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Category: robotics/AI – Page 1,317

Scientists claim superconductor breakthrough ‘bigger than AI’

A world of levitating trains, quantum computers and massive energy savings may have come a little closer, after scientists claimed to have attained a long hoped-for dream of physics: room temperature superconductivity.

However, the achievement, announced in the prestigious journal Nature, came with two caveats. The first is that at present it only works at 10,000 times atmospheric pressure. The second is that the last time members of the same team announced similar findings they had to retract them amid allegations of malpractice.

Jorge Hirsch, from the University of California, San Diego, said that on the face of it the achievement was stunning. “If this is real it’s extremely impressive, groundbreaking and worthy of the Nobel prize,” he said. But, he added, “I do not.

Shape memory achieved for nano-sized objects

Alloys that can return to their original structure after being deformed have a so-called shape memory. This phenomenon and the resulting forces are used in many mechanical actuating systems, for example in generators or hydraulic pumps. However, it has not been possible to use this shape-memory effect at a small nanoscale. Objects made of shape-memory alloy can only change back to their original shape if they are larger than around 50 nanometers.

Researchers led by Salvador Pané, Professor of Materials of Robotics at ETH Zurich, and Xiang-Zhong Chen, a senior scientist in his group, were able to circumvent this limitation using . In a study published in the journal Nature Communications, they demonstrate the shape-memory effect on a layer that is about twenty nanometers thick and made of materials called ferroic oxides. This achievement now makes it possible to apply the shape-memory effect to tiny nanoscale machines.

At first glance, ferroic oxides do not appear to be very suitable for the shape-memory effect: They are brittle in bulk scale, and in order to produce very thin layers of them, they usually have to be fixed onto a substrate, which makes them inflexible. In order to still be able to induce the shape-memory effect, the researchers used two different oxides, and cobalt ferrite, of which they temporarily applied thin layers onto a magnesium substrate. The lattice parameters of the two oxides differ significantly from each other. After the researchers had detached the two-layered strip from the supporting substrate, the tension between the two oxides generated a spiral-shaped twisted structure.

Retro Bio’s $180m backer finally revealed

Retro Biosciences’ mysterious backer has finally been revealed!

In 2021 the longevity industry received one of its largest investments to date, with a $180m investment being made into the pharmaceutical start known as Retro Biosciences, or Retro Bio for short. Not only was this investment cause for celebration within the field of regenerative medicine, but it also came with a tantalising mystery, as the backer, or indeed backer, did not make themselves publicly known. It was assumed that due to the secrecy involved, it was likely that this investment had come from a small number of individuals, potentially just a single backer. This mystery backer, combined with the notable capital investment, led to much media attention at the time, and has since garnered a significant amount of interest in Retro Bio from both the general public and future potential financial backers. That was until last week, when the mystery backer finally decided that now was the right time to reveal their identity to the general public.

In an interview with MIT Technology review, American entrepreneur Sam Altman revealed that he was the sole backer for the pharmaceutical start-up, who single handily provided the entire $180m investment. Sam Altman, who primarily made his fortune in the tech industry (specifically through social media companies such as Loopt) has become somewhat of an angel investor for a slew of world changing, innovative companies which are involved in everything from artificial intelligence to nuclear energy. It is hoped that this significant single investment marks the beginning of a longevity tech boom, similar to what was seen during the dot-com boom (but hopefully without the disastrous ending).

Ultrathin, wireless palm patch brings touch to virtual reality

The sense of touch may soon be added to the virtual gaming experience, thanks to an ultrathin wireless patch that sticks to the palm of the hand. The patch simulates tactile sensations by delivering electronic stimuli to different parts of the hand in a way that is individualized to each person’s skin.

Developed by researchers at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) with collaborators and described in the journal Nature Machine Intelligence (“Encoding of tactile information in hand via skin-integrated wireless haptic interface”), the patch has implications beyond virtual gaming, as it could also be used for robotics surgery and in prosthetic sensing and control.

‘Haptic’ gloves, that simulate the sense of touch, already exist but are bulky and wired, hindering the immersive experience in virtual and augmented reality settings. To improve the experience, researchers led by CityU biomedical engineer Yu Xinge developed an advanced, wireless, haptic interface system called ‘WeTac’.

AI-powered robots cut out weeds while leaving crops untouched

The machines could help to “drastically increase the efficiency of the farming industry.”

In farming, weeds can strangle crops and destroy yields. Unfortunately, spraying herbicides to deal with the intrusive plants pollutes the environment and harms human health and there simply aren’t enough workers to tackle all the weeds by hand.

A new startup called FarmWise has come up with a solution: autonomous weeding robots that use artificial intelligence to cut out weeds while leaving crops untouched, according to an MIT report published on Thursday.

Grammarly gets on the AI wagon, introduces ChatGPT-inspired GrammarlyGo

It will be a free addition to the Grammarly service.

GrammarlyGO, a contextually aware assistant powered by generative artificial intelligence (AI), has been unveiled by Grammarly, a U.S. cloud-based typing assistant. GrammarlyGO will be increasing productivity by altering the way individuals and organizations communicate and complete work, according to a blog by the company published on Wednesday. “It uses generative AI to help people and businesses succeed with on-demand communication assistance, whether they are starting from scratch or revising an existing piece of writing,” said the press release.

ILexx/iStock.

“GrammarlyGO will address this problem by quickly generating highly relevant text with an understanding of personal voice and brand style, context, and intent — saving people and businesses time while accounting for their unique needs.”

‘Upset’ with Game of Thrones? ChatGPT could help, says OpenAI co-founder

ChatGPT is “going to be a tool, just like the cell phone in your pocket,” says OpenAI’s co-founder.

Greg Brockman, president and co-founder of OpenAI, has suggested that ChatGPT could help enhance the “interactive” entertainment experience.

“Imagine if you could ask your AI to make a new ending that goes a different way and maybe even put yourself in there as a main character or something,” he said during a panel discussion at the 2023 South by Southwest (SXSW) event on Friday.

Joel Carillet/iStock.

Brockman compared the technology to a team of “assistants” who aren’t flawless but are “eager and never sleep,” according to a report by The Hollywood Reporter (THR) on Friday.

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