All posts tagged: source

The open source advantage: Faster bugs, better builds, wider buy-in

The open source advantage: Faster bugs, better builds, wider buy-in

Published by skeptic

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More Software companies have a lot of decisions to make as they move through the stages of building a thriving business. Among the many issues to debate is whether or not to open source their technology. It’s a big decision, and the licensing around open source receives a lot of attention in tech circles.  Part of the issue is that open source comes with a lot of strong opinions. Whenever a large company decides to restrict its license, even if it’s for valid reasons, they can receive a lot of backlash (as HashiCorp and Elastic learned in recent years). On the other hand, excellent tech that’s released as open source can quickly gather a lot of support from the open-source software (OSS) community.  It’s not easy for enterprises to decide which path to take. My company chose to release our cloud native security scanner, Kubescape, as open source through the Linux Foundation’s Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), …

Source Code—My Beginnings by Bill Gates—Book Review by TBE

Source Code—My Beginnings by Bill Gates—Book Review by TBE

Published by skeptic

In his deeply personal memoir “Source Code: My Beginnings,” Bill Gates takes readers on an intimate journey through his early years, offering unprecedented insight into the experiences, relationships, and circumstances that shaped one of the most transformative figures in modern history. Unlike his previous books that focused on technology and philanthropy (“The Road Ahead,” “Business @ the Speed of Thought,” “How to Avoid a Climate Disaster,” and “How to Prevent the Next Pandemic”), this memoir delves into the human story behind the tech titan. The Making of a Tech Pioneer Family Foundations Gates masterfully weaves together the influences of his upstanding and ambitious parents – Bill Sr., a respected Seattle attorney, and Mary, a civic leader who broke glass ceilings in banking and philanthropy. The portrait he paints of his grandmother “Gami” is particularly touching, showing how her mathematical mind and principled nature helped shape his own intellectual development through countless card games and life lessons. Early Signs of an Exceptional Mind The memoir excels at illustrating Gates’s unique cognitive makeup from an early age. …

Sam Altman admits OpenAI was ‘on the wrong side of history’ in open source debate

Sam Altman admits OpenAI was ‘on the wrong side of history’ in open source debate

Published by skeptic

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, made a striking admission on Friday that his company has been “on the wrong side of history” regarding open source AI, signaling a potential seismic shift in strategy as competition from China intensifies and efficient open models gain traction. The candid acknowledgment came during a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” session, just days after Chinese AI firm DeepSeek rattled global markets with its open source R1 model that claims comparable performance to OpenAI’s systems at a fraction of the cost. “Yes, we are discussing [releasing model weights],” Altman wrote. “I personally think we have been on the wrong side of history here and need to figure out a different open source strategy.” He noted that not everyone at OpenAI shares his view and it isn’t the company’s current highest priority. The statement represents a remarkable departure from OpenAI’s increasingly proprietary approach in recent years, which has drawn criticism from some AI researchers …

AI could help overcome the hurdles to making nuclear fusion a practical energy source

AI could help overcome the hurdles to making nuclear fusion a practical energy source

Published by skeptic

The pursuit of nuclear fusion as a clean, sustainable energy source represents one of the most challenging scientific and engineering goals of our time. Fusion promises nearly limitless energy without carbon emissions or long-living radioactive waste. However, achieving practical fusion energy requires overcoming significant challenges. These come from the heat generated by the fusion process, the radiation produced, the progressive damage to materials used in fusion devices and other engineering hurdles. Fusion systems operate under extreme physical conditions, generating data at scales that surpass the ability of humans to analyse. Nuclear fusion is the form of energy that powers the Sun. Existing nuclear energy relies on a process called fission, where a heavy chemical element is split to produce lighter ones. Fusion works by combining two light elements to make a heavier one. While physicists are able to initiate and sustain fusion for variable periods of time, getting more energy out of the process than the energy supplied to power the fusion device has been a challenge. This has so far prevented the commercialisation of …

ISIS Neutron and Muon Source: 40 years of research

ISIS Neutron and Muon Source: 40 years of research

Published by skeptic

From net zero to drug delivery, insights from neutron and muon experiments are helping to tackle some of the most pressing global challenges. The Innovation Platform spoke to Dr Roger Eccleston, Director of the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, to find out more. Materials – whether engineering components, pharmaceuticals or computer chips – are the building blocks of our physical world. More than that, they are critical in solving many challenges and improving lives for the global society. In examining materials down to the atomic level, researchers are gaining a better understanding of the world around us and insights to develop new and improved materials with transformational applications. Neutrons and muons are two important probes in the researcher’s toolbox that can explore materials in ways other techniques cannot. Owned and operated by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source in Oxfordshire is a world-leading centre for research in the physical and life sciences. Since 1984, the facility has enabled scientists to study materials at the atomic and molecular level …

Efficient Web Automation : Skyvern’s Advanced Open Source AI

Efficient Web Automation : Skyvern’s Advanced Open Source AI

Published by skeptic

Skyvern is fundamentally changing the way we approach web-based task automation through its innovative open-source AI framework. By offering a compelling alternative to proprietary systems like Anthropic’s Computer Use API, Skyvern uses advanced machine learning and computer vision technologies to enhance browser-based workflows. This platform grants you unprecedented flexibility and control, hallmarks of open-source solutions. Unlike proprietary systems that often lock you into rigid frameworks, Skyvern offers a refreshing alternative, empowering you with the freedom and flexibility to tailor its capabilities to your unique needs. By harnessing the power of advanced machine learning and computer vision, it promises to transform how you interact with browser-based workflows, making them more efficient and less time-consuming. Web Automation What sets Skyvern apart is its commitment to openness and community-driven innovation. As you explore its features, you’ll find a platform that not only adapts to your specific requirements but also evolves with the collective input of a global network of developers. This collaborative spirit ensures that Skyvern remains at the cutting edge of automation technology, constantly improving and expanding …

Open Source AI Has Founders—and the FTC—Buzzing

Open Source AI Has Founders—and the FTC—Buzzing

Published by skeptic

Many of yesterday’s talks were littered with the acronyms you’d expect from this assemblage of high-minded panelists: YC, FTC, AI, LLMs. But threaded throughout the conversations—foundational to them, you might say—was boosterism for open source AI. It was a stark left turn (or return, if you’re a Linux head) from the app-obsessed 2010s, when developers seemed happy to containerize their technologies and hand them over to bigger platforms for distribution. The event also happened just two days after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg declared that “open source AI is the path forward” and released Llama 3.1, the latest version of Meta’s own open source AI algorithm. As Zuckerberg put it in his announcement, some technologists no longer want to be “constrained by what Apple will let us build,” or encounter arbitrary rules and app fees. Open source AI also just happens to be the approach OpenAI is not using for its biggest GPTs, despite what the multibillion-dollar startup’s name might suggest. This means that at least part of the code is kept private, and OpenAI doesn’t …

OpenAI moves further away from open source AI

OpenAI moves further away from open source AI

Published by skeptic

OpenAI has released a new article explaining more about AI safety and “Reimagining secure infrastructure for advanced AI” calling for an evolution in infrastructure security to protect advanced AI. You can read the full article here but a summary is below, With plenty of evidence that OpenAI is moving away from open source AI models to a more closed source infrastructure.  The complete opposite of Meta’s Llama 3  large language models. Key Takeaways :Main areas discussed in the text regarding securing advanced AI systems: Mission and Importance of AI Security OpenAI’s mission is to ensure that AI benefits a wide range of sectors by building secure AI systems. AI is strategically significant and targeted by sophisticated cyber threats, necessitating robust defense strategies. Threat Model AI’s strategic value makes it a prime target for cyber threats, with an expectation of increasing threat intensity. Protection of Model Weights Model weights, resulting from the training process, are crucial assets needing protection due to their embodiment of the algorithms, data, and resources used. The online necessity for model weights …

Miami Dolphins Agree to Sign Odell Beckham Jr. to a 1-Year Contract, AP Source Says

Miami Dolphins Agree to Sign Odell Beckham Jr. to a 1-Year Contract, AP Source Says

Published by skeptic

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins agreed to sign wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to a one-year contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Friday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract was not finalized. NFL Network first reported the agreement, which is expected to be worth up to $8.25 million, the network reported. Beckham, 31, will join his fifth team after previously playing for the Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore, Cleveland, and the New York Giants, who drafted him 12th overall in 2014. He won a Super Bowl with the Rams during the 2021-22 season. Beckham is joining a Dolphins group with last year’s receiving yards leader Tyreek Hill and his speedy counterpart Jaylen Waddle. Hill and Waddle combined for more yards (2,813) than any other wide receiver duo in the NFL in 2023, but Miami had depth concerns at wide receiver beyond those two. Beckham, who had 35 catches for 565 yards and three touchdowns with Baltimore last season, was cut by the …

Britney Spears Wants to Reestablish Relationship With Her Sons and Other Family Members, Source Says

Britney Spears Wants to Reestablish Relationship With Her Sons and Other Family Members, Source Says

Published by Sam

When it comes to her fraught relationship with her family, Britney Spears wants to mend old wounds.  More than two years after the pop princess’ conservatorship was terminated and nearly a year since her ex, Sam Asghari, filed for divorce, a source tells ET Britney is looking to her closest personal relationships and, as her song goes, possibly break the ice.  “Britney wants to prioritize taking care of herself and reestablish a relationship with her family, including her kids,” a source tells ET. “This is a top priority of hers and she would love to heal things and get to a place where things can be healthy and consistent.” Adds the source, “Britney’s relationship with her mom is up and down, but ultimately she wants to work through their issues with the intention of moving forward in a positive way.” In May 2023, Britney confirmed she reconnected with her mom, Lynne, who visited her for the first time in three years, according to the singer.  Britney Spears appears with her sons, Sean and Jayden, and …