Startup working on orbital data centers teases bitcoin mining in space, too

"After proving it can run an Nvidia H100 GPU in orbit, U.S. startup Starcloud plans to launch a dedicated bitcoin mining rig into space later this year. During an appearance on the HyperChange YouTube channel, Starcloud CEO Philip Johnston said the company is 'pretty focused on [the existing] constellation for now.' But later in the interview, he added: 'There's also bitcoin mining... We'll have some bitcoin mining ASICs [Application-Specific Integrated Circuits] on the second spacecraft launching later this year."

PCMag »

What happens when you ask AI to design a 3D character?

Staring at a blank canvas is a great way to get nothing done. Autodesk Flow is how you'll actually get something done. Their latest model, Wonder 3D, lets you generate 3D characters or objects from a simple text prompt or reference image. Instead of building everything from scratch, you can start with an AI-generated idea, tweak the geometry, add textures, remix the result, and see where the experiment leads. Think of it less as a final answer and more as a fast way to explore a lot of ideas. [Ad]

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An AI company apparently inspired by 'The Sims' wants to revolutionize public opinion research

"The reputation of public opinion polls is not in a good place right now — or at least it wasn't right before the 2024 election, and it's hard to imagine the situation has improved much. A new company recently profiled in the Wall Street Journal is asking the bold question, hey, what if we just replaced all that with AI? It's called Simile, and it was just awarded $100 million in venture capital from Index Ventures, the Journal says. According to its website, Simile claims to be 'developing a foundation model that predicts human behavior in any situation, at any scale.'"

Gizmodo »

Today's obsession with authenticity isn't new — being true to yourself has troubled philosophers for centuries

"Today's youth cherish 'authenticity,' but is it a virtue? According to a report from Ernst & Young, more than 9 in 10 Gen Z respondents indicated that being authentic and true to yourself is extremely or very important. In fact, most of them claimed authenticity is more important than any other personal value. This finding is not all that surprising: All of us live in an age where we're bombarded by social media and artificial intelligence — when striving to be your authentic self becomes an increasingly difficult task. Yet, even if it has somehow become a common goal, it is unclear how many of us can truly define the "authenticity" that we say we are pursuing. I think it's also worth asking whether sincerity and authenticity are perennial human virtues or just obsessions of this technological age."

The Conversation »

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The history behind the Sea Devils, the earthly inheritors of Doctor Who | Gizmodo

2 'Lazarus' animals thought to be extinct for over 7,000 years found alive in New Guinea

"Two marsupial species thought long extinct, until now known only from fossils, were found alive in New Guinea through a collaboration of scientists, indigenous communities, and citizen scientists. The discovery of the pygmy long-fingered possum and the ring-tailed glider marks the first confirmation of live specimens in over 7,000 years … 'The discovery of two Lazarus species, thought to be extinct for millennia, is unprecedented,' Flannery in the press release. To Helgen, the rediscovery of these species is proof that 'extinction can be averted.' 'It's a message of hope, one of second chances,' he said."

NBC »