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May 24, 2023

Whole Brain Emulation

Posted by in categories: existential risks, mapping, neuroscience, robotics/AI

I had an amazing experience at the Foresight Institute’s Whole-Brain Emulation (WBE) Workshop at a venue near Oxford! For more information and a list of participants, see: https://foresight.org/whole-brain-emulation-workshop-2023/ I had the opportunity to work within a group of some of the most brilliant, ambitious, and visionary people I’ve ever encountered on the quest for recreating the human brain in a computer. We also discussed in depth the existential risks of upcoming artificial superintelligence and how to mitigate these risks, perhaps with the aid of WBE.

My subgroup focused on exploring the challenge of human connectomics (mapping all of the neurons and synapses in the brain).


WBE is a potential technology to generate software intelligence that is human-aligned simply by being based directly on human brains. Generally past discussions have assumed a fairly long timeline to WBE, while past AGI timelines had broad uncertainty. There were also concerns that the neuroscience of WBE might boost AGI capability development without helping safety, although no consensus did develop. Recently many people have updated their AGI timelines towards earlier development, raising safety concerns. That has led some people to consider whether WBE development could be significantly speeded up, producing a differential technology development re-ordering of technology arrival that might lessen the risk of unaligned AGI by the presence of aligned software intelligence.

May 24, 2023

A new material creates clean electricity from the air around it

Posted by in category: materials

Engineers have created a thin film that can generate millivolts of electricity from ambient air humidity thanks to water’s ‘mean free path.’

May 24, 2023

This wireless ultrasound patch can sense deep tissue vital signs

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

The device can track body signals from tissues as deep as 164 mm for up to twelve hours at a time.

A team of researchers and scientists from the University of California San Diego have developed a stick-on ultrasound patch, also called an ultrasonic system-on-patch (USoP), which a person can wear on the go as the device gives insight on the blood pressure, heart rate, and other physiological signs of the subject wearing it.

As per the press release, the USoP tracks these body signals from tissues as deep as 164 mm for up to twelve hours at a time.

Continue reading “This wireless ultrasound patch can sense deep tissue vital signs” »

May 24, 2023

‘Deepfake’ scam in China raises concerns of AI-powered fraud

Posted by in category: robotics/AI

Citizens are concerned about whether implemented rules are sufficient to protect them.

A recently reported scam in China that used ‘deep fake’ technology has raised concerns about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in conducting fraudulent activities in the country. Discussion on the social media website Weibo about the explosion in the number of AI-powered scans gained more than 120 million views in a day, Reuters.

Over the years, the term ‘deep fakes’ has mainly been associated with celebrities, but as AI tech becomes more mainstream, it has also sparked fears of affecting the commoner.

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May 24, 2023

Spain powered itself with renewable energy for nine straight hours

Posted by in categories: government, solar power, sustainability

The country’s government recently announced a €2 billion fund aimed at tackling its severe drought problem.

Spain hit an impressive renewable energy milestone last week when it was powered solely by renewables for nine hours straight.

Energy generated by solar panels, wind turbines, and hydro energy was able to power mainland Spain from 10 am to 7 pm local time (CEST) on Tuesday, May 16, a report from Spanish newspaper El País reveals.

May 24, 2023

Chinese Automaker Entering U.S. Market With All-Electric BYD e6

Posted by in categories: sustainability, transportation

Competition in the burgeoning electric vehicle market is heating up. Green car enthusiasts are already salivating at the chance to test-drive the Nissan LEAF and the Chevrolet Volt when they hit dealerships late this year. Now, it seems an underdog has stepped out from the shadows to give these big hitters a real run for their money.

At this year’s Detroit Auto Show, Chinese automaker BYD announced plans to break into the North American auto market by selling their all-electric e6 in the United States by the end of the year.

While Chevy and Nissan don’t have much to worry about in the short-term — initial rollout is currently slated for the Southern California market only — BYD has some pretty lofty goals that could spell trouble over the next few years. Specifically, BYD (which stands for “Build Your Dreams”) plans on becoming no less than the world’s largest automaker by 2025.

May 24, 2023

AI’s Multi-Tiered Camper Vans Visualize the Surreal Future of Nomadic Living

Posted by in categories: futurism, robotics/AI

Future-architecture designs?

May 24, 2023

Myntra launches ChatGPT-powered search feature for enhanced product discovery

Posted by in category: transportation

Customers can essentially look up curated looks on the app, say by typing keywords such as “airport looks”, and the system is designed to showcase a host of products including apparel, footwear, bags and sunglasses that consumers can choose from.

The move comes as the retailer is set to announce its bi-annual “end of reason sale” next month.

The feature is capable of discovering fashion ensembles at scale based on looks relevant to destinations, events, celebrity styling ideas or occasions, the retailer said.

May 24, 2023

Oral Microbiome Test #4: Adding Berberine To The Homemade Mouthwash Was A Disaster

Posted by in category: genetics

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Continue reading “Oral Microbiome Test #4: Adding Berberine To The Homemade Mouthwash Was A Disaster” »

May 24, 2023

Solana blockchain integrates ChatGPT plugin, launches AI accelerator

Posted by in categories: blockchains, robotics/AI

Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko says that AI and the ChatGPT plugin will make the Solana blockchain more usable and understandable.