Africa’s AI researchers are prepared for takeoff

Tech firms have been funneling billions of {dollars} into quantum computer systems for years. The hope is that they’ll be a recreation changer for fields as various as finance, drug discovery, and logistics. These expectations have been particularly excessive in physics and chemistry, the place the bizarre results of quantum mechanics come into play. In concept, that is the place quantum computer systems might have an enormous benefit over typical machines.

Enter AI: However whereas the sector struggles with the realities of difficult quantum {hardware}, one other challenger is making headway in a few of these most promising use circumstances. AI is now being utilized to elementary physics, chemistry, and supplies science in a approach that means quantum computing’s purported dwelling turf won’t be so protected in any case. 

Given the tempo of current advances, a rising variety of researchers at the moment are asking whether or not AI might resolve a considerable chunk of probably the most fascinating issues in chemistry and supplies science earlier than large-scale quantum computer systems change into a actuality. Learn extra from Edd Gent right here

Bits and Bytes

The Saudis are planning a $100 billion AI powerhouse 
Talking of the race for AI dominance, this piece seems at how Saudi Arabia needs in on AI motion. And it’s placing its cash the place its mouth is. The nation is investing an enormous sum to develop a tech hub that it hopes will rival the neighboring United Arab Emirates. (Bloomberg)

AI is making it more durable to consider what’s actual and what’s not
Two current examples present simply how influential AI slop might be in warping our sense of actuality. In Dublin, crowds gathered within the metropolis middle to attend for a Halloween parade to happen. There was no parade deliberate, however the itemizing was created by AI after which picked up by social media customers and native media. By the use of distinction, some social media customers dismissed stunning photos of the devastating current floods in Spain as AI-generated, though they have been solely actual. 

AI firms are getting snug providing their know-how to the army
Militaries around the globe have been pouring cash into new applied sciences, together with AI. Meta and Anthropic are the newest tech firms to begin courting them, becoming a member of the likes of Google and OpenAI. (The Washington Publish

OpenAI is shifting its technique as the advance in its AI instruments slows down
The present paradigm in AI improvement is to make issues greater to make them higher. However OpenAI’s new mannequin, code-named Orion, solely performs barely higher than its predecessors. As a substitute, OpenAI is shifting to bettering fashions after their preliminary coaching. (The Data