The Obtain: Shaking up neural networks, and the rise of weight-loss medicine

Networks programmed straight into pc chip {hardware} can establish pictures quicker, and use a lot much less power, than the normal neural networks that underpin most fashionable AI methods. That’s in keeping with work introduced at a number one machine studying convention in Vancouver final week.

Neural networks, from GPT-4 to Secure Diffusion, are constructed by wiring collectively perceptrons, that are extremely simplified simulations of the neurons in our brains. In very massive numbers, perceptrons are highly effective, however additionally they eat monumental volumes of power.

A part of the difficulty is that perceptrons are simply software program abstractions—operating a perceptron community on a GPU requires translating that community into the language of {hardware}, which takes time and power. Constructing a community straight from {hardware} elements does away with loads of these prices. And someday, they might even be constructed straight into chips utilized in smartphones and different units. Learn the complete story.

—Grace Huckins

Medicine like Ozempic now make up 5% of prescriptions within the US

What’s new? US docs write billions of prescriptions every year. Throughout 2024, although, one kind of drug stood out—“surprise medicine” generally known as GLP-1 agonists. As of September, considered one of each 20 prescriptions written for adults was for considered one of these medicine, in keeping with the well being knowledge firm Truveta.

The large image: Based on the info, individuals who get prescriptions for these medicine are youthful, whiter, and extra more likely to be feminine. Actually, ladies are twice as doubtless as males to get a prescription. But not everybody who’s prescribed the medicine finally ends up taking them. Actually, half the brand new prescriptions for weight problems are going unfilled. Learn the complete story.