News on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning The latest news on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

• AI models for remote object detection are vulnerable to both physical and digital attacks, research finds

  Today, our understanding and assessment of the physical characteristics of the world around us relies less and less on human intelligence and more and more on artificial intelligence.

• Combining next-token prediction and video diffusion in computer vision and robotics

  In the current AI zeitgeist, sequence models have skyrocketed in popularity for their ability to analyze data and predict what to do next. For instance, you've likely used next-token prediction models like ChatGPT, which anticipate each word (token) in a sequence to form answers to users' queries. There are also full-sequence diffusion models like Sora, which convert words into dazzling, realistic visuals by successively "denoising" an entire video sequence.

• Trust is not the answer: Rethinking human-machine interaction for ethical engineering

  In his article, "Trust is Not a Virtue: Why We Should Not Trust," Matthew L. Bolton, an associate professor of systems and information engineering at the University of Virginia, critically challenges the emphasis on fostering trust in human-machine interactions. He focuses particularly on systems using AI, machine learning and automation.

• Humans sympathize with, and protect, AI bots from playtime exclusion, finds study

  In an Imperial College London study, humans displayed sympathy towards and protected AI bots who were excluded from playtime. The researchers say the study, which used a virtual ball game, highlights humans' tendency to treat AI agents as social beings—an inclination that should be considered when designing AI bots.

• Why Nevada casinos won't use a new gun-detection system being used in other states

  A tribal casino in Oklahoma is using an app tied to its surveillance camera system that uses artificial intelligence to detect patrons carrying firearms.

• For Deaf people, train travel can be a gamble—AI-powered Auslan avatar can help

  For Deaf people, train travel can be a gamble. On an average day, nothing goes wrong: they catch their train to their destination and carry on with their business.

• AI-driven video analyzer sets new standards in human action detection

  What if a security camera could not only capture video but understand what's happening—distinguishing between routine activities and potentially dangerous behavior in real time? That's the future being shaped by researchers at the University of Virginia's School of Engineering and Applied Science with their latest breakthrough: an AI-driven intelligent video analyzer capable of detecting human actions in video footage with unprecedented precision and intelligence.

• Researchers develop a new generative adversarial networks model that stabilizes training and performance

  In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning models have advanced rapidly, becoming easily accessible. This has enabled people, even those without specialized expertise, to perform various tasks with AI. Among these models, generative adversarial networks (GANs) stand out for their outstanding performance in generating new data instances with the same characteristics as the training data, making them particularly effective for generating images, music, and text.

• AI-driven system enhances manufacturing speed and quality

  Researchers at the University of Virginia have made a significant advancement in manufacturing technology by developing an AI-driven system that could transform how factories operate. Using Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning (MARL), the team has created a more efficient way to optimize manufacturing systems, improving both speed and quality while reducing waste.

• New technique could help self-driving cars see their surroundings better

  Thanks to a technique developed by researchers at NC State University, autonomous vehicles might one day be able to navigate the roadways much better. The technique allows artificial intelligence programs to more accurately map three-dimensional spaces using two-dimensional images.

• AI is creeping into the visual effects industry—and it could take the human touch out of film and TV

  From the mind-bending reality warps of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) to the breathtaking alien vistas of Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), visual effects have transported us to worlds beyond imagination. Yet the future of visual effects (VFX) could hang in the balance as artificial intelligence is subsumed into screen production processes.

• Researchers harness generative AI to preserve Cantonese porcelain art and heritage

  The advent of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked concerns about the diminishing value of traditional art forms and the potential for substitution. Nonetheless, through their fusion, they offer new avenues for conserving art and culture while also igniting interest in passing down the heritage from generation to generation.

• Apple researchers suggest artificial intelligence is still mostly an illusion

  Researchers at Apple Computer Company have found evidence, via testing, showing that the seemingly intelligent responses given by AI-based LLMs are little more than an illusion. In their paper posted on the arXiv preprint server, the researchers argue that after testing several LLMs, they found that they are not capable of performing genuine logical reasoning.

• Fake AI history photos cloud the past

  A wave of touching photos showing great moments in time is fascinating amateur historians online. The problem? They are not real—and may be clouding our view of the past.

• Study reveals AI-generated images depict idealized youth

  If you've been using artificial intelligence (AI) for a while, you may have noticed that both the texts and images it creates can be a bit generic and polished. Some would call them soulless.

• Is AI going to destroy movies or is the panic overblown? A film historian says these fears are not new

  Artificial intelligence is making its way into your favorite movies and TV shows, bringing with it plenty of fear and anxiety from those who work in and around the entertainment industry.

• New tool helps analyze pilot performance and mental workload in augmented reality

  In the high-stakes world of aviation, a pilot's ability to perform under stress can mean the difference between a safe flight and disaster. Comprehensive and precise training is crucial to equip pilots with the skills needed to handle these challenging situations.

• New York Times takes aim at another AI company

  The New York Times has sent a cease and desist letter to Perplexity, a hot AI startup often touted as a promising competitor to Google search, over alleged copyright infringement.

• There are major risks, but also solutions for AI in the Global South

  While artificial intelligence (AI) promises immense benefits, it also imposes tremendous risks. Some of them—accelerating misinformation, sophisticated cyber attacks and soaring energy consumption—have already arrived. Others, including super intelligent machines that take decisions independently of human oversight, are likely still a few years away. Although awareness about these risks is growing, there are many others that have yet to be defined. And for all the incalculable opportunities afforded by AI, especially in developing countries, it is risky business.

• Do people trust AI on financial decisions? We found it really depends on who they are

  When it comes to investing and planning your financial future, are you more willing to trust a person or a computer?

• How AI can help you make a computer game without knowing anything about coding

  Just as calculators took over the tedious number-crunching in math a few decades ago, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming coding. Take Kyo, an 8-year-old boy in Singapore who developed a simple platform game in just two hours, attracting over 500,000 players.

• OpenAI unveils benchmarking tool to measure AI agents' machine-learning engineering performance

  A team of AI researchers at Open AI, has developed a tool for use by AI developers to measure AI machine-learning engineering capabilities. The team has written a paper describing their benchmark tool, which it has named MLE-bench, and posted it on the arXiv preprint server. The team has also posted a web page on the company site introducing the new tool, which is open-source.

• Computer simulations reveal stability factors in 2D perovskites for better solar cells

  More stable and efficient materials for solar cells are needed in the green transition. So-called halide perovskites are highlighted as a promising alternative to today's silicon materials. Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, in Sweden, have gained new insights into how perovskite materials function, which is an important step forward.

• The AI sexbot industry is just getting started. It brings strange new questions—and risks

  Artificial intelligence (AI) is getting personal. Chatbots are designed to imitate human interactions, and the rise of realistic voice chat is leading many users to form emotional attachments or laugh along with virtual podcast hosts.

• How the tiny Caribbean island of Anguilla has turned the AI boom into a digital gold mine

  The artificial intelligence boom has benefited chatbot makers, computer scientists and Nvidia investors. It's also providing an unusual windfall for Anguilla, a tiny island in the Caribbean.

• Adobe launches AI video generator in race with OpenAI, Meta

  Adobe Inc. unveiled artificial intelligence tools that can create and modify videos, joining Big Tech companies and startups in trying to capitalize on demand for the emerging technology.

• Low-cost touch sensor shows promise for large-scale robotics applications

  The development of affordable and highly performing sensors can have crucial implications for robotics research, as it could improve perception to help boost robot manipulation and navigation. In recent years, engineers have introduced a wide range of advanced touch sensor devices, which can improve the ability of robots to detect tactile signals, using the information they gather to guide their actions.

• AI-trained vehicles can adjust to extreme turbulence on the fly

  In nature, flying animals sense coming changes in their surroundings, including the onset of sudden turbulence, and quickly adjust to stay safe. Engineers who design aircraft would like to give their vehicles the same ability to predict incoming disturbances and respond appropriately.

• Multi-task learning model enhances hate speech identification

  Researchers have developed a new way to automatically detect hate speech on social media platforms more accurately and consistently using a new multi-task learning (MTL) model; a type of machine learning model that works across multiple datasets.

• As OpenAI attracts new investment, balancing profit with purpose is getting more challenging to pull off

  OpenAI, the artificial intelligence company that developed the popular ChatGPT chatbot and the text-to-art program Dall-E, is at a crossroads. On Oct. 2, 2024, it announced that it had obtained US$6.6 billion in new funding from investors and that the business was worth an estimated $157 billion—making it only the second startup ever to be valued at over $100 billion.