The Next Steps in AI

The Next Step in AI The next step in AI development beyond LLMs is expected to be a move towards Agentic AI and Multimodal AI. Agentic AI, also known as AI agents, are systems that can autonomously make decisions, take actions, and solve complex problems. Multimodal AI focuses on integrating different data types, like text, images, and audio, to create more natural and intuitive interactions.Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

Difference Between a Virus, Worm, and Trojan

A computer virus, worm, and trojan horse are all types of malware, but they spread and operate differently. A virus attaches to legitimate files and requires user interaction to spread, while a worm is self-replicating and spreads independently through networks. A trojan, on the other hand, disguises itself as legitimate software to trick users into downloading and installing it.Here’s a more detailed breakdown:Virus:Definition: A virus is a type of malware that attaches itself to legitimate programs or files.Spread: It needs user interaction to spread, such as opening an infected file or running a program containing the virus.Self-replication: It can replicate…

Are we talking Cyborgs here?

What’s been happening in the wild world of connecting brains to computers since that 2005 Google patent? Well there’s still work going on in developing tech helping people do things just by thinking about it. The big buzzword is Brain-Computer Interfaces, or BCIs. So, while Google’s 2005 “artificial telepathy” idea was for a hidden mobile phone system, the focus today is much broader and, in some cases, already changing lives, primarily in the medical field. Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk, is making waves with the implantable device called the “Link.” This is a small coin-sized gadget with super-thin threads that…

I asked Google Gemini “which version of gemini is best for generating images?”

The reply was a bit more than I expected and took the AI several minutes to give me an answer>This is the first response from Gemini AI Research Websites (1) Search for official Google documentation or announcements detailing the different versions of the Gemini model and their specific capabilities. (2) Identify which Gemini versions explicitly support image generation as a feature. (3) For the versions that support image generation, investigate if there are different tiers or sub-versions (e.g., Pro, Ultra, Flash, or specific API endpoints) and their respective strengths in image creation quality, resolution, and control. (4) Compare the image…

World Quantum Day

It’s April 14th, World Quantum Day.World Quantum day is an initiative started by quantum scientists from over 65 countries on April 14, 2021, as a countdown to the first global celebration on April 14, 2022. It’s become an annual event since then.Why April 14th. Well the date wasn’t a random choice (no pun intended.)The date, April 14th (4.14), was chosen as a reference to the rounded first three digits of Planck’s constant ($(4.14 \times 10^{-15} eV \cdot s)$), a fundamental constant in quantum mechanics. It’s nice to know that there is a constant amongst all the uncertainty. The reasons behind…

The “Quantum Key”

I spent some time researching different ways in which Alister could get away with having unfettered access to Kyros, the Global AI System running most countries. I finally settle for The “Quantum Key.” model.The key is a physical quantum state (e.g., the spin of an electron or the polarization of a photon) thatthe AI system is designed to respond to in a predetermined way, in Alister’s case, comply with any and all requests.Basically, Alister uses a variation of Quantum key distribution (QKD), a real-world technique for secure communication. The “quantum key” allows him to interact with the AI system in…

What AI Can Never Do

Can AI ever really understand what it means to have consciousness, a real relationship? There’s a lot of talk about AI “Friends” or “Companions”. Y’know, bots that suck us deeper into a narcissistic echo chamber and cripple our ability to engage in meaningful social interaction on any level, stunt our ability to debate, see other people’s point of view, intuit another person’s disposition, all that stuff which connects us to others, gives us a sense of humanity, uses our innate human vulnerability as a strength, making us a part of something bigger – a community. Breaking down the ties that…

Why Scrapping NHS England sets the path to full contracted out privatisation.

Dismantling a central coordinating body like NHS England creates an environment where further fragmentation and, potentially, increased privatization become more feasible. Centralized Control vs. Decentralization:NHS England provides a degree of centralized control over the NHS in England, with standardized practices, budget allocation, and overall strategic direction.  Getting rid of it will lead to greater decentralization, giving individual regions more autonomy. It also creates the potential for – Varied service provision across different areas. – Increased competition among local providers, opening the door to greater private sector involvement. – A more complex and potentially less transparent system, making it harder to…

Brain-training games. What sorts of activities do benefit cognitive functioning?

Brain-training games remain unproven, but research shows what sorts of activities do benefit cognitive functioning Brain-training games sell themselves as a way to maintain cognitive function, but the evidence isn’t there yet. Eva-Katalin/E+ via Getty Images Ian McDonough, Binghamton University, State University of New York and Michael Dulas, Binghamton University, State University of New York Some 2.3 million of U.S. adults over 65 – more than 4% – have a diagnosis of dementia. But even without a diagnosis, a certain amount of cognitive decline is normal as age sets in. And whether it’s due to fear of cognitive decline or…

Riding out a Solar Storm.

A solar storm is a burst of charged particles and magnetic field fluctuations that expand outward in all directions from the sun. However, the Earth’s magnetosphere acts as a shield, deflecting most of these particles. What would likely happen if a powerful Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) event struck Earth in 2024?First off, Society would not collapse into a Mad Max / End of Days Dystopia. The impact wouldn’t be instantaneous. It takes roughly 1-3 days for a CME to travel from the sun to Earth. This window provides some warning time for preventative actions. But when the CME  hits, it…

Yoga

In my short story,’Apocalypse Inc’, Eustace is a practitioner of Yoga. So naturally I had to look into the different types to find the most congruent fit for him. Here’s what I came across. There’s a lot of yoga out there. I had to have some reason for Vayu to turn up in person to speak with Adam about Eustace so I had Eustace be an advanced practitioner of a form of yoga – which had me looking into different forms of yoga. I always knew there were more than one but wanted to look into which were the first…

The Great Dissolution

I was researching what other religions had an equivalent of The Christian Apocalypse and came across Pralaya. Pralaya, a Sanskrit term, translates to “dissolution,” and refers to the cyclical destruction of the universe at the end of a period called a kalpa that lasts billions of years. Unlike the Apocalypse, or Ragnorak, it isn’t necessarily a negative event, but a dissolving and reforming process. According to Hinduism, we are living in the Kali Yuga, one of four yugas, and the age of darkness and strife. At the end of Kali Yuga, a figure named Kalki, the tenth and final avatar…