Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Cops Raid Rothschild Bank in Epstein Investigation.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The Paris offices of the Edmond de Rothschild Group—a Swiss private banking and asset management firm owned by the family of the same name—were raided by French investigators last Friday in connection with the Jeffrey Epstein files released by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: French diplomat Fabrice Aidan, Jeffrey Epstein, the Edmond de Rothschild Group, and Ariane de Rothschild.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The raid occurred last Friday and was revealed on March 24, 2026.

🎯IMPACT: The raid and document seizure appear tied to French diplomat Fabrice Aidan, who was named over 200 times in the Epstein Files and once worked for the Edmond de Rothschild Group.

IN FULL

The Paris offices of the Edmond de Rothschild Group—a Swiss private banking and asset management firm owned by the family of the same name—were raided by French investigators last Friday in connection with the Jeffrey Epstein files released by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Announced on Tuesday, the raid and document seizure appear tied to French diplomat Fabrice Aidan, who was named over 200 times in the Epstein Files and once worked for the Edmond de Rothschild Group.

Notably, the DOJ documents revealed alleged emails sent by Aidan to Epstein from between 2010 and 2016, during which the former—for three of those years—served as a French deputy representative at the United Nations. The Epstein Files indicated that Aidan, using both his personal and U.N. email accounts, transferred confidential materials—including U.N. Security Council memos—to the now deceased pedophile financier.

While Aidan has denied any wrongdoing, the French government has already initiated a formal administrative case against him. Notably, Ariane de Rothschild—the CEO of the private Swiss bank—was present during the raid. The widow of the late Benjamin de Rothschild, Ariane de Rothschild, is the first non-blood family member to run a Rothschild financial institution.

Sources close to French government prosecutors claim the Rothschild family is cooperating with the investigation. Ariane de Rothschild is also mentioned in the Epstein Files, which show she corresponded with the indicted sex trafficker between 2013 and 2019. A spokesman for the Edmond de Rothschild Group claims the private bank’s CEO was unaware of the allegations against Epstein.

Notably, the raid follows a pattern of post-Epstein Files release investigations that have centered on the deceased pedophile’s relationship with European officials and his access to sensitive government information. The National Pulse reported in early February that several properties owned by former British Ambassador to the United States, Lord Peter Mandelson, were raided by police in connection with an investigation into his alleged leaking of confidential information to Epstein.

On February 23, Lord Mandelson was arrested “on suspicion of misconduct in public office.”  A week earlier, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, was arrested on suspicion that he had passed confidential trade documents to Epstein.

Image by Alessandro Boglio.

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Sharing a Vape Put Teen in Life-Threatening Coma.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A teenager fell into a coma from contracting meningitis after sharing a vape.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Sian Alderton, an 18-year-old from Norfolk, England, and her mother, Kerrie Durrant.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Alderton contracted meningitis in October 2024, in Norfolk, England; she and her mother reported the incident in March 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I did share a vape with multiple people on that night out, so we believe that’s where I would have gotten it from.” – Sian Alderton

🎯IMPACT: The incident highlights the health risks associated with vapes.

IN FULL

A mother in Norfolk, England, is warning others after her daughter was placed in a medically-induced coma due to meningitis contracted from sharing a vape. Sian Alderton, then 18, was enjoying a night out in October 2024 when she contracted bacterial meningitis B. Within just 48 hours, Sian’s condition deteriorated from mild illness to a life-threatening state.

Amid a new meningitis outbreak in England over recent weeks, Sian’s mother, Kerrie Durrant, recounted to local news how her daughter exhibited strange behavior before her condition dramatically worsened overnight, leading to a critical situation where she was struggling to move and required immediate hospitalization.

Upon her admission to the hospital, doctors placed Sian in an induced coma as her condition became dire. The family was informed that she might not survive beyond 24 hours. Fortunately, she did, explaining, “I did share a vape with multiple people on that night out, so we believe that’s where I would have gotten it from,” adding, “I wouldn’t share [a vape] with anybody anymore.”

Vapes also present a threat to wildlife. Viral videos have spread over recent days showing squirrels, attracted by the vapes’ fruity aromas, “vaping” after mistaking discarded devices for food. They are also a fire hazard, with a blaze at an unregistered store in Glasgow, Scotland, recently burning down a 175-year-old building and causing the country’s largest railway station to close for days.

Even more troublingly, vape stores on both sides of the Atlantic have become hubs for anti-social behavior and organized crime, including human trafficking and immigration crime.

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Counter-Terror Police Arrest Two Over Firebombing of Jewish Community Ambulances.

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WHAT HAPPENED: Two men were arrested following an anti-Semitic firebomb attack on ambulances owned by a Jewish charity in north London.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Counter-terror police detained two men aged 45 and 47, and are searching for a third suspect.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred early Monday morning in Golders Green, north London, with arrests made on Wednesday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This appears to be an important breakthrough in the investigation, but we’re also mindful that CCTV footage of the incident suggests there were at least three people involved.” — Helen Flanagan, head of Counter-Terrorism Policing London

🎯IMPACT: The attack has raised concerns of rising anti-Semitism in England and potential links to Iran-backed groups.

IN FULL

Police have arrested two men in north London in connection with a March 23 firebomb attack targeting Jewish Community Ambulance Service ambulances outside a synagogue in Golders Green. The attack, which briefly forced the evacuation of nearby homes after oxygen canisters inside the ambulances exploded, is being investigated by London’s Metropolitan Police as an “anti-Semitic hate crime.”

The two suspects, aged 45 and 47, were detained on Wednesday and charged with arson with intent to endanger life. Notably, this charge could carry a life sentence. Both men are said by police to have British citizenship. Helen Flanagan, leading the counter-terrorism effort, emphasized the urgency of the investigation, stating, “This appears to be an important breakthrough in the investigation, but we’re also mindful that CCTV footage of the incident suggests there were at least three people involved.”

“We fully recognize the local community will still be concerned and our investigation very much remains active,” Flanagan added.

Shortly after the firebombing, a terrorist group identifying itself as Harakat al-Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI) claimed responsibility for the attack. However, there appears to be scant evidence that HIYA actually exists, and British security officials speaking with the media have indicated they believe “it is a front and a brand invented by Iranian intelligence or the Quds Force.”

Iran’s Quds Force, an elite branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that carries out clandestine extraterritorial military operations, warned it would begin carrying out attacks against the United States and its allies after President Donald J. Trump authorized Operation Epic Fury on February 28.

“The enemy should know that their happy days are over and they will no longer be safe anywhere in the world, not even in their own homes,” the Quds Force said in a statement read on state television just days after the joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes began.

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Trump Just Named These Big Tech Execs to the Science and Technology Advisory Council:

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WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced the first appointments to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, PCAST co-chairs David Sacks and Michael Kratsios, and appointees including Marc Andreessen, Sergey Brin, Safra Catz, Michael Dell, Larry Ellison, Jensen Huang, and Mark Zuckerberg, among others.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced today, as part of an Executive Order establishing the Council.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Under President Trump, PCAST will focus on ensuring all Americans thrive in the Golden Age of Innovation.” – White House statement

🎯IMPACT: The Council will provide recommendations to strengthen American leadership in science and technology.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has named the first members of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), which was created by executive order. The panel is authorized to have up to 24 members, and further appointments are expected shortly.

PCAST will be co-chaired by David Sacks, who has already been tapped as Trump’s artificial intelligence (AI) and crypto czar, and Michael Kratsios, the President’s assistant for science and technology. PCAST’s currently confirmed appointees, including the likes of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, Oracle founder Larry Ellison, and NVIDIA founder Jensen Huang, are as follows:

Marc Andreessen

Co-founder of Netscape Communications, which created the first widely used web browser, and co-founder of the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz.

Sergey Brin

Russian-American computer scientist and co-founder of Google (now Alphabet).

Mark Zuckerberg

Founder, chairman, and CEO of Meta Platforms (originally Facebook), which is now heavily investing in AI and the metaverse.

Larry Ellison

Founder of Oracle Corporation, a global leader in database software, enterprise cloud, and business applications.

Safra Catz

CEO of Oracle Corporation; previously longtime CFO, she has steered the company’s shift to cloud infrastructure and AI-driven services.

Michael Dell

Founder and CEO of Dell Technologies; pioneered the direct-sales PC model and built one of the largest enterprise IT and computing hardware empires.

Jensen Huang

Co-founder and CEO of NVIDIA; turned the company into the dominant provider of GPUs that power modern AI training and inference.

Lisa Su

CEO of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD); has driven the company’s resurgence in high-performance CPUs, GPUs, and AI accelerators.

Fred Ehrsam

Co-founder of Coinbase, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges, and co-founder of Paradigm, a leading crypto-focused venture capital firm.

John Martinis

Physicist and quantum computing pioneer who led Google’s Quantum AI team.

Bob Mumgaard

Co-founder and CEO of Commonwealth Fusion Systems, a MIT spinout developing compact, high-temperature superconducting fusion reactors for commercial power.

Jacob DeWitte

Co-founder and CEO of Oklo, a company building small, modular, advanced fission reactors to deliver clean, always-on energy.

David Friedberg

Founder of The Climate Corporation (sold to Monsanto), now runs The Production Board, an investment platform focused on biology, agriculture, energy, and climate technologies.

“Under President Trump, PCAST will focus on topics related to the opportunities and challenges that emerging technologies present to the American workforce, and ensuring all Americans thrive in the Golden Age of Innovation,” the White House said in a statement.

The council continues a long tradition that dates back to the Science Advisory Board established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. Since that time, every American president has maintained a similar group to draw on the knowledge of scientists, engineers, and business leaders to shape national policy.

Image by Anurag R Dubey.

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Iran War Will Cause Global Recession If Oil Hits $150 a Barrel: BlackRock CEO.

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WHAT HAPPENED: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink is warning that a prolonged conflict between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran could drive the price of oil to $150-a-barrel and trigger a “stark and steep recession.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Shell plc CEO Wael Sawan, and U.S. and Iranian leaders.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 25, 2026; Global impact with focus on Europe and the Middle East.

💬KEY QUOTE: Fink warns that Iran could force “years of above $100, closer to $150 oil, which has profound implications in the economy.”

🎯IMPACT: A prolonged conflict could result in fuel shortages in Europe, increased energy prices, and economic instability.

IN FULL

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink is warning that a prolonged conflict between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran could drive the price of oil to $150 a barrel and plunge the world into a “stark and steep recession.” The remarks come as U.S. military operations against the Islamist regime enter their twenty-fifth day, and amid weeks of energy and financial market volatility.

“Rising energy prices is a very regressive tax. It affects the poor more than the wealthy,” Fink notes, while further cautioning that Iran could force “years above $100, closer to $150 oil, which has profound implications in the economy.” The $150-a-barrel benchmark, according to the BlackRock CEO, is an important line to avoid crossing, as doing so would result in “a probably stark and steep recession.”

Still, Fink hedged on the situation in the Middle East, contending that should the war end soon and Iran be brought back into the international fold, the price of oil could drop to $70 a barrel or lower.

Meanwhile, Shell plc (the British parent company of Shell USA) CEO Wael Sawan claims Europe could face fuel shortages as early as next month if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. The critical chokepoint in the Persian Gulf controls the flow of an estimated 20 percent of global oil and gas supply. “South Asia was first to get that brunt. That’s moved to south-east Asia, north-east Asia, and then more so into Europe as we get into April,” Sawan said.

Since the start of the conflict in late February, Brent Crude has surged to $120 a barrel on several occasions, though on average, the price has sat between $90 and $100 a barrel. However, the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian missile and drone strikes has also resulted in severe price spikes among other goods as well, including fertilizer and helium.

Image by Hossein Zohrevand/Tasnim News Agency.

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U.S. Army Raises Enlistment Age to 42 and Relaxes Rules on Recruiting Drug Convicts.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Army increased its maximum enlistment age to 42 and changed its policy on recruiting people with marijuana convictions amid the Iran war.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Army, including the Regular Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserves.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced March 2026, effective April 2026, across the United States.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The policy change is meant to better align the service with Defense Department standards.” – Army spokesman

🎯IMPACT: Aligns Army enlistment policies with other military branches and expands eligibility for potential recruits.

IN FULL

The U.S. Army has introduced a major update to its recruiting policies amid the Iran war, increasing the maximum enlistment age to 42. The change is scheduled to take effect on April 20, 2026. Alongside the age adjustment, the Army will now permit applicants who have a single conviction for marijuana possession to join without having to obtain a waiver.

Until now, the upper age limit for new recruits had stood at 35. The revised rules are spelled out in Army Regulation 601-210, which sets out the detailed policies and procedures governing enlistment into the Regular Army, the Army National Guard, and the Army Reserve. Officials say the broader policy revisions are designed to create more uniform enlistment standards throughout the Department of War.

This marks the second occasion in the past 20 years that the Army has raised its maximum enlistment age to 42; the service first did so in 2006 amid the demands of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, before lowering it again to 35 in 2016.

The new regulation takes into account research by analysts who found that older recruits can sometimes perform more successfully than younger ones overall. In particular, people between the ages of 25 and 35 have been shown to be less likely to drop out of initial training and more inclined to reenlist once their first term is complete.

Notably, countries like Ukraine have already moved towards recruiting older men, with the average soldier in the Eastern European country approaching his mid-forties.

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WATCH: Squirrels Seen ‘Vaping’ After Mistaking E-Cigarettes for Food.

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WHAT HAPPENED: Viral videos have surfaced showing squirrels “vaping” after confusing vape devices with food, sparking concerns about the impact of discarded e-cigarettes on wildlife.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Wildlife experts, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), and TikTok users and others capturing the incidents.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Videos were recorded in Brixton, South London, and Philadelphia, with additional reports from Wales and New Zealand.

💬KEY QUOTE: “They don’t encounter nicotine in the wild, so like many chemicals, it’s something you don’t want them exposed to.” – Craig Shuttleworth, Bangor University.

🎯IMPACT: Concerns raised over the harmful effects of vaping devices on wildlife, pets, and humans, with calls for better disposal practices.

IN FULL

Squirrels have been recorded “vaping” with discarded e-cigarettes in a number of viral videos shared on social media. Experts believe the animals are attracted to the fruity aroma emitted by the devices, mistaking them for food, in locations from Brixton in south London, England, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Craig Shuttleworth, a red squirrel expert at Bangor University in Wales, commented on the phenomenon, stating, “In the old days, you’d see lots of discarded cigarette butts, but I don’t remember squirrels running around with them. It would be reasonable to assume that a vape would be more attractive than a normal tobacco product that’s not fruity.”

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in Britain has highlighted the risks that discarded vaping devices pose to wildlife. The RSPCA referenced a 2023 case in New Zealand in which a bird died after swallowing a vape and noted that many such incidents likely go unreported.

Domestic pets have also been affected by vaping products. The Veterinary Poisons Information Service has received 680 calls regarding vape-related incidents involving pets since 2017, the vast majority involving dogs. According to RSPCA Scientific Officer Evie Button, some pets have died after consuming vape liquids.

The broader health implications of vaping for humans are a significant concern. The American Heart Association has described the rise in youth vaping as “a serious public health threat,” with police in North Carolina and elsewhere finding that vape stores are selling vapes to children.

Notably, vape stores represent a threat to the built environment as well as wildlife, with one unregistered store in Glasgow, Scotland, recently causing a fire that destroyed a 175-year-old building and closed down the country’s largest railway station, located nearby, for days.

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Bondi, DOJ Surrender to Federal Courts on US Attorney Appointments.

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WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) has conceded to a federal court’s authority to appoint federal attorneys, ending an eight-month standoff over the New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s office.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Trump administration, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi, and newly appointed U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The standoff ended on Monday, March 24, 2026, with the appointment of Robert Frazer in New Jersey.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Generations of assistant U.S. attorneys had built the goodwill of that office for your generation to destroy it within a year.” – Judge Zahid Quraishi

🎯IMPACT: The Justice Department’s surrender allows the judiciary to appoint U.S. Attorneys, without the blessing of the Trump administration.

IN FULL

The Department of Justice (DOJ) under Attorney General Pam Bondi and President Donald J. Trump has ended its lengthy standoff with the federal courts over who holds the power to appoint U.S. Attorneys. On Monday, the DOJ accepted the New Jersey District Court’s selection of Robert Frazer to serve as the state’s U.S. Attorney, without the administration’s blessing.

The decision marks a clear reversal of the administration’s earlier claim that only the President could make such appointments. The dispute began when the DOJ declined to replace Alina Habba, the administration’s preferred candidate, leaving New Jersey without a lawfully appointed U.S. Attorney for eight months. During that time, the administration’s attempts to keep administration picks in key prosecutorial posts met with uniform opposition from the judiciary.

A courtroom rebuke from U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi—a Joe Biden appointee—appears to have been decisive. Quraishi criticized the DOJ’s conduct, stating, “Generations of assistant U.S. attorneys had built the goodwill of that office for your generation to destroy it within a year.”

After the Biden judge’s remarks, the DOJ entered negotiations and ultimately agreed to the court’s authority to install Frazer, who was sworn in on Monday.

The appointment brings an end to the administration’s drive to install President Trump’s preferred prosecutors, in a loss for its wider push to assert executive control over federal appointments.

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CBP Just Seized 120 Pounds of Meth at the U.S.-Mexico Border.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized over 120 pounds of methamphetamine during two enforcement actions at the Nogales Port of Entry.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: CBP officers, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, and two drivers who were arrested.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The seizures occurred on March 10 and March 11 at the Mariposa and DeConcini Crossings in Nogales, Arizona.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Our streets are safer thanks to the dedication of our CBP officers.” – Jose Acuna, Acting Port Director at Nogales Port of Entry.

🎯IMPACT: The seizures prevented a significant quantity of methamphetamine from reaching U.S. streets.

IN FULL

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers earlier this month seized over 120 pounds of methamphetamine at the Nogales Port of Entry along America’s southern border. The illicit drugs were uncovered during two separate enforcement actions on March 10 and 11.

“Our frontline officers’ ability to apply training, inspection experience, and technology allowed them to zero in and take down a couple of significant drug loads,” Acting Port Director Jose Acuna said of the methamphetamine seizure. He added, “Our streets are safer thanks to the dedication of our CBP officers.”

According to the CBP, on March 10, officers at the Mariposa Crossing seized nearly 44 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in a 2007 Acura RL. Using a non-intrusive inspection system, officers conducted a closer physical examination and discovered 32 packages of methamphetamine hidden in the back seat of the vehicle. The drugs and the vehicle were seized, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents arrested the driver, launching a criminal investigation.

The following day, on March 11, CBP officers at the DeConcini Crossing seized over 76 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a 2019 Volkswagen Polo. An inspection scan and physical examination led to the discovery of 70 packages of methamphetamine concealed in a false floor compartment of the vehicle. The narcotics and the vehicle were seized, and the driver was arrested as part of an ongoing investigation.

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Nvidia CEO Boasts New AI Feat – ‘I Think We’ve Achieved AGI.’

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WHAT HAPPENED: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang claimed during a podcast interview that Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) has already been achieved.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, and podcaster Lex Fridman.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The remarks were made during a two-hour podcast hosted by Lex Fridman.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I think it’s now. I think we’ve achieved AGI.” – Jensen Huang

🎯IMPACT: Huang’s comments have reignited debates over AGI timelines and its implications for the future of AI and computing.

IN FULL

Jensen Huang, the CEO of U.S. technology giant Nvidia, has made the startling claim that the artificial intelligence (AI) industry has likely already achieved the landmark development of artificial general intelligence (AGI). Broadly, AGI is defined as an AI system that can understand, learn, and apply knowledge across a wide range of tasks at a human or superhuman level, unlike current so-called “narrow” AI systems that excel only in specific, predefined tasks.

Speaking with podcast host Lex Fridman, Huang was asked about his thoughts on where AI labs are on the “AGI timeline” and whether the technological achievement was still five, ten, or 20 years away—especially given recent developments in AI “agent” tools like OpenClaw. “I think it’s now. I think we’ve achieved AGI,” Huang stated.


Importantly, Huang’s definition of AGI differs slightly from consensus views. In 2023, the Nvidia CEO stated that he defines AGI simply as AI technology capable of exceeding normal human intelligence at a competitive level. Huang explained that, under his narrower interpretation, AGI does not need to create lasting systems or manage complex businesses. Instead, it only needs to generate a significant economic impact, such as developing a viral web service or app used by billions of people at minimal cost per user.

He compared the current capabilities of AI to those of the early dot-com era, suggesting that some websites from that time were no more advanced than what AI agents can create today. Based on this perspective, he reiterated, “I think we’ve achieved AGI.”

Huang’s more grounded view of AGI may indicate that the current state of the technology is still well short of the superhuman, adaptive intelligence envisioned by other technologists.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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