We’re only a ‘few years’ away from human-like AI, says Google DeepMind chief

Plus: ESA backs nuclear-powered rockets for deep space exploration and moon settlements [Blueprint]( Sponsored by Just as we're getting used to having ChatGPT in our lives, Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) may become a reality in the near future. A majority of computer scientists questioned in a recent study believe it is already here. In today's Must Read, Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google's DeepMind, is more cautious but says AGI might be developed “within a decade.” We've more on that story below. But first, here’s [your video of the day](. Good morning. I’m Tim, an Editor at IE. This is The Blueprint. What's new today? Last Sunday, Blueprint subscribers learned about the role of seismic isolation in protecting people and property during earthquakes. Don't miss out — [subscribe to IE+]( today to recei ve exclusive interviews, features, and much more. VIDEO OF THE DAY [Carl Gustaf MAAWS]( [The mighty Carl Gustaf MAAWS: A king among weapons]( The Multi-Role Anti-Armor Anti-Personnel Weapon System (MAAWS) is favored by U.S. soldiers for its user-friendliness, precision, and versatility against various targets. MUST READ [AGI]( [‘Few years’ away from human-like AI: Google Chief makes startling revelation]( Artificial general intelligence (AGI), machine intelligence that can comprehend and act in the world as humans do, is closer than ever, according to startling revelations by Google's DeepMind chief. Demis Hassabis says AGI might be developed "within a decade," and he thinks we’ll have ”very capable, very general systems in the next few years," adding that the progress in the last few years has been phenomenal. However, experts are still concerned that AGI could seriously harm society if not controlled and guided by human values. In a study done by Stanford University last month, 56% of computer scientists and AI researchers claimed that AGI is already here. [Read More]( INNOVATION ESA gears up to build nuclear-powered rockets for deep space exploration and moon settlements Nuclear rockets are a game-changing technology that could propel missions into deep space to the Moon and beyond. The European Space Agency (ESA) recently announced that it will fund several scientific studies to test the use of nuclear propulsion, giving scientists and engineers around 11 months to develop potential scientific studies involving nuclear rockets. [Read More]( THE SPONSOR OF THE DAY [SentryPC]( [Risks to kids online are growing. How do you make sure they don’t consume unwanted content?]( The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic saw a rise in the number of kids being exposed to the vast world of the internet. While it was predominantly for educational purposes, the possibility of kids being exposed to obscene content also grew rapidly. Since then, parental control has gained paramount importance to ensure kids don’t consume wrong content. With SentryPC, you can track and monitor all online activity, from website visits and social media usage to email and chat conversations. You can also set custom filters to block inappropriate content and control screen time limits to ensure a healthy and balanced digital lifestyle. [Get SentryPC]( now and mak e sure obscene and unwanted content doesn’t find its way onto your child’s mobile feed. [LEARN MORE]( SCIENCE Gigantic ice deserts full of black algae are making the ice melt faster A team of Danish researchers recently assessed the activity and diversity of microbes living on glacial surfaces in Iceland and Greenland. Far from being devoid of life, they found melt-water on a glacier can easily have 4,000 different species living in it. This included a black algae formation, which darkens the ice and makes it more susceptible to melting in sunlight. [Read More]( CULTURE Bing it on! Microsoft's AI-powered search engine now open to all Microsoft has just announced that it is opening up its new AI-powered Bing search engine to all users. This comes after months of testing and tweaking the system, which is powered by the OpenAI’s ChatGPT. And there's no waitlist — if you're signed into the search engine via Microsoft’s Edge browser, you're good to go. Bing now gets more than 100 million daily active users, which is a significant increase on a few months ago. [Read More]( MAIL & MUSINGS A Stanford University study found that 56% of computer scientists and AI researchers believe Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is now a reality. Is it? [No, not yet]( [Yes, AGI is here]( [It will never happen]( [We need to be careful]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Only 4% of you said workplace bans on ChatGPT are a bad idea. Over 70% said it was inevitable. 71% Yes, inevitably 19% Hard to enforce 7% Wait, let me ask ChatGPT... 4% No, bad move QUOTE OF THE DAY As AI becomes more deeply integrated into the world, we're going to need more general intelligence. Demis Hassabis [7 Best portable air conditioners]( THINGS WE LOVE [Ruixinda Magnetic Levitating Speaker]( [Hoover PowerScrub XL Pet Carpet Cleaner]( [Intex Challenger Kayak]( [Dometic FreshJet 3 Air Conditioner]( AND ANOTHER THING - [Mobile signals could reveal our presence to aliens]( finds study - EVolution in India: [What lies ahead for the electric vehicle market?]( [premium] - Toast-worthy discovery: [Scientists uncover the mystery of Champagne bubbles]( - [Smart automation and AI, enhancing battery manufacturing in the US]( [premium] - [‘Einstein’ telescope high on Europe’s astronomy wish list]( (Nature) - [World’s first mid-infrared solar facility]( gears up for trial stage in China [Subscribe to IE+]( [About Us]( [Advertise]( [Contact Us]( © Copyright 2023 | The Blueprint is by Interesting Engineering, Inc. 205 Hudson St New York, NY, 10013, USA | All Rights Reserved You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to our newsletter. 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