Tech's biggest winners in 2024
FBI Director Christopher Wray announced he will resign at the end of President Joe Biden's term, paving the way for President-elect Donald Trump's nominee, Kash Patel, to potentially take over . "This is the best way to avoid dragging the Bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important in how we do our work," Wray said during a town hall on Wednesday . Trump responded on social media, calling Wray's resignation a "great day for America." Trump appointed Wray during his first term but criticized him and the FBI's search for classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago home. Although Wray still had years left in his term, Trump nominated Kash Patel to lead the agency. Trump's cabinet picks continue their fight to secure confirmation on Capitol Hill. "It's about earning support in this process in ongoing conversations," said Pete Hegseth, Trump's nominee for Defense Secretary . Controversial Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth met with Senator Susan Collins for more than an hour on Wednesday. Collins said she pressed him on various claims of misconduct, which he denies, but fell short of saying she would support him. "We had a good discussion, I'm not going to go into every question I asked," said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. Momentum appears to be shifting in Hegseth's favor. "I had a good exchange, and we'll see what the process bears," said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. "He's much better off this week than he was last week," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina. Analysts say Hegseth is not the only one under pressure. "There have been some challenges to some senators. There's been some real arm twisting in terms of the threat of mounting primary challenges against them," said Todd Belt of George Washington University. Also on the Hill, Secretary of Homeland Security nominee and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem pushed back on allegations that she neglected her state during major flooding this year.Cam Carter put LSU ahead for good with a jumper 1:08 into the third overtime and the Tigers came away with a wild 109-102 win over UCF on Sunday in the third-place game of the Greenbrier Tip-Off in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. Carter's make sparked a 5-0 spurt for LSU (5-1), which mounted a ferocious second-half rally that began after Darius Johnson drilled a 3-pointer to put the Knights up 52-34 with 12:57 to play in regulation. UCF (4-2) got back within two in the third overtime, but it never found a way to draw even. Vyctorius Miller and Jordan Sears sealed the victory, combining for three buckets down low that gave the Tigers a 106-99 cushion with 17 seconds remaining. Carter was the late-game hero for LSU, scoring the final four points of regulation to forge a 70-70 tie. He also knocked down a go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:19 left in the first extra session to give the Tigers a 76-75 advantage. Sears gave LSU a four-point edge with a triple of his own with 2:10 to go, but the Tigers failed to stay in front, and UCF's Keyshawn Hall kept the game going by sinking two free throws with six seconds remaining to make it 82-82. Neither team led by more than three in the second overtime, with Hall again coming to the Knights' rescue. He made two layups in the final 52 seconds of the frame to knot things at 93 and send the teams to a third OT. Few could have predicted 15 minutes of extra basketball after UCF put together a 25-3 first-half run that lifted it to a 38-18 advantage with 2:12 left until the break. LSU responded with seven unanswered points, but the Knights still led comfortably, 40-25, at intermission. Sears finished with a game-high-tying 25 points to go along with nine boards, while Jalen Reed recorded a 21-point, 13-rebound double-double for the Tigers. Carter netted 20 points, Miller had 16 and Dji Bailey chipped in 14. Johnson collected 25 points, six rebounds, eight assists and five steals for UCF. Hall totaled 21 points and 10 boards, and Jordan Ivy-Curry supplied 20 points. LSU outshot UCF 43.2 percent to 40.7 percent and had narrow advantages from behind the arc (12 made shots to 10) and the free-throw line (21-18). --Field Level Media
Football clubs ‘alarmed’ by lack of consultation on regulator – Karren Brady"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.
Lawmakers edge closer to deal on government funding
Iowa QB Cade McNamara slams 'ridiculous' rumorsUPPER Hunter residents are pushing back on council plans for an outside provider to lease, operate, or potentially buy community-based aged care facility, Gummun Place Hostel . Login or signup to continue reading Gummun Place was 'built by the people, for the people' critics say and it was 'unconscionable' for the council to consider a sale. There have been several meetings to discuss the issue since the Upper Hunter Shire Council announced on November 7 it was issuing an expression of interest. The details were contained in a letter from Mayor Maurice Collison to the Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler. It focused on the council's request for "immediate and ongoing assistance" to prevent further closures and financial losses in rural aged care. Merriwa District Progress Association secretary Liz Griffiths said the massive piece of land the hostel is built on was a donation. On top of the land, the community raised money to build it. "I think the real fear is that the facility would be sold and money that this district raised would go into the coffers of the council and we wouldn't see the money," Ms Griffiths said. "It's understandable why they want to divest themselves of running the facility, but the idea that it would be sold-off would just almost be the straw that broke the camel's back out here." Association President Stephen Gowlland said the community saw a need for a hostel like Gumman Place and it was a community effort. "The surrounding farmers all donated a beast at about $1000 a head, and I understand there was probably some government grants as well," Mr Gowlland said. "It was placed in the safe hands of the then Merriwa Shire Council as a trustee , no one foresaw the amalgamation of Scone and Murrurundi." "We need to retain that hostel in Merriwa, it is owned by the people not the council. I don't know who the title of the land is with, but it belongs to the people." There were gaps so far in the information available about the facility such as a breakdown of costs, including the cost of accommodation for the out-of-town chef and nurses flying in from Queensland and Sydney, one critic said. Councillor Troy Stolz, who attended a meeting where the issue was discussed, said the last thing the community wanted was for the facility to close. The Progress Association will be running a survey to get a feel for what the rest of the community, and people across the district, want at the site. Councillor Collison said in his letter to the federal government that small councils were in an unsustainable position, he said, operating aged care facilities like Gummun Place Hostel, a 16-bed facility which serves an average of 14 residents. The council was currently absorbing an annual loss exceeding $400,000 to keep the hostel operational, he said. "We simply cannot continue to subsidise this facility at such a high cost while still providing essential services like libraries, swimming pools, and sports facilities that our community relies on for health and wellbeing," said Councillor Collison. "The Federal Government has been lax in its support for councils running aged care services. Without urgent assistance, Gummun Place and similar facilities face an uncertain future." Community health & welfare, social justice, investigations, general news.Gabriel.Fowler@newcastleherald.com.au Community health & welfare, social justice, investigations, general news.Gabriel.Fowler@newcastleherald.com.au DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. WEEKLY Follow the Newcastle Knights in the NRL? Don't miss your weekly Knights update. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!
Nvidia sees value drop £80bn as Chinese regulators probe claims it broke anti-monopoly laws
The policies, which begin in 2025, follow more than a year of study involving medicine, science, sport physiology and gender policy law. The updated policies would rule out eligibility for Hailey Davidson, who missed qualifying for the U.S. Women's Open this year by one shot and came up short in LPGA Q-school. Davidson, who turned 32 on Tuesday, began hormone treatments when she was in her early 20s in 2015 and in 2021 underwent gender-affirming surgery, which was required under the LPGA's previous gender policy. She had won this year on a Florida mini-tour called NXXT Golf until the circuit announced in March that players had to be assigned female at birth. “Can't say I didn't see this coming,” Davidson wrote Wednesday on an Instagram story. “Banned from the Epson and the LPGA. All the silence and people wanting to stay ‘neutral’ thanks for absolutely nothing. This happened because of all your silence.” By making it to the second stage of Q-school, Davidson would have had very limited status on the Epson Tour, the pathway to the LPGA. The LPGA and USGA say their policies were geared toward being inclusive of gender identities and expression while striving for equity in competition. The LPGA said its working group of experts advised that the effects of male puberty allowed for competitive advantages in golf compared with players who had not gone through puberty. “Our policy is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who announced Monday that she is resigning in January. "The policy represents our continued commitment to ensuring that all feel welcome within our organization, while preserving the fairness and competitive equity of our elite competitions.” Mike Whan, the former LPGA commissioner and now CEO of the USGA, said it developed the updated policy independently and later discovered it was similar to those used by swimming, track and field, and other sports. “It starts with competitive fairness as the North star,” Whan said in a telephone interview. “We tried not to get into politics, or state by state or any of that stuff. We just simply said, ‘Where would somebody — at least medically today — where do we believe somebody would have a competitive advantage in the field?’ And we needed to draw a line. “We needed to be able to walk into any women's event and say with confidence that nobody here has a competitive advantage based on their gender. And this policy delivers that.” The “Competitive Fairness Gender Policy” for the USGA takes effect for the 2025 championship season that starts with the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball on May 10-14. Qualifying began late this year, though there were no transgender players who took part. “Will that change in the years to come as medicine changes? Probably,” Whan said. “But I think today this stacks up.” The LPGA “Gender Policy for Competition Eligibility” would apply to the LPGA Tour, Epson Tour, Ladies European Tour and qualifying for the tours. Players assigned male at birth must prove they have not experienced any part of puberty beyond the first stage or after age 12, whichever comes first, and then meet limitation standards for testosterone levels. The LPGA begins its 75th season on Jan. 30 with the Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Florida.ASP Isotopes Inc. Shareholder Notice: Robbins LLP Reminds Investors of the ASPI Securities Class Action
Quick Links The F-16 first saw action and demonstrated its capabilities during Operation Desert Storm The mid and late 1990s: Iraq and the Balkans Allied intervention in Iraq and operations in the Middle East A global legacy of impressive combat capabilities, reliability and minimal weaknesses Developed by General Dynamics in the 1970s, the F-16 Fighting Falcon remains today as the backbone of the United States Air Force (USAF), with more F-16s in service today than any other kind of fighter aircraft. A multirole all-weather fighter capable of performing a myriad of missions while also offering impressive reliability and combat capabilities, the F-16 has unsurprisingly become one of the jets that the USAF relies on . Get all the latest aviation news from Simple Flying! Throughout the dozens of conflicts that the United States has taken part in since the aircraft entered service, F-16s have played a crucial role, scoring key aerial victories and helping support US and coalition initiatives all along the way. According to Lockheed Martin , which later acquired the rights to the F-16 program from General Dynamics, 25 different nations have acquired the F-16, making it one of the most popular export fighters of all time. More than 4,600 F-16s have been built over the years, and the aircraft continues to roll off of assembly lines today. While some of the Air Force's flashier fighters such as the undefeated McDonnell Douglass F-15 Eagle and the stealth-capable Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor often gather much of the media's attention, the F-16 has one of the most extensive operational histories with the USAF. In this article, we will take a deeper look at the extensive operational history and achievements of the F-16 Fighting Falcon. A conversation with Elbit about the need for HUDs and the work ahead to upgrade F-16 HUDs. The F-16 first saw action and demonstrated its capabilities during Operation Desert Storm During the First Gulf War, the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon demonstrated its combat capabilities. Throughout the conflict, the Air Force deployed 249 F-16s, which collectively flew over 13,000 sorties against Iraqi targets, making the aircraft the most widely used coalition aircraft of the conflict. Throughout the operation, F-16s were armed with AGM-65 Maverick missiles, Mk84 bombs, and several other munitions, all of which proved their ability to efficiently and reliably strike key enemy targets. Several modified F-16 aircraft equipped with binoculars and spotting pods were also used as reconnaissance aircraft. Despite a relative track record of success, some of the F-16's shortcomings were exposed throughout the conflict, with multiple aircraft being lost to surface-to-air missiles. A total of seven F-16s were lost during Operation Desert Storm, including two that were part of the same strike package that was targeting Baghdad. This notable loss highlighted some of the F-16's most notable weaknesses and indicated that it could be vulnerable to enemy attacks in high-threat environments. Despite this, the F-16's performance in Desert Storm was mostly deemed a success, especially regarding its Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) missions , where F-16s equipped with AGM-88 HARM missiles were able to effectively eliminate enemy anti-aircraft batteries and missile launch systems. The State Department has approved follow-up support for Greece's F-16 fighter jet engines. The mid and late 1990s: The Balkans and Afghanistan Between 1994 and 1999, the F-16 Fighting Falcon performed combat missions in the Balkans, where it enforced a no-fly zone and conducted a series of precision strikes. In 1994, a group of F-16s scored four air-to-air kills against Yugoslav aircraft that were violating the no-fly zone. Later, during Operation Deliberate Force, F-16s targeted Serbian military positions through ground-strike missions. During Operation Allied Force in 1999, F-16 aircraft were involved in the large-scale NATO bombing campaigns in Yugoslavia. Again, the F-16's vulnerabilities showed across the entire period of engagements in the Balkans, when two were shot down by antiaircraft defenses over the course of the conflict. Neither pilot was killed, as daring rescue efforts were able to save both of them. The F-16 Fighting Falcon also played a vital role during US operations in Afghanistan following the September 11th attacks. The aircraft was deployed as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, during which the jets provided close air support (CAS) strikes against Taliban and Al-Qaeda positions. The aircraft, with its impressive versatility, made it extremely capable in the mountainous terrain, allowing it to offer protection to coalition ground forces. Turkey claims the US is considering readmitting Turkey to the F-35 program as the saga continues. The F-16 again proved its capabilities throughout this intervention, demonstrating its impressive reliability and adaptability. Nonetheless, the 2013 crash of an F-16 at Bagram Air Base demonstrated multiple safety issues, an incident that would ultimately result in the pilot's death, according to a report from NBC News . Allied intervention in Iraq and post-war operations in the Middle East In 2003, F-16s were used throughout the US invasion of Iraq, during which the jets performed a combination of air superiority and strike missions. The vast majority of F-16 sorties were successful. However, one was lost near Baghdad, but this time due to fuel exhaustion and not due to an air-to-air shootdown. A friendly fire incident also led to the shootdown of a different F-16, which underscored the challenges that could accompany electronic warfare operations. The F-16 Fighting Falcon also played a central role in several high-profile strike missions, including a 2006 attack that killed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of Al-Qaeda. Throughout the later years of US involvement in Iraq, F-16s continued to fly sorties and conduct both close air support missions and ground strikes against major insurgent positions. In 2006, an F-16 was also involved in the shootdown of an Iranian drone that was flying in Iraqi airspace at the time, which demonstrated the aircraft's rapid response capabilities. The Falcon again saw action in 2011, when the fighter played a key role in enforcing a no-fly zone during Operation Odyssey Dawn. F-16 squadrons attempted to suppress Libyan air defenses while conducting precision strikes. The aircraft assisted in NATO efforts to prevent fatal civilian consequences and eliminate dictator Muammar Gaddafi's military assets. The growing presence of F-16s is likely to increase confusion and fear, leading to more friendly fires on both sides. F-16s also took part in Operation Inherent Resolve, another targeted operation against an Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) position. In 2024, F-16s worked alongside F-15E Strike Eagles when they intercepted Iranian UAVs that were threatening Israel, demonstrating the aircraft's continued relevance into the 2020s. The F-16s and the F-15Es were able to prove their compatibility in combat during this unique mission. In the coming decade, F-16s are poised to play a major role in any armed conflicts that might arise across the globe. F-16s are stationed across the globe, prepared for deployment at any given moment. The jets could be involved in any aerial engagement in the South China Sea, the Middle East, or Eastern Europe, all regions where US allies also have F-16 Fighting Falcons on hand for a range of different missions. A global legacy of impressive combat capabilities, reliability, and minimal weaknesses Throughout four full decades of combat , the F-16 Fighting Falcon has not struggled to show why it is an incredibly reliable asset not just to the United States Air Force, but also to global allies who have assisted in the fight against terrorism and many other interventions since the 1970s when the aircraft first entered service. According to Popular Mechanics , the aircraft has maintained an impressive 76-1 air-to-air combat record (although multiple were lost to surface-to-air missile systems). This record is extremely impressive on its own, although it does lag behind some other American fighter jets in service today, such as the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor or the Boeing F-15EX Eagle II . From large-scale interventions to smaller engagements, the F-16 has proven its ability to serve as a versatile multirole fighter. The jet has demonstrated that it can perform well in air-to-air combat, execute precision strikes, and offer close air support to ground forces, making it an ideal aircraft for rapidly changing combat zones . The famous fighter has been in deployment for more than four decades. The success of the F-16 Falcon, over the years, can be attributed to next-generation avionics, impressive maneuverability, and a team of talented engineers at initially General Dynamics and later Lockheed Martin who helped the aircraft remain technologically relevant. At the end of the day, the fighter's impressive capabilities have been a key factor behind it not just staying in service with the United States Air Force, but also remaining in the active inventory of militaries across the globe.
NoneBefore his annual flight around the world on Christmas night, Santa will knock the rust off his sleigh this year with a trip around 15 Vacaville city parks across three nights next week — his fourth annual trip around the city. Santa will visit five parks each night on December 16, 18 and 20, parading on a float made by the Vacaville Police Activities League from 6 p.m. until 8:15 p.m. each evening. On Monday, he will visit Corderos Park, Ridgeview Park, Browns Valley Park, Trower Park and Orchard Park. On Wednesday He will visit Alamo Creek Park, Pheasant Country Park, Cannon Station Park, Magnolia Park and Meadowlands Park. On Friday, Santa will visit Fairmont/Beelard Park, Nashe Mesto Park, Arbor Oaks Park, Hawkins Park and Stonegate Park. Floats from the Police Department, City Coach, Recology and the Fire Department will accompany floats carrying Santa and The Grinch, according to an online survey about the event. QR codes on the floats will lead those gathered to the survey, and the float that wins the most votes will be awarded a prize. The city has built an online Santa tracker which will follow him from location to location this year and show his routes through the city, the city’s web page on the event explained. Elves will accompany Santa to each location and will hand out candy canes to those gathered. Cancellations due to rain will be announced through the website and through the Vacaville Parks and Recreation Facebook and Instagram Pages by 3 p.m. on the day of each parade, and will not be rescheduled if they occur.For Makenzie Gilkison, spelling is such a struggle that a word like rhinoceros might come out as “rineanswsaurs” or sarcastic as “srkastik.” The 14-year-old from suburban Indianapolis can sound out words, but her dyslexia makes the process so draining that she often struggles with comprehension. “I just assumed I was stupid,” she recalled of her early grade school years. But assistive technology powered by artificial intelligence has helped her keep up with classmates. Last year, Makenzie was named to the National Junior Honor Society. She credits a customized AI-powered chatbot, a word prediction program and other tools that can read for her. “I would have just probably given up if I didn’t have them,” she said. Artificial intelligence holds the promise of helping countless other students with a range of visual, speech, language and hearing impairments to execute tasks that come easily to others. Schools everywhere have been wrestling with how and where to incorporate AI , but many are fast-tracking applications for students with disabilities. Getting the latest technology into the hands of students with disabilities is a priority for the U.S. Education Department, which has told schools they must consider whether students need tools like text-to-speech and alternative communication devices. New rules from the Department of Justice also will require schools and other government entities to make apps and online content accessible to those with disabilities. There is concern about how to ensure students using it — including those with disabilities — are still learning. Students can use artificial intelligence to summarize jumbled thoughts into an outline, summarize complicated passages, or even translate Shakespeare into common English. And computer-generated voices that can read passages for visually impaired and dyslexic students are becoming less robotic and more natural. “I’m seeing that a lot of students are kind of exploring on their own, almost feeling like they’ve found a cheat code in a video game,” said Alexis Reid, an educational therapist in the Boston area who works with students with learning disabilities. But in her view, it is far from cheating : “We’re meeting students where they are.” Ben Snyder, a 14-year-old freshman from Larchmont, New York, who was recently diagnosed with a learning disability, has been increasingly using AI to help with homework. “Sometimes in math, my teachers will explain a problem to me, but it just makes absolutely no sense,” he said. “So if I plug that problem into AI, it’ll give me multiple different ways of explaining how to do that.” He likes a program called Question AI. Earlier in the day, he asked the program to help him write an outline for a book report — a task he completed in 15 minutes that otherwise would have taken him an hour and a half because of his struggles with writing and organization. But he does think using AI to write the whole report crosses a line. “That’s just cheating,” Ben said. Schools have been trying to balance the technology’s benefits against the risk that it will do too much. If a special education plan sets reading growth as a goal, the student needs to improve that skill. AI can’t do it for them, said Mary Lawson, general counsel at the Council of the Great City Schools. But the technology can help level the playing field for students with disabilities, said Paul Sanft, director of a Minnesota-based center where families can try out different assistive technology tools and borrow devices. “There are definitely going to be people who use some of these tools in nefarious ways. That’s always going to happen,” Sanft said. “But I don’t think that’s the biggest concern with people with disabilities, who are just trying to do something that they couldn’t do before.” Another risk is that AI will track students into less rigorous courses of study. And, because it is so good at identifying patterns , AI might be able to figure out a student has a disability. Having that disclosed by AI and not the student or their family could create ethical dilemmas, said Luis Pérez, the disability and digital inclusion lead at CAST, formerly the Center for Applied Specialized Technology. Schools are using the technology to help students who struggle academically, even if they do not qualify for special education services. In Iowa, a new law requires students deemed not proficient — about a quarter of them — to get an individualized reading plan. As part of that effort, the state’s education department spent $3 million on an AI-driven personalized tutoring program. When students struggle, a digital avatar intervenes. More AI tools are coming soon. The U.S. National Science Foundation is funding AI research and development. One firm is developing tools to help children with speech and language difficulties. Called the National AI Institute for Exceptional Education, it is headquartered at the University of Buffalo, which did pioneering work on handwriting recognition that helped the U.S. Postal Service save hundreds of millions of dollars by automating processing. “We are able to solve the postal application with very high accuracy. When it comes to children’s handwriting, we fail very badly,” said Venu Govindaraju, the director of the institute. He sees it as an area that needs more work, along with speech-to-text technology, which isn’t as good at understanding children’s voices, particularly if there is a speech impediment. Sorting through the sheer number of programs developed by education technology companies can be a time-consuming challenge for schools. Richard Culatta, CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education, said the nonprofit launched an effort this fall to make it easier for districts to vet what they are buying and ensure it is accessible. Makenzie wishes some of the tools were easier to use. Sometimes a feature will inexplicably be turned off, and she will be without it for a week while the tech team investigates. The challenges can be so cumbersome that some students resist the technology entirely. But Makenzie’s mother, Nadine Gilkison, who works as a technology integration supervisor at Franklin Township Community School Corporation in Indiana, said she sees more promise than downside. In September, her district rolled out chatbots to help special education students in high school. She said teachers, who sometimes struggled to provide students the help they needed, became emotional when they heard about the program. Until now, students were reliant on someone to help them, unable to move ahead on their own. “Now we don’t need to wait anymore,” she said. This story corrects that Pérez works for CAST, formerly the Center for Applied Specialized Technology, not the Center for Accessible Technology. The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org .
