Human

We have tried Sesame’s conversational. It is the experience closest to a “human voice” that we have seen

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Theodore Twombly, the main character of the movie ‘Her‘, fell in love with a machine called Samantha. He didn’t even need to see her or touch her. It was enough to listen to his voice, which was actually that of actress Scarlett Johansson. That was science fiction, but little by little we are approaching a point where to fall in love with a machine is no longer. We have been seeing some time with replikathe AI ​​service that allows virtual avatars to become our friends or something else. That service achieves it with an AI model that generates text, such as chatgpt. Until now we chatted with the machines, but little by little we are beginning to talk to them. Chatgpt’s voice modes precisely give that optionand in fact the company He had to withdraw one of his voices for being too similar to the Scarlett Johansson. But now an artificial intelligence startup called Skew me has gone one step further. At the end of February the company He published a demonstration of its voice conversational generation model (CSM, by conversation Speech Model), and its impact has been remarkable. Some users have informed of feeling an emotional connection with the male and female voices of the model (“Maya” and “thousands”). One of them, who published his impressions in Hacker News, explained How “I am even a little worried about whether I start feeling emotionally linked to a voice assistant with this level of so human sound.” Anyone can try to speak with Maya or thousands Thanks to that demo on the Sesame website. The only obstacle is that conversations must be in English: these models do not speak other languages ​​at the moment. I just did it for a few minutes, and the operation of this conversational chatbot is really surprising. The voice is warm and close, but above all I perfectly imitate the way a person would speak. With pauses, doubts or intonation changes. The voice generation is instantaneous, there is no latency, and certainly the sensation is to be having a conversation with another human being. It’s strange, exciting and disturbing at the same time. As they explain In his blog Those responsible, “in Sesame our goal is to achieve a” presence of the voice “, that magical quality that makes oral interactions look real, are understood and valued.” They are pointing to something similar to what Replika pointed out: to create “conversational companions” that offer a genuine dialogue with which to build some confidence over time. These models are not perfect. Maya, for example, has demonstrated do strange things From time to time, but comments on Some forums of discussion like this Reddit They make it clear that the quality of these models is spectacular. If you want to check the quality of this model, attentive to this. Source: Reddit. And if you do not believe it, take a look at this conversation that Gavin Purcell, one of those responsible for the podcast Ai for Humanshe posted on Reddit arguing unsuccessfully with the machine to try to find its limits. It does not seem to achieve it, and in fact it is impossible to detect that one of the interlocutors is a machine. His speed of answer, his changes in tones, his choice of phrases and words … is amazing. Sesame’s conversational chatbot It also allows you to interpret different roles (“Roleplaying”), something that for example Openai usually limits. Openai has been working on their voice modes for chatgpt, and Grok 3 has also implemented different synthesized voices and also adjust to diverse personalities. There is even a “deranged” and another “sexy” voice, for example, which demonstrates once again that Musk and Xai do not mind experimenting As they comment In Ars Technicain Sesame they have achieved this advance thanks to two models (one trunk and another decoder) that work together. Both are based on architecture calls, and Sesame has raised three different sizes. The largest of all combines a trunk model of 8,000 million parameters with a decoder of 300 million, which results in a joint 8.3b model. To train it they have used a million hours of audio files in English. The comments In a debate In Hacker News they made it clear that the quality of Sesame’s voices is almost human, but even users continued to notice that something failed. One of Sesame’s co -founders, Brendan Iribe, I participated In the debate thanking those comments and confirming that they still have a lot of work ahead. Is “still too anxious Often inappropriate in his tone, prosody and rhythm “, He explained, and has problems with the interruptions, times and fluidity of the conversation. “Today we are firmly In the valley (disturbing)“, he said,” but we are optimistic and we can get out of it. “ The possibilities seem almost unlimited for these types of models, but they are both for good and for worse. Its use to supplant identities, for example, has already given some serious scares. Here is the Creation of a “family password” It can be very useful to avoid part of those problems, although at the moment you are not allowed to clone voices. We will see how AI companies react to these types of problems, but everything indicates that this future in which We will talk constantly (and we will even fall in love) with the machines It is getting closer. In Xataka | Be careful with falling in love with your chatbot: in Openai they warn that GPT-4O can reduce the need to socialize with human beings

Human beings are evolving live and direct on the Tibetan plateau. And understand what happens there will be fundamental in space

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It is not easy to breathe on the roof of the world. A few days ago, Kilian Jornet told in the revolt that, while he went down from Everest, He began to suffer hallucinations And convinced that he was dreaming he was about to jump into the void. And it makes sense because, thousands of meters above sea level, there is simply less oxygen in each breath of air. It is, we could say, pure physics. However, for more than 10,000 years, Tibetans have not only survived these dementeial conditions of that environment: they have prospered. But how? It is a question that has intrigued anthropologists for years. And if we think a little, he has his crumb. For decades, it has been said that evolution is slow and that, in general terms, human beings are more or less the same as we were in the Paleolithic. How could it be that Tibetans (who would not cease to be people like us) have prospered all this time If that is so? The answer is very simple: not being. A few months ago, anthropologist Cynthia Beall, from Case Western Reserve University, published PNAS investigation which clarifies all this and reveals “how the physiological features of Tibetan women improve their ability to reproduce in an environment with such a shortage of oxygen.” It is live and live evolution. What did they do? Beall and his team They studied 417 Tibetan women between 46 and 86 years old who lived around 4,000 meters above sea level in Alto Mustang, Nepal; that is, at the southern end of the Tibetan plateau. They collected many data: from their reproductive history to physiological measurements, DNA samples or a wide set of social factors. Its intention was precisely to understand how the characteristics of oxygen supply in high altitude hypoxia conditions influenced the number of living births. Because? Because it is a key measure of the evolutionary aptitude of these women. And so it was. Because what they discovered is that women who had more living children had a “unique set of blood and cardiac characteristics” that helped their bodies to distribute oxygen. Specifically, They discovered That although these women had middle levels of hemoglobin, it was more saturated. It was a fantastic solution because it allowed an efficient distribution without increasing the viscosity of the blood (and, therefore, without forcing the heart more than necessary). What does all this mean? Something really interesting. Because work Not only does it underline “the remarkable resilience of Tibetan women”but they also offer valuable information about the ways in which human beings can adapt to extreme environments. After all, “it is a case of natural selection in progress. Tibetan women have evolved in a way that balances the oxygen needs of the body without overloading the heart,” Beall explained. And, understanding how populations like these are adapted, “it gives us a better understanding of human evolution processes.” Something that, on the other hand, we need. Because in the end, it turns out that the unity of the human species is only sustained by the similar environmental conditions in which we move. But what will happen when we become an “interplanetary species”? And the answer is simple: that We can never go home. The unity of the species will be detrimental to our adaptive success. Image | Will Pagel In Xataka | To what extent are Elon Musk’s plans to settle on Mars? A planetary scientist explains it to us

What is artificial superintelligence (like), the type of AI that aspires to overcome the intelligence of all human beings

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Artificial intelligence raises a true revolution in our world, but for now its impact is relatively reduced. The appearance of Chatgpt In November 2022, things began to change, and although the rhythm of advances is remarkable, the scope of AI is limited. In fact, we have been talking about three large types of systems of systems for a long time artificial intelligence. Let’s see them with some more detail. So or artificial superintelligence Beyond the general artificial intelligence (AGI) is the call Artificial superintelligence (like)that would be that capable of creating systems that exceed human intelligence in all metrics. Thus, one would be among other things capable of improving itself autonomously, refining and optimizing its algorithms exponentially. That capacity, together with its cognitive superiority, would allow such a global challenges such as climate change, the shortage of resources or potential pandemics, and do it with an unparalleled effectiveness. But the development of a also raises a threat important potential. If these systems end up solving problems that go beyond human understanding, thus could redefine all kinds of industries, revolutionize the industry and change our society of unpredictable ways. In addition to how such could become aware of itself, thus being able to develop their own desires, motivations and moral framework, what would make it unpredictable. It is precisely that possibility that is reflected in many dystopic science fiction films such as’2001: an odyssey of space‘ either ‘Terminator‘in which the human race ends up practically extinguished by the machines. And it is precisely one of the risks Of those who speak Some experts In ia. Others like Yann Lecun, head of the goal, see that potential threat as “Absurdly ridiculous”. Agi or general artificial intelligence Much more ambitious than weak artificial intelligence is General Artificial Intelligence (AGI)which would allow solving any intellectual task to resolve by a human being. This artificial intelligence would be multitasking and could do hundreds, thousands of different things well. A general artificial intelligence would be able to perform all the tasks performed by human beings and even others that are not capable. Over time it is estimated that this type of agi systems could replace the human being in virtually any field And they could make human labor obsolete, something that would have gigantic social and economic implications. These systems could replicate the human ability to reason, learn and adapt to new problems. Thus, theoretically an AGI would be able to generalize their knowledge and apply them to a wide number of scenarios, something that the weak or narrow systems cannot do, although modern models of reasoning with Openai O1/O3 or Deepseek R1 go in that direction . Ani or artificial intelligence “narrow” These types of systems are able to solve very well defined and limited problems. The Narrow artificial intelligence (ANI) It is the one that has caused the true explosion of this discipline in recent times: different techniques have been applied such as Deep machine or learning To solve specific problems, and the results have been exceptional. The artificial vision systems that apply for example in urban traffic management are a good example of ANI. This artificial intelligence, also called “weak” or “narrow” (ANI, by artificial Narrow Intelligence) is what we have long seen applied to many scenarios with greater or lesser success. The achievements achieved with Deep Blue or with Alphago They are a perfect example of weak artificial intelligence: they solve a specific and delimited problem and that allow them to be solved so that these systems end up performing those tasks much better than a human being. But also now they are much more present in the hands of All generative AI models They are available in services such as Chatgpt, Claude or Gemini, but also in others such as Midjourney or Dall-E 3. These models are not able to adapt to their environment, although they can maintain a coherent dialogue, as the aforementioned chatbots do. In Xataka | The best books to enter artificial intelligence: five experts reveal their basic readings

A battery to feed robots from the heat of the human body

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Of all the submundos on the Internet, my favorite is that of youtubers who dedicate months to an engineering project of doubtful profitability for the simple fact of trying. The Matrix. There is a whole generation of adults that in 1999 saw ‘Matrix’ in the cinema. The Matrix, the concept of engineering from which the science fiction film of the Wachowski sisters starts, is a machine that uses humans as batteries to extract from their body the energy that feeds the robots. With the AI ​​advancing at runaway, it does not seem like a project that we want to materialize precisely now. But would it work? To verify it, someone is needed with the motivation and the determination of carrying out a project or too useful, or too profitable. Exact: You need a youtuber. Basically Homeless’s human battery. This is the name of the Nicka Zetta channel, the youtuber and inventor that concerns us. Inspired by matrix, Zetta designed a special suit that takes advantage of the heat generated by the human body to produce electricity. The premise is simple: the side of the suit that is in contact with the skin is heated when the person is active, because his body generates heat, while the other side, exposed to the cold air of the environment, remains fresh. That temperature difference can be used to produce electricity. How it works. To convert the temperature difference into electricity, it is enough to use a thermoelectric generator, a device with two conductive materials, one on the hot side and one on the cold side, which generate a potential difference (that is, an electrical voltage) to take advantage of The Seebeck effect: electrons move from the hot to cold, creating a current flow (that is, electricity). The problem is that the human body does not generate too much heat, nor does it at a specific point, so many thermoelectric generators were needed to achieve a non -despicable amount of energy. The limitations. During the suit tests, Nick managed to generate electricity peaks that soon down because the temperature difference with the outer side of the suit was matched. To avoid this problem, he devised a way of producing “heat pulses”: great temperature differences in short periods that allowed him to obtain more electricity. The body is heated when exercising, but also (not trying at home) when drinking alcohol or ingesting spicy meals with a lot of capsaicin. If at the same time the outer air is cold, the temperature difference is important. Feeding a robot with the suit. Although the invention failed to generate enough energy to load a mobile, it did produce electricity in small quantities that were enough to move a small robot on a table. Maybe it is not the matrix that science fiction fans imagined, but remember that the film’s robots could not obtain electricity from the sun with photovoltaic cells, which would be much more efficient, because humans had darkened the sky in an attempt to end the energy of the robots. Images | Basically Homeless, Warner Bros.

Column by Nancy Alvarez: Solving things like human beings

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Regarding the treatment that we human beings owe to each other, we can no longer speak of civilization, in any way. I was very surprised by how my colleagues from the program “Desiguales” (Univisión) reacted to the fact that Trump and Obama were speaking, very pleasantly, at the funeral mass of former President Jimmy Carter. They were surprised that they smiled and spoke kindly, as if analyzing issues in the middle of mass. They wondered what two people from two different parties were doing talking so friendly. So, I asked them: why do we continue to teach our children that people who do not think alike, from different parties or from two football teams, should get along badly? Before, I saw that US presidents got along well, and even met to try to find solutions to problems. What was the point of not doing it? Why if I am for Trump and you are for Biden, do we have to be enemies? Why can’t we talk? Dialogue is civility, basic education. That is to say to children: we can think differently or disagree on something, but we have to talk and solve things like the human beings that we are. I feel very proud to see that these two people are saying, to those who think like animals, that it is possible to negotiate. I always give this example: I hate Joaquín Balaguer, former Dominican president, with all the strength of my heart. I have serious reasons. I’ve tried for years to stop doing it, and I’ve gotten better, but I still hate it, I have to admit. I don’t like the situation and I should be able to forgive him, but I can’t. Someday I will explain my reasons. However, I never stopped being one of the best friends of Bello Andino, Balaguer’s best friend, may he rest in peace. He was his right-hand man, and the only one Balaguer trusted. I was friends with Bello Andino until the end. And do you know why we never fight? Because I didn’t speak badly to him about Balaguer and he didn’t mention it when he was with me. That’s called respect for other people’s rights, being who you want to be. We have to teach all this to children. Enough of so much war, rage and violence. When I argued my position to my friends, they responded: “well, it’s true, it’s a good example for the children.” So, let’s think about them. We’re already leaving him with enough filth. http://www.DraNancy.com

The human error that causes anxiety in dogs, according to experts

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Renowned veterinarian Amir Anwary issued an important warning to dog owners: certain seemingly harmless behaviors could be contributing to the development of separation anxiety in your pets. In a recent video posted on his TikTok account, the specialist explained the most common errors and shared key strategies to prevent this problem. The impact of exaggerated goodbyes and greetings One of the most common mistakes owners make, according to Anwary, is making excessively emotional farewells and greetings. These interactions can confuse dogs and cause stress. Separation anxiety in dogs can be avoided by following specialist advice.Credit: Hanna Taniukevich | Shutterstock “Keep calm when you leave home and when you return. When you leave home, You make it a big scene and when you come home, you make it an even bigger scene”explained the veterinarian in his video. Likewise, Anwary recommended avoid approaching the dog during the ten minutes before leaving the house and upon returning. Although this measure could seem “cruel” to some owners, the expert assured that It is one of the most effective ways to prevent separation anxiety. Strategies to reduce anxiety To help dogs stay relaxed during their owners’ absences, Anwary suggested ensure they get enough physical exercise before being left alone. A long walk can help the animal feel calmer and more tired, which reduces its anxiety level. Besides, keeping pets mentally occupied is essential. Leaving them puzzles with treats can be an effective way to stimulate their minds and provide them with a positive task to focus on while they wait for their owners to return. A gradual adaptation system For cases where dogs must be left alone for long periods, Anwary advised implementing a gradual approach. “When you leave the house, start by leaving for five minutes and watch your response.”he explained. This method allows pets to progressively get used to the idea of ​​being alone, minimizing the emotional impact of prolonged absences. In situations where these strategies are not enough, the veterinarian urged you to go to an animal behavior specialist. These professionals can offer a personalized approach to treating separation anxiety and guide owners in managing their pet’s behavior. The key, according to Anwary, is foster an environment of calm and emotional balance for petshelping them face their owners’ absences without anxiety and ensuring them a healthier and happier life. Keep reading: ° Reasons why you should reconsider getting a dog° Michigan dog owners convicted after fatal attack on father of six° Dog steals the show in the Minor Leagues by working as Bat-Dog (Video)

Is Human Metapneumovirus the Next Pandemic Virus?

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In recent weeks, China has recorded a significant increase in cases of respiratory infections caused by human metapneumovirus (HMPV). Although health authorities have ruled out that the situation represents a global health risk like Covid-19, The increase in respiratory diseases has set off alarms, especially in the winter months. According to the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Rates of flu-like illnesses have grown in this winter of 2024, generating concern among the population and authorities. However, experts say that This is not a pandemic scenario. Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said: Diseases appear to be less severe and spread on a smaller scale than the previous year. In addition, authorities have denied rumors about collapsed hospitals, emphasizing the importance of maintaining basic hygiene measures. What is human metapneumovirus (HMPV)? HMPV belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family and was first identified in 2001 in the Netherlands. However, serological studies reveal that this virus has already been circulating among humans since 1950, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of the United States. It is an agent that causes acute respiratory infections (ARI), with a seasonal pattern that intensifies in the cold months. “It is a virus that, in recent years, has gained greater relevance due to 2 factors: the increase in cases and the improvement of diagnostic techniques, such as PCR, which allow infections and co-infections to be identified more quickly,” explained the infectious disease doctor Roberto Debbag in statements to Infobae. The H.M.P.V. It is transmitted mainly through respiratory secretions when coughing or sneezing, as well as by contact with contaminated surfaces. like toys or doorknobs. According to the American Lung Association (ALA), Its symptoms include cough, runny nose, fever and sore throat. Although they generally resemble those of a common cold, In severe cases it can cause bronchitis, pneumonia and severe respiratory distress. For most people, HMPV does not pose a serious danger. Nevertheless, Certain groups are more vulnerable, such as children under 5 years of age, the elderly, and immunocompromised people. In these cases, the infection can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia. In India, the use of face masks was returned to prevent further infections of metapneumovirus. (Photo: EFE/EPA/JAGADEESH NV) “Metapneumovirus is well known and is the second cause of respiratory diseases in winter in Argentina,” said infectious disease specialist Ricardo Teijeiro. For his part, Debbag added: “In children under one year old, the infection can be more serious. In adults, it can cause everything from bronchitis to pneumonia, mainly affecting the lower respiratory tract.” The NIH reports that in older adults residing in care homes, morbidity and mortality associated with HMPV can reach 10%. This underscores the importance of protecting the most susceptible populations through preventive measures. The outbreak in China: a worrying situation? Despite the increase in cases in China, Experts insist it should not be compared to the Covid-19 pandemic. According to infectologist Teijeiro, it is not possible for a virus known as HMPV to cause a pandemic. “They are local epidemic outbreaks that usually appear during the respiratory virus season. These outbreaks start in Asia, move to Europe and the US, and then reach the southern hemisphere in winter,” Debbag explained. In addition, specialists highlight that the current outbreak not only involves HMPV, but also other viruses such as influenza and respiratory syncytial, which are known as coinfections. Paul Griffin, director of infectious diseases at Mater Health Services in Brisbane, said the most important thing right now is to educate people about the virus to reduce its transmission. The preventive measures recommended to avoid the spread of HMPV are similar to those of other respiratory viruses. The ALA and other health organizations advise: 1) Stay home if symptoms of respiratory illness occur.2) Maintain adequate hand hygiene, washing them frequently with soap and water.3) Wear masks in public spaces if you are sick.4) Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. During the Covid-19 pandemic, these practices proved effective in reducing the transmission of various respiratory diseases. “I’m not suggesting we go back to strict Covid restrictions, but staying home and practicing good hygiene remains crucial,” Griffin said. Teijeiro agreed, highlighting that these measures are especially necessary during outbreaks, not indiscriminately. HMPV does not represent a global threat, but its ability to severely affect vulnerable groups deserves attention. The key to minimizing its impact lies in health education and prevention. Chinese authorities have emphasized the importance of maintaining basic hygiene measures and rejecting misinformation, a strategy that could be replicated in other countries to prevent the spread of alarmist rumors. Keep reading: * CDC gives new recommendations for Covid-19 and flu vaccines* The fight in the WHO between rich and poor countries in order for everyone to have access to vaccines* Why Covid continues to wreak serious havoc on some people

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