The Sunday Brew #67
In this brew - US Bank Failures in a picture | The KISS Principle & Epistemic Luck | US on Moon after 50 years, Google suspends Gemini Image Generation and Nvidia crosses $2T
Welcome to The Sunday Brew, weekly 1-2-3 newsletter by The Percolator. Every Sunday we drop in your inbox 1 story in a picture, 2 concepts, ideas or frameworks to expand your horizons and 3 news from the week, to keep you updated.
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ONE STORY IN A PICTURE
TWO IDEAS, FRAMEWORKS OR CONCEPTS
This week we bring to you two concepts - The KISS Principle & Epistemic Luck
The KISS Principle
The KISS Principle, often referred to as "Keep It Simple, Stupid," is a design and programming philosophy that suggests simplicity should be a key goal and unnecessary complexity should be avoided.
The principle encourages avoiding unnecessary features, functions, or steps in a design or solution and promotes simplicity and clarity. The origin of the term is attributed to Kelly Johnson, a lead engineer at Lockheed Skunk Works, who coined it as part of his approach to aircraft design. The idea is that simplicity not only makes systems easier to understand and maintain but also reduces the likelihood of errors and improves overall efficiency.
In various fields, including software development, engineering, and business, the KISS Principle is often invoked to remind practitioners that straightforward, uncomplicated solutions are generally more robust and user-friendly than complex ones. The principle emphasizes that simplicity should be a guiding principle in problem-solving and design processes.
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Epistemic Luck
Epistemic luck is a concept in epistemology, the branch of philosophy that deals with knowledge, belief, and justification.
It refers to the idea that the reliability or truthfulness of a person's beliefs can sometimes depend on factors that are beyond their control, and therefore, their knowledge is partially a matter of luck.
Epistemic luck challenges the traditional idea that knowledge is solely a product of justified true belief. It highlights the role of external, uncontrollable factors that can influence whether a belief turns out to be true or false, even if the person holding the belief is sincere and has evidence.
Philosophers engage in discussions about epistemic luck to explore the nature and limits of human knowledge and the conditions under which beliefs can be considered genuinely justified.
THREE NEWS FROM THE WEEK
Private Enterprise Makes History: US Lands on the Moon Again After 50 Years
On February 23, 2024, a new chapter in human lunar exploration opened. Intuitive Machines, a private spaceflight company, successfully landed its spacecraft, Odysseus, near the moon's south pole. This marked a historic achievement - the first U.S. moon landing since the Apollo missions concluded in 1972, over five decades ago.
This monumental feat signifies a pivotal shift in lunar exploration, where private companies are increasingly playing a vital role alongside national space agencies. Odysseus's landing was made possible through NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, showcasing the potential of public-private partnerships in advancing space exploration. Read More »»»
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Google Temporarily Suspends Gemini AI's Image Generation Amidst Criticisms and Bias Concerns
Google has temporarily suspended the functionality of its Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) responsible for generating images of people. This decision comes in the wake of criticisms and concerns raised about inaccuracies and potential biases in Gemini's image generation, particularly when applied to historical contexts. Users and critics highlighted instances where Gemini produced images that deviated from historical accuracy, such as depicting people of colour in settings where they wouldn't have been present. This raised concerns about the perpetuation of stereotypes stemming from biases in the AI's training data.
The controversy escalated with specific examples, including the creation of racially diverse images in historically white-dominated scenes. This led to accusations of over-correction for racial bias, with instances like generating images of racially diverse Nazis and other historically inaccurate depictions. These incidents triggered significant backlash on social media and within certain communities. Google acknowledged these issues, expressing that while Gemini's intention to produce diverse outputs was positive, the execution "missed the mark" in certain historical portrayals. Read More »»»
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Nvidia Stock Soars, Briefly Touching $2 Trillion Mark on AI Chip Demand
Nvidia Corporation made headlines this week with its stock price skyrocketing, fuelled by booming demand for its AI chips. While the stock ultimately closed Friday at $1.97 trillion, it briefly touched a record high of $845.88 during intraday trading, pushing its market capitalization above the coveted $2 trillion mark.
This near-historic achievement comes after Nvidia's impressive earnings report and optimistic outlook, both heavily influenced by strong AI spending from key customers. The day started with the stock opening at $807.90, translating to a $2.02 trillion market value. However, by the closing bell, it had retreated slightly, falling short of crossing the $2 trillion barrier on a sustained basis.
Despite this, the temporary climb above $2 trillion is a significant milestone, reaching this peak in less than nine months after breaking the $1 trillion mark. This remarkable growth can be attributed to the surging demand for Nvidia's graphics processors, which are essential components for various AI applications. Read More»»»
The Sunday Brew by The Percolator brings to you curated news on tech, business & entrepreneurship, from across the internet to give your week a perfect start.
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