Leben (Life aka misc) Technology
DOGE To Rewrite SSA Codebase In ‘Months’
According to an article in Wired, Elon Musk has appointed a team of technologists from DOGE to “rewrite the code that runs the SSA in months.” This codebase has over 60 million lines of COBOL and handles record keeping for all American workers and payments for all Social Security recipients. Read more…
Leben (Life aka misc)
FDIC Rescinds Guidance Around Banks and Crypto
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) says banks no longer need prior approval before engaging in crypto-related activities, such as holding digital currency assets or partnering with companies in the industry. After publishing a general caution against banks participating in the industry just two years ago, the FDIC is the Read more…
Leben (Life aka misc) Technology
First Trial of Generative AI Therapy Shows It Might Help With Depression
The first clinical trial of a therapy bot that uses generative AI suggests it was as effective as human therapy for participants with depression, anxiety, or risk for developing eating disorders. Even so, it doesn’t give a go-ahead to the dozens of companies hyping such technologies while operating in a Read more…
The Planet (on, and off)
Giant, Fungus-Like Organism May Be Completely Unknown Branch of Life
New research suggests that Prototaxites, once believed to be a giant fungus, may actually represent an entirely extinct and previously unknown branch of complex life, distinct from fungi, plants, animals, and protists. The researchers studied the fossilized remains of one Prototaxites species named Prototaxites taiti, found preserved in the Rhynie Read more…