Las Vegas has long been known as Sin City for its 24/7 access to all kinds of indecencies. - America is quickly becoming Sin Nation. Or, as President Trump put it while discussing prediction markets in the Oval Office last month: "The whole world, unfortunately, has become somewhat of a casino." Why it matters: Once-forbidden vices — weed, gambling and porn — are no longer confined to back alleys or the desert. They're ubiquitous, digital and spreading at a pace that has outstripped the country's social and regulatory guardrails. - Governments didn't turn a blind eye to most of this behavior. They encouraged it. We're scaling sin in real time. This shift in American governance, both at the national and local levels, didn't play out…
The fight between Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and President Trump -backed rival Ed Gallrein is now the most expensive U.S. House primary in history — and it's one of the nastiest, too. Why it matters: The race has turned into an all-out war of inflammatory accusations, savage insults and AI deepfakes. - One pro-Gallrein super PAC ad features an AI-generated Massie dining and holding hands with Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), accusing him of being in a "throuple" and "cheating with 'The Squad' on the America First movement." - Pro-Massie groups have attempted to brutally undermine Gallrein's MAGA credentials, labeling him "woke Eddie" and depicting the retired Navy SEAL in one AI-generated ad as a…
AI is helping make doctors the unwitting stars of deepfake videos that hawk questionable products or spread misinformation, prompting calls from clinicians for more privacy and transparency laws. Why it matters: The profusion of AI content on social media platforms could further erode public trust in the medical establishment. - It could also be used to fuel insurance fraud, steal data and put patients at risk. Driving the news: The American Medical Association called on federal and state lawmakers last week to close legal gaps and modernize identity protections to address what its CEO John Whyte called a public health and safety crisis. - The physicians group also wants a crackdown against deepfake creators and rules to force tech…
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addressed the threat of deepfakes after AI-generated images of her circulated online.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addressed the threat of deepfakes after AI-generated images of her circulated online. PULSE POINTS WHAT HAPPENED: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has spoken out against the circulation of AI-generated deepfake images of her appearing in lingerie, which have been falsely presented as real by political opponents. DETAIL: Meloni addressed the subject on X (formerly Twitter), addressing social media posts containing AI-generated “sexy” photos of her appearing in a bedroom in lingerie, which some have passed off as genuine. According to Meloni, the images are fake, noting that the creator of the images had actually “improved me quite a bit.” She called on people to be more vigilant when…Open
The Vatican is racing to build digital defenses for the artificial intelligence era — and quietly positioning itself as a global referee of what's real. Why it matters: The Holy See is moving faster than most other legacy institutions to shape rules and guardrails in verifying reality, with urgency that's unfolding amid unusual geopolitical and digital clashes. - The Vatican has stepped up cybersecurity partnerships and AI oversight efforts, blending defense with diplomacy and ethics. - It has implemented formal AI guidelines and monitoring structures inside Vatican City. - Church leaders are increasingly warning about a "crisis of truth" driven by AI-generated content, something the late Pope Francis addressed before his…
One of the beauty industry's biggest headaches today isn't split ends or bad blending: It's the influx of bridal parties and other clients seeking 'dos from an AI fantasy . Why it matters: AI-generated content has inundated digital platforms and social media, often leaving makeup artists, hair stylists and others in client-facing roles to serve as the industry's reality checkers. Case in point: "I have to really dive deep into the consultation [with clients] to really let them know the clarity about this. This is a digital fantasy," says Angelina Murphy, a celebrity hair extension specialist and TV personality. - The proliferation of AI content creates unrealistic expectations for clients and an unfair dynamic for artists. - "This is…
An Ohio man was convicted of cybercrimes involving obscene AI-generated images of women and children. But experts warn of the difficulties in going after such cases.
A LEGO man rapping about President Trump 's TACO trades and an image of the commander-in-chief as a Jesus-like figure healing the sick are both symptoms of an AI-fueled propaganda boom driven by the Iran war. Why it matters: AI "slopaganda," as such content is called, is the new reality moving forward when it comes to warfare, propaganda and information warfare experts tell Axios. - "Slopaganda" is typically defined as viral, low-cost AI content that is easy to share, and some of it has convinced influencers to believe in conspiracy theories. Catch up quick: Propaganda has long been a tool used by governments to influence and steer public opinion, but AI tools have made it faster and cheaper to generate, and nearly impossible to avoid…