An avatar of the long-dead British novelist is “teaching” an online writing course. But do we want to learn from a digital prosthetic built by artificial intelligence?
Category: robotics/AI
We, of course, feel “internal experiences,” that thing we call self, and we know very well when we’ve woken up. Consciousness, in fact, is what we lose when we fall asleep and regain when we wake up. ChatGPT 4.0 is emulating those human feelings. That doesn’t mean it actually feels them. But what if it does feel them one day? Will we listen to it then?
Schneider is among the intellectuals who believe that the question of machine consciousness is worth examining in depth. Not because she believes we’re already there, but because she believes it will happen sooner or later. Like Hassabis, she estimates that artificial general intelligence (AGI) — the name computer scientists give to something close enough to human intelligence to escape the simulacrum label and access a qualitatively different level — is a few decades away.
AGI will be a system capable of learning from experience without having to swallow the entire internet before breakfast; capable of abstracting information, projecting actions, and understanding situations it has never encountered before. And yes, perhaps capable of having “inner experiences,” or what we might call a form of consciousness. Don’t take it out on me; it’s philosophers who are examining this question.
A way to greatly enhance the efficiency of a method for correcting errors in quantum computers has been realized by theoretical physicists at RIKEN. This advance could help to develop larger, more reliable quantum computers based on light.
Quantum computers are looming large on the horizon, promising to revolutionize computing within the next decade or so.
“Quantum computers have the potential to solve problems beyond the capabilities of today’s most powerful supercomputers,” notes Franco Nori of the RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing (RQC).
The field of nanotechnology is still in its nascent stages, but recent innovations are increasingly making this science fiction world of tiny robots into a reality. New breakthrough research from a team at Caltech has demonstrated the ability of a robot made of a single strand of DNA to explore a molecular surface, pick up targeted molecules, and move them to another designated location.
“Just like electromechanical robots are sent off to faraway places, like Mars, we would like to send molecular robots to minuscule places where humans can’t go, such as the bloodstream,” says Lulu Qian, co-author on the paper. “Our goal was to design and build a molecular robot that could perform a sophisticated nanomechanical task: cargo sorting.”
Previous work by a variety of researchers has successfully demonstrated the creation of such DNA robots, but this is the first time they have been shown to pick up and transport specific molecules.
In this profound and thought-provoking clip from the Quantum Convergence documentary, tech pioneer and physicist Federico Faggin delves into his transformative experience of consciousness — the moment he felt himself as the universe observing itself. Faggin, best known for his work in developing the first microprocessor, explores the fundamental nature of consciousness, its relationship with matter, and the deeper purpose of the universe.
About Quantum Convergence:
Quantum Convergence is a groundbreaking documentary that explores the intersection of science, technology, and consciousness. Featuring leading thinkers and visionaries, the film examines how our understanding of reality is evolving in the age of AI and quantum physics.
Subscribe for more transformative content:
Stay updated with more clips and insights from Quantum Convergence by hitting the notification bell.
Like, share, and comment if you believe in the power of consciousness.
#QuantumConvergence #Consciousness #FedericoFaggin #AI #Philosophy #Science #QuantumPhysics.
Learn more — https://www.infinitepotential.com/
A joint research team from Seoul National University and Harvard University has developed a next-generation swarm robot system inspired by nature—capable of movement, exploration, transport, and cooperation, all without the need for precise sensors or centralized control.
The study was led by Professor Ho-Young Kim, Dr. Kyungmin Son, and master’s student Kwanwoo Kim at SNU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Professor L. Mahadevan and Dr. Kimberly Bowal at Harvard.
Their approach connects simple, active particles into chain-like structures that can carry out complex tasks without any advanced programming or artificial intelligence. The research is published in Science Advances.
Infrared optoelectronic functional materials are essential for applications in lasers, photodetectors, and infrared imaging, forming the technological backbone of modern optoelectronics. Traditionally, the development of new infrared materials has relied heavily on trial-and-error experimental methods. However, these approaches can be inefficient within the extensive chemical landscape, as only a limited number of compounds can achieve a balance of several critical properties simultaneously.
To tackle this challenge, researchers from the Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have made significant strides in the machine learning (ML)-assisted discovery of infrared functional materials (IRFMs). The research team has developed a cohesive framework that integrates interpretable ML techniques to facilitate the targeted synthesis of these materials.
The paper is published in the journal Advanced Science.
China’s Origin Quantum has launched its fourth-generation quantum control system, a move signaling the country’s increasing push to industrialize and scale quantum computing capabilities.
The new system, dubbed Origin Tianji 4.0, supports over 500 qubits and serves as the central control for superconducting quantum computers, according to The Global Times, a media outlet under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The system, unveiled this week in Hefei, is positioned as a critical enabler for mass-producing quantum computers with more than 100 qubits.
The control system is considered the “neural center” of a quantum computer. It generates, acquires and controls the precise signals that manage quantum chips, which are the computational heart of a quantum system. With the Tianji 4.0 upgrade, Origin Quantum claims major improvements in integration, automation and scalability compared to its previous version, which powered the country’s third-generation superconducting quantum computer, Origin Wukong.
New AI built by Chinese scientists can create 3D faces from DNA with alarming accuracy.
Please see my latest Security & Tech Insights newsletter. Thanks and have a great weekend!
Link.
Dear Friends & Colleagues, please refer to the latest issue of the Security & Tech Insights newsletter. In this issue, several articles highlight emerging tech trends for 2025. Some of these topics were also selected by Forrester’s research on emerging technologies in 2025, which highlights tech that will help drive AI-led innovation while enabling long-term resilience. Thanks for reading and stay safe! Chuck Brooks.
#artificialintelligence #quantum #robotics #emergingtech #tech #trends #space #security | on LinkedIn.