The Obtain: China’s model of ChatGPT, and defending our mind information

That is as we speak’s version of The Obtain, our weekday e-newsletter that gives a each day dose of what’s happening on this planet of expertise.

Chinese language tech big Baidu simply launched its reply to ChatGPT

Yesterday, Robin Li, Baidu’s cofounder and CEO, took the stage in Beijing to showcase the corporate’s new massive language mannequin, Ernie Bot. 

He confirmed off pre-recorded examples of what the chatbot can do, together with fixing math questions, writing advertising copy, and answering questions on Chinese language literature.

The Chinese language public has been hungry for a ChatGPT various; each OpenAI and the Chinese language authorities have barred people in China from utilizing the American chatbot. However Ernie Bot’s launch felt comparatively rushed, and Li repeatedly stated that the system continues to be imperfect. Learn the complete story.

—Zeyi Yang

In case you’d wish to be taught extra about how AI is altering the written phrase, take a look at:

+ GPT-Four is greater and higher than ChatGPT—however OpenAI gained’t say why. Learn the complete story.

+ How AI may write our legal guidelines. Learn the complete story.
+ Take an unique take a look at the within story of how ChatGPT was constructed, as informed by the individuals who made it.

Tech that goals to learn your thoughts and probe your reminiscences is already right here

In recent times, we’ve seen neurotechnologies transfer from analysis labs to real-world use. Colleges have used some gadgets to watch the mind exercise of kids to inform when they’re paying consideration. Police forces are utilizing others to work out whether or not somebody is responsible of a criminal offense. And employers use them to maintain staff awake and productive.

These applied sciences maintain the outstanding promise of giving us all-new perception into our personal minds. However our mind information is valuable, and letting it fall into the mistaken palms could possibly be harmful. Jessica Hamzelou, our senior biotech reporter, had an enchanting name with Nita Farahany, a futurist and authorized ethicist at Duke College, who’s written a e-book arguing for brand spanking new guidelines to guard our cognitive liberty. Learn the complete story.

Jessica’s story is from the Checkup, her weekly e-newsletter providing you with the within observe on all issues biotech. Enroll to obtain it in your inbox each Thursday.

The must-reads

I’ve combed the web to seek out you as we speak’s most enjoyable/necessary/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.

1 Baidu’s Ernie chatbot isn’t very spectacular 
China’s heavy web censorship could possibly be a part of the explanation why. (NYT $)
+ The corporate’s shares plummeted after its lackluster unveiling. (The Guardian)
+ Why massive language fashions are beginning to behave in bizarre, unpredictable methods. (Quanta)
+ The ChatGPT-fueled battle for search is greater than Microsoft or Google. (MIT Expertise Overview)

2 China is more likely to oppose any pressured TikTok sale
The standoff between the US and China exhibits no signal of ending. (The Data $)
+ How TikTok turned a political scorching potato. (WP $)

three We could possibly be one step nearer to confirming covid’s origins 
A brand new evaluation means that raccoons could have carried the virus in 2019. (The Atlantic $)

Four Inside Elon Musk’s battle room
Twitter’s nonetheless desperately scrabbling round for methods to economize. (FT $)

5 Meta’s new AI software can predict hundreds of thousands of protein constructions
In idea, it may assist to hurry up drug discovery. (WSJ $)+ Biotech labs are utilizing AI impressed by DALL-E to invent new medicine. (MIT Expertise Overview)

6 Silicon Valley Financial institution constructed an empire out of pandering to VCs
A few of them are nonetheless struggling to return to phrases with what occurred. (Motherboard)
+ The financial institution’s collapse is the tech trade’s first actual monetary disaster. (Insider $)

7 How the tech crash has reverberated internationally
Its influence is being felt far past Silicon Valley. (Remainder of World)

eight LinkedIn is crawling with spies
Refined state-backed teams are connecting with unsuspecting targets. (Wired $)
+ The 1,000 Chinese language SpaceX engineers who by no means existed. (MIT Expertise Overview)

9 Scientists have constructed a ‘dwelling laptop’
It’s powered by tens of 1000’s of mind cells from mice. (New Scientist $)

10 What Spotify’s TikTok-esque makeover means for artists
Sadly, it in all probability doesn’t imply extra money. (The Guardian)
+ Is AI-generated music any good? It relies upon who you ask. (Wired $)

Quote of the day

“Let’s change the subject and discuss one thing else.”

—Gipi Discuss, a ChatGPT-style chatbot developed by a bunch of engineers in China, refuses to reply whether or not Xi Jinping is an efficient chief, the Wall Road Journal reviews.

The massive story

These scientists are working to increase the life span of pet canine—and their house owners

August 2022

Matt Kaeberlein is what you would possibly name a canine particular person. He has grown up with canine and describes his German shepherd, Dobby, as “actually particular.” However Dobby is 14 years previous—round 98 in canine years.

Kaeberlein is co-director of the Canine Growing older Venture, an bold analysis effort to trace the growing older strategy of tens of 1000’s of companion canine throughout the US. He’s one in all a handful of scientists on a mission to enhance, delay, and presumably reverse that course of to assist them dwell longer, more healthy lives. 

And canine are only the start. Someday, this analysis may assist to delay the lives of people. Learn the complete story.

—Jessica Hamzelou

We will nonetheless have good issues

A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction in these bizarre occasions. (Received any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)

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