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That is at present’s version of The Download, our weekday publication that gives a every day dose of what’s occurring on the planet of know-how.
What does GPT-3 “know” about me?
One of many largest tales in tech this 12 months has been the rise of enormous language fashions (LLMs). These are AI fashions that produce textual content a human may need written—typically so convincingly they’ve tricked folks into considering they’re sentient.
These fashions’ energy comes from troves of publicly obtainable human-created textual content that has been hoovered from the web. In case you’ve posted something even remotely private in English on the web, chances are high your information is likely to be a part of a number of the world’s hottest LLMs.
My colleague Melissa Heikkilä, our AI reporter, lately began to marvel what information these fashions may need on her—and the way it could possibly be misused. A bruising expertise a decade in the past left her paranoid about sharing private particulars on-line, so she put OpenAI’s GPT-3 to the take a look at to see what it “is aware of” about her. Read about what she found.
How ammonia may assist clear up international delivery
The information: Foul-smelling ammonia may seem to be an unlikely gasoline to assist lower greenhouse-gas emissions. Nevertheless it may additionally play a key function in decarbonizing international delivery, offering an environment friendly option to retailer the vitality wanted to energy giant ships on lengthy journeys.
What’s taking place: The American Bureau of Transport lately granted early-stage approval for some ammonia-powered ships and fueling infrastructure, that means such ships may hit the seas inside the subsequent few years. Whereas the gasoline would require new engines and fueling techniques, swapping it in for fossil fuels that ships burn at present may assist make a big dent in international carbon emissions.
What’s subsequent: Some corporations are trying even additional into the longer term, with New York–based mostly Amogy elevating practically $50 million earlier this 12 months to make use of the chemical for gasoline cells that promise even better emissions cuts. If early exams for ammonia work out, these new applied sciences may assist the delivery business to considerably scale back its emissions. Read the full story.
—Casey Crownhart
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to search out you at present’s most enjoyable/essential/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.
1 Pakistan is reeling from its devastating flooding
Poor coverage making, combined with a local weather change-driven monsoon, has displaced thousands and thousands of individuals and destroyed properties, meals and livelihoods. (Vox)
+ These pictures spotlight the extent of the destruction. (The Guardian)
+ Residents are attempting to salvage their belongsides from the waters. (BBC)
2 California has handed new on-line little one security guidelines
The laws will drive web sites and apps so as to add protecting measures for under-18s. (NYT $)
+ The state additionally needs to punish medical doctors who unfold well being misinformation. (NYT $)
3 NASA will attempt to launch its Artemis rocket once more on Saturday
An inaccurate sensor studying is believed to have precipitated the botched lift-off on Monday. (BBC)
4 Elon Musk has discovered a brand new tactic to attempt to wriggle out of shopping for Twitter
He’s utilizing the current whistleblower allegations. (FT $)
+ What it’s essential know concerning the upcoming authorized battle. (WSJ $)
+ Twitter is failing to adequately sort out self-harming content material. (Ars Technica)
5 Deepfakes are infiltrating the mainstream
The know-how is enhancing by the day, and we needs to be nervous. (WP $)
+ A horrifying new AI app swaps ladies into porn movies with a click on. (MIT Technology Review)
6 Cyber insurance coverage isn’t geared up to take care of cyber warfare
Insurers can’t agree on what ought to and shouldn’t be lined. (Wired $)
7 A program to wash polluted Nigerian wetlands worsened the issue
Ogoniland residents have been left to take care of the oil-soaked lands. (Bloomberg $)
+ The businesses that precipitated an oil spill in California have been fined $13 million. (CNN)
8 How large isopods bought so large
The roly-poly relative’s genes clarify why it might probably develop to the dimensions of a chihuahua. (Hakai Magazine)
+ The primordial coelacanth was an energy-saving skilled. (New Scientist $)
9 Gen Z is absolutely into making collages
Naturally, there’s an app for that. (The Information $)
10 Dadcore vogue has gone viral 
Leaving a era of iconic fishing followers in its wake. (Input)
Quote of the day
“I’ve positively had days the place I’ve achieved all of that, however it’s exhausting.”
—Dynasti deGouville, 22, describes the strain she felt to subscribe to the #ThatGirl life-style of early rising, grueling train, and restrictive diets peddled by TikTok clips of skinny, white ladies to the Wall Street Journal.
The massive story
Humanity is caught in short-term considering. Right here’s how we escape.
October 2020
People have advanced over millennia to understand an ever-expanding sense of time. We now have minds able to imagining a future far off into the gap. But whereas we could have this capability, it’s not often deployed in every day life. If our descendants had been to diagnose the ills of Twenty first-century civilization, they might observe a harmful short-termism: a collective failure to flee the current second and look additional forward.
The world is saturated in info, and requirements of dwelling have by no means been greater, however so usually it’s a battle to see past the subsequent information cycle, political time period, or enterprise quarter. Methods to clarify this contradiction? Why have we come to be so caught within the “now”? Read the full story.
—Richard Fisher
We are able to nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction in these bizarre instances. (Bought any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)
+ This dog slide appears like an infinite delight.
+ Three hours of underground 90s hip hop is assured to place you in a superb temper.
+ After a two-year break, the World Gravy Wrestling Championship is again!
+ Electro icon Gary Numan has some attention-grabbing phrases of knowledge.
+ The Perseverance Rover is digging round for proof of past life on Mars.
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