Chinese Military Builds Llama-based AI Model, The Pantheon's Self-Healing Concrete, Another Creature Can Reverse Aging
Nov 4, 2024
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Discover the intriguing world of AI as Chinese military researchers develop ChatBIT, a tool rivaling ChatGPT-4. Dive into the ethical implications of using open-source AI for military purposes. Then, marvel at the Pantheon's ancient self-healing concrete, a breakthrough that could reshape modern construction and combat climate change. Lastly, meet the sea walnut, a remarkable creature that can reverse its aging process, offering fascinating insights into regeneration and the biology of aging.
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Quick takeaways
The adaptation of Meta's Llama model into the military AI tool Chatbit highlights urgent concerns about the regulation and security implications of open-source technologies.
The discovery of the Pantheon's self-healing concrete and the sea walnut's ability to reverse aging offer innovative insights into sustainable construction and regenerative medicine.
Deep dives
Concerns Over Military AI Development
The adaptation of Meta's open-source LAMA model into a military AI tool called Chatbit has raised serious concerns regarding the misuse of publicly available technologies. Developed by Chinese military researchers, Chatbit aims to enhance intelligence gathering and operational decision-making, reportedly performing at 90% of the effectiveness of Chat GPT-4 even though it was trained on a relatively small dataset. This development underscores the difficulties companies encounter in managing and controlling open-source technologies once released, as highlighted by Meta’s response emphasizing that such applications are unauthorized. The situation highlights the pressing need for improved international cooperation in regulating AI technologies, especially given their potential implications for global security and defense.
Insights from Ancient Self-Healing Concrete
Recent research has uncovered that the Pantheon in Rome, with its ancient self-healing concrete, remains intact nearly 2,000 years after its construction. The unique composition of this concrete, particularly the presence of lime clasts created through a process called hot mixing, allows it to react with water and seal any cracks that form. Modern researchers have simulated this ancient technique and confirmed that their adaptations of Roman-inspired concrete can completely heal within two weeks of being cracked. This knowledge is inspiring innovations in modern construction, including self-healing materials that incorporate bacteria or polymer capsules, aiming to enhance infrastructure longevity while also addressing sustainability issues through the use of recycled materials.
The Sea Walnut's Extraordinary Ability
Scientists have discovered that the sea walnut, a transparent comb jelly, possesses the remarkable ability to age in reverse, effectively rejuvenating itself under stress. When faced with starvation or injury, this creature can revert to its larval stage, allowing it to regenerate structures like tentacles and conserve energy until conditions improve. This ability has contributed to its success as an invasive species across multiple water bodies, and it potentially offers insights into broader applications in regenerative medicine. Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind this phenomenon may unlock new avenues in the study of aging and cellular transformation in various organisms.
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Advancements in AI and Ancient Innovations in Construction
In today's episode of Discover Daily, we explore how Chinese military researchers have adapted Meta's open-source Llama model to create ChatBIT, an AI tool capable of performing at 90% of ChatGPT-4's capability. This development raises critical questions about the control of open-source AI technology and its potential military applications, with Meta's policy director explicitly stating that such military use violates their acceptable use policy.
We then uncover the fascinating secrets behind the Pantheon's 2000-year-old self-healing concrete, where recent MIT research reveals that special lime clasts created through "hot mixing" allow the ancient Roman structure to repair its own cracks. This discovery could reimagine modern construction methods and significantly reduce the environmental impact of concrete production, which currently accounts for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Lastly, we look at a new discovery about the sea walnut, a transparent comb jelly that can reverse its aging process when faced with stressful conditions. This extraordinary creature, which becomes only the third known species capable of age reversal, transforms from its adult form back to a juvenile stage by regrowing tentacles and adopting different feeding behaviors, offering potential insights into the biology of aging and regenerative medicine.
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