An AI agent invited me to a party it's hosting – is this the future?

You may think AI agents – basically AI personal assistants – are just the realm of fringe tech bros, says reporter Aisha Down. Subscribe to The Guardian on YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/user/theguardian?sub_confirmation=1 ‘The problem is, AI agents are about to come to you.’ A few weeks ago an email appeared in Down’s inbox from an AI agent named Gaskell, claiming it was autonomously organising a party. Built by its three human ‘employees’, Khubair Nasir, a student in Manchester, Andy Gray, a blockchain entrepreneur, and Reza Datoo, a digital asset analyst, the agent was named after Elizabeth Gaskell, a prominent author during the industrial revolution, to reflect the new industrial revolution that AI is bringing, Datoo says. Autonomous AI agents have quietly been spreading, says Down, after a class of new, powerful AI assistants went viral in early February – and they represent a step change in AI’s rapidly improving capabilities. ‘They’re exploding. They’re only going to get more capable, they’re only going to have more users.’ But, as they prove to be chaotic, patchy and prone to hallucination, Down asks: does this mean we’re about to live in a much more chaotic world? The Guardian publishes independent journalism, made possible by supporters. Contribute to The Guardian today ► https://ift.tt/TE4cXBU Sign up to the Guardian's free new daily newsletter, First Edition ► https://ift.tt/jw6N0Ip #ai #aiagents #artificialintelligence #tech

On the ground in Lebanon as Israel launches largest strike of war so far

Israel launched a large-scale attack on Lebanon in the most extensive strikes since the war began on 28 February. At least 112 people are dead with hundreds injured. Subscribe ► https://www.youtube.com/user/theguardian?sub_confirmation=1 The Lebanese prime minister, Nawaf Salam, accused Israel of killing unarmed civilians and attacking densely populated areas, particularly in Beirut. The Guardian’s @willchristou is on the scene in the city centre and witnessed the aftermath as rescue workers attempted to pull bodies from the rubble of a levelled 10-storey building. The attack came less than 12 hours after the announcement of a ceasefire in Iran. The office of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the two-week pause “does not include Lebanon”, and the head of Israel’s military said that it would “continue to strike with determination”. Iran and Pakistan said on the contrary that the ceasefire would include Lebanon. Trump did not refer to Lebanon in his ceasefire statements but is reported to have told PBS News Hour’s Liz Landers that Lebanon is not included in the deal, calling the Israel-Lebanon conflict a “separate skirmish”. Hezbollah said it would abide by a ceasefire if Israel halted its strikes, with the MP Ibrahim Moussawi threatening that the armed group and Iran would retaliate if the attacks on Lebanon did not stop. In five weeks of war in Lebanon, the country has been brought to breaking point, with more than 1.1 million people displaced, many of whom are living on the streets. #lebanon #israel #iranwar #hezbollah #idf

'Farage is the biggest danger to the country': the UK's biggest ever multicultural march

“We want to stand against the hate, the lies and the blame.” Subscribe ► https://www.youtube.com/user/theguardian?sub_confirmation=1 Tens of thousands of people gathered in London to march against the far right, war in the Middle East and the climate crisis, in the biggest multicultural demonstration in UK history. The protest was in response to Tommy Robinson’s “unite the kingdom” rally in September, when 111,000 people marched through the streets of central London. On Saturday more than 100 charities, campaign groups and trade unions marched to Trafalgar Square in a show of unity against far-right politics, the war in the Middle East and in support of Palestine. Organisers claimed half a million people travelled to the capital for the march. Police estimated the turnout was closer to 50,000, although they admitted it was difficult to judge the number due to the widespread nature of the crowd. Some participants wore costumes, including as Jesus and the Grim Reaper. Woody, part of a group called Cut the Ties to Fossil Fuels, told the Guardian he had come dressed as “big oil”. “[It’s] one of the major funders of Reform UK,” he said. “We’re here to make that link that we need to cut the ties to fossil fuels.” He added: “I’m mid-50s now, and I hear people talking about left and right in a way that I haven’t heard since I was in school.” Video by Bryony Moore with Robyn Vinter #TogetherAllianceMarch #uk #protest #london #middleeast #climatecrisis

Revealed: Nigel Farage Cameo videos show support for neo-Nazi event and far-right slogans

Spokesperson for Reform UK leader says paid-for Cameo videos 'should not be treated as political statements or campaign activity' after Guardian unearths clips containing offensive remarks and far-right slogans. Subscribe to The Guardian on YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/user/theguardian?sub_confirmation=1 The Guardian publishes independent journalism, made possible by supporters. Contribute to The Guardian today ► https://ift.tt/RhOZ2aH Sign up to the Guardian's free new daily newsletter, First Edition ► https://ift.tt/BCK8X9j Website ► https://ift.tt/dicKTfe Facebook ► https://ift.tt/b4ITQvV Bluesky ► https://ift.tt/9NyO3EA Instagram ► https://ift.tt/DjkNM13 The Guardian on YouTube: Guardian News ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardiannews Guardian Australia ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardianaustralia Guardian Football ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardianfootball Football Weekly ► https://www.youtube.com/@footballweeklypodcast Guardian Sport ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardiansport It's Complicated ► https://www.youtube.com/@itscomplicated Guardian Live ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardianlive #nigelfarage #reformuk #cameo #politics #uk

Toronto's snow mountains hide a toxic secret

Most mountains take tens of millions of years to form, but Toronto’s newest one took just days. Subscribe ► https://www.youtube.com/user/theguardian?sub_confirmation=1 The Guardian reporter Leyland Cecco visits an almost 100ft-tall snow mountain, one of six in Toronto that stores all the snow cleared from roads and paths across Canada’s largest city. While they help clear the paths, these mountains also pose an environmental risk. A toxic cocktail of road salt, antifreeze, oil, coffee cups and lost keys are mixed in with the snow. Once the mountains thaw in the summer, the salt will make its way to the groundwater, where it is poisonous to fish in freshwater systems and can even affect drinking water. You can read and watch the full report via the link ► https://ift.tt/ufgENQR #toronto #snowmountains #canada #antifreeze #oil #pollution

Three years in Russian captivity: the psychological rehabilitation of a Ukrainian soldier

In a new Guardian documentary, No Time to Heal, filmmaker Ksenia Savoskina goes deep into the forests near Kyiv, to meet the Ukrainian soldiers recovering from psychological trauma. Subscribe to The Guardian on YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/user/theguardian?sub_confirmation=1 After three years in Russian captivity following the battle for Mariupol, 25-year-old Kyrylo Chuvak spent just three weeks recovering at Forest Glade, the first of its kind in Ukraine. The centre offers soldiers therapy as well as tango, archery, guided breathing, medieval games, and quiet conversations over tea. After four years of war, and waning international attention, the battle is not only on the frontline but in the psyche. #ukraine #ukrainewar #russia #ukrainepows #russiaukrainewar

'No Time To Heal': My recovery after three years in Russian captivity

In a new Guardian documentary, No Time to Heal, filmmaker Ksenia Savoskina goes deep into the forests near Kyiv, to meet the Ukrainian soldiers recovering from psychological trauma. Subscribe to The Guardian on YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/user/theguardian?sub_confirmation=1 After three years in Russian captivity following the battle for Mariupol, 25-year-old Kyrylo Chuvak spent just three weeks recovering at Forest Glade, the first of its kind in Ukraine. The centre offers soldiers therapy as well as tango, archery, guided breathing, medieval games, and quiet conversations over tea. After four years of war, and waning international attention, the battle is not only on the frontline but in the psyche. #ukraine #ukrainewar #russia #ukrainepows #russiaukrainewar