The efficiency of a system is its ability to produce a certain amount of output per unit of input. Its resilience is its ability to withstand extreme variations in the conditions under which it must function. These two parameters are in a dynamic relationship, often requiring a tradeoff: maximizing the efficiency results in a brittle […]
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Between 2012 and 2018 the power of the infrastructure available for applications in artificial intelligence increased over three hundred thousand times. If it followed Moore’s law, it would have been much less, around 7 times or so. Stanford University in its 2019 report on AI, and in a blog post OpenAI analyzed and illustrated this
What is the cosmic origin of the elements in the human body? We know we are made of stars. But what kind of stars? You are made of elements that have been forged in exploding massive stars, in slowly dying low-mass stars, but also exploding white dwarfs, and merging neutron stars. On top of all
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Data visualization improves our ability to tell powerful stories about our understanding of the world. Modern tools become platforms for dynamic exploration, allowing anybody to ask novel questions. The best, like Gapminder or Our World In Data, support a strong argument of how fundamentally the human condition has improved worldwide, and effectively counter the daily
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It has been decided only by a slim majority of the voters, but the fact that Brexit can happen peacefully, within the framework of the EU’s agreements, is itself a triumph. Nation States are under the simultaneous forces of amalgamation from above, and of decentralization from below. They are resisting, but can’t efficiently resort to
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The data we create in our activities, online and offline, constitutes a digital wealth, which we own and which we must preserve. Backing up this data is essential, and being able to use it after restoring it. Online services are now legally obliged to allow you to download your data, and many, like Facebook, Google,
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I recently visited the country of Andorra, which is a microstate between Spain and France. Through its thousand years history of being independent, Andorra has learned how to navigate complex and delicate situations. Fifty years ago it greatly increased its population and wealth, through finance commerce and tourism. Today it must face the challenge of
Just like organisms preserve their identity and attack the other, organizations have an immune system as well. Especially successful ones, which can devote even more resources to confirm that what they do is right. But in rapidly changing times, when uncertainty rules, this can prevent necessary experiments that discover what will define success in the
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Social networks are connecting over two billion people, soon hopefully all eight billion, and have changed the way we interact. We like to complain about them, but our positions are contradictory. We want connection limits to be lifted, but pretend that all the connections should be meaningful. Algorithmic newsfeeds appear arbitrary to us, but we
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Traveling to foreign countries, to experience their language and culture, the different ways of living, is accessible to an increasing number of people. My daughter Giordana is moving to Seoul, and I am with her to help her in the first steps along the road. Her adventures will be fascinating, she will make a lot
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