In June 2021, scientists at the AI lab DeepMind made a controversial claim. The researchers suggested that we could reach artificial general intelligence (AGI) using one single approach: reinforcement learning. They titled their paper on the subject: “Reward is Enough.” The team argued that AGI could emerge through an incentive mechanism known as a reward function. “We hypothesize that intelligence, and its associated abilities, can be understood as subserving the maximization of reward,” the st
In March 2019, NASA had to postpone the first all-female spacewalk due to an unexpected snag: a shortage of medium-sized spacesuits. The milestone was pushed back after astronaut Anne McClain realized she needed a smaller configuration than originally planned. While the spacesuit had swappable parts, replacing the necessary piece could have taken up to 12 hours. On McClain’s recommendation, NASA switched the spacewalkers to avoid delaying the mission. The move was rational, but it put the spotli
In the first six months of 2021, more than 20,000 people died in car accidents in the US alone, the majority of which was attributed to dangerous, distracted, or drunk driving. But what if advanced technology could eliminate human weaknesses? Could we then make zero deaths possible? The latest research by Neural Propulsion Systems (NPS) thinks so. It posits that new technology can actually enable vehicles to eliminate roadway deaths — with or without human supervision. And we’re not talking ab
It’s 2022 — which means we’ve been promised VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft for over a decade now. But while pioneer founders are incrementally moving towards commercial deployment, there’s a new breed of startups snapping at their heels. Many are in their early stages, but all promise something unique, so I reached out to four of the most interesting companies to find out more. Oh, and I gave them all a rating along the way. Let’s take a look: Zeva (US) If your idea of the futur
New U.S. sanctions on Russia will encompass Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, according to a speech U.S. President Joe Biden gave on Feb. 24, 2022. In response to these sanctions, the head of Roscosmos on the same day posted a tweet saying, among other things, “If you block cooperation with us, who will save the ISS from an uncontrolled deorbit and fall into the United States or Europe?” The International Space Station has often stayed above the fray of geopolitics. That position is under threat
Are you a skilled tech worker? And want to help Ukraine in its war against Russia? Then the best thing you can do is donate. While many in the tech industry have the skills and talent to provide support in situations like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, they simply don’t have the necessary experience in these specific environments. I won’t share any examples of this, as singling specific attempts is mean-spirited. But, believe me, they are happening. Andrew Therriault — founder of Civin, a company
Ebikes are awesome. They take the edge out of long cycling trips, especially if you live in a hilly city, they’re exponentially better than cars for the environment, and they’re just fun to ride. Contrary to popular belief, they’re even comparable to regular bikes for exercise. But with an ever-increasing number of options in the market, it can be hard to sift through what’s actually good and what’s junk. Fret no more, young cycling padawan: this guide offers our selections of some of our favori
Battery-powered vehicles are the future. Whether it’s EVs, ebikes, or escooters, going rechargeable is the way forward. However, not everything is rosy with this model. For all their green cred, most ebike batteries only last three to seven years, and cannot be easily recycled or their precious materials recovered. Currently, the glue or welding used in designing battery packs makes it challenging to refurbish or replace cells or components within a battery. Fortunately, this may change — bec
Last week, Russia invaded Ukraine on President Vladimir Putin’s orders. The internet is playing a crucial part in keeping people around the world informed about the war and its impact on human lives. For the first few days, DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks on Ukrainian websites dominated the news. More recent coverage has centered around Russia’s censorship, and Big Tech’s response to the war. All that has affected what the internet looks like in both countries. Russia’s tight grip I
By far the biggest surprise Microsoft had in store with Windows 11 — besides Windows 11 itself existing — was that the OS would be able to run Android apps, thanks to a partnership with Amazon. In one fell swoop, Microsoft dramatically improved the utility of the oft-maligned Microsoft Store. There are some decent apps in the Microsoft Store, but there are simply way more Android apps to choose from. And then — because nobody releases finished software these days — Microsoft announced the Androi