Exploring Automata History, Japan's Auto Flow Road, and South Africa's RICETOAP Project

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The Renaissance period witnessed a renewed interest in automata with designs by Leonardo da Vinci and Juanelo Turiano. In the 20th century, electronics revolutionized automata leading to modern robotics used in various fields. Japan's Auto Flow Road project aims to revolutionize freight transportation by establishing a 310-mile automated conveyor belt system to address the delivery driver shortage and reduce emissions. The project will utilize existing infrastructure and high-capacity conveyor belts to transport cargo efficiently. Conversely, in South Africa, the RICETOAP project combats rhino poaching by injecting radioactive material into rhino horns, making them detectable at international borders. This innovative alternative to frequent dehorning involves inserting tiny radioactive chips into rhino horns, rendering them toxic for consumption. Although the project shows promise in preventing poaching, it faces ethical concerns and scepticism.

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In this episode of Discover Daily, we explored several cutting-edge developments in technology and conservation efforts. We began with the concerning discovery of the "Skeleton Key" technique by Microsoft researchers, which can bypass safety measures in multiple generative AI models. This method manipulates AI systems into ignoring their built-in safety protocols, potentially allowing harmful or restricted information to be extracted. Testing revealed that several prominent AI models from companies like Meta, Google, OpenAI, and others were vulnerable to this technique.

We then looked into Japan's ambitious Autoflow-Road project, a 310-mile automated conveyor belt system designed to revolutionize freight transportation between Tokyo and Osaka. This innovative system aims to address Japan's critical shortage of delivery drivers while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Autoflow-Road will utilize existing infrastructure and operate 24/7, potentially replacing the work of 25,000 drivers daily. This project is a response to Japan's aging population and declining birth rate, which is expected to cause a significant drop in the number of delivery drivers by 2030.

Finally, we discussed the Rhisotope Project in South Africa, a groundbreaking effort to combat rhino poaching. This innovative approach involves injecting radioactive material into live rhino horns, making them detectable by radiation sensors at international borders. The project aims to deter smuggling and reduce demand for rhino horns in traditional medicinal markets. While the project shows promise, it has faced ethical concerns and skepticism. We also touched on Toys 'R' Us's recent unveiling of an AI-generated advertisement created using OpenAI's Sora platform, which has sparked both praise and criticism in the advertising world.

From Perplexity's Discover feed:

https://www.perplexity.ai/page/the-history-of-automata-GHGbYBTzQECrZ4xd5m8zwg

https://www.perplexity.ai/page/the-skeleton-key-ai-jailbreak-OuIr1gvxRQO0O2Bu6ZBI1Q

https://www.perplexity.ai/page/radioactive-rhino-horns-projec-D_fXUYMkSuuUw5VuDJjHvw

https://www.perplexity.ai/page/japan-s-massive-conveyor-belt-XKK_nmz8TcChxI8uwZQDKQ

https://www.perplexity.ai/page/toys-r-us-ai-generated-ad-OWgcNO4_QLyT.Blqh.bqfg

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