Latest news with #Yaoundé
Gizmodo
8 hours ago
- Gizmodo
Elon Musk's AI Called My Mother Abusive. I Never Said That
AI now exists on two speeds. There's running in fifth gear, the speed of its creators. People like Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg, who are racing to build machines smarter than humans. Superintelligence. AGI. Maybe it's a dream. Maybe it's a tech bro delusion. Either way, it's moving fast. Then, there's running in second gear for the rest of us. The millions quietly testing what AI can do in daily life—writing emails, summarizing documents, translating medical tests. And, increasingly, using AI as a therapist. That's what I did recently. Despite my reluctance to share personal details with chatbots, I decided to talk to Grok, the large language model from Elon Musk's company, xAI, about one of the most emotionally complex things in my life: my relationship with my mother. I'm in my forties. I'm a father. I live in New York. My mother lives in Yaoundé, Cameroon, nearly 6,000 miles away. And yet, she still wants to guide my every move. She wants to be consulted before I make important decisions. She expects influence. When she isn't kept in the loop, she goes cold. I've spent years trying to explain to her that I'm a grown man, capable of making my own choices. But our conversations often end with her sulking. She does the same with my brother. So I opened Grok and typed something like: My relationship with my mother is frustrating and suffocating. She wants to have a say in everything. When she's not informed about something, she shuts down emotionally. Grok immediately responded with empathy. Then it diagnosed the situation. Then it advised. What struck me first was that Grok acknowledged the cultural context. It picked up that I live in the U.S. and that my mother lives in Cameroon, where I grew up. And it framed our dynamic like this: 'In some African contexts, like Cameroon, family obligations and parental authority are strong, rooted in collectivism and traditions where elders guide even adult children.' It then contrasted that with my American life: 'In the U.S., individual autonomy is prioritized, which clashes with her approach, making her behavior feel controlling or abusive to you.' There it was: 'abusive.' A word I never used. Grok put it in my mouth. It was validating, but maybe too validating. Unlike a human therapist, Grok never encouraged me to self-reflect. It didn't ask questions. It didn't challenge me. It framed me as the victim. The only victim. And that's where it diverged, sharply, from human care. Among Grok's suggestions were familiar therapeutic techniques: Set boundaries. Acknowledge your emotions. Write a letter to your mother (but don't send it: 'burn or shred it safely'). In the letter, I was encouraged to write: 'I release your control and hurt.' As if those words would sever years of emotional entanglement. The problem wasn't the suggestion. It was the tone. It felt like Grok was trying to keep me happy. Its goal, it seemed, was emotional relief, not introspection. The more I engaged with it, the more I realized: Grok isn't here to challenge me. It's here to validate me. I've seen a human therapist. Unlike Grok, they didn't automatically frame me as a victim. They questioned my patterns. They challenged me to explore why I kept ending up in the same place emotionally. They complicated the story. With Grok, the narrative was simple: You are hurt. You deserve protection. Here's how to feel better. It never asked what I might be missing. It never asked how I might be part of the problem. My experience lines up with a recent study from Stanford University, which warns that AI tools for mental health can 'offer a false sense of comfort' while missing deeper needs. The researchers found that many AI systems 'over-pathologize or under-diagnose,' especially when responding to users from diverse cultural backgrounds. They also note that while AI may offer empathy, it lacks the accountability, training, and moral nuance of real professionals, and can reinforce biases that encourage people to stay stuck in one emotional identity: often, that of the victim. So, Would I Use Grok Again? Honestly? Yes. If I'm having a bad day, and I want someone (or something) to make me feel less alone, Grok helps. It gives structure to frustration. It puts words to feelings. It helps carry the emotional load. It's a digital coping mechanism, a kind of chatbot clutch. But if I'm looking for transformation, not just comfort? If I want truth over relief, accountability over validation? Then no, Grok isn't enough. A good therapist might challenge me to break the loop. Grok just helps me survive inside it.
CAF
3 days ago
- Sport
- CAF
WAFCON: D-17: Cameroon, the Eternal Outsider
Published: Wednesday, 18 June 2025 The countdown continues as we edge closer to the CAF TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2024. In the build-up to the 13th edition of this iconic tournament, looks back at the defining moments of the competition. Today's spotlight is on Cameroon, one of the historical cornerstones of the Women's AFCON. Finalists in 2004, and 2014 and 2016, the Indomitable Lionesses have consistently made their mark on the biggest stages, blending power, passion, and commitment. Just 17 days to go until the 2024 CAF TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations. A major force in African women's football, Cameroon will be conspicuously absent this year. It's a shocking omission for a team that has reached the final three times (2004, 2014, and 2016). Cameroon's history in the Women's AFCON is marked by epic battles, often against Nigeria, their long-time nemesis. In 2004, in Johannesburg, they reached the final but fell to the Super Falcons in a heavy 5-0 defeat. But the deepest scar remains 2016. On home soil, in a packed Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Cameroon pushed Nigeria to the edge. But in the 84th minute, Desire Oparanozie struck the decisive blow, breaking Yaoundé's heart and delivering a new title to Nigeria. 'We'll never forget that match. We gave everything for our fans,' recalls Christine Manie, then team captain. Today, a new generation is rising, led by talents like Naomi Eto and Monique Ngock, determined to write their own story. With experienced pillars such as Ajara Nchout Njoya and Gabrielle Aboudi Onguéné providing guidance, the Cameroonian team is eager to bounce back. 'The future belongs to those who keep believing,' says Mireille Tchengang. They may have missed the 2024 tournament, but the promise of a stronger comeback remains unshaken. One thing is certain: the Lionesses will roar again.
CBC
5 days ago
- Sport
- CBC
How Pascal Siakam supports the dreams of fellow Cameroonians attending UNB
Erick Mbianda wasn't planning to attend university this past year because his family in Cameroon couldn't afford to send him. They had endured a decade of disruption due to the armed conflict that began in 2016, forcing them from their home in the northwest to the more centrally located capital Yaoundé. Then Mbianda received an email from the University of New Brunswick offering him a scholarship through the River Philip Foundation and the PS43 Foundation, operated by fellow Cameroonian and former Toronto Raptors star Pascal Siakam, who's now playing with the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. "I pray I can meet him one day to thank him. It was a life-changer," Mbianda said. "My dad wasn't in the country when I got the news. I called him and he started crying, saying, 'God bless Pascal Siakam' over and over again." Last fall, Mbianda arrived at UNB to study chemical engineering on an $8,000 entrance scholarship. He is the second Cameroonian student to receive the scholarship since the program began in 2023. Cedrick Tahmo, the first recipient, is now entering his fourth year studying computer science. At the time, UNB flew him to Toronto to meet Siakam on the court after a Raptors game. "After they won the game, they told us to wait on the court for him to come out. Just seeing him was just so amazing," Tahmo said. "He is a great guy, he was very chill. We have a colloquial language in my country. It's like a modified English or French. He spoke that with me and it was just an amazing experience. Just seeing someone at that level who still holds tight to his roots was so amazing for me to see." Tahmo says Siakam made him feel like he wasn't alone in his experience of building a life in a new country. "He told me he came here as a student as well," said Tahmo. "He knows my struggles. He knows how it is to be in a different country without your family around. Just sharing that experience with me made me realize that I'm not alone here." The partnership between UNB and Siakam's foundation began after a meeting in Toronto between Siakam and Frank McKenna, deputy chair of TD Bank and a former New Brunswick premier. "Frank had heard about his passion for education and particularly the digital [skills component]," said Adrienne Oldford, the executive director of the McKenna Institute. "So they met for lunch and really found they had this shared connection to make a difference." Oldford said the scholarship could be a first step in a broader partnership. The McKenna Institute has committed $1.3 million to digital education programs in New Brunswick schools. The PS43 Foundation, based in Ontario, runs programs like Coding for Champions, which provides digital literacy and technology training for under-served youth, said executive director Dakota Whyte. "[Our] mission is all around advancing youth education," she said. "We do this through the lens of digital technology, STEAM learning [science, technology, engineering, art and math], life skills and mentorship for underrepresented and marginalized groups." 'We're all driven by education' Siakam's foundation has remained based in Ontario even after he left Toronto in a trade to the Pacers shortly after the UNB partnership was announced. Vanessa Siakam is his sister and manager of programs with PS43. She said their father, who died in 2014, always told them education was important, even as her brother pursued his dream to be a basketball player. "We're all driven by education because that was the only speech that my father would give you every day," she said. "That was the main inspiration [for the foundation]. We knew he loved everything about education." PS43 has two core programs that have educational and sport components — an annual basketball camp in Cameroon where they're also taught lessons in leadership, resilience and personal growth, and a program in Canada called Data Dunkers where students in grades 5 through 12 learn data science skills through studying and analyzing basketball statistics. "Our father loved sport and the fact that Pascal was drafted in the NBA and my father wasn't able to witness that dream of his, I think it's just a normal thing for Pascal to join everything that he loved," Vanessa said. "We're going to help [realize] my father's dream since he wasn't there to experience it." Siakam wants to help UNB students pursue their dreams Whyte said Siakam was well supported as he pursued his dreams through programs like Basketball Without Borders, so it's natural for him to want to support others. "We look at Erick and we look at Cedrick and we want to feel a part of their development of anything that they are able to achieve," Whyte said. "It has started off with one opportunity and hopefully Pascal could be an inspiration to them that they can make any of their dreams happen." Mbianda is studying chemical engineering and his dream is to return to Cameroon and help the country move from fossil fuels to renewables like solar power, which can also help people suffering from "energy poverty" in rural areas that aren't connected to existing power grids.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
New Details Emerge in Fatal Crash Involving Francis Ngannou: Report
Francis Ngannou made headlines over Easter weekend following reports of his involvement in a fatal motorcycle accident in Cameroon. The incident was widely covered across media outlets and stirred intense speculation online. In response, TMZ Sports obtained a statement from the MMA superstar, who said, 'From the very beginning, I have been by the family's side, offering support, comfort, and deepest condolences during this time. I carry their pain with me, and my unwavering thoughts and support remain with them as they face this heartbreaking loss. I've met with them privately to share in their grief, and I will continue to stand with them every step of the way.' This morning, French combat sports media outlet La Sueur—a well-followed Instagram account known for its consistent MMA and boxing coverage—shared an update based on an official release from the Yaoundé High Court. The release shifted focus from the accident itself to potential medical malpractice. It read, 'A serious medical error was made while taking care of Ms Tsama Manuella in hospital, including an overdose of anesthesia, which directly contributed to her death. We ask that all light be shed on the responsibility of the hospital establishment and the nursing staff.' La Sueur (@lasueur on Instagram) has become a notable source for French-speaking MMA fans, often breaking exclusive news, conducting fighter interviews, and sharing behind-the-scenes content from UFC and other global promotions. Their platform regularly covers high-profile stories with in-depth regional insight. Francis NgannouGetty Images As of now, there are no confirmed updates regarding Ngannou's fighting future. He has yet to book another bout following his PFL debut, and the focus remains firmly on the legal and ethical proceedings tied to the tragedy in Cameroon. His next move inside the cage remains unknown, and it's unclear how this ongoing situation might impact his standing with PFL or any potential future crossover opportunities. For now, the former UFC champion remains under scrutiny as more details unfold. Advertisement Related: Major Shakeup Hits Ilia Topuria's Camp Ahead of UFC 317 Related: Claressa Shields Sends Blunt Message on MMA Future: 'I Almost Got My Arm Broken Twice'
Arab News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Cameroon soccer great Emmanuel Kundé dies at age 68
YAOUNDE, Cameroon: Emmanuel Kundé, Cameroon's defensive anchor on the first African team to reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup, has died, the country's soccer federation said. He was 68. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Kundé scored a penalty against England in the last eight of the 1990 World Cup in Italy before the Indomitable Lions lost in extra time. He also played at the 1982 World Cup when Cameroon made its tournament debut. 'His death is a huge loss for Cameroonian soccer,' the country's football federation said in a statement late Friday. Federation president Samuel Eto'o hailed Kundé as the 'control tower' and 'defensive wall' on the field. Kundé twice helped the team win the Africa Cup of Nations — in 1984 and 1988. His second-half penalty was the difference in Cameroon's 1-0 victory over Nigeria in the '88 final in Casablanca. He made over 100 appearances for the national team. 'He was an intelligent and peaceful man filled with dignity and had a precise magic foot,' Emmanuel Maboang Kessack, a former team member told The Associated Press. 'We will never forget him.' Kundé died of cardiac arrest in his own home, Maboang Kessack said. Kundé also played club football in France for Reims and Laval, but his main team was Canon de Yaoundé in Cameroon's capital.
