Here is the daily technology #threadcast for 10/23/24. We aim to educate people about this crucial area along with providing information of what is taking place.
Drop all question, comments, and articles relating to #technology and the future. The goal is make it a technology center.
Anthropic publicly releases AI tool that can take over the user’s mouse cursor
Anthropic's new Computer Use tool can take control of users' mouse cursors and perform basic tasks on their computers. It is now available exclusively with Anthropic's mid-range 3.5 Sonnet model via the API. It works by taking rapid successive screengrabs, so it can miss short-lived notifications and other changes and is incapable of some common actions like drag-and-drop. The tool is still cumbersome and error-prone at times. A video from Anthropic explaining the tool is available in the article.
#technology #ai #anthropic
BBC Video: Should children have smartphones in school?
https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c33v3yzjk5no
BBC: Ofcom: Clear link between online posts and violent disorder
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c70w0ne4zexo
Lab-grown human brain cells drive virtual butterfly in simulation
FinalSpark, a Switzerland-based startup that offers a platform which allows researchers interested in biocomputing to write code that interacts with brain organoids, created a virtual world with a butterfly model to demonstrate its platform.
#technology #finalspark #biocomputing #brain
World’s 1st donor cell therapy helps 3 autoimmune disorder patients in China
Three Chinese patients received treatment for autoimmune disorders using engineered immune cells made from donor cells. All three recipients reported improvements to their conditions. The treatment involved genetically engineering healthy-donor-derived CD19-targeting CAR-T cells using CRISPR-Cas9 to address issues with immune rejection. The study demonstrates the high safety and promising immune modularity effect of off-the-shelf CAR-T cells in treating severe refractory autoimmune diseases.
#technology #health #genetics #cells
And a joke, so that we're not too serious around here.
Lols, everybody sounding very funny today. Is it a funny as Thursday
That's a Wednesday thread though ;)
Ok, all the threads have found today are just very funny.
Good for you.
De-extinction company provides a progress report on thylacine efforts
Colossal, a company founded to try to restore the mammoth to the Arctic tundra, released a progress report last week on the work involved in resurrecting the thylacine, which went extinct in 1936. Marsupial biology has features that may make de-extinction somewhat easier, and it appears that the technology available for working with marsupials is expanding rapidly. Colossal has a nearly complete genome sequence from a thylacine sample and it expects to complete the genome shortly. It is working on technology that will allow marsupial embryos to develop inside artificial uteruses.
#technology #colossal #mammoth #thylacine
Reuters: EU antitrust chief nominee vows to intensify Big Tech crackdown
https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/eu-antitrust-chief-nominee-vows-intensify-big-tech-crackdown-2024-10-23/
Reuters: EU's tech security nominee to boost AI use, battlefield technology
https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/eus-tech-security-nominee-boost-ai-use-battlefield-technology-2024-10-23/
Reuters: Qualcomm, Alphabet team up for automotive AI; Mercedes inks chip deal
https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/qualcomm-alphabet-team-up-automotive-ai-mercedes-inks-chip-deal-2024-10-22/
Reuters: Exclusive: TSMC told US of chip in Huawei product after TechInsights finding, source says
https://www.reuters.com/technology/tsmc-told-us-chip-huawei-device-after-techinsights-finding-source-says-2024-10-22/
Reuters: Exclusive: Moon sample talks show space engagement by rivals US and China
https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/moon-sample-talks-show-space-engagement-by-rivals-us-china-2024-10-23/
Reuters: EU lags US and China in AI investments, Nvidia CEO says
https://www.reuters.com/technology/eu-lags-us-china-ai-investments-nvidia-ceo-says-2024-10-23/
Reuters: Nvidia's design flaw with Blackwell AI chips now fixed, CEO says
https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/nvidias-design-flaw-with-blackwell-ai-chips-now-fixed-ceo-says-2024-10-23/
Reuters: US-China tech war seen heating up regardless of whether Trump or Harris wins
https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-china-tech-war-seen-heating-up-regardless-whether-trump-or-harris-wins-2024-10-23/
Claude 3.5 Sonnet NEW and "Computer Control" Beta (Agentic Future)
Summary below ⏬
Anthropic Advances AI Frontier with Model Updates and Revolutionary Computer Control Feature
In a significant move that further cements its position in the AI industry, Anthropic has announced two major developments: upgraded versions of its AI models and a groundbreaking computer control feature. These announcements represent both incremental improvements in existing capabilities and a bold step into new territory for AI interaction.
Model Improvements: Raising the Bar
Anthropic has released two updated models: Claude 3.5 Sonnet (new) and Claude 3.5 Haiku. The new Sonnet version shows across-the-board improvements over its predecessor, with particularly notable gains in coding capabilities - an area where Claude was already considered an industry leader.
Benchmark results paint a compelling picture of the new Claude 3.5 Sonnet's capabilities:
While these improvements are impressive, it's worth noting that in some areas, competitors maintain their edge. For instance, Google's Gemini 1.5 Pro still leads in math problem solving with 86.1%. Notably absent from the benchmarking comparisons was Anthropic's O1 model, likely due to its different operational approach involving longer "thinking" time.
The Claude 3.5 Haiku update is also significant, as this smaller model now outperforms the previous Claude 3 Opus, demonstrating Anthropic's ability to achieve better results with more efficient models.
Computer Use: A Revolutionary Step Forward
Perhaps the most intriguing announcement is Anthropic's new "Computer Use" capability, currently available in beta through their API. This feature allows Claude to directly control a computer, interacting with the interface just as a human would - moving the mouse, clicking, typing, and navigating through applications.
How It Works
The system operates by:
This approach, while seemingly simple, represents a significant advancement in AI's ability to interact with existing computer interfaces. Rather than requiring specialized APIs or integration points, it can work with any software that has a visual interface.
Safety and Implementation
Anthropic has implemented several important safety measures:
Technical Challenges
The system faces some technical hurdles, particularly in coordinate mapping and pixel counting accuracy. These challenges highlight why this approach might be a transitional solution rather than the long-term future of AI-computer interaction.
Future Implications
This development points to a broader vision of human-computer interaction where traditional interfaces might become less relevant. Just as humanoid robots are designed to work in environments built for humans, this computer control capability allows AI to operate in digital environments designed for human use.
However, this may be an intermediate step. Future operating systems might be built specifically for AI interaction, making this current approach obsolete. Companies like Google and Apple, with their deep integration into mobile and desktop operating systems, are particularly well-positioned to shape this future.
Conclusion
Anthropic's latest announcements represent both evolutionary and revolutionary progress in AI development. While the model improvements continue the steady march toward more capable AI systems, the computer use feature opens up entirely new possibilities for AI assistance and automation. Though still in its early stages, this development could mark the beginning of a fundamental shift in how we think about human-computer-AI interaction.
The challenge ahead lies in balancing these powerful capabilities with appropriate safety measures and determining the most effective ways to implement AI control of computer systems. As this technology matures, we may see the emergence of new paradigms in computer interface design specifically optimized for AI interaction.
BBC: Boeing-made satellite breaks up in space
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8d886l028o
Nicolas Cage Warns Young Actors About AI
"This technology wants to take your instrument. We are the instruments as film actors."
Speaking at the 25th Newport Beach Film Festival on Sunday, the "Longlegs" star warned up-and-comers not to let their performances be manipulated with AI to create "employment based digital replicas" (EBDRs) — and no, not even in the limited terms described by new protections against the tech.
#ai #technology #hollywood #actors #entertainment
We must have posted this one at the same time. Wonder what it will do to make up artists in Hollywood. I hadn't even thought of that till Roy read me this article this morning.
All kinds of jobs will be erased. There are direct job losses and then you have the auxiliary.
For example, is they shut down the Space Shuttle program, there were 7K jobs lost at KSC. The estimate was there were 27K jobs affected in a 3 country area.
There was a breakfast place that was out of the way but was packed at 6 AM with people going to one of the back gates. After those people were laid off, the restaurant crashed.
When I was growing up here in Kenosha, WI we had American Motors Corporation, which eventually became Chrysler beforre they pulled out completely. After that we were pretty much almost a ghost town here. Before that, however, the downtown area was always busy, there were bars and restaurants everywhere. The city is finally building up again. Even after the Jacob Blake riots in 2020.
And they're finally doing something with the land on which the automobile factory stood and was empty for so many years.
A lot of towns like that in the Midwest. There are going to be more towns like that in the future.
Consider the demise of Hollywood. What does that do to things in Los Angeles?
"There is a new technology in town. It's a technology that I didn't have to contend with for 42 years until recently," Cage said referring to EBDRs, as quoted by Deadline.
"This technology wants to take your instrument," he continued. "We are the instruments as film actors. We are not hiding behind guitars and drums."
EBDRs are one of two types of digital replicas described in the groundbreaking deal struck between actors and movie studios following the conclusion of the SAG-AFTRA strike last year.
Whereas "independently created digital replicas" allow for the creation of entire (potentially AI) clones of an actor without their participation, EBDRs only work with the performer's physical involvement for a specific project — like, for example, the AI de-aging of an actor's face.
Article
What is the Website Futurism?
We’re Futurism, a Recurrent Ventures media company, based out of New York City. Futurism was started off a Knight Foundation grant in 2017 — it’s grown from an infographic on a subreddit into a trusted news source read by millions all over the world every month. Since then, our mission: To provide readers a window into the news and stories of tomorrow, today.
LEADERSHIP
We’re a small, award-winning independent team of reporters and writers, who pride ourselves on a commitment to accuracy and ethics in journalism, and publish our news and features entirely free of editorial interference from our parent company.
Content Director Foster Kamer
EDITORIAL
Executive Editor Jon Christian
Senior Editor Victor Tangermann
Staff Writers Noor Al-Sibai, Maggie Harrison
Contributors Frank Landymore, Sharon Adarlo
CREATIVE
Director of Design Tag Hartman-Simkins
AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
Senior Audience Development Director Paul Sarconi
PUBLISHING
General Manager Adam Morath
Publisher Emeritus James Del
Founder Alex Klokus
MISSION
We cover the market-moving and world-shaking technological and scientific developments changing the world. This isn’t a site to read about personal or “retail” technologies. On Futurism, you’ll find news about the titans of industry changing the world (and possibly, the worlds beyond ours), as well as the developments of the emergent innovations that will affect every single one of our lives — if they don’t already.
The vast majority of what you’ll see on the site is news-oriented; we also publish features, interviews, and the occasional opinion piece. We strive to provide readers not just with news, but the smart sensibility and gimlet-eyed perspective they won’t find anywhere else. We’re supported by advertising revenue, and the occasional bit of commerce revenue (earned through commissions on posts supplied by a non-news editorial team).
Futurism’s website is currently divided into three sections:
The Latest, which you can find via our homepage. These are our larger stories and features.
Then, there’s The Byte, our flash-news column, which features the latest breaking updates, cutting-edge intelligence, and key analysis on all things future-forward.
Finally, there’s Neoscope, our medical technology and medical science blog, where all of our news breaks and features about the future of health, human bodies, and medicine can be found.
3D-printed semiconductor-free logic gates could soon power cheap electronics devices
A team of scientists from MIT made a remarkable discovery while trying to make magnetic coils using extrusion printing.
Semiconductors are essential for today's electronics, providing computational capabilities and the ability to control electric signals. They are also highly complex and costly, so researchers have proposed a cheap, "semiconductor-free" way to achieve electronic democratization.
#newsonleo #3dprinting #semiconductors #technology
This is an important research and discovery, especially in this age of devices. Cost cutting will go a long way.
Thanks for the #brainupdate friend.
#gmfrens #freecompliments
The researchers claim their method is suitable for printing resettable fuses, an essential element for active electronics. The team manufactured the devices with standard, affordable 3D printing machines and inexpensive, biodegradable polymer material doped with copper nanoparticles. They discovered that if a large amount of electric current passes through the material, the printed logic gates exhibit a spike in electrical resistance before returning to their original state after the current flow is interrupted.
Hi, @taskmaster4450le,
This post has been voted on by @darkcloaks because you are an active member of the Darkcloaks gaming community.
Get started with Darkcloaks today, and follow us on Inleo for the latest updates.
A team of scientists from MIT made a remarkable discovery while trying to make magnetic coils using extrusion printing. The process melts a filament and ejects the resulting material from a nozzle, printing a 3D shape layer-by-layer. Extrusion is a known 3D-printing method engineers can use to generate logic gates that can control electricity without any semiconductor components.
Inside the fall of 23andMe
Once worth $6 billion, 23andMe has lost 98% of its value and is on the verge of being delisted from the Nasdaq. So what happened?
Founded in 2006, 23andMe set out to revolutionize the once very exclusive genetic testing business with a direct-to-consumer model. Thanks to capital from high-profile backers and celebrity endorsements, the company was able to market its test kits at affordable prices.
#23andme #genetics #technology
Unlike competitors like Ancestry.com, 23andMe sought to leverage its database for drug discovery. The company went public in 2021 and was valued around $3.5 billion. The funding allowed 23andMe to develop its drug research team and spearhead partnerships with pharmaceutical companies.
"We're really at a point in time where I'm ready to explode," 23andMe CEO Anne Wojcicki told CNBC in 2021. "There's huge opportunities in therapeutics and huge opportunities in our consumer business."
Shortly after debuting on the Nasdaq, rising interest rates made it more difficult to raise funding, and sales began to fall. The company introduced a premium subscription product in 2020 that it hoped would make up for the lack of recurring revenue from its test kits, but that strategy failed to pan out. The company reported a $312 million net loss in the 2023 fiscal year, and by September 2023, 23andMe's share price slid below $1.
Article
Anthropic's new AI model can control your PC
Anthropic has released an updated version of its Claude 3.5 Sonnet model with a new Computer Use feature that can interact with apps on a PC.
In a pitch to investors last spring, Anthropic said it intended to build AI to power virtual assistants that could perform research, answer emails, and handle other back-office jobs on their own. The company referred to this as a “next-gen algorithm for AI self-teaching” — one it believed that could, if all goes according to plan, automate large portions of the economy someday.
#ai #technology #anthropic #technology
Anthropic Unveils Major Update: Claude 3.5 Sonnet Gets Desktop Control Capabilities
Anthropic has taken a significant step toward its vision of AI-powered virtual assistants with the release of an upgraded Claude 3.5 Sonnet model that can nOW interact with desktop applications. This development, announced on Tuesday, introduces a new "Computer Use" API that allows the AI to emulate human-like computer interactions through keystrokes, mouse movements, and button clicks.
Key Features and Capabilities
The new Computer Use API, currently in open beta, enables Claude to:
The feature is accessible through Anthropic's API, Amazon Bedrock, and Google Cloud's Vertex AI platform.
Performance and Limitations
While the update represents a significant advancement, Anthropic is transparent about its current limitations:
Safety Measures and Concerns
Anthropic has implemented several safety features to address potential risks:
Additional Updates: Claude 3.5 Haiku
Anthropic also announced an upcoming Claude 3.5 Haiku model, promising:
Industry Context
This release positions Anthropic in the growing AI agent market, competing with:
According to Capgemini, 10% of organizations currently use AI agents, with 82% planning to integrate them within three years.
Looking Forward
While Anthropic recommends starting with low-risk tasks, this update represents a significant step toward their goal of automating back-office work. The company has confirmed that Claude 3.5 Opus is in development, suggesting continued evolution of their AI capabilities.
This development marks a crucial milestone in AI automation, though Anthropic emphasizes the importance of careful implementation and appropriate precautions when dealing with sensitive data.
Article
LinkedIn confirms the 'follower purge' was just a bug that's now resolved
LinkedIn users on Tuesday began noticing a problem with their follower counts on the platform
LinkedIn users on Tuesday began noticing a problem with their follower counts on the platform: They were dropping rapidly, and sometimes by many hundreds of users at once. With no official word at the time from LinkedIn, many began speculating that the situation was the result of LinkedIn purging fake accounts from the platform.
#linkedin #socialmedia #bug #technology #newsonleo
Some even spoke with authority on the matter, claiming that the problem was due to a decision by the company to clean out fake, inactive, or duplicate accounts. Others leveraged the opportunity to pitch their expertise in being able to help LinkedIn members from having their accounts “banned.” Still more questioned what they may have done wrong to see their accounts lose so much traction in such a short period of time.
Though the general consensus was that this was a purge enacted by LinkedIn, the company announced later in the day that it had looked into the issue and has now “resolved” the problem. It did not offer an explanation as to the cause.
“We heard some members may have seen a change in their connection and follower count,” the company wrote in a post on X. “Our team quickly looked into this. We’re happy to report this has now been resolved.”
Article
Mars' Surface Appears to Be Covered in Potential Rocket Fuel, MIT Finds
Extremely convenient.
Prevailing theories suggest that Mars was once covered in a major liquid water system of oceans, rivers, and lakes, which presupposes a thick atmosphere that could maintain temperatures at which liquid water could exist.
#space #mars #rocketfuel #technology #mit
But 3.5 billion years later, its barren surface leaves only hints of its once lush history behind, leading scientists to wonder what exactly happened to this atmosphere.
As detailed in a new paper published in the journal Science Advances, the vast majority of the planet's atmosphere just might be trapped in sedimentary rocks lining the Red Planet's surface.
According to their calculations, roughly 80 percent of the carbon dioxide of Mars' ancient atmosphere could be trapped inside carbon-based organic compounds.
Excitingly, the scientists suggest this carbon could be extracted and turned into rocket fuel, facilitating future trips to and from the distant planet.
"Based on our findings on Earth, we show that similar processes likely operated on Mars, and that copious amounts of atmospheric CO2 could have transformed to methane and been sequestered in clays," said author and MIT geology professor Oliver Jagoutz in a statement. "This methane could still be present and maybe even used as an energy source on Mars in the future."
Article
It's Now Illegal to Post Fake AI-Generated Product Reviews by People Who Don't Exist
It's officially illegal to publish fake, AI-generated product reviews.
Sweeping changes to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines aimed at cleaning up the polluted, confusing world of online product reviews went into effect on Monday, meaning the federal agency is now allowed to levy civil penalties against bad actors who knowingly post product reviews and testimonials deemed misleading to American consumers.
#deepfake #technology #reviews #ftc #newsonleo
The new guidelines are expansive, prohibiting sleazy businesses from engaging in a wide array of abusive tactics. That list includes using generative AI tools to whip up fake testimonials or product review articles — bonus points if those reviews are attributed to someone who isn't real, or published by someone overstating or misreporting their level of experience with a given product.
A perfect example of this kind of content? Review-style articles published at dozens of media companies including Sports Illustrated and The Miami Herald by a third-party media company called AdVon Commerce, which multiple Futurism investigations revealed to be largely AI-generated and even bylined by fake authors outfitted with equally fake profile pictures and bios purporting alleged expertise.
Article
Large Boeing Satellite Suddenly Explodes Into Pieces
A Boeing satellite belonging to multinational service provider Intelsat mysteriously blew into pieces in geostationary orbit over the weekend.
According to an official update, an "anomaly" caused the satellite — dubbed IS-33e — to be destroyed, resulting in what the company calls a "total loss."
#newsonleo #Boeing #satellite #technology
"Migration and service restoration plans are well underway across the Intelsat fleet and third-party satellites," the update reads.
It's unclear what exactly caused the satellite to break up. The US Space Force announced it was "tracking around 20 associated pieces" but "observed no immediate threats."
US-based space tracking company ExoAnalytic Solutions told SpaceNews that it's tracking 57 associated pieces of debris.
While we have yet to find out the exact cause for the breakup, the incident serves as a reminder of the often limited life of satellites, as well as the ever-present threat of existing space debris colliding with our assets in orbit — a precarious situation that could potentially lead to a disaster.
Article
Ex-SpaceX engineers land $14M to scale new method for 3D printing metal
3D printing objects using metal is a well-established technique
3D printing objects using metal is a well-established technique, but it tends to be too complex, expensive, or imprecise to match traditional methods at scale. Armed with $14 million from Nvidia and Boeing, Freeform aims to change that by building a new metal additive printing process that it says changes the game — and yes, there’s an AI angle, too.
#newsonleo #spacex #3dprinting #funding #technology
Co-founders Erik Palitsch (CEO) and TJ Ronacher (president) both worked at SpaceX, where they were principal architect and lead analyst, respectively, of the Merlin engines and other programs. While there, they saw the potential of 3D printing parts using metal, but also experienced the method’s shortcomings firsthand.
“We saw the potential of metal printing; it has the potential to transform basically any industry that makes metal things. But adoption has been slow and success has been marginal at best,” said Palitsch. “Why is it not practical to use at scale? Fundamentally, because of three things: crappy and inconsistent quality; speed — commercial printers are very slow; and cost — the price for these printers is astronomical.”
They concluded that if they could operationalize the process to provide a printing service rather than sell a printer, they could crack the whole thing wide open. So they joined up with Tasso Lappas, former CTO of Velo3D, to start Freeform.
Article
Producers of "Blade Runner 2049" Sue Elon Musk for Dragging Their Movie Into Tesla's Disastrous Robotaxi Event
The production company behind the sci-fi blockbuster "Blade Runner 2049" is suing Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk for copyright infringement.
In the lawsuit, the company asserts that AI-generated stills used in promotional material related to Tesla's "We, Robot" event — the site of the disastrous debut of its robotaxi project — were clearly ripping off the movie.
#newsonleo #elonmusk #tesla #bladerunner2049
The production company, which is called Alcon Entertainment, didn't beat around the bush while actively distancing itself from Musk and his abrasive, racist antics.
"Any prudent brand considering any Tesla partnership has to take Musk’s massively amplified, highly politicized, capricious and arbitrary behavior, which sometimes veers into hate speech, into account," the lawsuit reads.
Worse yet, Alcon — and Warner Bros Discovery, which is joining it as a plaintiff — allege that Tesla asked for permission to use a "Blade Runner 2049" still but was turned down, suggesting the EV maker knowingly infringed on the company's copyright by bastardizing its own version using an AI image generator.
The image "was clearly intended to read visually either as an actual still image from ‘BR2049’s iconic sequence of [protagonist] K exploring the ruined Las Vegas, or as a minimally stylized copy of one," Alcon alleges.
Article
As Ozlo's Sleepbuds go on sale, company raises funds for tinnitus treatment
Bose gave up on Sleepbuds after two generations. It was a sad, premature end for a promising product.
Bose gave up on Sleepbuds after two generations. It was a sad, premature end for a promising product. The headphone maker came closer to creating a truly great pair of sleep headphones than anyone else. Ultimately, however, it seems the company was no longer interested in pursuing the product, which proved a major setback for the category at large.
#sleepbuds #ozlo #newsonleo #Product #technology
The two generations of Sleepbuds we got weren’t without their faults, however. At the top of the list was a case of a company that was sure it knew what consumers wanted better than consumers themselves. The buds’ inability to stream Bluetooth audio was something Bose could have easily reconciled with the Sleepbuds 2.
Instead, the company was sure users would be content streaming preloaded white noise tracks. Any decision to limit choice in a consumer product must be justified by the manufacturer, but Bose never gave a compelling reason for limiting such choice. No doubt hardware limitations played a role, but streaming is an essential feature for a pair of $250 specialty earbuds.
Article
Lawsuit: City cameras make it impossible to drive anywhere without being tracked
“Every passing car is captured,” says 4th Amendment lawsuit against Norfolk, Va.
Police use of automated license-plate reader cameras is being challenged in a lawsuit alleging that the cameras enable warrantless surveillance in violation of the Fourth Amendment. The city of Norfolk, Virginia, was sued yesterday by plaintiffs represented by the Institute for Justice, a nonprofit public-interest law firm.
#police #lawsuit #technology #newsonleo #surveillance
Norfolk, a city with about 238,000 residents, "has installed a network of cameras that make it functionally impossible for people to drive anywhere without having their movements tracked, photographed, and stored in an AI-assisted database that enables the warrantless surveillance of their every move. This civil rights lawsuit seeks to end this dragnet surveillance program," said the complaint filed in US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Like many other cities, Norfolk uses cameras made by the company Flock Safety. A 404 Media article said Institute for Justice lawyer Robert Frommer "told 404 Media that the lawsuit could have easily been filed in any of the more than 5,000 communities where Flock is active, but that Norfolk made sense because the Fourth Circuit of Appeals—which Norfolk is part of—recently held that persistent, warrantless drone surveillance in Baltimore is unconstitutional under the Fourth Amendment in a case called Beautiful Struggle v Baltimore Police Department."
Article
After nozzle failure, Space Force is “assessing” impacts to Vulcan schedule
“It was a successful Cert flight, and now we’re knee deep in finalizing certification.”
United Launch Alliance has started assembling its next Vulcan rocket—the first destined to launch a US military payload—as the Space Force prepares to certify it to loft the Pentagon's most precious national security satellites.
#newsonleo #spaceforce #ula #technology
Space Force officials expect to approve ULA's Vulcan rocket for military missions without requiring another test flight, despite an unusual problem on the rocket's second demonstration flight earlier this month.
ULA has launched two Vulcan test flights. Military officials watched closely, gathering data to formally certify the rocket is reliable enough to launch national security missions. The first test flight in January, designated Cert-1, was nearly flawless. The Cert-2 launch October 4 overcame an anomaly on one of Vulcan's strap-on solid rocket boosters, which lost its exhaust nozzle but kept firing with degraded thrust.
The rocket's twin BE-4 main engines, made by Blue Origin, corrected for the asymmetric thrust from the two strap-on boosters. Vulcan's Centaur V upper stage also fired its engines longer than planned to make up for the shortfall in performance from the damaged strap-on solid motor. Ultimately, the rocket reached its planned trajectory and delivered a dummy payload into interplanetary space.
Col. James Horne, who oversees launch execution for Space Systems Command, called the test flight a "successful launch" in an interview with Ars. The nozzle failure caused a "significant loss of thrust" from the damaged booster, he said.
The Vulcan rocket's ability to overcome the dramatic nozzle failure, which was easily visible in video of the launch, "really demonstrated the robustness of the total Vulcan system," Horne said.
Article
De-extinction company provides a progress report on thylacine efforts
Stem cell editing, complete genome, and cane toad resistance mark necessary steps.
Colossal, the company founded to try to restore the mammoth to the Arctic tundra, has also decided to tackle a number of other species that have gone extinct relatively recently: the dodo and the thylacine. Because of significant differences in biology, not the least of which is the generation time of Proboscideans, these other efforts may reach many critical milestones well in advance of the work on mammoths.
#newsonleo #colossal #thylacine #technology
Late last week, Colossal released a progress report on the work involved in resurrecting the thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian tiger, which went extinct when the last known survivor died in a zoo in 1936. Marsupial biology has some features that may make de-extinction somewhat easier, but we have far less sophisticated ways of manipulating it compared to the technology we've developed for working with the stem cells and reproduction of placental mammals. But, based on these new announcements, the technology available for working with marsupials is expanding rapidly.
Colossal has branched out from its original de-extinction mission to include efforts to keep species from ever needing its services. In the case of marsupial predators, the de-extinction effort is incorporating work that will benefit existing marsupial predators: generating resistance to the toxins found on the cane toad, an invasive species that has spread widely across Australia.
The primary threat from cane toads comes from bufotoxins, a group of related, complicated chemicals that bind to a protein found on the surface of cells called ATP1A1. This protein helps control the traffic of ions across the cell membrane. Andrew Pask, who is leading Colossal's marsupial efforts, told Ars that animals in the cane toad's native range in Africa share a mutation in ATP1A1 that greatly reduces bufotoxin binding. Now, the team has engineered that change into the genome of a marsupial stem cell line and showed that it boosted resistance by a factor of over 6,000. (A manuscript describing some of this work is available.)
Article
Nuclear Rockets Could Take Us to Mars in Half the Time. NASA Plans to Fly One by 2027.
NASA and DARPA will fly a prototype nuclear rocket in 2027—potentially making it one of the first of its kind built and operated by the US.
NASA plans to send crewed missions to Mars over the next decade—but the 140 million-mile (225 million-kilometer) journey to the red planet could take several months to years round trip.
#nuclear #rocket #mars #nasa #technology
This relatively long transit time is a result of the use of traditional chemical rocket fuel. An alternative technology to the chemically propelled rockets the agency develops now is called nuclear thermal propulsion, which uses nuclear fission and could one day power a rocket that makes the trip in just half the time.
Nuclear fission involves harvesting the incredible amount of energy released when an atom is split by a neutron. This reaction is known as a fission reaction. Fission technology is well established in power generation and nuclear-powered submarines, and its application to drive or power a rocket could one day give NASA a faster, more powerful alternative to chemically driven rockets.
NASA and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency are jointly developing NTP technology. They plan to deploy and demonstrate the capabilities of a prototype system in space in 2027—potentially making it one of the first of its kind to be built and operated by the US.
Article
What is Singularityhub?
Singularity Hub chronicles technological progress by highlighting the breakthroughs, players, and issues shaping the future as well as supporting a global community of smart, passionate, action-oriented people who want to change the world.
Since 2008, Singularity Hub has offered daily news coverage, feature articles, analysis, and insights on key breakthroughs and future trends in science and technology as well as highlighting how they’re being leveraged to tackle the world’s biggest challenges.
Singularity Hub joined Singularity University in 2012.
With a dedicated editorial staff and a network of expert contributors, stories are targeted at researchers, entrepreneurs, science enthusiasts, technophiles, and the insatiably curious.
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Mystery Chinese Satellite Network Is Already Impacting Earth
Light pollution from sources on the surface of the Earth are major obstructions for layperson astronomers and stargazers who are unable to see past the glow of streetlights, lit high-rises, and other sources of illumination. But China’s expansive satellite system is proving that human-made light pollution is just as capable of ruining observations from their position well into the planet’s orbit. The Asian nation’s Qianfan program has orbiting bodies that glow so brightly that they are beginning to interfere with nighttime observations.
#space #china #satellite #technology
The Chinese satellite program in question was launched in August and represents the first of many more that will be launched into the sky over the next several years. Known in English as “Thousand Sails,” Qianfan was conceived to be a “mega constellation” of satellites that will serve China as part of a vast communication network. The small spacecraft were constructed by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology, and is reported to be the Far East’s answer to the United States-based SpaceX Starlink satellites.
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The Guardian: Thom Yorke and Julianne Moore join thousands of creatives in AI warning
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/oct/22/thom-yorke-and-julianne-moore-join-thousands-of-creatives-in-ai-warning
The Guardian: Apple iPad mini A17 Pro review: the best small tablet gets faster
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/oct/23/apple-ipad-mini-a17-pro-review-the-best-small-tablet-gets-faster
The Guardian: X admits ‘error’ led to reinstatement of key suspect in Jamal Khashoggi murder
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/22/jamal-khashoggi-murder-suspect-x-account
The Guardian: Microsoft introduces ‘AI employees’ that can handle client queries
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/oct/21/microsoft-launches-ai-employees-that-can-perform-some-business-tasks
The Guardian: ‘I wanted both sides of the business to be as intimate as being in bed’: tech entrepreneur William Reeve
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/oct/22/i-wanted-both-sides-of-the-business-to-be-as-intimate-as-being-in-bed-tech-entrepreneur-william-reeve
The Guardian: Claude AI tool can now carry out jobs such as filling forms and booking trips, says creator
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/oct/23/claude-ai-anthropic-computer-tasks-form-filling-booking-trips
The Guardian: Child-safety case against Meta and CEO Mark Zuckerberg dismissed
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/oct/22/meta-mark-zuckerberg-child-safety-lawsuit
BBC: Will AI make work burnout worse?
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93pz1dz2kxo
BBC: Musk v Ambani: Billionaires battle over India's satellite internet
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3z3ydwdppo
BBC: 'New AI update to lock phones will deter thieves'
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1484r0r3m6o
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Streaming subscription fees have been rising while content quality is dropping
Surveys show decline in customer satisfaction with what is available to stream.
Subscription fees for video streaming services have been on a steady incline. But despite subscribers paying more, surveys suggest they're becoming less satisfied with what's available to watch.
#streaming #entertainment #technology #fees
At the start of 2024, the industry began declaring the end of Peak TV, a term coined by FX Networks Chairman John Landgraf that refers to an era of rampant content spending that gave us shows like The Wire, Breaking Bad, and Game of Thrones. For streaming services, the Peak TV era meant trying to lure subscribers with original content that was often buoyed by critical acclaim and/or top-tier actors, writers, and/or directors. However, as streaming services struggle to reach or maintain profitability, 2024 saw a drop in the number of new scripted shows for the first time in at least 10 years, FX Research found.
Meanwhile, overall satisfaction with the quality of content available on streaming services seems to have declined for the past couple of years. Most surveys suggest a generally small decline in perceived quality, but that’s still perturbing considering how frequently streaming services increase subscription fees. There was a time when a streaming subscription represented an exclusive ticket to viewing some of the best new TV shows and movies. But we’ve reached a point where the most streamed TV show last year was Suits—an original from the USA Network cable channel that ended in 2019.
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“I am still alive”: Users say T-Mobile must pay for killing “lifetime” price lock
We obtained 900 complaints the FCC received about T-Mobile’s infamous price hike.
T-Mobile promised users who bought certain mobile plans that it would never raise their prices for as long as they lived—but then raised their prices this year. So it's no surprise that 2,000 T-Mobile customers complained to the government about a price hike on plans that were advertised as having a lifetime price lock.
#tmobile #technology #mobile #phones
T-Mobile's "Lifetime price Lock" Controversy: Broken Promises and customer Backlash
In a significant development that has sparked widespread customer outrage and regulatory scrutiny, T-Mobile has come under fire for raising prices on plans that were marketed with "lifetime" price guarantees. The controversy has led to over 2,000 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) complaints and a class-action lawsuit, highlighting the growing tension between corporate practices and consumer trust in the telecommunications industry.
The Price Lock Promise
T-Mobile's journey into this controversy began in 2015 when it introduced the "Un-contract" promise, which was later extended to T-Mobile One plans in January 2017. The company's marketing was unequivocal: customers would keep their price until they decided to change it. Then-CEO John Legere emphasized this commitment, stating, "T-Mobile will never change the price you pay for your T-Mobile One plan."
The company positioned itself as different from other carriers, with Legere declaring, "We're the Un-carrier. Everything the carriers do, we un-do." He specifically criticized competitors for using "desperate, short-term promotions to suck you in and lock you down—only to jack up rates later," promising that T-Mobile would not engage in such practices.
The Price Hike and Customer Response
Despite these promises, T-Mobile implemented price increases of $2 to $5 per line in 2024, affecting customers across various plans, including those marketed with lifetime price guarantees. The impact was particularly significant for customers with multiple lines, with some reporting increases of up to $50 per month for accounts with ten lines.
The customer response was immediate and severe, with complaints flooding the FCC. Many of the affected customers were seniors on the 55+ plan, who found themselves facing unexpected increases on fixed incomes. The complaints revealed a pattern of frustration and betrayal, with customers pointedly noting they were "still alive" despite their "lifetime" guarantees being violated.
T-Mobile's Defense and Customer Rebuttals
T-Mobile's defense of the price increases has centered around a previously undisclosed caveat in their FAQ, which essentially nullified the price-lock promise. According to the company, the Un-contract merely committed T-Mobile to pay the final month's recurring service charges if prices were raised and customers chose to leave within 60 days.
However, customers have strongly contested this interpretation, with many pointing to specific marketing materials and terms of conditions that appeared to make unambiguous promises. For instance, Maryland resident John Bradshaw highlighted terms stating that for customers on price-lock guaranteed Rate Plans, T-Mobile would not increase monthly recurring service charges "for as long as you continuously remain a customer in good standing on a qualifying Rate Plan."
The Sprint Merger Connection
Many customers and critics have drawn a direct line between T-Mobile's behavior and its 2020 acquisition of Sprint. Complaints to the FCC frequently cited the Merger as enabling T-Mobile's price increases by reducing competition in the wireless market. Some customers have called for re-examination of the merger and even suggested breaking up the combined company to restore market competition.
Customer Service Responses and Trapped Customers
The situation has been exacerbated by inconsistent and often frustrating responses from T-Mobile's customer service. Customers report receiving various explanations for the price increases, including:
Many customers feel trapped in their T-Mobile service due to device installment plans, which require full payment if customers terminate service. This has created a situation where customers must either accept the price increases or face substantial device payoff costs to switch carriers.
Regulatory and Legal Response
The controversy has attracted attention from multiple regulatory bodies:
Both the FCC and FTC have previously taken action against T-Mobile for other violations. The FCC recently fined T-Mobile for data breaches and selling users' real-time location data, while the FTC secured a $90 million settlement in 2014 over unwanted third-party charges.
Impact on Vulnerable Customers
The price increases have particularly affected vulnerable populations:
Many of these customers chose T-Mobile specifically for its price guarantee, making the increases especially burdensome for those least able to absorb additional costs or switch carriers.
Customer Strategies and Outcomes
Customers have adopted various strategies to deal with the situation:
The Broader Implications
This controversy raises several important questions about corporate accountability and consumer protection in the telecommunications industry:
Looking forward
The resolution of this controversy may have far-reaching implications for the telecommunications industry and corporate marketing practices. The pending class-action lawsuit and potential regulatory investigations could force T-Mobile to:
The outcome could also influence how other telecommunications companies approach price guarantees and long-term customer commitments in the future.
Conclusion
T-Mobile's decision to raise prices on "lifetime" guaranteed plans represents more than just a pricing dispute—it highlights the complex relationship between corporate promises, customer trust, and regulatory oversight in the modern telecommunications landscape. As the legal and regulatory processes unfold, the case may set important precedents for how companies can market their services and what recourse customers have when long-term promises are broken.
The controversy serves as a reminder of the importance of clear, honest marketing practices and the potential consequences of prioritizing short-term profits over long-term customer relationships. As one customer noted to the FCC, "If this is allowed to stand, then words have no meaning, businesses are able to lie directly and blatantly to the American people." The resolution of this issue may well determine whether such dire predictions come true or whether consumer protections can effectively guard against such practices in the future.
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Demand will stay around "Animation, Visual Effects,Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR)".
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SONOLUMINESCENCE
It refers to the phenomenon of producing light through the irradiation of liquids with ultrasonic waves
It is formed when bubbles formed by cavitation in liquids interact with powerful sound waves
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