AI development is drawing attention across multiple fronts this month, from industry deployments to policy debates and ethical discussions. iMerit launched its Scholars platform on October 26, aiming to connect AI developers with over 30,000 vetted domain experts across 118 countries and 106 languages. The platform uses Ango Hub for multimodal data workflows and Trolley Technologies for payments, targeting regulated fields such as healthcare and banking where specialized knowledge matters most.
In the insurance sector, Marrow raised $2 million to build a platform that lets insurers connect with AI agents selling policies. The system gives carriers control over what questions agents can ask and what information customers must see before receiving a quote. Marrow has been live with Aviva since March 2026 and released its AMI Standards framework in September.
On the policy side, a nationwide poll by Deseret News and the University of Utah found Americans are divided on AI but largely agree on the need for regulation. About 49% of Utahns view AI favorably while 46% view it unfavorably, yet 58% support federal and state regulation. The survey of 875 voters carried a 3-point margin of error.
Global inequality concerns also took center stage at the UN Conference on Trade and Development in Doha. Tomas Lamanauskas, deputy secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union, warned that AI could deepen the gap between wealthy and developing nations. Africa and Latin America hold just 3.3% of global data centre capacity, and about 2.2 billion people still lack internet access. Only 7% of African languages appear in AI translation tools, and the technology could displace 90 million jobs while creating 170 million new ones.
Healthcare AI also faces scrutiny. A study in Nature Machine Intelligence found that large language models recommend more aggressive treatments than human doctors, with researchers noting these suggestions are more likely to cause harm. Meanwhile, Boston Dynamics employees signed a letter opposing a $1.3 million contract to sell modified robot dogs to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement through contractor Radeco. Company leadership defended the deal, stating the robots would not be weaponized.
Key Takeaways
- iMerit launched Scholars platform connecting 30,000+ experts across 118 countries for AI training in regulated fields
- Marrow raised $2 million for AI insurance sales platform now live with Aviva
- 58% of Americans support AI regulation despite divided opinions on the technology itself
- Africa and Latin America hold only 3.3% of global data centre capacity
- Only 7% of African languages are represented in AI translation tools
- Boston Dynamics employees protested $1.3 million robot dog sale to ICE
- LLMs recommend more aggressive medical treatments than human doctors, study finds
- Memory price increases may push PC prices up 17% as AI spending grows
- Bridging global digital divide requires estimated $2.8 trillion investment by 2030
- AI could displace 90 million jobs while creating 170 million new ones globally
iMerit launches Scholars platform to connect AI developers with domain experts
iMerit launched the Scholars platform on October 26 to help AI developers find specialized experts. The platform manages a global network of over 30,000 vetted professionals across 118 countries and 106 languages. It uses Ango Hub for workflows and Trolley Technologies for payments. The goal is to improve AI training in regulated fields like healthcare and banking.
iMerit launches Scholars platform for expert-led AI training and evaluation
iMerit announced the Scholars platform on October 26 to coordinate human experts in AI development. The platform handles recruitment, onboarding, and payments for over 30,000 experts in fields like medicine and mathematics. It uses Ango Hub to support multimodal data including images, video, and medical DICOM data. Experts help with fine-tuning, evaluation, and red-teaming AI models.
Global humanities leaders meet in Melbourne to discuss AI impacts
Humanities leaders from six continents met at the University of Melbourne from October 26 to 30, 2026. The Global Humanities Alliance annual meeting focused on AI's effects on society, education, and public trust. Professor Jennifer Balint emphasized the need for ethical AI policy. Representatives discussed how AI can better reflect different cultures.
Americans divided on AI but agree on regulation
A nationwide poll by Deseret News and the University of Utah found Americans are split on AI. About 49% of Utahns view AI favorably while 46% view it unfavorably. However, 58% agree federal and state governments should regulate AI. The survey of 875 Utah voters was conducted October 13 to 20 with a 3-point margin of error.
What an AI Bill of Materials records
An AI Bill of Materials tracks more than just software dependencies. It records model architecture, training datasets, system prompts, and hyperparameters that can change without a standard build. The framework also covers frameworks, APIs, and hardware. Provenance covers custody from receipt forward, and licenses include research-only and community terms.
Boston Dynamics employees protest robot dog sale to ICE
Over 300 Boston Dynamics employees signed a letter opposing a $1.3 million contract to sell modified robot dogs to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The contract was awarded to Radeco on September 25. Employees argued the sale was morally wrong and could cause harm. Company leadership stood by the deal and said the robots would not be weaponized.
AI spending rush should not force hardware upgrades
Worldwide AI spending is expected to reach $2.59 trillion in 2026, but most of it will go to infrastructure built by vendors. Experts say businesses should think carefully before buying new hardware just because of AI. Memory price increases may push PC prices up 17 percent and extend device use by 15 percent. Leaders should focus on business goals, not just technology purchases.
Mark Twain House hosts AI and creative writing event
The Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford will hold a two-day celebration in November. On November 6, Lydia Millet will receive the 2026 Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award and a $25,000 prize. On November 7, a public symposium called Creative Writing in the Age of AI will explore how AI affects storytelling. The event brings together authors, critics, and scholars.
LLMs recommend more aggressive care than doctors
A study in Nature Machine Intelligence found that large language models recommend more aggressive treatments than human doctors. The study reviewed recommendations from 10 LLMs. Researchers said these models suggest care that is more likely to cause harm. The findings point to the need for more caution when using AI in healthcare.
Marrow raises $2 million for AI insurance sales platform
Marrow raised $2 million to help insurers connect with AI agents selling insurance. The platform lets insurers offer products through one standard without changing core systems. It controls what questions agents can ask and what customers must see before receiving a quote. Marrow has been live with Aviva since March 2026 and released its AMI Standards framework in September.
UN official warns AI could deepen global inequality
Tomas Lamanauskas, deputy secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), warned that AI could widen the gap between rich and poor countries. He spoke at the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) World Investment Forum in Doha, Qatar. Developing countries face barriers in digital infrastructure, with Africa and Latin America holding just 3.3 percent of global data centre capacity. About 2.2 billion people worldwide still lack internet access, and bridging this gap would require an estimated $2.8 trillion in investment by 2030. Only 7 percent of African languages are represented in AI translation tools, and AI could displace 90 million jobs while creating 170 million new ones.
Sources
- Exclusive: iMerit launches platform to connect AI developers with specialized domain experts
- iMerit Launches Scholars Platform to Scale Expert-Led AI Training and Evaluation
- Artificial intelligence in focus as global humanities leaders meet in Melbourne
- Americans divided on AI but agree on regulation
- What an AI Bill of Materials Records
- ICE plan to buy robot dogs spurs protest from hundreds of Boston Dynamics employees
- AI FOMO shouldn’t become hardware FOMO
- PAID POST: Can AI tell America's stories? Join the conversation at Hartford's Mark Twain House
- LLMs Recommend Far More Care Than Doctors
- Marrow raises $2m to bring AI agents into insurance sales
- AI’s ‘opportunity divide’ could deepen global inequality, UN official warns
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