When we look at the world, our brain doesn’t just recognize objects such as “a dog” or “a car,” it also understands the broader meaning, like what’s happening, where it’s happening, and how everything fits together. But for years, scientists didn’t have a good way to measure that rich, complex understanding.When we look at the world, our brain doesn’t just recognize objects such as “a dog” or “a car,” it also understands the broader meaning, like what’s happening, where it’s happening, and how everything fits together. But for years, scientists didn’t have a good way to measure that rich, complex understanding.[#item_full_content]

AI is a relatively new tool, and despite its rapid deployment in nearly every aspect of our lives, researchers are still trying to figure out how its “personality traits” arise and how to control them. Large learning models (LLMs) use chatbots or “assistants” to interface with users, and some of these assistants have exhibited troubling behaviors recently, like praising evil dictators, using blackmail or displaying sycophantic behaviors with users. Considering how much these LLMs have already been integrated into our society, it is no surprise that researchers are trying to find ways to weed out undesirable behaviors.AI is a relatively new tool, and despite its rapid deployment in nearly every aspect of our lives, researchers are still trying to figure out how its “personality traits” arise and how to control them. Large learning models (LLMs) use chatbots or “assistants” to interface with users, and some of these assistants have exhibited troubling behaviors recently, like praising evil dictators, using blackmail or displaying sycophantic behaviors with users. Considering how much these LLMs have already been integrated into our society, it is no surprise that researchers are trying to find ways to weed out undesirable behaviors.[#item_full_content]

M.C. Escher’s artwork is a gateway into a world of depth-defying optical illusions, featuring “impossible objects” that break the laws of physics with convoluted geometries. What you perceive his illustrations to be depends on your point of view—for example, a person seemingly walking upstairs may be heading down the steps if you tilt your head sideways.M.C. Escher’s artwork is a gateway into a world of depth-defying optical illusions, featuring “impossible objects” that break the laws of physics with convoluted geometries. What you perceive his illustrations to be depends on your point of view—for example, a person seemingly walking upstairs may be heading down the steps if you tilt your head sideways.[#item_full_content]

When it comes to cybersecurity, humans are often seen as the weakest link, but new research suggests that with a little help, people can do a surprisingly effective job at identifying malware.When it comes to cybersecurity, humans are often seen as the weakest link, but new research suggests that with a little help, people can do a surprisingly effective job at identifying malware.[#item_full_content]

A code-reuse attack named coroutine frame-oriented programming (CFOP) is capable of exploiting C++ coroutines across three major compilers, namely Clang/LLVM, GCC and MSVC. CFOP even succeeds in environments that are protected by control flow integrity (CFI), exposing relevant gaps in 15 of these defense schemes.A code-reuse attack named coroutine frame-oriented programming (CFOP) is capable of exploiting C++ coroutines across three major compilers, namely Clang/LLVM, GCC and MSVC. CFOP even succeeds in environments that are protected by control flow integrity (CFI), exposing relevant gaps in 15 of these defense schemes.[#item_full_content]

LLMs that emulate human speech are being used to cost-effectively test assumptions and run pilot studies, producing promising early results. But researchers note that human data remains essential.LLMs that emulate human speech are being used to cost-effectively test assumptions and run pilot studies, producing promising early results. But researchers note that human data remains essential.[#item_full_content]

Lighting plays a crucial role when it comes to visual storytelling. Whether it’s film or photography, creators spend countless hours, and often significant budgets, crafting the perfect illumination for their shot. But once a photograph or video is captured, the illumination is essentially fixed. Adjusting it afterward, a task called “relighting,” typically demands time-consuming manual work by skilled artists.Lighting plays a crucial role when it comes to visual storytelling. Whether it’s film or photography, creators spend countless hours, and often significant budgets, crafting the perfect illumination for their shot. But once a photograph or video is captured, the illumination is essentially fixed. Adjusting it afterward, a task called “relighting,” typically demands time-consuming manual work by skilled artists.[#item_full_content]

A new artificial intelligence (AI) tool could make it much easier—and cheaper—for doctors and researchers to train medical imaging software, even when only a small number of patient scans are available.A new artificial intelligence (AI) tool could make it much easier—and cheaper—for doctors and researchers to train medical imaging software, even when only a small number of patient scans are available.[#item_full_content]

Guilt is a highly advantageous quality for society as a whole. It might not prevent initial wrongdoings, but guilt allows humans to judge their own prior judgments as harmful and prevents them from happening again. The internal distress caused by feelings of guilt often—but not always—results in the person taking on some kind of penance to relieve themselves from internal turmoil. This might be something as simple as admitting their wrongdoing to others and taking on a slight stigma of someone who is morally corrupt. This upfront cost might be initially painful, but can relieve further guilt and lead to better cooperation for the group in the future.Guilt is a highly advantageous quality for society as a whole. It might not prevent initial wrongdoings, but guilt allows humans to judge their own prior judgments as harmful and prevents them from happening again. The internal distress caused by feelings of guilt often—but not always—results in the person taking on some kind of penance to relieve themselves from internal turmoil. This might be something as simple as admitting their wrongdoing to others and taking on a slight stigma of someone who is morally corrupt. This upfront cost might be initially painful, but can relieve further guilt and lead to better cooperation for the group in the future.[#item_full_content]

If you rotate an image of a molecular structure, a human can tell the rotated image is still the same molecule, but a machine-learning model might think it is a new data point. In computer science parlance, the molecule is “symmetric,” meaning the fundamental structure of that molecule remains the same if it undergoes certain transformations, like rotation.If you rotate an image of a molecular structure, a human can tell the rotated image is still the same molecule, but a machine-learning model might think it is a new data point. In computer science parlance, the molecule is “symmetric,” meaning the fundamental structure of that molecule remains the same if it undergoes certain transformations, like rotation.[#item_full_content]