Bizarro Devs - Issue 154
Issue 154🦹💸 Multinational firm loses $25 million in deepfake scam. Swarms of AI killer robots are the future of war. 17 mysteries that researchers still haven’t solved.Dear Bizarro Readers, Welcome to the first of two April editions of Bizarro Devs. As usual, we’ve got a nice lineup of stories that touch upon a variety of brain-tickling topics. There’s a recent cybercrime tale out of Hong Kong, an article that looks ahead to what humanity might be facing in the near future, and finally, a fun post that will make you reflect on some unique, unexplained mysteries. Of course we also have the usual mix of tools, stats, and a new code-related challenge for the Python lovers out there. Below are the top stories:
Let’s get started! 📰 From the Newsroom🦹💸 Multinational Firm Loses $25 Million in Deepfake ScamImagine being the employee responsible for losing $25 million dollars? That’s gotta take a psychological toll on anybody. The thing is, with the rise of deepfake technology and its increasingly higher level of sophistication, it could happen to anybody. In this particular situation, it happened to a finance worker in Hong Kong. Here’s how it went down:
Reading this story made me feel a lot of sympathy for this person. It also made me reflect on how much crazier things are going to get with these deepfakes, and how it mirrors what’s been happening with AI-generated text content. ChatGPT (and similar competitors) aren’t even two years old yet, and we’re already drowning in a sea of their output. It feels like at some point all of the tech we use is just going to dissolve into a pile of AI mush. I think we should start a new slogan: make tech human again. 🤖🪖 Swarms of AI Killer Robots Are the Future of WarDrones of all kinds are now a very active part of modern warfare. Despite their variety, almost all of them have one thing in common: they’re controlled by humans. A notable exception is Israel’s drones. Although a human does still make the final attack decision, the Israelis have begun relying on AI to tell them which targets to strike. Author and professor, Michael T. Klare, argues that Israel’s approach is going to be adopted by other militaries, with increasingly more agency being given to the AI.
Last year, Antony Loewenstein, an independent journalist, best-selling author, and filmmaker released a book titled “The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation Around the World” where he describes how Israel’s weapons and technology manufacturers use the Palestinian Territories as testing grounds for their weaponry and spying gadgets so they can then market them around the world as “battle tested.” If Gaza is a compartmentalized glimpse of what’s in store for the rest of humanity, then we should all be concerned. 🤔💭 17 Mysteries That Researchers Still Haven’t SolvedScientific research has enabled us to understand a lot about the world around us, ourselves, other animals, plants of all kinds, and more. However, as much as we’ve learned, there are still those lingering “mysteries of the universe” that keep us searching for answers. This roundup includes 17 such mysteries. I’ll share three of my favorites from the list below:
Honestly, all of the questions were interesting to think about. Plus each one has a little write up next to it with some related information to get your brain moving. It was tough to narrow it down to only three, and if you asked me a week from now, I might even pick a different three. In short, go read the article for yourself. You’ll enjoy it. I promise. 😉 ⛓️ Ten Must See Links of the Month
🎤 It’s How They Said It"I call it the 'dot AI’ bubble, and it hasn’t even started yet." – AI Emad Mostaque, recently ousted CEO of Stability (an AI company), speaking about the looming fallout from the massive amounts of money pouring into AI. 🧮 The Numbers Game
⌨️ Code ConundrumSponsored by Optimole, the best image optimization tool on the internet. How good is your Python game? Take a look at the code snippet below and send me an email if you can spot the error. Please put “Code Conundrum” in the subject line. The first person who emails me with the correct answer (either saying what the error is or sending back the snippet error-free) will get a shoutout in the next issue. Interested in sponsoring this section in a future issue? Reach out to me with “Bizarro Sponsorship” in the subject line. ⚒️ Tools and ResourcesRunJS: A versatile desktop application for macOS, Windows, and Linux that provides a dynamic environment for exploring and experimenting with JavaScript and TypeScript. It offers instant feedback as you code, with live results shown per line, making it easier to understand what your code does. With access to Node.js, Browser APIs, Babel, TypeScript, and npm packages, RunJS caters to both learning and professional development needs. Its features, such as autocomplete, snippets, and type checking, enhance productivity, making it a valuable tool for developers seeking to quickly test ideas or debug code. It comes in both free and premium formats. BlockNote: An open-source, block-based rich text editor designed for seamless integration into applications, offering both a robust out-of-the-box experience and extensive customizability. It supports real-time collaboration, customizable blocks, schemas, and plugins, with first-class TypeScript support and theming options. Designed to simplify the development process, BlockNote leverages the Prosemirror framework to provide a powerful yet user-friendly editing experience, making it ideal for developers looking to incorporate a sophisticated text editor into their projects. 🖼️ Image of The MonthWe previously reported on Klein Vision’s Air Car in issue 135 of our newsletter, and now it’s back in the news again. The Slovakia-based developer of the world's first certified flying car has just granted a production license to Hebei Jianxin, a prominent Chinese company. This will give Hebei Jianxin exclusive rights to manufacture and distribute certified flying cars utilizing KleinVision's technology within a specific geographical region. So don’t be surprised if within the next few years you start seeing flying cars roaming the skies in China. 💬 Word of The Month“Samfundssind” is a Danish word that literally translates into "society mind." It's the idea of putting the needs of society above your own. Given the stories we covered in this issue, especially the one about AI and the future of warfare, it’s an appropriate choice. All of us who work in tech, and particularly those who are working on emerging advanced technologies, should keep “Samfundssind” in the back of our minds. For what good will our work be, if we are not helping the societies we live in? 📊 Results of Last Month’s PollJudging by the results of the polls above, it looks like the overwhelming majority of us have recognized that AI-generated SPAM is polluting the internet. Only 8% of respondents said that they basically don’t care. (Is that you, Jacky Chou? Do you read Bizarro Devs? 🤔) Well, if it’s any consolation, judging by the fifth story in the top ten links of the month section, it does appear that at least some governments are attempting to take action on AI. How much of that will extend to actual AI-generated SPAM is tough to tell. My guess is that they’ll probably be more concerned with other AI-related issues and will leave the SPAM filtering to Google, but we’ll see. 🧑🏻💻👨🏽💻👩🏼💻 Tell a Friend or ColleagueIf you’d like to help us grow, just use the refer a friend button below and if any of your referrals subscribe to Bizarro Devs, then we’ll not only be forever grateful, but we’ll also recognize your efforts in the following way:
* The story or article needs to be relevant to the subject material we typically cover and is subject to editorial approval. In other words, it should be something that we would include in the newsletter naturally. Thanks for reading! If this is the first time you're here at Bizarro Devs and you enjoyed the content, then sign up here to join the fun for the rest of 2024 and beyond. As mentioned in the intro, next month we’ll also be bringing you a double dose of Bizarro Devs so get ready for that. Until we see each other again, Invite your friends and earn rewardsIf you enjoy Bizarro Devs, share it with your friends and earn rewards when they subscribe. |
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Issue 153
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
🤖🏆 ChatGPT defeats humans in series of thinking tests. Globetrotting millennial caught selling $7m of weapons parts to Russia. Generative AI is killing the internet but we can save it. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Issue 152
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
🌊🚯 An AI boat may finally solve our ocean pollution problem. Ex-CIA employee sentenced to 40 years for Vault 7 leak. Blogger unveils research misconduct at cancer institute.
Bizarro Devs - 💋 Silicone lip attachment lets users kiss over the phone. AI can analyze surveillance video to learn your associates. How will Slack's new ChatGPT bot affect your workspace?
Thursday, March 9, 2023
Bizarro Devs is a monthly collection of interesting tech links, useful tools, and more. View on the Web Archives 💋 SILICONE LIP ATTACHMENT LETS USERS KISS OVER THE PHONE. AI CAN ANALYZE SURVEILLANCE
Bizarro Devs - 🧠 "Battle for Your Brain" presentation shows dystopian near future. AI imitates evolution with better results. Dark web job boards offer competitive pay and benefits.
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Bizarro Devs is a monthly collection of interesting tech links, useful tools, and more. View on the Web Archives 🧠 "BATTLE FOR YOUR BRAIN" PRESENTATION SHOWS DYSTOPIAN NEAR FUTURE. AI
Bizarro Devs - 🖥️ A recap of breakthroughs in computer science in 2022. Top 10 AI predictions for 2023. Future technology: 22 ideas about to change our world.
Thursday, January 5, 2023
Bizarro Devs is a monthly collection of interesting tech links, useful tools, and more. View on the Web Archives 🖥️ A RECAP OF BREAKTHROUGHS IN COMPUTER SCIENCE IN 2022. TOP 10 AI PREDICTIONS FOR 2023.
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