AI drives record number of computing students

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AI DRIVES RECORD HIGH NUMBER OF COMPUTING STUDENTS 🎓

You know what they say … if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em! That’s what many students are doing amidst the rapid growth of AI. 🏫

What’s going on? According to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), applications to study computing were up significantly compared to 2022.

What are the numbers? The number of people applying for computer-related courses have risen every year since 2019, but this year marks the biggest leap:

• Software engineering: up 16%

• Computer science: up 11%

• AI specifically: up 4%

• Computer games and animation: up 2%

Why are these numbers going up? An obvious reason for the surge in applications is the fascinating growth of AI and related technology, which is getting many people excited! There has also been an obvious stir about jobs being overtaken by AI. However, amidst these concerns, there has been a notable expansion in the realm of employment prospects tied to AI, data science, software design, and computing technologies. This shift in the job landscape is certainly a large reason for the surge in applications. 📈

TESLA CLOSE TO RELEASING AI-POWERED ROBOT 🦾

Elon Musk cannot keep himself out of the headlines! This time, he’s close to releasing his AI-powered robot that will crush anything that gets in its way of world domination! … Well, no not really … but he’s close to releasing a robot. 🤖

What’s up? Tesla is developing a humanoid robot, named Optimus, to help with the labor shortage. Musk believes these Tesla robots could one day outnumber humans and make physical work optional.

Who is this robot? Optimus will stand in at 5'8" and weigh 125 lbs. It'll be able to lift more than its entire bodyweight and carry 45 lbs at 5 mph. Although some believe that these strength limitations could limit Optimus from performing physical tasks as well as it could, Musk asserts that the limitations weren't a mistake and were deliberately designed for safety purposes. As he said, "You can run away from it and most likely overpower it.” 🦾

Why create Optimus? Musk said the goal of creating Optimus is to reduce the number of menial and dangerous tasks that need to be done by human workers. He believes this will improve safety and efficiency. Musk has plans to put the robot to work in Tesla's factories and to sell it to the public, and an official release date is imminent.

ACTORS ARE JOINING WRITERS ON STRIKE OVER AI 🙅‍♂️

I hear dentists are going on strike next ... so brace yourselves! 🦷

What’s up? Hollywood actors and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) are contemplating a potential strike centered around AI, similar to that of the writers’ strike.

Why? The potential strike comes as a response to the growing use of AI algorithms to generate human-like performances and digitally manipulate actors' appearances without their consent and without further compensation.

Will AI take over acting? AI provides a more efficient and streamlined approach to acting than that of the traditional methods. The concern will be how this technology is reconciled with the rights of human actors to their own abilities and persona. Fran Drescher, president of the SAG-AFTRA, declared, “AI poses an existential threat to creative professions, and all actors and performers deserve contract language that protects them from having their identity and talent exploited without consent and pay ... If we don’t stand tall right now, we are all going to be in trouble. We are all going to be in jeopardy of being replaced by machines.” He might be right, and lawsuits and legislation are being proposed in hopes of protecting these actors.

HAS AI TAKEN OVER THE WORLD? CHECK OUT THE FRY METER BELOW