News May 06, 2024
Biden administration plans $285M in CHIPS Act funding for digital twins
The Biden administration is poised to invest a significant $285 million in initiatives aimed at advancing semiconductor manufacturing through the use of digital twins. These virtual models enable the simulation and optimization of physical systems, allowing for more efficient chip development and manufacturing processes. As part of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, this funding will support research into digital twin technology, as well as industry demonstration projects, workforce training, and the establishment of a new CHIPS Manufacturing USA Institute. According to officials, digital twins have the potential to reduce costs and facilitate more collaborative chip design and development processes. The administration aims to increase domestic semiconductor manufacturing, which has declined from 40% to less than 10% globally over the years. Organizations including non-profits, universities, governments, and for-profit companies can apply for funding through an informational webinar on May 8.
Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo talks about AI, chatbot platform Poe, and why OpenAI is not a competitor
This article discusses the rise of Poe, a platform that allows developers to create and monetize AI-powered chatbots using OpenAI’s large language models. Here are some key points from the article:
- Quora opened Poe to all users in 2022 after a few months of closed beta testing.
- Poe offers developers and users access to different large language models, similar to OpenAI’s ChatGPT and GPT Store.
- The platform faces challenges such as spam bots, similarly named bots, and copyright law issues.
- Quora wants to help developers earn sustainable money by improving bot discovery and introducing a pay-per-message feature.
- Poe has 4 million monthly active users in the U.S. (iOS and Android) and 3.1 million monthly active users worldwide (Android only).
- The company will stay away from ads and instead rely on its $19.99 per month subscription product to generate revenue.
- Quora is experimenting with AI-written answers and has deployed systems to rate different human answers.
- D’Angelo, the CEO of Quora, wants to avoid having Quora tagged as an “answer engine” and emphasizes that the company’s goal is to enhance human knowledge with AI.
- Quora is working on AI tools that users can use to write answers and hopes to release them soon.
- The company has a relationship with OpenAI and expects more collaboration than competition, with Quora being a “big customer” of OpenAI.
Overall, the article highlights the growth and challenges faced by Poe, as well as Quora’s efforts to improve its platform and user experience through AI-powered tools and features.
NASA Starliner launch livestream: Watch the human test flight
NASA’s latest endeavour, Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, is set to approach the International Space Station without any crew on board in late May. The historic event marks only the sixth time NASA has flown a new passenger-grade spacecraft. Seasoned astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams are poised to launch atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, sending the Starliner spacecraft to the space station. With years of delays behind them, Boeing’s Starliner has faced software issues and safety concerns in the past, but NASA is confident that it’s ready for its first human flight. If all goes according to plan, the spacecraft will dock at the station just before 1 a.m. ET on May 8.
Ethereum’s Cofounder Says SEC Is ‘Gaslighting’ Everyone About Crypto
Joe Lubin is engaged in a fierce battle with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), claiming that the regulator is not only waging war against Ethereum but also attempting to grab jurisdiction over the future of the internet. As part of the team that created Ethereum, Lubin co-founded Consensys, which has received an unwelcome notice from the SEC accusing it of being an unregistered securities broker due to two MetaMask features. In response, Consensys filed a lawsuit against the SEC, alleging that its actions would “spell disaster for the Ethereum network” and seeking to clarify the limits of the agency’s jurisdiction. The company claims that the SEC has long been investigating Ethereum, with the goal of reclassifying it as a security. Lubin hopes to drag himself and Ethereum out from underneath the SEC’s grasp by emboldening the crypto industry to retaliate against what he describes as “aggressive and unlawful SEC overreach.”
Vodafone Pro II Ultra Hub Review: Wi-Fi 6E With 4G Backup
Internet service providers have long gotten away with supplying subpar routers at exorbitant prices. For too long, many ISP-supplied routers have proven slow, unstable, and limited in range. But times are changing, as some companies are now offering decent equipment to compete with the old guard. Vodafone’s Pro II system is a prime example of this shift, featuring a Wi-Fi 6E router, booster, and 4G broadband backup for seamless connectivity. While only available in the UK for customers who sign up for a two-year contract, this move signals a new era of competition in the ISP space. As carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile begin to muscle in with their own 5G home internet services, it’s clear that the old guard is finally being held accountable, and customers will be the ultimate beneficiaries of this shift.