Tech's Big Leap: AI, Quantum, and More

AI Distillation: Making Models Smaller and Cheaper

• A new technique called distillation is making AI models more accessible.
• Uses a large, expensive model to train a smaller, more efficient one.

Modular: A $250 Million Bet on AI Hardware

• Former Apple executive Chris Lattner leads Modular, a startup focused on AI software for hardware.
• AI chips are in high demand, making this a potential game-changer.

Quantum Computing: The Next Big Thing?

• Venture capitalist Alexa von Tobel is investing heavily in quantum computing.
• She believes it could surpass even artificial general intelligence (AGI).

China’s Juno: Unraveling Physics’ Biggest Mysteries

• A giant underground detector in China, Juno, is a collaboration of 17 countries.
• Researchers aim to detect neutrinos and antineutrinos to study their mass.

The Busy Beaver Challenge: A Problem Too Big for Math

• A tough problem in computer science now has answers too large for standard notation.
• The challenge involves finding the maximum number of steps a Turing machine can take.

Quasicrystals: The Platypus of Materials

• New studies are explaining how quasicrystals form orderly, nonrepeating patterns.
• These materials are as unique as the platypus in the animal kingdom.

STEM Education: Preparing Kids for an Uncertain Future

• There’s a push to get kids into science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
• The focus is shifting from return on investment to a broader understanding of science and tech.

Meta’s Metaverse Workers: AI for Faster Work

• Meta is urging its metaverse workers to use AI tools to work more efficiently.
• This is part of a larger shift inside the company.