AI spies on spider monkeys

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AI SPIES ON SPIDER MONKEYS 🐒

Q: How does Santa deliver presents to monkeys?

A: By going down the chimp-ney. 🎅

What’s going on? Geoffroy’s spider monkeys, an endangered and elusive species, are disappearing from their rainforest habitats in Costa Rica. To track these sensitive primates, biologist Jenna Lawson is using AI-powered audio monitors.

How does it work? Lawson placed 350 audio monitors across the Osa Peninsula. These monitors capture all kinds of forest sounds, including the monkeys’ distinctive calls. Instead of manually analyzing the data, Lawson is using AI to identify these calls and map the monkeys’ locations. This method allows her team to study the behavior of the monkeys across large areas without disturbing the wildlife, offering more accurate insights into their migration patterns and interactions.

Why is this significant? AI-powered monitoring is a game-changer for animal conservation efforts. These technologies enable researchers to monitor ecosystems worldwide, from the Amazon to African savannas, without directly interfering with their habitat. These tools also offer the ability to draw nuanced insights from real-time data, which would often take researchers months through traditional methods. With nearly 28% of species at risk of extinction, tools like these are crucial for protecting biodiversity in a rapidly changing world.

ARIZONA SCHOOL REPLACES TEACHERS WITH AI 🤖

Q: Why was the broom late for school?

A: It over-swept. 🧹

What’s new? Unbound Academy, a new charter school approved in Arizona, is ditching traditional classrooms for a bold, AI-driven approach.

What will this look like? Students will spend just two hours a day on academic instruction, guided by personalized AI learning programs like IXL and Khan Academy. The AI will design and deliver lessons in math, reading, and science to each student, analyzing responses and even emotional cues to optimize learning. The rest of the day will be dedicated to workshops on life skills like entrepreneurship, public speaking, and critical thinking, led by “guides” rather than certified teachers. Proponents claim this method could double learning efficiency and provide more personalized education for students of all levels and learning types.

Why is this significant? AI’s use in education has been a hot topic of debate over the past few years. Some people want more AI in education, and others want it nowhere near the classroom. This pioneering approach from Unbound Academy is undoubtedly adding fuel to the fire. Regardless of anyone’s opinion, however, one thing remains certain: AI is shifting the way we think about education.

AI TRAINED TO SPOT CANCER IN BLOOD TESTS 🩸

AI continues to drive diagnostics forward. 🙏

What’s new? Dr. Daniel Heller, a biomedical engineer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, is leading efforts to develop AI-driven blood tests for early ovarian cancer detection.

Want the details? Ovarian cancer is rare, deadly, and often diagnosed too late. Most cases originate in the fallopian tubes and spread silently, making early detection critical. Heller’s team uses carbon nanotubes, microscopic structures that emit light when molecules bind to them, to analyze blood samples. AI algorithms then decode the complex molecular patterns, pinpointing cancer signs too subtle for human eyes. Despite challenges like limited data and siloed medical records, early trials show promise. AI-powered tests are outperforming current biomarkers, with potential to revolutionize diagnostics for ovarian and other cancers within a few years. This could not only make these processes faster and more accurate, but also much cheaper.

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