All posts tagged: generate

OpenAI drastically updates Codex desktop app to use all other apps on your computer, generate images, preview webpages

OpenAI drastically updates Codex desktop app to use all other apps on your computer, generate images, preview webpages

Published by skeptic

Confirming it has reached 3 million weekly developers, OpenAI is massively updating its Codex developer environment via its Mac and Windows desktop apps today to bring it closer to the “Super App” the company has confirmed it is pursuing. Before today, Codex was primarily an environment for using OpenAI’s underlying language models to write, edit, debug and ship software as directed by the user. Now, Codex will be able to access all of the other apps on your computer, surface relevant information from within them to you when asked or proactively, take actions as directed in said applications, and, in the case of Mac users, even do so while you continue manually using your computer simultaneously to your agents working in the background. Andrew Ambrosino, an OpenAI technical staffer on the Codex team, described the change plainly in an embargoed press briefing I attended virtually yesterday: “Codex can actually click on apps, launch apps, and type into apps. This works with any apps on your machine.”  Codex on desktop is further getting its own built-in …

AI can generate images that are just as effective at triggering human emotions as traditional photographs

AI can generate images that are just as effective at triggering human emotions as traditional photographs

Published by José Betancourt

A recent study provides evidence that artificial intelligence can successfully generate customized images designed to trigger specific human emotions. The findings suggest that these computer-generated pictures work just as well as traditional photographs, while offering the added benefit of being adaptable to different cultures, ages, and genders. The research was published in the journal Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science. Generative AI refers to computer systems that can create new content, such as text or pictures, based on simple written instructions. Scientists often use collections of photographs to study human emotions, a process known as affect induction. By showing participants specific images, researchers can reliably trigger feelings like fear, joy, or disgust in a laboratory setting. This allows scientists to study how emotions influence human behavior and decision making. However, older image collections have started to show their age. Many traditional photographs suffer from low resolution or feature outdated fashion styles that might distract participants from the intended emotion. Existing image databases also tend to lack cultural diversity. Most traditional photos feature Western …

Popular AI chatbots generate unsafe diet plans for teenagers

Popular AI chatbots generate unsafe diet plans for teenagers

Published by José Betancourt

Many teenagers trying to manage their weight are turning to artificial intelligence chatbots to generate personalized diet plans. However, a new study published in Frontiers in Nutrition reveals that these computer-generated menus often fall short on basic calories and fail to provide the proper balance of essential nutrients. Following these flawed digital recommendations could put young people at risk of nutritional deficiencies during a period of rapid physical growth. Childhood and adolescent obesity rates are rising rapidly across the globe. This condition carries immediate and long-term health risks, including a higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea. Health experts typically recommend that young people manage their weight through a combination of increased physical activity, behavioral changes, and specialized nutrition therapy. Dietitians are the ideal professionals to guide this process because they design sustainable meal patterns tailored to a growing body. A trained dietitian takes into account a teenager’s developmental needs, family habits, and the school food environment. Access to professional nutritional counseling, however, is often limited by high costs …

Palantir Demos Show How the Military Could Use AI Chatbots to Generate War Plans

Palantir Demos Show How the Military Could Use AI Chatbots to Generate War Plans

Published by skeptic

When the user asks “What enemy military unit is in the region?” the AIP Assistant guesses that it’s “likely an armor attack battalion based on the pattern of the equipment.” This prompts the analyst to request a MQ-9 Reaper drone to survey the scene. They then ask the AIP Assistant to “generate 3 courses of action to target this enemy equipment,” and within moments, the assistant suggests attacking the unit with either an “air asset,” a “long range artillery,” or a “tactical team.” The user tells the assistant to send these options to a fictional commander, who ultimately chooses the tactical team. The final steps play out quickly: The analyst asks the AIP Assistant to “analyze the battlefield,” then “generate a route” for troops to reach the enemy, and finally “assign jammers” to sabotage their communications equipment. Within seconds, the analyst gives the battle plan a final review and orders the troops to mobilize. In this scenario, Claude would be the “voice” of the AIP Assistant, and the “reasoning” it uses to generate responses. Other …

New coating helps solar panels generate electricity from raindrops and sunlight

New coating helps solar panels generate electricity from raindrops and sunlight

Published by Jenni Sidey

While they may appear to be insignificant, raindrops’ impact on surfaces can create measurable electrical signals when specific conditions exist. Scientists from Spain have now demonstrated that the impact of a drop can create over 100 volts of electricity and support the operation of a photovoltaic solar cell by producing additional current through rainfall under adverse weather conditions. This work was conducted at the Materials Science Institute in Seville, a collaboration between the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the University of Seville. The researchers created a dual energy harvesting device that had never before been combined. The device uses a thin coating to protect the fragile solar cell materials and, at the same time, captures mechanical energy created by the fall of water. “The work we have conducted is an innovative method to integrate perovskite-type solar cells and triboelectric nanogenerators into a thin film configuration, which establishes the potential for combining these two energy harvesting techniques in one device,” stated researcher Carmen Lopez. Hybrid energy-harvesting systems that combine perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with drop-driven …

Scientists generate electricity using Tesla turbine-inspired technology

Scientists generate electricity using Tesla turbine-inspired technology

Published by Jenni Sidey

A stream of compressed air does not look like a power source. In factories, it usually hisses through pipes, drives tools, then disappears as waste. But under the right conditions, that same airflow carries invisible electrical potential, especially when tiny particles move with it. Engineers have now found a way to tap that overlooked energy. The system takes inspiration from a Tesla turbine, a design that spins using fluid flow rather than traditional blades. Instead of friction-based contact, the new generator relies on what the team calls the particulate static effect. Energy harvesting sources in nature and potential power levels (bottom) corresponding to each source, (b) various kinds of mechanical energy sources as a function of frequencies. (CREDIT: ACS Nano) “During the research, we were curious about what would happen if high-speed—or high-pressure—wind blows onto the triboelectric nanogenerator. So, we fabricated a Tesla turbine-inspired triboelectric nanogenerator structure that can be operated with high-pressure air and analyzed the data. From these results, we observed the particulate static effect: the particulate matter in air can also generate …

AI chatbots generate weight loss coaching messages perceived as helpful as human-written advice

AI chatbots generate weight loss coaching messages perceived as helpful as human-written advice

Published by José Betancourt

Artificial intelligence systems are increasingly being tested for their ability to support personal health goals. A recent study published in the Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science provides evidence that AI chatbots can generate weight-loss coaching messages that are perceived as helpful as those written by human experts. The findings suggest that large language models may soon offer a scalable way to provide personalized support for individuals managing obesity. Obesity remains a significant global health challenge. It affects a large percentage of the adult population and increases the risk of conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. While losing a moderate amount of weight can reduce these risks, accessing consistent and personalized coaching is often difficult and expensive. Many people rely on mobile health applications that send automated messages to help them stay on track. Current automated systems typically rely on pre-written templates. These messages often function on simple rules. For example, if a user does not log their food, the system sends a generic reminder. Previous research indicates that users often find these messages repetitive …

Google’s Gemini AI Will Now Generate Meeting Suggestions in Your Calendar. How It Works

Google’s Gemini AI Will Now Generate Meeting Suggestions in Your Calendar. How It Works

Published by skeptic

Google has announced a new way to schedule and reschedule meetings in Google Calendar, with one-click suggestions powered by its Gemini AI assistant. The update is designed to reduce the time spent coordinating availability by automatically identifying times that work for everyone invited. Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source. When creating an event, Calendar will now surface suggested meeting times based on the participants’ availability, working hours and existing commitments. If invitees later decline or conflicts arise, Gemini can prompt the organizer with a new recommended time directly inside the event, allowing the meeting to be rescheduled without leaving Calendar. CNET The feature builds on Google’s broader push to weave generative AI more deeply into its Workspace tools, shifting routine tasks like scheduling, drafting and summarizing toward automated assistance.  Calendar already uses AI for features such as smart event creation and time insights, but this update gives Gemini a more active role in managing changes after a meeting is created. Google said the new meeting suggestions are …

Deep magma oceans generate magnetic fields to protect planets and support life

Deep magma oceans generate magnetic fields to protect planets and support life

Published by Jenni Sidey

In addition to shaping the interior of rocky planets, molten rock located deep within these planets may also contribute to the creation of a planet’s magnetic fields, which protect the entire planet from radiation. This latest discovery by scientists from the University of Rochester has shown that a basal magma ocean (a layer of molten rock) located deep within a planet may produce a long-lasting magnetic field around it. Large rocky exoplanets called super-Earths may benefit from this long-lasting magnetic field. Magnetic fields protect the atmosphere and surface of planets from charged particles as well as cosmic radiation; therefore, they play an essential role in protecting life on planets. Our planet, Earth, has a magnetic field produced by the movement of liquid iron in its outer core; however, many rocky planets, including Mars and Venus, do not have global magnetic fields at this time because the physical conditions in their cores do not support the same processes that create our magnetic field. Miki Nakajima, an associate professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences …

Adobe Acrobat now lets you edit files using prompts, generate podcast summaries

Adobe Acrobat now lets you edit files using prompts, generate podcast summaries

Published by skeptic

Adobe has been aggressively adding AI features to all its products in the last few years. The company is now adding more AI tools to Acrobat, including the ability to generate podcast summaries of files, create presentations, and a way for users to edit files using prompts. The company launched Adobe Spaces last year, which is a collection of files and notes that multiple users can access. Now, Adobe is allowing users to use the information stored in these files and notes to create a presentation using text prompts. For instance, if a user has financial details, product plans, and competitor analysis available in a Space, they can build a pitch deck for clients that focuses on why their product can solve problems better than rivals. Acrobat’s AI assistant first generates an editable presentation with points that the deck would cover. You can then use Adobe Express’s theme library, stock photos, or use your own images to build the presentation. Plus, you can easily apply your brand’s theme or edit individual slides using Express. Image …