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Researchers have not only built an AI child, but are now training AI using headcam footage from a human baby as well.

In a press release, New York University announced that its data science researchers had strapped a camera to the head of a real, live, human toddler for 18 months to see how much an AI model could learn from it.

Most large language models (LLMs), like OpenAI’s GPT-4 and its competitors, are trained on “astronomical amounts of language input” that are many times larger than what infants receive when learning to speak a language during the first years of their lives.

Californian students from the Art Center College had to imagine four concepts of cars of the future for Lincoln, by 2040. One of them, a four-seater sedan, was entitled to the realization of its 1:1 scale model, presented during Monterey Car Week, completed this weekend. Connected, autonomous, shared (“shared”), and electric, as suggested by the acronym “CASE” used by Ford’s luxury brand, which is found in this sedan called “Anniversary”

Facial recognition is a technology that can identify or verify a person’s identity based on their face. It can be used for various purposes, such as unlocking smartphones, verifying identities at airports, or finding missing persons. However, facial recognition also seriously threatens personal privacy, as it can be used to track, monitor, or profile people without their consent or knowledge. For example, some governments or companies may use facial recognition to spy on citizens, customers, or competitors or to collect and sell their data.

How can we prevent facial recognition from invading our privacy?

To protect our facial privacy, some researchers have proposed different methods to prevent facial recognition from working. These methods, collectively called anti-facial recognition (AFR), aim to hide, distort, or replace the faces in images or videos. For instance, some AFR methods use masks, makeup, glasses, or hats to cover or alter facial features. Other AFR methods use software to blur, pixelate, or swap the faces in digital media.

Saskatchewan’s capital city is moving forward with plans to electrify its Regina Transit fleet, signing a five-year contract with Nova Bus to acquire 53 battery electric city buses.

A subsidiary of the Volvo Group based in Quebec, Nova Bus manufactures long-range electric bus options with absolutely massive battery packs — up to 564 kWh on its biggest models, with the option of DC fast-charging or charging through overhead wires.

The first installment of its larger order will see seven of its LFSe+ 40-foot, long-range buses delivered to the City of Regina early in 2025 at a cost of $10.8 million (Canadian). The city will follow that with 13 more buses later in 2025 at a cost of $22.4 million, with an additional $21.2 million set to be spent on facility upgrades and infrastructure to support the electric buses.

After topping Tesla in the final three months of 2023, BYD is starting the year off strong with EV sales rising another 50% in January.

BYD sold 105,304 fully electric cars last month, up 48% from the 71,338 handed over last year. Production was also up significantly, with 114,365 EVs built last month, up 64% YOY.

Interestingly, BYD’s all-electric vehicles are beginning to outpace its plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). BYD’s PHEV sales were up 21% to 95,715 last month. Production was only up 9% to 90,749 units.