AI Fake News: China Not Happy

The Chinese government has declared that AI produced news will be required to disclaim the fact that it is indeed AI manufactured. This will make fake news produced by AI a criminal offence.



The new law will come into affect January 1, 2020. The main concern stemming from the fake news generated by AI is the production of "deepfakes." Or, in other words, the merging and splicing of video and audio to produce news that never occurred. This direction is credited in large part to the presidential election of the U.S in 2016, where the emergence of fake news caused shock waves across the globe.

The Al Jazeera Article

The "DOOM" Guy's AI Passion Project

Legendary coder and revered video game developer John Carmack has stated that he has begun a project focused on the development of AGI: Artificial General Intelligence.



AGI is a type of AI that learns and acts much like normal humans do. In other words, Carmack is pursuing an AI capable of learning, problem solving, and behaving much like us. If images of the classic "the AI has gone rogue" trope just flashed in your mind then you are on the money, except hopefully Carmack will lean on the side of the "good" kind of AI like R2D2. Given Carmack's prowess in the realm of video games and virtual reality, if anyone can make headway in such an endeavor I believe it to be him. Time will tell if such a journey will yield the advancement of mankind or its destruction.

The TechCrunch Article

Only AI Can Prevent Wildfires

A San Francisco-based AI company, Chooch AI, has begun developing an AI program that would be capable of identifying fires before they even have a chance of spreading.


The current issue with fire prevention is that it is often too slow. Oftentimes by the time a fire is reported it is too late, as the fire has had the opportunity to gain traction making the situation even more difficult. What Chooch AI is attempting to develop is an AI capable of analyzing satellite imagery to determine where a fire has the potential of starting. It would do this via infrared to detect signs of smoke and heat, as well as identify where certain plots of vegetation are too close to power lines. Another goal is to enable this program to be able to constantly and regularly make scans of California's vast forest ranges. The technology is expected to be at a usable phase by next fire season. With over $25 billion in damages caused by the wildfire in just these past few weeks, Chooch AI could provide the solution to this epidemic.

The Washington Post Article

StarCraft II Pro

An AI by the name of AlphaStar has just successfully become a Grand Master at the video game StarCraft II.



The game of StarCraft II has often been dubbed as one of the most complex video games out there. Easy to understand yet incredibly difficult to learn how to play like a pro, AlphaStay grew to its current level of ability in just 44 days. It has beat 99.8% of all of its opponents since its inception. The important thing to note is that the AI was able to grow to its current level by "watching" recordings of other players and constant practice against itself to iron out any weaknesses in its game play. The broader hope for such a program is that said technology could be applied to predicting the weather and self driving cars.

The Guardian Article

Robo Builders

Currently, the assembly of vehicle parts and the construction of architecture has been either done in separate parts of the world or susceptible to human error. In an article published in Science Daily, researchers at MIT have been hard at work in producing a brand new "builder bot" of sorts. The robot is dubbed BILL-E (Bipedal Isotropic Locomoting Explorer).



BILL-E is capable of erecting structures without the need for a human to intervene. The human gives the robot a plan that it is capable of building and then it handles the rest. The hope is that it might be able to stop the current practice of certain structures needing to be assembled in separate locations. An example would be a commercial airliner where its wings may be constructed an assembled in one area, but the fuselage in another. The hope for BILL-E is that it may be able to stop this practice, which could positively impact the environment as it would eliminate the need to transport the separate pieces for final assembly.



Another hope is that a robot like BILL-E will be able to build human-livable structures on Mars. It would eliminate the need for humans to begin building as soon as they arrive on the Red Planet and instead have some sort of established base to begin whatever research they are there for.

The Science Daily Article

Computer Chip Showdown

The United States is the global leader in the production of computer chips and semiconductors. In a recent move that seeks to undermine the authority of another global powerhouse, the U.S has decided to stop selling chip components to several Chinese computer companies, specifically those in the AI development sector such as voice and face recognition software companies. This move is part of the larger power struggle occurring between both nations. China does seem to be in trouble as they domestically produce just 16% of the chip components they use. Beijing has noted that its goal is to increase that number to 40% by the end of next year and to 70% by 2025.



Despite the lofty goals set, China's AI sector could suffer a set back. Over the recent weeks, Chinese tech giants Huawei and Alibaba have unveiled new computer chips meant to increase the speed of machine learning. The further implication of such a development is the impact on the military technology sector in China. Looking like a preventative measure more than anything, the U.S seeks to halt the production of AI military software that could pose a threat later on. As much as it is a power move to constrict AI development in China, it is also a defensive measure to reduce China's geopolitical power by attacking its AI development.

The BBC Article

AI: As Good as Medical Professionals?

The U.K is currently supporting a 250 million GBP investment in AI technology focused on accurately diagnosing and analyzing images and scans through the NHS, National Health Services. 



What the technology actually does is interpret medical imaging to give a proper solution, as accurate as possible, on what actions may be taken to resolve the issue. Currently, the AI programs are just as good as its human counterparts. The issue that many on the opposition propose is that there is simply not enough studies or experiments done to fully understand what this technology is actually useful for. It should be noted that the side-by-side comparison between the doctors and the AI were using images of patients in which the doctors had no prior knowledge of and were nearly as good as the AI in giving a proper prognosis. 

The technology is still in its infancy, but the future may allow for more personalized, efficient relationships between the doctors and their patients.

The Guardian Article

AI Development Through 500 Million Games of Hide and Seek

Researchers at San Francisco-based lab, OpenAI, developed a program recently to study the ability of AI to learn new techniques and strategies through 500 simulations of hide and seek. The programmers at the lab set of an enclosed 3-D space in which movable and immovable barricades were scattered throughout with one team of three being the seekers and the other team of three being the hiders. What was discovered over the course of the testing is that the AI began with crude tactics that did not yield many results for the hiders, but as the testing progressed the AI were able to conduct more advanced strategies.

The term that describes this evolution of strategies is called "emergent intelligence." In other words, the AI were able to, without directions from the programmers, develop strategies and counter strategies in order to adapt to any given situation. The goal of such testing is to develop AI that may be able to solve the seemingly unsolvable problems of the world. Whether or not such advancement will yield results remains to be seen.

The MIT Technology Review Article

Robots Will Take Our Jobs! Maybe?

The concern for the rise of automation is one many people who work factory and other low skill jobs fear greatly. The threat of losing one's job to a more effective machine, according to MIT, is a concern not worth getting worked up over. Technology can work for the majority and does not have to serve solely those who can control it. The concerns for those individuals with jobs surrounded by automation is perhaps misguided but understandable. Between 65 and 90% of survey respondents in a 2018 report conducted in developed countries claim that robots will take over. The primary concern that stemmed from this, however, is that there is not a lack of quality jobs that pay adequately. Those born in the 1940s more often than not, 92% of them, made more money than their parents. Less than half of percentage is true for those born in the 1980s.



Other ways to look at mechanized labor is whether or not the innovation or advancement is worth it. The article points out that innovations, like the light bulb, help way more than it hinders. The counterpoint would be automated check out stands at supermarkets, which could be replacing jobs without providing a meaningful sense of productivity. The overall issue that the article tackles is that those individuals without a college degree who are relegated to lower skill jobs will eventually be replaced. The concern is valid, but the solution would be to implement systems that aid said workers in finding jobs that require more skill.

The future is AI robots capable of handling workloads that no human could ever accomplish. Whether I believe MIT's reassurance of that not being the case remains to be seen, especially when those in control of the technology may not have the interests of "the little people" in mind.

Thank you for reading.

The MIT Report

The Future is Now: Artificial Intelligence and Warfare

For as long as I can remember, either through the influence documentaries, film, or other forms of media, the United States has always represented itself in my mind as the unconquerable giant, in which any attempts to fell said giant are null and void. The future of warfare, however, may prove that whomever can master the combined might of advanced weaponry and artificial intelligence will "become the ruler of the world," (Fryer-Biggs). 

As early as the 1990s, nations across the globe have been experimenting with the idea of conducting war without the need of direct human intervention. Israel in 1990 developed AI drones capable of combating radar systems, Britain in 2000 developed the Brimstone missile, which is capable of discerning alongside other missiles which targets to go for, and even China and Russia in the past few years have developed their own advancements in AI warfare, with Russia claiming to have in their possession an AI controlled submarine armed with nuclear missiles. President Xi Jinping of China made the claim that his country will have mastered AI technology by 2030, most of which could be used for military purposes. The U.S, with funding approved by both the Obama and Trump administrations, has developed ships and aircraft capable of piloting themselves effectively and with little to no guidance. The inspiration of which stems from the successes of the Spirit and Opportunity Mars rovers in being able to function without human guidance. In short, their is a New Arms Race of sorts that mirrored that of the Cold War. With every developed country in the world in possession of the means to bring about Earth's Armageddon, the next logical step would to be able to carry out such militancy in which their exists minimal to no risk for a nation and its allies' people. 

There are some concerns about the use of AI. Namely, should AI be given the responsibility to decide who to strike, when, and how? How much human intervention is needed to mitigate this, or should their be none at all? Sure robots fighting in place of humans seems like a good idea, but would such merciless, ruthless killers be in violation of the rights of their victims. And should a country master AI weaponry, how would the landscape of the world change in response? Will Russia, China, the U.S, or some other nation become the ruler of the world in which everyone else is subservient to? The technological advances that are underway are incredibly fascinating as well as terrifying.

Thank you for reading.

Info gathered from this The Atlantic Article .

One Country's Trash is Another One's Treasure? How China and the Majority of Asia No Longer Needs Our Trash To Thrive

For many years China and many other East Asian countries, such as Indonesia, have served as the world's resident recycling facility. The relationship between East Asia and the industrialized world had been quite harmonious. Recyclables would arrive in processing facilities throughout China where thrown out plastics, paper, and the like would be synthesized into usable material that would then be sold back over to the rest of the world. To emphasize the sheer scale of this relationship, China received about 70% of the world's plastic waste, totaling to seven million tons per year. The U.S alone contributed to over 700,000 tons per year. 


The origins of such an operation can be traced back over twenty years ago. In 1995 Zhang Yin established a paper recycling company, named Nine Dragons, and eventually became the first female Chinese billionaire due to the untapped potential of this apparently lucrative industry. Eventually, when word that China is actually looking for more recyclables to process, many recycling plants could not resist the opportunity. Using empty Chinese shipping containers that would normally head back empty served as the perfect vehicle to begin this mutually beneficial relationship. 

What changed Chinese perception of the relationship began to crop up five years ago. Over time, it became less profitable to process other country's trash due to the increasing difficulty in processing contaminated recyclables that require much more labor than is worth the effort. In 2017, China began cutting back on imports. By January of last year, China had nearly shut down all trash imports. They now only receive less than 1% of the world's trash. 


The impact of China's proclamation against trash has had profound affects throughout the U.S. Warehouses and landfills are filling up with unrecoverable plastic waste. The solution: find other places to dump our trash, right? Shipments to Thailand skyrocketed to 7,000% and several hundred percent in Malaysia. Vietnam and Indonesia were also facing increasing volumes of American and global garbage. However, within the last year and a half, nearly all these countries have had to cut back significantly on trash imports.

The overwhelming effect of this development is a question many have been asking for decades at this point: How do we deal with the world's garbage? The irony of this situation is that recycling, something that is often encouraged from the moment we enter elementary school, is not the solution anymore. What the coming decades will bring in regards to dealing with trash is hard to predict, but if practices and habits fail to change and adapt the results could be even more catastrophic than they are now.

The information gathered here come from this NPR Article