See How AI Generates Images from Text

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September 26, 2023

If you use a modern photo-storage app, you've probably sorted through your photos using words. Type "beach" and "dog," for instance, and the program will look for images of your pup's latest trip to the shore. Image-generating artificial intelligence goes a step further: when you enter keywords, it creates a new picture from scratch. So how does it work? This week's illustrated lead story breaks down the process.

Sophie Bushwick, Associate Editor, Technology

Artificial Intelligence See How AI Generates Images from Text Generative AI algorithms use probability to create visuals from noise By Sophie Bushwick,Matthew Twombly,Amanda Hobbs

Electronics This Efficiency-Obsessed Psychologist (and Mother of 11) Revolutionized Kitchen Design Lillian Gilbreth pioneered time and motion efficiency in workplaces and revolutionized kitchen design By Katie Hafner,Johanna Mayer,The Lost Women of Science Initiative

Privacy Online Ads Can Infect Your Device with Spyware An investigative report reveals that new spyware can slip in unseen through online ads—and there is currently no defense against it By Claire Seungeun Lee,The Conversation US

Biotech New Soft Electrode Unfolds inside the Skull An electrode inspired by soft robotics could provide less invasive brain-machine interfaces By Simon Makin

Artificial Intelligence AI Tool Pinpoints Genetic Mutations That Cause Disease Researchers have adapted the AI network to search for genetic changes linked to ill health By Ewen Callaway,Nature magazine

Materials Science Some Metals Mysteriously Heal Their Own Cracks Scientists accidentally discover metals that mend themselves without human intervention By Lucy Tu

Computing Does the First Amendment Confer a 'Right to Compute'? The Future of AI May Depend on It We need to figure out if there is a constitutional right to compute By John Villasenor

Materials Science Fungi Make Safer Fireproofing Material Scientists are now growing mycelium, the fungal root network, into fire-retardant sheets to provide a safer, nontoxic way to protect buildings By Timmy Broderick

Endangered Species Wind Energy Could Get Safer for Bats with New Research Wind turbines threaten several bat species, but the Biden administration is funding research to reduce casualties By Minho Kim,E&E News

Robotics Above-Elbow Bionic Arm Can Control Every Finger Researchers have created the first nerve-controlled prosthetic hand that can be used in daily life By Simon Makin

QUOTE OF THE DAY "The bill seeks to help farmers who have had to resort to pirating John Deere's software from underground forums and torrent sites in order to diagnose and repair their tractors." Jason Koebler, 404 Media

FROM THE ARCHIVE How to Tell If a Photo Is an AI-Generated Fake Artificial-intelligence-powered image-generating systems are making fake photographs so hard to detect that we need AI to catch them By Meghan Bartels | March 2023

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