The Download: thermal energy networks, and AI propaganda

The information: 13 US states are actually implementing underground thermal vitality networks to scale back buildings’ carbon emissions as a part of a nationwide push to undertake cleaner vitality sources.

The way it works: Thermal vitality networks use pipe loops that join a number of buildings and supply heating and cooling via water-source warmth pumps. Geothermal warmth is often utilized in these networks, and so they can present environment friendly, fossil fuel-free heating and cooling to business and residential buildings.

Seeking to the long run: Whereas the tasks are nonetheless on the planning and regulatory stage in many of the 13 states, development is already underway in some, with some working in the direction of the goal of being operational by 2025. Read the full story.

—June Kim

How generative AI is boosting the unfold of disinformation and propaganda

What’s occurring: Synthetic intelligence has turbocharged state efforts to crack down on web freedoms over the previous 12 months. Governments all over the world, in each democracies and autocracies, are utilizing AI to generate texts, pictures, and video to control public opinion and censor essential on-line content material, a brand new report by Freedom Home has discovered.

The way it works: Generative AI is decreasing the barrier of entry for disinformation campaigns, and automatic programs are enabling governments to conduct extra exact and extra refined types of on-line censorship. 

The massive image: As AI-generated content material on the web turns into normalized, it’s going to permit political actors to forged doubt about dependable info too. Read the full story.