Links for 2024-08-09

AI:

1. Chinese open weights model easily surpasses all previous models, both closed and open, at MATH https://qwenlm.github.io/blog/qwen2-math/

2. Using LLMs to close the expertise gap of humans, empowering general non-expert human programmers to match experienced competitive programmers (including IOI medalists). https://arxiv.org/abs/2406.04604

3. Optimus-1: Hybrid Multimodal Memory Empowered Agents Excel in Long-Horizon Tasks https://cybertronagent.github.io/Optimus-1.github.io/

4. Agent K builds itself in order to complete tasks for you. Its mind is a bunch of agents that collaborate to complete tasks. Those agents will collaborate to develop new agents if they're needed to complete a given task. https://github.com/mikekelly/AgentK

5. Google unveils "Achieving Human Level Competitive Robot Table Tennis"! The robot won 100% vs. beginners and 55% vs. intermediate players, showcasing solid amateur human-level performance. The robot first trains in a simulated environment, which can model the physics of table tennis matches accurately. Once deployed to the real world, it collects data on its performance against humans to refine its skills back in simulation - creating a continuous feedback loop. https://sites.google.com/view/competitive-robot-table-tennis/home

6. Transformer Explainer: Interactive Learning of Text-Generative Models https://arxiv.org/abs/2408.04619

7. CodexGraph: Bridging Large Language Models and Code Repositories via Code Graph Databases https://arxiv.org/abs/2408.03910

8. Terence Tao’s recent lecture on AI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sTDSO74D8Q

9. LG unleashes South Korea's first open-source AI, challenging global tech giants https://venturebeat.com/ai/lg-unleashes-south-koreas-first-open-source-ai-challenging-global-tech-giants/

10. Equivariant neural networks and piecewise linear representation theory https://arxiv.org/abs/2408.00949

They really mean it. As they confirm again and again. But nobody believes them. Everyone just wonders why they invest so much money. Yes, they're working on AGI. Yes, they're creating God. And God is worth all the money in the world. https://x.com/demishassabis/status/1821695660753838245

Miscellaneous:

1. Efficient coding with chaotic neural networks: A journey from neuroscience to physics and back https://arxiv.org/abs/2408.01949

2. “The novel 3D printing method uses sound waves, instead of light or heat, to create solid material out of a polymer solution from behind a physical barrier.” https://engineering.ucdavis.edu/news/uc-davis-researchers-win-manufacturing-award-vision-3d-print-inside-human-body

3. Your microwave oven has its own microbiome https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02553-9 [archived version: https://archive.is/ZV7gO]

4. “Here’s an economics brain teaser: Apples are provided by a competitive industry. Pears are provided by a monopolist. Coincidentally, they sell at the same price. You’re hungry and would be equally happy with an apple or a pear. If you care about conserving societal resources, which should you buy?” https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-aspiring-economists-arent-being-taught-a3f73484 [no paywall: https://archive.is/9AzLi] [cf. AI answer: “Buying an apple would likely conserve more societal resources. This is because the competitive industry providing apples is more likely to be using resources efficiently compared to the monopolist providing pears. By choosing the apple, you are supporting a market where the price accurately reflects the cost of resources. You are essentially voting with your dollar for a more efficient allocation of resources.”]

5. Chinese megaconstellation launch creates field of space debris https://spacenews.com/chinese-megaconstellation-launch-creates-field-of-space-debris/

Ukraine:

Additional images of the Russian convoy in Kursk destroyed by a devastating Ukrainian HIMARS strike last night.

1. “🇺🇦Ukrainian FPV drones destroy the Sudzha checkpoint in the Kursk region, after which about 40+ 🇷🇺Russian border guards surrender” https://x.com/GloOouD/status/1821484962316448064

2. A Russian column moving to reinforce Russian defenses in Kursk was completely destroyed. Comment of a Russian channel: "13 military Urals and KAMAZ covered trucks with infantry. Many dead, some of the vehicles burned. It looks like the whole column was carrying infantry. They were armed, probably one platoon per vehicle. 3-4 companies - a whole battalion was destroyed". https://x.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1821923091733221659

3. A few days ago, Ukraine carried out a highly successful attack on the Russian Morozovsk military airbase. An entire ammunition depot with massive amounts of missiles and glide bombs exploded spectacularly. It appears that Ukraine attacked the Lipetsk military airfield during the night. The consequences are such that Russia has declared a state of emergency. The explosions are gigantic. https://x.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1821791322698555624

4. “The detonation of an ammunition depot in Voronezh Oblast resulted in significant destruction, including a large number of artillery shells and remnants of a possible S-300V launcher. The incident occurred on July 7 near the village of Sergeevka in the Podgorensky district.” https://x.com/NOELreports/status/1821630086489239641

5. Incredible video of attack on Russian training ground in Zaporizhzhia region with GMLRS missiles and ATACMS cluster munitions https://x.com/GloOouD/status/1821832495597302213

6. “Last night, Ukrainian drones struck a Russian repair base in Novy Oskol, Belgorod region. According to Russian sources, seven drones hit the base, damaging two hangars and three military vehicles.” https://x.com/NOELreports/status/1821885587881627835

7. FPV drone operators of the 38th Brigade of Ukraine intercept nine Russian reconnaissance drones over the Kherson region: two Supercam, six ZALA and one Orlan. https://x.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1821955091525444058

8. Destruction of 🇷🇺Russian drone operators of the SuperCam S350 UAV near the village Varvarivka in the Luhansk region https://x.com/gloooud/status/1821991501104111774

9. Another Russian chopper got hit by a FPV drone and again it is the tail rotor, one of the most sensitive parts of that aerial vehicle. https://x.com/Tendar/status/1821826000964943918

10. “Even some of the most pro-Kremlin Russian newspapers admit today that Ukraine’s cross-border attack has achieved some success.” https://x.com/BBCSteveR/status/1821798655818383635

11. GUR published a video showing another naval raid conducted by its Timur unit on the Kinburn Spit. https://x.com/RALee85/status/1821934271214301329

12. One of the richest people in Russia, billionaire Oleg Deripaska, in an interview with a Japanese publication called Putin's special operation "madness", criticized the colossal increase in Russia's spending on the war, and called for an immediate ceasefire. This is the first public demarche in Putin's elite since the beginning of the Russian invasion in 2022, the first time someone has publicly voiced a direct call to end the war. https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/Interview/Trade-with-Asia-lifeline-for-sanction-hit-Russia-says-Oleg-Deripaska2 [no paywall: https://archive.is/Ajsdl]

13. “Russian sources say that soldiers with rare specialities, such as tank drivers, UAV operators or even anaesthesiologists, are being sent to fight in the front lines and serve as stormtroopers. This is reportedly being caused by a severe shortage of assault troops.” https://x.com/ChrisO_wiki/status/1821425212056850642

14. Tehran will supply Russia with hundreds of Fatah-360 close range ballistic missiles https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/iran-deliver-hundreds-ballistic-missiles-russia-soon-intel-sources-say-2024-08-09/

15. Private text messages sent from JD Vance reveal he bragged to friends about refusing calls and refusing meetings with anyone in the Ukrainian government during the aid bill talks. https://kyivindependent.com/vance-disparaged-ukraine-in-leaked-texts-with-far-right-conspiracy-theorist-washington-post-reports/