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TechCrunch
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- TechCrunch
TC Sessions: AI Trivia Countdown — score 2-for-1 tickets
Think you know which AI assistant was the first to use natural language processing for everyday tasks? Or which researcher coined the term 'deep learning,' revolutionizing AI? If so, this is your chance to win two TechCrunch Sessions: AI tickets for a discounted rate of one. Test your AI smarts — win a chance to attend TC Sessions: AI Crush a few quick AI trivia questions, and if you come out on top, check your inbox — a special deal might be waiting for you. Each day brings a new round of questions, so don't sweat it if today stumps you — there's still time to play. But act fast — the trivia ends tomorrow, June 4, and you won't want to miss this shot at discounted access to the biggest conversations in AI. How to play Step 1: Take today's AI Trivia Countdown quiz. Step 2: Check your inbox to see if you've scored the special code. Step 3: Use the code to grab 2-for-1 tickets to TechCrunch Sessions: AI. Don't just keep up with AI — be part of it on June 5 at UC Berkeley's Zellerbach Hall. Play the trivia. Win the deal.
The Star
31-05-2025
- Science
- The Star
China unveils world's first AI nuke inspector
Chinese scientists have developed an artificial intelligence system that can distinguish real nuclear warheads from decoys, marking the world's first AI-driven solution for arms control verification. The technology, disclosed in a peer-reviewed paper published in April by researchers with the China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE), could bolster Beijing's stance in stalled international disarmament talks while fuelling debate on the role of AI in managing weapons of mass destruction. The project, which is built on a protocol jointly proposed by Chinese and American scientists more than a decade ago, faced three monumental hurdles. These were – training and testing the AI using sensitive nuclear data (including real warhead specifications); convincing Chinese military leaders that the system would not leak tech secrets; and persuading sceptical nations, particularly the United States, to abandon Cold War-era verification methods. So far, only the first step has been cleared. 'Due to the classified nature of nuclear warheads and component designs, specific data cannot be disclosed here,' the CIAE team wrote in their Atomic Energy Science and Technology paper. The admission highlights the delicate balance between scientific transparency and inevitable opacity around nuclear arms control efforts. The AI verification protocol, dubbed 'Verification Technical Scheme for Deep Learning Algorithm Based on Interactive Zero Knowledge Protocol', employs a multiple-stage process blending cryptography and nuclear physics. Using Monte Carlo simulations, researchers generated millions of virtual nuclear components – some containing weapons-grade uranium, others disguised with lead or low-enriched materials. A many-layer deep learning network was trained on neutron flux patterns, achieving extremely high accuracy in distinguishing real warheads. To prevent the AI gaining direct access to top-secret nuclear weapon design, a 400-hole polythene wall was erected between the inspection system and real warhead, scrambling neutron signals and masking warhead geometries while allowing radiation signatures to pass. If inspectors and host nations engage in several rounds of randomised verification, deception odds can be reduced to nearly zero, according to the study. The system's linchpin lies in its ability to verify chain-reaction capability – the essence of nuclear weapons – without exposing design details. The AI knows nothing about the warhead's engineering, but it can still determine authenticity through partially obscured radiation signals. CIAE, a subsidiary of the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), serves as a critical research hub for nuclear weapons technology. Yu Min, a nuclear physicist from the institute, pioneered groundbreaking advancements in miniaturising China's nuclear arsenal, devising unique technical solutions that earned him the revered title of 'Father of China's Hydrogen Bomb'. The disclosure arrives amid frozen US-China nuclear negotiations. While US President Donald Trump repeatedly sought to restart talks, Beijing has resisted, citing disparities in arsenal sizes (China's estimated 600 warheads vs America's 3,748) and distrust of legacy verification methods. 'In nuclear warhead component verification for arms control, it is critical to ensure that sensitive weapon design information is not acquired by inspectors while maintaining verification effectiveness,' the CIAE team wrote. 'Current solutions primarily rely on information barrier methods developed by national laboratories in Britain, the United States and Russia. These barriers constitute complex automated systems that process highly classified measurement data during inspections, ultimately displaying only binary 'yes/no' results. 'However, such systems suffer from multiple drawbacks: their inherent complexity demands mutual trust between inspecting and inspected parties against hidden back doors, while excessive dependence on electronic systems creates vulnerabilities for potential exploitation of electronic/IT back doors to illicitly access sensitive information,' they added. To ensure thrust and transparency, the CIAE team said that the AI could be jointly coded, trained and verified by the inspecting and inspected party. Before testing the nuclear warheads, the AI deep learning software 'must be sealed', they said. The technology's unveiling coincides with heightened global anxiety over AI militarisation. While Washington and Beijing have jointly banned AI from nuclear launch decisions, the construction and deployment of large-scale smart defence infrastructure such as the Golden Dome proposed by the Trump administration would inevitably employ AI to guide or even control automated weapons to achieve quick response on a global scale. -- South China Morning Post
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
18-year-old from Central Jersey is Rutgers' youngest 2025 graduate
At the very top of Alex Geppert's LinkedIn profile is a statement that reads like a challenge and a mission: 'Technology is fast, and so am I.' It's not a boast – it's a fair summary of a young scholar who, at just 18, is graduating from Rutgers with a double major in computer science and data science, a resume that includes hands-on robotics and AI research, and a fall admission to one of the top Ph.D. programs in artificial intelligence in the country. Geppert enrolled at the university two years ago, after completing two associate degrees – one in mathematics, one in computer science – while still a student at Watchung Hills High School. 'I was taking classes at Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) during afternoons and weekends,' he said. 'By the time I finished high school, I had enough credits to start at Rutgers as a junior.' An early fascination turned focus Geppert's path toward computer science took shape in middle school. During the early months of the COVID lockdown, he stumbled across "Deep Learning" by Ian Goodfellow, a foundational text in artificial intelligence. 'I opened it and realized I didn't follow any of it,' he said. 'But it introduced me to the field and made me want to learn the math behind how it worked.' More: Rutgers wrestling's Anthony White performs balancing act on the mat and in the classroom He started with calculus and linear algebra on his own, then began formal coursework at RVCC. By his sophomore year of high school, he was taking advanced college-level classes like multivariable calculus and discrete mathematics. At 16, he graduated from high school having already completed the equivalent of two years of college. A life built around learning (and rowing) Geppert has always commuted to Rutgers from his home in Warren. 'People ask why I live at home. It's partly to save money,' he said, 'but also because I have a great relationship with my parents. I spend the day on campus – classes, research, rowing – and come home to dinner and conversation.' He didn't expect to play sports in college, but that changed when Rutgers held its student involvement fair. Crew team members were on the lookout for tall recruits. 'They spotted me, asked if I'd try out,' said Geppert, who is 6-foot-3. 'I'd been a swimmer and lifeguard, so I figured I'd give it a shot.' He made the team and stuck with it, despite the demanding schedule. Practice starts before 7 a.m., six days a week. 'It's intense,' he said. 'But the guys on the team are some of my closest friends. A few of us study together, too. It's a great support system.' Turning research into real-world tools In his academic work, Geppert joined the Computational Brain Lab of Konstantinos Michmizos, whose research focus is on neuro-rehabilitation and neuro-inspired robotics. There, he developed an AI-based system that uses computer vision to recognize human hand movements and control a robotic hand in real time. The system relies on a deep neural network, which processes information in a way that mimics the human brain. More: Former Rutgers basketball player sworn in on North Brunswick Township Council 'Working with Alex has been an exceptional experience,' Michmizos said. 'His maturity and discipline in navigating the uncertainties of research are impressive. Interestingly, I only learned a few months ago that he is graduating at a very young age. I always considered him one of the top students in my lab, yet based on his behavior, I would have never guessed that he was so much younger than his peers. He is truly unique.' This fall, Geppert will begin a fully funded doctoral program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he'll focus on multi-agent systems and generative AI. He's especially interested in designing intelligent systems that can interpret information, make decisions and adapt to changing contexts – tools that can be integrated into real-world challenges rather than remain in theoretical models or simulations. 'I want to build AI that helps people reason through complex problems,' he said. 'We talk a lot about what AI can do, but not enough about how we stay connected to it. That connection – understanding what the system is doing and why – is the part I care about most.' He sees potential for AI to deepen human learning and decision making. 'It's not just about recommending a resource,' he said. 'It's about guiding someone through a concept, helping them test their understanding, and prompting the right questions at the right time.' For Geppert, artificial intelligence isn't a destination – it's an infrastructure. 'The goal isn't to make people more dependent on AI,' he said. 'It's to strengthen human thinking, not replace it.' This article originally appeared on Rutgers youngest 2025 graduate is Warren NJ 18-year-old
Local Spain
12-04-2025
- Business
- Local Spain
Inside Spain: Foreign residents won't be banned from buying homes
Property For Members In this week's Inside Spain we look at how one town wants to use AI to 'personalise' tourists' holidays, and how a proposal to limit foreigners from buying properties in Spain if they haven't lived in the country for five years has been rejected. AI is seeping into every walk of life, so it's no surprise that it's also starting to make its way into Spain's tourism industry. The coastal town of Benicassim in Castellón province, famous for its international music festival, will be the first place in Spain to use artificial intelligence to give holidaymakers tips. Using the geolocation system of tourists' mobile phones, Benicassim town hall will send messages to them informing them of sites, offers and services near them, from renting a jet ski to where to eat. However, holidaymakers will first have to download an app, so they won't receive the suggestions unless they want to. The software will take into account their preferences and send them prompts based on this. Monuments, museums, green spaces, eateries, transport options, hotels and so on, all will be covered by a technology that in the words of Benicassim authorities 'will personalise the experience of tourists'. In fact, 11 other municipalities in Castellón province in the coastal region of Valencia will also have similar AI geolocation services soon. There are already travel companies such as Expedia and Kayak which offer users these virtual holiday assistants as well. The popular holiday town of Benidorm is also looking to have an AI-assisted chatbot to improve communication and access to resources and services for residents and tourists. So, like it or not, no doubt we'll be seeing a lot more of AI in Spain's tourism hotspots in the years to come. Unfortunately, that may come with the more sinister side of AI, as part of Benicassim's artificial intelligence deal also includes a video surveillance system based on Deep Learning technologies which features facial recognition, people counting, and movement speed. For example, it can detect if a car is driving in the wrong direction, if a group of people enters a restricted area, or if the capacity of a venue is exceeded. In other news, Spain's Congressional Housing Committee on Thursday rejected a recent proposal to prevent foreigners from buying property in Spain if they can't prove that they've lived in the country for at least five years. The proposal, presented by Catalan party ERC, only received the support from the Spanish government's hard-left junior coalition partner Sumar, while Spain's ruling Socialists abstained. Incidentally, far-right party Vox expressed its "interest for any initiative aimed at limiting foreign property demand in all areas, including the purchasing of homes, which drives people from their homes and neighbourhoods, displaces the population and causes speculation", but ultimately they considered the proposal wasn't far-reaching enough. ERC wants the regional governments of Spain's 17 autonomous communities to have the powers to apply restrictions on foreign buyers, even if they are residents. They proposed a regional authorisation system whereby foreigners planning to buy a home in Spain would first have to prove their eligibility by applying for a permit from the housing department of the region where the property is located. The criteria for this would be first proving five years of continuous residence in the country. This represented the first time that a political party in Spain has suggested that actual foreign residents in Spain be limited from buying homes in Spain whereas prior proposals applied only to non-EU non-residents. Were such a measure to be passed, it would mean that temporary residents in Spain (those who've resided in Spain for under five years) would potentially be barred from buying homes in the country. In mid-January, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez made international headlines when he announced that his government was considering either a supertax on non-resident non-EU property buyers, or completely preventing them from buying Spanish homes, unless they can prove links to Spain. All of the above proposals have been suggested as ways to alleviate the country's housing crisis. It is yet to be seen if either of Sánchez's measures will make it through the Congress and Senate before actually coming into force.
