Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have developed an artificial intelligence tool that can assess lung function by analyzing chest X-rays, a breakthrough that could revolutionize how we monitor respiratory health.
Traditionally, doctors use spirometry, which requires patients to blow into a device and follow specific instructions. However, this can be challenging for certain groups, like infants or those with cognitive impairments.
Osaka Metropolitan University Develops AI Tool for Non-Invasive Lung Function Assessment
The AI model created by Associate Professor Daiju Ueda and Professor Yukio Miki was trained on a massive dataset of more than 140,000 chest X-rays collected over nearly two decades.
They compared the AI’s predictions with actual spirometry results and found a strong correlation, indicating its ability to accurately estimate lung function without the need for physical exertion from the patient.
This innovation addresses significant challenges in current healthcare practices by offering a non-invasive alternative for assessing pulmonary function. By relying solely on existing chest X-rays, the AI model simplifies the diagnostic process and potentially reduces medical costs associated with more complex tests.
Professor Ueda emphasized the collaborative effort involved in developing this AI model, which included contributions from healthcare professionals, researchers, and patients across various institutions.
He expressed optimism about the tool’s potential to alleviate patient burdens and improve healthcare efficiency by providing accessible and accurate lung function assessments.
Joana Cotar, a German lawmaker and Bundestag member, has called for the German government to stop its Bitcoin (BTC) sales. Criticizing the move as hasty and counterproductive, Cotar urged the authorities to reconsider their strategy. She suggested that Bitcoin could be more beneficial to Germany if held as a strategic reserve currency, rather than being sold off quickly.
Cotar’s appeal came in response to the German government’s transfer of Bitcoin tokens worth over $195 million to various crypto exchanges. In her critique, she specifically addressed President Michael Kretschmer, Minister of Finance Christian Lindner, and Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Cotar’s primary argument was that the current sell-offs could negatively impact the country’s economic growth and that a more thoughtful approach to utilizing Bitcoin could yield positive results.
German Lawmaker Joana Cotar Urges Government to Halt Bitcoin Sales
Highlighting the benefits of Bitcoin, Cotar noted that Germany could use it to diversify its treasury assets and spur innovative growth in the digital asset sector. She emphasized that Bitcoin could serve as a hedge against inflation, helping to combat currency devaluation. By adopting Bitcoin more strategically, Germany could potentially enhance its financial stability and economic resilience.
Cotar also recommended that the government develop a comprehensive Bitcoin strategy, which could include holding Bitcoin in the state treasury, issuing Bitcoin bonds, and creating a favorable regulatory environment for digital assets.
To further discuss these ideas, she invited German politicians to the upcoming crypto event “Bitcoin Strategies for Nation States,” scheduled for October 17, featuring notable speakers like Samson Mow, CEO of JAN3.
The German government’s recent Bitcoin sell-offs have sparked significant reactions within the crypto community. Since June 19, the government has sold approximately 7,583 Bitcoins, amounting to over $434.9 million at current market prices.
These sales, including a significant transaction on July 4, have contributed to market volatility and a decline in Bitcoin’s price. Currently, the government holds around 41,774 Bitcoins worth approximately $2.26 billion, which were seized during an investigation into the illegal movie streaming platform Movie2k.to.
A recent study from Ohio State University indicates that pregnant women enrolled in the U.S. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) experience better pregnancy outcomes compared to those who struggle with food insecurity.
WIC provides essential food aid, healthcare referrals, and social services to low-income women who are pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding, as well as their children. The study highlights the significance of WIC in reducing adverse pregnancy outcomes, including gestational diabetes, preterm birth, and ICU admissions for both mothers and babies.
The research comes amid rising concerns about potential reductions in WIC funding by Congress, which could exacerbate food insecurity issues in the U.S.
Dr. Kartik Venkatesh, the lead researcher and director of the Diabetes in Pregnancy Program at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center, emphasized the importance of WIC, especially as food prices increase and WIC enrollment decreases.
WIC Program Improves Pregnancy Outcomes for Food-Insecure Women
The study’s findings underscore the critical role WIC plays in supporting pregnancy health and mitigating the effects of food insecurity.
The study analyzed data from 1.9 million first-time pregnant women, aged 18 to 44, who were enrolled in WIC between 2016 and 2019 and covered by Medicaid. The research spanned across 3,120 U.S. counties, revealing that WIC enrollment dropped from 73 per 100 live births in 2016 to 66 per 100 in 2019.
Despite this decline, counties with increased WIC enrollment saw significant improvements in pregnancy outcomes, including a 50% reduction in ICU admissions for mothers, a 30% decrease in gestational diabetes, and fewer blood transfusions at birth.
The positive impact extended to infants as well, with counties experiencing higher WIC enrollment showing nearly 30% fewer preterm births and a 20% reduction in ICU admissions for babies.
These findings affirm the efficacy of WIC in promoting healthier pregnancies and better outcomes for both mothers and their infants. Dr. William Grobman, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist and co-author of the study, reiterated the success of WIC programs in improving maternal and child health.
Moving forward, Dr. Venkatesh and his team aim to develop interventions that connect individuals facing food insecurity to WIC and other social services, thereby enhancing pregnancy care and outcomes.
Published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology on June 27, the study’s results highlight the need for continued support and expansion of WIC to address social needs effectively and improve the well-being of families.
Brazil’s National Data Protection Agency (ANPD) has taken decisive action against Meta, suspending its new privacy policy that permits the use of user content for training AI models.
This move follows concerns over potential harm to users’ fundamental rights, prompting ANPD to issue a five-day ultimatum for Meta to revise its policy or face substantial daily fines.
Similar to actions taken in Europe, where Meta’s plans were halted due to regulatory concerns and complaints, Brazil’s ANPD is asserting its authority to protect user data and privacy. Meta, however, asserts that its policy changes comply with local laws and expresses disappointment over the setback to innovation and AI development in Brazil.
Brazil’s ANPD Challenges Meta Over AI Training Policy Amid Privacy and Compliance Concerns
The situation in Brazil differs significantly from that in Europe due to several key factors. Notably, Meta’s policy changes in Brazil affect users of all ages, including teenagers and children, which raises legal and ethical concerns under Brazilian laws. In contrast, Europe’s objections primarily focus on adults, reflecting a narrower scope of regulatory concern.
Moreover, the process for users to opt out of Meta’s AI training data collection is more cumbersome in Brazil compared to Europe. Brazilian users face a complex eight-step procedure, whereas Europeans have a simpler form-based opt-out option.
This disparity underscores challenges in enforcing data privacy rights across different jurisdictions and suggests Meta’s varying approach in compliance.
Critics, including Data Privacy Brasil’s Pedro Martins, highlight these discrepancies as indicative of Meta’s potentially dismissive stance towards Brazilian regulations. The ANPD’s intervention signals a push for Meta to align its policies with local standards and may necessitate significant revisions before implementation can proceed in Brazil.
AI agents are emerging as a promising research area with real-world applications. These agents use advanced models like large language models (LLMs) and vision language models (VLMs) to understand natural language instructions and achieve complex goals on their own.
They use tools like browsers, search engines, and code compilers to check their actions and think about their tasks. However, researchers at Princeton University have found several problems with current benchmarks and evaluation methods, which limit the practical use of AI agents.
One major issue highlighted is the lack of cost control in agent evaluations. AI agents often require more computational resources than single-model calls, making them expensive to run.
To enhance accuracy, some systems generate multiple responses and use voting or verification mechanisms to select the best one, which significantly increases computational costs.
While maximizing accuracy is feasible in research settings, practical applications must consider budget constraints for each query. The researchers suggest visualizing evaluation results as a Pareto curve of accuracy and inference cost, advocating for joint optimization of these metrics to develop cost-effective and accurate agents.
Challenges in Evaluating AI Agents Including Cost Accuracy and Overfitting Issues Highlight the Need for Better Benchmarks
The researchers evaluated different prompting techniques and agentic patterns, discovering substantial cost differences for similar accuracy levels. They argue that joint optimization can lead to less expensive yet accurate agents, enabling researchers to balance fixed and variable costs effectively.
For instance, investing in optimizing the agent’s design can reduce the variable cost by using fewer in-context learning examples. Testing this approach on the HotpotQA benchmark demonstrated that joint optimization could achieve an optimal balance between accuracy and inference costs.
Another critical issue is the difference between evaluating models for research purposes and developing real-world applications. In research, accuracy is often prioritized, with little regard for inference costs.
However, inference costs are crucial for practical applications, influencing model and technique choices. Evaluating inference costs is challenging due to variable pricing by model providers and fluctuating API call costs.
To address this, the researchers created a website that adjusts model comparisons based on token pricing and conducted a case study on NovelQA, revealing that benchmarks for model evaluation can be misleading for downstream applications.
Overfitting is a significant problem in AI agent benchmarks, as models often find shortcuts to perform well on benchmarks without real-world applicability. This issue is exacerbated by the small size of agent benchmarks, typically only a few hundred samples.
The researchers recommend that benchmark developers create and maintain holdout test sets with examples that cannot be memorized during training and can only be solved by understanding the task. Their analysis of 17 benchmarks revealed that many lacked proper holdout datasets, allowing agents to take unintended shortcuts.
The researchers tested WebArena, a benchmark for evaluating AI agents on different websites, and found several shortcuts in the training datasets. These shortcuts allowed agents to overfit tasks, leading to inflated accuracy estimates and over-optimism about agent capabilities.
They emphasize that AI agent benchmarking is a new field without established best practices, making it challenging to differentiate genuine advancements from hype.
The researchers argue that benchmarking practices need to be rethought to accurately assess the capabilities of AI agents, which could soon play a significant role in everyday applications.
After facing multiple rejections, Apple has approved Epic Games’ third-party app marketplace for launch in the EU under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Earlier this year, Epic announced plans to bring its digital storefront and Fortnite back to iOS in Europe, but Apple initially rejected the submission twice. Apple cited concerns that Epic’s Games Store looked too similar to Apple’s App Store, prompting Epic to escalate the issue to European regulators.
Later on the same day, Apple conditionally approved the marketplace app, requiring Epic to make specific adjustments in a future update. The initial rejections were based on details like the position of the “Install” button and the “in-app purchase” label, which Apple found too similar to its own.
Epic argued that these naming conventions are standard across popular app stores and criticized Apple’s actions as arbitrary and obstructive, claiming they violated the DMA.
Apple Approves Epic Games’ Marketplace in EU After Initial Rejections Under Digital Markets Act
Apple stated that it had approved the Epic Sweden AB Marketplace app but emphasized that Epic must still address the required changes.
Under Apple’s developer agreement, Epic agreed not to make its Game Store appear too similar to Apple’s App Store, but Apple found issues with the design and labeling of the download button. Despite these concerns, Apple noted that Fortnite’s app had already been approved.
This situation illustrates Apple’s strict enforcement of new rules permitting third-party app stores on iOS, potentially discouraging other developers from establishing their own distribution channels.
The DMA requires Apple to allow third-party app stores on the iPhone, as it is classified as a “gatekeeper” under EU law. Developers can also adopt new DMA rules to reduce commissions on in-app purchases, although the process involves a complex fee structure for using Apple’s technology.
Epic Games has long sought a way to reach iPhone customers without paying commissions on in-app purchases, leading to an extended legal battle with Apple. Despite losing most of its claims in U.S. courts, Epic continued to challenge Apple’s policies.
After Apple briefly terminated Epic’s developer account in the EU, regulators intervened. Epic remains committed to launching Fortnite on iOS and iPad in the EU and bringing its Game Store to the market, confirming the approval of its marketplace app on social media and to TechCrunch.
The Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn Chevron deference—a doctrine allowing federal agencies like the EPA to interpret ambiguous laws—signals a significant shift in US environmental law.
This decision removes the regulatory authority from scientific experts and places it in the hands of nonexpert judges, enabling increased legal challenges to federal regulations. The Chevron doctrine initially benefited polluting industries by simplifying regulatory processes, providing stability for businesses reliant on consistent federal guidelines.
However, as it enabled the implementation of stringent environmental regulations, it became contentious among industrial interests and conservatives.
The fossil fuel industry, notably the Koch brothers, has played a key role in opposing environmental regulations and promoting doubt about climate science, effectively stalling climate action in the US. Leonard Leo and the Federalist Society have supported these efforts by influencing the appointment of ultraconservative judges to the Supreme Court.
Shifting Tides in US Environmental Law: The Supreme Court’s Decision on Chevron Deference
The recent rulings against federal agencies, such as the EPA and SEC, further erode the administrative state, making it easier for companies to challenge long-standing regulations.
The elimination of Chevron deference means federal agencies might become more cautious in their actions, fearing lawsuits. This trend could have severe consequences for environmental protections and public health.
Despite this shift, lower courts have continued to use Chevron in favor of federal agencies, but the path is now open for more legal challenges by well-funded polluters. Environmental laws like the Clean Air and Clean Water acts are likely targets, and new regulations on substances like PFAS might face significant pushback due to the costs of compliance.
Leonard Leo’s network is already aiming to influence future Supreme Court decisions, such as the ongoing climate lawsuits by cities like Honolulu against fossil fuel companies. The conservative court’s potential involvement could undermine efforts to hold these companies accountable, further weakening environmental protections in the US.
Amar Shah, co-founder of Wayve, has invested in Oshen, a startup founded by Anahita Laverack and Ciaran Dowds. Oshen is creating small, self-sailing boats that gather ocean data autonomously. These boats, powered by solar energy and designed to be affordable, could make it easier and cheaper for scientists to study ocean temperatures, waves, and wildlife.
Traditional methods of collecting ocean data involve drifting buoys, which are costly and not always accurate. Oshen’s boats are smaller and more reliable, using standard parts to keep costs down. They can be launched from shorelines and operate for extended periods using wind, sun, and batteries.
Wayve Co-Founder Amar Shah Invests in Oshen’s Autonomous Solar-Powered Ocean Data Boats
The technology has caught the attention of investors like Shah, who see the potential in improving how we collect important ocean and weather information. His investment will help Oshen refine their boats and bring them to market. The startup is already talking to energy and weather companies in the UK and US about using their technology.
Oshen’s work is part of a larger trend where startups are using technology to protect the oceans from threats like climate change and pollution. Their innovative approach could lead to a better understanding and conservation of marine ecosystems worldwide.
Last week, the Supreme Court overturned the landmark 1984 Chevron U.S.A. v. Natural Resources Defense Council decision, which had required courts to defer to reasonable agency interpretations of laws. This ruling gives judges more power to question federal agency decisions, significantly impacting areas like food safety.
Traditionally, agencies like the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) operated under a risk-averse culture, often requiring extraordinary circumstances to prompt action, such as the 1994 Jack in the Box E.coli outbreak that led to changes in beef inspection rules.
The Chevron decision previously allowed federal agencies like FSIS to interpret statutes with substantial deference from courts, enabling them to take decisive actions. For example, the FSIS could classify E.coli-contaminated beef as “adulterated,” a decision upheld by courts despite industry objections.
This deference facilitated significant public health improvements, reducing E.coli illnesses dramatically without causing major disruptions to the beef industry.
Supreme Court Overturns Chevron Decision, Impacting Federal Agency Powers and Food Safety Regulations
With the Supreme Court’s recent ruling in cases involving the National Marine Fisheries Service, Chevron has been explicitly overruled. Chief Justice John Roberts argued that courts, not agencies, are better suited to interpret statutory ambiguities.
This shift means that federal judges now have greater authority to challenge agency interpretations, which could lead to more inconsistent and less predictable regulatory outcomes.
The new legal landscape introduces uncertainty for federal agencies, making them potentially more hesitant to enact regulations. Food safety advocates fear this could result in agencies becoming even more reluctant to take necessary actions.
Overruling Chevron effectively empowers industries to challenge regulations they oppose, supported by conservative legal organizations backed by influential financiers.
Critics of Chevron argued that Congress should handle major policy decisions, not executive agencies. However, evidence from state legislatures suggests that increased judicial scrutiny does not enhance legislative productivity. Instead, it seems to shift power from elected regulators to lifetime-appointed judges, reducing democratic accountability.
There may be some positive outcomes from this change. Public interest lawyers might now have better chances to challenge agency inaction, such as the FDA’s “secret GRAS” rule allowing food companies to self-certify the safety of chemicals without disclosure. Whether this potential will be realized remains uncertain.
Despite these challenges, food safety regulators should remain steadfast. Proposed regulations like enforceable Salmonella standards in poultry and enhanced food traceability rules are crucial and widely supported.
The public must continue to pressure regulators to act decisively in this more complex legal environment while recognizing the adversarial role of corporate lawyers who aim to prioritize their clients’ interests, sometimes at the expense of public safety.
This election season, Connected TV (CTV) advertising will play a crucial role, with political ad spending on CTV expected to surge by 506% compared to 2020. CTV will be essential not only for presidential candidates but also for down-ballot candidates.
The intersection between voter advertising and customer advertising is significant, with both benefiting from advanced targeting technologies to effectively reach and persuade critical audiences.
Advanced technology enables advertisers to target persuadable voters who are often missing from traditional voter files. By using real-time data on media consumption and online behavior, advertisers can create relevant and engaging messages.
AI, in particular, is revolutionizing voter targeting by analyzing large datasets to predict voter interests and behaviors, allowing for more precise and impactful campaign messaging on key issues.
Gaining Voter Attention in the 2024 Election with AI and Contextual Targeting
AI-driven custom contextual targeting marks a major shift in political advertising. This technology processes data from various sources to identify trends and patterns, helping craft messages that resonate on pivotal issues like immigration and abortion.
Such precise targeting is particularly effective in digital spaces where traditional methods may falter, especially among younger voters who prefer dynamic and interactive content.
However, despite the advantages of CTV and AI, campaigns face challenges related to cost and inventory. The demand for precise targeting raises costs, and the limited availability of premium inventory on popular platforms complicates matters.
Data-driven strategies, such as conquesting—converting undecided or persuadable voters—are essential. These approaches enable campaigns to reach incremental audiences, particularly in battleground states, by filling gaps in outreach through comprehensive contextual data.
The potential of contextual advertising is emphasized in this complex landscape. By focusing on the context in which ads are seen, campaigns can enhance their impact and recall. This method moves beyond demographic targeting, aligning political messages with the content voters are already consuming without relying on identifiable information.
As the 2024 elections approach, the integration of CTV, AI, and contextual targeting will be vital for campaigns aiming to engage effectively with a fragmented electorate.
The options market for Ethereum (ETH) indicates a bullish sentiment over both short-term and medium-term periods, driven by anticipation surrounding the launch of US spot ETH ETFs. This sentiment suggests investors are optimistic about ETH’s future performance post-ETF launch, with expectations of significant price gains rather than a sell-off after the news.
Ahead of the anticipated mid-July launch of spot Ether ETFs in the US, options traders are heavily betting on Ethereum’s price. This mirrors previous market behavior seen before Bitcoin ETF launches, indicating a pattern where such events often lead to increased market activity and bullish sentiment.
Ethereum Options Market Indicates Bullish Sentiment Amid Anticipation of US Spot ETH ETFs Launch
Key metrics such as Ethereum’s 30-day volatility skew, which stands at approximately 3%, show that traders are willing to pay higher premiums for call options, reflecting bullish sentiment over the next month. Similarly, options expiring in 180 days also show a skew of around 5%, indicating traders’ anticipation of leveraged positions and price rallies leading up to and following the ETF launch.
The optimism in the options market is based on the belief that the launch of spot ETH ETFs will attract substantial institutional investments into Ethereum, similar to the inflows observed with Bitcoin ETFs. Analysts and platforms like IntoTheBlock suggest that this influx could significantly boost Ethereum’s price, particularly given its supply dynamics and the potential for substantial new investor participation.
However, there are contrasting views, such as those from JPMorgan analysts, who are more cautious about the ETF’s impact, predicting lower net inflows compared to Bitcoin. Despite differing opinions, market observers like Marex Solutions’ Illan Solot believe that ETH may outperform expectations, albeit with considerations about the complexities introduced by delta-neutral trades and ETF inflow comparisons with Bitcoin.
While Ethereum currently trades at $3,309 with recent declines, the options market signals a bullish outlook driven by the upcoming ETH ETFs, suggesting heightened market activity and potential price appreciation in the near and medium term.
In a landmark collaboration announced at the Point Zero Forum, Fidelity International and Sygnum have joined forces with Chainlink to innovate the management of tokenized asset data. This partnership aims to integrate Net Asset Value (NAV) data onto blockchain platforms, enhancing accessibility and transparency within the digital asset sector.
The initiative represents a significant convergence of traditional finance and blockchain technology. Fidelity International, a prominent global investment firm, and Sygnum, a leading cryptocurrency bank, plan to leverage Chainlink’s advanced technology to bring real-time, on-chain NAV data. This data will specifically support Sygnum’s tokenized representation of Fidelity’s $6.9 billion Institutional Liquidity Fund.
Sygnum recently gained attention by tokenizing $50 million of Matter Labs’ treasury reserves, utilizing the ZKsync blockchain under Chainlink’s SCALE program. This move underscores a broader industry trend towards integrating blockchain with established financial systems, showcasing technological innovation.
Fidelity International, Sygnum, and Chainlink Forge Landmark Partnership to Tokenize Asset Data
Chainlink plays a pivotal role in this transformation due to its chain-agnostic approach, ensuring secure and accurate dissemination of NAV data across various blockchains. This capability promises real-time transparency and access to historical data, benefiting Sygnum’s clients and the wider market.
Fatmire Bekiri, Head of Tokenization at Sygnum, emphasized the partnership’s significance in bridging the gap between traditional finance and blockchain sectors. She stressed the importance of setting standards and fostering collaboration among regulated financial institutions, blockchain firms, and asset managers.
The collaboration addresses the growing demand for on-chain NAV data from blockchain-native companies, aiming to establish a compliant and regulated on-chain ecosystem. This effort marks a strategic alignment between Fidelity, Chainlink, and Matter Labs to advance the tokenization of funds in the digital asset space.
Sergey Nazarov, Co-founder of Chainlink, highlighted the increasing trend of fund tokenization within cryptocurrencies and viewed the partnership as a significant step for global asset management firms. He noted that tokenized funds could potentially surpass traditional methods in terms of reach and efficiency, positioning them as the industry standard.
Despite the positive industry developments, Chainlink’s native cryptocurrency, LINK, experienced a slight decline in price to $14.41 amid broader market fluctuations. Chainlink Futures Open Interest remained stable, indicating a muted market response to the partnership announcement at that time.
Japan’s Digital Agency recently achieved a milestone by eliminating the use of floppy disks in its government computer systems. While floppy disks are largely considered obsolete in today’s technological landscape, they are still being utilized in Japan for essential functions, notably in an environmental system monitoring vehicle recycling.
This move marks a significant step forward in Japan’s efforts to modernize its digital infrastructure.
Digital Minister Taro Kono proudly declared the achievement on June 28, emphasizing the symbolic end of an era. Since his appointment to the Digital Agency in 2022, Kono has been proactive in pushing for the abandonment of outdated technology across approximately 1,900 government procedures.
This initiative included phasing out not just floppy disks but also fax machines, CDs, and MiniDiscs, which were remnants of ’90s-era technology.
Japan’s Digital Agency Achieves Milestone by Phasing Out Floppy Disks in Government Systems
Kono’s campaign against obsolete technology garnered attention not just domestically but also internationally, underscoring the broader trend of countries grappling with legacy systems long past their prime.
The United States military, for instance, famously continued to use 8-inch floppy disks until 2019 to operate the Strategic Automated Command and Control System (SACCS), responsible for nuclear command and control. This revelation, highlighted by CBS’s 60 Minutes, brought to light the persistence of outdated technology in critical infrastructures worldwide.
Japan’s transition away from floppy disks reflects a broader global effort to modernize digital infrastructure and enhance operational efficiency. The elimination of these antiquated technologies is seen as a necessary step to streamline governmental processes and ensure compatibility with contemporary data storage and communication methods.
As countries like Japan continue to embrace digital transformation, the focus remains on updating systems to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Pixel Perfect Dude unveiled new details about their upcoming game, #Drive Rally, providing a deep dive into its gameplay and features. Unlike its predecessor, the endless racer #Drive, #Drive Rally introduces significant enhancements.
Central to the game are its 36 cars spanning three distinct classes, featuring both returning favorites like Das Holzwagen and The Doggo from #Drive, alongside newcomers like Das Sandsturm and Celestia.
Each vehicle offers extensive customization options, allowing players to tailor their cars to suit their preferences. Additionally, every car includes a co-driver who not only navigates but also offers commentary on the player’s driving skills, adding a dynamic layer to the gameplay experience.
Revving Up Excitement with #Drive Rally’s Enhanced Gameplay and ’90s Nostalgia
Set against the backdrop of the 1990s, a departure from #Drive’s 1970s and 1980s setting, #Drive Rally promises a nostalgic journey with numerous ’90s-themed Easter eggs sprinkled throughout the game.
The environments are diverse, ranging from serene German forests to the rugged deserts of the American Southwest, ensuring a varied and immersive racing experience. Pixel Perfect Dude has announced that the game will debut in early access on PC and Mac during autumn, with plans for a console release slated for 2025.
Fans eagerly anticipate #Drive Rally’s release, drawn by its expanded car roster, detailed customization features, nostalgic setting, and varied racing environments.
Pixel Perfect Dude’s commitment to enhancing the gameplay experience with interactive co-drivers and thematic elements from the 1990s sets #Drive Rally apart as a promising addition to the racing game genre, promising both innovation and nostalgia for players worldwide.
Salesforce has introduced the xLAM-1B model, a compact AI with just 1 billion parameters that surpasses much larger models in function-calling tasks. Referred to as the “Tiny Giant,” this innovation challenges the conventional belief that bigger models inherently perform better.
Salesforce’s success stems from its APIGen pipeline, which curates high-quality datasets for training, focusing on diversity and verifiability across 3,673 APIs in 21 categories.
In performance benchmarks, xLAM-1B outshines models seven times its size, including industry benchmarks like GPT-3.5 and Claude. This achievement underscores the efficiency gains possible through meticulous data curation over sheer model scale, suggesting a paradigm shift in AI development strategy.
By prioritizing data quality, Salesforce demonstrates that smaller, more resource-efficient models can compete effectively while potentially reducing computational demands and environmental impact.
The implications extend beyond technical prowess to practical applications. On-device AI capabilities, once constrained by the need for cloud computing, could now flourish. xLAM-1B’s ability to execute complex tasks locally on devices promises faster response times and enhanced privacy, addressing critical concerns in the era of data sovereignty.
This development aligns with broader trends towards edge computing and IoT, paving the way for a more distributed AI ecosystem.
CEO Marc Benioff
Public availability of Salesforce’s dataset of 60,000 function-calling examples further accelerates innovation by inviting collaboration and validation from the wider research community. This openness fosters advancements in AI tailored for specific applications, potentially democratizing access to sophisticated AI capabilities beyond tech giants.
CEO Marc Benioff heralds this achievement as a milestone in “on-device agentic AI,” envisioning a future where advanced AI services are integrated seamlessly into everyday devices. This vision not only challenges existing norms but also redefines the future landscape of AI, emphasizing efficiency, responsiveness, and accessibility.
Salesforce’s xLAM-1B represents a significant breakthrough in AI, showcasing how meticulous data curation and efficient model design can eclipse the performance of larger counterparts.
This accomplishment not only sets a new standard for AI efficiency but also unlocks possibilities for widespread adoption of on-device AI applications, heralding a transformative era in artificial intelligence.
PostFinance, a Swiss government-owned bank, has significantly expanded its involvement in the cryptocurrency market by introducing new trading and custody services for several digital assets. Initially offering Bitcoin and Ethereum, the bank recently added XRP, Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), Polkadot (DOT), and Avalanche (AVAX) to its crypto lineup. This move is part of PostFinance’s strategy to enhance its product offerings and engage more deeply with digital assets.
The decision to include SOL, XRP, ADA, DOT, and AVAX reflects the growing diversity and innovation within blockchain ecosystems.
These cryptocurrencies were chosen based on their active development communities and substantial GitHub submission rates, signaling robust growth and technological advancement compared to traditional leaders like Ethereum.
PostFinance’s venture into cryptocurrency dates back to earlier collaborations, notably partnering with Sygnum Bank in 2023 to launch regulated crypto services.
PostFinance Expands Crypto Offerings with XRP, Solana, Cardano, Polkadot, and Avalanche
Through this partnership, customers gained access to Bitcoin and Ethereum on Sygnum’s banking platform, enabling transactions such as buying, selling, trading, and storing these assets securely.
Additionally, the bank’s mobile app Yuh, launched in collaboration with Swissquote in 2021, expanded access to crypto assets, ETFs, and stocks like Tesla and Apple. Yuh has empowered users to conduct digital asset transactions, make payments, and pursue long-term savings directly from their mobile devices.
Switzerland’s proactive stance on crypto adoption, fostered by initiatives like the “Crypto Valley” in Zug, has created a supportive environment for blockchain innovation.
PostFinance, Switzerland’s fifth-largest financial services provider, has leveraged this environment to integrate digital assets into traditional banking, catering to its vast customer base of over 2.5 million users.
As other major banks globally embrace cryptocurrencies, Switzerland is positioning itself as a prominent hub for digital assets. PostFinance’s expanded range of crypto services underscores its commitment to offering comprehensive and diversified options for crypto trading and custody, potentially setting the stage for Switzerland to play a pivotal role in the evolving digital assets ecosystem.
Walmart is leveraging augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize its retail operations, significantly enhancing digital sales and introducing innovative applications. These technologies are transforming customer experiences through virtual try-ons, showroom experiences, and digital twins.
Desirée Gosby, vice president of emerging technology at Walmart Global Tech, highlights the importance of AR in boosting customer engagement and productivity. She emphasizes the need for industry-wide standardization to advance the development of digital twins and adapt store configurations for diverse product mixes.
Walmart’s commitment to AR intensified about 2.5 years ago, with the retailer exploring additional technologies like spatial awareness and conversational AI to create transformational experiences. The focus is on delivering immersive, interactive, and social shopping journeys that extend beyond visual representation.
Walmart’s core AR platform, Retina, supports these innovations, enabling the creation of experiences that range from virtual try-ons in beauty and apparel to interactive product visualizations in customers’ homes.
Walmart Revolutionizes Retail with Augmented Reality and AI Innovations
The company has rolled out several AR applications that have positively impacted conversion rates, return rates, and add-to-cart rates. Among these innovations are dynamic showrooms, the Shop With Friends app, and upcoming features like AR paint.
Customers can virtually try on items and share their experiences with friends, fostering a more engaging shopping process. These efforts align with Walmart’s goal of evolving AR experiences to meet the expectations of tech-savvy customers seeking more immersive and convenient shopping options.
Walmart’s long-term vision includes creating AR experiences that rival in-person shopping’s interactivity and social aspects. In addition to customer-facing technologies, Walmart is enhancing productivity for its associates using AR.
By integrating AR with smartphones and spatial computing, employees can locate products more efficiently, enhancing the overall customer service experience. The company is also exploring the potential of XR headsets and glasses for future large-scale deployment to further streamline operations.
Training is another area where Walmart employs advanced technologies. VR headsets are used for various training scenarios, including active shooter drills, enabling comprehensive coverage in a short period.
With over 2.1 million global employees, these technologies are crucial for saving time and reducing costs. The goal is to make associates more effective in their roles by minimizing friction and optimizing processes through AR assets.
Walmart’s tech innovations are robust and scalable, suitable for widespread implementation across its vast workforce. The company is also exploring digital commerce opportunities within gaming environments, reflecting its strategy to meet customers’ needs wherever they are.
Partnering with Unity and integrating purchasing options into games like House Flip illustrates Walmart’s multifaceted approach to AR. This journey aims to combine various technologies to create a seamless, multimodal shopping experience that goes beyond traditional retail boundaries.
The game industry has been significantly impacted by layoffs over the past two years, and this has affected the support for the Gayming Awards and Gayming Magazine, according to Robin Gray, the founder of both entities.
Despite securing prominent sponsors for the 2024 Gayming Awards, Gray noted the difficulty in garnering the same level of industry backing as in previous years. The LGBTQ+ gaming community represents a substantial market, with 11% of gamers identifying as LGBTQ+ and being 1.4 times more likely to purchase games with strong LGBTQ+ content.
Gray emphasized the importance of recognizing and supporting LGBTQ+ gamers, as recent studies show their significant influence and purchasing power in the gaming market.
He highlighted that game developers have made progress in representing LGBTQ+ characters and themes, but there is still room for improvement. The Gayming Awards celebrate these positive strides while also calling out industry shortcomings and advocating for better representation and support.
The Gayming Awards received commendable support this year, with the event being livestreamed across multiple platforms, including IGN’s Summer of Gaming and Gayming Magazine’s Twitch and TikTok channels.
Game Industry Layoffs Impact Support for Gayming Awards and LGBTQ+ Representation
The inclusion of a Spanish language co-stream by Mexican TikTok influencer Angelo Gamer underscored the event’s growing reach and inclusivity. This support underscores the potential of the LGBTQ+ market when engaged authentically.
Gray discussed the importance of authentic engagement with the LGBTQ+ community, citing examples like Blizzard’s use of internal and external resources for sensitivity checks in games like Overwatch.
He pointed out that while positive representation is increasing, more effort is needed to ensure that LGBTQ+ themes and characters are more prevalent in games, reflecting the community’s substantial presence in the gaming audience.
Internationally, the LGBTQ+ gaming community faces varying challenges. While representation and support are increasing in regions like North America and Europe, there are significant hurdles in other areas, such as the Middle East, where political and social climates often hinder open LGBTQ+ participation and recognition.
Gray highlighted the importance of supporting LGBTQ+ individuals in these regions through inclusive gaming practices and avoiding events in countries with repressive policies.
Gray addressed the issue of “sportswashing,” where countries with poor human rights records, particularly regarding LGBTQ+ rights, invest heavily in esports and other gaming events.
He urged game companies to use their influence to push for positive change rather than merely capitalizing on financial opportunities. By doing so, companies can support LGBTQ+ gamers worldwide and advocate for better conditions in restrictive regions.
The LGBTQ+ community often leads social justice movements and uses its considerable spending power to support inclusive practices and boycott entities that fail to uphold these values.
Gray highlighted the impact of such actions, noting instances where prominent LGBTQ+ figures in esports have refused to participate in events held in countries with discriminatory laws. This activism underscores the community’s commitment to broader social justice issues.
Gray expressed concern about the future of diversity in the gaming industry amid widespread layoffs, which often disproportionately affect minority groups, including LGBTQ+ individuals.
He emphasized the need for the industry to think long-term about diversity and inclusion, rather than making short-sighted financial decisions. By prioritizing authentic engagement and support for the LGBTQ+ community, the gaming industry can ensure a more inclusive and sustainable future.
Pedro Moraes-Vieira, a professor at the State University of Campinas, shared new research at FAPESP Week China on June 30. His team found that diabetic people are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19 because high blood sugar helps the virus multiply and causes the immune system to overreact, damaging the lungs.
In addition, Moraes-Vieira’s latest research looks into why obese people who aren’t diabetic can also have worse COVID-19 outcomes. They found that obesity, especially with high levels of saturated fats like palmitate, makes the body’s immune cells more reactive.
When these individuals get COVID-19, these cells start a strong inflammatory response that can be harmful, similar to a cytokine storm.
While both diabetic and obese patients exhibit severe COVID-19 outcomes linked to inflammation, the underlying mechanisms differ. Diabetes exacerbates viral replication through glucose metabolism, whereas obesity-induced inflammation is driven by saturated fatty acids.
This distinction underscores the complex metabolic pathways influencing COVID-19 severity across diverse patient profiles.
Metabolic Insights into COVID-19 Severity: Diabetes and Obesity Unraveled
Furthermore, Moraes-Vieira’s team observed that the cytokine storm triggered by monocytes and macrophages in severe COVID-19 cases leads to lung epithelial cell death and compromises T lymphocyte-mediated adaptive immune responses.
Their experiments demonstrated that T cells exposed to infected monocyte-conditioned environments exhibit reduced functionality and premature immune exhaustion, marked by increased PD-1 expression.
These findings underscore the critical role of metabolic conditions beyond diabetes in COVID-19 pathogenesis, emphasizing obesity and its metabolic consequences as significant risk factors for severe disease outcomes.
Moraes-Vieira suggests that while these factors are not singular determinants of COVID-19 severity, understanding their roles provides crucial insights into the disease’s diverse clinical manifestations.
His ongoing research aims to further clarify these mechanisms, potentially informing targeted therapeutic strategies tailored to different metabolic profiles.
The competition in the AI hardware sector is heating up, with Groq emerging as a significant player. The excitement began on social media, where Matt Shumer, CEO of HypeWriteAI and OthersideAI, praised Groq’s AI PU Inference Engine for its impressive performance, capable of delivering nearly 500 tokens per second.
This was followed by a compelling demonstration that grabbed widespread attention. Groq’s CEO, Jonathan Ross, further showcased the technology on CNN, leaving a strong impression of its capabilities.
Groq aims to provide a robust alternative to Nvidia’s dominant GPUs. Nvidia has seen a significant increase in earnings, indicating its strong market position. However, Groq’s technology claims to be more energy-efficient, using a fraction of the power required by GPUs.
This efficiency is crucial as large language model (LLM) workloads continue to expand, driving up energy demand. In an era where energy consumption and climate concerns are critical, Groq’s advancements offer a promising solution to the current computational challenges.
Groq Challenges Nvidia with Energy-Efficient AI Hardware at VB Transform 2024
Jonathan Ross is optimistic about Groq’s future, predicting that their chips will power over half of the globe’s inference computing by next year. He plans to elaborate on this vision at VentureBeat’s Transform 2024 event, where he will discuss the importance of AI inference in enterprise technology and the need for efficiency.
Ross will also provide live demonstrations to showcase Groq’s innovative capabilities and outline the company’s future plans.
The upcoming VB Transform 2024 event in San Francisco, scheduled for July 9-11, is set to be a significant platform for discussing AI at scale. The event promises exclusive insights into Groq’s latest technological advancements and opportunities to interact with top AI innovators.
The focus will be on practical applications and case studies, addressing the real-world challenges and questions surrounding AI implementation.
This event is particularly timely, given the growing interest in scalable AI solutions. With industry leaders sharing their experiences and practical stories, attendees will gain valuable knowledge on how to effectively deploy AI technologies.
Groq’s participation highlights the company’s role in driving the next phase of AI development, emphasizing the importance of energy efficiency and scalability in modern AI infrastructure.
