OpenAI drops plans to release an adult chatbot

Source: Engadget

“OpenAI has ‘indefinitely’ abandoned plans to release an a erotic chatbot for adults following concerns from employees and investors, the company confirmed to The Financial Times. Plans for such a feature, first announced in October 2025 for release in December last year, had already been delayed while company debated whether to release it all. It’s the second app OpenAI has decided to shelf this week, after announcing on Tuesday that it was shutting down its Sora video generator. The adult-oriented chatbot, reportedly called ‘Citron mode,’ is now on hold with no planned release date. The company reportedly had difficulty training models that previously avoided erotic content and also removing illegal behavior like bestiality or incest, two people familiar with the matter told the FT.” [editor’s note: An erotic chatbot engages in conversation, which by definition cannot (at least in the US) constitute “illegal behavior” – TLK] (03/26/26)

https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-drops-plans-to-release-an-adult-chatbot-113121190.html

Thomas L. Knapp

Safer Nukes Now?

Source: Common Sense
by Paul Jacob

“We may have power-hungry artificial intelligence operations to thank for the fact that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a permit for the ‘first commercial reactor’ that it has approved for construction ‘in nearly a decade. It’s also ‘the first approval for a non-light water reactor in more than 40 years.’ … TerraPower subsidiary US SFR Owner has one more regulatory hurdle. (SFR: sodium-cooled fast reactor.) It must apply separately for an operating license before the projected 345-megawatt electric plant, once built, can begin operating. After that, the way will have been paved for more such plants.” (03/26/26)

https://thisiscommonsense.org/2026/03/26/safer-nukes-now/

Thomas L. Knapp

Cringe is Good, Earnestness is Strength

Source: Liberal Currents
by Alan Elrod

“I think one of the key challenges of living in an era of internet alienation and rising authoritarianism is finding the will to be sincere, to embrace a certain unvarnished and earnest form of expression in a world where affect and posturing predominate. This means foregoing an aura of coolness or detachment in favor of emotionalism and vulnerability. It means resisting the impulse to cruelty and snark and instead opting for restraint and compassion. And it means being unembarrassed and authentic.” (03/26/26)

https://www.liberalcurrents.com/cringe-is-good-earnestness-is-strength/

Thomas L. Knapp

NY: Maduro lawyer argues against US blocking funding for drug trafficking case defense

Source: SFGate

“Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were back in a New York courtroom Thursday as they seek to have their drug trafficking indictments thrown out over a geopolitical dispute over legal fees. The hearing opened with the defense and prosecution arguing over whether Maduro should be allowed to use Venezuelan government funds to pay for his defense. The defense has insisted that the U.S. is violating the deposed leader’s constitutional rights by blocking government money from being used for his legal costs. Maduro lawyer Barry Pollack contended that if Maduro got public defenders, investigating and preparing his case would sap legal resources meant for people who can’t afford their own attorneys, and that doesn’t make sense in ‘a case where you have someone other than the U.S. taxpayer standing ready, willing and able to fund that defense.’ Prosecutor Kyle Wirshba argued against letting Maduro use Venezuelan government funds.” (03/26/26)

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/nicol-s-maduro-heads-back-to-a-us-court-22115789.php

Steve Trinward

EU Parliament backs US trade deal — with strings attached

Source: Politico

“The European Parliament supported two legal proposals Thursday to implement the trade agreement reached last year between the EU and the U.S. by a wide margin, with amendments aimed at ensuring the Trump administration stands by the deal. In a plenary vote, lawmakers backed the measures — to scrap EU duties on U.S. industrial products — with a wide majority. Parliament negotiators will likely meet as soon as April 13 with EU country representatives to start negotiating a final compromise that could then enter into force.” (03/26/26)

https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-parliament-backs-us-trade-deal-with-strings-attached

Thomas L. Knapp