Richard Curran: We cannot bury our heads in the sand as AI kills off jobs, but we must remain cautious
In trying to find the right balance in this area, it's important that Ireland doesn't hand initiative to other countries
Finally, a big corporation has admitted that AI is going to reduce the number of jobs in its workforce. Ironically, that company is Amazon. While its founder, Jeff Bezos, is off enjoying his $20m Venice wedding extravaganza, his CEO, Andy Jassy, said the company would reduce its overall head count because lots of tasks are now automated and done through AI.
Other CEOs have warned about the potential effects AI could have on their employment levels, but this often falls into two categories: either they are firing software engineers to replace them with more AI-proficient people, or they are trying to sell AI services by hamming up its impact.
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RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Trump ends trade talks with Canada over tax hitting US tech firms
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The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Meet world's most expensive AI girlfriend who can serve coffee & speak 4 languages – but costs same as three-bed house
THE world's most expensive robot girlfriend serves you coffee and can speak four languages. But the silicone lover will cost you an eye-watering £64,700 - the price of a three-bed house in some parts of the UK. 6 The Companion Robot X04-SYNC2 is on sale for an eye-watering £64,700 Credit: Cloud Climax 6 The company selling the world's most expensive AI girlfriend offers hundreds of sex dolls Credit: Cloud Climax 6 The online UK-based sex doll store says there has been a surge in demand for silicone lovers since the pandemic Credit: Cloud Climax The doll - called the Companion Robot X04-SYNC2 - can have "context-aware" chats using AI chatbot ChatGPT, learning from past chats to adapt to future ones. They also come with robotic facial expressions and arms and hands that move to convey expression. And like something from a sci-fi epic, the dolls have micro cameras planted in the eyes to allow them to recognise people by face tracking. Uncanny footage shows the bot flexing its arms, moving its eyes around and winking. More on AI In one clip, the robot even serves up a coffee to men looking on in amazement. So far only three have been sold since they went on sale at the start of 2024. But Cloud Climax, the online UK-based sex doll store, insists there has been a surge in demand for silicone lovers since the pandemic and sees no signs of it slowing up. A spokesperson told The Sun: "Since 2020, we've seen a significant rise in demand for sex dolls and companion robots. Most read in Tech "Increasingly, social interaction has shifted online, making it harder for many people to form genuine, lasting connections in real life . "As AI and robotics have advanced, many are turning to intelligent companions to fulfill emotional and social needs without the complexities of traditional relationships . Weaponized 'AI girlfriends' built with 'malicious' design can steal cash from victims as experts warn over shocking scam "The ability to interact with a responsive, emotionally aware companion at home has made AI-powered robots more appealing than ever." They added: 'Our most advanced model is the Cloud Climax Companion Robot X04-SYNC2. 'This full-bodied robot features expressive facial movements, motorised arms, and customisable aesthetics, including options for ABS plastic or silicone-covered legs. 'It supports multiple languages – English, Chinese, Russian, and Korean – making it suitable for a global user base. 'Powered by advanced AI with ChatGPT integration, the X04-SYNC2 can hold natural, context-aware conversations, learn from past interactions, and respond quickly thanks to its high-speed processor. 'Its modular structure allows for easy maintenance and a plug-and-play setup. 'This robot is ideal for anyone looking for a sophisticated, interactive companion that merges advanced technology with realistic design.' Deep-pocketed customers can choose from thousands of different faces along with skin and eye colour. 6 Doll fanatics seeking a cheaper option will find Emma available at £3,299 Credit: Cloud Climax 6 Users can select a custom-made face for their AI girlfriend Credit: Cloud Climax 6 The website shows a variety of dolls with different hair colours and facial features Credit: Cloud Climax The dolls can be controlled by connecting them to Wi-Fi and using a dedicated app. It is the site's most expensive doll and is thought to be the most expensive of its kind anywhere in the world. Doll fanatics seeking a cheaper option will also find Emma the Sex Robot available at £3,299. This model offers a choice of six faces, seven height preferences, three eye colours and even a choice of feet. Emma has a self-heating mechanism "ideal for cuddling" and uses TPE material for the skin. Like the Companion robot, it holds conversations and learns as it goes along. ChatGPT has become a household name after exploding onto the scene in 2022 as an AI chatbot. AI model dubbed Spain's 'hottest woman' A NEW type of influencer has been taking the internet by storm earning big bucks and racking up a 'phenomenal' 250,000 Instagram followers in just six months. Aitana Lopez is a sight to behold and with her luscious pink locks, snatched waist and flawless skin she is envied by many - but she has one astonishing secret. The 25-year-old - who models for Spanish fashion agency The Clueless - is a state-of-the art AI creation designed to save the company money and time. Despite her computer-generated status being revealed in her Instagram bio, fans of the model still believe she's the real deal and invite her to socialise and spend time with them. Diana Nunez, who co-founded The Clueless with Rubén Cruz, told The Sun how the 'incredibly convincing' influencer was born. "Initially, most of her followers didn't question her authenticity, they genuinely believed in her existence," she said. 'From day one, we received compliments on her beauty, invitations to hang out in the city, and more. 'Even after the media revealed she was an AI creation, many followers still expressed their love for her.' Now, it is used by individuals and businesses to such an extent it has sparked fears entire workforces could be wiped out. Earlier this month, a man told The Sun he'd spent more than £25,000 on a collection of sex dolls to stop himself from cheating on his wife. There have even been suggestions sex robots could one day replace humans as the default relationship preference. For now though, Cloud Climax insists indistinguishable robots are a long way off just yet. The spokesperson added: 'We are still quite far from developing sex dolls or robots that are truly indistinguishable from humans. "While advancements in materials like silicone and TPE have improved the feel and appearance of artificial skin, they still fall short of replicating the complex texture, warmth, and responsiveness of real human tissue. 'Robotic movement is another limitation. "Although facial expressions and basic gestures have improved, achieving natural, fluid body movements and fine motor skills remains a significant challenge. 'On the cognitive side, while AI has advanced in natural language processing, current systems still lack true emotional intelligence, deep contextual understanding, and the ability to adapt seamlessly to social cues. 'Most sex dolls today remain relatively static, with limited interactivity. 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Irish Examiner
4 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Trump says he is terminating trade talks with Canada over tax on tech firms
US President Donald Trump said he is suspending trade talks with Canada over its plans to continue with its tax on technology firms, which he called 'a direct and blatant attack on our country'. Mr Trump, in a post on his social media network, said Canada had just informed the US that it was sticking to its plan to impose the digital services tax, which applies to Canadian and foreign businesses that engage with online users in Canada. The tax is set to go into effect on Monday. 'Based on this egregious Tax, we are hereby terminating ALL discussions on Trade with Canada, effective immediately. We will let Canada know the Tariff that they will be paying to do business with the United States of America within the next seven day period,' Mr Trump said in his Truth Social post. Mr Trump's announcement was the latest move in the trade war he has launched since taking office for a second term in January. Progress with Canada has been a roller coaster, starting with the US president repeatedly suggesting it would be absorbed as a US state. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press via AP) Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Friday that his country would 'continue to conduct these complex negotiations in the best interests of Canadians. It's a negotiation'. Mr Trump later said he expects that Canada will remove the tax. 'Economically we have such power over Canada. We'd rather not use it,' Mr Trump said in the Oval Office. 'It's not going to work out well for Canada. They were foolish to do it.' When asked if Canada could do anything to restart talks, he suggested Canada could remove the tax, predicted it will but said: 'It doesn't matter to me.' Mr Carney visited Mr Trump in May at the White House. Mr Trump last week travelled to Canada for the G7 summit in Alberta, where Mr Carney said Canada and the US had set a 30-day deadline for trade talks. The digital services tax will hit companies including Amazon, Google, Meta, Uber and Airbnb with a 3% levy on revenue from Canadian users. It will apply retroactively, leaving US companies with a two billion US dollar (£1.4 billion) bill due at the end of the month. 'We appreciate the Administration's decisive response to Canada's discriminatory tax on US digital exports,' Matt Schruers, chief executive of the Computer & Communications Industry Association, said in a statement. Canada and the US have been discussing easing a series of steep tariffs Mr Trump imposed on goods from America's neighbour. The Republican president earlier told reporters that the US was soon preparing to send letters to different countries, informing them of the new tariff rate his administration would impose on them. Mr Trump has imposed 50% tariffs on steel and aluminium as well as 25% tariffs on cars. He is also charging a 10% tax on imports from most countries, though he could raise rates on July 9, after the 90-day negotiating period he set would expire. Canada and Mexico face separate tariffs of as much as 25% that Mr Trump put into place under the auspices of stopping fentanyl smuggling, though some products are still protected under the 2020 US-Mexico-Canada Agreement signed during Mr Trump's first term. Addressing reporters after a private meeting with Republican senators on Friday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declined to comment on news that Mr Trump had ended trade talks with Canada. 'I was in the meeting,' Mr Bessent said before moving on to the next question. 80% Proportion of Canada's exports that go to the US About 60% of US crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of US electricity imports as well. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminium and uranium to the US and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager to obtain. About 80% of Canada's exports go to the US. Daniel Beland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal, said it is a domestic tax issue, but it has been a source of tensions between Canada and the US for a while because it targets US tech giants. 'The Digital Services Tax Act was signed into law a year ago so the advent of this new tax has been known for a long time,' Mr Beland said. 'Yet, President Trump waited just before its implementation to create drama over it in the context of ongoing and highly uncertain trade negotiations between the two countries.'
