The Intelligence: can Milei cure malaise in Argentina?
Nov 20, 2023
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Ana Lanquez, The Economist's Latin America correspondent, delves into Argentina's political upheaval with Javier Milei's radical reforms in a country grappling with economic distress. Meanwhile, Benjamin Sutherland discusses military technology, highlighting Israel's challenges in utilizing advanced tools against Hamas's intricate tunnel systems. The talk also touches on groundbreaking AI applications in environmental science, showcasing how bioacoustic analysis can monitor biodiversity through sound, merging tech with ecological preservation.
Javier Millet's victory signals a desire for radical change in Argentina's economic situation, but concerns remain regarding his proposed solutions.
AI-based bioacoustic analysis offers a more efficient and cost-effective method to monitor biodiversity in rainforests, aiding conservation efforts.
Deep dives
Javier Millet elected as Argentina's next president
Javier Millet won the presidential election in Argentina, defeating Sergio Massa with 56% of the vote. Millet's victory is seen as a sign that Argentinians are seeking radical change to address the country's economic problems, including high inflation rates and high poverty rates. However, there are concerns about Millet's proposed solutions, such as cutting public spending and eliminating the central bank. It remains to be seen how successful Millet will be in implementing his agenda.
Israel's battle against Hamas's tunnel network
Israel is facing a challenge in countering Hamas's vast network of tunnels, which are used for both hiding supplies and fighters, as well as for strategic maneuvering. Finding these tunnels is difficult due to their location within structures. Various methods like drones and ground-based sonar are employed to detect the tunnels, but Hamas has become more careful in their construction to avoid detection. Once detected, the Israeli Defense Forces use different techniques like aerial bombardment or the deployment of drones to explore and destroy the tunnels.
Using AI to measure biodiversity through sound
Researchers have developed an AI-based system to measure biodiversity in rainforests through sound analysis. The system uses recordings of animal sounds to identify species and measure their numbers. This method, known as bioacoustic analysis, can provide a more efficient and cost-effective way to monitor and measure biodiversity compared to traditional methods. The AI system showed promising results in identifying bird species in the Ecuadorian rainforest, and it has the potential to be used by forest rangers and conservationists to assess the health of ecosystems and guide conservation efforts.
He is a self-proclaimed “anarcho-capitalist” and in a run-off, the people have entrusted this political firebrand to shake the country out of economic malaise. Will he deliver? Hamas has an intricate network of tunnels under Gaza, but new tech could help Israel fight them (10:48). And what AI can glean from listening to the forests (19:03). Additional audio courtesy of Jörg Müller
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