Florida scientists luring Burmese pythons with robo-bunnies In a project funded by the South Florida Water Management District, and led by University of Florida wildlife ecologist Robert McCleery, a team of wildlife biologists and ecologists have been placing placing the robo-bunnies in various places across South Florida in order to study how the pythons react to the robotic rabbits. Smithsonian Magazine provides further details: By luring the pythons to the rabbit look-alikes, biologists can save time that might otherwise be spent searching through the swamp for the snakes. The animatronic rabbits are outfitted with motors and internal heaters that are designed to replicate the behaviors and body temperatures of live marsh rabbits (Sylvilagus palustris), which Burmese pythons love to eat. Spoiler: Artist Depiction
Second coming? For-profit AI Jesus bots offer salvation after ads People are using AI for everything now, from writing papers to therapy and relationships, so it is not surprising that there are now multiple versions of AI Jesus available, ready to damn you to hell or guide you to salvation, after you watch some ads. A new study by Anné H. Verhoef, a philosopher at North-West University in South Africa, breaks down five of these Jesus chatbots. Four of the five bots claimed to be Jesus, seemingly undeterred by the whole prohibition against idolatry. Only one admitted to being "… but a humble vessel." This not meant to be a deep religious discussion, but more of a societal comment or cautionary tale perhaps.
