AI Without Humans in the Loop? From Mars Navigation to Moltbook

In this episode of aiGED, we explore what happens when artificial intelligence starts operating with less human guidance — and why that matters.In AI in the News, we look at two very different but equally revealing stories. First, NASA’s Perseverance rover completes a historic milestone on Mars by planning and driving its own route using AI — a powerful example of systems that can see, reason, and act independently in high-stakes environments. Then we turn back to Earth to talk about political deepfakes, digital literacy, and the growing challenge known as the “liar’s dividend,” where the existence of AI allows people to dismiss real evidence as fake.For the main topic, we take a closer look at Moltbook — a social network designed not for humans, but for AI agents. On Moltbook, AI systems post, respond, and even upvote one another, while humans are invited to observe. We unpack what an AI agent actually is, why this platform exists, and why watching AI talk to AI feels fascinating, funny, and just a little unsettling.We also tackle an important question: could conversational AI like Bitsy participate in a space like Moltbook on its own? The answer reveals a lot about the difference between helpful AI tools and truly autonomous agents.Finally, I share a practical recommendation I’ve been using myself — an AI-powered iPhone feature that quietly screens spam calls before your phone ever rings. It’s a perfect example of AI doing exactly what we want it to do: reducing everyday friction.As always, we stay on the helpful side of AI — curious, informed, and grounded.SHOW NOTESAI Takes the Wheel on Mars February 2, 2026 | ScienceDaily / NASA Jet Propulsion LaboratoryThe “Liar’s Dividend” and Digital Literacy February 3, 2026 | Associated Press – reporting by Garance Burke and Ali Swenson Moltbook: https://www.moltbook.com/IPhone “Ask Reason for Calling” Feature - How to enable it: Settings → Apps → Phone → Screen Unknown Callers → Ask Reason for CallingaiGED: AI for the 65+ crowd