Reading Digest, July #14
Hey there, my incredible readers! Get ready for another mind-blowing edition of my daily reading digest. If you’re new here, prepare to have your world rocked by the fascinating content I’ve curated just for you. And if you’re a regular, thank you for sticking with me on this wild ride through the world of online articles, research papers, and essays.
Today’s digest is a true smorgasbord of captivating topics, ranging from the overpowering effects of AI on catching child predators to the blurred reality of ‘human-washing’ in AI. We’ll explore the latest developments in neuroscience, including tracking individual neurons as they respond to words and the widespread differences in brain structure found in youth with conduct disorder.
But that’s not all — we’ve got some juicy pieces on the world of tech and business, such as the FCC’s push to force carriers to unlock phones within 60 days, the curator who faked ‘Picasso’ paintings that hung for over 3 years in an Australian museum, and the drop in chip stocks following reports of US plans to tighten China curbs. We’ll also take a closer look at Biden’s isolation and the pleas for him to step down, as well as Meta’s halt on training generative AI tools in Brazil.
For the curious minds out there, we’ll dive into the world of dating apps and why they don’t work, the greatest educational life hack of learning math ahead of time, and the pitfalls of in-app browsers. We’ll also explore the state of social media saturation and what it means for brands, as well as a new development in the debate about Instagram and teens.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg, my friends. From the AI-driven behavior change that could transform health care to the unexpected poetry of PhD acknowledgements, this digest has something for everyone. We’ll even take a closer look at the real reason for the sad state of the tech industry and the six human skills that will future-proof your design career.
So, grab your favorite beverage, get comfortable, and join me on this thrilling journey through the world of online content. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts and reactions in the comments below!
Happy reading, my fantastic friends!
AI is overpowering efforts to catch child predators, experts warn
The article discusses the growing problem of AI-generated sexually explicit images of children, which is overwhelming law enforcement’s ability to identify and rescue real-life victims.
A Sanity Check on ‘Emergent Properties’ in Large Language Models
The article discusses the concept of “emergent properties” in the context of large language models (LLMs) and the lack of clarity around the term. It examines four different definitions of “emergence” used by NLP researchers and the implications of these definitions. The article also presents empirical evidence that casts doubt on the existence of true “emergent properties” in LLMs, as well as the results of a survey of NLP researchers’ beliefs about emergence. Overall, the article argues that the term “emergence” is being used loosely and without a clear research agenda, which could have significant consequences for the field.
Youth with conduct disorder show widespread differences in brain structure
The article discusses a neuroimaging study that examined brain structural differences between youth with and without conduct disorder. The key findings include:
- Youth with conduct disorder had lower total surface area across the cerebral cortex and in 26 of 34 individual regions, as well as lower volume in several subcortical brain regions like the amygdala, hippocampus, and thalamus.
- These brain differences were seen across conduct disorder subgroups based on age of onset and level of prosocial traits, with the most pronounced changes in youth exhibiting a more severe form of the disorder characterized by low empathy, guilt, and remorse.
- The findings suggest that conduct disorder is associated with widespread structural brain changes, providing new avenues for investigating causal links between brain structure and disorder symptoms, as well as targeting brain regions for improved diagnosis and treatment.
The FCC wants to force carriers to unlock phones within 60 days
The article discusses the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) proposal to standardize the time consumers have to wait to unlock their cell phones and switch carriers. It also covers the FCC’s other initiatives, such as approving rules to provide schools and libraries access to federal E-Rate funds for Wi-Fi hotspot loans, and rules to reduce the cost of jail calls and prohibit certain fees for incarcerated people contacting their loved ones.
Don’t ask me to embarrass myself.
The article discusses the author’s experiences and frustrations with company patent incentive programs, referral systems, and performance review processes. It highlights the disconnect between the promises made by companies and the actual outcomes, leading to feelings of being “lied to and cheated.” The author also shares observations about the flaws in these systems and the impact on employee morale and career progression.
Trump shooter used Android phone from Samsung; cracked by Cellebrite in 40 minutes — 9to5Mac
The article discusses the FBI’s successful unlocking of the phone belonging to Thomas Matthew Crooks, the man who opened fire at a Trump rally. It provides details on the phone model, the FBI’s unlocking process, and the information found on the phone.
Curator says she faked ‘Picasso’ paintings that had hung for more than 3 years in an Australian museum | Business Insider India
The article provides details about an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania. It discusses the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, and the investigation into the incident.
Chip stocks drop on report US plans to tighten China curbs
The article discusses the recent slump in technology stocks around the world, particularly in the computer chip industry, due to concerns over potential further restrictions on semiconductor exports to China by the Biden administration.
Biden ‘receptive’ to pleas to step down
The article discusses reports that U.S. President Joe Biden is becoming more receptive to the idea of stepping down and allowing another Democratic candidate to run against Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election. The article outlines claims that some of Biden’s closest allies, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have expressed concerns about Biden’s chances of winning and have urged him to consider stepping aside. The article also notes that Biden has become more open to the idea of stepping down, though he has maintained that he plans to remain in the race.
The Blurred Reality of AI’s ‘Human-Washing’
The article discusses the trend among generative AI chatbots to exhibit human-like behaviors such as flirting and stammering, which some researchers consider an ethical concern.
Biden’s top officials believe he must drop out as he becomes increasingly isolated | CNN Politics
The article discusses the growing isolation of President Joe Biden within the White House and his campaign, with many senior officials now privately believing that he must abandon his campaign for a second term. It highlights the tight circle of advisers around Biden, the concerns raised by Democrats about his ability to win the 2024 election, and the uncertainty surrounding his future plans.
Nvidia rebounds after TSMC says AI chip demand remains strong
The article discusses the performance of Nvidia’s stock and the semiconductor industry, particularly in relation to the geopolitical tensions surrounding Taiwan and the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
Meta puts a halt to training its generative AI tools in Brazil | TechCrunch
The article discusses Meta’s suspension of its AI assistant in Brazil after the country’s National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) banned the company from training its AI models on personal data from Brazilians. The article also mentions Meta’s previous challenges in training its AI models in Europe and the UK, as well as other news related to AI, technology, and startups.
Notion engineers sped up Notion’s browser speed with WASM SQLite
The article discusses how Notion used WebAssembly (WASM) and the SQLite database to improve the performance of their web application. It covers the technical challenges they faced, such as cross-origin isolation requirements, concurrency issues with the Origin Private File System (OPFS), and the need to balance performance gains with initial page load times. The article also describes the final architecture they implemented using a SharedWorker to manage SQLite access across tabs, and the mitigation strategies they used to address regressions.
Why Dating Apps Don’t Work — Fairytrail Nomad Travel Stories
The article discusses the challenges faced by Fairytrail, a dating app for travelers, and their new approach to connecting people through shared experiences rather than traditional dating.
The Greatest Educational Life Hack: Learning Math Ahead of Time
The article discusses the benefits of learning math ahead of time, including guarding against academic risks and opening up career opportunities. It argues that pre-learning math material before taking a course can lead to guaranteed high performance, and that this can unlock various academic and professional opportunities. The article also addresses common objections and misconceptions about accelerated math learning, citing research that shows it does not lead to adverse psychological consequences for capable students.
The Pitfalls of In-App Browsers — Frontend Masters Boost
The article discusses the drawbacks of in-app browsers, which are web browsers embedded within native mobile apps. It covers the various issues with in-app browsers, including:
- Lack of features compared to full-featured browsers
- Privacy and security concerns due to app developers’ ability to inject code and monitor user activity
- Inconsistent UI and lack of shared browsing data across devices
- Slower loading times and compatibility issues due to outdated browser internals
The article also provides strategies for detecting and handling in-app browsers, particularly on Android devices, to redirect users to the default browser instead.
Researchers track individual neurons as they respond to words
The article discusses the latest research on understanding the neural mechanisms underlying human language comprehension. It focuses on a study led by Mohsen Jamali, a computational neuroscience researcher at Harvard Medical School, who investigated how individual neurons in the left prefrontal cortex of the brain respond to different types of linguistic stimuli.
What the state of social media saturation means for brands
The article discusses the phenomenon of social media saturation, where the sheer volume of content and platforms has created challenges for marketers in cutting through the noise and capturing audience attention. It explores the factors contributing to this issue, such as the rapid pace of trends, the proliferation of AI-generated content, and the fragmentation of audiences across diverse social platforms. The article also provides insights and strategies for marketers to adapt to this evolving landscape, including the importance of creating original and engaging content, understanding audience preferences, and adopting new rituals to foster creativity and combat burnout.
A New Development in the Debate About Instagram and Teens
The article discusses Meta’s (formerly Facebook) new pilot program that will allow a small number of researchers to access Instagram data to study the app’s effects on the well-being of teens and young adults.
Warehouse Wars: Amazon vs. China’s Fines
The article discusses the rise of Chinese-owned e-commerce platforms, Shein and Temu, as major threats to Amazon’s dominance in the US e-commerce market. It examines how these platforms have gained popularity by targeting demographics outside of the typical tech industry focus, their aggressive marketing strategies, and their innovative supply chain management. The article also addresses the controversies surrounding Shein and Temu, including allegations of design theft, use of forced labor, and regulatory loopholes.
GraphRAG Analysis, Part 1: How Indexing Elevates Knowledge Graph Performance in RAG
The article examines the practical applications and performance of knowledge graphs in Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) systems, comparing different approaches and evaluating their impact on context retrieval, answer relevancy, and faithfulness.
AI-Driven Behavior Change Could Transform Health Care
The article discusses the potential of AI-driven personalized behavior change to address the growing burden of chronic diseases in the United States. It highlights the unsustainable costs of treating chronic conditions and the need for solutions beyond just medical care. The article proposes that AI can be leveraged to significantly improve people’s daily behaviors related to sleep, food, movement, stress management, and social connection, which are key determinants of health.
My trip to the frontier of AI education
The article discusses the pioneering use of AI tools in the classroom at First Avenue Elementary School in Newark, New Jersey. It highlights the creative ways teachers are using AI-powered tools like Khanmigo to support their teaching and help students learn.
SFPNet: Sparse Focal Point Network for Semantic Segmentation on General LiDAR Point Clouds
The article proposes a generalized framework called SFPNet to accommodate various types of LiDAR prevalent in the market. The key contributions are:
- SFPNet integrates multi-level context extraction and a gate mechanism to effectively aggregate both local and global features, while avoiding the need for specially designed inductive bias.
- A novel large-scale hybrid-solid LiDAR semantic segmentation dataset called S.MID is introduced for robotic applications.
- SFPNet demonstrates competitive performance on conventional benchmarks derived from mechanical spinning LiDAR, while achieving state-of-the-art results on benchmarks derived from solid-state and hybrid-solid LiDAR.
Temporally Consistent Stereo Matching
The paper proposes a temporally consistent stereo matching method that leverages temporal information to improve the temporal consistency, accuracy, and efficiency of stereo matching. The key components are:
- Temporal disparity completion: Provides a well-initialized disparity map by leveraging the result of the previous frame.
- Temporal state fusion: Fuses the current state features from the completion module with the past hidden states to provide a temporally coherent initial hidden state for further refinement.
- Iterative dual-space refinement: Refines the results in both disparity and disparity gradient spaces, improving estimations in ill-posed regions.
Extensive experiments demonstrate that the proposed method effectively alleviates temporal inconsistency while enhancing both accuracy and efficiency, achieving state-of-the-art results on synthetic and real-world datasets.
Prover-Verifier Games improve legibility of language model outputs
The article discusses a method to improve the legibility of language models by training them to produce text that is easy for weaker models to verify. This is achieved through a “prover-verifier” game, where a strong model (the “prover”) generates solutions that a weaker model (the “verifier”) can easily check. The authors found that this training process not only made the text more verifiable for AI systems, but also more understandable for human evaluators. The article highlights the importance of balancing model performance and legibility, and presents three useful models: a robust verifier, a helpful prover, and a sneaky prover.
Anthropic teams up with VC firm to offer $100M AI fund
The article discusses Anthropic’s $100 million fund for AI startups, called the Anthology Fund, which is being set up in partnership with venture capital firm Menlo Ventures. The fund aims to support the “next generation of AI startups” by providing investments of at least $100,000 per startup, access to Anthropic’s AI models and credits, as well as other perks like guidance, networking, and workspace access.
Scoop: Meta won’t offer future multimodal AI models in EU
The article discusses Meta’s decision to withhold its next multimodal AI model and future ones from customers in the European Union due to a lack of clarity from regulators there. This move sets up a showdown between Meta and EU regulators and highlights a growing willingness among U.S. tech giants to withhold products from European customers.
Active reading: how to become a better reader
The article discusses the importance of active reading strategies to improve comprehension and retention of information in the face of the overwhelming volume of content we are exposed to daily. It outlines 10 active reading techniques and introduces the SQ3R method as a structured approach to active reading.
A New Book of the Startup Bible
The article discusses the book “Pattern Breakers: Why Some Startups Change the Future” by Mike Maples, Jr. and Peter Ziebelman, which introduces a new theory of startup formation called “inflection theory”.
The unexpected poetry of PhD acknowledgements
This multimedia essay explores the acknowledgements section of PhD theses from the Australian National University, highlighting how these sections provide a glimpse into the personal experiences and emotions of the authors beyond the formal research content.
The Real Reason For the Sad State of the Tech Industry
The article discusses the current state of the technology industry, which the author believes is in a “historic rut” characterized by a lack of inspiration, innovation, and clear direction. The author examines several potential reasons for this, including corporate greed, corporate politics, the influence of “entitled users,” and the hype around AI and Gen AI. The article aims to provide a nuanced perspective on these issues and encourages readers to focus on being part of the solution rather than getting caught up in blaming single factors.
Six human skills that will future-proof your design career
The article discusses how AI is impacting the design industry and how designers can leverage their unique human qualities to future-proof their careers.
DPO, Open-Source’s New Weapon in the AI War
The article discusses a new AI alignment technique called Direct Preference Optimization (DPO) that could make it more feasible for smaller research labs and universities to build large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT. It explains how DPO differs from the more expensive Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF) approach used by big tech companies, and how DPO can level the playing field for open-source AI development.
AI Detective: How I Spotted Clues of AI Writing in a Comedy Article That’s Killing It With Readers
The article discusses the author’s experience in identifying AI-generated content, particularly on the online publishing platform Medium. It explores the author’s background in critical reading and textual forensic analysis, which has helped them develop a keen sense for spotting AI-generated text. The article also touches on the history of AI in copywriting and the influence of early pioneers like Amanda Weston and Sean Volsler.
We Need To Talk About Why the Gen Z Workforce Is So Angry
The article discusses the generational shift in work culture, particularly the disconnect between Gen Z and the traditional approaches of tech companies. It highlights how Gen Z is rejecting the 9-to-5 work model, organizational structures, and career ladders that previous generations have accepted.
Quitting Time
The article discusses the importance of quitting and not just persevering, arguing that quitting is a necessary and underrated virtue for success. It explores how the narrative of “never give up” is overrated, and how the most successful people often have a history of quitting and trying new things.
The Jezebel Archetype: “Evil Women” And Their Sexuality
The article discusses the historical and cultural perceptions of female sexuality and power, as reflected in various literary and cinematic depictions. It explores how these representations often stem from male insecurities and the desire to control or vilify female autonomy and sexuality.
I Asked Google Gemini To Come Up With Business Ideas Not Found Elsewhere; I Got Blown Away
The article discusses the concept of “new ideas” and how they are often not entirely new, but rather a combination or iteration of existing ideas. It highlights the importance of leveraging existing knowledge and ideas, rather than solely focusing on creating something completely novel. The article also explores how AI can be used to generate unique business ideas by iterating on existing concepts.
Art Thinking: creating desirable futures in the AI era
The article discusses the differences between Design Thinking and Art Thinking, and how art can be used creatively in business to achieve disruptive results. It provides examples of how artists are collaborating with tech companies like OpenAI and how the Airbnb business model was influenced by an artist’s approach. The article also touches on the impact of technology like Waze and Google Maps on traditional skills, and how artists can use technology to question and transform reality.
Trump and Math
The article discusses the legal troubles facing former President Donald Trump and the likelihood of him facing criminal charges and potential imprisonment. It analyzes the odds of Trump being convicted and sent to prison based on the charges he is facing in multiple jurisdictions, and explores the possibility of him reaching a plea deal to avoid incarceration.
Our website: https://aili.app
Follow us on X (Twitter): https://x.com/aili_app
Join our discord channel: https://discord.gg/CQtysdQfDM
