“This groundbreaking achievement stands as the premier of its kind, a crucial milestone in SpaceX’s ambitious vision to rapidly reuse the Starship rocket, paving the way for human expeditions to the moon and Mars, routine access to space for unprecedentedly large payloads, and innovative capabilities that no other company or nation is currently approaching.”
Is the current level of artificial intelligence in AI systems truly capable of recalling memories, contemplating thoughts, mapping out strategies, and drawing logical conclusions akin to a human brain’s cognitive processes? While some AI labs may propose such a notion, according to Meta’s Chief AI Scientist Yann LeCun, the answer is not yes. Despite his optimism, he estimates that achieving this goal may take around a decade, provided we adopt a novel approach, often referred to as a “world model.”
Lab scientists often devote a considerable portion of their working hours to arduous and monotonous tasks, such as meticulously handling small liquid samples through pipettes or repeatedly conducting identical experiments with precision. What if, instead, they simply instruct a robot to conduct the tests, process the data, and compile a comprehensive report? Scientists at the University of Toronto have developed Organa, a cutting-edge benchtop robotic system designed to conduct intricate chemistry experiments with precision and speed.
The company aims to transform Atlas, its humanoid robot, into a versatile platform capable of executing a wide range of complex movements and tasks, building on Boston Dynamics’ expertise in developing robots that can perform impressive and sometimes jarring full-body movements as well as exhibit basic yet robust grasping abilities. Meanwhile, TRI has devoted significant effort to developing AI-driven learning methodologies aimed at addressing various complex manipulation obstacles.
What’s likely been the ultimate question driving the growth of the eVTOL sector is finally being answered with a thrilling flight demonstration featuring a human on board – an eVTOL that has taken flying to new heights.
The prospects for virtually boundless and environmentally friendly geothermal energy have taken a significant leap forward. At EPFL’s Laboratory of Experimental Rock Mechanics, researchers have demonstrated that the semi-plastic, viscous rock found at supercritical depths can be fractured to facilitate the passage of water through these previously impermeable formations. Corporations such as Fervo and Sage Geosystems are demonstrating that a fracking method to harness geothermal energy can yield significantly more power than traditional approaches – this research suggests it may achieve similar results for ultra-deep supercritical geothermal projects as well.
“For several years, companies like OpenAI and Google have been proclaiming significant advancements in their latest artificial intelligence models, boasting superior ‘reasoning’ capabilities that promise to revolutionize the field.” A recent study conducted by six Apple engineers reveals that the mathematical “reasoning” showcased by advanced large language models proves surprisingly fragile and untrustworthy in response to seemingly minor tweaks to standard benchmark tests.
GOVERNANCE
According to a press release, the company’s data-driven approach to detecting and preventing fraud effectively prevented and recovered more than $4 billion in fraudulent funds during its latest fiscal year, which concluded in September.
“That’s more than a sixfold increase from the $652.7 million in fraudulent funds detected or recovered during the 2023 fiscal year, representing a substantial improvement.”
INTERNET
“SpaceX has submitted an application to the Federal Communications Commission on October 11, stating that its proposed ‘modification and its companion modification’ will enable the Gen2 system to provide gigabit-speed, ultra-low-latency broadband and global cellular connectivity to billions of people worldwide who currently lack sufficient access.”
