Talk about AI today, and you’ll hear two stories. One says this is the future of everything. The other says it’s a bubble that’s about to pop. The truth is closer to a video game: We’re still in the ...

Amanda Smith is a freelance journalist and writer. She reports on culture, society, human interest and technology. Her stories hold a mirror to society, reflecting both its malaise and its beauty.

March 9, 2026 • A 2006 conference for physicists in the U.S. Virgin Islands that included a trip to Jeffrey Epstein's private island shows how he used his wealth to build relationships with prominent ...