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Business
AI Workforce Shake-Up: Nearly Half Of Companies Plan Job Cuts Within Years AI Workforce Shake-Up: Nearly Half Of Companies Plan Job Cuts Within Years
AI Workforce Shake-Up: Nearly Half Of Companies Plan Job Cuts Within Years Nearly half of companies worldwide are planning to cut jobs within the next few years as artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes industries and automates millions of positions, according to a new global report. The World Economic Forum’s "Future of Jobs Report 2025" outlines the seismic shifts AI will bring to the global workforce, revealing both challenges and opportunities: Job Displacement: The report says 41 percent of companies intent to downsize their workforce globally between 2025 and 2030, particularly in industries reliant on routine and manual tasks such as manufacturing, customer …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
AI-Enhanced 'Virtual Kidnapping' Scam Targets Peekskill Families: Superintendent AI-Enhanced 'Virtual Kidnapping' Scam Targets Peekskill Families: Superintendent
Ai-enhanced 'Virtual Kidnapping' Scam Targets Peekskill Families: Superintendent A Northern Westchester school district is alerting families after two local households received virtual extortion calls involving scammers who claimed to have kidnapped loved ones.  In a letter to families on Wednesday, Jan. 8, Peekskill City School District Superintendent David Mauricio said two households received "Virtual Kidnapping Extortion Calls," a sophisticated scam where perpetrators falsely claim to have kidnapped a loved one and demand ransom payments.  Using artificial intelligence (AI), these scammers are now replicating family members' voices to make the threats…

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by Ben Crnic
Business
Just Released New iOS Update Brings AI, Custom Emoji Access To iPhones, iPads Just Released New iOS Update Brings AI, Custom Emoji Access To iPhones, iPads
Just Released New iOS Update Brings AI, Custom Emoji Access To iPhones, iPads Apple has unveiled new updates that bring advanced AI and emoji tools to its iPhone and iPad devices.  Released on Wednesday, Dec. 11, iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 expand Apple Intelligence with features like ChatGPT integration, custom emoji creation, and visual design tools. Key Updates ChatGPT Integration: Siri and Writing Tools now support ChatGPT for generating content, solving problems, and enhancing productivity. Privacy settings ensure user control over data. Image Playground: This tool allows users to design custom visuals by inputting text descriptions, wit…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Push For More Handicapped Parking At Northern Westchester ShopRite Sparks Action Push For More Handicapped Parking At Northern Westchester ShopRite Sparks Action
Push For More Handicapped Parking At Northern Westchester ShopRite Sparks Action Officials are looking to add more handicapped parking spaces to a Northern Westchester ShopRite supermarket after several residents raised the issue on social media.  The controversy began on Wednesday, Nov. 4, when a resident commented on the lack of handicapped parking at the new ShopRite locale in Mount Kisco at 333 North Bedford Rd.  In the post, made on a Mount Kisco Facebook group, the resident said several elderly community members had raised the issue:  "The new store is twice the size of the old one, but has far less spaces. Aren’t there regulations governing t…

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by Ben Crnic
Politics
Former NY Congressman, Gubernatorial Candidate Lee Zeldin Named To Trump's Cabinet Former NY Congressman, Gubernatorial Candidate Lee Zeldin Named To Trump's Cabinet
Former NY Congressman, Gubernatorial Candidate Lee Zeldin Named To Trump's Cabinet President-elect Donald Trump has selected former New York congressman and gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin to run the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In a statement on Monday, Nov. 11, Trump said Zeldin "will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses," adding that Zeldin will still maintain "the highest environmental standards." In a post on social media, Zeldin said, "It is an honor to join President Trump’s Cabinet as EPA Administrator. "We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto indu…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
New School Bus Stop-Arm Camera Program Announced In Westchester To Catch Illegal Passings New School Bus Stop-Arm Camera Program Announced In Westchester To Catch Illegal Passings
New School Bus Stop-Arm Camera Program Announced In Westchester To Catch Illegal Passings Nearly a dozen districts in Westchester will be participating in an all-new enforcement program that will use artificial intelligence to catch those who illegally pass stopped school buses, officials announced.  In an announcement on Tuesday, Oct. 22, Westchester County Executive George Latimer unveiled a new school bus stop-arm photo program meant to reduce the number of illegal passing.  According to Latimer, every vehicle in participating school districts' fleets will be equipped with cameras that will use AI to detect cars that pass stopped buses. The equipment will be provide…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Sex Extortion Scam Circulating Through Emails In Region, Sheriff Says Sex Extortion Scam Circulating Through Emails In Region, Sheriff Says
Sex Extortion Scam Circulating Through Emails In Region, Sheriff Says Police in the region are warning of an automated sex extortion scam that is targeting residents through emails. Undersheriff Eric Chaboy of the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office said that scammers are acquiring emails and personal information on the so-called “Dark Web” and feeding it into what appears to be an artificial intelligence (AI) program that automatically contacts potential victims. Earlier report - Warning Issued For Nationwide Automated 'Sextortion' Scam: Here's What To Know According to Chaboty, the program claims in an email that the victim has been looking at pornogra…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Alleged $1.3M Scam: NY Man, Kubient CEO Accused Of Accounting Fraud, Misleading Investors Alleged $1.3M Scam: NY Man, Kubient CEO Accused Of Accounting Fraud, Misleading Investors
Alleged $1.3M Scam: NY Man, Kubient CEO Accused Of Accounting Fraud, Misleading Investors A New York resident who was the chief executive officer of digital advertising technology company Kubient fabricated documented and misled investors and auditors, according to federal authorities. The scheme by Long Island resident Paul Roberts, age 48, of Melville caused Kubient to improperly recognize more than $1.3 million in fraudulent revenue in Kubient’s financial statements at the time of the company's initial public offering, according the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams. Roberts was charged this with one count of securities fra…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
NYers Urged To Beware, Report AI Election Misinformation NYers Urged To Beware, Report AI Election Misinformation
NYers Urged To Beware, Report AI Election Misinformation State leaders are urging New Yorkers to beware purposely misleading election information generated by artificial intelligence. On Thursday, Sept. 5, New York Attorney General Letitia James released an online guide to help voters identify and report AI-generated “deepfakes” that can create videos depicting politicians saying or doing something they never did. Misinformation can also deceive voters on things like eligibility to vote, and where, when, or how to vote. “New Yorkers deserve to be well-informed, not misinformed, about their choices for the upcoming November elections,” James said…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
Westchester School District Taps New Technology, Innovation Director Westchester School District Taps New Technology, Innovation Director
Westchester School District Taps New Technology, Innovation Director An educator who has led learning communities on modern concepts such as artificial intelligence and augmented reality has been selected as a Westchester school district's new technology director. Jerrod Blair's appointment as the Irvington Union Free School District's new director of technology and innovation was announced by the district on Thursday, Aug. 22.  Blair, who was chosen after a long search process, will start in the position on Friday, Sept. 6. According to the district, he is a "standout" in the field and has led professional learning communities on topics including AI an…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Westchester Students Among 300 Semifinalists Nationwide In Prestigious Regeneron Competition Westchester Students Among 300 Semifinalists Nationwide In Prestigious Regeneron Competition
Westchester Students Among 300 Semifinalists Nationwide In Prestigious Regeneron Competition Dozens of students from New York have been named semifinalists in the country’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. The Society for Science announced the top 300 scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search for 2024 on Wednesday, Jan. 10. Participants were whittled down from 2,162 applicants from 712 high schools across 46 states, Puerto Rico, and 10 other countries. Students were chosen based on their outstanding research, leadership skills, and community involvement, as well as a commitment to academics and creativity in asking scientific …

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
'Tis The Season For Scammers: AI Voices Increasingly Used To Victimize New Yorkers 'Tis The Season For Scammers: AI Voices Increasingly Used To Victimize New Yorkers
'Tis The Season For Scammers: AI Voices Increasingly Used To Victimize New Yorkers Police are sounding the alarm about a clever new way scammers are targeting New York residents this holiday season. In a warning issued Thursday, Nov. 16, Suffolk County Police on Long Island said scammers are increasingly using fake voices that are generated by artificial intelligence (AI) to dupe victims out of their money. To pull off the “spoofing” scam, criminals use AI tools to clone the voices of people who post on social media and then call their relatives pretending to be them. Police highlighted a recent example in which an 85-year-old Hauppauge man got a call from someone posing…

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by Michael Mashburn