TikTok and AI are junk food — start dieting
A few weeks ago a widely circulated blog by an anonymous university professor featured the discouraging observation that 'most of our students are functionally illiterate'. 'This,' the writer added, 'is not a joke.'
Literacy, one might optimistically have assumed, is a basic consequence (or even cause) of a university education. But this is the age of universal, non-stop digital distraction. A similar report in the Atlantic magazine found that many undergraduates at even prestigious institutions are incapable of reading books all the way through (a complaint regularly echoed by acquaintances working in academia). And last week an investigation into students using ChatGPT to write their essays (the practice is now basically ubiquitous), published in New York magazine, quoted the opinion of one professor that 'massive
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BBC News
25 minutes ago
- BBC News
How dem make anti-venom from man wey snake bite 200 times
Di blood of one US man wey deliberately inject imsef wit snake venom for nearly twenty years don lead to "unparalleled" anti-venom, scientists tok. Antibodies find in Tim Friede blood don shown to protect against deadly doses from one wide range of species in animal tests. Current therapies gatz match di specific species of venomous snake wey bite anyone. But Oga Friede 18-year mission fit lead to ogbonge step of finding universal anti-venom against all snakebites - wey dey kill up to 140,000 pipo evri year and leave three times as many needing amputations or facing permanent disability. In total, Mr Friede don endure more dan 200 bites and more dan 700 injections of venom e prepare from some of di world deadliest snakes, including multiple species of mambas, cobras, taipans and kraits. E bin want build up im immunity to protect imsef wen e dey handle snakes, documenting im exploits on YouTube. But di former truck mechanic tok say e don "completely screw up" early on wen two cobra bites wey happun in quick succession leave am in coma. "I no wan die. I no wan lose one finger. I no wan miss work," e tell BBC. Oga Friede motivation na to develop beta therapies for di rest of di world, explaining: "E just become lifestyle and I just keep pushing and pushing and pushing as hard as I fit push - for di pipo wey dey 8,000 miles away from me wey don die from snakebite". 'I go love to get my hands on some of your blood' Currently dem dey make anti-venom by injecting small doses of snake venom into animals, such as horses. Dia immune system dey fight di venom by producing antibodies and dem go harvest am to use as therapy. But venom and anti-venom gatz dey closely matched becos di toxins for venomous bite no be di same from one species to anoda. Dem even get wide variety within di same species – anti-venom wey dem make from snakes from India dey less effective against di same species for Sri Lanka. One team of researchers begin dey search for one type of immune defence wey dem dey call broadly neutralising antibodies. Instead of targeting di part of toxin wey make am unique, dem dey target di part wey make am common to entire classes of toxin. Dat na wen Dr Jacob Glanville, chief executive of biotech company Centivax, come across Tim Friede. "Immediately I look say 'if anybody in di world don develop dis broadly neutralising antibodies, e go be am' and so I reach out," e tok. "Di first call, I be like 'dis fit dey awkward, but I go love get my hands on some of your blood'." Oga Friede agree and di work dey ethically approved becos di study go only take blood, rather dan give am more venom. Di research focus on elapids – one of di two families of venomous snakes – such as coral snakes, mambas, cobras, taipans and kraits. Elapids primarily use neurotoxins in dia venom, wey dey paralyse dia victim and e dey fatal wen dem stop di muscles e need to breathe. Researchers don pick 19 elapids identify by di World Health Organization as being among di deadliest snakes on di planet. Dem don begin to source for Oga Friede blood for protective defences. Dia work, dey detailed in di journal Cell, identify two broadly neutralising antibodies wey fit target two classes of neurotoxin. For experiments on mice, di cocktail mean say di animals bin survive deadly doses from 13 of di 19 species of venomous snake. Dem bin get partial protection against di remaining six. Dis na "unparalleled" breadth of protection, according to Dr Glanville, wey say e "likely cover a whole bunch of elapids for wey no get current anti-venom". Di team dey try to refine di antibodies further and see if adding fourth component fit lead to total protection against elapid snake venom. Di oda class of snake – di vipers – dey rely more on haemotoxins, wey dey attack di blood, rather dan neurotoxins. In total around one dozen broad classes of toxin in snake venom, wey also include cytotoxins dey directly kill cells. "I think in di next 10 or 15 years we go get somtin effective against each one of dis toxin classes," Prof Peter Kwong, one of di researchers for Columbia University, tok. And di hunt continue inside Oga Friede blood samples. "Tim antibodies dey really quite extraordinary - e bin teach im immune system to get dis veri, veri broad recognition," Prof Kwong tok. Di ultimate hope na to get either single anti-venom wey fit do evritin, or one injection for elapids and one for vipers. Prof Nick Casewell, na di head of di centre for snakebite research and interventions for di Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine - e tok say di breadth of protection report bin dey unusual and provide "strong piece of evidence" wey get feasible approach. "No doubt say dis work move di field forward in exciting direction." But e caution say "plenti work still dey to do" and di anti-venom still go need extensive testing bifor dem fit use am in pipo. But for Oga Friede, reaching dis stage "make me feel good". "I dey do somtin good for humanity and e bin dey veri important to me. I dey proud of am. E dey pretty cool."
Geeky Gadgets
40 minutes ago
- Geeky Gadgets
Your iPhone Just Got Smarter: 14 Powerful Apple Intelligence Shortcuts in iOS 26.
Apple's iOS 26 introduces a sophisticated suite of shortcuts powered by Apple Intelligence, combining on-device and cloud-based machine learning to deliver a seamless and efficient user experience. These tools are designed to enhance productivity, automate repetitive tasks, and simplify everyday workflows. Whether you're summarizing content, analyzing images, or working offline, these shortcuts demonstrate the practical potential of AI in improving daily activities. Unlike other AI tools such as ChatGPT, Apple Intelligence stands out with its faster processing, enhanced reliability, and extensive customization options. The video below from Stephen Robles gives us a look at these awesome Shortcuts in iOS 26. Watch this video on YouTube. Key Features of iOS 26 Shortcuts The iOS 26 shortcuts are designed to address a wide range of user needs, offering practical and innovative solutions for various tasks. Below are some of the most impactful features: Recipe Extraction: Automatically extract recipes from social media posts and organize them in Apple Notes for quick and easy access. Automatically extract recipes from social media posts and organize them in Apple Notes for quick and easy access. Visual Intelligence: Use image recognition to analyze photos, such as book pages or objects, and generate actionable insights. Use image recognition to analyze photos, such as book pages or objects, and generate actionable insights. RSS Feed Summaries: Summarize articles from RSS feeds with customizable prompts tailored to your preferences. Summarize articles from RSS feeds with customizable prompts tailored to your preferences. PDF Summarization: Extract and summarize content from PDFs using on-device models, making sure offline functionality and protecting your data privacy. Extract and summarize content from PDFs using on-device models, making sure offline functionality and protecting your data privacy. Book Notes: Capture photos of book pages, summarize key points, and organize them into structured notes for future reference. Capture photos of book pages, summarize key points, and organize them into structured notes for future reference. Weather Alerts: Set alarms and receive notifications based on specific weather conditions, such as high temperatures or storms. Set alarms and receive notifications based on specific weather conditions, such as high temperatures or storms. Movie Search: Search for movies, retrieve streaming options, and generate detailed notes with links, posters, and summaries. Search for movies, retrieve streaming options, and generate detailed notes with links, posters, and summaries. Sports Schedules: Parse team schedules from websites and display upcoming game details in an organized format. Parse team schedules from websites and display upcoming game details in an organized format. YouTube Content Creation: Generate optimized titles, descriptions, and tags for YouTube videos using AI-driven models to enhance visibility. Generate optimized titles, descriptions, and tags for YouTube videos using AI-driven models to enhance visibility. Daily Podcast Workflow: Summarize articles from RSS feeds to create podcast scripts and notes, streamlining content creation processes. Summarize articles from RSS feeds to create podcast scripts and notes, streamlining content creation processes. Brainstorming Tool: Convert dictated text into summarized notes, highlighting key points for quick and efficient reference. These features showcase the versatility of iOS 26 shortcuts, offering tools that cater to both personal and professional needs. Offline Functionality and Customization One of the standout aspects of Apple Intelligence in iOS 26 is its robust offline functionality. By using on-device machine learning models, tasks such as PDF summarization, recipe extraction, and image recognition can be performed without requiring an internet connection. This ensures faster processing, greater reliability, and enhanced data privacy, making it a practical solution for users who prioritize security and efficiency. In addition to offline capabilities, the shortcuts are highly customizable. Users can tailor workflows to suit their specific needs, whether it's adjusting prompts for RSS feed summaries or modifying automation steps for unique tasks. This flexibility enables users to create personalized solutions that align with their goals, allowing them to maximize the potential of these tools. How Apple Intelligence Compares to Other AI Tools When compared to other AI tools like ChatGPT, Apple Intelligence offers several distinct advantages. Its on-device models provide faster response times and eliminate the need for constant reliance on cloud services. For instance, tasks such as summarizing a PDF or extracting key points from a book page can be completed entirely offline, making sure uninterrupted functionality even in areas with limited connectivity. For more complex tasks, Apple Intelligence seamlessly integrates cloud-based models, offering a hybrid approach that balances speed, privacy, and flexibility. This dual capability allows users to choose the most effective method for their specific requirements. By combining the strengths of on-device and cloud-based processing, Apple Intelligence delivers a versatile and reliable toolset that caters to a variety of scenarios. Boosting Productivity with AI-Driven Shortcuts The iOS 26 shortcuts are designed to simplify complex tasks and improve efficiency across different user groups, making them valuable for content creators, students, and professionals alike. These tools not only save time but also reduce the cognitive load associated with repetitive tasks, allowing users to focus on more strategic or creative activities. For example: The YouTube content creation shortcut generates optimized titles, descriptions, and tags, saving time and improving the visibility of uploaded videos. generates optimized titles, descriptions, and tags, saving time and improving the visibility of uploaded videos. The podcast workflow automation tool transforms RSS feed summaries into ready-to-use scripts, streamlining the production process for podcasters. transforms RSS feed summaries into ready-to-use scripts, streamlining the production process for podcasters. The recipe extraction and book note features help organize information, making it easier to access and use later for personal or professional purposes. By automating these tasks, users can achieve greater productivity and focus on activities that require critical thinking or creativity. The shortcuts are designed to integrate seamlessly into daily routines, offering practical solutions that enhance both efficiency and convenience. Transforming Everyday Tasks with iOS 26 The iOS 26 Apple Intelligence shortcuts represent a significant step forward in AI-driven automation. From recipe extraction and PDF summarization to weather alerts and YouTube content optimization, these tools demonstrate the practical applications of machine learning in everyday life. With their robust offline functionality, faster processing, and customizable workflows, these shortcuts set a new standard for AI-powered productivity tools. Whether you're organizing notes, creating content, or staying informed, the iOS 26 shortcuts provide practical, user-friendly solutions tailored to your needs. By combining advanced technology with intuitive design, Apple Intelligence enables users to work smarter, not harder, in an increasingly fast-paced world. Expand your understanding of iOS 26 with additional resources from our extensive library of articles. Source & Image Credit: Stephen Robles Filed Under: Apple, Apple iPhone, Guides, Top News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
DOGE loses control of US federal grants website
The US DOGE Service, responsible for Elon Musk 's federal spending cut initiative, has reportedly lost access to a key government website. is a critical platform distributing approximately $500 billion in annual federal awards, making the loss a significant setback for the DOGE initiative. Earlier, DOGE had assumed control of the website, leading to a backlog of grant proposals and risking unspent funds by the fiscal year-end. Federal officials were recently instructed to cease routing grant proposals through DOGE following Musk's split from the Trump administration. The initiative has reportedly fallen significantly short of its $1 trillion savings target, achieving only about $180 billion, although the administration says DOGE's work will continue in a decentralized manner without Musk.
