Day: July 23, 2021

Categories
Space Force

Space Force has high hopes for new missile warning satellites |National Defense Magazine

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To better identify opposing missiles and give higher resistance over counter-space weapons, the Space Force is developing a new generation of satellites and related base equipment. As the Pentagon strives to keep ahead of the growing threat, the Biden administration is increasing funds for the project. The legacy Space-Based Infrared System, or SBIRS, will be replaced by the Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared platform.  Authorities are slashing the project’s timeline by utilizing middle-tier purchase powers and quick prototyping. In 2025, the Space Force plans to launch the first Next-Gen OPIR satellite, with all five Block 0 satellites in orbit by 2030. According to Pentagon annual report, the new space infrastructure will “enhance missile warning, defense systems, battlespace monitoring, and technical information gathering.” 

Source: https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/7/16/space-force-has-high-hopes-for-new-missile-warning-satellites 

Categories
Robots

The five laws of robotic software automation | Diginomica

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While industrial robots build automobiles and integrated circuits, autonomous machines monitor oil rigs, and industrial robots have limited applications, the majority of robots nowadays are software – lines of code rather than squads of shape-shifting metalheads armed with guns. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning features in “digital employees” eliminate tedious jobs, giving humans more time to empathize with clients. The essential point is that people are considerably more likely to use bots to hurt other individuals than bots themselves are to go on a spree.  Hypothetical scenarios? Unfortunately, not, according to Oded Karev, Head of RPA at automation software firm NICE. Karev has created a Robo-Ethical Framework, which consists of five new “rules” for the era of software robots.  Such laws include designing robots for positive impact, disregarding group entities, and the like. 

Source: https://diginomica.com/five-laws-robotic-software-automation 

Categories
Machine Learning

Causal learning vs. deep learning: on a fatal flaw in machine learning | BBN Times

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Data patterns are extracted as quantitative measurements from raw data, structured or unstructured, using standard machine and deep learning methods. This is applicable for both basic algorithms such as logistic regression and more complex algorithms such as neural networks, which may understand deeper patterns from inputs. But there’s a big BUT, and it’s a catastrophic fault in the entire scheme. Machine learning methods, deep learning algorithms, and deep neural networks used in today’s AI can’t detect causality, its components and frameworks, operations and procedures, laws and connections, data and models, and everything else that makes up our world. 

Source: https://www.bbntimes.com/technology/causal-learning-vs-deep-learning-on-a-fatal-flaw-in-machine-learning 

Categories
Information Warfare

The information technology counter-revolution: cheap, disposable, and decentralized | War on the Rocks

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Three decades ago, a group of defense experts predicted the information revolution would change military capabilities forever. They were correct. However, three decades later, it is time for the US military to focus on the future rather than trying to dominate 1990s-era information warfare. According to information technology revolution in military affairs (IT-RMA) enthusiasts, sensor systems, data processing centers, and digital communication would give America the speed and decision-making advantage it needs. However, the US military never completely fulfilled the IT-RMA, and the revolution-reaction loop has since moved on. It would be a catastrophe for the US just to strengthen its commitment to integrate the IT-RMA fully. Instead, if the US wants to reclaim its military superiority in the post-IT-RMA era, it will require a new paradigm of success. With this in mind, the military should concentrate on constructing decentralized systems, investing in strategies that reduce the economic cost of conflict. 

Source: https://warontherocks.com/2021/07/the-information-technology-counter-revolution-cheap-disposable-and-decentralized/ 

Categories
Gaming

China’s Tencent agrees to buy UK video games firm Sumo for more than £900m | The Guardian

Tencent has agreed to purchase the British video game developer Sumo Group for more than £900 million, bolstering the Chinese internet giant’s position in the worldwide video game industry. Sumo’s board of directors has approved Tencent’s offer of 513p per share, valuing the London-listed firm at £919 million, the firm reported on Monday. The offer constituted a 43 percent premium over Sumo’s Friday closing share price of 358p, before the agreement was revealed, and was also much more than the company’s all-time high of 407p. On Monday, the stock jumped by 40% to 499p. Tencent, which owns the Weixin/WeChat social networking platform, is one of the world’s most powerful corporations. 

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/jul/19/china-tencent-uk-video-games-developer-sumo