EU demands security theater. They are attempting to force backdoors into all of these APIs and systems (including locally run AI) for the nanny state. Very unfortunate.

There is on device AI in the Apple ecosystem. Many of the AI features that they announced will run locally (assuming hardware requirements are met). Things like Spatial Reframing will touch the cloud (via private compute) though. Other than that, Apple has an entire entry point for running AI close to the metal via MLX. It is kind of their entire angle at this point given their inability to create a competitive compelling AI product of their own. They appear to be taking on the role of “platform” once again.

Zen still works beautifully. The only downside I’ve come across is that there isn’t a mobile app, so the ability to hand off isn’t there.

They also tend to have less sprawl, more homogenous and high trust societies (relative to where most people live in the US), and a shaky history of true legally enforced disability considerations. On that latter part, there still isn’t a good equivalent to the ADA in European peer countries. Europeans will hand wave it away, but it’s too patchwork and exclusionary.

All things in this scope considered (i.e., not healthcare necessarily), I’d rather be disabled in the US than in Europe or most Asian countries because the US actually have strong legal protections both federally and at the state levels. Lack of extensive public transport outside of a couple major hubs is obviously a problem for most people (especially the disabled). But no other country comes close to enshrining protections like the US did with the ADA (and how some states extended it even more themselves).

Something all of us have to keep in mind, especially based on many of the comments here generalizing about MAGA, Jews (and the guilt by association angle), immigrants more broadly (for the rare conservative about these parts), etc…

I see a lot of rationalization and emotionally strong trigger words being used to justify acting the way Arnold is being celebrated for saying people should not act.