MORALITY VERSUS HEALTHCARE

Use of opioid addiction treatment in U.S. hasn't risen

By Cara Murez, HealthDay News

Numbers of Americans who started buprenorphine were flat between 2019 and 2022, after rising from January 2016 to September 2018.

 Photo by Tmeers91/Wikimedia Commons

The U.S. opioid crisis led to changes that make it easier for people struggling with addiction to get medication from a healthcare provider to help them quit.

But researchers found that for some reason, rates of medication use haven't budged.

Numbers of Americans who started buprenorphine were flat between 2019 and 2022, after rising from January 2016 to September 2018.

Those who stayed on the medication for at least six months hovered around 20% from 2016 to 2022. Staying on the medication for longer is associated with reduced risk of opioid overdose death.

Researchers from the University of Michigan and Boston University used national prescription dispensing data to study medication trends.

The changes that could have increased buprenorphine use included one in spring 2020 that allowed providers to see patients via telehealth, instead of requiring an in-person visit before prescribing buprenorphine.

Then, in spring 2021, prescribers no longer needed to meet an eight-hour federal education requirement to issue the medication.

"The fact that buprenorphine initiation and retention did not rise after these efforts were implemented suggests that these policy changes were insufficient to address the barriers to prescribing enough to meet the rising need for this medication," said lead study author Dr. Kao-Ping Chua, an assistant professor of pediatrics in the Susan B. Meister Child Health and Evaluation Research Center at Michigan.

In 2023, prescribers including doctors and nurse practitioners who are already allowed to prescribe other controlled substances can now prescribe buprenorphine without needing special approval from the federal government.

"It remains to be seen whether the elimination of the waiver requirement will move the needle on buprenorphine initiation and retention," Chua said in a Michigan news release. "Based on our study, it seems likely that this intervention will be insufficient to overcome the many other barriers to buprenorphine initiation and retention, such as stigma about the drug among clinicians, patients and pharmacists."

RELATED FDA approves over-the-counter sales of Narcan nasal spray

That part may not get easier. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has proposed partially reversing the change that allowed telehealth instead of in-person visits, he said.

All clinicians also must now complete eight hours of training in addiction treatment when they renew their controlled substance license.

"I worry that this requirement, which hasn't been well-publicized, could result in some prescribers no longer having a controlled substance license entirely, decreasing the number of eligible prescribers," said senior study author Amy Bohnert, a professor in Michigan's Department of Anesthesiology.

Earlier research by Chua and colleagues found that only 1 in 12 patients who were seen in an emergency department for an opioid overdose were prescribed buprenorphine within 30 days. By comparison, about half of patients seen by emergency doctors for a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis received a prescription for epinephrine.

"My hope is that our new study will further underscore how much the health care system is underusing a critical tool to prevent opioid overdose deaths," Chua said.

The findings were published recently as a research letter in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

One limitation of the study is that the data came exclusively from retail pharmacies and not from doctor visits or in treatment programs.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on medications for opioid use disorder.

Copyright © 2023 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

BILLIONAIRES BANK

Fed review says Silicon Valley Bank failed due to mismanagement, lack of supervision

A Federal Reserve review of the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank found it failed as a result of a "textbook case of mismanagement" by the bank's leadership.

 File Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo

April 28 (UPI) -- The Federal Reserve Board said Friday its review of Silicon Valley Bank's collapse found the bank failed due to a "textbook case of mismanagement" by its leadership.

Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michael S. Barr's review, released Friday, said the central bank found Silicon Valley Banks' board and management didn't manage their risks and that effective supervision was impeded by "reducing standards, increasing complexity and promoting a less assertive supervisory approach."

"Its senior leadership failed to manage basic interest rate and liquidity risks. Its board of directors failed to oversee senior leadership and hold them accountable. And Federal Reserve supervisors failed to take forceful enough action," Barr said.

The report also found that Federal Reserve supervisors didn't "fully appreciate the extent" of the bank's vulnerabilities and didn't move fast enough to fix the bank's problems.

RELATED SVB Financial, parent of Silicon Valley Bank, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

"Following Silicon Valley Bank's failure, we must strengthen the Federal Reserve's supervision and regulation based on what we have learned," Barr said in a statement. "This review represents a first step in that process-a self-assessment that takes an unflinching look at the conditions that led to the bank's failure, including the role of Federal Reserve supervision and regulation."

According to the Fed's review, while Silicon Valley Bank was growing rapidly from 2019 to 2021 it went from $71 billion to over $211 billion in assets and was not subject to heightened Fed supervisory or regulatory standards.

The review found widespread managerial weaknesses at the bank.

RELATED Fed launches review of Silicon Valley Bank oversight

To strengthen oversight processes, the Fed's Review recommended a simpler and stronger oversight program and tailoring framework to make them both more efficient and more effective.

The review found that the Fed's oversight was "overly focused on oversight requirements rather than the underlying risks." It said this is an opportunity to "shift the culture of supervision toward a greater focus on inherent risk."

The report said there should be more willingness among Fed supervisors 

to form judgments that challenge bakers with "a precautionary perspective."

RELATED FDIC extends bidding for Silicon Valley Bank

Just days after Silicon Valley Bank's failure in March shocked the U.S. financial system, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell announced the review of the bank and its oversight.

The Fed's review found that the U.S. banking system as a whole is resilient, with strong capital and liquidity.

"I welcome this thorough and self-critical report on Federal Reserve supervision from Vice Chair Barr," Powell said in a statement Friday. "I agree with and support his recommendations to address our rules and supervisory practices, and I am confident they will lead to a stronger and more resilient banking system."

FOSSIL FUEL OBSCENITY

Exxon reports record first-quarter earnings of $11.4 billion

Exxon's earnings during the first quarter topped $11 billion, supported in part by its refining segment. File photo by Eduardo Sverdlin/UPI | License Photo

April 28 (UPI) -- U.S. oil major Exxon Mobil on Friday reported first-quarter earnings more than twice as high as year-ago levels, while also reporting progress in emission reductions.

Exxon reported first-quarter earnings of $11.4 billion, compared with $5.5 billion during the first quarter of 2022.

"Our people's hard work to execute on our strategic priorities delivered a record first quarter following a record year," said Darren Woods, Exxon's chairman and CEO. "We are growing value by increasing production from our advantaged assets to meet global demand."

Production in the first quarter was 4.4% higher than year-ago levels and the company expects even more output once the oil bonanza offshore Guyana begins in 2026. That business segment posted revenue of $6.5 billion, down $1.7 billion from the fourth quarter because of the recent decline in commodity prices.

Total earnings, meanwhile, were lower than the $12.8 billion from the fourth quarter, due in large part to additional European taxes on the energy sector, the company said.

Its refining segment, however, saw earnings increase by $113 million from the fourth quarter to reach $4.2 billion, backed by the recent start-up of expanded operations at its Beaumont refinery in Texas.

Cash flow for Exxon in 2022 was $76.8 billion and the company invested some $22.7 billion on its operations last year, in line with expectations. Free cash flow was $11.4 billion for the first quarter.

RELATED Halliburton posts $2.8B first-quarter revenue, says outlook is 'strong'

Outside of commodities, the company said it has a long-term agreement to build a carbon capture and storage facility at Beaumont that would cut its overall emissions. Amid concerns that oil companies aren't doing enough to address climate concerns, Exxon added that its year-end greenhouse gas emissions intensity from its operated assets were 10% below a 2016 baseline.

THE POWER OF THE PEN

White House issues plethora of proclamations

On Friday, the White House issued 10 proclamations on a host of topics. 

File Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI | License Photo

April 28 (UPI) -- The White House routinely issues proclamations on everything from cultural holidays to public service recognition. On Friday, it issued 10.

National Hurricane Preparedness Week:

 In this proclamation, the White House emphasized that "during last year's hurricane season, especially in Florida and Puerto Rico, we witnessed the overwhelming damage these storms so often leave in their wake. Families lost their homes. Business owners lost their livelihoods.

"During National Hurricane Preparedness Week, we raise awareness about the hazards posed by hurricanes and share resources to help Americans stay safe and protect their property before these storms make landfall," President Joe Biden said in the release of the proclamation, which cites his administration's political efforts, as well as practical tips on staying safe during hurricane season.

National Building Safety Month: 

In this announcement for an entire month of awareness, the president reminded the public that "two-thirds of Americans live in communities that have not yet adopted the latest building codes, which are designed to avoid damage and keep emerging threats like climate change from further devastating communities with increasingly powerful fires, floods, and storms."

In the proclamation's announcement, Biden gave a shout-out to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, as well as his administration's National Initiative to Advance Building Codes. "With our once-in-a-generation infrastructure law, we are rebuilding the nation's roads, bridges, ports, water systems, and more," he said.

National Foster Care Month: 

The White House also issued a proclamation about another monthlong recognition, one honoring children who live in the foster care system and "who too often endure challenges that no child should ever have to confront," Biden said.

In the proclamation, Biden also acknowledged the struggle of biological parents trying to regain custody of their children. And he emphasized that children of color "are disproportionately represented in the child welfare system," and that "recent estimates suggest 30 percent of youth in foster care identify as LGBTQI+."

National Physical Fitness and Sports Month: 

The president celebrated the 40th National Physical Fitness Month in a proclamation emphasizing what most people know but fewer people act on: "Regular exercise can have a dramatic impact on our health."

In this proclamation, Biden pointed out that since the first National Physical Fitness Month 40 years ago, "we have learned more about how physical activity can improve mental health, reduce the risk of disease, and foster social connection."

After giving a rundown on his administration's efforts to get Americans moving, Biden urged everyone to be more active.

Biden issues first proclamation to recognize Trans Day of Visibility

"This month, I encourage all Americans to find ways to be active, whether it is taking a walk or hike, joining a gym, trying a new fitness class, signing up for a local sports team, or registering for a community race," Biden said, adding that, "When we invest in our health, we foster healthy homes, more productive communities, and a more resilient society for generations to come."

Law Day, U.S.A.

 In this announcement, Biden addressed a topical issue and said that "at home and around the globe, autocrats and dictators threaten the rule of law."

"Since taking office, I have issued an executive order promoting access to voter registration and election information, and signed into law the Electoral Count Reform Act, which establishes clear guidelines for certifying and counting electoral votes to help preserve the will of the people against future attempts to overturn our elections," Biden said in the proclamation.

He also used it to call on Congress to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

National Small Business Week: 

The White House used Friday's mass proclamations to also include one celebrating an issue important to many from Wall Street to main street: small businesses. In Friday's announcement, the president pointed out that "nearly half of all private-sector workers in our country are employed by small businesses."

"From barber shops, beauty salons, and pizza parlors, to manufacturing companies and mom-and-pop shops, Americans have applied to form a record 10.5 million small businesses in the past two years," said Biden.

Again praising the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the president said, "These new laws are creating billions of dollars in contracting opportunities for America's small businesses and investing hundreds of billions of federal dollars to rebuild our infrastructure, bring manufacturing back to America, and launch a clean energy revolution right here in the United States."

National Mental Health Awareness Month: 

In this proclamation, Biden said Americans "have a duty of care to reach out to one another and leave no one behind," but he stressed the fact that many people in need of care do not receive it.

"The United States has long faced a shortage of mental health providers. It takes an average of 11 years to get treatment after the onset of symptoms, and less than half of Americans struggling with mental illness ever receive the care they need," said Biden.

Saying that "the American Rescue Plan made our nation's biggest-ever investment in mental health and substance use programs," Biden concluded by stressing, "We all have a role to play in ending the stigma around mental health issues."

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: 

In this monthlong recognition, the White House celebrates the cultures that "have represented the bigger story of who we are as Americans and embodied the truth that our diversity is our strength as a nation."

And Biden uses the proclamation to point out that "Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AA and NHPIs) represent us at every level of government, including Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Vice President of South Asian descent; Ambassador Katherine Tai, the first Asian American United States Trade Representative; and Dr. Arati Prabhakar, who is the first South Asian American to lead the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy."

Biden becomes first president to proclaim Indigenous Peoples' Day

Lamenting that "we continue to see persistent racism, harassment, and hate crimes against these communities," Biden detailed how his administration is working to provide ways to provide justice and "to advance equity and opportunity."

Jewish American Heritage Month: 

In another proclamation recognizing the cultural contributions to this nation, the White House celebrated "the enduring heritage of Jewish Americans, whose values, culture, and contributions have shaped our character as a nation."

Biden said: "Jewish Americans continue to enrich every part of American life as educators and entrepreneurs, athletes and artists, scientists and entertainers, public officials and activists, labor and community leaders, diplomats and military service members, public health heroes, and more."

But, he said, "There is also a dark side to the celebrated history of the Jewish people -- a history marked by genocide, pogrom, and persecution -- with a through line that continues in the record rise of antisemitism today."

"It is our obligation to ensure that hate can have no safe harbor in America and to protect the sacred ideals enshrined in our Constitution: religious freedom, equality, dignity, and respect. That is the promise of America," Biden said in announcing the proclamation.

Loyalty Day: 

In this proclamation of patriotism, the president called on Americans to "display the American flag and pledge allegiance to our republic for which it stands."

"We are a nation that has sought to encourage and inspire loyalty through our actions," the president said in the release announcing the proclamation. "We do that by honoring the Constitution, upholding the rule of law, and respecting free and fair elections.

"As Americans, we are called to unequivocally condemn political violence and hate-motivated attacks; they have no place in our democracy. We must open the doors of opportunity even wider to others because the promise of this country is big enough for everyone to succeed.

"And we must stand up for truth and resist lies and disinformation that would tear us apart," Biden said.

Minnesota Senate passes marijuana legalization bill in historic vote


The Minnesota Senate passed an historic marijuana legalization measure Friday, paving the way for recreational sales in the state.

 File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

April 29 (UPI) -- The Minnesota state Senate voted to approve marijuana legalization in a historic vote held Friday, paving the way for recreational sales in the state.

The bill passed 34-33 along party lines, with all Democrats voting in favor of the law and all Republicans voting against it. The state House, also controlled by Democrats, passed its marijuana legalization measure on Tuesday.

While both bills allow adults over 21 to purchase up to two ounces of cannabis for recreational use, they have inconsistencies on tax issues and the status of marijuana possession at private residences.

The Senate bill imposes a 10% tax on recreational marijuana products while the House bill calls for an 8% gross receipt tax over four years.

RELATED Recreational pot legalized in Delaware as governor allows bills to become law

Additionally, the Senate bill lets cities choose how many legal dispensaries they will allow in their jurisdiction, while the House bill does not.

The Senate bill allows people to possess up to two pounds of purchased marijuana at their homes and up to five pounds of cultivated marijuana, while the House bill has a standardized limit of 1.5 pounds.

Those differences will have to be ironed out to create a single bill that can be signed into law by Gov. Tim Walz, who supports the measures.

CANADA STILL NEEDS TO DO THIS

The bill would automatically expunge misdemeanor cannabis-related convictions and create a consulting body to expunge marijuana-related felony convictions.

 An Office of Cannabis Management would also be created to regulate sales.

"Legalizing adult-use cannabis and expunging cannabis convictions is good for our economy and the right move for Minnesota. When the bill reaches my desk, I'll be proud to sign it into law," Governor Walz tweeted Friday.

Republican state senators expressed concern over what they described as safety issues related to cannabis legalization.

RELATED Oklahoma voters say 'no' to legalizing recreational marijuana use

"What we've come down to after our analysis is this bill simply isn't enough - not enough public safety, not enough or not enough for public health," said state Senate minority leader Mark Johnson.

Bags of marijuana buds fill shelves in the showroom of the Portland Cannabis Market in Portland, Ore., on March 31, 2023. Oregon, which has huge stockpiles of marijuana, should prepare for the U.S. government eventually legalizing the drug and position the state as a national leader in the industry, state auditors said Friday, April 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

Marijuana job lands Oregon secretary of state in trouble

Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan attends the summer conference of the National Association of Secretaries of State in Baton Rouge, La., July 8, 2022. Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan is in hot water, with Republican lawmakers calling for her resignation and the Democratic governor wanting investigations, because Fagan took a consulting job with a marijuana firm. The matter came to a head Friday, April 28, 2023 after Fagan's office released an audit of the state's marijuana regulators, the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission.

(AP Photo/Matthew Hinton, File)

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan is in hot water, with Republican lawmakers calling for her resignation and the Democratic governor seeking investigations because Fagan took a consulting job with a marijuana firm.

Fagan released a statement late Friday saying she welcomed the governor’s inquiry.

“I am relieved that the Governor has asked DOJ and the Government Ethics Commission to engage in fact finding because the facts will restore trust in our audits division and in me as your Secretary of State,” Fagan said.

The matter came to a head Friday after Fagan’s office released an audit of the state’s marijuana regulators, the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. The audit called for the OLCC to “reform” some rules for marijuana businesses, saying they are “burdens” when combined with federal restrictions on interstate commerce, banking and taxation.

Fagan, a Democrat, recused herself from the audit because she is a paid consultant of an affiliate of marijuana retail chain La Mota, Fagan’s spokesman Ben Morris said at a virtual news conference about the audit’s release.

La Mota’s co-owner has hosted fundraisers for top Democratic Oregon politicians, including Fagan, while the co-owner, her partner and their business allegedly owe $1.7 million in unpaid bills and more in state and federal taxes, according to Willamette Week, a Portland newspaper.

Fagan didn’t appear at the news conference, which included her spokesman, deputy and the audits director. News of the consultancy was first reported Thursday by Willamette Week.

Fagan hasn’t disclosed how much the consultancy pays.

Morris denied Fagan’s outside work represented a conflict of interest and said Oregon Government Ethics Commission guidelines specifically allow public officials to maintain private employment.

But hours after the audit press conference, Republican legislative leaders, who are in the minority in the Legislature, called for Fagan to resign over the consulting job.

“This appears to be an ethics violation and if it isn’t then Oregon’s ethics laws are broken,” Senate Republican leader Tim Knopp and House Republican leader Vikki Breese-Iverson said in a joint statement.

Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat, indicated she had concerns later on Friday.

“It’s critical that Oregonians trust their government,” Kotek said in an emailed statement.

Kotek said she was urging the Oregon Government Ethics Commission “to immediately investigate this situation” and asked the Oregon Department of Justice to examine the audit.

The audit questioned the OLCC’s requirement that marijuana businesses keep their stash behind steel doors and have 24-hour video surveillance systems. The OLCC should make marijuana regulations more like those governing distilled spirits, which the agency also regulates, the auditors said.

The audit also said Oregon should prepare for the U.S. government eventually legalizing marijuana and position the state, with its huge stockpiles of the drug, as a national leader in the industry.

Oregon, long known for its potent marijuana, would be competing with other pot-producing states — particularly California, which also has a vast oversupply — for the export market if marijuana is ever legalized nationally.

“Now is the time for Oregon to prepare its system for a future when cannabis is legal nationally,” Oregon Deputy Secretary of State Cheryl Myers said at the news conference.

Oregon Audits Director Kip Memmott noted with a bit of envy that Canada legalized marijuana and is “a lot more proactive in looking at the benefits financially.”

Oregon can lead the way in the U.S. in how pot is regulated, while also offering its high-end strains of marijuana, Memmott said.

“We have kind of a signature commodity, along with ... our timber and all the other great things that Oregon produces here. And there’s a real opportunity,” Memmott said.

Oregon’s auditors reminded the OLCC to follow its own strategic plan to position the state as a national leader by increasing the number of speaking engagements at national conferences, holding more statewide meetings and championing a nationwide framework for cannabis regulation.

OLCC Executive Director Craig Prins wrote in response that his agency is keen to move quickly if, and when, interstate marijuana commerce is permitted.

Prins said he expects “only the highest quality products from well-regulated systems, that have recognized testing, packaging, labeling, and traceability standards, will be allowed for sale into other states.”

Oregon has for years prioritized these standards, which are aimed at protecting consumers, Prins said.

A total of 21 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized recreational use of marijuana, but activists see little chance of the current Congress moving toward national legalization. Still, there’s hope the Biden administration will allow pot commerce among states that have legalized it.

AI will increase inequality, raise tough questions about humanity

By Yingying Lu, CSIRO

The rapid deployment of artificial intelligence and its potential impacts on human society and economies is now clearly in the spotlight. 

File Image by Alexandra Koch/Pixabay

April 28 (UPI) -- On Nov. 30, OpenAI launched the AI chatbot ChatGTP, making the latest generation of AI technologies widely available.

In the few months since then, we have seen Italy ban ChatGTP over privacy concerns, leading technology luminaries calling for a pause on AI systems development and even prominent researchers saying we should be prepared to launch airstrikes on data centers associated with rogue AI.

The rapid deployment of AI and its potential impacts on human society and economies is now clearly in the spotlight.

What will AI mean for productivity and economic growth? Will it usher in an age of automated luxury for all, or simply intensify existing inequalities? And what does it mean for the role of humans?

RELATED U.S. agencies warn they will crack down on harmful use of AI

Economists have been studying these questions for many years. My colleague Yixiao Zhou and I surveyed their results in 2021 and found we are still a long way from definitive answers.

Big economic picture

Over the past half-century or so, workers around the world have been getting a smaller fraction of their country's total income.

At the same time, growth in productivity -- how much output can be produced with a given amount of inputs such as labor and materials -- has slowed down. This period has also seen huge developments in the creation and implementation of information technologies and automation.

Better technology is supposed to increase productivity. The apparent failure of the computer revolution to deliver these gains is a puzzle economists call the Solow paradox.

Will AI rescue global productivity from its long slump? And if so, who will reap the gains? Many people are curious about these questions.

RELATED New survey shows majority of Americans worried about AI's effect on hiring

While consulting firms have often painted AI as an economic panacea, policymakers are more concerned about potential job losses. Economists, perhaps unsurprisingly, take a more cautious view.

Radical change at a rapid pace

Perhaps the single greatest source of caution is the huge uncertainty around the future trajectory of AI technology.

Compared to previous technological leaps -- such as railways, motorized transport and, more recently, the gradual integration of computers into all aspects of our lives -- AI can spread much faster. And it can do this with much lower capital investment.

This is because the application of AI is largely a revolution in software. Much of the infrastructure it requires, such as computing devices, networks and cloud services, is already in place. There is no need for the slow process of building out a physical railway or broadband network -- you can use ChatGPT and the rapidly proliferating horde of similar software right now from your phone.

It is also relatively cheap to make use of AI, which greatly decreases the barriers to entry. This links to another major uncertainty around AI: the scope and domain of the impacts.

AI seems likely to radically change the way we do things in many areas, from education and privacy to the structure of global trade. AI may not just change discrete elements of the economy but rather its broader structure.

Adequate modeling of such complex and radical change would be challenging in the extreme and nobody has yet done it. Yet without such modeling, economists cannot provide clear statements about likely impacts on the economy overall.

More inequality, weaker institutions

Although economists have different opinions on the impact of AI, there is general agreement among economic studies that AI will increase inequality.

One possible example of this could be a further shift in the advantage from labor to capital, weakening labor institutions along the way. At the same time, it may also reduce tax bases, weakening the government's capacity for redistribution.

Most empirical studies find that AI technology will not reduce overall employment. However, it is likely to reduce the relative amount of income going to low-skilled labor, which will increase inequality across society.

Moreover, AI-induced productivity growth would cause employment redistribution and trade restructuring, which would tend to further increase inequality both within countries and between them.

As a consequence, controlling the rate at which AI technology is adopted is likely to slow down the pace of societal and economic restructuring. This will provide a longer window for adjustment between relative losers and beneficiaries.

In the face of the rise of robotics and AI, there is a possibility for governments to alleviate income inequality and its negative impacts with policies that aim to reduce inequality of opportunity.

What's left for humans?

The famous economist Jeffrey Sachs once said, "What humans can do in the AI era is just to be human beings, because this is what robots or AI cannot do.

But what does that mean, exactly? At least in economic terms?

In traditional economic modeling, humans are often synonymous with "labor," and also being an optimizing agent at the same time. If machines can not only perform labor, but also make decisions and even create ideas, what's left for humans?

The rise of AI challenges economists to develop more complex representations of humans and the "economic agents," which inhabit their models.

As American economists David Parkes and Michael Wellman have noted, a world of AI agents may actually behave more like economic theory than the human world does. Compared to humans, AIs "better respect idealized assumptions of rationality than people, interacting through novel rules and incentive systems quite distinct from those tailored for people."

Importantly, having a better concept of what is "human" in economics should also help us think through what new characteristics AI will bring into an economy.

Will AI bring us some kind of fundamentally new production technology or will it tinker with existing production technologies? Is AI simply a substitute for labor or human capital, or is it an independent economic agent in the economic system?

Answering these questions is vital for economists -- and for understanding how the world will change in the coming years.

Yingying Lu is a research associate at the Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis at the Crawford School of Public Policy and and an economic modeller at CSIRO.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

'Judy Blume Forever' filmmakers: Author's radical honesty impacted generations

"She's delightful and she's kind of a badass," documentarian Davina Pardo told UPI.

By Karen Butler

"Judy Blume Forever," a documentary about the famed young-adult novelist, is now streaming online. Photo courtesy of Prime Video

NEW YORK, April 28 (UPI) -- Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchok say their new documentary, Judy Blume Forever, is meant to show that the 85-year-old author of Are You There God? It's Me Margaret, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Tiger Eyes is as relevant today as she was when her children's and young-adult novels were published in the 1970s and '80s.

"She has such an extraordinary impact on generations of readers with her radical honesty, her emotional openness, her acceptance of vulnerability and making mistakes and imperfection, her characters who had messy lives and thought messy thoughts and explored their bodies in a time when women weren't supposed to be exploring their bodies," Wolchok told UPI in a recent Zoom interview.

"All of these things were radical at the time Judy was writing and, in some situations, still feel radical today, which is a whole other conversation about how full-circle we have come in terms of women's bodily autonomy and sex education for girls.

"She also laid the groundwork for so much of the literature that kids and teenagers are reading today, [incorporating] the idea that you can be truthful, that books for kids can be truthful [and offer] this sort of first-person, honest account of a life."

The majority of the critically acclaimed, 97-minute documentary -- which is streaming on Prime Video -- shows Blume speaking directly to the viewers about her life and work.

There is also archival footage of her reading her work out loud to children and interviews with artists such as Molly Ringwald, Lena Dunham, Samantha Bee and Anna Konkle, who described how Blume's work inspired them.

"She is so energetic. She's always been completely honest with us. She's very direct and forthcoming. She's funny," Pardo said of Blume, who is living her best life as the owner of a bookstore in Key West, Fla.

"She's sexy. She and [her husband] George have so much chemistry," Pardo added. "It's so much fun to be around them. She's delightful and she's kind of a badass."

The filmmakers pointed to how Blume has been fighting back against censorship since the 1980s when some people objected to her coming-of-age tales that touched on sensitive topics such as menstruation, masturbation and first-time intercourse.

"She's been really outspoken about what's going on in the United States right now. She's a real fighter," Pardo said, referring to laws being introduced or passed that pertain to sex education and the movement by some to keep Blume's books off of school library shelves.

Wolchok blamed adults who fear and want to control what kids think and feel for the backlash against Blume's work.

"Parents have tried in the 1980s and now, unfortunately, it's parents who are very mobilized because of social media and conservative activist groups, but it is politicized, it's legislated," she said.

Despite Blume's willingness to participate in their project, the filmmakers said the author was reluctant to talk about herself.

"She loves talking about her characters and the stories she wrote," Wolchok said.

Thousands of letters Blume received over the decades are housed in the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Yale University, but the author keeps their identities a secret to protect their privacy.

The women telling Blume's story asked if she could contact a few fans with whom she has kept up long-term, meaningful correspondences to see if they might be willing to open up for the cameras about why they think the author is so special.

"I think it would be important to the film," Wolchok recalled telling Blume. "The way we handle Lorrie Kim and Karen Chilstrom's stories -- with delicacy and sensitivity -- I think she feels really good about."

A film version of Are You There God? It's Me Margaret -- starring Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates and Abby Ryder Fortson -- opens in theaters Friday.

NASA, UAE astronauts use spacewalk to work on ISS power systems

NASA astronaut Steve Bowen and UAE astronaut Sultan Alneyadi prepare for a spacewalk outside the International Space Station on Friday. Photo courtesy of NASA

April 28 (UPI) -- NASA astronaut Steve Bowen and UAE astronaut Sultan Alneyadi embarked on a spacewalk from the International Space Station on Friday morning to do preliminary work for upgrading the solar arrays that power the station.

The astronauts, who stepped out of the station at 9:11 a.m. EDT Friday, are tasked with preparing the station's starboard truss for panel installation and removing S-band antenna equipment from the station's exterior to bring it inside for upgrades.

The work is expected to take about 6.5 hours.

NASA is providing live coverage of the spacewalk on the agency's website.

UAE Astronaut Sultan Alneyadi gives a thumbs-up to friends and family before launching to the International Space Station from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 1. File Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo

Four new solar arrays -- which convert energy from the sun into electricity to power the space station -- have been installed, with two more to come.

In February, NASA's Nicole Mann and the Japanese Space Agency's Koichi Wakata finished installing a mounting platform for them.

On Tuesday, cosmonauts Dmitry Petelin and Sergey Prokopyev delayed a spacewalk to help detach and move an airlock from one station module to another. Russian space agency Roscosmos decided it needed more time to study the tasks.

It has been rescheduled for Wednesday.

NASA astronaut Steve Bowen waves to friends and family members before launching to the International Space Station from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 1. File Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo

Russia to stay on International Space Station through 2028

NASA announced that Russia will remain with the International Space Station through 2028. File Photo courtesy of NASA

April 28 (UPI) -- Russia has committed it will remain on the International Space Station until 2028, backing away from a plan to leave the low-Earth orbiting laboratory next year, according to NASA.

NASA on Wednesday announced Russia would "support continued station operations" for another five years, while the United States, Japan, Canada and participating countries of the European Space Agency offered a longer commitment through 2030.

"The International Space Station partners have committed to extending the operations of this unique platform in low Earth orbit where, for more than 22 years, humans have lived and worked for the benefit of humanity, conducting cutting-edge science and research in microgravity," NASA said.

"NASA will continue to work with its partner agencies to ensure an uninterrupted presence in low Earth orbit, as well as a safe and orderly transition from the space station to commercial platforms in the future."

Last July, the new head of the Russian Space Agency, Roscomos, Yury Borisov, said it would leave the ISS and build its own space laboratory at a cost of $6 billion. The announcement came five months into Russia'sinvasion of Ukraine, leading the United States and the governments of its space partners to respond with financial sanctions.

China built its own space station, and a crew spent their first six-month trip on it in February.

Russia has been one of the leading space agencies since the start of its construction in 1998.

"The International Space Station is an incredible partnership with a common goal to advance science and exploration," Robyn Gatens, director of the International Space Station Division at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., said.

"Extending our time aboard this amazing platform allows us to reap the benefits of more than two decades of experiments and technology demonstrations, as well as continue to materialize even greater discoveries to come."

Russian vessel photographed near Nord Stream pipeline, Danish media reports

By Matt Bernardini


View taken from a Danish F-16 interceptor of the Nord Stream 2 gas leak just south of Dueodde, Denmark, on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022. The Danish newspaper Information said Friday that photographs of a Russian vessel were taken near the pipelines several days before the explosion. 

File Photo by Danish Defence/UPI | License Photo

April 29 (UPI) -- Danish media has reported that a Russian navy vessel which specializes in underwater operations was seen near the Nord Stream gas pipleine prior to the explosions in September.

The Danish newspaper Information was able to confirm that the submarine rescue ship SS-750 was photographed in the Baltic Sea four days before explosions occurred. The revelations were obtained through a freedom of information request in Denmark.

"The Danish military confirmed that 26 photos of the Russian vessel were taken from a Danish patrol boat in the zone located east of Bornholm on 22 September 2022," Information said.

Nord Stream consists of two parallel networks that are designed to carry Russian natural gas through the Baltic Sea to Germany.

RELATED Russian 'spy ship' in North Sea raises security concerns

Sweden's National Seismology Center said there was an underwater blast in the area of the pipes at the time they lost pressure in September. The pipelines -- Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 -- had not been active but were still filled with natural gas when authorities noticed a sharp drop in pressure.

Finger-pointing carried on for months after the attack. The Russian Defense Ministry blamed the British military for blowing up the pipeline, without providing evidence. Authorities in Britain denied the allegation. Western allies have pointed at Russia, which had stopped delivering natural gas to Europe because of sanctions.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh, meanwhile, suggested on his blog that the United States was behind the attack.

RELATEDDenmark lifts maritime bans associated with Nord Stream pipeline disturbance

Mats Ljungqvist, the Swedish prosecutor in charge of the investigation, has said it may be difficult to pinpoint who was behind the explosion.

"We are working unconditionally and turning over every stone and leaving nothing to chance," said Ljungqvist said earlier this month. "Our hope is to be able to confirm who has committed this crime, but it should be noted that it likely will be difficult given the circumstances."

TODAY

US conducts 1st evacuation of its citizens from Sudan war


By ZEKE MILLER, COLLEEN LONG, MATTHEW LEE and ELLEN KNICKMEYER

Saturday, April 29

Smoke is seen in Khartoum, Sudan, Wednesday, April 19, 2023. The U.S. conducted its first organized evacuation of citizens and permanent residents from Sudan, the State Department said Saturday, April 29, two weeks into a conflict that has turned Khartoum into a war zone and thrown the country into turmoil. American unmanned aircraft, which have been keeping an eye on overland evacuation routes for days, were providing armed overwatch for the American operation, according to two people briefed on the operation who were not authorized to speak publicly. 

(AP Photo/Marwan Ali, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hundreds of Americans fleeing two weeks of deadly fighting in Sudan reached the east African nation’s port Saturday in the first U.S.-run evacuation, completing a dangerous land journey under escort of armed drones.

American unmanned aircraft, which have been keeping an eye on overland evacuation routes for days, provided armed overwatch for a bus convoy carrying 200 to 300 Americans over 500 miles, or 800 kilometers, to Port Sudan, a place of relative safety, U.S. officials said.

The U.S., which had none of its officials on the ground for the evacuation, has been criticized by families of trapped Americans in Sudan for initially ruling out any U.S.-run evacuation for Americans who wanted out, calling it too dangerous.

U.S. special operations troops briefly flew to the capital, Khartoum, on April 22 to airlift out American staffers at the embassy and other American government personnel. Several thousand U.S. citizens were left behind, many of them dual-nationals.

More than a dozen other nations had already been carrying out evacuations for their citizens, using a mix of military planes, navy vessels and on the ground personnel.

A wide-ranging group of international mediators — including African and Arab nations, the United Nations and the United States — has only managed to achieve a series of fragile temporary cease-fires that failed to stop clashes but created enough of a lull for tens of thousands of Sudanese to flee to safer areas and for foreign nations to evacuate thousands of their citizens by land, air and sea.

Since the conflict between two rival generals broke out April 15, the U.S. has warned its citizens that they needed to find their own way out of the country, though U.S. officials have tried to link up Americans with other nations’ evacuation efforts. But that changed as U.S. officials exploited a relative lull in the fighting and, from afar, organized their own convoy for Americans, officials said.

Without the evacuation flights near the capital that other countries have been offering their citizens, many U.S. citizens have been left to make the dangerous overland journey from Khartoum to the country’s main Red Sea port, Port Sudan. One Sudanese-American family that made the trip earlier described passing through numerous checkpoints manned by armed men and passing bodies lying in the street and vehicles of other fleeing families who had been killed along the way.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the convoy carried U.S. citizens, local people employed by the U.S. and citizens of allied countries. “We reiterate our warning to Americans not to travel to Sudan,” he said.

From Port Sudan, away from the fighting, the Americans in the convoy can seek spots on vessels crossing the Red Sea to the Saudi port city of Jeddah. U.S. officials also are working with Saudi Arabia to see if one of the kingdom’s naval vessels can carry a larger number of Americans to Jeddah.

U.S. consular officials will be waiting for the Americans once they reach the dock in Jeddah, but there are no U.S. personnel in Port Sudan, officials said.

Two Americans are confirmed killed in the fighting that erupted April 15. One was a U.S. civilian whom officials said was caught in crossfire. The other was an Iowa City, Iowa, doctor, who was stabbed to death in front of his house and family in Khartoum, in the lawless violence that has accompanied the fighting.

In all, the fighting in the east African country has killed more than 500 people.