'Deepfake' scam in China raises concerns of AI-powered fraud

Plus: This woman who has never felt pain or experienced significant anxiety or fear, and now we know why Sponsored by Don’t miss our [free Engineering Careers Webinar today]( it only takes a moment to register. There are many concerns about the rapid development of AI, including total domination over the human race, the loss of millions of jobs, and the rise of autonomous weapons. Governments are scrambling to [impose laws and limits]( to meet the threat. However, recent news out of China highlights AI’s potential to wreak chaos on everyday human interactions: ‘Deepfake’ technology allowed a scammer to trick money out of the victim by [imitating a trusted friend]( a video call. We have the full story in our Must Read, below. Also in today’s Blueprint: The woman who [feels no pain]( , a unique [aerial-aquatic drone]( plus [your video of the day]( . Good morning. I’m Tim, an Editor at IE. This is The Blueprint. Let’s make a start. Last Sunday, Blueprint subscribers learned how new laser imaging techniques are revealing the secrets of early life. Don't miss out — [subscribe to IE+]( today to receive exclusive interviews, features, and much more. VIDEO OF THE DAY [pump action shotguns]( [Simple and very effective: How pump action shotguns work?]( Today, we embark on a journey to explore the power and history of this remarkable firearm, tracing its roots back to 1854 and delving into its evolution over time. MUST READ [‘Deepfake’ scam]( [‘Deepfake’ scam in China raises concerns of AI-powered fraud]( A recent scam in China involving ‘deepfake’ technology has sparked concerns about the potential misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) in fraudulent activities. The scam, which involved a man being duped into transferring 4.3 million yuan ($622,000) to a scammer impersonating his friend via a video call, has led to widespread discussions about the threat to online privacy and security posed by AI. Despite new rules which place stricter curbs on manipulating voice and facial data in China, the incident shows that scammers are still able to exploit the technology. The incident raises questions about the effectiveness of information security rules in keeping up with rapidly advancing technologies. For example, last year, a report from the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) showed that individuals were using the technology to act like someone else and grab remote work positions. [Read More]( [Engineering Careers Webinar]( TRANSPORTATION This battery offers a range of 621 miles, mass production expected in 2024 Could this be the cure for range anxiety? Gotion High Tech has announced its new L600 lithium-manganese-iron-phosphate (LMFP) Astroinno battery that can provide class-leading efficiency figures, with a range of 621 miles (1,000 kilometers) on a single charge. According to the company, the batteries have passed all necessary safety testing checks, and their mass production is set to begin in 2024. [Read More]( THE SPONSOR OF THE DAY [Coursera]( [Data is the new oil. Are you leveraging it already?]( If you’re bored of working as a professional in your current field, well, you aren’t the only one. Thousands of professionals have experienced monotony in their careers, and hence, a switch is necessary to transition to an exciting life once again. However, you need to consider two factors before choosing a field of specialization - your interest in a particular field and the future scope that field offers in terms of monetary compensation. Data science remains the top tech career with an expected growth rate of 36% between 2021 to 2031. Already touted as the most exciting career to get into in the 21st century, it presents a lucrative opportunity, with the median pay being north of [$100,000 per year]( . If you live by coding, can’t do without math, and love staying inside spreadsheets all day long, [join Coursera Plus]( to get access to specialized data science courses from bigwigs like Google, IBM, and more. [LEARN MORE]( INNOVATION Unique ‘aerial-aquatic hybrid drone’ could one day assist search-and-rescue operations Chinese researchers have unveiled the creation of a one-of-a-kind “aerial-aquatic hybrid drone” capable of performing a wide range of tasks. Named TJ-FlyingFish, it is a hybrid drone that can both fly and dive underwater. The autonomous drone is powered by four rotor arms, each outfitted with a motor or propeller module. Designed to travel up to 10 feet deep into the sea while moving at two meters per second, it can also stay submerged for nearly 40 minutes and hover in the air for six minutes per battery charge. [Read More]( HEALTH This Scottish woman has never felt pain or experienced significant anxiety or fear, and now we know why Jo Cameron was discovered in 2019 to never have experienced pain, significant anxiety, or fear. Now a newly published study in the journal Brain details the molecular mechanism behind Cameron's extraordinary pain insensitivity. Probably the most remarkable thing about the genes responsible is that they are found in the 98% of human DNA that is noncoding, often referred to as ‘junk’ DNA. [Read More]( MAIL & MUSINGS Are you worried about falling prey to scammers using artificial intelligence tools? [Yes, it's a minefield]( [No, I'm pretty savvy]( [I'm concerned for others]( [Justice will prevail]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS While 18 percent of you are certain about having seen a UFO, 58 percent have never encountered one, 58% No, never 21% Possibly, I'm not sure 18% Yes, I'm certain 3% I know someone who has QUOTE OF THE DAY It was just strange, but I didn't have pain. It was quite enjoyable really Jo Cameron, recalling her experience of childbirth [Interesting Engineering]( THINGS WE LOVE [Licorne Solar Power Bank]( [Futuristic Modern Contemporary Desk Lamp]( [Dangtop Cooling Blanket]( [Soundcore Noise Cancelling Headphones]( AND ANOTHER THING - Crypto regulation: [Watchdog proposes the first set of rules for the sector]( - Capturing [final act of photosynthesis]( offers milestone for clean energy [premium] - [This new water purification powder uses sunlight to clean water]( - EVolution in India: [What lies ahead for the electric vehicle market?]( [premium] - Watch [SpaceX Raptor engine fire plasma beam]( at water-cooled steel plate - SWOT: Expert reveals how radar tech will t[rack Earth's water pulse like never before]( [premium] - [Food delivery by drone is just part of daily life in Shenzhen]( (MIT Technology Review) [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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