Links for 2022-06-24
Step towards a general computer-using agent: “We trained a neural network to play Minecraft by Video PreTraining (VPT) on a massive unlabeled video dataset of human Minecraft play, while using only a small amount of labeled contractor data. With fine-tuning, our model can learn to craft diamond tools, a task that usually takes proficient humans over 20 minutes (24,000 actions). Our model uses the native human interface of keypresses and mouse movements, making it quite general, and represents a step towards general computer-using agents.” https://openai.com/blog/vpt/
This AI Chip Hits New Ultralow Power Lows: Its neural spikes take just 0.02 percent of the energy needed to fire comparable neural networks https://spectrum.ieee.org/low-power-ai-spiking-neural-net
Engineers create single-step, all-in-one 3D printing method to make robotic materials https://techxplore.com/news/2022-06-single-step-all-in-one-3d-method-robotic.html
Nova DasSarma on why information security may be critical to the safe development of AI systems https://80000hours.org/podcast/episodes/nova-dassarma-information-security-and-ai-systems/
Pre-training on synthetic tasks: “We were surprised to find that pre-training on data generated by set() alone recovers 65% of the improvement compared to pre-training on real text.” https://arxiv.org/abs/2206.10139
When and why did human brains decrease in size 3,000 years ago? New study may have found clues within ants https://blog.frontiersin.org/2021/10/22/when-and-why-did-human-brains-decrease-in-size-3000-years-ago-new-study-may-have-found-clues-within-ants/
More Good News From the Most Recent Climate Scenarios https://rogerpielkejr.substack.com/p/more-good-news-from-the-most-recent
“Our economy has completely collapsed. No country or organization in the world is willing to provide fuel to us. We are now seeing signs of a possible fall to rock bottom.” https://apnews.com/article/asia-economy-south-sri-lanka-cfcf9c973d63a7c6f76e10ada8bf1591
While sailing the Mediterranean Sea in 1962, the American aircraft carrier USS Independence flashed the Amerigo Vespucci with the light signal asking: "Who are you?" The full-rigged ship answered: "Training ship Amerigo Vespucci, Italian Navy." The Independence replied: "You are the most beautiful ship in the world."