OPENAI DEEPENS PARTNERSHIP WITH US GOVERNMENT TO ADVANCE AI

OpenAI has deepened its partnership with the US government by collaborating with National Laboratories to use AI for advancing research across various fields. This partnership, aimed at strengthening national security, accelerating breakthroughs in materials science, energy, and astrophysics, will provide approximately 15,000 scientists access to OpenAI’s models. Venado, an Nvidia supercomputer at Los Alamos, will host these models, with Microsoft aiding in deployment. Key focus areas include improving cybersecurity, safeguarding the power grid, advancing disease prevention, and bolstering US energy leadership. OpenAI’s models will also support nuclear security programs. This partnership expands on previous work with the Biden administration, while under the Trump administration, OpenAI continues its collaboration despite shifting safety priorities. The US government aims to enhance AI leadership through a new “AI Action Plan” that may adjust regulatory approaches. OpenAI also announced a $500 billion deal for AI-driven infrastructure projects. (Ars Technica)

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GOOGLE LAUNCHES GEMINI 2.0 PRO EXPERIMENTAL FOR USERS

Google quietly launched its next-gen AI model, Gemini 2.0 Pro Experimental, as the successor to Gemini 1.5 Pro, via a changelog for its Gemini chatbot app. Available to Gemini Advanced users, it promises enhanced factuality and improved performance for coding and mathematical tasks, such as generating programs or solving complex algorithms. However, Google cautioned that the model is in “early preview,” meaning it may exhibit “unexpected behaviors” and isn’t compatible with all app features. Gemini 2.0 Pro Experimental is part of the premium Google One AI plan and Google Workspace add-ons. Despite the low-key launch, the model’s release comes amid growing competition from DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup whose models are challenging those of US tech giants. Alongside this launch, Google also introduced the Gemini 2.0 Flash model, which is now the default for all users in the Gemini app. (Tech Crunch)

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FACLESS YOUTUBE CHANNELS USE AI TO GENERATE CONTENT

A rising trend of “faceless YouTube channels” is drawing attention, with many channels using AI-powered tools to automate scriptwriting, voiceovers, and visuals to quickly generate content with minimal human input. This has led to complaints from creators whose transcript files are poached and repurposed by AI summarizers. One YouTuber, F4mi, is fighting back by using the .ass subtitle format, which supports advanced features like positioning and transparency. F4mi hides invisible junk text in her subtitles, such as public domain content or fabricated scripts, which confuses AI summarizers. The goal is to disrupt AI’s ability to generate accurate summaries by overwhelming the content with unrelated text. Though F4mi’s approach isn’t foolproof—advanced AI models and audio-based tools can still bypass some protections—her method represents part of a larger effort to protect original content from AI exploitation. (Ars Technica)

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CHINESE START-UP DEEPSEEK LAUNCHES COST-EFFECTIVE COMPETING MODELS

Chinese tech start-up DeepSeek has made waves with the release of two large language models (LLMs) that rival the performance of US tech giants’ models but at a fraction of the cost and computational resources. The company launched DeepSeek-R1, a reasoning model that can solve scientific problems similar to OpenAI’s o1, and Janus-Pro-7B, an image generation model akin to OpenAI’s DALL-E 3. Despite facing export controls from the US blocking access to advanced AI chips, DeepSeek has thrived due to China’s heavy investment in AI talent and education. The company’s innovative approach, including efficient use of less powerful Nvidia chips and techniques like “mixture-of-experts” architecture, has made it possible to develop these models with limited resources. This success highlights China’s ambition to become a global AI leader by 2030, with DeepSeek serving as an example of how countries can innovate despite constraints. (Nature)

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PUTIN INTENSIFIES RUSSIA’S CRACKDOWN ON YOUTUBE ACCESS

President Vladimir Putin has intensified Russia’s crackdown on free expression by targeting YouTube, the last major Western tech platform still operational in the country. While not formally banned, YouTube has been throttled, with deliberate slowdowns affecting both desktop and mobile users since the summer. This is part of a broader effort to control online content, particularly in response to YouTube’s removal of Russian propaganda channels and videos by musicians under Western sanctions. Despite the throttling, many Russians continue accessing YouTube using VPNs, which route traffic through other countries to bypass restrictions. The slowdown has pushed some users toward Russian platforms like VK and RuTube, leading to a “splintered internet” or “splinternet,” as state-controlled platforms gain traction. However, opposition figures and tech-savvy users still manage to access YouTube, leading to a bifurcated online experience. Meanwhile, Google has faced fines and pressure from the Kremlin, further escalating tensions between the Russian government and the tech giant. (New York Times)

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UK GOVERNMENT CRITICIZED FOR FAILING TO TACKLE VAWG

A recent report by the National Audit Office criticizes the UK government’s handling of the growing “epidemic of violence against women and girls” (VAWG), highlighting disjointed efforts and lack of progress despite years of promises and strategies. The report follows the 2021 strategy, launched after high-profile murders, which found that VAWG continues to be a significant issue affecting one in 12 women in England and Wales. The Home Office’s approach has been criticized for failing to coordinate effectively across government departments, with poor spending oversight and inadequate prevention efforts. Despite some commitments being met, such as increased funding and new guidance, the report reveals that most measures were not new and lacked meaningful impact. Police response times, particularly in rape cases, are slow, and prevention efforts have been underfunded. Campaigners demand a strategy that focuses on prevention and provides adequate funding to tackle the root causes of VAWG and shift cultural attitudes. (The Guardian)

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NSF REVIEWS BILLIONS IN GRANTS AMID TRUMP-ERA DIRECTIVES

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has begun reviewing billions of dollars in grants it has awarded, scrutinizing projects that might align with topics criticized by President Donald Trump, such as “woke gender ideology” and environmental research. As part of this process, NSF has frozen funding for affected projects, causing significant disruption to researchers. The review is a response to presidential directives restricting federal funding for activities related to diversity, equity, inclusion, foreign collaborations, and environmental initiatives. Some scientists, like ecologist Maria Miriti, are uncertain about the future of their work and whether they will be required to return funds. NSF employees are also struggling with the lack of clear guidance on how to assess whether grants violate these new directives, raising concerns about legal and ethical implications. Additionally, NSF has archived certain long-running programs that may violate these rules, halting acceptance of related proposals and potentially reallocating funds.(Science)

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HUMANS STILL POSSESS REMNANTS OF EAR MOVEMENT ABILITY

Humans may not be able to move their ears like many animals, but traces of this ability persist in our neural circuits, according to new research. Scientists from Saarland University in Germany found that the neural structures that once controlled ear movement are still present, though no longer useful. Their study involved 20 adults who were asked to listen to an audiobook while other sounds were played at varying volumes and pitches. The researchers found that the muscles controlling ear movement were more active when participants listened harder, such as when distinguishing sounds in noisy environments. Despite this activity, the ear movements were too small to be noticeable, indicating that while the auriculomotor system is still “trying,” it likely has no perceivable benefit. The study offers insight into the remnants of an ancient ability that helped our ancestors focus on sounds and their direction. (The Guardian)

Thanks for reading. Let’s be careful out there.

WORDS: The Biology Guy.

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