An AI quadcopter has beaten human champions at drone racing

An AI quadcopter has beaten human champions at drone racing August 30, 2023 Authored: Geoff Brumfiel Published: NPR Summary: A small quadcopter drone powered by artificial intelligence (AI) has outflown human competitors in races. Developed in Switzerland, the drone used a combination of supervised learning, conventional programming, and reinforcement learning to master racing courses. While […]

A.I.’s un-learning problem: Researchers say it’s virtually impossible to make an A.I. model ‘forget’ the things it learns from private user data

A.I.’s un-learning problem: Researchers say it’s virtually impossible to make an A.I. model ‘forget’ the things it learns from private user data August 30, 2023 Authored: Stephen Pastis Published: Fortune Summary: Artificial intelligence (AI) models struggle with unlearning data. Once trained on data, removing specific information is challenging without resetting the entire model, which is […]

Concerns raised over the ‘dangerous’ ideology shaping AI debate

Concerns raised over the ‘dangerous’ ideology shaping AI debate August 30, 2023 Authored: Joseph Boyle Published: The Japan Times Summary: The article discusses the philosophy of long-termism in Silicon Valley, which focuses on preventing human extinction through actions prioritizing the distant future. Critics argue that this philosophy is dangerous, as it diverts attention from pressing […]

Entering the age of artificial truth

Entering the age of artificial truth August 27, 2023 Authored: Michael P. Ferguson Published: The Hill Summary: The article discusses concerns raised by experts like Gary Marcus and theoretical physicist Michio Kaku about the impact of open-source AI tools, particularly large language models, on the internet. These tools can create echo chambers of flawed information […]

Some experts see AI as a tool against climate change. Others say its own carbon footprint could be a problem.

Some experts see AI as a tool against climate change. Others say its own carbon footprint could be a problem. August 26, 2023 Authored: Aliza Chasan Published: CBS News Summary: Artificial intelligence (AI) offers solutions to environmental challenges, such as climate change monitoring and recycling optimization. However, AI’s energy-intensive development and deployment raise concerns. AI […]

Why we should all be rooting for boring AI

Why we should all be rooting for boring AI August 22, 2023 Authored: Melissa Heikkilä Published: MIT Technology Review Summary: The article discusses the ethical complexities of using AI in warfare. It highlights the lack of rules and accountability for AI failures in conflict situations. The US Department of Defense’s move to implement Generative AI […]

Why it’s impossible to build an unbiased AI language model

Why it’s impossible to build an unbiased AI language model August 8, 2023 Authored: Melissa Heikkilä Published: MIT Technology Review Summary: The culture wars have extended to AI language models, with accusations of political bias. Right-wing critics argue that ChatGPT and similar models have a “woke bias,” prompting conservative groups to create their own AI […]

Digital Replicas, a Fear of Striking Actors, Already Fill Screens – The technology for morphing flesh-and-blood performers into virtual avatars has been improving for years. Now it has become an issue in the actors’ strike.

Digital Replicas, a Fear of Striking Actors, Already Fill Screens – The technology for morphing flesh-and-blood performers into virtual avatars has been improving for years. Now it has become an issue in the actors’ strike. August 4, 2023 Authored: Marc Tracy Published: The New York Times Summary: The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and […]

Oppenheimer Offers Us a Fresh Warning of AI’s Danger

Oppenheimer Offers Us a Fresh Warning of AI’s Danger July 27, 2023 Authored: Senator Edward J. Markey Published: Scientific American Summary: The article draws parallels between the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and nuclear weapons. It highlights the potential harm and misuse of AI, including its impact on mental health, exploitation of labor practices, exacerbation […]

The Ends of Knowledge: What are the end points of our disciplines—and when, if ever, could we be done?

Seth Rudy and Rachael Scarborough King – Inside Higher Ed

The article discusses the challenges faced by academic disciplines, particularly in the humanities and sciences, in the context of emerging technologies, political pressures, and cultural shifts. It proposes that disciplines should confront their ends and rethink their purposes and goals in light of current changes. The authors present four broad ways in which scholars have approached the question of the ends of knowledge: unification, access, utopia/dystopia, and conceptualization. They argue that having a clear sense of purpose and outcomes can help advance knowledge and address the evolving landscape of higher education.