News
1. AI device
Jony Ive, a legendary designer, and Sam Altman are collaborating on a new AI hardware project. They have recruited Tang Tan, an outgoing Apple executive, to join Ive’s design firm LoveFrom, which will focus on the design and capabilities of these new AI devices, with Altman providing the software foundation (Bloomberg).
2. Cancer treatment
Vibronic-driven action (VDA) uses near-infrared light to activate specific molecules, causing mechanical disruption of cell membranes and effectively killing cancer cells, including melanoma, both in vitro and in mouse models. This method, distinct from existing therapies, offers a promising approach to cancer treatment with low likelihood of resistance development (Nature Chemistry).
3. Breast cancer detection
Canan Dağdeviren, inspired by her aunt’s battle with breast cancer, developed a wearable ultrasound bra that can frequently scan for breast cancer, potentially detecting it earlier than traditional methods. This device, which has undergone a successful proof-of-concept test, could significantly increase the frequency of breast cancer screening, offering the potential to save 12 million lives annually by catching malignant growths sooner (Wired).
4. Self-driving
The blog post from Waymo highlights their significant advancements in autonomous driving safety. Key findings include an 85% reduction in injury-causing crashes and a 57% reduction in police-reported crashes by the Waymo Driver compared to human drivers, based on over 7 million miles of fully autonomous driving in Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles (Waymo).
5. AI predicts human lives
This study applies natural language processing techniques to a detailed Danish dataset of daily life events, creating models that accurately predict diverse life outcomes and explore underlying factors, potentially guiding personalized interventions (Nature Computational Science).
6. A new GenAI software company
Intel is spinning out a new enterprise-focused generative AI software company, Articul8 AI, developed from a collaboration with Boston Consulting Group and optimized for Intel hardware. The platform, designed for high-security industries like financial services and telecommunications, offers AI capabilities within enterprise security perimeters and supports various deployment options, with Intel retaining a stake in the new entity (TechCrunch).
7. Google Street View to Location
Stanford University graduate students have developed an AI application, Predicting Image Geolocations (PIGEON), which can accurately determine a specific location from a photo’s background, including street views. PIGEON boasts a 92% accuracy in identifying countries and can pinpoint locations within 25 kilometers in over 40% of cases, outperforming professional GeoGuessr players and raising both ethical considerations and potential beneficial applications (ZDNet).
8. Custom chatbot store
OpenAI is set to launch an online store next week, allowing users to share and monetize custom versions of its popular ChatGPT chatbot. This initiative, which was delayed due to the temporary ousting of CEO Sam Altman, enables users to create tailored chatbots for various purposes without needing coding skills, similar to app offerings in Apple’s App Store (Bloomberg).
9. Phone signals from space
SpaceX has launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the first set of Starlink satellites capable of beaming phone signals directly to smartphones, in collaboration with T-Mobile US. This initiative, part of a broader collaboration with various global wireless providers, will initially offer text messaging services, with plans to expand to voice and data capabilities in the future (Reuters).
Articles
1. We Are About to Enter the Golden Age of Gene Therapy (Inverse)
In 2023, gene therapy, particularly CRISPR-based techniques, marked a significant advancement with the approval of Casgevy, the first CRISPR-based gene therapy for treating blood disorders like sickle cell anemia and beta-thalassemia. This breakthrough signifies a new era in gene therapy, promising more precise treatments for a range of diseases, but it also raises concerns about cost, accessibility, and ethical implications, especially regarding gene editing in embryos.
2. Four ways AI can help with climate change (NPR)
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used in climate solutions, with applications ranging from detecting methane emissions to early detection and prevention of forest fires. AI is also being utilized in green tech mining to efficiently locate critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and copper, essential for technologies like solar panels and electric vehicles.
3. Turn Generative AI from an Existential Threat into a Competitive Advantage (Harvard Business Review)
Generative AI, by making it easier and cheaper to create or improve products and services, poses a potential threat to commoditize businesses that traditionally relied on significant human labor and creativity. To transform this threat into an opportunity, companies must rethink their strategies and implement generative AI at increasingly sophisticated levels to achieve a stronger and more sustainable competitive advantage.
4. Ten science stories poised to make headlines in 2024 (Science)
In 2024, science headlines are expected to be dominated by a range of topics, including the potential for record global temperatures due to a strengthening El Niño, political influences on science in the U.S. election year, advancements in AI regulation, breakthroughs in Long Covid treatments, and developments in neutrino mass research. Other key stories will likely involve collaborations with Indigenous experts in research, challenges to the EU’s green policies, delays in the ITER fusion project, and the launch of NASA’s Europa Clipper probe to Jupiter’s moon.
5. Humanoid Robots Are Getting to Work (IEEE Spectrum)
In 2024, humanoid robots are poised to transition from research projects to commercial products, with companies like Agility Robotics preparing to deploy their robots in commercial pilot projects. Agility Robotics’ humanoid robot, Digit, designed for tasks like moving e-commerce totes in logistics, exemplifies this shift, highlighting the industry’s focus on creating robots that can perform specific, repetitive tasks efficiently and safely alongside human workers.
6. Escaping Plato’s Cave with Multimodal AI (Pratap’s Substack)
The article discusses the concept of multimodal AI, which aims to gain a fuller understanding of the real world, akin to escaping Plato’s allegorical cave. It highlights the application of domain-specific multimodal AI in areas like advanced manufacturing, where it integrates various data forms (like thermal profiles, power consumption, and engineers’ notes) to enhance capabilities in design, testing, and optimization, potentially transforming professionals into experts with AI assistance.
