Issue #237 - reaching escape velocity in longevity; AI Index Report 2019; how robots can become blacksmiths; and more!
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This week - reaching escape velocity in longevity; AI Index Report 2019; how robots can become blacksmiths; and more!
MORE THAN A HUMAN
► Aubrey de Grey | Reaching Escape Velocity in Longevity for Most Alive Today (13:51)
Aubrey de Grey, the pioneer in longevity research, claims that we are on a good path towards reaching the escape velocity in longevity. There is funding and there are startups working on this. But the biggest hurdle right now is convincing the governments that putting resources into the longevity research is worth it.
► Guardian XO is a powered exoskeleton that makes you 20X stronger (7:33)
Meet the Guardian XO from Sarcos Robotics, the world's first battery-powered robot that helps humans safely lift up to 200 pounds (90 kilograms) for eight hours a day, without strain or injury.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence released the 2019 Artificial Intelligence Index report which analyses AIs impact on everything from national economies to job growth, research and public perception. This post contains a distilled version of the report highlighting some key findings. The full report can be found here.
► Training AI Without Writing A Reward Function, with Reward Modelling (17:51)
Robert Miles explains Reward Modelling - an upgrade to reinforced learning where the reward function is replaced by another neural network that predicts the reward based on human input. This approach, proposed by DeepMind and OpenAI researchers, has proven to generate better results for complex tasks, like learning to do a backflip.
30 Influential Women Advancing AI in 2019
Here is a list of 30 influential women in AI that, according to ReWork, advanced the field forward and therefore deserve recognition.
Finland is making its online AI crash course free to the world
Last year, Finland launched a free online crash course in artificial intelligence with the aim of educating its citizens about the new technology. Now, as a Christmas present to the world, the European nation is making the six-week program available for anyone to take. Thank you, Finland.
ROBOTICS
MIA-1 Open Source Advanced Handmade Humanoid Robot
If you ever wanted to build a humanoid robot but you don't know where to start, check this project. It outlines the build process step by step, from parts to assembly to software running the robot.
Café X Opens Robot Coffee Bar at San Jose Airport
Here is another instalment of "the robots are taking our jobs!" series. At San Jose airport, you can get a coffee made by a robotic barista.
‘Robotic Blacksmithing’: A Technology That Could Revive US Manufacturing
This article explains the idea of robotic blacksmithing - combining the art of blacksmithing with robots. This technique promises a better and quicker manufacturing process producing parts with the strength of forged metal and precision and relentlessness of a robot.
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Conrad Gray (@conradthegray)
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