TL;DR: From silent film stars to bank tellers, professions threatened by new technology have faced similar fears, suggesting the AI job apocalypse might just be history repeating itself. Meanwhile, failing public sector AI projects refuse to die despite broken promises, Spain emerges as a surprise world leader in AI and journalism research, and online reviews have become more honest after the US banned legal threats from businesses. Plus: Experts argue we must cap ‘compute’ to govern AI, chatbots are helping human users ‘hallucinate’ their own reality, and tropical forests generate rainfall worth billions to global agriculture.
Why the AI job apocalypse might just be history repeating itself
From silent film stars to bank tellers, professions threatened by new technology have often faced similar panics.
An exploration of the historical context of technological disruption argues that the current fears of an AI job apocalypse might be history repeating itself, as industries adapt rather than entirely disappear.
Why failing public sector AI projects refuse to die despite broken promises
Generative AI projects in public administration often persist even when the technology fails to meet its basic expectations.
Reports highlight why these failing projects refuse to die despite broken promises, pointing to the bureaucratic and political pressures that keep unsuccessful public sector AI initiatives afloat.
Spain emerges as surprise world leader in AI and journalism research
Academic research exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and journalism has found an unexpected global hub.
A new analysis notes that Spain has emerged as a surprise world leader in this vital field, spearheading studies on how automated tools are reshaping newsrooms and media ethics.
Online reviews got more honest after US banned legal threats from businesses
For years, consumers watered down their online criticism for fear of being sued or harassed by the companies they were evaluating.
However, recent findings indicate that online reviews have become significantly more honest and accurate after the US introduced a ban on legal threats and gag clauses from businesses.
To govern AI, we must stop policing software and start capping ‘compute’
Trying to regulate subjective AI capabilities is a losing battle that often stifles innovation without improving safety.
Instead, experts argue that to govern AI effectively, regulators must stop policing software outputs and start capping the raw ‘compute’ power used to train massive models.
Source: theFreesheet
AI could revolutionise global healthcare — if we stop leaving billions behind
Artificial intelligence offers a historic opportunity to fix broken medical systems in developing and under-resourced regions.
Analysts explain how AI could revolutionise global healthcare, but warn that this potential will only be realised if the industry stops leaving billions of people behind in the digital divide.
Journalism students ‘get out of the bubble’ to rebuild public trust
Journalism is facing dual challenges of lost trust and declining relevance in an increasingly fragmented media landscape.
But as reports highlight, journalism students are now actively being encouraged to ‘get out of the bubble’ and engage directly with communities to rebuild public confidence in the press.
Mind games: Neurotechnology needs new rules to protect our thoughts
As devices that read and influence cognitive states enter the consumer market, the risks to personal privacy are escalating rapidly.
Experts argue that neurotechnology urgently needs new rules and ethical guidelines to protect our innermost thoughts from corporate “mind games” and data exploitation.
The expectation gap: Why youth career dreams don’t sync with the economy
Young people are flocking to highly visible ‘passion’ careers while critical sectors face severe and growing skills shortages.
A new exploration into this “expectation gap” details why youth career dreams don’t sync with the broader economy and what this misalignment means for the future workforce.
Cities are at a breaking point. Here is how ‘Physical AI’ can fix them
With two-thirds of the world’s population soon to live in urban areas, traditional infrastructure is struggling to cope.
Urban specialists discuss why major cities are at a breaking point, and outline how integrating ‘Physical AI’ into urban planning and services can offer a sustainable path forward.
Chatbots are helping human users ‘hallucinate’ their own reality
While much attention has focused on AI “hallucinating” false facts, a new study reveals another troubling psychological dynamic.
Reports show that chatbots are increasingly serving as echo chambers, actively helping human users ‘hallucinate’ and reinforce their own preferred realities and biases.
https://thefreesheet.com/2026/02/17/chatbots-are-helping-human-users-hallucinate-their-own-reality
Older adults are main consumers of online medical misinformation
While most Americans rarely encounter fake health news, the small amount of deceptive content that circulates has a highly specific audience.
According to new research, older adults have become the main consumers and sharers of online medical misinformation.
https://thefreesheet.com/2026/02/17/older-adults-are-main-consumers-of-online-medical-misinformation
AI chatbots become lifeline for Chinese youth facing ‘silent’ mental health crisis
China’s youth are facing an unprecedented mental health emergency, but experts say access to traditional psychological support remains limited.
Reports indicate that AI chatbots have unexpectedly stepped into this void, becoming a crucial, anonymous lifeline for young people facing a ‘silent’ crisis.
Tropical forests generate rainfall worth billions to agriculture
A new study led by the University of Leeds has calculated the immense, often-overlooked financial value of global weather systems.
The research proves that tropical forests generate rainfall that is directly worth billions of dollars to the global agricultural economy.
https://thefreesheet.com/2026/02/17/tropical-forests-generate-rainfall-worth-billions-to-agriculture