In other news, the article mentions Elon Musk's cost-cutting team working over 80 hours a week, the rise of trolls in the digital space, and the threat to reproductive rights in the Trump era. It also discusses the advent of the first mechanical Qubit and the potential of weight-loss drugs to treat chronic pain. The article concludes with a feature on environmental DNA, a new method that allows scientists to observe the diversity and distribution of life.
Key takeaways:
- Robotaxi firm Cruise has been fined $500,000 for falsifying a crash report, which failed to mention that its robotaxi dragged a pedestrian after hitting her.
- There is a grassroots effort underway to diversify AI voices, which are often default to white American or British accents and primarily speak English, limiting their usability for non-English speakers.
- Environmental DNA (eDNA) is offering scientists a new, cost-effective way to observe the diversity and distribution of life by collecting genetic material from various environments.
- Bluesky, a social network platform, is gaining popularity with users including US politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who appreciates its authenticity and user-driven nature.