Happy Wednesday everyone. Here’s your five minute weekly digest of all things AI

News

Ukraine using autonomous AI drones on the battlefield: drones have become controversial weapons of war over the skies of Ukraine. Targeting and firing their 3kg weapon, they are doing so without human intervention. Read about it here 

New AI tool that can predict virus mutations: researchers at Harvard Medical School and the University of Oxford have created a new AI tool that successfully predicts virus mutations of concern that will leave the immune system, such as those of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more here 

US doubles down on AI chip war with China: the Biden administration has enhanced its protective measures to stop China from obtaining AI chips, essential components in the training of Large Language Models. The ban also extends to chip making equipment. The US says that this is essential to prevent China building military applications. Cold War 2.0? Follow the story here

Traffic lights change quicker thanks to AI: Google are running pilot schemes in multiple cities around the world using live data from their Maps application to reduce both wait times and CO2 emissions at the same time. Read the sccop here

AI used to read incinerated ancient scrolls: papyrus scrolls, burned in the Vesuvius eruption of AD79, are starting to be translated from their x-rayed remains. Read all about this amazing breakthrough here

AI Tools

This week I’ve been playing with text to image editor DALL-E 3, now bundled with ChatGPT-4 for Plus (ie, paying) users. If you don’t have access then you can try for free here

Here’s a very simple example of the output from the basic prompt “concord flying low over Piccadilly”

Is it perfect? No. “Concord” doesn’t look like it has been spelled correctly and its not Piccadilly as I know it. However, is it absolutely amazing given how little information it had to go on to generate the picture? Yes, I think so. Use the link above and give it a try.

Prompts

The creative realm was often seen as being the last bastion of humanity. There is no way that AI can ever be creative in and of itself, many said. It now seems that this is not now the case. When you talk to people new to AI, one of the best examples can be to show off it’s poetry writing skills. I had the pleasure of sharing this with my uncle and aunt this week. They’re Scottish hence the poet and my uncle chose the subject! Althiough the following prompt is very simple, it follows the Task, Context/Style, Subject routine that generally always yields accurate results

I want to write a poem in the style of Robert Burns extolling the virtues of women

Here’s it’s ten seconds worth:

In yon bonnie field where wildflowers grow, A tale unfolds, one ye must surely know. It’s nae of kings, nor battles fought and won, But virtues fair, in woman’s form are spun.

Her heart, a hearth, with warmth that never ends,To kin and stranger both, her love extends. Like Sol in sky, her kindness knows no bound,In every place, her wondrous grace is found.

Her wit, as sharp as Thistle’s pointed spear, Guides us in ways both intricate and clear. A compass true, in seas of life’s despair, She charts a course with wisdom none compare.

In courage too, she stands as steadfast oak, Her spirit unbowed, unbroken by life’s yoke. In storm and strife, her mettle’s fully tried, Yet ever she stands tall, nae wish to hide.

And so in her, these virtues we discern, In each fair lass, through life’s long twist and turn. To praise her worth, nae words could ever suffice, A boundless sea of unexhausted vice.

That’s all folks! See you on Saturday