Google Scholar ' the largest and most comprehensive scholarly search engine ' turns 20 this week. Over its two decades, some researchers say, the tool has become one of the most important in science. But in recent years, competitors that use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the search experience have emerged, as have others that allow users to download their data. The impact that Google Scholar ' which is owned by web giant Google in Mountain View, California ' has had on science is remarkable, says Jevin West, a computational social scientist at the University of Washington in Seattle who uses the database daily. But 'if there was ever a moment when Google Scholar could be overthrown as the main search engine, it might be now, because of some of these new tools and some of the innovation that's happening in other places,' West says. Many of Google Scholar's advantages ' free access, breadth of information and sophisticated search options ' 'are now being shared by other platforms', says Alberto Martin Martin, a bibliometrics researcher at the University of Granada in Spain....

The 'True Sensation' dildo is a fleshy, silicone tool that measures exactly 7 inches and has the ability to vibrate (three different frequencies), thrust (seven different speeds), and self-heat (up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit). It's just like the real thing, James Guo, the founder of Our Erotic Journey, assures me from his office in Irvine, California. Best of all'everything is controlled through the app AMZ. 'It connects to someone that's oceans away,' he says of its potential for creating all kinds of sexual fantasies. Teasingly, he adds: 'There's also music that can match the intensity of the vibration.' True Sensation is just one offering featured among the wide inventory of Our Erotic Journey, the sex toy brand Guo launched in 2019. Its online store, which boasts more than 200 products, is a pleasure chest of sexual self-amusement. Take your pick: There's the lipstick-shaped vibrator, a remote-controlled rotating butt plug, various cock rings, something called the 'Gravity Rocket' (a clitoral suction vibrator with seven massage modes), and a smattering of glow-in-the-dark accessories. 'Those are for the ravers,' Guo jokes....

Can the U.S. meaningfully regulate AI' It's not at all clear yet. Policymakers have achieved progress in recent months, but they've also had setbacks, illustrating the challenging nature of laws imposing guardrails on the technology. In March, Tennessee became the first state to protect voice artists from unauthorized AI cloning. This summer, Colorado adopted a tiered, risk-based approach to AI policy. And in September, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed dozens of AI-related safety bills, a few of which require companies to disclose details about their AI training. After a protracted battle with special interests, Governor Newsom vetoed bill SB 1047, a law that would have imposed wide-ranging safety and transparency requirements on companies developing AI. Another California bill targeting the distributors of AI deepfakes on social media was stayed this fall pending the outcome of a lawsuit. There's reason for optimism, however, according to Jessica Newman, co-director of the AI Policy Hub at UC Berkeley. Speaking on a panel about AI governance at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024, Newman noted that many federal bills might not have been written with AI in mind, but still apply to AI ' like anti-discrimination and consumer protection legislation....