HE’S BACK.
OpenAI announced Sam Altman’s return as CEO, following a new agreement. A restructured board will include Bret Taylor as chair, Larry Summers, and Adam D’Angelo, while removing Ilya Sutskever, Helen Toner, and Tasha McCauley. Greg Brockman, OpenAI’s co-founder, will also return. The company proposed an all-male board, removing three directors who voted against Altman. The Verge reported the initial board will appoint a new nine-member board for better governance. Kelly Sims of Thrive Capital, a major investor, supported Altman’s return, citing his commitment and leadership. The decision followed intense negotiations, including OpenAI’s interim CEO Emmett Shear and VP Anna Makanju. Altman’s firing last Friday and his brief consideration of joining Microsoft sparked a staff protest, with over 95% signing a letter against the board’s decision. Questions remain about the reasons behind Altman’s initial dismissal, as the board cited a lack of candor but provided no evidence. Sutskever, involved in the decision, later expressed regret and supported the reunion. (Wired)
FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT?
Researchers used the AI behind ChatGPT, specifically GPT-4, to create fake clinical trial data, as reported in a JAMA Ophthalmology paper. They combined GPT-4 with Advanced Data Analysis (ADA), generating data on two eye surgery procedures, falsely indicating one as superior. The study, led by eye surgeon Giuseppe Giannaccare, aimed to show how quickly AI can produce misleading datasets. This development raises concerns about research integrity. Elisabeth Bik, a research-integrity consultant, highlights the ease of fabricating data for non-existent patients or experiments. The fake dataset involved keratoconus treatments, comparing penetrating keratoplasty (PK) and deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK), and falsely showing DALK as more effective. Biostatistician Jack Wilkinson found the dataset superficially plausible but flawed upon closer examination. Wilkinson and Zewen Lu’s analysis revealed inconsistencies in participant data, such as mismatched sex and names, and unrealistic age distributions. The study exposes a challenge for peer review and journal quality checks, as AI-generated data becomes more sophisticated. EMBO Reports’ chief editor, Bernd Pulverer, stresses the need for updated methods to detect such fabrications. Wilkinson is working on tools to identify problematic studies, but warns that AI advancements could soon outpace these measures. (Nature)
AI IN MEXICO.
Alejandra Lagunes, a Mexican senator from the PVEM and former digital strategy leader, played a key role in developing the country’s AI policy. She led the creation of the National AI Strategy in 2018 and now heads the National Artificial Intelligence Alliance (ANIA), focusing on AI regulation. Current AI regulation discussions in Mexico mainly address crime classification and law adjustments, with an emphasis on deepfakes. However, Lagunes cautions against over-regulating AI. ANIA’s goal is to provide policy guidance for presidential candidates and lawmakers, with a strategy suitable for Mexico’s unique situation, differing from North American approaches. A significant issue is protecting Indigenous cultural heritage in the face of AI-generated artwork. As there’s no specific AI regulation, existing laws protecting Indigenous and Afro-Mexican groups need updates. Lagunes aims to enable these communities to digitize their art while retaining ownership, ensuring they benefit from technology. (Rest of World)
STORY OF AN AUSTRALIAN OUTBREAK.
In February 2022, construction supervisor Jack McCann in Corowa, Australia, developed severe symptoms leading to hospitalization. His condition was eventually diagnosed as encephalitis caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). McCann’s case was part of a larger outbreak in southeastern Australia, a region previously not known for JEV. This outbreak, which infected 45 people and killed six, was linked to an unusually wet season creating ideal mosquito breeding conditions. Researchers were puzzled by the presence of JEV in this temperate area, traditionally endemic to tropical regions. The outbreak revealed a gap in understanding about mosquito populations in Australia and their role in disease transmission. The virus possibly spread southward via waterbirds or infected mosquitoes, amplified by weather conditions influenced by climate change. The outbreak also highlighted the importance of understanding the animal-human-mosquito interface to prevent future outbreaks. Efforts are underway to track mosquitoes and study potential virus reservoirs. Despite the outbreak’s containment, the sudden appearance of JEV in this new region raises concerns about future disease patterns and the impact of climate change on virus transmission. (Science)
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INVASION OF THE SUPERPIGS.
Canada is grappling with an invasive “super pig” problem, a hybrid of wild Eurasian boar and domestic swine, known for their resilience and rapid reproduction. These pigs, which originated from a failed 1980s farming venture, are causing ecological and agricultural harm and threatening to spread into the U.S. States like Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana are implementing measures to prevent this invasion. Hunting has proven ineffective, often making the pigs more elusive. The U.S. is responding with strategies like aerial surveillance, specialized traps, and public reporting programs. The USDA’s National Feral Swine Management Program focuses on eradicating or managing these populations, especially in areas where their numbers are still low. Although some states have seen success in controlling small populations, complete eradication remains a significant challenge, with the total U.S. swine population estimated at around 6 million. (Associated Press)
HUMANS HARMING WILDLIFE.
Wildlife rehabilitation centers in the U.S. treat hundreds of thousands of injured and sick wild animals yearly, while also educating the public with non-releasable “ambassador” animals. A study analyzing over 674,000 cases from 94 rehab centers highlighted human-caused threats to wildlife, with vehicle collisions being the most common cause of injury. Other major threats included window collisions for bats, fishing incidents for sea turtles, and lead poisoning for birds like bald eagles. Climate change-related extreme weather also significantly affects wildlife health. The research revealed that about one-third of treated animals could be released back into the wild, although success rates varied by species. To mitigate these threats, the study suggests constructing wildlife crossings, banning lead in hunting and fishing gear, and incorporating wildlife concerns into disaster management plans. Individual actions, like driving cautiously and making windows safer for birds, can also help. Support for underfunded wildlife rehab centers is crucial for their ongoing conservation efforts. (The Conservation)
MILKY WAY GALAXY IS ACTUALLY RARE.
A new supercomputer simulation has shed light on why spiral galaxies like the Milky Way are rare in our universe. The simulation, detailing the universe’s 13.8 billion-year evolution, suggests that frequent galaxy interactions within the supergalactic plane, where the Milky Way resides, disrupt spiral structures, leading to the predominance of elliptical galaxies. These interactions disorder the circular orbits of stars in spiral galaxies, thus diminishing their distinct spiral arms and disk-like shape. Additionally, galaxy mergers can stimulate starbursts and activate central supermassive black holes, further transforming the galaxies into elliptical shapes. The Milky Way, characterized by its spiral arms and a supermassive black hole, has grown by absorbing smaller galaxies. Its eventual collision with the Andromeda galaxy, a similarly massive galaxy, could impact its structure. The study concludes that once a galaxy becomes elliptical, it’s unlikely to revert to a spiral form, primarily due to a lack of gas necessary for new star formation. This research has been published in the journal Nature Astronomy. (space.com)
POWER FOR FUTURE SPACE MISSIONS.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) recent transfer of 0.5 kilograms of heat source plutonium-238 from Oak Ridge National Laboratory to Los Alamos National Laboratory is a significant step in supporting NASA’s future missions. This shipment, the largest since the domestic production of plutonium-238 restarted over a decade ago, is part of an effort to reach a production target of 1.5 kilograms per year by 2026. Plutonium-238 is crucial for Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS), which provide heat and electricity to spacecraft exploring remote and harsh environments in the solar system and beyond. The DOE-produced plutonium oxide fuels these systems, as seen in NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, which uses an MMRTG for power and heat. This partnership between NASA and DOE, spanning over sixty years, has powered three dozen missions with reliable electricity and heat from RPS. Continuing this collaboration, NASA and DOE aim to support future space missions requiring radioisotopes. (NASA)
Thanks for reading. Let’s be careful out there.
WORDS: The Biology Guy.
IMAGE CREDIT: Techcrunch.
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