Conversing With Whales, Earth's Digital Twin, and Light-Based AI Chips.

Humans are the ultimate chameleons with Alzheimer’s.

We have an uncanny ability to adapt to new technological waves and adjust our standards of living in an instant. Then we forget the life we once lived before the aforementioned wave.

Let’s go through some quick technological gratitude.

Can you imagine your messy and wire-ful life before the invention of Wi-Fi? Well that was invented only 25 years ago (and become more mainstream in households only much later).

What if you had to carry around maps all the time? You should remember, Google Maps came out just 19 years ago (but really only became viable once mobile phones got more powerful).

Imagine if your iPhone didn’t exist. Couldn’t kill time watching videos, listening to music, or taking candid photos? That was true, just merely 17 years ago (and the first iPhone was nowhere near amazing as it is now).

What would it be like if you didn’t get to benefit from all the medical breakthroughs from CRISPR? New antibiotics, gene editing for genetic disorders, cancer research advancements, and much more? Well that used to be life, just 12 years ago.

How about if you had no Uber and had to always struggle with finding a cab? They started operations in a few select cities merely 15 years ago (and way later for others).

Your smart speakers, smart lights, and smart thermostat, all connected to your smart home, scheduled to your likings and easily activated from your personal voice - 8 years ago.

Imagine you couldn’t ask ChatGPT to rewrite your entire email asking your boss for vacation time in a polite but assertive manner? You couldn’t do that just 2 years ago.

Once a new technology releases, your standard of living steadily increments upwards and we forget about our life before we had it.

This bit by Louis CK is more relevant than ever before.

Take some time to be in awe of what you have.

Take some time to be in awe of what’s to come.

What’s On The Menu?

1. Whale conversations with scientists.

2. Digital twin of Earth simulated by AI to predict weather patterns.

3. GMO apples that do not brown get approval.

4. Diamond wafers storage technology billions time better than Blu-Ray.

5. Light-based chip infrastructure could be key to AGI.

Scientists Are Learning to Speak with Humpback Whales.

source: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240409-the-scientists-learning-to-speak-whale

TL;DR:

Scientists managed to "talk" to a humpback whale using underwater speakers that played whale sounds, to which the whale responded.

This event marks a breakthrough in understanding whale communication, which may be as sophisticated and meaningful as human languages, and is the first step towards communication with non-human intelligence. Researchers hope this will deepen our understanding and connection with nature.

So what…?

Understanding whale communication could revolutionize our approach to studying marine life and contribute to broader ecological research, potentially influencing conservation efforts.

“so uh… what kind of music do you listen to? - first conversation between a whale and scientist that just met“

AI-Powered 'Digital Twin' Of Earth Could Make Weather Predictions At Super Speeds.

source: https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/climate-change/ai-powered-digital-twin-of-earth-could-make-weather-predictions-at-super-speeds

TL;DR:

Nvidia has developed a supercomputer called Earth-2, described as a "digital twin" of our planet, which can predict weather events like typhoons and flooding much faster than current methods.

Using advanced machine learning and high-resolution simulations, this system offers rapid and detailed climate and weather forecasts across the globe.

It processes massive amounts of climate data to not only predict immediate weather events but also to provide insights into long-term climate change impacts.

Big whoop, and…?

The weatherman will stop being the most hated news reporter on the channel.

This technology has the potential to save lives by providing earlier warnings for extreme weather events, allowing for more effective emergency responses and planning.

It also enhances our understanding of climate change's future impacts, helping communities and policymakers make informed decisions to mitigate adverse effects.

““earth-2: electric boogaloo”

Okanagan B.C. Company Gets Green Light for GMO Non-Browning Apple.

source: https://www.castanet.net/news/Penticton/481622/Okanagan-company-gets-green-light-for-GMO-non-browning-apple

TL;DR:

Okanagan Specialty Fruits has received Canadian approval for their Arctic Gala apple, a genetically modified variety that resists browning and stays fresh for up to 28 days.

They use bioengineering to extend the shelf life and enhance the appeal of apples, making them more consumer-friendly by offering pre-sliced and diced options.

Despite the longstanding public concerns about genetically modified foods, the approval marks a significant advancement in agricultural biotechnology.

Who cares…?

This development is significant as it showcases the growing acceptance and integration of genetically modified crops that aim to reduce food waste and promote sustainability.

These apples offer practical benefits like longer freshness and reduced browning, which could change consumer habits and potentially impact the global food supply positively.

“rotten apple will spoil “

Diamond Wafers Could Store a Billion Blu-Ray’s Worth of Data.

source: https://newatlas.com/electronics/2-inch-diamond-wafers-quantum-memory-billion-blu-rays/

TL;DR:

Researchers in Japan have developed a method to manufacture 5-cm diamond wafers with ultra-high purity, capable of storing the equivalent of a billion Blu-Ray discs, or 25 exabytes of data.

These wafers use a low nitrogen concentration to optimize the storage capabilities of quantum bits, overcoming previous size and purity constraints.

The innovation utilizes a new technique where the substrate for crystal growth is stepped, reducing strain and preventing cracking, thus allowing for larger, more effective wafers.

Why does this matter…?

This breakthrough in data storage technology could revolutionize how we manage and store digital data, vastly increasing capacity while using materials that occupy minimal physical space.

It's a significant step towards more efficient and compact data storage solutions, potentially impacting everything from computing infrastructure to personal data management.

“chocolate wafers could store a billion cookies worth of calories.“

China’s Light-Based Chip Taichi Could Power Artificial General Intelligence.

source: https://interestingengineering.com/science/taichi-light-based-chip

TL;DR:

Researchers at Tsinghua University in China have developed Taichi, a light-based artificial intelligence chip that significantly surpasses traditional electronic chips in energy efficiency and performance.

Taichi uses light to process data and is over 1,000 times more energy-efficient than Nvidia’s H100 GPU chip.

This innovation presents a modular architecture, allowing independent clustering of chips, which enhances computing power and scalability.

And that means…?

Taichi’s breakthrough in photonic computing not only pushes the boundaries of AI capabilities towards AGI but also offers a more sustainable, power-efficient alternative to current electronic chips.

As AI applications grow, adopting such efficient technologies could be pivotal in managing the environmental impact of advanced computing.

“harness a bit of light on a bed of stones, power it by lightning and boom, you’ve made sentient consciousness“

That’s it for this week!

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Cheers,
Jae