Lifeboat Foundation

Here’s what the recent measurements suggest — and why it’s too soon to update models of the Universe’s distant future.

CWI senior researcher Sander Bohté started working on neuromorphic computing already in 1998 as a PhD-student, when the subject was barely on the map. In recent years, Bohté and his CWI-colleagues have realized a number of algorithmic breakthroughs in spiking neural networks (SNNs) that make neuromorphic computing finally practical: in theory many AI-applications can become a factor of a hundred to a thousand more energy-efficient. This means that it will be possible to put much more AI into chips, allowing applications to run on a smartwatch or a smartphone. Examples are speech recognition, gesture recognition and the classification of electrocardiograms (ECG).

“I am really grateful that CWI, and former group leader Han La Poutré in particular, gave me the opportunity to follow my interest, even though at the end of the 1990s neural networks and neuromorphic computing were quite unpopular”, says Bohté. “It was high-risk work for the long haul that is now bearing fruit.”

Spiking neural networks (SNNs) more closely resemble the biology of the brain. They process pulses instead of the continuous signals in classical neural networks. Unfortunately, that also makes them mathematically much more difficult to handle. For many years SNNs were therefore very limited in the number of neurons they could handle. But thanks to clever algorithmic solutions Bohté and his colleagues have managed to scale up the number of trainable spiking neurons first to thousands in 2021, and then to tens of millions in 2023.

Robin Hanson comments on Nick Bostrom’s new tome … has a great cover with a number of interesting questions and a subtitle that hints that it might address the meaning of life in a future where AI and robots can do everything. But alas, after much build up and anticipation, he leaves that question unanswered, with an abrupt oops, out of time on page 427. … He tries to address meaty topics like, what keeps life interesting? What is our purpose and meaning when the struggle is gone? Can fulfillment get full? But in each case, the pedagogy is more of a survey of all possible answers versus the much more difficult task of making specific predictions. (More)

Tesla’s Dojo supercomputer represents a significant investment and commitment to innovation in the field of AI computation, positioning Tesla as a key player in shaping the future of neural net hardware.

Questions to inspire discussion.

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ASML has a monopoly on advanced semiconductor manufacturing tools, and it’s poised to gain from CHIPS Act investment.

The world’s first artificial intelligence (AI) beauty pageant has been announced, and the winner will receive over $20,000 in prizes.

The glittering world of modeling and fashion has embraced Al technology, and AI-generated models will take center stage in the beauty pageant named ‘Miss Al.’

Miss AI contest has been announced by World AI Creator Awards (WAICA), in partnership with Fanvue.

According to the company, Meta AI is now one of the world’s leading AI assistants that can boost your intelligence and lighten your load, “helping you learn, get things done, create content, and connect to make the most out of every moment.”

Meta said the assistant’s image-generation feature will be available in beta on WhatsApp and the MetaAI website. Users will see an image appear as they start typing and MetaAI will provide prompts to help change or refine the image. The images can also be animated into a GIF that users can share, reported CNBC.

The company is rolling out Meta AI in English in more than a dozen countries outside of the US. Now, people will have access to Meta AI in Australia, Canada, Ghana, Jamaica, Malawi, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Intel’s Hala Point neuromorphic computer is powered by more than 1,000 new AI chips and performs 50 times faster than equivalent conventional computing systems.

ReachBot is inspired by the movement of the Harvestman spider, also known as a daddy-long-legs. The current model boasts a small body and long, extendable legs equipped with grippers. Moreover, the booms will allow the robot to move ahead.

These appendages allow ReachBot to navigate through the narrow passages of Martian caves to hunt for signs of life and other key resources, like water. The multiple extendable boom limbs have a three-finger gripper that clutches onto the rocks and uses them as anchor points.