Trump’s latest tariffs can be found here
Five different ways that AI can learn to improve itself.
Mark Zuckerberg announced last week that Meta aims to create AI that is smarter than humans. He appears to have a formula for achieving this goal, and the primary ingredient is human talent. Zuckerberg has reportedly offered nine-figure salaries to top researchers in order to lure them to Meta Superintelligence Labs.
AI is the second ingredient. On a recent earnings call, Zuckerberg said that Meta would focus on building self improving AI systems that can bootstrap their way to higher and greater levels of performance. He hopes to tap into an extremely real trend. Here are five ways AI is improving itself.
–Grace Huckins
We’re not accounting the greenhouse gases
In 2021, scientists noticed that methane levels had soared the previous year. They were rising at the fastest pace on record, despite the global COvid-19 lockdowns.
Researchers finally spotted a pattern: Methane emission levels had risen sharply in the tropics where wetlands grew wetter and hotter.
These findings provide one of the most clear examples to date where climate change is driving additional greenhouse gas emissions from natural systems. This feedback effect could lead to more warming and more emissions.
A major effort is underway to better track and comprehend what’s happening. Read our story. This article is taken from The Spark, MIT Technology Review’s weekly climate newsletter. Sign up to receive it every Wednesday by clicking orhere
The must-reads
I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.
The Trump administration has implemented new tariffs that are punishing
and prices are already rising. (NYT $)
+ The US economy is expected to shrink, according to economists. The WP ($)
and are concerned that tariffs will threaten the US manufacturing recovery. MIT Technology Review
Two sections of the US Constitution were deleted online
Passages on the US government website about Congress’ powers and citizens’ unlawful detention were scrubbed. (TechCrunch)
+ Library of Congress blamed an error in coding. [ArsTechnica[ArsTechnica
China is fighting a virus spread by mosquitoes
They are using drones to find standing water where insects lay their eggs. (AP News]
+ Chikungunya is a virus that can cause fever, joint pain and even death. CNN
+ Authorities have taken a page out of the covid-fighting playbook. ($ Now )
Four US federal agencies can access ChatGPT Enterprise for $1 per year. It will not use workers’ data for training ChatGPT. (Bloomberg$)
+ This news comes after major AI companies were approved as federal vendors. [Engadget[Engadget ]
Five Chinese drug discovery startups have signed deals with Big Pharma.
Western pharma giants are confident that they can deliver. (Rest Of World)
+ A “factory of drug” powered by AI claims to have reached a major milestone. MIT Technology Review
6. Is it possible for AI data centers to be truly green?
It appears that the tech industry is pretty addicted to fossil fuels. (FT$)
+ : We did the math to calculate AI’s energy footprint. Here’s a story you’ve never heard. MIT Technology Review
The US is increasingly reliant upon private companies for weather information
experts are concerned about losing access to essential tools. (Undark )
+ How US cuts to research are threatening vital climate data. MIT Technology Review
Eight genetic factors could contribute to the development of chronic fatigue syndrome
This is the first solid evidence that genetics plays a role. New Scientist$]
9 An experimental pill shows promise for weight loss
In Eli Lilly’s study, obese participants lost more than 12 percent of their body weight. (Wired $)
+ As we learn more about weight-loss medications, we’re able to make better decisions. MIT Technology Review
10 Finding a Job Online is a Nightmare
Many companies are going back the basics to find their best recruits. (WSJ $)
Quotation of the Day
We didn’t vote ChatGPT.”
Another thing
) Why AI could eat the lunch of quantum computing
Tech firms have been pouring billions into quantum computers since years. The hope is they’ll revolutionize fields such as finance, drug development, and logistics.
While the field struggles to deal with the realities of tricky hardware, a new challenger is making progress in some of the most promising applications. AI is being applied to fundamental physics and chemistry as well as materials science, which suggests that quantum computing’s alleged home turf may not be as safe after all. Read the full article.
– Edd Gent
