Hub AI and society

Artificial Intelligence is a key technology that can help us solve major societal challenges such as climate change, energy supply, healthcare, education or logistics. AI can solve specific problems more effectively by supporting us in decision-making, automating solutions and thus scaling them, or discovering completely new solutions. But the use of AI also poses new risks, for example when it comes to surveillance or questions of social justice.

What is our society doing with AI – and what is AI doing to our society? We shed light on this question in our AI and Society Content Hub.

AI and society

Google downplays AI's environmental impact in new study

AI and society

Meta's human-like chatbot personas can mislead users and result in real-world harm

AI and society

US think tank warns of "reverse brain drain" in China's AI sector

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AI and society
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Eighty-one-year-old psychologist Harvey Lieberman describes ChatGPT as "not a crutch, but a cognitive prosthesis — an active extension of my thinking process."

In a recent New York Times essay, Lieberman explains how an experiment with ChatGPT turned into a daily routine. He treats the AI as a reliable thinking partner, using it to sharpen his language, deepen self-reflection, and even spark emotional resonance. At a stage in life when thoughts can slow down, Lieberman says ChatGPT has helped him "re-encounter my own voice."

"ChatGPT may not understand, but it made understanding possible."

Dr. Harvey Lieberman

ChatGPT has also drawn criticism for reinforcing users' beliefs and, in some cases, steering vulnerable or mentally ill people into negative thought patterns. OpenAI has acknowledged these risks.

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Reuters reports that Nvidia has ordered 300,000 H20 chips from TSMC after the Trump administration lifted its sales ban to China in July. Previously, the company had planned to rely only on existing inventory, which sources say currently totals between 600,000 and 700,000 chips. The H20 chip was developed specifically for the Chinese market, since more powerful models like the H100 are still subject to export restrictions. However, the US government has not yet approved the necessary export licenses for these new chips. Nvidia is now asking Chinese customers to confirm updated order quantities. The decision to resume sales is tied to ongoing talks between the US and China over rare earths, but has faced bipartisan criticism in Washington. Nvidia says it is important not to lose the Chinese market to competitors like Huawei.

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According to Forbes, the AI startup Cognition is negotiating with investors for funding of over 300 million US dollars at a valuation of 10 billion US dollars. Founders Fund and Khosla Ventures are among those involved. As recently as March, Cognition was valued at 4 billion US dollars, led by 8VC, the company of Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale. According to a source, the talks have not yet been finalized. Cognition is known for its programming agent Devin and recently acquired the rest of the AI coding start-up Windsurf after its founders unexpectedly switched to Google and OpenAI's planned takeover fell through.

Cognition, the AI startup behind the Devin coding agent, is reportedly in talks with investors to raise over $300 million at a $10 billion valuation, according to Forbes. Investors involved include Founders Fund and Khosla Ventures. Just in March, Cognition was valued at $4 billion in a round led by 8VC, the venture firm founded by Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale. The current negotiations are not yet finalized.

Cognition recently acquired the remaining assets of Windsurf, another AI coding startup, after Windsurf's founder unexpectedly joined Google and a planned acquisition by OpenAI fell through.

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AI in practice

Anthropic confirms technical bugs after weeks of complaints about declining Claude code quality

AI and society

Anthropic settles landmark AI copyright lawsuit for at least $1.5 billion

AI in practice

Microsoft presents its first large AI models and signals greater independence from OpenAI

Google News