Sign up to save tools and stay up to date with the latest in AI
bg
bg
1

The Download: making surgery safer, and MDMA therapy has been dealt a blow

Jun 07, 2024 - technologyreview.com
The newsletter discusses various topics including the use of AI in surgery, the FDA's rejection of MDMA as a therapy for PTSD, and Silicon Valley's resistance to an AI safety bill. Stanford surgeon Teodor Grantcharov has developed a technology similar to an airplane's black box to record and analyze surgeries, aiming to reduce errors. However, the idea has faced resistance from surgeons fearing disciplinary action and legal exposure. Meanwhile, an FDA panel has overwhelmingly rejected the use of MDMA as a therapy for PTSD, despite positive trial results. The FDA will make its final decision by August 11. Silicon Valley is also pushing back against a bill that would require tech firms to create a 'kill switch' for AI models.

The newsletter also covers topics like Boeing's Starliner docking with the International Space Station, OpenAI revealing more about ChatGPT, China's struggle in the chip war with the US, and the deplatforming of accounts spreading misinformation. Other stories include the downfall of an Indian startup once valued at $22 billion, climate scientists' efforts to slow polar ice melting, the popularity of cheap delivery meals in China, and a virtual gun selling for over $1 million. The newsletter ends with a discussion on the future of DNA computing.

Key takeaways:

  • Surgeon and professor of surgery at Stanford, Teodor Grantcharov, has developed a technology to record and analyze surgical operations to improve safety and efficiency, similar to an airplane's black box.
  • A panel of FDA advisors has rejected the use of MDMA, also known as ecstasy, as a safe and effective treatment for PTSD, despite positive trial results.
  • Silicon Valley is resisting an AI safety bill that would require tech firms to create a 'kill switch' to shut down AI models.
  • OpenAI has released a paper explaining how AI models' workings can be reverse engineered, highlighting the complexity and mystery of large language models.
View Full Article

Comments (0)

Be the first to comment!