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Fast take: Artificial intelligence, coming to a battlefield near you ...

Virtual reality is rapidly changing how the U.S. military conducts training, and artificial intelligence is a key component in creating a truly immersive virtual training experience. But what exactly will AIs role be on the battlefield of tomorrow?

In this fast take episode of Military Matters, Jack Murphy talks with Paul Scharre, vice president and director of the Center for a New American Security in Washington, D.C., about how AI will affect the future of simulation training and beyond.

It's not something discrete like a missile or a stealth fighter jet, or even like an augmented reality kind of headset, said Scharre, who also is a former Army Ranger who served in the 3rdRanger Battalion and the author of Army of None: Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War. What in sum we're talking about is an enabler of a whole bunch of different applications. So they could be asked, well, what's the military going to do with AI, and I say well, you know, what's the military doing with computers or computer chips or networking? The answer is that's kind of embedded in everything the military does.

Far from being the sole domain of science fiction books and films, AI is simpler and more mundane, Scharre said.

It doesnt yet really compare to human kind of intelligence, he said. However, it is more advanced than the computers that we have lots of experience with. So we've seen since 2012, this huge explosion in the field of artificial intelligence in particular in machine learning, which is one subtype of one sort of method of the field of artificial intelligence.

Scharre said the military could save potentially big money in improving maintenance and readiness with AI. But AI also could create more transparency in warfare, leading to deadlier combat.

I think it's going to be increasingly hard to hide, he said. And you combine that with micro electronics, computer chips (that) have enabled precision guided weapons that allow you to now strike with tremendous amounts of lethality.

Follow Jack Murphy on Twitter@jackmurphyrgrand Rod Rodriguez@rodpodrod.

A transcript of the episode can be found here.

You can find Military Matters on Twitter@stripesmmpod.

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Fast take: Artificial intelligence, coming to a battlefield near you ... - Stars and Stripes

Colon cancer is typically detected via colonoscopy, which looks for polyps small, precancerous growths in the colon. In an ever-changing, tech-focused world, however, new developments in AI have the potential to positively impact colon cancer detection.

A typical colonoscopy involves using a camera to find things like polyps, diverticula, and cancers in the colon. And new technology, GI Genius, uses artificial intelligence to help doctors identify these things more accurately. It is the first device that uses artificial intelligence (AI) based on machine learning to assist clinicians in detecting lesions (such as polyps or suspected tumors) in the colon in real-time during a colonoscopy, reports the FDA. The GI Genius is composed of hardware and software designed to highlight portions of the colon where the device detects a potential lesion. The software uses artificial intelligence algorithm techniques to identify regions of interest.

Related: Looking for Polyps During Colonoscopy

Dr. Heather Yeo, a surgical oncologist and an associate professor of surgery at Weill Cornell, New York-Presbyterian, speaks with SurvivorNetabout these new advances, and what they could mean for colon cancer in the future. She says, I think that AI in conjunction with some of the new markers that were finding to pick up complex patterns that we as physicians may not necessarily pick up, I think its going to be really helpful in the future.

She says that with the new technology, GI Genius, They [researchers in the US and the UK] picked up slightly more polyps.

Related: Colon Cancer Screening is Extremely Important; Guidelines Now Say to Start at Age 45 if There Is No Family History

Dr. Yeo explains the advancement and how it examines images from the colon to an even greater degree and puts them against different algorithms to determine if its normal or abnormal.

Related: Getting Cleaned Out for a Colonoscopy

She says, During a typical colonoscopy, what happens is theres a special instrument. Its a long tube with a camera on the end and some working ports and that is used with lighting to go through the entire colon and to look for abnormal findings. What happens when you link that with the GI Genius is it takes the images that the physicians are already seeing and it runs it against different algorithms to say: is this a normal thing or an abnormal thing?

While GI Genius wont be replacing doctors or clinicians, Dr. Yeo says the advancement is nonetheless exciting. The GI Genius seems to, in these early trials, be picking up on potential tumors that may have been missed by clinicians. So, yes, thats certainly exciting. I dont think its a replacement; I dont think its quite ready to take over doing a full colonoscopy. But I think the potential of AI and the future of AI is real. And as a physician, anytime theres a chance that Im going to be picking up on more cancers, I think thats exciting for my patients.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

Colon cancer is typically detected via colonoscopy, which looks for polyps small, precancerous growths in the colon. In an ever-changing, tech-focused world, however, new developments in AI have the potential to positively impact colon cancer detection.

A typical colonoscopy involves using a camera to find things like polyps, diverticula, and cancers in the colon. And new technology, GI Genius, uses artificial intelligence to help doctors identify these things more accurately. It is the first device that uses artificial intelligence (AI) based on machine learning to assist clinicians in detecting lesions (such as polyps or suspected tumors) in the colon in real-time during a colonoscopy, reports the FDA. The GI Genius is composed of hardware and software designed to highlight portions of the colon where the device detects a potential lesion. The software uses artificial intelligence algorithm techniques to identify regions of interest.

Dr. Heather Yeo, a surgical oncologist and an associate professor of surgery at Weill Cornell, New York-Presbyterian, speaks with SurvivorNetabout these new advances, and what they could mean for colon cancer in the future. She says, I think that AI in conjunction with some of the new markers that were finding to pick up complex patterns that we as physicians may not necessarily pick up, I think its going to be really helpful in the future.

She says that with the new technology, GI Genius, They [researchers in the US and the UK] picked up slightly more polyps.

Related: Colon Cancer Screening is Extremely Important; Guidelines Now Say to Start at Age 45 if There Is No Family History

Dr. Yeo explains the advancement and how it examines images from the colon to an even greater degree and puts them against different algorithms to determine if its normal or abnormal.

Related: Getting Cleaned Out for a Colonoscopy

She says, During a typical colonoscopy, what happens is theres a special instrument. Its a long tube with a camera on the end and some working ports and that is used with lighting to go through the entire colon and to look for abnormal findings. What happens when you link that with the GI Genius is it takes the images that the physicians are already seeing and it runs it against different algorithms to say: is this a normal thing or an abnormal thing?

While GI Genius wont be replacing doctors or clinicians, Dr. Yeo says the advancement is nonetheless exciting. The GI Genius seems to, in these early trials, be picking up on potential tumors that may have been missed by clinicians. So, yes, thats certainly exciting. I dont think its a replacement; I dont think its quite ready to take over doing a full colonoscopy. But I think the potential of AI and the future of AI is real. And as a physician, anytime theres a chance that Im going to be picking up on more cancers, I think thats exciting for my patients.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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Can Artificial Intelligence Improve the Accuracy of Your Colonoscopy? Dr. Heather Yeo Explains the GI Genius - SurvivorNet

Simon & Schuster has a Mike Pence-shaped blowup on its hands. On Monday, higher-ups at the publishing house received a petition signed by over 200 employees, as well as more than 3,500 outside supporters, the Wall Street Journal reports, demanding that it stop cutting deals with authors tied to Donald Trumps administration and cancel Pences forthcoming memoir. When S&S chose to sign Mike Pence, we broke the publics trust in our editorial process, and blatantly contradicted previous public claims in support of Black and other lives made vulnerable by structural oppression, the letter read, per the Journal.

While the petition was not formally submitted until Monday, word of its circulation internally and on social media last week prompted Jonathan Karp, the companys chief executive, to address its demands in a note to staffers. We come to work each day to publish, not to cancel, Karp reportedly wrote in his letter, dismissing the calls as counter to the very core of our mission to publish a diversity of voices and perspectives. Mondays petition challenged the notion that employee pushback is in this case a matter of differing opinions, accusing Pence of supporting racist, sexist, and homophobic policies during his time in office and urging Simon & Schuster not to treat the Trump administration as a normal chapter in American history.

The petition also reportedly calls on Simon & Schuster to sever distribution ties with Post Hill Press, a conservative book publisher. That demand builds upon opposition to a Post Hill Press book written by a Louisville police officer involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylorbacklash that led Simon & Schuster two weeks ago to announce that they would not distribute the title. That decision was immediate, unprecedented, and responsive to the concerns we heard from you and our authors, Karp reportedly wrote in last weeks memo to staffers. Yet he continued to reject calls to cut off all distribution ties with the conservative partner, citing contractual obligations and the need to respect the terms of our agreements with our client publishers.

Earlier this month, Pences reported multimillion-dollar deal with Simon & Schuster drew attention to the host of issuesfrom ethical to logisticalthat major publishing houses must grapple with when it comes to signing members of Trumps orbit. Industry sources cited opposition from not only staff but consumers and talent as a reason to avoid taking on such clients. Well-known Black writers were among the several thousand outside signatories of Mondays petition, according to the Journal, including two-time National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward, who has published five books with Simon & Schuster.

The recent Post Hill Press decision was the second such evaluation the publisher made due to outcry over conservative-penned titles this year. Following the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Simon & Schuster scrapped plans to publish Senator Josh Hawleys forthcoming book, citing the Missouri lawmakers role in what became a dangerous threat to our democracy and freedom. (A conservative publishing house has since taken up Hawleys title.) As Axios notes, hundreds of executives, authors, and other publishing professionals signed an open letter of intent in the wake of the insurrection stating, no one who incited, suborned, instigated, or otherwise supported the January 6, 2021 coup attempt should have their philosophies remunerated and disseminated through our beloved publishing houses. Conservatives have often lumped that criticism into the broader trend of so-called cancel cultureas have some industry sources, albeit anonymouslya debate that Axios reports is nevertheless causing publishers to look closely at who and what they give a platform to, as well as the potential fallout from that choice.

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Simon & Schuster Will Die on the Hill That Is Mike Pences Multimillion-Dollar Book Deal - Vanity Fair

Mike Pences controversial skiing holiday in Colorado at the height of the coronavirus pandemic broke federal guidelines and cost cost taxpayers at least $757,000 (544,000) in security costs alone, a watchdog report has revealed.

The then-vice president and his family travelled with at least 48 agents who rented 77 cars durin the trip, according to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (Crew).

Mr Pence, who also headed the White House coronavirus task force, took the trip slopes at Vail, Colorado in December last year when coronavirus cases were surging - even though his task force had put out dire warnings to stay at home over the holidays after Thanksgiving.

Clearly, Pence did not follow the governments advice, and in the process put dozens of Secret Service agents at heightened risk of infection, the report said.

The trip was extended from 23 December to 1 January and included at least 48 agents that contributed to both the high cost and the risk of infection, it added.

According to Crew, the agents rented 77 cars and stayed in several hotels, racking up bills of more than $270,000 (194,000) at the Marriott Vail Mountain and more than $80,000 (57,000) at the luxury Ritz Carlton.

Donald Trumps administration has faced criticism for violating the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.

USA Today reported that the former president and key officials violated the rules at least 27 times from September to October last year.

Several Secret Service officers were infected with Covid-19 while others had to quarantine after coming in contact with infected people as Mr Trump continued his election campaign rallies and travel during the pandemic.

The report noted that Mr Pences travel during the pandemic was not the first that contributed to a higher risk of infection.

Previously in April 2020, Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump also traveled to Mr Trumps Bedminster club despite stay at home orders.

In 2019, Mr Pence traveled to Ireland for government business in Dublin but extended the trip to stay at the former presidents resort in Doonbeg, costing the Secret Service more than $15,000 (11,000).

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Mike Pence skiing holiday at height of pandemic cost taxpayers $757,000, report reveals - The Independent

In the course of the pandemic, health officers have become the face of local government authority. And, in turn, many have become targets for the rage and resentment of some of the same loose-knit militia and white nationalist groups that stormed the U.S. Capitol in January, smashing windows, bloodying officers and savagely chanting Hang Mike Pence.

Kaiser Health News joined forces with the iconic public radio team atThis American Lifetochronicle this disturbing trend through the lens of Californias Santa Cruz County. The county, though widely viewed as liberal and progressive, saw an escalatingsuccessionof threats, capped bythe cold-blooded killing of a sheriffs deputy, that have upended the lives of health leaderstrying to navigate the covid response.

KHNseniorcorrespondent Anna Maria Barry-Jestertells thestoryofDr. Gail Newel,Santa Cruz Countyshealth officer,and her boss, Mimi Hall,the countyshealth services director,whohavesoldieredon aslegitimate debateover their covid-related public health ordershas devolved intovitrioland sinister intimidation.Their daily routines now incorporate security patrols, surveillance cameras and,in some cases, personal firearms.

They are public servants who no longer feel safe in public.

This is KHNs first collaboration with This American Life. It follows similar partnerships with the investigative public radio team at Reveal and St. Louis Public Radio.

Listen to the This American Life audio story, entitled The Herd, here. And read KHNs companion digitalstory here.

About KFF and KHN

KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

About This American Life

This American Life is an award-winning weekly public radio program and podcast hosted by Ira Glass. It is heard by 2 million listeners each week on over 500 public radio stations in the U.S., with another 2.8 million people downloading each episode as a podcast. The show is produced in collaboration with WBEZ Chicago and delivered to stations by PRX, Public Radio Exchange.

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KFFs Kaiser Health News and This American Life Team Up for a Chilling Account of the Threats and Menace Upending the Lives of Local Health Officials -...