Hey Synapticians 😀

Coming up (before you head into a frugal weekend after the New Year’s excesses) phishing for executives, an introduction to security and open source, federated computing, and a new (early December) computer vision dataset from Meta. Plus, the startup of the week: Granola—super cool—and so cool, in fact, that we’ve published a short presentation of this tool. Check it out here!

And finally, we're sharing a meme about alignment (making sure AI acts according to our values and goals). What do you think? More generally, do solutions to complex problems always need to be complicated, or can they sometimes be simple?

Top AI news

1. AI-Generated Phishing Emails Increasingly Target Corporate Executives
The article discusses the rise of AI-generated phishing emails targeting corporate executives. These sophisticated scams utilize AI to analyze online profiles, gathering personal information to create highly personalized and convincing fraudulent emails. Companies like Beazley and eBay have noted an increase in such malicious emails, indicating that AI is facilitating advanced cybercrimes. Cybersecurity experts warn that the accessibility of AI tools lowers the barrier for cybercriminals, enabling them to produce more elaborate and targeted phishing attacks at scale. This technological development presents significant security challenges, necessitating increased vigilance and enhanced protective measures to counter these emerging threats.

2. Science's Security Dilemma Amid China's Rise
Nations are tightening research security as China's scientific dominance grows, challenging the balance between open collaboration and national interests. The article discusses the increasing tension between scientific openness and national security, intensified by China's rise in research output. Since 2013, China has been the top scientific collaborator with the U.S., producing about 25% of global scientific articles by 2023, surpassing the U.S. This advancement has led countries like the U.S., Canada, Japan, and the EU to enhance security measures to protect sensitive research. However, these restrictions may hinder international collaboration, crucial for scientific progress. The article emphasizes the need to balance national interests with scientific openness, acknowledging challenges posed by techno-nationalism policies and security concerns.

3. Apheris Introduces Federated Computing for Life Sciences AI
Apheris, a Berlin-based startup, addresses data access challenges in life sciences with its federated computing platform. This technology allows multiple organizations to collaborate on AI projects without directly sharing sensitive data, maintaining privacy and security. By facilitating data access while adhering to strict regulations, Apheris aims to accelerate advancements in life sciences, particularly in biomedical and pharmaceutical research. The startup has recently secured funding to further develop its platform and expand its market presence.

Bonus. Meta Releases HOT3D Dataset for Advanced Computer Vision Research
HOT3D, developed by Meta, is a comprehensive dataset designed for benchmarking egocentric 3D hand and object tracking. It comprises 833 minutes of synchronized multi-view recordings featuring 19 subjects interacting with 33 diverse rigid objects across various everyday scenarios, including kitchen, office, and living room settings. Captured using Meta's Project Aria and Quest 3 devices, the dataset provides accurate 3D ground-truth annotations for hands and objects, with hand data available in UmeTrack and MANO formats. High-fidelity 3D object models with detailed geometry and PBR materials are also included, facilitating advanced research in hand-object interaction.

Meme of the Day

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Theme of the Week

Meeting Productivity - Startup review
Discover Granola, an AI-powered notepad combining real-time transcriptions with user-inputted notes. Designed for teams and leaders, it offers privacy-first functionality, Slack integrations, and customizable templates. Simplify your meetings today!

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