Kerry Lutz's--Financial Survival Network

Turmoil has again swept the Argentine economy. Overnight short term rates have been raised to 40 percent as the currency crashes. And to think just last year they were issuing 100 year bonds with a 7.9% coupon. Who were the lucky investors getting that slop? Hopefully not hapless American pension funds. And then there's Iran. Today, Trump will decide what to do about the agreement with Iran. The smart money is betting he abrogates it, witness the price of oil breaking $70. Is war in the offing?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is seen as both a boon and a threat. It uses our personal data to influence our lives without us realising it. It is used by social media to draw our attention to things we are interested in buying, and by our tablets and computers to predict what we want to type (good). It facilitates targeting of voters to influence elections (bad, particularly if your side loses).

Perhaps the truth or otherwise of allegations such as electoral interference should be regarded in the light of the interests of their promotors. Politicians are always ready to accuse an opponent of being unscrupulous in his methods, including the use of AI to promote fake news, or influencing targeted voters in other ways. A cynic might argue that the political class wishes to retain control over propaganda by manipulating the traditional media he understands and is frightened AI will introduce black arts to his disadvantage. Whatever the influences behind the debate, there is no doubt that AI is propelling us into a new world, and we must learn to embrace it whether we like it or not.