Latest news with #RenéDescartes
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
The unnerving future of AI-fueled video games
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills It sounds like a thought experiment conjured by René Descartes for the 21st citizens of a simulated city inside a video game based on "The Matrix" franchise were being awakened to a grim reality. Everything was fake, a player told them through a microphone, and they were simply lines of code meant to embellish a virtual world. Empowered by generative artificial intelligence like ChatGPT, the characters responded in panicked disbelief."What does that mean," said one woman in a grey sweater. "Am I real or not?"The unnerving demo, released two years ago by an Australian tech company named Replica Studios, showed both the potential power and the consequences of enhancing gameplay with artificial intelligence. The risk goes far beyond unsettling scenes inside a virtual world. As video game studios become more comfortable with outsourcing the jobs of voice actors, writers and others to artificial intelligence, what will become of the industry?At the pace the technology is improving, large tech companies such as Google Microsoft and Amazon are counting on their AI programs to revolutionise how games are made within the next few years."Everybody is trying to race toward AGI," said tech founder Kylan Gibbs, using an acronym for artificial generalised intelligence, which describes the turning point at which computers have the same cognitive abilities as humans. "There's this belief that once you do, you'll basically monopolise all other industries."In the earliest months after the rollout of ChatGPT in 2022, the conversation about artificial intelligence's role in gaming was largely about how it could help studios quickly generate concept art or write basic applications have accelerated quickly. This spring at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, thousands of eager professionals looking for employment opportunities were greeted with an eerie glimpse into the future of video from Google DeepMind, an artificial intelligence laboratory, lectured on a new program that might eventually replace human play testers with "autonomous agents" that can run through early builds of a game and discover developers hosted a demonstration of adaptive gameplay with an example of how artificial intelligence could study a short video and immediately generate level design and animations that would otherwise have taken hundreds of hours to executives behind the online gaming platform Roblox introduced Cube 3D, a generative AI model that could produce functional objects and environments from text descriptions in a matter of were not the solutions that developers were hoping to see after several years of extensive layoffs; another round of cuts in Microsoft's gaming division this month was a signal to some analysts that the company was shifting resources to artificial have suffered as expectations for hyperrealistic graphics turned even their bestselling games into financial losses. And some observers are worried that investing in AI programs with hopes of cutting overhead costs might actually be an expensive distraction from the industry's efficiency experts acknowledge that a takeover by artificial intelligence is coming for the video game industry within the next five years, and executives have already started preparing to restructure their companies in anticipation. After all, it was one of the first sectors to deploy AI programming in the 1980s, with the four ghosts who chase Pac-Man, each responding differently to the player's real-time movements. Sony did not respond to questions about the AI technology it is using for game Lee, a spokesperson for Microsoft, said, "Game creators will always be the centre of our overall AI efforts, and we empower our teams to decide on the use of generative AI that best supports their unique goals and vision."A spokesperson for Nintendo said the company did not have further comment beyond what one of its leaders, Shigeru Miyamoto, told The New York Times last year: "There is a lot of talk about AI, for example. When that happens, everyone starts to go in the same direction, but that is where Nintendo would rather go in a different direction."Over the past year, generative AI has shifted from a concept into a common tool within the industry, according to a survey released by organisers of the Game Developers Conference. A majority of respondents said their companies were using artificial intelligence, while an increasing number of developers expressed concern that it was contributing to job instability and all responses were negative. Some developers praised the ability to use AI programs to complete repetitive tasks like placing barrels throughout a virtual the impressive tech demos at the conference in late March, many developers admitted that their programs were still several years away from widespread use."There is a very big gap between prototypes and production," said Gibbs, who runs Inworld AI, a tech company that builds artificial intelligence programs for consumer applications in sectors such as gaming, health and learning. He appeared on a conference panel for Microsoft, where the company showed off its adaptive gameplay said large studios could face costs in the millions of dollars to upgrade their technology. Google, Microsoft and Amazon each hope to become the new backbone of the gaming sector by offering AI tools that would require studios to join their servers under expensive intelligence technology has developed so fast that it has surpassed Replica Studios, the team behind the tech demo based on the "Matrix" franchise. Replica went out of business this year because of the pace of competition from larger companies like chief technology officer, Eoin McCarthy, said that at the height of the demo's popularity, users were generating more than 100,000 lines of dialogue from nonplayer characters, or NPCs , which cost the startup about $1,000 per day to cost has fallen in recent years as the AI programs have improved, but he said that most developers were unaccustomed to these unbounded costs. There were also fears about how expensive it would be if NPCs started talking to one Replica announced it was ending the demo, McCarthy said, some players grew concerned about the fate of the NPCs. "'Were they going to continue to live or would they die?'" McCarthy recalled players asking. He would reply: "It is a technology demo. These people aren't real.
Borneo Post
05-07-2025
- Borneo Post
Beyond words: Sarawak's human touch in the age of AI
Photo shows one of the 'tempayan' on display at the Borneo Cultures Museum in Kuching – standing as a testament to an old legal system deeply embedded in the community's social and spiritual fabric, where the healing of the collective was paramount. AS a Singaporean, I had the immense privilege of speaking at the Sarawak Media Conference 2025 (SMEC2025) in Kuching earlier this week. It was my first time in Sarawak, and what an introduction! With artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly transforming industries, what truly struck me was how many speakers passionately articulated the critical importance of the 'human touch'. But what exactly defines this human touch? Will it really help you not be replaced by AI? My quest for an answer began after SMEC2025. It led me to the magnificent Borneo Cultures Museum, which offered a profound counterpoint through its powerful reminder of what could truly anchor us in the age of AI. Walking through its thoughtfully curated galleries, I found myself immersed in the defining traits of being human: survival, belonging, storytelling, and meaning-making. Amidst art and traditions deeply rooted in nature and indigenous wisdom, a powerful realisation dawned – AI is rooted in large language models, prompts and words. So what happens when we go beyond words? A long time ago, philosopher René Descartes famously declared: 'I think, therefore I am.' In this age of AI, however, machines 'think' with unprecedented speed and complexity. Gazing at the intricate patterns of a traditional weaving or the weathered tools of a hunter-gatherer, perhaps ancient humans operate more according to 'I feel, therefore I am.' Even more profoundly: 'I sense, therefore I am.' Our senses, our instincts, our shared cultural memory – these are the anchors that truly ground us amidst the rising tide of algorithms. So much, truly, goes beyond words. Human touch in everyday objects, ancient customs This 'human touch' manifests in myriad ways. It is often embedded in the very objects we create. In the museum, I witnessed how differences in values and statuses were woven into the very fabric of life. This was visible in the intricate designs of textiles, the storytelling of tattoos, and the powerful carvings on weapons. A master weaver, whose hands transformed threads into 'Pua Kumbu' with designs imbued with protective power and ancestral blessings, commanded immense respect. Similarly, the placement and motifs of traditional tattoos, like those of the Iban or Kayan, were more than mere decoration – they marked rites of passage, celebrated achievements like headhunting victories, offered spiritual protection, and clearly indicated a person's identity and social standing. Even the detailed wood carvings on a 'mandau' (Dayak sword) were not just aesthetic; they spoke of craftsmanship, spiritual connection, and the warrior's prowess. The museum also vividly brought to life the profound connection indigenous communities have with their natural environment. The hornbill, for instance, is a revered symbol across many Dayak cultures. Its majestic presence, often depicted in carvings, art and weapons, embodies courage, strength, and even represents the spiritual world and the connection between the human and divine. Witnessing these representations, you understand that so much of what these cultures value goes beyond literal words; it is felt and understood through shared symbols and deep-seated reverence. And speaking of the spiritual realm, the role of shamans in these societies is held in incredibly high regard. These spiritual healers and intermediaries between the human and spirit worlds embody another crucial aspect of the 'human touch' – our innate desire for meaning, healing, and connection to something larger than ourselves. Their rituals, their wisdom, and their ability to navigate unseen dimensions speak to a holistic understanding of well-being that transcends purely scientific or logical frameworks. Vases, justice, and peace-making What truly blew my mind, however, was discovering the fascinating and deeply resonant ways that disputes, even the grievous ones, were traditionally resolved. Imagine a world where a murder, or even a deeply cutting insult like calling someone a 'slave', could be settled not with incarceration or drawn-out legal battles, but with the ceremonial ceding of an exquisite vase. It's quite mind-bending, isn't it? These vases are often ancient 'tajau' – large, ornate ceramic jars, frequently of Chinese origin, that have been heirlooms for generations. In many indigenous customary laws, or 'adat', in Borneo, these 'tajau' held immense spiritual and material value, representing wealth, status, and connection to ancestral lines. For instance, a severe offence like murder might require the ceding of a 'Tempayan Menaga', a highly-prized and significant jar, as a form of restorative justice. And the profound act of reconciliation for a deeply cutting insult, like calling someone a 'slave' could be settled by presenting a 'Tempayan Rusa'. To think that such profound shame could be acknowledged, and peace made through the acceptance of a beautiful, yet symbolically heavy, vessel, is truly captivating. I imagined myself walking into a Sarawakian's home and seeing a 'Tempayan Rusa' as part of their collection, and instantly understanding the profound journey of shame and eventual peace that it represents for their family's history. The act of ceding such a prized possession as compensation was a powerful act of restorative justice – of being the bigger person acknowledging the harm, restoring balance to the community, and preventing prolonged feuds. This vase seems to serve as a public declaration of accountability and a tangible effort to mend broken relationships and spiritual equilibrium. It stands as a testament to a legal system deeply embedded in the community's social and spiritual fabric, where the healing of the collective was paramount. Grounding AI in ancient wisdom and local values This deep reverence for connection resonated profoundly with a point raised by another esteemed speaker, Datuk Suhaimi Sulaiman, as we were eating a second lunch of 'Laksa Sarawak' after the conference. Datuk Suhaimi is a really cool guy whom I want to be like when I am older. He spoke about ancient animistic beliefs in Sarawak, where people felt that a soul, or spiritual essence, resided in everything – even non-living objects. Beyond that, Datuk Suhaimi paired this concept with the idea of gratitude. If you believe that there's a soul in everything, and you express thanks for it, you naturally cultivate a more grateful outlook on life. Imagine applying this profound sense of gratitude and respect to AI itself. Instead of merely seeing AI as a tool, what if we imbued our creation and interactions with it with a similar reverence for its 'essence' and functionality? This attitude suggests that if we design and use AI systems with an inherent sense of gratitude for their capabilities, acknowledging their 'contributions' to our lives, we could foster a more harmonious and mutually beneficial relationship. It's strikingly similar to the Japanese concept of 'yaorozu no kami', the myriad gods or spirits in everything – extending respect not just to nature, but to all components of our existence, including technology. This deep parallel, connecting ancient wisdom with future technology, shows remarkable progress in line with what the Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg is advocating for. The writer (centre) in a group photo with some of the SMEC2025 participants: (from left) Ashley Pan from Borneo Talk; The Borneo Post chief reporter Churchill Edward, and its executive editor (business desk) Ronnie Teo; reporters Henrietta Liza (Utusan Borneo) and Jude Toyat (The Borneo Post); and Peter Sibon from Sarawak Public Communications Unit. Indeed, Sarawak's own emerging AI project, 'DeepSar' (DeepSeek Sarawak), conceptualised by Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari, mirrors this thoughtful approach. DeepSar is about building AI grounded in local wisdom, data sovereignty, and cultural relevance. This thoughtful approach reflects the very spirit that I encountered in the museum: an understanding that true progress is deeply connected to who we are, acknowledging the nuanced tapestry of human existence, including its historical expressions of justice, reverence for nature, and profound spiritual practices. I'm very optimistic about Sarawak's thoughtful approach to AI development, believing that it can lead to AI that is not just smart, but also 'wise' in a human sense. The museum did showcase human values brilliantly: status, power, money, and beauty. These are the persistent desires that, regardless of era or technological advancement, seem to echo through the human experience. It's a humbling reminder that even as our tools evolve, certain fundamental aspects of our striving remain constant. Shared threads, distinct hues: Singapore and Sarawak My journey through Sarawak revealed fascinating parallels and powerful nuances with my home, Singapore. Both are multi-ethnic societies. Both value progress. Both were part of Malaysia when it was established – Sarawak stayed, Singapore left. However, their approaches to diversity showcase a subtle, yet profound, difference. In Singapore, our success is often attributed to tolerance, a carefully cultivated harmony achieved through strong institutions, clear social boundaries, and mutual respect within a well-defined shared space. It is about respecting others and not giving offence. Sarawak, however, seems to embody something akin to 'letting people be themselves'. The vibes are more 'chill' here. Diversity feels like a more organic, deeply ingrained acceptance, perhaps forged over generations of coexistence. While Sarawak also values peace-making, its approach seems to allow for a freer expression of individual and group identities. There is a sense that people are less constrained by rigid social expectations, as long as it doesn't harm the collective peace. My gratitude to Sarawakians My time in Sarawak was a heartwarming experience. I received incredible hospitality. I got so many local handmade gifts too! From the moment I arrived, I was enveloped in such warmth. I lost count of the delicious Sarawakian butter cakes and the exquisite 'Kek Lapis' (Sarawak layered cakes) that I was offered after the conference – each slice a testament to the generosity and culinary delights of this state. As a Singaporean, I want to express my immense gratitude to Ali Suhaili, the chief executive officer of Angkatan Zaman Mansang Sarawak (AZAM). As a history buff, his insights over lunches and dinners truly inspired me to delve deeper into Sarawak's rich history, providing a lens through which to understand the profound cultural context shaping its future. And to the entire AZAM team, thank you for your boundless kindness and hospitality ranging from 'Kek Lapis' to the awfully sinful salted cheesecake worth every single calorie; you truly made this an unforgettable journey of learning and connection. Stepping into the Borneo Cultures Museum was a revelation, and I'm so grateful that I went there. With no prior context as an outsider to this vibrant culture, my visit held no nostalgia. However, the sheer brilliance of the curation spoke volumes. It powerfully impressed upon me the vital importance of preparing ourselves – and the next generation – to approach the age of AI with clarity, humility, and humanity. We truly do these by asking better questions, because ultimately, the most powerful innovations will not just be those that push the boundaries of what machines can do, but those that deepen our understanding of what it truly means to be human, in all its diverse, complex, and beautifully expressed forms, where so much is felt and understood beyond words. * Soh is the chief executive officer of AI Visionary Society Singapore, and one of the speakers for the just-concluded Sarawak Media Conference 2025 in Kuching.
TimesLIVE
05-07-2025
- Science
- TimesLIVE
We think, therefore we scroll
Once upon a time, a French chap named René Descartes was messing around with psychedelics and dug himself a hole. The problem was, he'd had a dream the previous evening. It was one of those hyperrealistic ones that your body reacts to as if it were really happening. Floating through the cosmos on a mushroom spaceship, he found himself asking the same question he had in his dream: 'Is this real? What is real?' The questions plagued him for days afterwards. He reached the conclusion that the only thing he could confirm with 100% certainty was that he existed. He thought, therefore he had to be. Everything else could be a dream, a simulation, or a decades-long acid trip. I have a sneaking suspicion that, as a society, we're reaching our Descartes moment..
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Can you choose to believe something, just like that?
Some years ago, I was in a lively conversation with a software developer about arguments for and against God's existence. After discussing their merits and shortcomings, he paused – perhaps a little impatiently – and said, 'You know, these arguments really don't matter that much. I choose to believe in God. Believing is so valuable for my life.' But is that how belief works – can you simply choose to believe? People can, of course, choose to read certain sources, spend time with certain groups, or reflect on a certain matter – all of which influence their beliefs. But all of these choices involve evidence of some kind. We often choose which evidence to expose ourselves to, but the evidence itself seems to be in the driver's seat in causing beliefs. For much of the past 2,000 years, philosophers would have been perfectly comfortable with the software developer's claim that belief is a matter of choice. A long line of distinguished thinkers – from the Stoic philosopher Epictetus and Saint Augustine of Hippo to French rationalist René Descartes and early feminist Mary Astell have held that people can exercise at least some control over their beliefs. Over the past half-century, however, 'doxastic voluntarism' – the idea that belief is under the control of the will – has been widely rejected. Most current philosophers don't think people can immediately believe something 'just like that,' simply because they want to. What beliefs someone ends up having are determined by the people and environments they are exposed to – from beliefs about a deity to beliefs about the solar system. As a philosophy professor myself, I've dedicated years of reflection to this issue. I've come to think both camps get something right. Some philosophers think that the nature of belief itself ensures that people cannot just choose what to believe. They argue that beliefs have a 'truth-aim' built into them: that is, beliefs characteristically represent reality. And sadly, reality often does not obey our wishes and desires; we cannot just decide to think reality is a certain way. No matter how much I may want to be 6 feet, 8 inches tall, reality will faithfully imprint it upon my consciousness that I am 5'11" every time I glance in the mirror or make an appearance on the basketball court. Were I to resolve to believe that I am 6'8", I would quickly find that such resolutions are wholly ineffective. Or consider another example. If belief were truly voluntary, I would gladly relinquish my belief that climate change is afoot – imagine how less worried I'd be. But I cannot. The evidence, along with the widespread agreement among scientific authorities, has indelibly impressed upon my mind that climate change is part of reality. Regardless of whether I want to believe or not believe, bare desire isn't enough to make it happen. Beliefs seem largely outside of our direct control. But if that's true, some rather alarming consequences seem to follow. It seems we had better stop blaming people for their beliefs, no matter how far-fetched. Suppose I believe a dangerous falsehood: that Bill Gates used the COVID-19 vaccine to implant microchips in people, or that climate change is a hoax, or that the Holocaust is an elaborate fabrication. If belief is involuntary, it looks as though I am innocent of any wrongdoing. These beliefs just happened to me, so to speak. If beliefs are not voluntary, then they seem the spontaneous result of my being exposed to certain influences and ideas – including, in this case, conspiracy theory chat forums. Now, people can choose what influences they allow into their lives – to some extent. I can decide where to gather information about climate trends: a chat forum, the mainstream media, or the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. I can decide how much to reflect on what such sources tell me, along with their motivations. Almost all contemporary philosophers think that people can exert this type of voluntary control over their beliefs. But does that mean I am responsible for the beliefs I arrive at? Not necessarily. After all, which sources we decide to consult, and how we evaluate them, can also be shaped by our preexisting beliefs. I am not going to trust the U.N. climate panel's latest report if, say, I believe it is a part of a global conspiracy to curtail free markets – especially not if I had many similar beliefs drummed into me since childhood. It gets difficult to see how individuals could have any meaningful freedom over their beliefs, or any meaningful responsibility. Research has led me to think that things are a bit less grim – and a bit less black and white. Philosopher Elizabeth Jackson and I recently carried out a study, not yet published, involving more than 300 participants. We gave them brief summaries of several scenarios where it was unclear whether an individual had committed a crime. The evidence was ambiguous, but we asked participants whether they could choose to believe the individual was innocent 'just like that,' without having to gather evidence or think critically. Many people in the study said that they could do exactly this. It's possible they were mistaken. Still, several recent studies at the intersection of philosophy and psychology suggest people can control some of their beliefs, especially in situations where the evidence is ambiguous. And that describes many of the most important propositions people are forced to consider, from politics and careers to romance: Who is the best candidate? Which path should I pursue? Is she the one? So, it looks like we have some reason to think people are able to directly control their beliefs, after all. And if the evidence for God is similarly ambiguous, perhaps my software developer was right that he could decide to believe. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Mark Boespflug, Fort Lewis College Read more: What is love? A philosopher explains it's not a choice or a feeling − it's a practice Lincoln called for divided Americans to heed their 'better angels,' and politicians have invoked him ever since in crises − but for Abe, it was more than words Stoicism and spirituality: A philosopher explains how more Americans' search for meaning is turning them toward the classics Mark Boespflug receives funding from the John Templeton Foundation.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
THIS is the nutrient your brain's been secretly craving for sharper focus and better memory
René Descartes certainly aimed for a deeper understanding when he said, 'I think, therefore I am' (in Latin, "Cogito, ergo sum"). However, over the years, it has emerged to become one of the most ink-worthy phrases. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now And although we, as common beings, possibly cannot fathom the gravity of what the French philosopher and scientist meant by that phrase, we sure pay attention to thinking (sometimes, overthinking even). Thinking is one of the elementary parts of our cognitive health. Whether we want to understand something, learn from it, remember the same effectively, and make use of it in practical life – cognitive health is crucial for daily functioning, well-being, and maintaining independence. It directly impacts how we process information, make decisions, and interact with the world, ultimately influencing our quality of life. Turns out, there is one nutrient that is quite important for cognitive function , particularly during development and in older adults. It's Choline . Let's find out more about Choline. What is Choline? Choline is an essential nutrient that's required for normal bodily function and human health. Though your liver can make small amounts, you must obtain the majority through your diet. Choline is an organic, water-soluble compound. It is neither a vitamin nor a mineral. However, it is often grouped with the vitamin B complex due to its similarities. In fact, this nutrient affects several vital bodily functions. It impacts liver function, healthy brain development, muscle movement, your nervous system, and metabolism. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Is choline important for cognitive health? Choline plays a crucial role in the production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter vital for memory, learning, and mood regulation. have shown that adequate choline intake may reduce the risk of dementia and improve cognitive performance. Here's a more detailed explanation: Role in neurotransmitter production: Choline is a precursor for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is essential for nerve cell communication in the brain. Acetylcholine is involved in memory, learning, and overall cognitive function. Importance during development: In the perinatal stage, choline intake is crucial for optimal cognitive development and preventing neural tube defects. Cognitive function in adults and elderly people: have linked higher choline intake with better performance in some cognitive functions and a lower risk of dementia in adults and the elderly. Protection against cognitive decline: Adequate choline levels in the brain may help protect against age-related cognitive decline and certain types of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, by potentially preserving neurons and brain volume. What happens due to choline deficiency? Choline deficiency has been associated with liver and muscle damage and increases in homocysteine (a risk factor for heart disease) after a methionine load. Recent reports suggest that choline metabolism may also play a role in diabetes, cancer, and cystic fibrosis. One small in 57 adults found that 77% of men, 80% of postmenopausal women, and 44% of premenopausal women experienced liver and/or muscle damage after going on a choline-deficient diet. Another noted that when postmenopausal women consumed a diet deficient in choline, 73% developed liver or muscle damage. Which foods are a good source of choline? Good sources of choline include animal products like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy, as well as some plant-based options like beans, nuts, and cruciferous vegetables. Specific foods rich in choline include: Organ meats: Beef liver, chicken liver Fish: Salmon, cod, shrimp Eggs: Especially the yolk Dairy: Milk, yogurt, cheese Cruciferous vegetables: Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower Legumes: Kidney beans, black beans, soybeans Nuts and seeds: Almonds, peanuts, soybeans Grains: Wheat germ, quinoa While some choline-rich foods like liver and egg yolks are higher in saturated fat, others like salmon, chicken breast, and legumes are lower in saturated fat and still provide choline. Mediterranean diet may be the key to 'healthy ageing'
