times, and increased self-service usage all indicate marked improvements in efficiency. For instance, automated systems are capable of achieving faster resolution times while delivering tailored, context-aware responses, which translate into lower operational costs and higher customer satisfaction scores[14]. The ability to monitor these metrics continuously ensures that organizations not only track improvements in agent performance but also make sound decisions regarding additional investments and workflow adjustments.

Change Management and Governance in AI Adoption

Integrating multimodal AI agents into customer service workflows involves significant change management measures to ensure smooth implementation and sustained improvements. A successful transition begins with pilot programs that allow organizations to experiment with small-scale deployments, build confidence among staff, and understand the specific capabilities of the new technology[11]. Engaging stakeholders from the beginning is vital, as is providing comprehensive training and establishing clear governance policies regarding ethical use and data security. Regular monitoring and continuous improvement practices are essential to adapt to new data and evolving customer needs, ensuring that the multimodal systems remain effective over time[11]. Furthermore, by setting up key performance indicators and structured feedback loops, organizations can track both the direct contributions of AI and the benefits derived from enhanced human-agent performance, facilitating transparency and accountability in AI-driven transformations[12].