Links for 2024-01-29
AI:
Are Vision Transformers More Data Hungry Than Newborn Visual Systems? — “…we directly compared the learning abilities of ViTs and animals, by performing parallel controlled rearing experiments on ViTs and newborn chicks. We first raised chicks in impoverished visual environments containing a single object, then simulated the training data available in those environments by building virtual animal chambers in a video game engine.” https://arxiv.org/abs/2312.02843
“We know that GPT-4 generates better ideas than most people, but the ideas are kind of similar & variance matters. But it turns out that better prompting can generate pools of good ideas that are almost as diverse as from a group of humans.” https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4708466
Genie: Achieving Human Parity in Content-Grounded Datasets Generation — “We show that our models are on par with or outperforming models trained on human-generated data and consistently outperforming them in faithfulness.” https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.14367
Universal Neurons in GPT2 Language Models https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.12181
This Engineer’s Hardware Is Inspired by the Brain -- Manan Suri’s neuromorphic systems run AI on sensors, drones, and VR headsets https://spectrum.ieee.org/manan-suri-profile
New brain-like transistor mimics human intelligence. Transistor performs energy-efficient associative learning at room temperature. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2023/12/new-brain-like-transistor-mimics-human-intelligence/
Science and Technology:
Super-resolution ultrasound reveals cerebrovascular impairment in a mouse model of Alzheimer's Disease https://www.jneurosci.org/content/early/2024/01/19/JNEUROSCI.1251-23.2024
The 'Atomic Sandblaster': an ion beam used for polishing, etching, or cutting through the hardest materials (even diamond). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyUCWq-wCDI
New analysis from Scotland shows NO CASES OF CERVICAL CANCER in women vaccinated at 12 or 13 years of age. https://academic.oup.com/jnci/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/jnci/djad263/7577291
“Some [quasi-moons] stay in one spot ahead of or behind the planet like a secret service agent. Some do horseshoes: go mostly around a planet but then turn around and go back the other way… Earth has at least seven quasi moons dancing around us right now!!!” https://twitter.com/latifnasser/status/1750952860131729544
Politics:
The U.S. Department of Energy confirmed its discovery of a 3,400-kiloton reserve of lithium in California's Salton Sea, making it one of the largest exploitable lithium deposits in the world. https://nationalinterest.org/feature/new-lithium-discoveries-can-secure-america%E2%80%99s-clean-energy-future-208808
Three US service members killed and ‘many’ injured in drone attack in Jordan https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jan/28/us-service-members-killed-drone-attack-jordan [There's really no excuse for not having developed and installed anti-drone defenses when you're a high-tech superpower and you could watch dozens of videos of such attacks every day for two years.]
Does it matter where immigrants come from? https://www.aporiamagazine.com/p/does-it-matter-where-immigrants-come
Russia has become a vassal state https://twitter.com/Tendar/status/1751612205433229546
Russia’s planned gas mega-pipeline to China hit by construction delay https://www.ft.com/content/f37f4b84-0d2c-4e7b-882c-3fb26822bb9c [https://archive.is/RRcX7]
Ukraine:
“Finland has quietly filled its wartime stockpiles and is activating some of the so-called “production reservation agreements” which means that companies produce at the armed forces’ request what is needed for logistics - basically wartime economy light…The aim is twofold: to secure own stockpiles and to maintain capacity to support Ukraine for years to come” https://twitter.com/minna_alander/status/1751595586803949608
“The German drone manufacturer Quantum-Systems has started supplying Ukraine with 100 Trinity drones in various configurations. The transfer of the drones will take place within the framework of the contract signed in September 2023.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFFIXy3POgU&t=1s
"Rheinmetall is building a new factory in Germany in record time for the production of ammunition to create strategic security of supply to both the Bundeswehr and Ukraine," Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger said. https://www.bild.de/politik/inland/politik-inland/troedel-vorwurf-von-pistorius-sind-deutschlands-waffen-fabriken-zu-lahm-86924620.bild.html
“Slovakian Prime Minister Fico met with Ukrainian counterpart Shmygal and they fell in (diplomatic) love. There are no disagreements anymore.” https://twitter.com/Mylovanov/status/1750844097194086682
EU plans to target Hungary's economy if it blocks aid to Ukraine. Brussels may damage Hungary's currency and investor confidence, aiming to pressure Orban. If Hungary persists, EU leaders could threaten to cut all funding to provoke market reactions. https://www.ft.com/content/9dabcd4b-9c64-4124-9f9c-b0c898c84c8f [https://archive.is/AiKLF]
“One Russian attack stopped by one precise hit. The result of a strike by the Ukrainian FPV on a Russian unit that was transported on top of the BMP.” https://twitter.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1751607135522168930
“FPV strike by the 501st Battalion of🇺🇦36th Marine Brigade west of Korsunka, en route to Krynky (46.760072, 33.175455).” https://twitter.com/Danspiun/status/1751609846573494731
“Russian Bucha massacre participant adopted a Ukrainian orphan Oleh, who was forcibly removed from Ukraine along with 1000s of other children.” https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1751543332600254469