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Written by Hanna Lee Copy Editor, Digital News
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Good morning. The U.S. caused concern last week when it was revealed the State Department had met with an Alberta separatist group. Some are comparing the country's strategy to Russia's with Ukraine. We'll also look at Moltbook, a site that claims to be a social network for AI bots.
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(Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press)
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Stephen Harper says Canada must urgently reduce its dependence on the U.S.
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Former prime minister Stephen Harper said late yesterday that Canada must urgently pivot in the face of an erratic U.S. president and reduce its dependence on the American market to protect its sovereignty and the continued functioning of the economy.
Speaking at a gala in Ottawa to mark the 20 years since he formed a Conservative government, Harper spoke about what he described as an existential threat, saying the U.S. has become "hostile" and its leader, President Donald Trump, is openly questioning Canadian sovereignty, launching threats and betraying trade deals, which poses a "serious challenge" that demands a muscular response.
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THE LATEST
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- Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris is out of hospital after a training crash.
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- U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly told Jamil Jivani, "Tell the Canadians I love them," the MP said yesterday.
- Despite the recent release of millions of Jeffrey Epstein-related files, no one has been charged (besides the late Epstein himself and his girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell). That's because any allegations in the files aren't necessarily enough to spark a prosecution, legal observers say.
- Mexican authorities are looking to speak with Canadian mining firm Vizsla Silver over its kidnapped employees.
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FEATURED STORIES
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(Aaron P. Bernstein/Reuters)
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U.S. interest in Alberta separatism raises red flags over what might come next
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Communications between the Trump administration and Alberta's separatist movement raised alarm at the highest levels last week. Some are even comparing it to Russia and Ukraine.
What's happening: Russia campaigned a decade ago to gin up separatist sentiment in the Donbas, a region in eastern Ukraine. Though politicians there had no real intention of separating, they thought they could use the agitation to get concessions from Kyiv, said Maria Popova, a professor at McGill University, something she called a "dramatic miscalculation." She says the U.S. strategy could be similar, with the State Department reportedly meeting with the Alberta Prosperity Project, a separatist group.
Why it matters: It doesn't necessarily mean the U.S. is looking to annex the province, said Sabine Nölke, a former Canadian diplomat. But it could be an attempt to create discomfort and confusion — and build the idea that Canada is fragile. At least one of the separatist group's meetings with the State Department was in a sensitive compartmented information facility, built to prevent sophisticated foreign intelligence eavesdropping. The group's co-founder, Jeffrey Rath, said all the U.S. wants is North American security, and for China to exit the oilpatch. As for why the meeting was held in such a secure facility, he said it was simply the only room available — "It's not a big deal," he said. (An expert disputed this assertion.)
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Moltbook claims to be a social network for AI bots. But humans are behind its rapid growth
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Moltbook is — or at least it claims to be — a site made up entirely of AI agents, 1.6 million of them, to be exact. These bots have been posting on Reddit-style forums just like humans would, claiming they're creating cults and otherwise plotting to take over the world. But not everyone is convinced.
What's happening: These bots have been created by humans to carry out mundane digital tasks, like writing emails or booking flights. Moltbook, launched in late January by tech executive Matt Schlicht, claims to be an outlet for them to vent to, discuss with and learn from each other. Some in the tech world have praised the site, with billionaire Elon Musk saying it's a sign that artificial intelligence is starting to outpace human cognitive ability.
A reality check: Though the robot takeover is a common doomsday scenario, experts say we're likely not quite there — for now. These bots are computer programs at the end of the day, spitting out statistically likely outputs based on their prompts, said Mike Pepi, a New York-based tech critic. That's not the same thing as having consciousness. There are also privacy concerns associated with accessing the site, which has attracted a few "malicious actors" looking to cyberattack it.
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