Welcome to Backstory, a weekly newsletter turning global technology shifts into a three-minute read. This week, we’re thinking about everything artificial intelligence – Mary Ames, Director of Strategy

THE BIG TAKE

Making AI Easier

How well do we understand artificial intelligence? Yes, there are many articles about artificial intelligence floating around the internet, but that doesn’t mean much for many. Sometimes it feels like there is a flood of AI news, but we don’t seem to use the technology in our everyday lives.  To be sure, there are bots and plugins (like Google’s handy autocomplete service in Gmail) that use simple forms of AI, but those are peanuts compared to the computing technology that exists. A new codex by OpenAI aimed at coders could mark the start of change and make AI easier for more regular people to use. 

Simple starts: The OpenAI codex is an excellent program that writes code based on simple commands that you enter. The example they have released allows anyone to code their own space game. Enter what you want the game to do, and the AI takes care of the rest. Try it for yourself; it’s quite fun. While we appreciate that the vast majority of people don’t code, the fact is that most people benefit from code in their daily life. Any way that the general public can learn more about coding and how AI is making it more accessible will advance a larger understanding of the power of AI to transform our environment. 

Learning about the future: With the announcement that Telsa will soon have a prototype humanoid robot, the AI revolution is fast becoming part of our reality. As the innovations accelerate, society needs initiatives such as the OpenAI codex so that more people can observe and understand how these systems work. Artificial intelligence is already transforming human consciousness and culture, but we fail to understand these shifts as they happen. It’s time to make AI easier. The first step is learning how to code a silly computer game. 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Some people call this artificial intelligence, but the reality is this technology will enhance us. So instead of artificial intelligence, I think we’ll augment our intelligence.”

– Ginni Rometty, American business leader

OUR VIEWS THIS WEEK

The new space cowboys: The Space Race is back on, and a new cast of characters are rewriting the rules of space exploration and privatization. Longtime readers of Xische’s articles will be well aware of the incredible strides the UAE has made in several space endeavors. From the Mars orbiter to plans for Moon exploration, the UAE shows that small countries can defy the odds and explore the furthest reaches of our solar system. This week, we take stock of the larger questions to consider in space like privatization and exploration.  

Expo 2020 is around the corner: The countdown is on! Expo 2020 is less than 100 days away, and Dubai is gearing up to welcome the world. The world, however, is a much different place than we thought it would be when the Expo was originally envisioned for Dubai. Instead of shying away from the changed realities we all face, the UAE is embracing them for this Expo. In fact, the country is showing its leadership in the post-pandemic landscape having just secured its position as the world’s most vaccinated country. The UAE is demonstrating through action that it is ready to lead in the post-pandemic world.

SPOTTED ELSEWHERE

Climate change and infrastructure: Last week, we wrote about the dire new climate change report from the United Nations. Things are bad, and they are getting worse. What if solving climate change came down to a question of infrastructure. Could it be so easy? Well, not really, but this piece by Renewable Energy World charting the number of electric vehicle charging stations in the United States makes a compelling argument. 

All-powerful data: We love stories about big data and data in general. That’s why this piece in Quanta Magazine about big data and graph theory caught our eye. While it might be a bit technical, the notion that the mathematics of higher-order interaction can be used to model complex connections within big data is worth investigating.

QUICK HITS

• Try the OpenAI Codex! 

• Scientists discuss Covid-19 booster shots.

• Everything you need to know about electric cars and batteries

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