What's Happening

Health

Study: Dementia Cases Expected To Double in Coming Decades

What's going on: By 2060, nearly 1 million Americans will be diagnosed with dementia each year, according to a new study published yesterday in Nature Magazine. Researchers reviewed more than three decades’ worth of data, finding the rate of dementia is expected to double in the next 35 years. The reason? The study points to the country’s aging population, with Americans living longer than ever before. The study also found the risk of dementia intensifies substantially after age 75, with the probability increasing even more as individuals approach 95. Women and Black Americans also face a higher risk of developing the condition.

What it means: As of 2024, more than 6 million Americans are living with dementia — with caregiving costing $600 billion in the US. The findings underscore the urgent need for more efforts to slow or prevent the condition. While some experts believe the study may overestimate new diagnoses, they agree the number of dementia cases is set to increase. Still, there’s reason to be hopeful. Last year, research found that nearly 45% of all global dementia cases could be prevented or delayed. Plus, the research continues. As one health expert told The Washington Post, “we’re learning so much more about those underlying causes — and that many of them actually can be mitigated.” 

Related: These Are 15 Science-Based Ways To Cut Your Risk of Dementia (WaPo gift link)

Tech

Investigation Finds Facial Recognition Software Can Fuel Wrongful Arrests

What's going on: Many people use AI to, well, think less — whether they’re writing an email or doing a math problem. Turns out police detectives seem to be doing the same thing. An investigation by The Washington Post found that US law enforcement agencies are increasingly relying on facial recognition software as a “shortcut” to identify suspects. The catch? They’re not always following up with old-school detective work, like verifying alibis. In one case, authorities failed to notice that the suspect they arrested was seven months pregnant — a description at odds with eyewitness reports. According to The Post, some detectives are putting too much trust in AI to match mugshots with crime scene photos — despite department policies that warn the programs are “unscientific” and shouldn’t be used “as the sole basis for any decision.” The Post found this over-confidence in AI has led to at least eight wrongful arrests, and experts say this is likely an undercount. 

What it means: All told, The Washington Post found that 15 police departments in 12 states have arrested suspects based on AI facial recognition matches, without other corroborating evidence. While some of the officers involved denied relying solely on AI to make arrests, the practice raises serious concerns. Of the eight wrongful arrests identified by The Post, seven involved Black individuals, highlighting fears of racial bias in AI systems. A 2019 federal study found that some facial recognition programs misidentify Black and Asian people up to 100 times more often than white men. The full extent of false arrests tied to AI remains unclear, largely due to a lack of oversight and regulations governing the technology’s use in policing.

Related: Inside the Effort To Make AI Less Biased Than Humans (NYT gift link)

Career

That Job You Never Heard Back About? It Might Be Fake

What's going on: If applying for jobs feels like yelling into the void, you’re not alone. Ghost jobs, roles advertised with no intention of being filled, could account for as many as one in five job postings online, according to a new internal analysis from hiring platform Greenhouse. Their data found nearly 70% of companies posted at least one ghost job in Q2 2024, with the most common phantom opportunities affecting construction, finances, and health care industries. Even more startling: 15% of companies were regular offenders, with half of their advertised roles going unfilled. Platforms like Greenhouse and LinkedIn have started tagging listings as verified to help job seekers avoid wasting their time, though verifications can only go so far.

What it means: This is not the time to play corporate catfish. For job seekers, ghost jobs can add insult to injury in a market that already feels stacked against them. Economic data suggests healthy hiring, with 256,000 new jobs added in December and unemployment at 4.1%, but many white-collar workers say it’s harder than ever to find new roles and that it’s taking longer. Many experts and job seekers point to tighter company budgets and the rise of AI for increasing competition. So why do companies do this? It ranges from the strategic (keeping options open for dream candidates) to the performative (projecting growth that doesn’t exist). But for job seekers, the effect is the same: time wasted, trust eroded, and a process that feels rigged.  

Related: Move Over, Weinermobile: Planters Thinks It Has an Even Better Job Offer (Fortune)