This week’s list of top data news highlights covers July 6, 2024 to July 12, 2024 and includes articles on a smart ring that helps track personal health and an AI chatbot that answers questions regarding climate change.
EvolutionaryScale, a New York-based startup that develops AI models with applications in biology, has created a model called ESM3 that can design novel proteins. Scientists trained the model on 2.7 billion protein sequences and showed it can generate new proteins with similar brightness to natural green fluorescent proteins, which has allowed the scientists to study important protein properties.
2. Addressing Individual Health Concerns
OpenAI and Thrive Global, a New York-based company that develops healthcare technology, are partnering to create a personalized AI health coach, trained using existing scientific research on human behavior and biometric, lab, and other medical data that users can choose to share with the chatbot. The AI coach will inform users on how they can make behavioral changes that address their individual health concerns in five areas: sleep, nutrition, fitness, stress management, and social connections.
Permco, an Ohio-based hydraulic equipment manufacturer, has developed a virtual reality (VR) solution to safely train employees on complex assembly processes. The workers use Meta’s Oculus headsets and haptic gloves (which simulate tactile sensations of virtual objects) to enter the virtual training environment and the system guides them through the assembly process, gradually reducing the amount of assistance as they progress, until they can complete the assembly unaided.
4. Translating Handwritten Notes
Microsoft is preparing to launch an AI feature in its note-taking app OneNote that will use its Copilot AI system to analyze and convert handwritten notes users make with a stylus into text for editing and sharing. The AI-powered feature can also summarize the notes and answer questions based on the content.
5. Identifying Drug-Resistant Bacteria
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a machine learning tool that can identify drug-resistant bacteria. The algorithm, which researchers trained on high-resolution microscopy data, accurately predicted resistance in bacterial samples without the need to expose the bacteria to the drug. Quickly identifying antimicrobial resistance could lead to more appropriate and timely treatment of infections, improving patient outcomes and combating drug resistance.
Samsung has unveiled its first smart ring, called Galaxy Ring, which uses sensors to measure movement, heart rate, respiratory rate, and skin temperature to provide continuous health monitoring, including sleep tracking, cycle tracking, and other metrics. Galaxy Ring has a battery life of up to seven days.
7. Protecting Copyrighted Music
YouTube has introduced a tool called “Erase Song” that will use AI to detect copyrighted songs and automatically remove them from videos while keeping other audio elements intact. Erase Song enables a more precise removal of copyrighted content compared to previous options like muting the entire video or replacing the song, helping creators address copyright claims more efficiently and maintain their revenue streams.
8. Reporting on Climate Change
The Washington Post has launched an AI chatbot called Climate Answers that uses large language models from OpenAI and Meta to answer questions about climate change based only on the outlet’s previous coverage of the topic. The newspaper hopes the chatbot will help engage younger readers who often rely on story summaries over headlines to determine whether to read the related articles further.
Colorado’s El Paso County and the City of Colorado Springs have launched a digital platform that makes it easier for residents to access mental health resources. They can take mental health assessments anonymously on the platform and access free resources like books, podcasts, and articles vetted by mental health professionals.
10. Tracking Fire Services Statistics
The Fire Department of Aurora, Illinois, has partnered with the city’s Department of Data and Analytics to launch a new data portal that enhances transparency and increases awareness about emergency and fire services in the city. The portal allows residents to access visualizations of various key statistics, such as the city’s fire prevention efforts, including numbers on carbon monoxide calls.
Image credit: Szabo Victor
