Suspected Chinese operatives using AI generated images to spread disinformation among US voters, Microsoft says
Suspected Chinese operatives have used images made by artificial intelligence to mimic American voters online in an attempt to spread disinformation and provoke discussion on divisive political issues as the 2024 US election approaches, Microsoft analysts warned Thursday.
2023-09-07 22:24
SpaceX launch of Starship rocket on hold amid ‘mishap investigation’
SpaceX will not be cleared to launch its 400-foot-tall (121 metre) Starship rocket until a “mishap investigation” is completed, regulators have said. A statement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned of a launch delay for the biggest rocket ever built, just hours after SpaceX boss Elon Musk said the craft was “ready to launch” on Wednesday. SpaceX made its first and only attempt at an orbital Starship launch in April, with the rocket exploding over the Gulf of Mexico just three minutes into the 90 minute flight. The crewless rocket broke up into pieces over an empty stretch of water, however the debris blast created by Starship’s huge engines at its launchpad drew heavy scrutiny from regulators. Concrete dust drifted more than 10 kilometres from the launch site, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service, while concrete chunks and metal shards were discovered within a 700-acre zone surrounding the pad. SpaceX claimed the mission was a success, as Starship and its Super Heavy booster were able to lift off on its maiden test flight, however the FAA launched an investigation soon afterwards. Following Mr Musk’s latest comments that the latest version of the rocket is ready to launch pending regulatory approval, the FAA warned SpaceX that it would need to wait for the investigation to conclude. “The SpaceX Starship mishap investigation remains open,” the FAA said in a statement. “The FAA will not authorise another Starship launch until SpaceX implements the corrective actions identified during the mishap investigation and demonstrates compliance with all the regulatory requirements of the licence modification process.” SpaceX has made numerous alterations and improvements to Starship and its launch pad, including remedial measures aimed at preventing launch debris and a new method for separating the upper stage from its booster rocket. Nasa has already awarded SpaceX a multi-billion dollar contract to develop Starship for its Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the surface of the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years. Mr Musk also plans to use the rockets for more ambitious longer term goals, including establishing a permanent human colony on Mars before 2050. “As the most powerful launch system ever developed, Starship will be able to carry up to 100 people on long-duration, interplanetary flights,” SpaceX notes on its website. “Starship will also help enable transport of many satellites, large space telescopes, and significant amounts of cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond.” Read More ‘It’s becoming like an airport’: How SpaceX normalised rocket launches SpaceX abandons YouTube for live streams of launches in favour of X/Twitter Starship ‘ready to launch’, Elon Musk says SpaceX crew streak across sky before splashing down off Florida coast SpaceX smashes rocket launch record as Musk eyes historic Starship mission
2023-09-07 21:49
China may be behind social media accounts seeking to sway US voters, Microsoft says
Microsoft researchers said on Thursday they found what they believe is a network of fake, Chinese-controlled social media
2023-09-07 21:22
Toyota mobility tech unit CEO Kuffner to leave post
By Daniel Leussink TOKYO James Kuffner, the chief executive of Toyota Motor's autonomous driving technology unit Woven by
2023-09-07 16:58
Generation AI: education reluctantly embraces the bots
By Barbara Lewis and Supantha Mukherjee LONDON/STOCKHOLM At leading Swedish university Lund, teachers decide which students can use
2023-09-07 16:49
Olivia Dunne's Tim McGraw-inspired Labor Day message takes Internet by storm, fans dub TikTok star 'prettiest person alive'
LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne created a Labor Day buzz by posting a video on TikTok by playing Tim McGraw's 'Something Like That'
2023-09-07 16:15
China's top chipmaker may be in hot water as US lawmakers call for further sanctions after Huawei 'breakthrough'
Shares in SMIC, China's largest contract chipmaker, plunged on Thursday, after two US congressmen called on the White House to further restrict export sales to the company.
2023-09-07 15:54
AI can help generate synthetic viruses and spark pandemics, warns former Google executive
Synthetic viruses could be generated through the misuse of artificial intelligence and potentially spark pandemics, a former Google executive and AI expert has warned. Google DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman expressed concern that the use of AI to engineer pathogens to cause more harm may lead to a scenario like a pandemic. “The darkest scenario is that people will experiment with pathogens, engineered synthetic pathogens that might end up accidentally or intentionally being more transmissible or more lethal,” he said in a recent episode of a podcast. Similar to how there are restrictions in place to prevent people from easily accessing pathogenic microbes like anthrax, Mr Suleyman has called for the means to restrict access to advanced AI technology and software that runs such models. “That’s where we need containment. We have to limit access to the tools and the know-how to carry out that kind of experimentation,” he said in The Diary of a CEO podcast. “We can’t let just anyone have access to them. We need to limit who can use the AI software, the cloud systems, and even some of the biological material,” the Google DeepMind co-founder said. “And of course on the biology side it means restricting access to some of the substances,” he said, adding that AI development needs to be approached with a “precautionary principle”. Mr Suleyman’s statements echo concerns raised in a recent study that even undergraduates with no relevant background in biology can detail suggestions for bio-weapons from AI systems. Researchers, including those from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, found chatbots can suggest “four potential pandemic pathogens” within an hour and explain how they can be generated from synthetic DNA. The research found chatbots also “supplied the names of DNA synthesis companies unlikely to screen orders, identified detailed protocols and how to troubleshoot them, and recommended that anyone lacking the skills to perform reverse genetics engage a core facility or contract research organization”. Such large language models (LLMs), like ChatGPT, “will make pandemic-class agents widely accessible as soon as they are credibly identified, even to people with little or no laboratory training,” the study said. The study, whose authors included MIT bio risk expert Kevin Esvelt, called for “non-proliferation measures”. Such measures could include “pre-release evaluations of LLMs by third parties, curating training datasets to remove harmful concepts, and verifiably screening all DNA generated by synthesis providers or used by contract research organizations and robotic ‘cloud laboratories’ to engineer organisms or viruses”. Read More China’s ‘government-approved’ AI chatbot says Taiwan invasion is likely Government urged to address AI ‘risks’ to avoid ‘spooking’ public Scientists give verdict on Harvard professor’s claim of finding materials in sea from outside Solar System Google boss says he wants to make people ‘shrug’ Why is Elon Musk obsessed with the letter X? Elon Musk ‘borrowed $1bn from SpaceX’ at same time as Twitter acquisition
2023-09-07 15:48
James Kuffner Exits as CEO of Toyota’s Technology Unit Woven
James Kuffner is leaving his post as chief executive officer of Toyota Motor Corp.’s automotive-technology unit, Woven by
2023-09-07 15:27
UK has not backed down in tech encryption row, minister says
LONDON (Reuters) -Britain will require social media companies to take action to stop child abuse on their platforms, and if
2023-09-07 15:22
Modi Asks Rich Nations to Soften Climate Demands Ahead of G-20
Sign up for the India Edition newsletter by Menaka Doshi – an insider's guide to the emerging economic
2023-09-07 15:19
Fossil Fuels Smudge G-20 Host India’s Green Leadership Ambitions
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s green pitch to the Group of 20 this week will include new calls
2023-09-07 14:24