#okyrhoe

The trash-pillaging raven was caught on camera by Randa Szymanski and her husband, who initially assumed their garbage bin was getting knocked over by bears. Despite the garbage lid clasps and a heavy rock on the lid, ravens are regularly able to dig through their trash.

According to Szymanski, the ravens in her home of Southeast Alaska are notoriously “smart and fearless” and known by the Tlingit natives as tricksters.

In addition to their dumpster-diving antics, she has observed them pestering bald eagles and stealing food from the back of open pick-up trucks. One especially clever incident involved them stealing a dozen eggs from the back of a car, one-by-one.

“They flipped open the carton and took one egg at a time to their nest nearby. They had them all by the time the owner of the truck came back out,” said Szymanski.

Ravens are notoriously intelligent. They, along with crows and magpies, belong to a family of birds called corvids. Some studies have shown that corvids, despite having significantly smaller brains, are intellectually comparable to chimpanzees.

“These aren’t animals that have adapted to living with people, these are animals that have figured out how to exploit people,” says Kaeli Swift, a PhD candidate at the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences at the University of Washington.

Swift notes that where the raven in the video stands on the trashcan is a natural perch, thus making it difficult to discern whether its ability to release the locks and knock the lid of the bin was intentional or an accident.

Swift also noted that the aggression toward bald eagles described by Szymanski is what’s known as a mobbing behavior intended to evict predators, such as eagles, from the area. (This behavior is often responsible for the “animals riding animals” Internet phenom.)

“When an individual sees a predator, it produces an alarm call that attracts other birds in the area,” says Swift. The birds then “mob” predators, effectively warding them off.

Logical Thinkers

One cognitive test, designed by ornithologist Bernd Heinrich, suggests ravens are highly capable of logical thinking.

Tying a piece of meat to a string and dangling it from a tree branch, Heinrich observed how ravens pulled the meat up. Using their beaks, the ravens inched the string closer to their claws, which they used to create loops around their talons, shortening the string and successfully obtaining their reward.

In video footage of the experiment, Heinrich notes that the birds weren’t trained and could not have been acting on evolutionary instinct because the test created a situation that would not have naturally occurred in the wild. He believes this suggests the birds were acting intentionally and logically.

The biological reason for corvid intelligence was first discovered in the 1960s by a neurologist named Stanley Cobb. Birds lack an elaborate cerebral cortex, the part of the brain in mammals responsible for many cognitive functions such as thought, language, memory, and consciousness.

Instead, their biological key to success lies in a section of their forebrain called the hyperstriatum, which allows them to perform similar tasks.

A 2016 study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences offered further insight into how corvids perform functions similar to apes and chimps using only their little walnut-sized brains. Researchers at Charles University in Prague discovered these specific types of birds have an exceptionally dense amount of neurons in their forebrains, possessing equal and sometimes greater amounts of neurons than monkeys.

One Hitchcock-like line from the study’s authors revealed that because of this neuron density, “Avian brains thus have the potential to provide much higher ‘cognitive power’ per unit mass than do mammalian brains.”

Minor planet keywords developed by Philip Sedgwick, used with permission http://philipsedgwick.com/

The regulator said it would ban and investigate OpenAI "with immediate effect".

OpenAI told the BBC it complied with privacy laws.

Millions of people have used ChatGPT since it launched in November 2022.

It can answer questions using natural, human-like language and it can also mimic other writing styles, using the internet as it was in 2021 as its database.

Microsoft has spent billions of dollars on it and it was added to Bing last month.

It has also said that it will embed a version of the technology in its Office apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.

There have been concerns over the potential risks of artificial intelligence (AI), including its threat to jobs and the spreading of misinformation and bias.

Earlier this week key figures in tech, including Elon Musk, called for these types of AI systems to be suspended amid fears the race to develop them was out of control.

The Italian watchdog said that not only would it block OpenAI's chatbot but it would also investigate whether it complied with General Data Protection Regulation.

GDPR governs the way in which we can use, process and store personal data.

The watchdog said on 20 March that the app had experienced a data breach involving user conversations and payment information.

It said there was no legal basis to justify "the mass collection and storage of personal data for the purpose of 'training' the algorithms underlying the operation of the platform".

It also said that since there was no way to verify the age of users, the app "exposes minors to absolutely unsuitable answers compared to their degree of development and awareness".

Bard, Google's rival artificial-intelligence chatbot, is now available, but only to specific users over the age of 18 - because of those same concerns.

The Italian data-protection authority said OpenAI had 20 days to say how it would address the watchdog's concerns, under penalty of a fine of €20 million ($21.7m) or up to 4% of annual revenues.

Elsewhere, the Irish data protection commission told the BBC it is following up with the Italian regulator to understand the basis for their action and "will coordinate with all EU data protection authorities" in connection to the ban.

The Information Commissioner's Office, the UK's independent data regulator, told the BBC it would "support" developments in AI but that it was also ready to "challenge non-compliance" with data protection laws.

Dan Morgan, from cybersecurity ratings provider SecurityScorecard said the ban shows the importance of regulatory compliance for companies operating in Europe.

"Businesses must prioritise the protection of personal data and comply with the stringent data protection regulations set by the EU - compliance with regulations is not an optional extra."

'Not sufficiently regulated'

Consumer advocacy group BEUC also called on EU and national authorities - including data-protection watchdogs - to investigate ChatGPT and similar chatbots, following the filing of a complaint in the US.

Although the EU is currently working on the world's first legislation on AI, BEUC's concern is that it would take years before the AI Act could take effect, leaving consumers at risk of harm from a technology that is not sufficiently regulated.

Ursula Pachl, deputy director general of BEUC, warned that society was "currently not protected enough from the harm" that AI can cause.

"There are serious concerns growing about how ChatGPT and similar chatbots might deceive and manipulate people. These AI systems need greater public scrutiny, and public authorities must reassert control over them," she said.

ChatGPT is already blocked in a number of countries, including China, Iran, North Korea and Russia.

OpenAI told the BBC that it had disabled ChatGPT for users in Italy at the request of the Italian data protection regulator, called the Garante:

"We are committed to protecting people's privacy and we believe we comply with GDPR and other privacy laws", it wrote.

The organisation said it worked to reduce personal data in training AI systems like ChatGPT because it wanted its AI systems to "learn about the world, not about private individuals".

"We also believe that AI regulation is necessary — so we look forward to working closely with the Garante and educating them on how our systems are built and used", it added

OpenAI said it looked forward to making ChatGPT available in Italy again "soon".

Minor planet keywords developed by Philip Sedgwick, used with permission http://philipsedgwick.com/

The initiatiave called for legalizing two psychedelic compounds, psilocybin and psilocin, that are used in magic mushrooms. It allows use of psilocybin at state-licensed facilities, as well as private personal use of psilocybin, psilocin and three other psychedelics.

Colorado residents will be allowed to grow and share the compounds, but retail sales are prohibited. The drug will also be banned for use in public places or while operating a vehicle.

A similar measure was passed in Oregon in 2020. Legalization bills have been introduced in two other states, Washington and New York. Dozens of other states are considering bills to study the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics or to decriminalize possession of the compounds.

Proponents have claimed that psychedelics can be used to treat such maladies as depression, anxiety, addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder. In 2019, the US Food and Drug Administration designated psilocybin as a “breakthrough therapy” to treat major depressive disorder, a status that could speed development and approval of new drugs that contain the compound.

Critics, however, argued that creating licensed “healing centers” would send the wrong message, particularly to kids, that the non-FDA approved substances are healthy, and would eventually pave the way for recreational dispensaries of the drug.

Loneliness as a problem

According to psychologists, loneliness is an emotional state which makes a person feel deep emptiness and isolation. Those suffering from loneliness become insecure, anxious and depressed when their social relations are not how they would like them to be. Psychiatric disorders that can follow include alcohol abuse, sleep problems, personality disorders, and even Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, the body suffers together with the soul: Loneliness may lead to diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune disorders, obesity, and even cancer.

The main stumbling point here is that there’s no exact definition of loneliness, and it’s different for everyone. According to a study by Indian scientist Sarvada Chandra Tiwari, the state is a “unique experience to each individual.”

“It has no single common cause, so the prevention and treatment for this damaging state of mind considerably differs. A child, who tries to make friends at school, needs different strategies to resolve his/her problems than an elderly person who has lost his/her spouse in the recent past,” the researcher notes.

According to the 2021 data, about 33% of adults worldwide experienced feelings of loneliness. In May 2022, the American Psychological Association published a study claiming that pandemic-related factors such as lockdowns, physical distancing, and the switch to remote working and education aggravated the problem of loneliness around the world. This can have a long-term effect on people’s wellbeing – and it’s yet to be seen how serious it may become.              

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, the global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by 25%. Scientists cited among the main reasons for this unprecedented stress caused by the social isolation, as well as loneliness, financial worries, fear of infection, and grief in the case of loss.

Loneliness in Russia

In 2020, researchers from the Russian Academy of Sciences and High School of Economics (HSE) discovered that 43% of those surveyed suffered from loneliness. The study involved 10,000 people over the age of 14. When asked how often they felt lonely, 12% of them replied “almost always” or “often.” Others, who admitted they suffered from loneliness, said it happened “rarely.”

It should be noted how the problem of loneliness affects women. According to another investigation by the HSE, one in ten Russian women were lonely, most of whom were widows or divorced. In the case of men, the proportion is significantly smaller (4.7%).

Most of those who felt lonely were older than 85. However, the problem of loneliness is not only about elderly people. A third of respondents aged 14-29 admitted suffering from it, while 6.5% of them felt lonely “often” or “almost always.” Notably, there were more lonely youngsters in big cities than in the countryside.

This may seem strange. Big cities provide more opportunities and possibilities to interact. However, scientists have long noticed that in big cities, people tend to hide in their inner world while being surrounded by crowds all the time. Also, the social structure of a big city is more divided into certain groups than societies in small communities.

Psychologist Guli Bazarova, director of the Moscow School of Practical Psychology, says the social stratification of a city is not about money. “Every social group has its leaders and its outsiders, and it’s not only about wealth or levels of financial income,” she told RT.

“For example, people who were outsiders at school may feel more lonely and carry their traumatizing experience through life. School ‘stars’ may feel like losers when they face difficulties, but it’s not about loneliness.” Here, Bazarova notes that high levels of loneliness among young people can be linked to bullying – she suggests some 70% of school children face this problem.              

“In big cities people are more disconnected, parents are busy earning money, teachers have too many pupils, so children often are left alone with their problems.

“In small towns, the communities are closer. Many parents know each other, a lot of people are neighbors or relatives. So, it’s easier to receive help if something happens,” she says.     

Phenomenon of stigma

The UK was the first country to appoint a minister for loneliness in 2018. Then, a research showed that up to a fifth of all British adults felt lonely most or all of the time. The new body set its main goals as reducing stigma, “so that people feel able to talk about loneliness and reach out for help;” boosting the role of organizations that are connecting people; and providing people with all the required information about loneliness.

Actually, the problem of stigma is a serious one. According to NHS England, one in four adults and one in 10 children experience mental illness. At the same time, the UK’s Mental Health Foundation reports that nearly nine out of ten people with mental health problems complain about stigma and discrimination.

The organization points out that the main reason behind the stigma is actually fear. “Some people believe people with mental health problems are dangerous when, in fact, they are at a higher risk of being attacked or harming themselves than hurting other people.”

It also noted that “media reports often link mental ill health with violence or portray people with mental health problems as dangerous, criminal, evil, or very disabled and unable to live normal, fulfilled lives.”

Stigma is a very common phenomenon for Russia. Over five million people suffer from mental disorders, the country’s health officials claimed last year. A study conducted in March by the Russian Institute of Public Opinion revealed that, over the previous year, 78% of respondents had experienced issues which were difficult to endure without support from other people. However, only 9% sought the help of psychiatric professionals. Some 60% of respondents thought psychologists and psychiatrists can help those in need, but only 23% thought Russians would ask for assistance from such professionals.                                 

While describing his idea of an “Agency for Loneliness,”Leonov voiced the same concern. “Today, a person going to see a psychiatrist causes – with no reason – others’ anxiety and almost condemnation,” the MP said.

Bazarova, however, sees that trend shifting to show a more positive outcome. “The situation is changing drastically, especially because of the pandemic. Many psychologists worked as volunteers, people in need of professional help asked them for consultations and realized that they feel much better. The stigma effect is also decreasing: 10 to 15 years ago – yes, it was tough for people to ask for psychological help. Now, I see more people working on their mental health with professionals, and I also see how people go to study psychology to make their own life harmonious.”

Cultural effect

A country which did appoint a loneliness minister is Japan. While the state is a very common issue for Japanese society due to its cultural features, the Covid-19 pandemic made the need for a special focus obvious. Tetsushi Sakamoto, who took office last year, told the media that the suicide rate among women and young people had started to grow rapidly. Meanwhile, according to a study published by the Japan Times this year, nearly 40% of adults in the country felt lonely as social interaction remained limited due to the Covid-19 pandemic, while younger people tended to feel more isolated.

In 2021, Russia’s Rossiyskaya Gazeta asked Sakamoto whether it was possible to count all the people suffering from loneliness to assess the real scale of the problem. “It is virtually impossible to count the number of lonely people,” the minister answered.

“Loneliness is a very individual thing. There are people who, being in isolation, do not feel alone. For example, those living in the mountains. At the same time, it’s a common situation when citizens, who are among other people, suffer from loneliness. What should we do with such people? How should you lend a helping hand to them? These problems need to be deeply studied.”

The cultural aspect of the problem has already been the focus of much Japanese research. “Japan strongly values respect for the individual and protection of freedom,” Professor Ishida Mitsunori noted in a study published last year. “As in other countries, violence against others or stealing others’ property – causing harm to others – is strictly proscribed. Furthermore, the definition of violence includes psychological forms.

“In Japanese society, causing annoyance to people or in general society is also considered as causing harm to others. People view reliance on others and failure to resolve issues independently as taboo. Japanese liberalism prioritizes responsibility to those around us and to society at large, over the rights of individuals. This attitude has a deep impact on issues of loneliness and isolation.”

What about Russia? According to Bazarova, the peculiarity of the Russian mentality is not about avoiding asking for help, but there’s a strong concern about showing your weakness. “It’s a common thing for women as well,” she says.

Agency for Loneliness: Future prospects

While recalling questions from the Russian media, Japanese Minister Tetsushi Sakamoto told journalists: “I was asked whether teaching people how to become happy, rather than focusing on whether they had a partner, should take priority. I got the impression that the ways of thinking about loneliness and the related concepts may be slightly different.”

Bazarova told RT that this is exactly the main concept that should be taken into account, if authorities want an “Agency for Loneliness” to be effective.

“If we want to minimize the number of lonely people – and to increase the number of those who are happy – it’s a great initiative. However, it’s very important to find the correct form,” she said.

“If the body tasked with this problem would be literally called Agency for Loneliness… Well, it hardly would be an effective one, because it would not sit well with the Russian mentality. It would demotivate those suffering even more. In the title, we’d better not use the word 'loneliness.' It would be more effective to use the aim that lonely people would like to achieve – an 'Agency for Friendship,' an 'Agency for Interaction' or 'for Socialization.' It would disclose more aspects of loneliness and attract more people.”

Why has a top Russian politician proposed setting up an 'Agency for Loneliness?' https://www.rt.com/russia/565603-russia-vs-epidemic-of-loneliness/

Minor planet keywords developed by Philip Sedgwick, used with permission http://philipsedgwick.com/