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As the presence of artificial intelligence continues to grow in the world, industry leaders and scholars are starting to explore the ethics surrounding the science. Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images

All Tech Considered

Scholars Delve Deeper Into The Ethics Of Artificial Intelligence

What happens when you make robots that are smart, independent thinkers — and then try to limit their autonomy? A $10 million gift is aimed at answering such questions at Carnegie Mellon University.

Scholars Delve Deeper Into The Ethics Of Artificial Intelligence

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Education may help brains cope with cognitive decline, and treatments for high blood pressure and other health problems may decrease dementia risk. Alfred Pasieka/Science Photo Library/Getty Images hide caption

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Alfred Pasieka/Science Photo Library/Getty Images

Shots - Health News

Dementia Risk Declines, And Education May Be One Reason Why

The prevalence of Alzheimer's and other dementias declined by almost 3 percent from 2000 to 2012, a study finds. That could be due to people getting more education, and better health overall.

Dementia Risk Declines, And Education May Be One Reason Why

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Lady Gaga went on a dive bar tour this year to promote her country-influenced album, Joanne. Behrouz Mehri/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Behrouz Mehri/AFP/Getty Images

Music

2016: The Year Pop Went Country

A host of pop and rock musicians — including Lady Gaga, Cyndi Lauper and Beyoncé — took turns down country roads this year. Fans both old and new seem happy to follow them there.

2016: The Year Pop Went Country

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Kellyanne Conway, senior advisor to President-elect Donald Trump, speaks to the media at Trump Tower on Monday. Eduardo Munoz Alvarez /AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Eduardo Munoz Alvarez /AFP/Getty Images

Politics

Trump Adviser Dismisses Potential Business Conflicts; Defends Children's Roles

"They'll continue to be wildly successful in the business world," Trump's former campaign manager told NPR's Audie Cornish, saying concerns about conflicts of interests are unfounded.

Trump Adviser Dismisses Potential Business Conflicts, Defends Children's Roles

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High on President-elect Donald Trump's list of activities for his first 100 days is a hiring freeze on all civilian federal jobs that aren't in public safety. Tom Thai/Flickr hide caption

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Tom Thai/Flickr

Around the Nation

Trump Wants A Federal Hiring Freeze, But It May Not Save Money

President-elect Trump has said a top priority is to freeze hiring for the federal government. But even those who support reducing the federal workforce say that a freeze can have unintended effects.

Trump Wants A Federal Hiring Freeze, But It May Not Save Money

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Zadie Smith has written several, including On Beauty, which was short listed for the Man Booker Prize in 2005. Dominique Nabokov/Penguin Press hide caption

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Dominique Nabokov/Penguin Press

Author Interviews

Novelist Zadie Smith On Historical Nostalgia And The Nature Of Talent

Fresh Air

Her new book, Swing Time, tells the story of two girls who dream of being dancers, but only one has the talent to do so. Smith says talent is the most unfair of gifts; you either have it or you don't.

Novelist Zadie Smith On Historical Nostalgia And The Nature Of Talent

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