Théo Bourgeron, The Jacobin 07.05.2024: "The ascent of far-right movements is a tool that specific parts of the business world use to realign the balance of power between business sectors to their own advantage. In the case of the Rassemblement National, it is clear that the party seeks — and secures — support from certain groups of business owners. "
" The Rassemblement National has developed a project for the sector called “sovereign tech.” Many French tech entrepreneurs find this proposal appealing as they struggle with American big tech giants and seek to gain market share in France and Europe, especially in cloud computing and social networks. For example, the Rassemblement National manifesto proposes forcing foreign firms in strategic tech sectors operating in France to sell parts of their businesses to French or European competitors and would require US social networks to implement moderation strategies defined by French lawmakers for French content."
The current study aimed to compare the effectiveness of training in IVR and a non-immersive virtual environment for improving real-world skills in people with ID. Open access article - no login required
Study found that a digitally augmented psychological therapy with therapist support could be as effective as normal treatment. This has cost and resource implications.
We discuss the open research direction and challenges that need to be overcome to realize the full potential of deploying language models for use in clinical contexts. We highlight the need for increased representation in AI systems to ensure there are no disparities in access. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
This study was conducted to assess ChatGPT's ability to provide satisfactory responses (i.e., directly answers the question, accurate, complete and relevant) to medication-related questions posed to an academic drug information service. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
A scoping review was undertaken to examine existing deprescribing apps, identifying features including interactive and artificial intelligence (AI) elements. Open access article - no login required
By Jonathan Turley (Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University.)
I hope that our readers have read the response of NewsGuard's Gordon Crovitz to my recent criticism of the company's rating system for news sites. He makes important points, including the fact that the company has given high ratings to conservative sites and low ratings to some liberal sites. I have mutual friends of both…
I am particularly concerned over the reported government contracts given to NewsGuard by the Biden Administration as well as agreements with teacher unions to help filter or rate sites. The Twitter Files have shown an extensive system of funding and coordination between agencies and these companies. The funding of such private rating or targeting operations is precisely what I have warned about in congressional testimony as a type of “censorship by surrogate.” The government has been attempting to achieve forms of censorship indirectly that it is barred from achieving directly under the First Amendment.
Douglas Jones. "Although the technology used in voting continues to evolve, it remains vulnerable to both malicious and unintentional errors. To protect the systems against both, explains Douglas W. Jones, a computer scientist at the University of Iowa and co-author of the book Broken Ballots, election officials need to be able to check and double-check the election’s results."
The current study aims to examine the efficacy of CBT delivered via videoconferencing (VCBT) for GAD using a randomized controlled trial design comparing an immediate treatment group to a waitlist control. Open access article - no login required
In this review, we delineate the literature establishing strong support for remote delivery of prolonged exposure (PE) and cognitive processing therapy (CPT); there is also promising support for written exposure therapy (WET) and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT). We also mention adjunctive and integrative modifications to better serve patients with PTSD. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
This study compared three artificial intelligence (AI) platforms' potential to identify drug therapy communication competencies expected of a graduating medical doctor. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Informing product leads and their teams of innovators, designers, and developers as they work toward safety, security, and trust while creating AI products and services for use in education.
'Findings strongly point toward the fact that personalised AI-enabled chatbots can increase self-referrals to mental health services without negatively impacting wait times or clinical assessments. Critically, the increase in self-referrals is more pronounced in minority groups, suggesting that this technology may help close the accessibility gap to mental health treatment. The fact that ‘human-free’ was identified as a positive by participants suggests that reduced stigma may be an important mechanism.'
This systematic review evaluated feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of digitally enhanced psychological assessments and treatments for paranoia across the paranoia continuum. Open access article - no login required.
Editorial. Digital platforms and artificial intelligence's (AI) influence on our daily lives often go unnoticed. From the algorithms that support our smartphones and driverless vehicles to the medical diagnostic systems used by health professionals, AI is increasingly taking over decision-making tasks traditionally performed by humans. While enhancing human efficiency, this shift also introduces a myriad of ethical and legal uncertainties that demand our attention.
Free Access Article
Overall, ICT fall interventions improved fall efficacy but not cognitive function. For quality of life (QOL), mixed results were found depending on the assessment tools.
Open Access article - no password required.
'As the NHS moves towards providing Enhanced Primary Care Services, which include mental health services for people with more complex presentations, such an intervention may offer practitioners an easily implementable tool which could help reduce escalation to secondary care and improve mental health literacy'
This meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy of guided self-help ICBT (GSH ICBT) and unguided self-help ICBT (SH ICBT) against active and passive control conditions in adults with OCD. Open access article - no login required.