Who Owns Your Voice? Scarlett Johansson's Dispute with OpenAI Raises Persona Rights Issues

From exploring the intersection of AI, art, and robotics to AI that can effectively replicate the human sense of smell, to bio-inspired innovative designs in buildings and sound management, these are just a few highlights of what’s in store in today’s newsletter.

Good afternoon and welcome to Friday May 31, 2024.

In today’s edition, we bring you the following topics:

• Technology and AI - Who Owns Your Voice? Scarlett Johansson's Dispute with OpenAI Raises Persona Rights Issues. 

• Engineering - Intentionally Designed Weak Points Help Buildings Withstand Disasters using biomimicry.

• Health - New Visual Tool Helps Categorize Foods by Processing Levels.

• Environment - Avocado Farms Could Become More Sustainable with Improved Practices.

• Nature - Impact of Solar Storms on Migrating Wildlife.

• Industry News: Google Updates AI Search Summaries After Errors.

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This newsletter is curated by The STEAM Digest.

TECHNOLOGY AND AI

Who Owns Your Voice? Scarlett Johansson's Dispute with OpenAI Raises Persona Rights Issues: Scarlett Johansson has initiated a public dispute with OpenAI, claiming that the AI company used a voice eerily similar to hers for their latest ChatGPT model without her consent. Johansson revealed that OpenAI had previously approached her to lend her voice to their AI, which she declined. Despite her refusal, OpenAI released the voice assistant with a voice Johansson asserts sounds like her, prompting her to take legal action.

This incident has sparked broader concerns about the use of celebrity likenesses and voices by AI companies without proper authorization. Experts suggest that this case underscores the need for stricter regulations to protect individuals' persona rights and prevent companies from exploiting them without consent. The controversy has further eroded public trust in OpenAI and highlighted ongoing ethical debates surrounding AI development and intellectual property rights.

AI and Robotics Collaborate to Help Create Art: Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a system called CoFRIDA that combines human creativity, robotics, and generative AI to produce collaborative artwork. This innovative approach allows users to interactively co-paint with a robot, enhancing their creative process by overcoming the initial barrier of an empty canvas. CoFRIDA uses self-supervised training data to simulate various stages of the painting process, making it easier for users to realize their artistic vision while maintaining control over the final outcome.

AI is Learning to Smell: Advancements in Digital Olfaction: Researchers are making significant strides in giving computers a sense of smell, a complex challenge that has long eluded scientists. Using advanced machine learning techniques, scientists have developed artificial neural networks that mimic the olfactory system of fruit flies. These networks can identify and categorize odors with impressive accuracy. The models have even shown the ability to detect subtle differences in smell and predict odor strength, capabilities not explicitly programmed into them. This breakthrough suggests that AI can effectively replicate the human sense of smell, opening up potential applications in various fields such as environmental monitoring and healthcare.

AI-Driven Drones Aid in Finding Lost Hikers: Researchers at the University of Glasgow have developed AI-enhanced drones to improve search and rescue operations for lost hikers. By analyzing data on the paths taken by lost hikers and incorporating geographic information, these drones can predict and prioritize likely search areas. Initial tests show that the AI system is significantly more effective than traditional methods, finding lost hikers 19% of the time compared to 8-12% with conventional techniques.

Machine Learning's Privacy Risks: Machine learning technologies, while revolutionary, pose significant privacy risks. These systems can infer personal details from seemingly innocuous data, leading to potential misuse and unauthorized data exploitation. For instance, algorithms might predict sensitive information like health conditions or financial status from general data patterns. This ability to draw inferences raises concerns about user consent and data protection, underscoring the need for stringent privacy regulations and ethical guidelines to safeguard personal information.

ENGINEERING

Intentionally Designed Weak Points Help Buildings Withstand Disasters: Researchers have discovered that buildings incorporating strategically placed weak points can better withstand catastrophic events like earthquakes and explosions. This innovative design approach allows certain sections of a structure to collapse intentionally, absorbing the impact and preventing the entire building from collapsing. Inspired by natural mechanisms, such as lizards detaching their tails to escape predators, this method has been successfully tested in a two-story concrete building. The concept aims to balance strong and weak structural connections to enhance overall resilience.

Noise-Canceling Silk: A New Material for Sound Management: A team of researchers from MIT have developed a type of silk that can create noise-canceling vibrations, potentially revolutionizing soundproofing materials. This silk, derived from the fibers of silkworms, can absorb and dampen sound waves across a range of frequencies. The breakthrough, achieved by integrating acoustic properties into the silk’s structure, offers a natural and efficient way to manage noise in various applications, from building materials to personal electronics.

Innovative Earplugs Eliminate Amplified Self-Voice: A new development in earplug technology offers a solution to a common issue: the amplification of one's own voice. Traditional earplugs often cause the "occlusion effect," where users perceive their voice as louder and distorted. The innovative design by Swiss researchers incorporates a vented structure that allows sound to escape, effectively reducing this problem. These earplugs are especially beneficial for musicians and concert-goers, providing hearing protection without compromising the natural perception of their own voice.

This advancement represents a significant improvement in earplug design, enhancing comfort and usability for various applications.

Breakthrough in Anti-Freezing Electrolytes for Cold-Climate Batteries: Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a new strategy to design anti-freezing electrolytes for aqueous batteries, enabling them to operate in extremely cold environments. By focusing on thermodynamic eutectic temperature (Te) and kinetic glass-transition temperature (Tg), the team created electrolytes that maintain functionality at temperatures as low as -85°C. This advancement holds promise for powering devices in space, deep-sea, and other frigid conditions.

Electric Vehicles: Safer for Occupants but Posing Risks to Others: While electric vehicles (EVs) offer enhanced safety features for their occupants, such as lower center of gravity reducing rollover risks and advanced driver-assistance systems, they may pose increased risks to other road users. Their quiet operation can be a hazard for pedestrians and cyclists who rely on auditory cues. Additionally, the significant weight of EVs could lead to more severe accidents for those outside the vehicle. Addressing these concerns is crucial for the broader adoption of EVs.

New Chemical Process Enhances PFAS Removal from Water: Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, have discovered a new chemical process that significantly aids in removing PFAS, or "forever chemicals," from drinking water. By using high levels of salt in wastewater, this process acts as a catalyst to break down the strong bonds of PFAS compounds under UV light. This breakthrough could help water providers meet new federal standards and improve water safety.

HEALTH

The Hidden Costs of Physician Drug Endorsements on Social Media: A recent study reveals that most physicians endorsing drugs on the social media platform X are compensated by pharmaceutical companies. Researchers discovered that out of 28 doctors posting drug endorsements, 26 had received payments from the drug manufacturers, often categorized as speaking or consulting fees. While legal, this practice raises ethical concerns about transparency and the influence of financial incentives on medical endorsements.

Menstrual Periods Starting Earlier for Younger Generations, Especially Among Minorities and Low-Income Groups: A study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that the average age of menarche is decreasing in the U.S., particularly among racial minorities and lower-income individuals. Data from the Apple Women’s Health Study indicated that younger generations experience menarche earlier and take longer to reach menstrual cycle regularity. Factors such as childhood obesity and environmental influences might contribute to these trends, which have potential health implications.

New Visual Tool Helps Categorize Foods by Processing Levels: Scientists at Virginia Tech have developed a visual tool to help categorize foods based on their processing levels using the NOVA classification system. This tool, comprising images of minimally processed and ultra-processed foods matched on 26 characteristics, aims to improve the assessment of food-related health impacts. Ultra-processed foods, which constitute a significant portion of U.S. diets, are linked to various health issues. The tool will aid researchers in understanding the effects of food processing.

Debunking Dangerous Tanning Myths: Scientific American's article "These Five Tanning Myths Are Dangerous" addresses widespread misconceptions about tanning and highlights the significant health risks associated with both sun exposure and tanning beds. Despite common beliefs, a base tan does not protect against further sun damage, indoor tanning is not safer than outdoor tanning, and UV rays from tanning beds are particularly harmful, potentially increasing the risk of skin cancer. The article emphasizes the importance of proper sun protection, including using sunscreen and wearing protective clothing, to prevent skin cancer and premature aging. These findings underscore the need for public awareness and education to combat misinformation about tanning.

Removing Race from Lung Function Tests Could Benefit Millions: Recent studies highlight that excluding race from lung function tests could significantly improve health outcomes for Black patients. Traditionally, spirometry tests adjust results based on racial categories, often underestimating lung impairment in Black individuals. This practice, rooted in flawed historical assumptions, perpetuates health disparities. By adopting race-neutral tests, the medical community can ensure more accurate diagnoses and equitable treatment for all patients.

ENVIRONMENT

Animal Welfare Influences Sustainable Meat Purchases More Than Environmental Claims: A study across five European countries (Czechia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and UK), found that consumers prioritize animal welfare over environmental sustainability when choosing meat and dairy products. Factors like being pasture-fed or free-range drive purchases more than labels highlighting low carbon footprints or sustainable packaging. This suggests that promoting animal welfare alongside environmental benefits might be more effective in encouraging sustainable consumer choices.

Avocado Farms Could Become More Sustainable with Improved Practices: Current avocado farming practices are unsustainable due to their high water consumption, deforestation, and significant carbon footprint. However, experts believe that changes such as adopting agroforestry, improving irrigation efficiency, and reducing pesticide use could make avocado farming more environmentally friendly. Transitioning to sustainable methods is crucial for mitigating the adverse impacts on ecosystems and ensuring long-term viability.

Human Activities Accelerate Decomposition in Waterways, Impacting Climate and Biodiversity: A new study by the University of Georgia, Oakland University, and Kent State University, reveal that human activities are speeding up the decomposition of organic matter in rivers and streams globally. This acceleration could threaten biodiversity and increase atmospheric carbon, exacerbating climate change. Conducted by researchers from the University of Georgia and other institutions, the study combined global experiments and predictive modeling. Findings indicate that factors like higher temperatures and nutrient pollution, driven by human actions, are key contributors to this trend.

NATURE

Cicada Brood XIX Emerges Across U.S.: This year marks a significant emergence of periodical cicadas, with Brood XIX spanning from Georgia to Illinois. Known for their synchronized 13- or 17-year life cycles, these insects offer a unique natural spectacle. Cicadas surface in massive numbers for mating, creating a loud buzz with males' calls. After laying eggs in tree branches, adults die, and new nymphs burrow underground for the next cycle. This phenomenon provides an accessible and fascinating display of nature's intricacies.

Impact of Solar Storms on Migrating Wildlife: Aurora-causing solar storms can indeed disrupt the navigation of migrating wildlife. These geomagnetic storms, triggered by solar activity, interfere with the Earth's magnetic field, which many animals rely on for migration. Species such as birds, whales, and sea turtles may experience disorientation during these events, potentially leading to altered migration patterns and increased mortality rates. Understanding these impacts is crucial for wildlife conservation and management.

Tiny Fern Boasts Largest Known Genome: The fern species Tmesipteris oblanceolata from the island country of New Caledonia in the South Pacific, has the largest known genome, surpassing even the previous record holder, a Japanese flower. Its genome contains 160 billion base pairs, over 50 times the size of the human genome. This discovery by researchers highlights the extreme genomic diversity among plants and raises questions about how such large genomes are maintained and function.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Google Updates AI Search Summaries After Errors: Google has made several technical improvements to its AI-generated search summaries following viral instances of erroneous information. The updates aim to address issues like misinterpreted queries and unreliable sources, which previously led to problematic answers, such as dangerous advice on mushroom consumption and false claims about U.S. presidents. Google's adjustments include better detection mechanisms and stricter content policies to enhance the accuracy and reliability of AI-generated responses.