World News

This week in AI: Experiments, retirements, and extinction events on August 5, 2023 at 2:02 pm

Published

2 years ago

August 5, 2023

Keeping up with an industry as fast-moving as AI is a tall order. So until an AI can do it for you, here’s a handy roundup of the last week’s stories in the world of machine learning, along with notable research and experiments we didn’t cover on their own.

YouTube has begun experimenting with AI-generated summaries for videos on the watch and search pages, though only for a limited number of English-language videos and viewers.

Certainly, the summaries could be useful for discovery — and accessibility. Not every video creator can be bothered to write a description. But I worry about the potential for mistakes and biases embedded by the AI.

Even the best AI models today tend to “hallucinate.” OpenAI freely admits that its latest text-generating-and-summarizing model, GPT-4, makes major errors in reasoning and invents “facts.” Patrick Hymel, an entrepreneur in the health tech industry, wrote about the ways in which GPT-4 makes up references, facts and figures without any identifiable link to real sources. And Fast Company tested ChatGPT’s ability to summarize articles, finding it… quite bad.

One can imagine AI-generated video summaries going off the deep end, given the added challenge of analyzing the content contained within the videos. It’s tough to evaluate the quality of YouTube’s AI-generated summaries. But it’s well established that AI isn’t all that great at summarizing text content.

YouTube subtly acknowledges that AI-generated descriptions are no substitute for the real thing. On the support page, it writes: “While we hope these summaries are helpful and give you a quick overview of what a video is about, they do not replace video descriptions (which are written by creators!).”

Here’s hoping the platform doesn’t roll out the feature too hastily. But considering Google’s half-baked AI product launches lately (see its attempt at a ChatGPT rival, Bard), I’m not too confident.

Here are some other AI stories of note from the past few days:

Dario Amodei is coming to Disrupt: We’ll be interviewing the Anthropic co-founder about what it’s like to have so much money. And AI stuff too.

Google Search gains new AI features: Google is adding contextual images and videos to its AI-powered Search Generative Experiment, the generative AI-powered search feature announced at May’s I/O conference. With the updates, SGE now shows images or videos related to the search query. The company also reportedly is pivoting its Assistant project to a Bard-like generative AI.

Microsoft kills Cortana: Echoing the events of the Halo series of games from which the name was plucked, Cortana has been destroyed. Fortunately this was not a rogue general AI but an also-ran digital assistant whose time had come.

Meta embraces generative AI music: Meta this week announced AudioCraft, a framework to generate what it describes as “high-quality,” “realistic” audio and music from short text descriptions, or prompts.

Google pulls AI Test Kitchen: Google has pulled its AI Test Kitchen app from the Play Store and the App Store to focus solely on the web platform. The company launched the AI Test Kitchen experience last year to let users interact with projects powered by different AI models such as LaMDA 2.

Robots learn from small amounts of data: On the subject of Google, DeepMind, the tech giant’s AI-focused research lab, has developed a system that it claims allows robots to effectively transfer concepts learned on relatively small data sets to different scenarios.

Kickstarter enacts new rules around generative AI: Kickstarter this week announced that projects on its platform using AI tools to generate content will be required to disclose how the project owner plans to use the AI content in their work. In addition, Kickstarter is mandating that new projects involving the development of AI tech detail info about the sources of training data the project owner intends to use.

China cracks down on generative AI: Multiple generative AI apps have been removed from Apple’s China App Store this week, thanks to new rules that’ll require AI apps operating in China to obtain an administrative license.

Inworld, a generative AI platform for creating NPCs, lands fresh investment

Stable Diffusion releases new model: Stability AI launched Stable Diffusion XL 1.0, a text-to-image model that the company describes as its “most advanced” release to date. Stability claims that the model’s images are “more vibrant” and “accurate” colors and have better contrast, shadows and lighting compared to artwork from its predecessor.

The future of AI is video: Or at least a big part of the generative AI business is, as Haje has it.

AI.com has switched from OpenAI to X.ai: It’s extremely unclear whether it was sold, rented, or is part of some kind of ongoing scheme, but the coveted two-letter domain (likely worth $5-10 million) now points to Elon Musk’s X.ai research outfit rather than the ChatGPT interface.

Other machine learnings

AI is working its way into countless scientific domains, as I have occasion to document here regularly, but you could be forgiven for not being able to list more than a few specific applications offhand. This literature review at Nature is as comprehensive an accounting of areas and methods where AI is taking effect as you’re likely to find anywhere, as well as the advances that have made them possible. Unfortunately it’s paywalled, but you can probably find a way to get a copy.

A deeper dive into the potential for AI to improve the global fight against infectious diseases can be found here at Science, and a few takeaways at UPenn’s summary. One interesting part is that models built to predict drug interactions could also help “unravel intricate interactions between infectious organisms and the host immune system.” Disease pathology can be ridiculously complicated so epidemiologists and doctors will probably take any help they can get.

Asteroid spotted, ma’am.

Another interesting example, with the caveat that not every algorithm should be called AI, is this multi-institutional work algorithmically identifying “potentially hazardous” asteroids. Sky surveys generate a ton of data and sorting through it for faint signals like asteroids’ is tough work that’s highly susceptible to automation. The 600-foot 2022 SF289 was found during a test of the algorithm on ATLAS data. “This is just a small taste of what to expect with the Rubin Observatory in less than two years, when HelioLinc3D will be discovering an object like this every night,” said UW’s Mario Jurić. Can’t wait!

A sort of halo around the AI research world is research being done on AI — how it works and why. Usually these studies are pretty difficult for non-experts to parse, and this one from ETHZ researchers is no exception. But lead author Johannes von Oswald also did an interview explaining some of the concepts in plain English. It’s worth a read if you’re curious about the “learning” process that happens inside models like ChatGPT.

Improving the learning process is also important, and as these Duke researchers find, the answer is not always “more data.” In fact, more data can hinder a machine learning model, said Duke professor Daniel Reker: “It’s like if you trained an algorithm to distinguish pictures of dogs and cats, but you gave it one billion photos of dogs to learn from and only one hundred photos of cats. The algorithm will get so good at identifying dogs that everything will start to look like a dog, and it will forget everything else in the world.” Their approach used an “active learning” technique that identified such weaknesses in the dataset, and proved more effective while using just 1/10 of the data.

A University College London study found that people were only able to discern real from synthetic speech 73 percent of the time, in both English and Mandarin. Probably we’ll all get better at this, but in the near term the tech will probably outstrip our ability to detect it. Stay frosty out there.

World News

Which Cardinal Could Become the Next Pope?

Published

2 days ago

April 22, 2025

Bolanle Media Staff

Inside the Race for the Vatican’s Highest Office

As the world mourns the passing of Pope Francis, a pivotal question grips the Catholic Church’s 1.4 billion faithful: Who will be the next pope? The answer will shape not only the future of Catholicism but also the Church’s role in global affairs, social justice, and interfaith dialogue. The coming conclave promises both tradition and surprise, with several cardinals standing out as frontrunners in this historic moment.

The Top Contenders: A New Era Beckons

1. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle: The “Asian Francis”

Cardinal Tagle, 67, from the Philippines, is the most talked-about candidate and could become the first Asian pope in history.

He is celebrated as the “Asian Francis” for his deep commitment to social justice, inclusion, and outreach to the marginalized. Tagle currently heads the Dicastery for Evangelization, one of the Vatican’s most influential departments, and is seen as a close ally of Pope Francis. His charisma, humility, and progressive vision have made him a favorite among reform-minded cardinals and laity alike.

If elected, Tagle would not only make history as the first Asian pontiff but also signal a strong endorsement of Pope Francis’s legacy of compassion and reform.

2. Cardinal Pietro Parolin: The Vatican’s Diplomat

Cardinal Parolin, 70, from Italy, is the Vatican Secretary of State and a seasoned diplomat.

He has played a pivotal role in the Church’s international relations, including groundbreaking negotiations with China and the Middle East. Parolin is widely respected for his moderation and ability to bridge divides between progressives and conservatives within the College of Cardinals. His deep experience in Vatican governance positions him as a candidate of stability and continuity.

Parolin’s election would likely mean a steady hand at the helm, balancing tradition with the ongoing reforms initiated by Francis.

3. Cardinal Peter Turkson: The Voice of Africa

Cardinal Turkson, 76, from Ghana, stands as a powerful symbol of the Church’s global reach and its commitment to social justice.

As the former head of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Turkson has championed issues such as poverty, climate change, and economic inequality. His election would be historic, making him the first African pope in over 1,500 years. Turkson’s leadership style is marked by a strong moral voice and a global perspective, resonating with cardinals seeking a pontiff who can address the Church’s humanitarian mission worldwide.

A Turkson papacy would underscore the Church’s increasing focus on the Global South and its most pressing moral challenges.

What’s at Stake?

The next pope will inherit a Church at a crossroads—torn between tradition and reform, facing secularization in the West and explosive growth in the Global South. The choice of pope will determine whether the Church continues on Francis’s path of openness and dialogue or pivots toward a more conservative, doctrinal approach.

The conclave’s outcome is far from certain.
History shows that papal elections can surprise even the most seasoned Vatican watchers. However, the prominence of Tagle, Parolin, and Turkson reflects the Church’s evolving priorities: global representation, social justice, and experienced leadership.

The World Watches and Waits

As the cardinals prepare to gather in the Sistine Chapel, the world watches with anticipation. Will the Catholic Church embrace its first Asian or African pope, or will it turn to a seasoned European diplomat for guidance? The answer will reverberate far beyond the walls of the Vatican, shaping the spiritual and moral direction of the 21st century.

The next pope will not only lead the world’s largest Christian community but also become a global voice for peace, justice, and compassion.

Bolanle Media covers a wide range of topics, including film, technology, and culture. Our team creates easy-to-understand articles and news pieces that keep readers informed about the latest trends and events. If you’re looking for press coverage or want to share your story with a wider audience, we’d love to hear from you! Contact us today to discuss how we can help bring your news to life

News

Pope Francis Passes Away at 88

Published

3 days ago

April 21, 2025

Bolanle Media Staff

Pope Francis, the first Latin American and first Jesuit pope in history, died on Easter Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican announced. His passing was confirmed at 7:35 a.m. local time at his Vatican residence, Casa Santa Marta, following a prolonged battle with respiratory illness that included a 38-day hospital stay for bilateral pneumonia earlier this year.

A Papacy of Historic Firsts

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Francis was elected the 266th pope in March 2013, breaking nearly 1,300 years of European dominance in the papacy. His election marked a turning point for the Catholic Church, not only geographically but also culturally, as he brought the perspective and concerns of the Global South to the Vatican. For millions of Hispanic and Latin American Catholics, his ascent was a source of pride and connection, as he spoke their language and understood their struggles.

Humility and Advocacy for the Marginalized

Pope Francis quickly became known for his humility and his commitment to serving the poor and marginalized. He chose to live in the Vatican guesthouse rather than the Apostolic Palace, wore simple attire, and often traveled in modest vehicles. His papacy was defined by outreach to the vulnerable: he embraced refugees, denounced global inequality, and apologized to Indigenous peoples for the Church’s historical wrongs. His populist approach and focus on social justice resonated deeply, especially among those who had long felt distant from the Church’s traditional power centers.

Reform and Controversy

Francis’ efforts to reform the Church were both bold and, at times, controversial. He made annulments more accessible, allowed priests to absolve women who had had abortions, and opened the door to blessing same-sex couples. He encouraged debate on issues such as divorce and homosexuality, seeking a more pastoral and less dogmatic approach. His critiques of capitalism and calls for action on climate change won him global acclaim but also drew criticism from some conservative factions within the Church.

Final Days and Global Mourning

Despite his declining health, Francis continued to fulfill his duties, appearing during Holy Week and delivering his final Easter blessing the day before his death. The Vatican and Catholic faithful around the world are now mourning a leader who, in the words of Cardinal Kevin Farrell, “taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized”.

A Lasting Legacy

Pope Francis’ historic papacy leaves an indelible mark on the Catholic Church and the world. As the first pope from the Americas, he redefined the role of the pontiff in the modern era—championing humility, inclusion, and a global vision for the Church’s mission. His legacy will be remembered for generations by the 1.3 billion Catholics he led and the countless others inspired by his example.

World News

Nation of Cherut Celebrates Inaugural New Year’s Celebration

Published

1 month ago

March 24, 2025

Bolanle Media Staff

The Nation of Cherut marked a historic milestone yesterday as citizens gathered to commemorate their first New Year’s celebration at Her Royal Majesty Shanta’s personal residence. The joyous occasion brought together government officials, royal family members, and esteemed guests in a festive atmosphere filled with music, culinary delights, and cultural performances.

A Night of Unity and Celebration

The event was graced by the presence of four ministers, three directors, members of the royal house, and counsel. Attendees were treated to an array of entertainment, including a special drumming performance by Julian Gordon, Deputy Minister of Music and Performing Arts. Gordon, who specializes in drums, percussion, and drones, showcased the rich musical heritage of Cherut.

Royal Hospitality

The culinary offerings for the evening were thoughtfully prepared by Her Royal Majesty Queen Shanta and Princess Shade Sullivan. Guests were warmly welcomed upon arrival by Her Royal Attendant Zubeta Jones and Kevin Ford, the Royal Ambassador at Large.

Distinguished Attendees

Notable government officials in attendance included:

Devin “Egypt” Robinson, Minister of Agriculture & Food Security
Erica Jean-Baptiste, Minister of Workforce Development and Labor
Malcohm Payne, Minister of Real Estate Development
Julian Gordon, Deputy Minister of Music and Performing Arts
Coach Steffanie, Director of Book Publishing
Su Jennings, Director of Television Broadcasting
Danyel McBride, Chief Aide to the Queen

The celebration was further enhanced by the presence of royal ambassadors Kevin Ford, Nicole Smith, and Dr. Jamalla Wilkerson, along with several special guests.

This inaugural New Year’s celebration not only marked the passage of time but also symbolized the unity and bright future of the Nation of Cherut. As the country moves forward, events like these serve to strengthen the bonds between citizens and their leadership, fostering a sense of national pride and community.