Latest news with #Shedd
Int'l Business Times
11-06-2025
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
Trump Admin's Plans to Push AI Across Government Sites Leaked on Code Sharing Website
The Trump administration's plan to integrate artificial intelligence across federal agencies has been exposed through a leaked draft of a government-run website, revealing an initiative set to launch on July 4 that would track and promote AI use across departments. The early details were uncovered in code uploaded to GitHub by the General Services Administration's Technology Transformation Services (TTS), led by former Tesla engineer Thomas Shedd, according to 404 Media. The website, is described as a centralized platform offering integration with AI tools from OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, AWS Bedrock, and Meta's LLaMA. It also includes an analytics feature that will reportedly measure AI adoption rates by specific government teams. The project is part of a broader push by Shedd and the Department of Government Efficiency, spearheaded by Elon Musk, to rapidly embed AI technologies into government operations. Leaked audio from a TTS meeting in February revealed that Shedd wanted AI tools to write software, review contracts, and standardize usage across agencies—goals that internal staff reportedly viewed with widespread skepticism. Concerns raised by government employees include the potential for AI-generated code to introduce security flaws, create software bugs, or mistakenly recommend cancelling essential contracts. Despite these warnings, the GitHub page suggests that the initiative is moving forward, with set to launch on Independence Day. As of now, redirects to the White House homepage, and the staging version of the site is hosted quietly on The GSA has not commented publicly on the leak or the concerns surrounding the project. Originally published on Latin Times
India Today
11-06-2025
- Business
- India Today
The US government is building its own AI chatbot with help from a former Tesla engineer
The United States government is preparing to launch its own AI chatbot and integration platform on July 4 under the name according to a report by 404 Media, which found a related code posted on GitHub. The initiative, which aims to 'accelerate government innovation with AI,' is being developed by the General Services Administration's Technology Transformation Services (TTS), headed by Thomas Shedd, a former Tesla engineer. The project includes a website, a chatbot, and an application programming interface (API) that will allow government agencies to tap into AI models developed by OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and eventually Amazon Web Services' Bedrock and Meta's LLaMA, according to code and early website drafts uncovered by 404 early version of the homepage, which currently redirects to reportedly advertises: 'Three powerful AI tools. One integrated platform.' These include the AI assistant chatbot, a model-agnostic API, and a console to monitor how government teams are using AI. The system will also feature analytics showing usage levels across various Shedd has been at the forefront of the US government's growing interest in artificial intelligence. According to leaked internal meetings and previous public remarks reported by 404 Media and Wired, Shedd wants to 'AI-ify' large parts of federal operations. 'We want to start implementing more AI at the agency level and be an example for how other agencies can start leveraging AI,' Shedd reportedly told his team. He added that tools like AI coding agents – which would write software for federal use – and contract analysis systems are among the first products in development. The broader goal, according to Shedd, is to build centralised AI solutions that federal agencies will eventually be expected to platform appears to be a continuation of ideas proposed under the now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a short-lived government initiative that was led by Elon Musk recently distanced himself from the Trump administration following a falling out, the influence of DOGE is still evident in current federal tech projects. During its existence, DOGE aimed to reduce bureaucracy and costs by replacing some federal roles with AI-driven it will workWhile the exact functionality of the AI chatbot has not yet been detailed, the underlying API will allow agencies to access a range of AI models and services through a single platform. According to GitHub documentation, integration is being tested on and the platform is still in a staging environment as of early analytics console, also part of the package, will reportedly give visibility into AI usage at each agency. This could potentially help identify which teams are adopting AI effectively, and which may require additional support or training. According to the report, the early version of the platform does not appear to use generic placeholder text, suggesting development is well underway and being tailored for specific government use cases. Tune In
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Copiah County judge overturns woman's manslaughter conviction
COPIAH COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – District Attorney Daniella Shorter Levy announced a verdict was overturned for the woman who was found guilty in connection to the death of Christina Lynn Howard, 49. Investigators said Charlotte Shedd, 53, hit and dragged Howard with her 2012 Chevy Traverse on March 3, 2022. Howard died from her injuries while in route to the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in Jackson. Mississippi woman arrested for SNAP benefits fraud When questioned, investigators said Shedd told police that she did not remember the incident and that she suffered from seizures and had not been taking her seizure medication. On April 1, 2025, Shedd was found guilty of manslaughter culpable-negligence. She was sentenced to 10 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC). On April 21, 2025, Levy said Copiah County Circuit Court Judge Tomika H. Irving overturned the verdict and absolved Shedd of any charges connected to the death of Howard. According to Levy, Shedd is to be released from custody at the direct request of the court. 'It is the duty of my office to ensure the safety and justice of the 22nd District, which includes Copiah County. By mandate, duty and obligation this matter was investigated, prosecuted and tried before a panel of Copiah County citizens who found the Defendant guilty. The Court's Order has deemed the will of the people meaningless,' said Levy. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
Columbia County Sheriff's Office's response to this past weekend's incidents at the Columbia County Spring Fair
EVANS, Ga. (WJBF) – This weekend, the Columbia County Spring Fair saw its fair share of fights involving children. There has been social media chatter about people saying they saw a gun or heard gunshots. I talked with the Columbia County Sheriff's Department about what happened. Although the Fair has a rule that a parent must accompany children 17 and under after 7 PM, there were still many incidents on Friday night, including fights between a 14- and 16-year-old, and Saturday night, the Fair had to close early at 9:30 due to unsupervised kids cutting lines and not following rules. 'Based on the fact of disruptions and the unruliness. The Merchants Association decided to close down the Fair,' said Andy Shedd, Special Operations Division, Columbia County Sheriff's Office. People at the Fair say they saw a gun or heard gunshots, but investigators say they have no proof that weapons were shown or fired at the Fair. 'There is no indication and no proof whatsoever that that occurred. It was a social media myth that ran rampant, but our officers that were there were obviously eyewitnesses to the entire incident and to the unruliness, and they said there were no shots that were fired,' said Shedd. One attendee was there with her family. She says that as they were leaving, they saw an officer rushing to where an incident must have occurred. They could tell from the moment they got to the fair that it was different and more hectic than in previous years. 'Next thing you know, you've got a big crowd of people screaming and running past us,' said Sheena Inglett at Saturday night's fair. 'My husband grabbed me and the baby, and we went beside a vendor, and she had us hide behind one of her curtains because nobody knew what was going on.' Inglett says she hopes attendees get refunds because some had just gotten to the Fair before they were forced to leave. Shedd says they are looking into videos. 'If we can prove that someone was an instigator, then they will definitely be charged,' said Shedd. The sheriff's office plans to provide more officers this weekend to ensure the safety of people who want to attend the Fair. 'Our plans for this this upcoming weekend is to bolster our efforts in security and have even more officers on hand so that nothing like this happens again,' said Shedd. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists study fish behavior during dyeing of the Chicago River for St. Patrick's Day
Every year as part of the city's St. Patrick's Day celebrations, thousands of onlookers clad in green cheer on a boat crew sprinkling orange powder into the Chicago River to turn it a festive shade. But with the federal government considering sweeping rollbacks to environmental protections, this Saturday many may wonder: How will the bright green water affect the underwater denizens? Last year, an extensive scientific study of fish behavior in the Chicago River system led by researchers from the Shedd Aquarium, Purdue University and the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant offered a clue. In mid-March, as researchers studied aquatic activity they found a handful of the over 80 fish they were tracking were in the main branch downtown. On the day of the 2024 St. Patrick's parade, none of the tagged fish rushed to find shelter from their suddenly green surroundings. '(It) was the first time that we could actually track how individuals behave when the river is dyed green,' said Austin Happel, a research biologist at the Shedd. 'We didn't see changes in what they were doing that day, or even the next couple of days afterward, so it doesn't seem to be causing them to be agitated.' Since June 2023, the scientists have been following largemouth bass, common carp, bluegill, pumpkinseed, black crappies, walleyes and green sunfish, among others, with tags that ping every minute or so. These signals are picked up by acoustic receivers throughout the 'Wild Mile' in the North Branch, Bubbly Creek in the South Branch and by the Riverwalk downtown, letting the scientists know how the fish respond to habitat restoration initiatives, flooding and sewage overflows, as well as seasonal changes. St. Patrick's Day celebrations in 2024 gave scientists a peek into the tradition's impact on aquatic life, a matter that has concerned environmentalists since its origins in 1962. That first year, an oil-based Air Force dye kept the water green for nearly a month, which caused an outcry. A vegetable dye has been used ever since. While its ingredients are not public knowledge, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has previously said the dye has no toxic effect. Green is not the only color the river's main branch has been tinted: It was turned blue in 2016 to celebrate the World Series champion Cubs on the day of the team's victory parade and celebration. Happel contrasted the unbothered behavior of some of the study's aquatic participants during the river dispersal of dye last year to another event that made the fish they were tracking in Bubbly Creek swim for cover. Environment | 'You feel like you're king for a day:' How a family dyes the Chicago River green for St. Patrick's Day Environment | From homebodies to prolific swimmers, researchers track Chicago River fish to find out where they are going and why Environment | Court finds Trump Tower violated environmental laws and endangered fish in the Chicago River When the city of Chicago experiences very heavy rainfall, combined rain and untreated wastewater may overflow from sewage pipes and into local waterways. One such overflow happened during massive rains in early July 2023, a month into the study, and caused fish to swim to other areas where sewage had not depleted oxygen levels. If they are unable to leave the presence of a contaminant, the toxins can lead to a fish kill, or sudden death in large numbers in a specific area over a short period of time. 'A lot of our fish were moving long distances as if they were looking for a place to hide,' Happel said. 'So we can contrast those. With the river dyeing, we have yet to see a fish kill associated.' He hopes some of their tagged subjects will be in the river downtown for the Saturday celebration so the researchers can continue monitoring any possible effects of the dye on aquatic life. It would be ideal if it were the same five fish that were there last time, Happel said, because each fish, like humans, has their own personality and behavioral quirks. But it's unlikely since the scientists can't control where the animals decide to spend their time. 'At least, with the river dyeing, it's always the same event,' he said. The same kind and amount of dye offers a baseline for scientists to understand the fish's response. 'It's harder with the sewage when, each time, it's a different amount.' Even though vegetable dye may not have a negative impact underwater, environmentalists worry that putting a foreign substance in the river to tint it an unnatural color sends the wrong message about stewardship. Advocates say the Chicago River is healthier now than it has been in the past 150 years. It is home to all kinds of animals, including migratory birds, beavers and turtles, as well as 80 species of fish — up from fewer than 10 in the 1970s. The system has become a natural resource for local businesses and recreation. Environmental groups question whether dyeing is appropriate for a waterway that, despite a historical reputation of pollution, has come such a long way. Several advocacy nonprofits, including the Sierra Club Illinois Chapter, Friends of the Chicago River and Openlands, have spoken out against the tradition, arguing that the city must rethink how it interacts with the river as a signal to residents. For instance, in 2023, what began as a joke on social media became a trend that had people dumping Mountain Dew soda in the river to mess with out-of-towners and convince them it was how Chicago dyes the water. Rogue dyers have been a problem, too, with a few cases of unsanctioned dumping of colorants into the North Branch of the river despite the presence of conservation police patrols. 'If you see one person, say, throw a piece of trash down, you're more likely to throw a piece of trash down — or you're more likely to care less,' Happel said. 'While we like to say that the river has bigger issues to tackle before St. Paddy's Day, the general image of dumping stuff … is not the best image of how to care for the environment.' adperez@
