Researchers have achieved a milestone in AI, teaching it to predict the complex aromas of whiskies and even identify their origins. The study, conducted in Germany, utilised AI to analyse the molecular makeup of 16 American and Scottish whiskies. It then predicted the five strongest aroma notes and distinguished between the two countries of origin with remarkable accuracy.
The AI surpassed human experts in consistency and precision, identifying aromas like menthol and citronellol for US whiskies and smoky, medicinal notes for Scotch. This innovation could ensure flavour consistency in whisky production, detect counterfeit goods, and even find applications in blending recycled materials to reduce odours.
While promising, the study was limited to a small selection of whiskies, raising questions about its performance on broader varieties or aged batches. Experts also noted that flavour perception depends on external factors, highlighting room for further exploration in this emotive domain. Nonetheless, this blend of technology and tradition signals a new step for the whisky industry.
Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, has raised $6 billion in its latest funding round, doubling its total to $12 billion this year. The investment attracted high-profile backers such as Andreessen Horowitz, BlackRock, and Fidelity, with participation limited to existing investors. Reports suggest the company is now targeting a $50 billion valuation.
Founded last year, xAI released its flagship generative AI model, Grok, which powers features on X, formerly known as Twitter. Grok, known for its bold and unconventional responses, has integrated capabilities like image generation and news summarisation. The company has also launched APIs and a standalone app, aiming to compete with AI giants like OpenAI and Anthropic.
The company’s Memphis data centre, housing 100,000 Nvidia GPUs, is central to training the next generation of AI models. Plans are underway to double GPU capacity and secure additional power to support operations. However, these efforts have faced criticism over potential environmental impacts.
xAI envisions integrating its AI models with Musk’s other ventures, such as Tesla and SpaceX, sparking concerns among Tesla shareholders. Despite these challenges, xAI’s rapid growth positions it as a formidable contender in the expanding AI industry.
Elon Musk’s AI venture, xAI, has unveiled a standalone iOS app for its chatbot, Grok, marking its first major expansion beyond the X platform. The app, currently in beta testing across Australia and a few other regions, offers users an array of generative AI features, including real-time web access, text rewriting, summarisation, and even image generation from text prompts.
Grok, described as a ‘maximally truthful and curious’ assistant, is designed to provide accurate answers, create photorealistic images, and analyse uploaded pictures. While previously restricted to paying X subscribers, a free version of the chatbot was launched in November and has recently been made accessible to all users.
The app also serves as a precursor to a dedicated web platform, Grok.com, which is in the works. xAI has touted the chatbot’s ability to produce detailed and unrestricted image content, even allowing creations involving public figures and copyrighted material. This open approach sets Grok apart from other AI tools with stricter content policies.
As the beta rollout progresses, Grok is poised to become a versatile tool for users seeking generative AI capabilities in a dynamic and user-friendly interface.
A Google Street View image helped authorities in Spain in a missing person investigation. The image showed a person moving a large object into a car and another transporting a white bundle in a wheelbarrow. Authorities later located human remains in a cemetery in Soria province using advanced techniques.
Though Google Maps was involved, police clarified the image was not pivotal in solving the case of a 33-year-old man who disappeared in Tajueco. Two individuals were arrested in connection with the crime.
Google Maps has previously assisted law enforcement, including locating an Italian fugitive in 2022.
Manila Central University (MCU) has partnered with Fortinet, a global leader in cybersecurity, through its Academic Partner Program to address the growing talent shortage in the Philippines. That collaboration aims to equip students with essential skills to meet industry demands by integrating Fortinet’s Network Security Expert (NSE) training and certification program into the university’s curriculum, either as coursework or standalone offerings.
Faculty members will receive advanced training, and students will benefit from guest lectures, practical exercises, and hands-on learning in areas like network security, malware analysis, and defence strategies. Additionally, the partnership includes establishing a state-of-the-art Cyber Innovation Lab to provide immersive learning experiences.
The initiative aligns with findings from Fortinet’s ‘Cybersecurity Skills Gap 2024 Global Research Report,’ which revealed that 94% of organisations in the Philippines experienced security breaches in 2023, with 77% partly attributed to a lack of cybersecurity skills. MCU joins nine other institutions, including Mapúa University and Mindanao State University-Sulu, in Fortinet’s nationwide effort to strengthen cybersecurity education.
The partnership also represents a significant step toward bridging the cybersecurity skills gap in the Philippines. By combining Fortinet’s expertise with MCU’s academic foundation, the program offers students industry-recognised certifications and practical knowledge needed to excel as cybersecurity professionals.
Why does it matter?
The initiative addresses immediate challenges highlighted in the report and strengthens the country’s capacity to defend against evolving digital threats, ensuring a robust pipeline of future professionals ready to meet global cybersecurity standards.
Generative AI, has begun to mimic an intriguing aspect of human perception, the blending of sensory experiences. Research shows that humans naturally associate colours, shapes, and even sounds with flavours a phenomenon known as cross-modal correspondence. For instance, red hues often evoke sweetness, while sharp shapes suggest bitterness. AI systems, trained on human data, appear to be trained to replicate these associations, offering new perspectives on how deeply such connections are embedded in our perception.
This revelation emerged through studies where AI was tasked with answering prompts about the relationships between sensory elements, such as the sweetness of certain shapes or colours. The results closely mirrored human responses, particularly when using advanced models like ChatGPT-4. Researchers believe this reflects the biases in the data the AI was trained on, highlighting how common and universal these sensory links might be.
The potential applications of this technology are vast. Marketing, for example, could use AI to design products and packaging that enhance sensory appeal. However, experts warn that AI’s insights should complement, not replace, human creativity. While AI offers inspiration, the nuances of human perception remain essential for creating designs that resonate deeply with people.
By understanding how AI interprets sensory input, researchers hope to not only enhance technology but also unlock more about the mysteries of the human brain. As AI continues to explore the sensory dimensions, it might pave the way for innovative approaches to art, marketing, and even neuroscience.
Google has proposed changes to its agreements with companies like Apple to address a US antitrust ruling against its dominance in online search. The tech giant suggested making its distribution deals non-exclusive and allowing annual reviews for developers who set Google as the default search engine.
The company urged caution against drastic measures such as selling its Chrome browser or unbundling Android features, arguing that such remedies could stifle innovation in a rapidly evolving AI landscape. Judge Amit Mehta previously found Google’s agreements gave it an unfair advantage, particularly through deals requiring Android manufacturers to pre-install Google search to access its Play Store.
Revenue-sharing deals, which are vital to smaller developers like Mozilla, would remain under Google’s plan. Critics, including DuckDuckGo, argue the proposal fails to restore competition and largely maintains the status quo. Apple reportedly earned $20 billion from its agreement with Google in 2022, underlining the financial stakes of these deals.
An April trial will determine if broader remedies are necessary to boost innovation and competition in search and artificial intelligence. The US Department of Justice, along with several states, is seeking measures to curb Google’s dominance, including restrictions on its payments for default search placement and licensing of its search technology to rivals.
Apple is reportedly working on an innovative smart doorbell camera equipped with Face ID technology, enabling users to unlock their doors simply by looking at it. This new device could launch as early as 2025, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The camera will feature Apple’s Secure Enclave chip, ensuring biometric data is processed and stored securely, similar to other Apple products like the iPhone.
The doorbell camera is expected to integrate with existing HomeKit-compatible smart locks and might also come as part of a complete system developed in partnership with a smart lock manufacturer. It will likely incorporate Apple’s ‘Proxima’ Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, which is also rumoured for upcoming HomePod Mini and Apple TV models.
This development is part of Apple’s broader push into the smart home market. Additional rumours point to a new Apple-branded security camera, smart displays with advanced features like robotic arms, and even a potential Apple TV update. These efforts signal Apple’s commitment to creating a seamless and intelligent home ecosystem.
Tetsuwan Scientific, a startup founded by Cristian Ponce and Théo Schäfer, is developing robotic AI scientists designed to automate lab experiments. Inspired by the rapid evolution of AI models like GPT-4, these robots aim to address the repetitive and labour-intensive aspects of research. They combine low-cost robotic hardware with advanced software that interprets and executes scientific tasks autonomously.
The breakthrough came when Ponce tested AI’s ability to diagnose scientific data and offer solutions. However, existing lab robots lacked the ability to physically act on these insights. Tetsuwan’s solution integrates AI to give robots the context and flexibility to perform tasks like pipetting and analysing results without constant programming.
Currently working with La Jolla Labs in RNA therapeutic drug development, Tetsuwan has secured $2.7 million in funding to advance its technology. The ultimate goal is to create self-reliant AI scientists capable of automating the entire scientific process, from hypothesis to reproducible results, potentially accelerating innovation at an unprecedented pace.
Spacecoin XYZ has made history with the launch of its first satellite, marking a groundbreaking step towards securing blockchain networks in outer space. The satellite, which was launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy on 21 December, represents the first milestone in establishing the ‘Spacecoin layer‘ in Earth’s orbit, according to co-founder Daniel Bar.
Equipped with ‘crypto engines’ and powered by solar panels, the satellite forms the foundation of a larger constellation planned for 2025. This fleet of seven to ten satellites will enable the activation of the Spacecoin mainnet, a project designed to offer unparalleled levels of security and resilience for blockchain networks.
Spacecoin’s ambitions extend far beyond securing blockchains, as outlined in its Blue Paper. The company envisions a decentralised infrastructure network featuring a space-based layer-1, the Celestial Chain, and a terrestrial layer-2, the Uncelestial Network. Adviser Dahlia Malkhi highlighted the untamperable nature of the satellite’s hardware, describing it as a trusted platform for an immutable history that could surpass human lifetimes.
