Other topics covered include the growing movement to ban TikTok, the impact of modern cars reporting driving behavior to insurers, and the use of AI in mapping Australia’s coral reefs. The newsletter also highlights a study from the University of California, San Diego, which suggests that genetic differences between cells, rather than a single faulty gene or series of genes, could be the cause of cognitive issues related to brain disorders such as autism and Alzheimer’s disease.
Key takeaways:
- Researchers at the University of Chicago have discovered a security vulnerability in Meta’s Quest VR system that could allow hackers to hijack users' headsets, steal sensitive information, and manipulate social interactions.
- Minor adjustments to the routes of a small fraction of airplane flights could significantly reduce global warming, according to several studies.
- Efforts to reduce the toxicity of large language models like ChatGPT may only be curbing overt racist views, while more covert stereotypes may be growing stronger and better hidden.
- Scientists are exploring the possibility that genetic differences between cells, rather than a single faulty gene or series of genes, could be the cause of brain disorders like autism and Alzheimer's disease.