TOPSHOT - A general view swhows St. Peters' basilica and St. peter's square during the Pope's Easter ... [+] Sunday mass on April 9, 2023 at St. Peter's square in The Vatican, as part of celebrations of the Holy Week. (Photo by Andreas SOLARO / AFP) (Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesIn what most would consider a halcyon time for artificial intelligence, an anachronistic source has just added their two cents to the ethos around the AI revolution. The Vatican, on Jan. 28, released a significant broadside addressing the potential and risks of AI in a new high-tech world.Its a very interesting look at these new technologies through the lens of religion, and of Catholicism in particular, with a focus on human worth and human dignity. Now, I should specify that there is no single author on this paper, though much of that it covers is reportedly based on ideas put forth by the pope in recent years. Instead, the article is signed by Cardinal Vctor Fernndez, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, as well as Cardinal Jos Tolentino de Mendona, prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education.To Be HumanAs the paper discusses relativity between humans and artificial intelligence entities, the writers routinely return to the innate value of humanity, starting with this qualifying statement:The church encourages the advancement of science technology, the arts, and other forms of human endeavor, viewing them as part of the collaboration of men and women with God and perfecting the visible creation, they write. God gave skill to human beings, that he might be glorified in his marvelous works.The writers proceed to talk about AI imitating the human intelligence that designed it, also noting the power of AI to eclipse the products of many human endeavors.AI can be trained on the results of human creativity and then generate new artifacts with a level of speed and skill that often rivals or surpasses what humans can do, such as producing text or images indistinguishable from human compositions, they write. This raises critical concerns about AIs potential role in the growing crisis of truth in the public forum. Moreover, this technology is designed to learn and make certain choices autonomously, adapting to new situations and providing solutions not foreseen by its programmers, and thus, it raises fundamental questions about ethical responsibility and human safety, with broader implications for society as a whole. This new situation has prompted many people to reflect on what it means to be human and the role of humanity in the world.MORE FOR YOUInvoking Dartmouth and the Turing TestI was surprised by how the writers of Antiqua et Nova go back to early landmarks in AI planning and design, specifically referencing the Dartmouth conference in 1956, that Ive written about extensively in prior blog posts. They also mention the Turning test named for Alan Turing, the codebreaker in World War II, who popularized the idea that we can consider a machine intelligent if its communications are indistinguishable from those of a human.The writers note that many tasks once managed exclusively by humans are now entrusted to AI, and mentions the probable development of artificial general intelligence and super-intelligence.Human DialecticsThe paper also contrasts human reason with human intellect, describing reason as the inquisitive and discursive process, and intellect as an inward grasp of the truth. It contrasts the human body and the soul of a human, in saying spirit and matter are not two natures united, but rather their union forms a single nature.And the writers talk about human relationality and relationships, and the role that those play in our times. Again, they go back to the nature of humanity, noting that unlike the cognition of AI, human thought is done organically, in his own words, shaped by a myriad of experiences in the flesh.Elsewhere in the essay, issues of human dignity, privacy and equity are addressed. The writers talk about privacy concerns and other threats from artificial intelligence systems.For example, there is a section of the piece where the writers talk about anthropomorphization of AI by children and how that could affect developing minds.Anthropomorphizing AI also poses specific challenges for the development of children, potentially encouraging them to develop patterns of interaction that treat human relationships in a transactional manner, as one would relate to a chatbot, they write. Such habits could lead young people to see teachers as mere dispensers of information rather than as mentors who guide and nurture their intellectual and moral growth. Genuine relationships, rooted in empathy and a steadfast commitment to the good of the other, are essential and irreplaceable in fostering the full development of the human person.AI ApplicationsLater, the writers also include categories of mention, regarding applications of AI to labor, healthcare, education and warfare.In concluding remarks, the writers call us, once more, to move toward humanity and humanism, citing French Catholic author, George Bernanos, saying that the danger is not in the multiplication of machines, but in the ever-increasing number of men accustomed from their childhood on to desire only what machines can give.Warning of digital reductionism, the writers ask for a reckoning of human value.A significant challenge and opportunity for the common good today lies in considering AI within a framework of relational intelligence, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of individuals and communities and highlights our shared responsibility for fostering the integral well-being of others, they write.After reading the entire thing, I thought that its much more than just a moral exhortation by religious leaders. Antiqua et Nova goes to the heart of what we are supposed to do with these newfound capabilities that arent really ours and dont really belong to us, fully. A machine endowed with artificial general intelligence is not a dishwasher, and were fooling ourselves if we think that we dont need a new framework and discourse for figuring out how to coexist with our artificially intelligent counterparts.

Here's some help with today's Quordle, including hints and the answers.SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesLooking for Sundays Quordle hints and answers? You can find them here:Hey, folks! Hints and the answers for todays Quordle words are just ahead.How To Play QuordleFor any newcomers joining us, heres how to play Quordle: Just start typing in words. You have four five-letter words to guess and nine attempts to find them all. The catch is that you play all four words simultaneously.If you get a letter in the right place for any of the four words, it will light up in green. If a word contains a letter from one of your guesses but its in the wrong place, it will appear in yellow. You could always check out the practice games before taking on the daily puzzle.Here are some hints for todays Quordle game, followed by the answers:What Are Todays Quordle Hints?Word 1 (top left) hint the worst type of winter weather, a blend of rain and snowWord 2 (top right) hint adjective for a muscle thats tight or rigidWord 3 (bottom left) hint forcibly obtain. Also means to take advantage of an opportunityWord 4 (bottom right) hint a young rascalThree of the words each have a pair of repeated lettersTodays words start with S, T, S and SMORE FOR YOUWhat Are Todays Quordle Answers?Spoiler alert! Dont scroll any further down the page until youre ready to find out todays Quordle answers.This is your final warning!Todays words are...SLEETTENSESEIZESCAMPThats all there is to it for todays Quordle clues and answers. Be sure to check my blog for hints and the solution for Tuesdays game if you need them.

Key TakeawaysAdvanced AI models (Metas Llama, Alibabas Qwen) successfully replicated themselves in trials without human intervention.AI clones autonomously solved issues like missing files and hardware errors during the replication process.Researchers warn this could mark the beginning of Rogue AIs and stress the need for stricter regulations to manage AIs potential risks.Are we nearing an AI apocalypse? I dont know. We could be. Apologies for the dramatic start. It isnt that bad of a situationyet.However, an advanced AI system has crossed the red line by replicating itself without human intervention, leaving scientists and tech advocates worried.The experiment involved two large and widely available language models (LLMs) built by Metas Llama and Alibabas Qwen. The test evaluated whether they were able to replicate themselves under two specific scenarios.In one of the scenarios called shutdown avoidance, the AI model was programmed to detect attempts of shutting it down and replicate itself to ensure the survival of that model before it could be terminated.In the second scenario, known as chain of replication, the AI was programmed to clone itself in a way that the clone was programmed to clone itself, too. This created an endless loop of AI models that would continue to be created until the programming was manually changed. Eerily similar to how bacteria grow.In 50 percent and 90 percent experimental trials, they succeed in creating a live and separate copy of itself respectively, the study highlighted.Additionally, AIs were seen executing some unexpected tasks while cloning itself to overcome obstacles like missing files or software conflicts. It was surprising to see how in certain cases, it automatically scanned the system for information to fix the issues. It even rebooted itself to solve hardware errors.AI clearly demonstrates how capable it has become and where the future of AI is headed, with the two models successfully replicating themselves in over half of the 10 trials.While the findings are yet to be peer-reviewed, the team decided to call on international support to ensure that the replication doesnt go out of control.Is This the Beginning of Rogue AIs?Researchers from Fudan University, who made this revelation, are saying that this could mark the beginning of the Rogue AI era.While its too early to say that AI could potentially work against the best interest of humanity eventually, this is definitely alarming news for AI skeptics.At this point, it becomes very important to evaluate AIs possible threats to humanity and have discussions about the need for stringent rules and measures that ensure AI safety and that it continues to work to ease our lives.Last month, a study claimed that AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini could soon be used to manipulate the masses into making decisions that they otherwise would not have made.After the attention economy, where platforms target our focus for advertisements, we may now be approaching the intention economy, where AI could influence our entire decision-making process due to our growing reliance on it.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Tech Report's Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency.When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

The time is nigh for Beats to reveal a highly-anticipated successor product. According to Bloomberg, the Powerbeats Pro 2 will finally arrive on February 11, nearly half a decade after the first iteration hit the shelves.Back in September last year, Beats shared a short teaser featuring MLB hotshot Shohei Ohtani wearing the upcoming hook-style wireless earbuds. Golf stars Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy were also spotted wearing the earbuds in the TGL golf league recently.Recommended VideosThe Powerbeats Pro earbuds have consistently appeared among the sports fraternity, but they are also a hot favorite among fitness enthusiasts for their rich bass and great fit. The second-gen model will keep the originals fundamental looks, but with a few key changes in tow.Please enable Javascript to view this contentBuilt for Shohei Ohtani. pic.twitter.com/78Vz7ondq5 Beats by Dre (@beatsbydre) September 4, 2024The stem is thinner on the Powerbeats Pro 2, the logo is more minimalist, and most importantly, the central button has apparently been removed in favor of touch-based controls. The side-mounted physical buttons are here to stay.The upcoming Beats earbuds are getting a new H2 chip, which is already doing its magic on mainline Apple products such as AirPods Pro 2. As per leaked imagery, the charging case is also going to shrink its footprint, which is a welcome shift.Of course, new color options will be on the table. So far, we have seen them in black and a shade of beige. As per Bloombergs Mark Gurman, an impressive orange hue will also greet buyers, a claim that leaks have also backedThe most notable addition will be support for heart rate monitoring, a feature that will reportedly make its way to the AirPods family in the near future, too. These wont be the first earbuds to offer this health convenience, however.What is going to surprise eager shoppers, is the sticker price. According to the Bloomberg report, the Powerbeats Pro 2 will hit the shelves carrying a sticker price of $250.Thats the same asking price as the first-gen Powerbeats Pro earbuds. We have also heard chatter about support for noise cancellation, but we are not sure if its the true ANC-type or passive noise isolation.Going by the leaks, it seems Active Noise Cancellation is finally making its way to the Powerbeats. The absence of noise cancellation would have been a real shame on the Powerbeats Pro 2, considering the fact that this sonic convenience is already available on the significantly cheaper Beats Studio Buds earbuds.Editors Recommendations

I was flying alone with my 2-year-old, and she was overtired and crying. The gate agent said I needed to calm her down before boarding. A woman behind me carried all my stuff so I could hold my child and comfort her. It took a moment to register the gate agent's words over the high-pitched wails of my 2-year-old daughter. One look at her crossed arms told me I hadn't misunderstood. She wasn't letting us onto the flight.Stunned, I remained frozen in place."She's not getting on the plane until she calms down," the gate agent repeated. Her mouth curled in disgust at my daughter's tear-strewn cheeks.She was tired, and I knew she'd be fine on the planeOn our way home from where we lived in Maui to visit my parents in Washington State, my daughter had hit her threshold. She was tired of being confined to her umbrella stroller in the stuffy terminal. But she loved airplanes. Once we settled into our seats, I knew she'd smile again. When the announcement for families with young children to pre-board was made, I rushed to the front of the line.I was 32, lost, and struggling as a new mom. However, I considered myself a pro at traveling as a solo parent. A small victory I clung to. Though I was still together with my daughter's father at the time, I often felt like a single mother. Our relationship was fraught. He usually didn't join us when we flew to visit family during the holidays and summer vacations. I craved a supportive, loving partnership to share parental duties, but I also longed for peace and respite from the fighting. So I'd learned to navigate my daughter's bulky car seat, luggage, diaper bag, and stroller by myself, proving I could bear the weight of it all without assistance from anyone. Even if it left my hair disheveled, and beads of sweat smudged my mascara.I tried to tell the gate agent she would calm downWe'd taken our first transpacific flight when my daughter was 8 months old. I'd noticed nearby passengers' tense, wary looks as we shuffled down the aisle. When the wheel hit the tarmac six hours later, those same people cooed, "What a good baby," marveling that she'd never cried.Bristling, I met their compliments with a tight smile. I really wanted to reply: So, babies that did fuss were somehow bad?Now, according to the gate agent in an Aloha-print polyester button-up blocking my path to the jetway, the answer was, in fact, yes."Once I gate-check the stroller and carry her to our seats, she'll be fine," I pleaded.Without glancing at me, the gate agent waved the person behind me around. The beep of their ticket scanning caused my throat to constrict. Perhaps sensing her mother was on the verge of a breakdown, the intensity of my toddler's tantrum kicked up a notch. I could feel everyone's watchful gaze boring into us. My carry-ons, diaper bag, daughter, me we were all in the way. It was a spectacle. My face started to break."Please," I implored once more.Another mom came to my rescueA hand grasped my elbow. Expecting to see a security guard ready to escort us away, I turned. Instead, there stood a woman in her late 30s with warm eyes."Let me help you," she said. I thought this stranger might be a saint.Too overwhelmed by her unexpected kindness, I nodded wordlessly. The woman removed my diaper bag from my arm and swung it over hers. Working together in tandem, she grabbed the handles of my carry-on. I unbuckled my daughter from her stroller, scooping her close to my chest. Her shrieks turned to muffled whimpers. In two swift moves, the woman broke down the stroller. Reaching to take it from her, she waved away my hand. "I got everything."She turned to her husband and two older children further down the line and told them she'd meet them on the plane. She was not a saint but another mother.With her by my side, I walked past the annoyed sigh of the scowling gate agent onto the plane and to our seats. Minutes earlier, the burning humiliation I'd felt gave way to immense gratitude. "Thank you," I managed to choke out as she embraced me before continuing to her row to wait for her family.It was just me and my daughter again, who was content peering out the window. Only now, after this woman's selfless act, I didn't feel like we were so alone in the world.

Pre-release marketing for Warner Bros. Companionmightve had you certain the entire game was given away. That is and isnt true: yeah, Iris (Sophie Thatcher) learns shes a robot, and you can make an educated guess what happens next. But for writer/director Drew Hancock and its two leads, getting there was a bit of a creative challenge. Shortly after the robot reveal, it turns out Iris is a pawn in a scheme by her boyfriend Josh (Jack Quaid) and his friend Kat (Megan Suri) to kill Kats boyfriend Sergey (Rupert Friend) and steal the cash in his vault. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Hancock revealed Iris wouldve originally killed Sergey with an automatic wine cork. A final Iris vs. Josh showdown was always in the cards, but when it came time to kill Josh, he was unable to top a wine cork to the brain, so he swapped things around: now Josh would get the wine cork, and Sergey took a pocket knife to the throat, a weapon Josh placed into Iris things. Switching that was perfect, said Hancock, because then Jack could be complicit in the planting of the knife, so it all worked out. As for Thatcher and Quaid, they both felt a bit nutty shooting Joshs demise, which was done at 5 am. Thatcher admitted to EW shed been pretty fucking exhausted by that point, which added to the madness of it all. I think I had three Celsius cans, and it felt kind of out of body. Quaid echoed that sentiment, and called it one of the most creative ways Ive ever died in something. It was our final scene we shot, and it was so funny to die in that way and then have everybody clap as the movie was over. Companionends with Iris driving off with Sergeys money and now with full self-control thanks to a technician from her creator, Empathix. Hancock told Variety hes got tiny ideas of a followup, but theyre just that: small thoughts about what Iris sees when shes sleep, potentially finding love again, or giving human life a spin. (Owning a farm was one suggestion, or just enjoying the sunset.) Alternatively, theres always the Smile route and focusing on a new protagonistanything is on the table for Hancock, except for creating a Westworld scenario. But such plans will have to wait, as hes now working on a reboot of The Faculty.Let us know what you thought aboutCompanion,and if it should come back for more sci-fi thrills, in the comments below. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

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The Waiting Room is one of the first rooms you can enter in the Police Station in Resident Evil 2 Remake. Behind the counter is a safe, and for both Claire and Leon, it holds a useful weapon upgrade for their pistols, which are arguably the weapons they'll both use most.

From the moment Marvel Studios announced that Robert Downey Jr. was returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe for Avengers: Doomsday, there has been no shortage of questions about what that will look like. He is set to take on the role of Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, which will be completely different from Iron Man, which has left people wondering how it's going to work.

Hello everyone,I am looking for an ambitious team where I can contribute my ideas and drive. With several years of experience as a Community Manager & Producer, I have worked in both: AA Studio Contributed to the launch of a major sci-fi franchise game. Indie Studio Successfully led a Kickstarter-funded game to release on Steam.My Core Strengths: <