Mubi

➡️ This year's midterm elections have essentially become a proxy battle over how AI should be governed. Groups tied to the artificial intelligence industry are investing tens of millions of dollars in hopes of influencing the future of AI regulation. The industry has been a major contributor to stock market gains in recent years and has significantly impacted U.S. gross domestic product growth. But there are growing concerns over AI's effects on jobs, the environmental and economic costs of massive data centers and the safety of powerful AI models. 
➡️ The Trump administration has increased federal support for crisis pregnancy centers. A nonprofit watchdog organization warns that they may be making false claims. There are thousands of these centers across the U.S., many of which are Christian organizations aimed at preventing abortions. Center staff members are often volunteers who may or may not have medical training. The Campaign for Accountability says many of these centers mislead patients by promising to "rule out" ectopic pregnancies with free ultrasounds. Ectopic pregnancies are rare complications that happen when an embryo implants outside the uterus. If the embryo implants in a fallopian tube, it can lead to a rupture, which may be life-threatening. The problem: A single ultrasound typically cannot determine whether a pregnancy is ectopic. This week, the watchdog group sent a letter to New York Attorney General Letitia James, requesting her office investigate these centers.
➡️ The U.S. was once the leading force in the world's research engine, but it is now losing ground to China. The country may be taking the dominant role due to significant investments and a disruptive year for American universities under the Trump administration. This year, Harvard University lost its top position in a global ranking measuring academic output to a Chinese university. In fact, seven out of the top 10 institutions on the list, compiled by Leiden University in the Netherlands, are located in China. 
➡️ This month, NPR's Newsmakers podcast sat down with three influential voices who have made headlines: Maine’s Democratic Senate challenger Graham Platner, former first lady Jill Biden and the new head of editorial content at American Vogue, Chloe Malle. Catch up with these stories and more here.