I am not an expert on quantum computing … but I saw an impressive photo of Google's new quantum computer, and thought it was worth diving a bit deeper.
Google's computer stands at the forefront of computing technologies. This extraordinary device boasts 70 qubits, a significant improvement over the previous 2019 model, which had 53 qubits. A qubit is the quantum world's answer to classical bits. Not to dive too deep, but as you increase the number of qubits in a model, the possible states a quantum computer can hold simultaneously grows exponentially (due to quantum entanglement,) allowing it to perform faster calculations.
So, while 70 qubits don't sound like that much, it calculates exponentially faster than normal computers. For some context, Google's team used a synthetic benchmark called random circuit sampling to test the system's speed, and the results showed that they could perform calculations in seconds that would take the world's most powerful supercomputer, Frontier, 47 years.
Four years ago, Google announced that they'd reached quantum supremacy, a benchmark demonstrating that a programmable quantum device could solve a problem impossible for classical computers to solve within a practical timeframe. It took less than five years to successfully establish the technological feasibility of quantum computers.
The progress made in quantum computing enhances our capacity to tackle complex problems that previously posed a challenge (or seemed impossible). The ripple effects will extend to other domains and industries (improving artificial intelligence, logistics, medicine, and almost anything you can imagine). As with the space race or AI, the benefits will not be limited to the realm in which they were created … but will also have a significant impact on broader industries, the world, and our lives.
It's important to temper your expectations and recognize that quantum technology is still in its infancy. It comes with significant limitations, such as the need for extremely low temperatures and precise magnetic fields. Even if these specific conditions are satisfied, there will be stability issues. Additionally, the current cost to develop and operate this technology is quite high.
But, it's an exciting horizon for us to walk towards.
Deep Learning excels in analyzing pictures & videos and creating facsimiles or combining styles. People are using generative AI tools like ChatGPT or Midjourney increasingly frequently. And there is an explosion of simple tools (like the Deep Dream Generator or DeepAI) that use Convolutional Neural Networks to combine your photo with an art style (if you want to do it on your phone, check out Prisma). Here are some example photos.
The same foundation that allows us to create these cool art amalgamations also can create deepfakes. A Deepfake is precisely what it sounds like … they use "Deep Learning" to "Fake" a recording. For example, a machine learning technique called a Generative Adversarial Network can be used to superimpose images onto a source video. That is how they made this fun (and disturbing) Deepfake of Jennifer Lawrence and Steve Buscemi.
Another interesting technology can create AI-powered replicas of someone that don't just look and sound like them – they can respond like them too. Examples of this are seen in tools like Replica Studios or Replika. One of the artistic uses people have been exploring recently is getting unlikely characters to sing famous songs. These chatbots have also been used by lonely men and women to create virtual paramours.
The three basic uses of deep learning (described above) are being combined to create a lot of real mainstream applications … and the potential to create convincing fakes.
Deepfakes can be fun and funny … but they also create real concerns. They're frequently used for more "nefarious" purposes (e.g., to create fake celebrity or revenge porn and to make important figures say things they never said). You've likely seen videos of Trump or Biden created with this technology. But it is easy to imagine someone faking evidence used at trial, trying to influence business transactions, or using this to support or slander causes in the media.
On a more functional note, you can use these technologies to create convincing replicas of yourself. You could use that replica to record videos, send voicemails, or participate in virtual meetings for you. While I don't encourage you to use it without telling people you are, even just using the technology puts you a step ahead.
"Fate has ordained that the men who went to the moon to explore in peace will stay on the moon to rest in peace." – Nixon's Apollo 11 Disaster Speech
In an ideal world, history would be objective; facts about what happened, unencumbered by the bias of society, or the victor, the narrator, etc.
I think it's apparent that history as we know it is subjective. The narrative shifts to support the needs of the society that's reporting it. History books are written by the victors.
The Cold War is a great example where, during the war, immediately after the war, and today, the interpretation of the causes and events has all changed.
But while that's one example, to a certain degree, we can see it everywhere. We can even see it in the way events are reported today. News stations color the story based on whether they're red or blue, and the internet is quick to jump on a bandwagon even if the information is hearsay.
Now, what happens when you can literally rewrite history?
“Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped.“ – Orwell, 1984
That's one of the potential risks of generative AI and deepfake technology. As it gets better, creating "supporting evidence" becomes easier for whatever narrative a government or other entity is trying to make real.
On July 20th, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed safely on the moon. They then returned to Earth safely as well.
MIT recently created a deepfake of a speech Nixon's speechwriter William Safire wrote during the Apollo 11 mission in case of disaster. The whole video is worth watching, but the speech starts around 4:20.
Media disinformation is more dangerous than ever. Alternative narratives and histories can only be called that when they are discernible from the truth. In addition, people often aren't looking for the "truth" – instead, they are prone to look for information that already fits their biases.
As deepfakes get better, we'll also get better at detecting them. But it's a cat-and-mouse game with no end in sight. In Signaling Theory, it's the idea that signalers evolve to become better at manipulating receivers, while receivers evolve to become more resistant to manipulation. We're seeing the same thing in trading with algorithms.
In 1983, Stanislav Petrov saved the world. Petrov was the duty officer at the command center for a Russian nuclear early-warning system when the system reported that a missile had been launched from the U.S., followed by up to five more. Petrov judged the reports to be a false alarm and didn't authorize retaliation (and a potential nuclear WWIII where countless would have died).
But messaging is now getting more convincing. It's harder to tell real from fake. What happens when a world leader has a convincing enough deepfake with a convincing enough threat to another country? Will people have the wherewithal to double-check?
Lots to think about.
I'm excited about the possibilities of technology, and I believe they're predominantly good. But, as always, in search of the good, we must acknowledge and be prepared for the bad.
Fear is a natural response to change or the unknown, serving as an evolutionary mechanism designed to safeguard us. However, it’s also worth noting that many of our fears turn out to be unjustified.
Sometimes, however, fear is a much-needed early warning system.
In the context of AI hacking, you should be afraid. Given the exponential growth in technology and artificial intelligence, concerns about security breaches and intentional misinformation campaigns have become common.
In 2016, DARPA created the Cyber Grand Challenge to illustrate the need for automated, scalable, machine-speed vulnerability detection as more and more systems—from household appliances to major military platforms—got connected to each other and the internet. During this event, AI systems competed against each other to autonomously hack and exploit vulnerabilities in computer programs. The competition revealed the unprecedented speed, scope, scale, and sophistication with which AI systems can find and exploit vulnerabilities.
And that was seven years ago.
AI hackers operate at superhuman speeds and can analyze massive amounts of data, enabling them to uncover vulnerabilities that might elude human hackers. Their ability to think differently, free from human constraints, allows AI systems to devise novel hacks that humans would never consider. This creates an asymmetrical advantage for AI hackers, making them formidable at infiltrating and compromising systems.
We expect people to use AI for malicious purposes intentionally, but unintentional AI hacking arises when an AI autonomously discovers a solution or workaround that its creators did not intend. This type of hack can remain undetected for extended periods, amplifying the potential damage caused.
So, how do we stop it?
Ironically, or perhaps, exactly as you would expect it, AI itself holds the key to defending against future attacks. Just as hacking can drive progress by exposing vulnerabilities and prompting improvements, AI hackers could potentially identify and rectify weaknesses in software, regulations, and other systems. By proactively searching for vulnerabilities, they can contribute to making these systems more hack-resistant. This is the paradox of AI hacking.
Unfortunately, when you invent the car, you also invent the potential for car crashes … when you ‘invent’ nuclear energy, you create the potential for atomic bombs. That’s not a reason to stop innovation – it’s a call to action for innovators to respond faster and counteract the bad actors.
We can’t stop bad actors from existing – but we can get better at preventing harm due to them. This is a helpful framework for innovation. If you want to stop the bad actors from misusing a technology, the good actors "simply" have to get better at using the technology faster.
The best way to stop negative motion is with positive motion. But, we can also make moves in the background to counteract bad actors and bad actions.
For example:
Regulation and Transparency: Regulatory frameworks can be established for AI technologies that demand transparency regarding how they function and how they’re secured.
Ethical Guidelines: Implementing ethical guidelines for AI development can help prevent misuse.
Cybersecurity Measures: Enhancing cybersecurity protocols and utilizing state-of-the-art encryption methods could make AI systems more resilient against hacking attempts.
Education: Increasing public understanding of AI technologies would spread awareness of their benefits alongside potential risks.
While these measures won’t eliminate the potential risk of AI hacking, they could significantly mitigate it and provide reassurances about employing such technologies.
Believe it or not, Nvidia is now worth nearly as much as Amazon. America’s largest semiconductor company has skyrocketed past the $1 trillion market cap mark and joined the likes of Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft.
Nvidia’s growth is largely built on the back of the AI hype. It is also a mainstay of technology, benefitting a litany of AI projects, gaming systems, crypto mining, and more.
But, the question is whether it will continue to rise in popularity – or see a “correction” to pre-hype levels. I think the reality is you’ll see both happen.
Despite my obvious bullishness on AI as a market mover and industry transformer, after a hype cycle comes a trough of disillusionment. The media attention on AI will diminish again. Meanwhile, tech giants like Google and Apple rely on the technology, and Nvidia has also launched new products spanning from robotics to gaming. So, as the hype dies down, its mainstream uses will increase.
These chips will only continue to be more important. We saw the company’s stock rise and fall during the peak of inflated expectations of cryptocurrency, but AI’s staying power – I believe – is inevitable.
So, while it may not be a good investment in the short term, it’s a technology you can count on to be essential for decades.
There is nothing wrong with your television. We will control all that you see and hear. We can deluge you with a thousand channels or expand one single image to crystal clarity and beyond. We can shape your vision to anything our imagination can conceive. Enjoy ….
There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. If we wish to make it louder, we will bring up the volume. If we wish to make it softer, we will tune it to a whisper. We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical. We can roll the image; make it flutter. We can change the focus to a soft blur or sharpen it to crystal clarity. For the next hour, sit quietly and we will control all that you see and hear. We repeat: there is nothing wrong with your television set. You are about to participate in a great adventure. You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind to the outer limits.
We believe what we want to believe, so it can be very hard to change a belief, even in the face of contrary evidence.
Since the past election cycle, we've seen a massive uptick in distrust toward news agencies, big companies, the government, and basically anyone with a particularly large reach.
To a certain degree, this is understandable and justified. Here is an example of the power of the media focused on a message. Click to watch.
Propaganda has always been an issue, and almost everyone does it; governments, companies, etc. Luckily, it's easier to see today than in the past, but unluckily it's also more pervasive and insidious than before.
It's to the point where if you watch the news you're misinformed, and if you don't watch the news you're uninformed.
The above segment portrays a rosy picture of Amazon's efforts to protect its workers while delivering essentials to the struggling homebound masses. This comes while Amazon has come under massive fire for removing some of its protections.
Honestly, I use Amazon and, in my opinion, this isn't a massive breach of trust. News stations have a lot of time to fill, they often have sponsored content.
That being said, it's something to be cognizant of – not necessarily offended by.
Personally, I believe I am reasonably aware and somewhat immune from propaganda. That probably isn't as true as I'd like to believe.
It used to be true that winners wrote history (think empires, wars, etc.). Now, the one that delivers the most broadcast narratives shapes the emotional and seemingly logical responses to what we perceive to be happening around us.
The result impacts elections, financial markets, buying choices, and countless other areas of our life.
It's a great reminder that what you're seeing and hearing is carefully manufactured, and hopefully, it encourages you to get outside your bubble.
I think one of the worst consequences of the past few years is the unwillingness of mass swaths of Americans to listen to voices they disagree with. The internet has already created echo chambers, but it's being exacerbated by vitriol. As a result, I think we're seeing the fringe of both parties move further away from the middle.
It's unsurprising that Google and social media top the list, but it is interesting to see OpenAI becoming the 17th most visited site last month – with 1.8 billion visits – despite being very new to the scene in comparison to its competitors.
Easy to forget, but also unsurprising is the prevalence of adult websites on this list. One of my most popular articles ever was titled "How Long Does It Take To Get To 50 Million Users?" in it, the takeaway was that Pornhub did it 19 days – faster than anyone else … up until ChatGPT. Part of the popularity of that article is because Pornhub has very in-depth statistics about its yearly use.
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Pornhub via