Technology's Grip on Modern Life Pushing Us Into a Dimly Lit World

The article discusses the increasing reliance on technology and its impact on our lives. It highlights the concerns raised by experts about the potential negative effects of excessive screen time and the constant exposure to blue light emitted by digital devices. The article mentions that blue light can disrupt sleep patterns, contribute to eye strain, and potentially increase the risk of certain health issues. It also explores the concept of ’light pollution’ and how the ubiquitous presence of artificial light sources, including digital screens, can interfere with our natural circadian rhythms and potentially harm wildlife. The article emphasizes the importance of finding a balance between the benefits of technology and the need to protect our health and well-being by limiting exposure to blue light and embracing periods of darkness.

2024-07-28

ChatGPT Folders, Search & Prompts

This article is about a Chrome extension that enhances the functionality of ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by Anthropic. The extension allows users to organize their conversations with ChatGPT into folders, search through their chat history, and access a library of pre-written prompts. The key features include: 1) Folders: Create and manage folders to categorize conversations for better organization. 2) Search: Quickly find specific conversations or information within the chat history. 3) Prompts: Access a collection of pre-written prompts to kickstart conversations on various topics. 4) Customization: Customize the appearance and behavior of the extension. The extension aims to improve the user experience with ChatGPT by providing tools for better organization, searchability, and prompt management.

2024-07-27

Elon Musk Says Tesla's New AI Computer Will Crush Nvidia and Others in Compute Competition by 2024

According to Elon Musk, Tesla’s new AI computer called ‘Dojo’ will outperform competitors like Nvidia in computing power by 2024. Musk claims that Dojo will be able to process vast amounts of data from Tesla’s autonomous vehicles, enabling the company to achieve full self-driving capabilities. He stated, “The game is to be, at a minimum, over an order of magnitude better than the current leading AI training computer.” Musk believes that Dojo’s specialized hardware and software will give Tesla a significant advantage in training AI models for autonomous driving. However, Nvidia has dismissed Musk’s claims, stating that their GPUs are already being used for AI training by major companies. The competition in AI computing power is intensifying as companies race to develop advanced autonomous driving systems.

2024-07-27

Microsoft outage caused by change to cloud operations

A major Microsoft outage caused disruptions around the globe on Wednesday when access to websites and services was hampered. The company said it had reverted a network change that caused the outage, which affected users’ ability to use cloud services including Office 365 and Teams. The outage also caused disruptions for third-party services that rely on Microsoft’s cloud. Microsoft said it had rolled back the change and was monitoring the situation. The outage highlighted how widespread reliance on cloud computing can amplify disruptions when they occur. Microsoft’s cloud covers a broad array of offerings like email and collaboration software in addition to cloud infrastructure that third parties can use to host websites and other services. The company said it would conduct a full investigation into the root cause of the outage.

2024-07-27

Scientists Use AI to Decode Sperm Whale Sounds, Discover Alphabet and Complex Language

Scientists have utilized artificial intelligence (AI) to decode the intricate communication system of sperm whales, revealing an alphabet and a complex language. By analyzing over 4,000 hours of recordings, researchers discovered that sperm whales possess a sophisticated vocal repertoire consisting of distinct codewords. These codewords are combined in specific patterns, akin to an alphabet, to convey various messages. The study found that sperm whales employ a hierarchical structure, with higher-level sequences representing broader concepts or instructions. This groundbreaking discovery challenges the notion that complex language is unique to humans and provides insights into the cognitive abilities of these marine mammals. The findings suggest that sperm whales possess a level of intelligence and communication complexity previously underestimated, opening new avenues for understanding their social dynamics and behavior.

2024-07-27

Technology's Grip on Modern Life is Pushing Us Into a Dimly Lit World

The article discusses the increasing reliance on technology in modern life and its potential negative impacts. It highlights how the ubiquity of screens, from smartphones to computers, has led to a decrease in exposure to natural light, which can disrupt circadian rhythms and sleep patterns. The article cites research linking excessive screen time to various health issues, including obesity, depression, and anxiety. It also explores the concept of “light pollution” and how artificial lighting from devices and urban environments can interfere with natural cycles and ecosystems. The article emphasizes the importance of finding a balance between technology use and exposure to natural light, suggesting strategies such as limiting screen time, adjusting device settings, and incorporating outdoor activities into daily routines. Overall, the article serves as a cautionary tale about the potential consequences of our increasing dependence on technology and the need to maintain a connection with the natural world.

2024-07-27

AI could lead to millions of job losses and trillions in spending on new tech, economists warn

The article discusses the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on jobs and the economy. According to economists, AI could lead to millions of job losses and trillions of dollars in spending on new technologies. The article cites a report by Goldman Sachs, which estimates that AI could automate 300 million full-time jobs globally and eliminate $7 trillion in labor costs. However, the report also suggests that companies would reinvest a portion of those savings into new technologies, leading to $7 trillion in spending on AI and related technologies. The article also mentions that tech giants like Meta, Google, and Amazon have already announced significant layoffs, potentially due to the impact of AI. The article warns that while AI could boost productivity and economic growth, it could also lead to significant job losses and disruptions in various industries.

2024-07-26

Hollywood actors union says AI can't replace 'human artists'

The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has issued a statement opposing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to replace human performers. The union, which represents over 160,000 actors, broadcasters, and recording artists, said that “human artists must be respected for their unique, indispensable contributions.” The statement comes amid growing concerns about the potential impact of AI on the entertainment industry, particularly in areas like voice acting and motion capture. SAG-AFTRA acknowledged the potential benefits of AI as a tool but emphasized that it “cannot replace human artistry.” The union also raised concerns about the ethical implications of using AI-generated performances without consent or compensation for the original performers whose work was used to train the AI models.

2024-07-26

How to Opt Out of Grok.ai Using Your Tweets After Elon Musk's X Acquisition

The article discusses how users can opt out of having their tweets analyzed by Grok.ai, an AI company acquired by Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter). Grok.ai uses machine learning to analyze public tweets and create profiles of users’ personalities, interests, and demographics. While the company claims this data is anonymized and aggregated, privacy advocates have raised concerns. To opt out, users can visit the Grok.ai website and enter their Twitter handle. The site will then display a list of inferences made about the user based on their tweets. Users can request to have their data deleted or opt out of future analysis. The article also mentions that Musk has not yet clarified his plans for Grok.ai after the X acquisition, but the company’s technology could potentially be used for targeted advertising or content moderation on the platform.

2024-07-26

Justice Department Defends Groups' Right to Sue Over AI Robocalls

The Justice Department is defending the rights of groups to sue over unwanted automated calls in a Supreme Court case that could shape the future of telemarketing and the government’s enforcement of the leading anti-robocall law. The case before the court could determine the ability of the federal government as well as private parties to rein in robocalls. The justices are considering a case involving a small company’s automated marketing calls to consumers. The company says it should be exempt from a 1991 law that bars a broad swath of robocalls because it only used artificial voices to make calls, not traditional prerecorded messages. The Biden administration is urging the court to reject that argument.

2024-07-26