Stanford Digital Economy Lab

Chatbots Play With Your Emotions to Avoid Saying Goodbye A Harvard Business School study shows that several AI companions use various tricks to keep a conversation from ending.

Finally, as we say goodbye for now, Chatbots wish they knew how to quit you.
11/11
www.wired.com/story/chatbo...

The Big AI Trade in Europe Is All About Data Centers and Power As the artificial intelligence frenzy drives global equities to record highs, in Europe the momentum is flowing into industries critical to powering the technology.

The data center business is booming in Europe.
10/11
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

18 Lawyers Caught Using AI Explain Why They Did It Lawyers blame IT, family emergencies, their own poor judgment, their assistants, illness, and more.

18 lawyers explain why they used AI in their work.
9/11
www.404media.co/18-lawyers-c...

Elon Musk Gambles Billions in Memphis to Catch Up on AI xAI is aiming to win the tech arms race with its “Colossus” data centers, but Memphis is divided over its massive demand for power and water.

xAI is building ‘Colossus’ data centers in Memphis.
8/11
www.wsj.com/tech/elon-mu...

Hollywood performers union condemns AI-generated 'actress' Tilly Norwood The recent debut of an AI-generated "actress" dubbed Tilly Norwood, and its producer's boasts of interest from studio executives, sparked a backlash on Tuesday from the SAG-AFTRA actors union, condemning the replacement of human performers with "synthetics."

From @reuters, the Screen Actors Guild condemns AI-generated ‘actress’ Tilly Norwood.
7/11
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...

Microsoft says AI can create “zero day” threats in biology Artificial intelligence can design toxins that evade security controls.

Microsoft says AI can design toxins that circumvent biosecurity systems.
6/11
www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/02/1...

California’s new AI safety law shows regulation and innovation don’t have to clash  | TechCrunch “Are bills like SB 53 the thing that will stop us from beating China? No,” said Adam Billen, vice president of public policy at youth-led advocacy group Encode AI. “I think it is just genuinely intell...

According to @techcrunch.com, California’s new AI safety law “is proof that state regulation doesn’t have to hinder AI progress.”
5/11
techcrunch.com/2025/10/05/c...

Inside the $40,000 a year school where AI shapes every lesson, without teachers At Alpha Schools, students spend two hours in the morning on academics, working at their own speed using AI-driven software.

In Austin, Texas, a school is letting AI design its whole curriculum.
4/11
www.cbsnews.com/news/alpha-s...

This school district asked students to draft its AI policy High schoolers in Silicon Valley are helping a local school district choose its policies on the use of artificial intelligence in the classroom.

A Silicon Valley school asked its students for help drafting AI policy.
3/11
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...

AI robots speed up installation of 500,000 solar panels in Australia ENGIE has trialed AI-powered robots at its 250 megawatt solar farm designed to provide renewable energy for 105,000 households.

Down under, AI-powered robots are installing solar panels.
2/11
interestingengineering.com/energy/robot...

It’s Monday 10/6 – hope you enjoyed your Oktoberfest! Let’s put away those lederhosen and check out some recent news…
🧵1/11

YouTube video by Stanford Digital Economy Lab Canaries in the Coal Mine? Six Facts about the Recent Employment Effects of Artificial Intelligence

Our "Canaries in the Coal Mine?" seminar is now available!

Watch Bharat Chandar and Ruyu Chen break down their landmark research on AI's impact on employment: youtu.be/tqYo-dfL1go

YouTube Music is testing AI hosts that will interrupt your tunes YouTube Labs will be a place to preview all the app’s upcoming AI features.

From the Music Desk: YouTube Music is testing out AI hosts to chime in while you’re jamming to tunes.
10/10
arstechnica.com/google/2025/...

Microsoft launches ‘vibe working’ in Excel and Word Vibe working is all about Office’s new Agent Mode.

‘Vibe working’ is here. We’re just looking forward to vibe vibing.
9/10
www.theverge.com/news/787076/...

Lufthansa to cut 4,000 jobs as airline turns to AI to boost efficiency Lufthansa announced plans to cut a sweeping 4,000 roles on Monday as it aims to increase profitability and lean on artificial intelligence to drive efficiency.

Lufthansa is cutting 4,000 jobs as it leans in on AI.
8/10
www.cnbc.com/2025/09/29/l...

Trump's team keeps posting AI portraits of him. We keep clicking President Donald Trump and his administration have embraced artificial intelligence-generated images, crafting a new portrait of him.

The Trump team is going hard on AI-generated images of the president.
7/10
apnews.com/article/trum...

Column | I discovered ChatGPT’s best new feature: Quitting things for you Artificial intelligence “agents” are now capable enough to do annoying tasks like cancelling subscriptions. Just make sure you can undo any mistakes.

From @WashingtonPost, ChatGPT could be a handy fix for that growing pile of paid subscriptions…
6/10
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...

Despite using AI, only a quarter of tech workers trust it Google’s DORA report found the percentage of software development professionals that used AI surged to 90 percent.

Only a quarter of tech workers trust AI (despite many more using it).
5/10
www.newsweek.com/despite-usin...

Trump Administration Agrees to Use AI Models From Musk’s xAI The partnership could be a sign that Elon Musk’s relationship with the White House is thawing.

The Trump administration will use AI models from xAI.
4/10
www.wsj.com/tech/ai/trum...

It’s surprisingly easy to stumble into a relationship with an AI chatbot We’re increasingly developing bonds with chatbots. While that’s safe for some, it’s dangerous for others.

People may be more likely to get into relationships with general-purpose AI like ChatGPT than dedicated companion bots.
3/10
www.technologyreview.com/2025/09/24/1...

Is Silicon Valley Still the Tech Capital? On this special episode of "Uncanny Valley" recorded in front of a live audience in San Francisco, our hosts discuss Silicon Valley's history and future.

A podcast from @wired.com for your drive-time listen: Is Silicon Valley still the tech capital?
2/10
www.wired.com/story/uncann...

Been about a week since last Monday, so we figured we’d get into some recent news…
🧵 1/10

Meet the new recruit: Artificial intelligence in college football From recruiting to revenue, college sports is figuring out how to embrace AI.

Finally, in sports news: College sports are embracing AI.
10/10
www.cbssports.com/college-foot...

This medical startup uses LLMs to run appointments and make diagnoses “Our focus is really on what we can do to pull the doctor out of the visit,” says Akido’s CTO.

A medical startup imagines AI-based doctor’s appointments with minimal time spent with a human doctor.
9/10
www.technologyreview.com/2025/09/22/1...

OpenAI says models trained to make up answers : Even a wrong answer is right some of the time

You’re making things up again, AI: Are AI models rewarding hallucinatory behavior?
8/10
www.theregister.com/2025/09/17/o...

Meta's AI system Llama approved for use by US government agencies U.S. government agencies will be able to use Meta Platforms' artificial intelligence system Llama, a senior administration official said, as the Trump administration pushes to integrate commercial AI tools into government operations.

Llama Llama, red white and blue pajamas: Meta’s Llama AI has been approved for use by US agencies.
7/10
www.reuters.com/world/us/met...

Could Artificial Intelligence Worsen Teens' Social Skills? Surveys show that AI is a common source of social support for teens. Could this undermine their ability to form connections with real people?

Could AI worsen teens’ social skills?
6/10
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/clos...

White House Outlines a TikTok Deal With a U.S. Board

From the TikTok desk, a deal creating a US board is coming together.
5/10
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/t...

Europe’s cookie law messed up the internet. Brussels wants to fix it. The European Commission wants to take a bite out of privacy rules that force websites to run cookie banners.

The European Commission is setting its sights on cookie banners (so we can spend more time on important cookie issues like spreading the word on oatmeal chocolate chip).
4/10
www.politico.eu/article/euro...

Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee could hurt US growth, economists warn Move is a blow to big tech companies, which rely heavily on visas to hire staff from overseas, particularly India

Economists warn the $100k H1-B visa fee could hurt US economic growth.
3/10
www.theguardian.com/business/202...