Author: zppiot

We do know that exosomes are tiny particles that bud off from cells and that their contents can vary hugely, depending on the source of the cell (some popular options include human umbilical cords, salmon testicles, and roses) and how healthy or stressed it is. Even cell biologists can’t agree on what, exactly, is inside them, and how beneficial—or dangerous—those contents may be.   The world of exosome treatments is being likened to a “Wild West” by some researchers. Rigorous trials have not been conducted, so we don’t know how safe it is to spray on or inject these tiny mystery…

Apple Intelligence has finally arrived. Apple on Monday officially released its first Apple Intelligence features, via its latest software iOS 18.1 which is now available in the U.S. for download. The tech giant is rolling out the new tech in a phased approach, with a number of AI-enhanced features it has touted still not available. The first sampling of Apple Intelligence features now available through iOS 18.1 includes improvements to Siri which, according to Apple’s announcement, has a more sophisticated look and “natural-sounding voice” and more advanced conversational skills. Other AI-powered features include new writing and summary tools, and enhanced photo-editing capabilities. …

Artificial intelligence could help. A new tool could improve the one-on-one tutoring sometimes used to supplement class instruction in these schools, by letting tutors tap into more experienced teachers’ expertise during virtual sessions. Here’s how it works.  —Rhiannon Williams  The must-reads I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1  Google is developing an AI agent called JarvisIt’ll be able to do entire tasks for you, like buying things or making bookings. (The Information $)+ What are AI agents? (MIT Technology Review)2 Far-right sheriffs are preparing to disrupt the election And the means they’re planning to use are getting…

What to know about Apple’s AI features and who is eligible for them – CBS News Watch CBS News Apple is gradually rolling out its new AI features it announced over the summer, including for email, Siri and an image tool. However, users will need an iPhone 15 pro or above to access the features. The company has struggled recently with iPhone sales and it’s hoping the new tools entice customers to trade up. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On #Apples #features #eligible

Researchers from Stanford University developed an AI system calledTutor CoPilot on top of OpenAI’s GPT-4 and integrated it into a platform called FEV Tutor, which connects students with tutors virtually. Tutors and students type messages to one another through a chat interface, and a tutor who needs help explaining how and why a student went wrong can press a button to generate suggestions from Tutor CoPilot.  The researchers created the model by training GPT-4 on a database of 700 real tutoring sessions in which experienced teachers worked on on one with first- to fifth-grade students on math lessons, identifying the…

Palmer Luckey has, in some ways, come full circle. His first experience with virtual-reality headsets was as a teenage lab technician at a defense research center in Southern California, studying their potential to curb PTSD symptoms in veterans. He then built Oculus, sold it to Facebook for $2 billion, left Facebook after a highly public ousting, and founded Anduril, which focuses on drones, cruise missiles, and other AI-enhanced technologies for the US Department of Defense. The company is now valued at $14 billion. Now Luckey is redirecting his energy again, to headsets for the military. In September, Anduril announced it…

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. How Wayve’s driverless cars will meet one of their biggest challenges yet The UK driverless-car startup Wayve is headed west. The firm’s cars learned to drive on the streets of London. But Wayve has announced that it will begin testing its tech in and around San Francisco as well, which brings a new challenge: Its AI will need to switch from driving on the left to driving on the right. As visitors to or from the UK will…

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. Introducing: The AI Hype Index There’s no denying that the AI industry moves fast. Each week brings a bold new announcement, product release, or lofty claim that pushes the bounds of what we previously thought was possible. Separating AI fact from hyped-up fiction isn’t always easy. That’s why we’ve created the AI Hype Index—a simple, at-a-glance summary of everything you need to know about the state of the industry. Take a look at what made the cut. The…

Figuring out why the model behaves as it does tells Wayve what kinds of scenarios require extra help. Using a hyper-detailed simulation tool called PRISM-1 that can reconstruct 3D street scenes from video footage, the company can generate bespoke scenarios and run the model through them over and over until it learns how to handle them. How much retraining might the model need? “I cannot tell you the amount. This is part of our secret sauce,” says Rus. “But it’s a small amount.” Wayve’s simulation tool, PRISM-1, can reconstruct virtual street scenes from real video footage. Wayve uses the tool…

Generative AI has the power to surprise in a way that few other technologies can. Sometimes that’s a very good thing; other times, not so good. In theory, as generative AI improves, this issue should become less important. However, in reality, as generative AI becomes more “human” it can begin to turn sinister and unsettling, plunging us into what robotics has long described as the “uncanny valley.” It might be tempting to overlook this experience as something that can be corrected by bigger data sets or better training. However, insofar as it speaks to a disturbance in our mental model…

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Thursday cautioned companies against using tools that monitor or evaluate employees without their knowledge or consent.  The federal agency issued its warning in response to what it said is increasing use of new technology to track workers, including algorithmic scores or background reports compiled by outside parties, the CFPB said in a news release. The information could be used to anticipate worker resignations or union-organizing activities and potentially influence hiring or promotion decisions, the agency said.”Workers shouldn’t be subject to unchecked surveillance or have their careers determined by opaque third-party reports without basic protections,”…

Mission-critical digital transformation projects too often end with a whimper rather than a bang. An estimated three-quarters of corporate transformation efforts fail to deliver their intended return on investment. Given the rapidly evolving technology landscape, companies often struggle to deliver short-term results while simultaneously reinventing the organization and keeping the business running day-to-day. Post-implementation, some companies cannot even perform basic functions like processing orders efficiently or closing the books quickly at the end of a quarter. The problem: Leaders often fail to consider how to sustain value creation over time as programs scale from the pilot phase to wide-scale execution.…

London — There are almost 4,000 emojis to help people express themselves online, but a group of young design students in London says none of them feature Black or mixed-race hairstyles, and they’re determined to change that.”As a Black creative and someone who’s constantly changing their hair, this campaign is really personal to me,” said Olivia Mushigo, senior creative on the Rise.365 team.The London youth group is determined to break down beauty stereotypes with the first ever emojis featuring afros, braids, cornrows and locs. Designer Vanita Brown looks at the final version of one of the Afro hair emojis at…

Old-school flip phones are making a comeback as some look for simpler lifestyle – CBS News Watch CBS News Major phone companies say some Americans want to ditch their smartphones in favor of so-called dumb phones. Some cell phone makers have even come up with new models of the iconic flip and brick phones to help those who want a simpler lifestyle. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On #Oldschool #flip #phones #making #comeback #simpler #lifestyle

“Mornings Memory”: How a Google search led to an unlikely friendship – CBS News Watch CBS News Have you ever heard of the term, “Googleganger?” It’s when you and a person you search on Google share the same name. A CBS report from 2007 shows how it one time led to an unlikely friendship. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On #Mornings #Memory #Google #search #led #friendship

This article is from The Spark, MIT Technology Review’s weekly climate newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Wednesday, sign up here. As a climate reporter, I’m all too aware of the greenhouse-gas emissions that come from food production. And yet, I’m not a vegan, and I do enjoy a good cheeseburger (at least on occasion). It’s a real problem, from a climate perspective at least, that burgers taste good, and so do chicken sandwiches and cheese and just about anything that has butter in it. It can be hard to persuade people to change their eating habits, especially…