Kozminski Techblog

The year 2020 was extremely difficult for individuals, businesses, and governments all around the world. Artificial intelligence (AI) applications played a critical role in saving lives and cultivating economic sustainability as the Covid-19 spread.

This article examines four important developments that have contributed to managing the Covid-19 crisis as well as changing the trajectory of our economies and culture.

Vaccine development and AI

A new vaccine usually takes years, if not decades, to produce. However, just three months after the initial few cases were confirmed, the testing for the vaccine had already begun in countries like China. The record-breaking pace of vaccine production was made possible in part by AI models that assisted researchers in analyzing massive quantities of coronavirus data.

Machine learning algorithms will sift through this deluge of information and determine which subcomponents are the most immunogenic—that is, capable of eliciting an immune response—and thereby help researchers design targeted vaccines. The application of AI in vaccine research has the potential to change the way all vaccines are developed in the future.

Full automation of vehicles and robotaxis

In 2020, the industry’s leading firms began to pilot driverless vehicles and open up robotaxi services to the public in numerous areas. Baidu also demonstrated its fully automatic driving capabilities at Baidu World 2020, its annual technology meeting, in which the AI system drives autonomously without the assistance of an in-vehicle safety driver. Baidu created the 5G Remote Driving Service to enable fully autonomous driving, a safety mechanism in which remote human controllers would take control of a car in case of emergencies.

Every year, almost 1.25 million people are killed on the roads, with the majority of these fatalities caused by human driver error. The widespread introduction of self-driving cars would significantly reduce this figure. Aside from these safety incentives, self-driving vehicles can have many other benefits to the environment and society.

Automated authentic language processing

Natural language systems became considerably more advanced in 2020 at interpreting facets of human language such as emotion and purpose. It has also become capable of developing language that aligns with human speech and writing habits and also visual comprehension. These natural language models power more precise search results as well as more advanced chatbots and virtual assistants, resulting in improved customer interfaces and added value for companies.

Quantum computing with AI

In 2020, quantum computing made major inroads, with the Jiuzhang machine achieving quantum dominance. This is significant for AI, because quantum computation has the ability to significantly boost AI implementations as opposed to binary-based classical computers. For example, quantum computing may be used to run a generative machine learning algorithm over a greater dataset than a traditional computer would handle, improving the model’s accuracy and utility in real-world environments. Deep learning algorithms, for example, are now playing an increasingly important role in the advancement of quantum computing technology.

Conclusion

Artificial intelligence has impressed many with countless breakthroughs over the years, and this year was no exception. Throughout the year, we saw incredible advances in reinforcement learning, neural networks, and other fields. Tech giants from around the world made numerous advances in artificial intelligence to dispel any remaining concerns about achieving real AI.

Neuralink

Neuralink, an innovative company created four years ago, is about to present a commercial version of the software. According to Elon Musk, the N1 chip, which will be inserted directly into the human brain, will enable humans to communicate with machines and also monitor them.

The chip will restore vision, boost voice and walking abilities for paralyzed persons, restore memory, and so on. Furthermore, it would enable scientists to better understand the function of the brain and aid in the treatment of a variety of diseases such as epilepsy. Maintaining such technologies would require the acquisition of new skills by developers. It is essential to rapidly assimilate new knowledge, develop expertise, and closely track new instances to extend the use of these chips in different sectors.

Human Augmentation

Human Augmentation, also described as Human 2.0, is a set of inventions and methods that can be used to replicate, supplement, and inspire individuals in order to significantly change their lives. It is about implants built into the human body and external tools, such as an exoskeleton, that enable a person to go beyond his or her normal limits. Technologies are now being developed and applied to restore some of the sensory inputs, such as sight and sound. It is expected that these experts will be in high demand by employers in the coming years.

Cross-Platform Development Tools

The proliferation of cross-platform programming platforms is one of the upcoming software innovation developments. Previously, developers had to select one of the major systems or build different applications for each operating system while creating an application. However, they can now create apps that are compatible with the major platforms. It saves money and effort, shortens the time to market, and makes for faster profitability by targeting a larger customer base.

It is expected that increased demand for cross-platform development would result in faster development and an increase in the number of appropriate resources.

CI / CD

In the coming years, one of the tech trends will be seamless integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD). It is regarded as one of the best practices because it enables software development firms to simplify programming processes and increase end-product consistency. The CI/CD strategy enables teams to release software even more quickly.

Another huge NFT sale was made at Christie’s tonight: collection of almost ten cryptopunks was purchased for $16.9 million. It’s likely the second-largest NFT purchases ever made, falling after Beeple’s sale in March.

CryptoPunks were one of the first NFT projects, and their value skyrocketed as collector’s items. The project, created by Larva Labs in 2017, offered 10,000 small pixel-art portraits of people, zombies, aliens, and apes. Each one was generated by AI-powered tech and has distinguishable attributes, like their hairstyle, glasses, or hat. Some traits are rarer than others, and those tend to make for more valuable CryptoPunks.

CryptoPunks have soared in popularity since NFTs started blowing up in February. Two alien punks sold in March for more than $7.5 million each. Another seven have sold for more than $1 million, all just in the past few months. NFT’s are based on Ethereum cryptocurrency which price skyrocketed this year to 4,300$ at the time of writing this post. Experts are sure – it is mainly thanks to lucrative and popular NFT transactions this year.

On a daily basis, we normally have to check the ink level ourselves and when it runs out – we have to go to the store. HP Instant Ink is to be a solution that will allow us to forget about these matters, because when there is such a need, the inks will appear at our doorstep by themselves. The manufacturer promises an end to the frustration related to the ink running out at the least opportune moment.

In short: HP Instant Ink is a subscription service. We pay a specific amount, adjusted to the frequency of printing, and the monitoring of ink levels and ordering of catridges is then carried out automatically. It is worth noting that the courier will also bring us a prepaid envelope into which we can pack the used cartridge and send it for recycling.

Many questions may arise in connection with a rigid price list of services established by the company. Fortunately, some of them are answered by the company. Examples of questions:

1) What if we don’t use our page limit? – The remaining pages will carry over to the next billing period.

2) What if I exceed my page limit? – The additional package will be automatically activated.

It is also important to note that a page is counted regardless of how full it is – so one page can be only one line of text as well as a color photo for an entire A4 sheet. Needless to say, the service pays off the most when you print the second way most often.
Instant Ink can be purchased separately, but it is also one of many elements of the service offered by the manufacturer. It is something completely new, encompassing the whole printing experience.

Dodgecoin is a cryptocurrency invented by software engineers Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer, who decided to create a payment system that is free from traditional banking fees. Dodgecoin features the face of the Shiba Inu dog from the “Doge” meme as its logo and namesake.

It was introduced on December 6, 2013, and quickly developed its own online community, reaching a market capitalization of US $70,355,561,773 on April 16, 2021.

Dogecoin’s price has soared to 50 cents lately, according to data from Coin Metrics.

Elon Musk and Mark Cuban have both made tweets supporting the meme-inspired cryptocurrency.

But its wild surge has led to warnings from some investors who view it as a speculative bubble.

Initially started as a joke in 2013, dogecoin is now the sixth-largest digital coin with a total market value of almost $42 billion, according to the “Doge” meme, which depicts a Shiba Inu dog alongside nonsensical phrases in multicolored text.

It has often spiked in price following tweets from Elon Musk. The billionaire Tesla CEO once called dogecoin his favorite cryptocurrency. Musk is also a supporter of bitcoin, with his electric car company having amassed nearly $2.5 billion worth of the cryptocurrency.

The social media giant is preparing a special app for people who are coming out of prison. Its task will be to integrate these people with the rest of society.

For some time now, Facebook has been working on various tools and applications for people who are considered excluded by the rest of the society. One of such groups, are also prisoners coming out of prison. And it is with them in mind that a new app will be created – The Re-Entry App.
Recently on Instagram appeared information about the possibility of testing this very application. It is going to be adapted for one of the excluded groups, i.e. prisoners who have just left the penitentiary. Its main goal is to help these people find their place in the new reality, after the changes that occurred during their sentence. Facebook itself has reported that the information appearing recently on Instagram was a coding error, while they has also admitted to ongoing work on the aforementioned app.
Social media specialists, on the other hand, dragged the topic further by sharing screenshots on Twitter and Instagram.

We may wonder if such an application is needed at all.
Opinions on the creation of this application among social media users are different. Some consider it unnecessary, suggesting that Facebook could focus more on helping other social groups. The other supports the initiative. Either way, The Re-Entry App is an interesting solution and approach to excluded groups.

The GDPR is the single most critical piece of privacy legislation passed in the last few years.

For a long time, data access, storage, and usage has been a major privacy concern.

The GDPR is based on the idea that users should have control over how their data is used and processed.

However, it appears that most tech giants’ privacy efforts are motivated solely by enforcement and the threat of prosecution, rather than a sincere desire to keep users’ data secure. This sometimes resulted in run-ins with the law. If governments and companies do not address the privacy issue now, the total size of digital data will be 175 zettabytes by 2025. There will be no better time than now to do so.

WhatsApp recently unveiled a contentious new privacy policy that allows it to exchange data with Facebook companies while still forcing users to agree to it. What are the potential consequences of such policy changes? How do businesses maintain transparency and accountability in the face of growing privacy concerns?

User Control

Consumers are becoming more mindful of their internet privacy rights, as shown by the uproar against WhatsApp. Everyone is aware that companies obtain data from customers who visit their websites and use their apps. The usage and preservation of the data collected are the main concerns. How do businesses treat customer information? Who should be in charge of the information?

Consumers should be able to choose whether or not they want their data used in a specific way, and as knowledge grows, more people are demanding this right.

There’s also the question of businesses keeping their promises and implementing data protection policies that are proportional to the sensitivity and amount of consumer data they receive. Cyber-attackers are attracted to businesses that collect highly personal data (mostly financial and health information) or large amounts of data (social media companies and search engines). Huge data breaches at Facebook, Google, and Microsoft have already shown this.

Personalization and advertisements

This adds to the widespread belief that the dangers of collecting personal data outweigh the benefits, as expressed by 81 percent of Americans polled about 13 months ago. Companies also collect data in order to monitor consumers for targeted advertising, and people have become increasingly dissatisfied with such tailored ads due to concerns about over monitoring.

Though completely disabling personalization is a lofty goal that will almost certainly never be realized, this author claims that “what marketers can’t do anymore is share their dossiers about you with ad-tech companies and advertisers. As a result, data brokers will have even less access to your personal information.”

Since no one has ever considered these ethical questions before, they are not fresh. However, ordinary people are now at the forefront of the online privacy battle against data-collection firms. These businesses now face a more difficult challenge in gaining consumer confidence and, even more frighteningly, compliance with legislation in order to escape harsh penalties.

To conclude, companies should be more cautious about the details they exchange with brands, and businesses should be more responsible about how they manage customer data. Meanwhile, more data security laws are expected to emerge around the world. With the GDPR, Europe has taken a significant step forward, which must be repeated in other countries and regions.

Omni Hoverboards ride over the treetops in this video.

Hoverboards aren’t a new idea, but technological advancements have allowed for a much more futuristic product.

Omni Hoverboards claims to have invented the first hoverboard that can travel.

Their website features amazing videos, such as the ones in the video player above.

Alexandru Duru, the president and co-founder of Omni Hoverboards, spoke with KSAT and confirmed that the boards would be accessible to the general public soon.

Though Duru was unable to confirm how many hoverboards would be available during the initial launch, he did state that the hoverboards are expected to cost between $40k and $50k.

The hoverboards would have a weight limit of 200 pounds, with the heavier the weight, the shorter the flight time, according to Duru.

Duru didn’t go into detail, but he did say that the boards “will fly really, really high, like really high, and flight times will be about 30 minutes.”

The hoverboards were inspired by movies, according to Duru.

“You have to enable it to be totally different from what it was imagined to be in order to make it work in real life, as we had to make it work with real physics,” he said.

Duru and the Omni Hoverboards team were able to transform their visions into reality thanks to advancements in the fields of physics and drones, as well as multicopters.

Duru said, “We started investing money, time, and commitment into making this happen.”

“It remained in the prototype stage for a while because it could only fly for two minutes, but as the sector evolves, and thanks to our research and development, we are now sure that this will transform into a one-of-a-kind vehicle,” says the company.

In terms of the laws that regulate these devices, Duru claims that American regulations prohibit the hoverboard from being flown in densely populated areas, and that all videos depicting the board in city centers were shot outside of the United States.

Engineers from South Korea and the United States are developing conceptual origami wheels in collaboration with bio-robotics experts.

Four fully working wheels that can be fitted to different prototype vehicles took a team of engineers almost ten years to develop. The wheels vary in diameter from 46 to 80 cm (18 to 31 inches) and can accommodate the weight of a full-size car body, according to the Science Robotics research report.

These Hankook experimental wheel/tires have  three layers and are built like an origami water bomb with a dense, flexible composite membrane. The rigid panels are clad with faceted aluminum panels for added structural strength and longevity.

The wheels have a minimum diameter of 46 cm in their basic state (19 inches). They become taller and thinner when compressed horizontally, and the inner stop plates add rigidity.

The wheels have been tested to withstand a load of 10 ±2 kilonewtons, and the transformation takes five seconds at a speed of one meter per second. The allowable payload mass is more than 50 times the mass of the wheel itself.

https://www.hotcars.com/new-origami-wheels-can-change-shape-in-motion/

SpaceX appears to be planning a launch for its new Starship later today, with the SN15 prototype likely blasting off in a matter of hours.

Elon Musk’s company wants to send people to Mars for the first time one day using the Starship spacecrafts.

Unlike conventional rockets, the Starship’s target is to be able to take off and land multiple times.

The SN15 launch attempt already took place on Friday, however it was cancelled with no reason given.

When will the Starship SN15 be launched?

SpaceX has been given a launch window from its Starship facility in Boca Chica, Texas, between 12 and 8 p.m. local time.

This suggests that the launch could happen at any moment between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m. in Poland.

Cameron County has announced road closures for the entire eight-hour period, as well as marine danger notices.

A letter sent to local residents states: “There is a risk that a malfunction of the SpaceX vehicle during these activities will create an overpressure event that can break windows,”

“Therefore, in order to protect public health and safety, it is recommended that you consider temporarily vacating yourself, other occupants, and pets, from the area.“

“At a minimum, you must exit your home or structure and be outside of any building on your property when you hear the police sirens, which will be activated at the time of the space flight activity, to avoid or minimize the risk of injury.”

How to watch from Poland?

The precise launch time will not be known until about 10 minutes before the launch, when SpaceX will broadcast a live stream on its website and YouTube channel.

If weather conditions prohibit the launch from taking place today, a backup date has been set for tomorrow.

What is the aim of the event?

SpaceX has ambitious goals for the Starship spacecraft.

The ultimate goal is to send people to Mars, which it plans to accomplish by 2030.

The first four high-altitude experiments all reached a height of at least 10 kilometers, but three of them exploded on landing, and the fourth exploded shortly after landing.

Despite the explosions during previous tests, SpaceX claims it will be able to complete an orbital flight by July.

A commercial trip around the moon is planned for 2023, and the corporation has partnered with Nasa to send astronauts back to the moon the following year.

Musk predicts that by 2050, humans will be able to survive on Mars.