New Tool Reveals How AI Makes Decisions

Trouble viewing? View in your browser. View all Scientific American publications.

    

June 20, 2023

Artificial intelligence is often described as a "black box," which hides the reasons behind its decision-making. Revealing those reasons could teach researchers more about how these algorithms work. Now a new tool offers to help—at least partially. Read more in this week's top story.

Sophie Bushwick, Associate Editor, Technology

Artificial Intelligence New Tool Reveals How AI Makes Decisions Large language models such as ChatGPT tend to make things up. A new approach now allows the systems to explain their responses—at least partially By Manon Bischoff

Renewable Energy World's Largest Fusion Project Is in Big Trouble, New Documents Reveal The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is already billions of dollars over budget and decades behind schedule. Not even its leaders can say how much more money and time it will take to complete By Charles Seife

Culture Today's Deep-Sea Explorers Are Mineral Miners and Ultrawealthy Hobbyists A new history of the deep ocean, seeking truth through math, a space opera about self-identity, and more books out now By Amy Brady

Artificial Intelligence AI Chatbots Could Help Provide Therapy, but Caution Is Needed Therapy apps are incorporating AI programs such as ChatGPT. But such programs could provide unvetted or harmful feedback if they're not well regulated By Sara Reardon

Privacy Secret Messages Can Hide in AI-Generated Media In steganography, an ordinary message masks the presence of a secret communication. Humans can never do it perfectly, but a new study shows it's possible for machines By Stephen Ornes,Quanta Magazine

Renewable Energy Scientists Beam Solar Power to Earth from Space for First Time Ever The MAPLE experiment was able to wirelessly transfer collected solar power to receivers in space and direct energy to Earth By Robert Lea,SPACE.com

Artificial Intelligence AI Promises Humanity One Last Job. Helping AI Help Humanity With AI threatening to overtake the world of work, at least one pretty good job will always be in demand By Aybars Tuncdogan,Oguz A. Acar

Robotics New Robot Hand Works by Feel, Not Sight These simple sensors let a robot function by touch alone, allowing it to manipulate objects from a soup can to a rubber duck By Ananya

Biotech Electric Bandages Heal Wounds That Won't Close, Animal Study Shows New technology combines electricity and drugs to stimulate healing of tenacious wounds By Simon Makin

QUOTE OF THE DAY "The CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, has spent the last month touring world capitals where, at talks to sold-out crowds and in meetings with heads of governments, he has repeatedly spoken of the need for global AI regulation. But behind the scenes, OpenAI has lobbied for significant elements of the most comprehensive AI legislation in the world--the E.U.'s AI Act--to be watered down in ways that would reduce the regulatory burden on the company" Billy Perrigo, TIME

FROM THE ARCHIVE 50, 100 & 150 Years Ago: July 2023 Crater mystery explained; Bunsen's burner By Mark Fischetti | July 2023

LATEST ISSUES

Questions?   Comments?

Download the Scientific American App

To view this email as a web page, go here. You received this email because you opted-in to receive email from Scientific American. To ensure delivery please add newsletters@scientificamerican.com to your address book. Unsubscribe     Manage Email Preferences     Privacy Policy     Contact Us

Scientific American

1 New York Plaza, FDR Dr, Floor 46, New york, NY 10004

Unsubscribe - Unsubscribe Preferences