The chairman of the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) Marcus Bokkerink has dismissed claims that his organisation is blocking acquisitions that could benefit the country. Earlier this month, the CMA drew criticism from Microsoft and Activision over its decision to block a $69bn acquisition of the latter by the former. Bokkerink said it was "surprised" by the reaction to the decision and argued that entrenched market power was bad for businesses that sought to compete and innovate. However, critics have claimed that regulators in the UK have been inhibiting the country's growth in the tech sector.
The popularity of interactive chatbot, ChatGPT, raises questions about how the way we treat machines may influence our behaviour towards humans, according to Derek Ruths, a professor in computer science. Ruths questions the impact of AI-powered technology that increasingly blurs the line between human and machine and may be indistinguishable from human companions in the future. Ruths believes our conduct with AI should be kind and appreciative, fearing a lack of civility towards machines could filter into our behaviour toward fellow humans, while understanding the "profoundly confusing" effect their increasing use may have on human communication patterns.
Tesla is offering discounts of over $1,300 for some Model 3 cars in stock at its US dealerships, following steeper cuts offered in Europe, according to Reuters. While the move marks a U-turn from Tesla's record of not offering sales incentives, experts warn that the e-car maker is facing new competition and economic headwinds. Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently told shareholders that Tesla would advertise for the first time, but also warned the global economy would be difficult for at least the next 12 months.
Toyota has suspended shipments of its Toyota Raize hybrid vehicles produced by Daihatsu Motor after finding improper crash tests for the model. A total of 56,111 vehicles in Japan have been affected by the faulty safety checks, in which results for a pole used to measure impact on the left side were used for the right when both sides needed to be tested. This is the latest in a series of issues that have hit Toyota, after it acknowledged a data breach at its Connected service a week ago and Daihatsu disclosed separate crash test problems affecting 88,123 vehicles sold abroad last month.
NFTs belonging to bankrupt crypto firm fetch nearly $2.5 mln at auction
Reuters
23-05-20 00:16
Seven non-fungible tokens (NFTs) from bankrupt cryptocurrency hedge fund Three Arrows Capital have sold for roughly $2.5m at an auction by Sotheby's. "Fidenza #725," an image in a muted palette, fetched the highest price, selling for over $1m. Singapore-based Three Arrows became the first major cryptocurrency firm to go bankrupt in 2022, after it was brought down by the collapse of cryptocurrencies Luna and TerraUSD. The firm filed for bankruptcy in the British Virgin Islands in June, but the company had valued its NFT collection at around $22m prior to its collapse.
Young people born after the restoration of independence in Timor-Leste will be able to vote in the country's parliamentary election on 12 May for the first time. Approximately 15% of the first-time voters will reflect the median age of 21. Despite its thriving democracy, Timor-Leste remains one of Asia’s poorest countries, with many challenges including youth unemployment, rural poverty and infant mortality. By voting, the young generation will have a chance to engage in decisions about their future and the direction of the country. The older generation, who are the political elites, are still the focus of attention, yet are beginning to cast an eye to the future. Independence hero Xanana Gusmao, 76, has been accompanied on stage at campaign events by his 20-year-old son, who is being touted as a future politician. Despite a reverence for previous leaders, younger voters are believed to be very conscious of the need to build the future rather than dwell on the past, which should lead to a change in political dynamics in the country in the future.
UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak has launched a £1bn ($1.35bn) semiconductor strategy, designed to create jobs and boost economic growth, but questions remain about whether the sum is enough compared to the support offered by other nations. Fresh questions over a key player were raised after Alphawave announced that its annual profits had been overstated by £6m and its finance chief was leaving, though it remains the most valuable semiconductors firm on the London Stock Exchange. Critics described the UK package as "flaccid" and "insignificant", pointing to the €43bn ($50bn) in aid provided by Brussels, and $50bn by Washington.
Economist Robert Lucas has died aged 85. His work moved economics away from the liberal Keynesian policies of the 1960s, instead adopting the conservative view that fiscal or monetary fine-tuning is a futile exercise. Lucas authored a series of models which are now the standard tools of macroeconomics, used by those who share his opinions as well as his detractors. While his contributions to fiscal policy, urban economics, and international trade were admired, his argument in 2003 that the task of preventing economic depression had been successful was contradicted by subsequent events.
A recent study in The Lancet Planetary Health has found that gardening could have a significant impact on preventing chronic diseases and mental-health disorders. Such findings have led The Chelsea Flower Show to spotlight the theme of "restorative gardens" this year. A larger 2020 study from the mental-health charity Mind collected more than seven million comments from individuals who had taken up gardening for the first time during the pandemic, many attributing their reduced stress to the sights, colours and smells of the outdoors. Beyond emotional benefits, gardening has also been found to benefit one's physical health, with decreased weight and BMI, as well as better muscle mass, bone strength and balance. Research has also shown that increased exposure to garden soil can positively contribute to one's immune system, as well as bolster daily dietary habits through an elevated consumption of vegetables. Finally, nature-based programs in hospitals have been found to aid patients in their recovery from illness.
The Group of Seven (G7) nations have pledged to achieve net-zero emissions on roads by 2050 as part of their commitment to a highly decarbonised road sector by 2030. The G7 highlighted various policies that countries are implementing, including achieving 100% electrified vehicles for new passenger car sales by 2035, promoting infrastructure and sustainable carbon-neutral fuels, and achieving 100% or the overwhelming penetration of sales for zero-emission vehicles in the light-duty vehicle category by 2035 and beyond. The aim is to progress towards a share of over 50% of zero emission LDVs sold globally by 2030.
G7 leaders have called for international technical standards for trust-worthy artificial intelligence (AI) following their meeting in Hiroshima. While they agreed that achievement "may vary", the group said "the governance of the digital economy should continue to be updated in line with our shared democratic values." The EU, which was represented at the meeting, moved closer this month to implementing the world's first comprehensive AI law. The group also expressed a need to discuss intellectual property rights and concerns surrounding disinformation and generative AI tools.
It took 60 years, but RSV vaccines are just around the corner — and could make a big difference
CBC
23-05-20 08:00
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the first vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for use in adults aged 60 and above. A single dose of the Arexvy vaccine, developed by drugmaker GSK, was found to be 83% effective at preventing RSV lung infections. RSV is highly contagious and can cause severe lower respiratory tract infections in infants, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals, leading to bronchiolitis or pneumonia. Infection in children under the age of five results in up to 80,000 hospitalizations and 100 to 300 deaths in the US each year. RSV is also a serious concern for the elderly, with between 6,000 and 10,000 adults in the US who are aged 65 and above dying from the virus annually, and 60,000 and 160,000 hospitalizations. Several other companies, including Pfizer and Moderna, are also developing RSV vaccines and treatments.
Harrison Ford has defended his use of digital de-ageing technology in the opening scenes of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, which had its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival this week. Many reviewers had questioned the believability of the technology, which shows a digitally recreated Ford at the start of the film, despite the action occurring many years after previous Indiana Jones movies. “I know that that is my face,” he said. “It’s not a kind of Photoshop magic – that’s what I looked like 35 years ago."
At the G7 summit, world leaders called for international standards for rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). The world's largest economies have acknowledged that while AI has become more prevalent, international rules governing their use and compliance have "not necessarily kept pace". However, no significant conclusions were reached on how to handle the emerging technology. In their joint statement, the leaders said the challenges of new technologies such as AI must be considered alongside the benefits, adding they should be governed in line with democratic values. G7 members also called for technical standards to develop "trustworthy" AI.
Artificial intelligence (AI) may be a cause for job losses, but new advances in technology can also lead to the creation of new jobs, according to experts. Erik Brynjolfsson, a professor at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI, said he wished people would realise the scope for undertaking tasks that had never previously been possible. Researchers at OpenAI and the University of Pennsylvania found that in about 80% of jobs, at least 10% of tasks could be automated using generative AI, which can produce things like text and images. However, the new technology may complement human labour, allowing workers to focus on new areas of work. Brynjolfsson cited the example of an AI tool that generated live responses for call centre staff to give to customers, boosting productivity by 14% on average and improving customer sentiment.
Beijing's government has called upon major Chinese tech firms to quicken the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI) as it increases its focus on the sector to compete with the US. This week the city's technology promotion agency began inviting AI, augmented reality and virtual reality research projects, with up to CNY60m ($8.6m) to be awarded for up to 12 projects over two years. Authorities are urging partners to work on the development and applications of large language models, the technology that underpins generative AI such as Alibaba Cloud, Alibaba Group, Baidu and 360 Security Technology.
China's State Council has passed a legislation permitting migrant workers to marry outside of their hometowns to combat demographic disparities. People from 21 UK municipalities and provinces will now be able to get married where their residence permits were issued, removing the obligation to marry in the city or town of their hukou (household registration). Despite some portions of the country requiring residence permits, the hukou still determines public education, healthcare and social services. In 2020, 376 million people migrated in China, and approximately 120 million moved across provinces.
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology's Centre for Education Innovation has urged its professors to use artificial intelligence (AI) systems in their lessons. Staff have been allowed to come up with their own guidelines for AI's use and HKUST plans to spend at least $10m on generative-AI applications in curriculums. Sean McMinn, director of the centre, said using AI in education can lead to an increase in student performance and preparation for working with technology in the future. Students can use ChatGPT, an AI generator built by OpenAI, to create audio, video, image or text-based content.
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) by students for academic purposes is growing rapidly, with schools and universities forced to rethink how they conduct tuition and academic testing. Many students are using AI tools to help with academic work, with some students using it to cheat on assignments and exams. However, educators and students are also cautiously experimenting with the use of generative AI to enhance lessons, and questioning whether it is possible to use AI in education without undercutting the most important features of human learning. One of the major challenges with generative AI is accuracy, including hallucination, the fabrication of facts and the black box effect, which produces false information and creates a vacuum for content to be reframed. There is also evidence that AI-written text can be biased and learned from internet content, including sexism, racism and political partisanship.
Japanese railway operators, already expanding the use of automation, are considering the use of self-driving trains. Previously, safety concerns over automating lines had prevented operators from taking this step. However, with Japan's population ageing, railway firms now need to streamline their operations. Rail services now testing automation include East Japan Railway, which has trialled wireless automated operation of its main Yamanote Line in Tokyo, and Tokyo Metro, which is testing GoA2.5 semi-automated train operation between a driverless front car and a conductor-operated back car on some of its subway lines.
