The week's developments in AI, quantum, and biotech, explained | 18.10.23

If you’re enjoying this briefing, sign up here — and share it with a friend. Reading time: ~5 minutes

OpenAI is considering producing its own AI chips amidst ongoing compute shortages and escalating demand caused by generative AI. Meanwhile, University of Oxford researchers have successfully 3D printed stem cells replicating the intricate structure of the brain, which demonstrated remarkable compatibility when introduced into mice.

Europe is all set to witness its first exascale supercomputer, JUPITER, backed by France's Eviden and Germany's ParTec that promises over one quintillion calculations per second.

We cover these stories and more — from sustainable superconductors to AI gym gains — in the CogX Must Reads.

Charlie and the Research and Intelligence Team

P.S. Did you miss any speakers? The CogX Festival 2023 is now available on demand - watch our curated AI & DeepTech playlist for all the top sessions exploring biotech, quantum, and the future of AI on our YouTube channel now.

CogX Must Reads

Innovation and Releases

OpenAI developing its own chips

OpenAI is contemplating the development of its own AI chips amidst a severe chip shortage for AI training. Currently dependent on GPUs, the demand surge in generative AI has strained the GPU supply chain, making chip production costly and challenging. (TechCrunch)

EU’s first exascale supercomputer

France's Eviden and Germany's ParTec are building JUPITER, a €500 million project that will utilise SiPearl Rhea, Arm and Nvidia technologies. This supercomputer will be the first in Europe to achieve over one billion billion calculations per second, supporting intricate models to tackle issues like climate change and pandemics. (TNW) 

How gen-AI is inspiring EV battery development

US startup Aionics uses AI to expedite the discovery of advanced electrolyte materials for lithium-ion batteries, vital in EVs. Aionics employs AI-accelerated quantum mechanics to analyse a vast database of known molecules, evaluating 10,000 candidates per second, and incorporates generative AI for tailored molecule design. (TechCrunch)

Community Announcements

AI & DeepTech Speakers

Bloc Ventures is hosting an "Accelerating AI & Life Sciences Discovery" event in London on November 7 in collaboration with AMD, The Francis Crick Institute, and YellowDog. Join industry leaders, including Tim Robson (AMD) and Simon Ponsford (YellowDog), for enlightening discussions and networking. Attendees will benefit from a free 12-month YellowDog cloud computing licence, inclusive of expert consultancy. Secure your ticket now.

Aligned AI has made monumental strides in tackling misgeneralization in AI systems and surpassed the renowned CoinRun benchmark. Co-founder and CEO Rebecca Gorman remarked that this isn't just a transformative moment for AI, but for multiple industries. This leap promises enhanced safety and augmented capabilities, particularly impacting autonomous vehicles and robotics. Learn more at buildaligned.ai.

Want to feature your latest product release or research in our newsletter? Drop us a line today!

AI & DeepTech Subscribers

Our friends at Digital Catapult are hosting "Gen AI and LLMs in Focus: From Curiosity to Impact" tomorrow, Thursday 19 October. Delve into the world of generative AI and LLMs with industry experts, including Dr. Jeremy Silver (Digital Catapult) and Tania Duarte (We and AI). To network with pioneers and innovators in the field, register by the end of today.

Latest Research

3D printed stem cells for brain injuries

Researchers at the University of Oxford have successfully 3D printed stem cells capable of replicating the structure of the cerebral cortex. When these printed cells were integrated into mouse brains, they displayed both functional and structural harmony with the existing tissue.  This offers potential for personalised treatment in brain injuries. (Nature)

AIs are creating robots now

Researchers have created an AI capable of designing robots autonomously. When tasked with creating a robot that could walk on a flat surface, the AI developed a functional model in 

seconds, a process that has taken nature billions of years. The AI's output was a uniquely structured robot with three legs and an array of holes, which the team believes will aid in walking. (Science Daily) 

Sustainable semiconductors

Traditional semiconductor production is energy-intensive, but researchers may have the solution with their groundbreaking "multielement ink" semiconductor that allows for low or room-temperature processing: combining high-entropy semiconductors with halide perovskite. The team's next step is to explore sustainable materials for lighting and display. (Science Daily)

AI Tools of the Week

📈 Earn - Danelfin is an AI-driven stock analytics tool that offers data-backed insights for optimised portfolio performance, including an AI score predicting a stock's potential to outpace the market. 

💪 Grow - Hyperficient is an AI-enhanced gym program that crafts personalised routines for optimal muscle gains, offering research-driven insights, form guidance, and continuous updates.

🧠 Learn - Eggheads is a chat-based, AI-driven microlearning platform transforming workplace education. It teaches through engaging, bite-sized content, for easy and impactful employee training

In case you missed it

Hear from Rana el Kaliouby and Meta’s Maja Pantic on the symbiotic relationship between humans, and AI, at the CogX Festival 2023:

✍️ Enjoying this newsletter?  Subscribe to our free weekly briefings on Preparing for AI, Cinema & AI, The Race to Net Zero, AI & DeepTech and The Future of Work.