#multi-tasking machine tools

[lissabella]

Multi-Tasking Machine Tools Market To Reach USD 1.98 Billion at a 5.78% CAGR by 2030 - Report by Market Research Future (MRFR)

According to Market Research Future (MRFR),” Multi-Tasking Machine Tools Market Information Report by Product Type (Milling, Drilling, Turning, and Others), by Application (Automotive, General Machinery, Aerospace, and others) and By Region - Forecast To 2030”, the global market is expected to reach USD 1.98 BN by 2030, growing at a 5.78% CAGR from 2022 to 2030.

Multi-Tasking Machine Tools Market Overview

The global multi-tasking machine tools market is growing continually. These tools can dramatically improve the machining process and allow for incredible ROI. Resultantly, multi-tasking technologies have become inevitable to offset higher wages & boost efficiency. The multi-tasking machine tools market witnesses huge demand from the global manufacturing industry that has accelerated the use of multi-tasking machine tools. Major manufacturers are fostering investments in R&D and production and adopting automated production processes. Resultantly, multi-tasking machine tools industries worldwide witness rising revenues.

Top Key Players Listed below:

Doosan Machine Tools Co. Ltd. (U.S.)

Yamazaki Mazak Corporation (Japan)

Nakamura-Tome Precision Industry Co. Ltd. (japan)

Jyoti CNC Automation Ltd. (India)

Takisawa machine tool co. ltd. (Japan)

[ladyaldhelm]

This post is a very long rant about Generative AI. If you are not in the headspace to read such content right now, please continue scrolling.

....

....

It has come to my attention that a person who I deeply admire is Pro-AI. Not just Pro-AI, but has become a shill for a multi-billion dollar corporation to promote their destructive generative AI tools, and is doing it voluntarily and willingly. This person is a creative professional and should know better, and this decision by them shows a lack of integrity and empathy for their fellow creatives. They have sold out to not just their own destruction, but to everyone around them, without any concern. It thoroughly disgusts and disappoints me.

Listen, I am not against technological advancements. While I am never the first to adopt a new technology, I have marveled at the leaps and bounds that have been made within my own lifetime, and welcome progress. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning models certainly have their place in this world. Right now, scientific researchers are using advanced AI modeling to discover new protein configurations using a program called Alpha-Fold, and the millions of new proteins that were discovered have gone on to the development of life saving cancer treatments, vaccine development, and looking for new ways to battle drug-resistant bacterial infections. Machine learning models are being developed to track and predict climate change with terrifying accuracy, discover new species, researching new ways of dealing with plastic waste and CO2/methane, and developing highly accurate tools for early detection of cancers. These are all amazing advancements that have only been made possible by AI and will save countless millions of lives. THIS is what AI should be used for.

Generative AI, however, is a different beast entirely. It is problematic in many ways, and is destructive by its very nature. All the current models were trained on BILLIONS of copyrighted materials (images, music, text), without the creator's consent or knowledge. That in and of itself is highly unethical. In addition, these computers that run these GenAI programs use an insane amount of resources to run, and are a major contributor to climate change right now, even worse than the NFT and blockchain stuff a few years ago.

GenAI literally takes someone's hard work, puts it into an algorithm that chews it up and spits out some kind of abomination, all with no effort on the part of the user. And then these "creations" are being sold by the boatload, crowding out legitimate artists and professional creatives. Artists like myself and thousands of others who rely on income from art. Musicians, film makers, novelists, and writers are losing as well. It is an uphill battle. The market is flooded right now with so many AI generated art and books that actual artists and writers are being buried. To make matters worse, these generated works often have inaccuracies and spread misinformation and and lead to injury or even death. There are so many AI generated books, for example, about pet care and foraging for plants that are littered with inaccurate and downright dangerous information. Telling people that certain toxic plants are safe to eat, or giving information on pet care that will lead to the animal suffering and dying. People are already being affected by this. It is bad enough when actual authors spread misinformation, but when someone can generate an entire book in a few seconds, this gets multiplied by several orders of magnitude. It makes finding legitimate information difficult or even downright impossible.

GenAI seeks to turn the arts into a commodity, a get-rich-quick money making scheme, which is not the point of art. Automating art should never be the goal of humanity. Automating dangerous and tedious tasks is important for progress, but automating art is taking away our humanity. Art is all about the human experience and human expression, something a machine cannot ever replicate and it SHOULDN'T. Art should come from the heart and soul, not some crap that is mass produced to make a quick buck. Also developing your skills as an artist, whether that is through drawing, painting, sculpture, composing music, songwriting, poetry, creative writing, animation, photography, or making films, are not just about human expression but develop your brain and make you a more well rounded person, with a rich and deep experience and emotional connection to others. Shitting out crappy art and writing just to make a quick dollar defeats the entire purpose of all of that.

In addition, over-reliance on automated and AI tools is already leading to cognitive decline and the deterioration of critical thinking skills. When it is so easy to click a button and generate a research paper why bother putting the work in? Students are already doing this. Taking the easy way out to get a grade, but they are only hurting themselves. When machines do your thinking for you, what is there left to do? People will lose the ability to develop even basic skills.

/rant

By the way if any tech bros come at me you will be blocked without warning. This is not up for debate or discussion.

[republicsecurity]

"Welcome to the Suit Life"

The scene opened with the polished gleam of the alcove chamber. Each slot glowed faintly, lined with the hum of efficiency and quiet authority. The camera panned across resting Enforcers, their black-armored forms reclined in perfect symmetry, visors down, faint smiles playing on their faces even in sleep. The faint hiss of suit systems recharging filled the room, a steady, rhythmic undertone that spoke of both maintenance and control.

At the center of the frame stood the Intelligence Conscript and K7L32, their black full-body armor spotless under the sterile lighting. Their helmets rested casually on the table before them, their shaved heads glinting as they exchanged sardonic grins. Beside them stood L8Z21, a Mind Tech in a sharp black overall, and T9D03, a Suit Tech fully armored save for his retracted visor. The camera occasionally zoomed in on T9D03’s left gauntlet—a prosthetic claw-like device gleaming in the harsh light, its multi-functional tools hinting at the eerie symbiosis between man and machine.

“Welcome back,” the Intelligence Conscript began, his tone slick and practiced, a perfect blend of authority and mockery. “Today, we’re giving you an exclusive inside look at the life of an Enforcer in the Mark IV armor system. Five days in the suit. What does that feel like, K7L32?”

K7L32 leaned casually against the table, his grin widening. “Oh, it’s something, sir. Five days strapped in, every second guided by the system. You’re not just wearing it—it’s wearing you. And let’s be honest—most of the time, you like it.”

The Mind Tech nodded thoughtfully, his expression clinical. “It’s not just about protection,” L8Z21 added. “The suit becomes a part of you. Or, more accurately, you become a part of it. For base-level Enforcers, that integration is total. The AI and your superiors decide what you see, what you hear, what you feel. Guidance, as we call it.”

The camera cut to T9D03, his mechanical claw flexing with a faint whir. He gestured toward a resting Enforcer, the faint smile visible under the darkened visor. “Guidance means control,” he said bluntly. “Base-level Enforcers like C9J18 don’t have the luxury of choice. The AI filters out distractions, prioritizes tasks, and even regulates their pain. Every step, every action, is optimized.”

“And when that visor comes off?” K7L32 added, leaning forward with a conspiratorial smirk. “Oh, that’s when you feel it. The real world hits you like a brick. Colors are too bright. Sounds are too loud. Everything’s too... much.”

The Intelligence Conscript chuckled, shaking his head. “That’s why you keep it on. The suit simplifies things. It strips out the noise. You see what you’re supposed to see. Feel what you’re supposed to feel. It’s... serene.”

The camera panned back to the alcoves, focusing on an Enforcer as his suit emitted a faint hiss, recalibrating. The soft glow of the alcove lights illuminated his peaceful expression.

“That’s the thing,” L8Z21 continued, his voice taking on a quieter, almost reverent tone. “Inside the suit, there’s a kind of... silence. Not just the absence of sound, but a silence in your mind. No distractions. No doubts. Just clarity.”

“And warmth,” T9D03 added, flexing his mechanical claw again. “The internal systems maintain optimal temperature, regulate pressure. It’s like being wrapped in the perfect embrace. Safe. Protected.”

The Intelligence Conscript nodded, his smirk returning. “And let’s not forget the conditioning. The suit doesn’t just make you feel safe—it makes you love it. Every time it clicks into place, every time the system takes over, it reinforces that connection. You’re not just an Enforcer. You’re the suit. And you wouldn’t want it any other way.”

K7L32 laughed, the sound low and cynical. “Oh, we’ve all felt it. That moment when you realize you’re not just enjoying the suit—you need it. It’s not optional. It’s who you are.”

The Mind Tech gestured toward the resting Enforcers, their smiles faint but unmistakable. “That’s why they sleep like that. The suit guides them, even in rest. It recharges, cleans, empties waste, and ensures their minds stay... aligned. It’s not just maintenance. It’s integration.”

“And after five days?” K7L32 said, raising an eyebrow. “When it’s time to take it off? You’d think it’d feel like freedom, right? Wrong. It’s almost uncomfortable. Like shedding your skin. You spend your whole break counting the hours until you can put it back on.”

The Intelligence Conscript turned back to the camera, his grin sharp. “And that’s the genius of the Mark IV. It’s not just armor. It’s a lifestyle. A system. A future.”

The camera zoomed out, capturing the group framed by the glowing alcoves, the resting Enforcers a silent testament to the power of the system. The faint hum of the suits filled the room as the scene faded to black, leaving only the tagline on the screen:

“The Mark IV Armor: Total Control, Total Loyalty, Total You.”

[mariacallous]

September was a busy month for Russian influence operations—and for those tasked with disrupting them. News coverage of a series of U.S. government actions revealed Russia was using fake domains and personas, front media outlets, real media outlets acting as covert agents, and social media influencers to distort public conversation around the globe.

The spate of announcements by the U.S. Justice Department and U.S. State Department, as well as a public hearing featuring Big Tech leadership held by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, underlines the extent to which Russia remains focused on interfering in U.S. political discourse and undermining confidence in U.S. elections. This is not particularly surprising on its own, as covert influence operations are as old as politics. What the unsealed indictments from the Justice Department, the report by the State Department, and the committee hearing emphasize is that bots and trolls on social media are only part of the picture—and that no single platform or government agency can successfully tackle foreign influence on its own.

As researchers of adversarial abuse of the internet, we have tracked social media influence operations for years. One of us, Renée, was tapped by the Senate Select Committee in 2017 to examine data sets detailing the activity of the Internet Research Agency—the infamous troll farm in St. Petersburg—on Facebook, Google, and Twitter, now known as X. The trolls, who masqueraded as Americans ranging from Black Lives Matter activists to Texas secessionists, had taken the United States by surprise. But that campaign, which featured fake personas slinking into the online communities of ordinary Americans, was only part of Russia’s effort to manipulate U.S. political discourse. The committee subsequently requested an analysis of the social media activities of the GRU—Russian military intelligence—which had concurrently run a decidedly different set of tactics, including hack and leak operations that shifted media coverage in the run-up to the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Russian operatives also reportedly hacked into U.S. voter databases and voting machine vendors but did not go so far as to change actual votes.

Social media is an attractive tool for covert propagandists, who can quickly create fake accounts, tailor content for target audiences, and insert virtual interlopers into real online communities. There is little repercussion for getting caught. However, two presidential election cycles after the Russian Internet Agency first masqueraded as Americans on social media platforms, it is important to emphasize that running inauthentic covert networks on social media has always been only one part of a broader strategy—and sometimes, it has actually been the least effective part. Adversaries also use a range of other tools, from spear phishing campaigns to cyberattacks to other media channels for propaganda. In response to these full-spectrum campaigns, vigilance and response by U.S. tech platforms are necessary. But alone, that will not be enough. Multi-stakeholder action is required.

The first set of announcements by the Justice Department on Sept. 4 featured two distinct strategies. The first announcement, a seizure of 32 internet domains used by a Russia-linked operation known in the research community as “Doppelganger,” reiterates the interconnected nature of social media influence operations, which often create fake social media accounts and external websites whose content they share. Doppelganger got its name from its modus operandi: spoofs of existing media outlets. The actors behind it, Russian companies Social Design Agency and Structura, created fake news outlets that mirror real media properties (such as a website that looked like the Washington Post) and purported offshoots of real entities (such as the nonexistent CNN California). The websites host the content and steal logos, branding, and sometimes even the names of journalists from real outlets. The operation shares fake content from these domains on social media, often using redirect links so that when unwitting users click on a link, it redirects to a spoofed website. Users might not realize they are on a fake media property, and social media companies have to expend resources to continually search for redirect links that take little effort to generate. Indeed, Meta’s 2024 Q1 Adversarial Threat Report noted that the company’s teams are engaged in daily efforts to thwart Doppelganger activities. Some other social media companies and researchers use these signals, which Meta shares publicly, as leads for their own investigations.

The domains seized by the Justice Department are just a portion of the overall number of pages that Doppelganger has run. Most are garbage sites that get little traction, and most of the accounts linking to them have few followers. These efforts nonetheless require vigilance to ensure that they don’t manage to eventually grow an audience. And so, the platforms play whack-a-mole. Meta publishes lists of domains in threat-sharing reports, though not all social media companies act in response; some, like Telegram, take an avowedly hands-off approach to dealing with state propagandists, purportedly to avoid limiting political speech. X, which used to be among the most proactive and transparent in its dealings with state trolls, has not only significantly backed off curtailing inauthentic accounts, but also removed transparency labels denoting overt Russian propaganda accounts. In turn, recent leaks from Doppelganger show the Social Design Agency claiming that X is the “the only mass platform that could currently be utilized in the U.S.” At the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on Sept. 18, Sen. Mark Warner called out several platforms (including X, TikTok, Telegram, and Discord) that “pride themselves of giving the proverbial middle finger to governments all around the world.” These differences in moderation policies and enforcement mean that propagandists can prioritize those platforms that do not have the desire or resources to disrupt their activities.

However, dealing with a committed adversary necessitates more than playing whack-a-mole with fake accounts and redirect links on social media. The Justice Department’s domain seizure was able to target the core of the operation: the fake websites themselves. This is not a question of true versus false content, but demonstrable fraud against existing media companies, and partisans across the aisle support disrupting these operations. Multi-stakeholder action can create far more impactful setbacks for Doppelganger, such as Google blocking Doppelganger domains from appearing on Google News, and government and hosting infrastructure forcing Doppelganger operatives to begin website development from scratch. Press coverage should also be careful not to exaggerate the impact of Russia’s efforts, since, as Thomas Rid recently described, the “biggest boost the Doppelganger campaigners got was from the West’s own anxious coverage of the project.”

A second set of announcements in September by the Justice Department and State Department highlighted a distinct strategy: the use of illicit finance to fund media properties and popular influencers spreading content deemed useful to Russia. An indictment unsealed by the Justice Department alleged that two employees from RT—an overt Russian state-affiliated media entity with foreign-facing outlets around the world—secretly funneled nearly $10 million into a Tennessee-based content company. The company acted as a front to recruit prominent right-wing American influencers to make videos and post them on social media. Two of the RT employees allegedly edited, posted, and “directed the posting” of hundreds of these videos.

Much of the content from the Tennessee company focused on divisive issues, like Russia’s war in Ukraine, and evergreen topics like illegal immigration and free speech. The influencers restated common right-wing opinions; the operators were not trying to make their procured talent introduce entirely new ideas, it seemed, but rather keep Russia’s preferred topics of conversation visibly present within social media discourse while nudging them just a bit further toward sensational extremes. In one example from the indictment, one of the RT employees asked an influencer to make a video speculating about whether an Islamic State-claimed massacre in Moscow might really have been perpetrated by Ukraine. The right-wing influencers themselves, who received sizeable sums of money and accrued millions of views on YouTube and other platforms, appear to have been unwitting and have not been charged with any wrongdoing.

This strategy of surreptitiously funding useful voices, which hearkens back to Soviet techniques to manipulate Western debates during the Cold War, leverages social media’s power players: authentic influencers with established audiences and a knack for engagement. Influence operations that create fake personas face two challenges: plausibility and resonance. Fake accounts pretending to be Americans periodically reveal themselves by botching slang or talking about irrelevant topics. They have a hard time growing a following. The influencers, by contrast, know what works, and they frequently get boosted by even more popular influencers aligned with their ideas. Musk, who has more than 190 million followers on X, reportedly engaged with content from the front media company at least 60 times.

Social media companies are not well suited to identify these more obscured forms of manipulation. The beneficiaries of Russian funding were real influencers, and their social media accounts do not violate platform authenticity policies. They are expressing opinions held by real Americans, even if they are Russia-aligned. Assuming the coordination of funding and topics did not take place on social media, the platforms likely lack insight into offline information that intelligence agencies or other entities collect. The violations are primarily external, as well—mainly the alleged conspiracy to commit money laundering and the alleged violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Here, too, a multi-stakeholder response is necessary: Open-source investigators, journalists, and the U.S. intelligence community can contribute by uncovering this illicit behavior, and the U.S. government can work with international partners to expose, and, where appropriate, impose sanctions and other legal remedies to deter future operations.

The degree to which these activities happen beyond social media—and beyond the awareness of the platform companies—was driven home in a Sept. 13 speech by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He highlighted other front media entities allegedly operated by RT, including some with a more global focus, such as African Stream and Berlin-based Red. According to the State Department, RT also operates online fundraising efforts for the Russian military and coordinates directly with the Russian government to interfere in elections, including the Moldovan presidential election later this month. These activities go far beyond the typical remit of overt state media, and likely explain why Meta and YouTube—neither of which had previously banned RT after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—responded to the news by banning the outlet and all of its subsidiary channels.

Our argument is not that the steps taken by social media companies to combat influence operations are unimportant or that the platforms cannot do better. When social media companies fail to combat influence operations, manipulators can grow their followings. Social media companies can and should continue to build integrity teams to tackle these abuses. But fake social media accounts are only one tool in a modern propagandist’s toolbox. Ensuring that U.S. public discourse is authentic—whether or not people like the specifics of what’s being said—is a challenge that requires many hands to fix.

[datapeakbyfactr]

AI’s Role in Business Process Automation

Automation has come a long way from simply replacing manual tasks with machines. With AI stepping into the scene, business process automation is no longer just about cutting costs or speeding up workflows—it’s about making smarter, more adaptive decisions that continuously evolve. AI isn't just doing what we tell it; it’s learning, predicting, and innovating in ways that redefine how businesses operate. 

From hyperautomation to AI-powered chatbots and intelligent document processing, the world of automation is rapidly expanding. But what does the future hold?

What is Business Process Automation? 

Business Process Automation (BPA) refers to the use of technology to streamline and automate repetitive, rule-based tasks within an organization. The goal is to improve efficiency, reduce errors, cut costs, and free up human workers for higher-value activities. BPA covers a wide range of functions, from automating simple data entry tasks to orchestrating complex workflows across multiple departments. 

Traditional BPA solutions rely on predefined rules and scripts to automate tasks such as invoicing, payroll processing, customer service inquiries, and supply chain management. However, as businesses deal with increasing amounts of data and more complex decision-making requirements, AI is playing an increasingly critical role in enhancing BPA capabilities. 

AI’s Role in Business Process Automation 

AI is revolutionizing business process automation by introducing cognitive capabilities that allow systems to learn, adapt, and make intelligent decisions. Unlike traditional automation, which follows a strict set of rules, AI-driven BPA leverages machine learning, natural language processing (NLP), and computer vision to understand patterns, process unstructured data, and provide predictive insights. 

Here are some of the key ways AI is enhancing BPA: 

Self-Learning Systems: AI-powered BPA can analyze past workflows and optimize them dynamically without human intervention. 

Advanced Data Processing: AI-driven tools can extract information from documents, emails, and customer interactions, enabling businesses to process data faster and more accurately. 

Predictive Analytics: AI helps businesses forecast trends, detect anomalies, and make proactive decisions based on real-time insights. 

Enhanced Customer Interactions: AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants provide 24/7 support, improving customer service efficiency and satisfaction. 

Automation of Complex Workflows: AI enables the automation of multi-step, decision-heavy processes, such as fraud detection, regulatory compliance, and personalized marketing campaigns. 

As organizations seek more efficient ways to handle increasing data volumes and complex processes, AI-driven BPA is becoming a strategic priority. The ability of AI to analyze patterns, predict outcomes, and make intelligent decisions is transforming industries such as finance, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing. 

“At the leading edge of automation, AI transforms routine workflows into smart, adaptive systems that think ahead. It’s not about merely accelerating tasks—it’s about creating an evolving framework that continuously optimizes operations for future challenges.”

— Emma Reynolds, CTO of QuantumOps

Trends in AI-Driven Business Process Automation 

1. Hyperautomation 

Hyperautomation, a term coined by Gartner, refers to the combination of AI, robotic process automation (RPA), and other advanced technologies to automate as many business processes as possible. By leveraging AI-powered bots and predictive analytics, companies can automate end-to-end processes, reducing operational costs and improving decision-making. 

Hyperautomation enables organizations to move beyond simple task automation to more complex workflows, incorporating AI-driven insights to optimize efficiency continuously. This trend is expected to accelerate as businesses adopt AI-first strategies to stay competitive. 

2. AI-Powered Chatbots and Virtual Assistants 

Chatbots and virtual assistants are becoming increasingly sophisticated, enabling seamless interactions with customers and employees. AI-driven conversational interfaces are revolutionizing customer service, HR operations, and IT support by providing real-time assistance, answering queries, and resolving issues without human intervention. 

The integration of AI with natural language processing (NLP) and sentiment analysis allows chatbots to understand context, emotions, and intent, providing more personalized responses. Future advancements in AI will enhance their capabilities, making them more intuitive and capable of handling complex tasks. 

3. Process Mining and AI-Driven Insights 

Process mining leverages AI to analyze business workflows, identify bottlenecks, and suggest improvements. By collecting data from enterprise systems, AI can provide actionable insights into process inefficiencies, allowing companies to optimize operations dynamically. 

AI-powered process mining tools help businesses understand workflow deviations, uncover hidden inefficiencies, and implement data-driven solutions. This trend is expected to grow as organizations seek more visibility and control over their automated processes. 

4. AI and Predictive Analytics for Decision-Making 

AI-driven predictive analytics plays a crucial role in business process automation by forecasting trends, detecting anomalies, and making data-backed decisions. Companies are increasingly using AI to analyze customer behaviour, market trends, and operational risks, enabling them to make proactive decisions. 

For example, in supply chain management, AI can predict demand fluctuations, optimize inventory levels, and prevent disruptions. In finance, AI-powered fraud detection systems analyze transaction patterns in real-time to prevent fraudulent activities. The future of BPA will heavily rely on AI-driven predictive capabilities to drive smarter business decisions. 

5. AI-Enabled Document Processing and Intelligent OCR 

Document-heavy industries such as legal, healthcare, and banking are benefiting from AI-powered Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and document processing solutions. AI can extract, classify, and process unstructured data from invoices, contracts, and forms, reducing manual effort and improving accuracy. 

Intelligent document processing (IDP) combines AI, machine learning, and NLP to understand the context of documents, automate data entry, and integrate with existing enterprise systems. As AI models continue to improve, document processing automation will become more accurate and efficient. 

Going Beyond Automation

The future of AI-driven BPA will go beyond automation—it will redefine how businesses function at their core. Here are some key predictions for the next decade: 

Autonomous Decision-Making: AI systems will move beyond assisting human decisions to making autonomous decisions in areas such as finance, supply chain logistics, and healthcare management. 

AI-Driven Creativity: AI will not just automate processes but also assist in creative and strategic business decisions, helping companies design products, create marketing strategies, and personalize customer experiences. 

Human-AI Collaboration: AI will become an integral part of the workforce, working alongside employees as an intelligent assistant, boosting productivity and innovation. 

Decentralized AI Systems: AI will become more distributed, with businesses using edge AI and blockchain-based automation to improve security, efficiency, and transparency in operations. 

Industry-Specific AI Solutions: We will see more tailored AI automation solutions designed for specific industries, such as AI-driven legal research tools, medical diagnostics automation, and AI-powered financial advisory services. 

AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s here, and it’s already transforming the way businesses operate. What’s exciting is that we’re still just scratching the surface. As AI continues to evolve, businesses will find new ways to automate, innovate, and create efficiencies that we can’t yet fully imagine. 

But while AI is streamlining processes and making work more efficient, it’s also reshaping what it means to be human in the workplace. As automation takes over repetitive tasks, employees will have more opportunities to focus on creativity, strategy, and problem-solving. The future of AI in business process automation isn’t just about doing things faster—it’s about rethinking how we work all together.

Learn more about DataPeak:

[hasufin]

User

I was looking something up on YouTube last night, and thinking about The Algorithm.

Now, a lot of people rightly deride The Algorithm. Especially on social media it's this thing which causes the service to show you stuff-other-than-what-you-chose-to-see. It literally exists to stand between you and the content you're after for the purpose of extracting dollars from your eyeballs. From a user perspective it serves no purpose, it cannot serve a positive purpose, and the user experience would be better on all metrics by simply removing The Algorithm altogether.

But, you know, on stuff which isn't social media, there's potential value to the algorithm. This isn't quite realized, mind, but it's possible and maybe shouldn't be ignored.

When you're talking a platform in which I could reasonably be searching for, rather than selecting, content, The Algorithm can exist as an assistive device.

For example, the other day I was looking up "How to pull a shot on a La Pavonia". Note, for some damned reason my fingers consistently slip and call my new espresso machine a "La Pavonia" and not a "La Pavoni".

There's a lot of content. And depending on how you handle the search, most of it is irrelevant - or it's so specific as to not offer what I'm seeking.

In the strictest form of my search, there'd be nothing: I'm looking for a particular grammatical construction with a specific misspelling, and there's likely just nothing there. Moreoever, most of what I want is "How to pull a shot on a Europiccola" or "How to pull a shot on a Stradiavari" (specific models of La Pavonia lever action machines); I own an Ambassador Professional, which is even more obscure. So I might never find a damned thing under strict search.

But if it just goes "Well, two out of three ain't bad" I'm going to get "How to pull a shot on an espresso machine" and that's going to show me allllll this stuff for semi-automatic machines with in-depth discussion of grind size and tamping technique, and that's simply not what I'm after.

Which comes to the idea of The Algorithm as an assistive device. Since I'm not likely to readily come up with the specific descriptions of these videos, it's good that the algorithm connects "Europiccola" and "Stradiavari" with "La Pavoni". That it on some level knows "pulling a shot" in this context relates to espresso and not, I dunno, paintball.

This can go to a kinda creepy place, in that it might be able to - based on the model of me which it has - know that I'm an individual and not a coffee shop, and thus I'm very likely not looking for the commercial-grade La Pavoni machines with three group heads and a direct water hookup. Or, in theory, it could even be able to ask "La Pavoni makes both single-head machines intended for home use and multi-head machines for commercial use; which do you want to view?". And at one point some platforms actually did say "You typed 'La Pavonia', showing content for 'La Pavoni'. Show results for 'La Pavonia' instead?"

My point is, in theory The Algorithm can exist as a tool which allows humans to navigate what is functionally an impossibly huge sea of information. While pride may say we don't need this help, the reality is we definitely do. And this is not a bad thing.

The problem is not that The Algorithm exists. The problem is which master it serves. It doesn't exist to make the user experience better. It doesn't exist to help us find the things we actually want. And it's not being improved to perform those tasks better. Rather, it exists to serve the desires of the advertisers and the platform: to drive more clicks and more views rather than a simple view of the actual desired content. To put more crap in front of more eyeballs to extract more wealth and feed into the cannibalistic advertising ecosystem which increasingly degrades the actual function of the entire system. And there's a very, very justified hatred of this thing.

But we shouldn't forget that the underlying technology isn't inherently evil. It's a thing we need more and more with each passing day, and it was invented originally to meet that need; it is not bad, it has been corrupted.

[ticktockaura]

As North Korea, Iran and China support Russia’s war, is a ‘new axis’ emerging?

Hong KongCNN — 

The thousands of North Korean troops US intelligence says arrived in Russia for training this month have sparked concern they will be deployed to bolster Moscow’s battlefront in Ukraine.

They’ve also turned up alarm from the United States and its allies that growing coordination between anti-West countries is creating a much broader, urgent security threat – one where partnerships of convenience are evolving into more outright military ties.

Hundreds of Iranian drones have also been part of Moscow’s onslaught on Ukraine, and last month the US said Tehran had sent the warring country short-range ballistic missiles as well.

China, meanwhile, has been accused of powering Russia’s war machine with substantial amounts of “dual use” goods like microelectronics and machine tools, which can be used to make weapons. Last week, the US for the first time penalized two Chinese firms for supplying complete weapons systems. All three countries have denied they are providing such support.

Taking stock of the emerging cooperation, a Congress-backed group that evaluates US defense strategy dubbed Russia, China, Iran and North Korea this summer an “axis of growing malign partnerships.”

The fear is that a shared animosity toward the US is increasingly driving these countries to work together – amplifying the threat that any one of them alone poses to Washington or its allies, not just in one region but perhaps in multiple parts of the world at the same time.

“If (North Korea) is a co-belligerent, their intention is to participate in this war on Russia’s behalf, that is a very, very serious issue, and it will have impacts not only on in Europe — it will also impact things in the Indo Pacific as well,” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday in the first US confirmation of North Korean troops in Russia.

‘A real risk’

Viewed from the West, however, China’s refusal to cut off economic lifelines to a UN sanctions-defiant North Korea and a Russia that has threatened the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine is often seen as an open endorsement of these regimes.

In July, the Commission on the National Defense Strategy, an independent group tasked by Congress with evaluating US defense strategy, said China and Russia’s partnership had “deepened and broadened” to include a military and economic partnership with Iran and North Korea.

“This new alignment of nations opposed to US interests creates a real risk, if not likelihood, that conflict anywhere could become a multi-theater or global war,” it said.

China has repeatedly insisted that its relationship with Russia is one of “non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party.”

NATO has also in recent years moved to ramp up relations with US allies and partners in the Asia-Pacific, with a meeting of defense ministers last week joined for the first time by Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.

In the short term, Russia’s weapons partnerships also open the door for Iran and North Korea to potentially obtain and produce Moscow’s sensitive weapons technologies and even ship them around the world, according to Carnegie’s Zhao.

The current dynamics also raise the risk that future conflicts – including one where China is at the center and not Russia – see coordination between the four, some analysts assess.

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Algorithm used on Mars rover helps scientists on Earth see data in a new way

A new algorithm tested on NASA's Perseverance Rover on Mars may lead to better forecasting of hurricanes, wildfires, and other extreme weather events that impact millions globally.

Georgia Tech Ph.D. student Austin P. Wright is first author of a paper that introduces Nested Fusion. The new algorithm improves scientists' ability to search for past signs of life on the Martian surface.

This innovation supports NASA's Mars 2020 mission. In addition, scientists from other fields working with large, overlapping datasets can use Nested Fusion's methods for their studies.

Wright presented Nested Fusion at the 2024 International Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (KDD 2024) where it was a runner-up for the best paper award. The work is published in the journal Proceedings of the 30th ACM SIGKDD Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining.

"Nested Fusion is really useful for researchers in many different domains, not just NASA scientists," said Wright. "The method visualizes complex datasets that can be difficult to get an overall view of during the initial exploratory stages of analysis."

Nested Fusion combines datasets with different resolutions to produce a single, high-resolution visual distribution. Using this method, NASA scientists can more easily analyze multiple datasets from various sources at the same time. This can lead to faster studies of Mars' surface composition to find clues of previous life.

The algorithm demonstrates how data science impacts traditional scientific fields like chemistry, biology, and geology.

Even further, Wright is developing Nested Fusion applications to model shifting climate patterns, plant and animal life, and other concepts in the earth sciences. The same method can combine overlapping datasets from satellite imagery, biomarkers, and climate data.

"Users have extended Nested Fusion and similar algorithms toward earth science contexts, which we have received very positive feedback," said Wright, who studies machine learning (ML) at Georgia Tech.

"Cross-correlational analysis takes a long time to do and is not done in the initial stages of research when patterns appear and form new hypotheses. Nested Fusion enables people to discover these patterns much earlier."

Wright is the data science and ML lead for PIXLISE, the software that NASA JPL scientists use to study data from the Mars Perseverance Rover.

Perseverance uses its Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry (PIXL) to collect data on mineral composition of Mars' surface. PIXL's two main tools that accomplish this are its X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) Spectrometer and Multi-Context Camera (MCC).

When PIXL scans a target area, it creates two co-aligned datasets from the components. XRF collects a sample's fine-scale elemental composition. MCC produces images of a sample to gather visual and physical details like size and shape.

A single XRF spectrum corresponds to approximately 100 MCC imaging pixels for every scan point. Each tool's unique resolution makes mapping between overlapping data layers challenging. However, Wright and his collaborators designed Nested Fusion to overcome this hurdle.

In addition to progressing data science, Nested Fusion improves NASA scientists' workflow. Using the method, a single scientist can form an initial estimate of a sample's mineral composition in a matter of hours. Before Nested Fusion, the same task required days of collaboration between teams of experts on each different instrument.

"I think one of the biggest lessons I have taken from this work is that it is valuable to always ground my ML and data science problems in actual, concrete use cases of our collaborators," Wright said.

"I learn from collaborators what parts of data analysis are important to them and the challenges they face. By understanding these issues, we can discover new ways of formalizing and framing problems in data science."

Nested Fusion won runner-up for the best paper in the applied data science track. Hundreds of other papers were presented at the conference's research track, workshops, and tutorials.

Wright's mentors, Scott Davidoff and Polo Chau, co-authored the Nested Fusion paper. Davidoff is a principal research scientist at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Chau is a professor at the Georgia Tech School of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE).

"I was extremely happy that this work was recognized with the best paper runner-up award," Wright said. "This kind of applied work can sometimes be hard to find the right academic home, so finding communities that appreciate this work is very encouraging."

[toollistai]

What is Narrot? Automate your first line support with AI chat agents

Narrot is a cutting-edge AI-powered tool designed to streamline customer support processes. By leveraging advanced natural language processing and machine learning, Narrot provides an automated solution for customer interactions. It enables businesses to offer quick, accurate, and round-the-clock support, effectively reducing response times and improving customer satisfaction.

Features:

AI-Powered Automation: Automates customer queries with high accuracy, freeing up time for support teams.

24/7 Availability: Ensures customers receive help anytime, boosting overall satisfaction.

Multi-Channel Support: Integrates with various platforms to manage customer queries from multiple sources.

Customizable Responses: Tailor responses to align with brand voice and customer needs.

Analytics and Insights: Offers detailed analytics to help businesses refine their support strategy.

Uses: Ideal for customer service teams and businesses looking to enhance their support capabilities, Narrot assists by automating repetitive tasks and providing seamless customer support across channels. This tool helps reduce workload, improve efficiency, and maintain a consistent, high-quality customer experience.

[liftadviceblog]

Elevator Lifts for Home: Transforming Your Living Space

Incorporating an elevator lift into your home can revolutionize your lifestyle, providing unparalleled convenience and accessibility. Whether you have mobility challenges, a large multi-story residence, or simply desire a touch of luxury, a home lift offers a practical and elegant solution. This comprehensive guide explores the intricacies of home lifts, their benefits, and considerations for selecting the perfect lift for your home.

What is a Home Lift?

A home lift, also known as a residential elevator or home elevator, is a vertical transportation device designed for residential use. Unlike traditional elevators, home lifts are typically smaller, quieter, and require less space to install. They are designed to seamlessly integrate into your home's architecture, offering a convenient and stylish way to move between floors.

Types of Home Lifts:

Platform Lifts: These lifts consist of a platform that rises and lowers between floors. They are ideal for smaller homes or those with limited space.

Stair Lifts: For homes with staircases, stair lifts provide a safe and convenient way to navigate between floors. They can be installed on straight or curved staircases.

Shaftless Elevators: These elevators require a smaller shaft than traditional elevators, making them suitable for homes with limited space. They operate using a hydraulic or electric system.

MRL (Machine Roomless) Elevators: These elevators have the machine room located on top of the lift shaft, saving space within the home.

Benefits of Installing a Home Lift:

Enhanced Accessibility: Home lifts provide easy access to all floors, making your home more accessible for individuals with mobility challenges, elderly residents, or those recovering from injuries.

Increased Convenience: No more struggling with stairs or carrying heavy items up and down. A home lift simplifies daily tasks and saves time and energy.

Home Value Appreciation: Installing a home lift can significantly increase the value of your property, especially if you plan to sell it in the future.

Improved Quality of Life: A home lift can enhance your quality of life by reducing stress, fatigue, and the risk of falls.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Home Lift:

Space Requirements: Assess the available space in your home to determine the suitable type of lift. Platform lifts require the least space, while shaftless elevators offer a balance between space efficiency and capacity.

Number of Floors: Determine how many floors you need to connect. This will influence the lift's capacity and power requirements.

Lift Capacity: Consider the maximum weight the lift needs to accommodate, including passengers and any items you plan to transport.

Aesthetics: Choose a lift that complements your home's design and style. Consider factors like finish, materials, and lighting options.

Budget: Home lifts vary in price depending on the type, size, features, and installation complexity. Set a budget and explore options that fit within your financial constraints.

Installation Process:

The installation process for a home lift typically involves:

Site Assessment: A professional installer will assess your home's layout and determine the best location for the lift.

Permits and Approvals: Obtain necessary permits and approvals from local authorities.

Shaft Construction: If required, construct a shaft or enclosure for the lift.

Installation: Install the lift components, including the motor, control panel, and lift car.

Testing and Commissioning: Thoroughly test the lift to ensure it operates safely and efficiently.

FAQs:

How long does it take to install a home lift? Installation time varies depending on the type of lift and the complexity of the project. Typically, it can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks.

Can I install a home lift myself? It's generally recommended to hire a professional installer to ensure safe and proper installation. They have the expertise and tools to handle the project efficiently.

Are home lifts noisy? Modern home lifts are designed to be quiet. They use advanced noise-reduction technology to minimize noise levels.

Can I customize my home lift? Many manufacturers offer customization options to match your home's style and preferences. You can choose from various finishes, materials, and lighting options.

How much does a home lift cost? The cost of a home lift depends on factors such as the type of lift, size, features, and installation complexity. Prices can range from several thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars.

By carefully considering these factors and following the installation process, you can transform your home with a convenient and stylish home lift.

Related Post: 10 Essential Questions to Ask Before Installing a Passenger Lift

[mvishnukumar]

Can I use Python for big data analysis?

Yes, Python is a powerful tool for big data analysis. Here’s how Python handles large-scale data analysis:

Libraries for Big Data:

Pandas: 

While primarily designed for smaller datasets, Pandas can handle larger datasets efficiently when used with tools like Dask or by optimizing memory usage..

NumPy: 

Provides support for large, multi-dimensional arrays and matrices, along with a collection of mathematical functions to operate on these arrays.

Dask:

 A parallel computing library that extends Pandas and NumPy to larger datasets. It allows you to scale Python code from a single machine to a distributed cluster

Distributed Computing:

PySpark: 

The Python API for Apache Spark, which is designed for large-scale data processing. PySpark can handle big data by distributing tasks across a cluster of machines, making it suitable for large datasets and complex computations.

Dask: 

Also provides distributed computing capabilities, allowing you to perform parallel computations on large datasets across multiple cores or nodes.

Data Storage and Access:

HDF5: 

A file format and set of tools for managing complex data. Python’s h5py library provides an interface to read and write HDF5 files, which are suitable for large datasets.

Databases: 

Python can interface with various big data databases like Apache Cassandra, MongoDB, and SQL-based systems. Libraries such as SQLAlchemy facilitate connections to relational databases.

Data Visualization:

Matplotlib, Seaborn, and Plotly: These libraries allow you to create visualizations of large datasets, though for extremely large datasets, tools designed for distributed environments might be more appropriate.

Machine Learning:

Scikit-learn: 

While not specifically designed for big data, Scikit-learn can be used with tools like Dask to handle larger datasets.

TensorFlow and PyTorch: 

These frameworks support large-scale machine learning and can be integrated with big data processing tools for training and deploying models on large datasets.

Python’s ecosystem includes a variety of tools and libraries that make it well-suited for big data analysis, providing flexibility and scalability to handle large volumes of data.

Drop the message to learn more….!

[fairycosmos]

i just can't stop fucking up!!! also my memory has been unbelievably bad lately so so bad that i forget i'm doing things at work and then my boss will ask why i did something and i genuinely don't remember doing it so i say i didn't but then she had proof and i know then that i just forgot but i just think i'm on thin ice and not to be dramatic but i just broke up with my slightly abusive boyfriend and i'm ready to just give up. i'm ready to just leave

this is all going to sound so so annoying and ofc you can ignore it/come back to it when you're in a more receptive place but truly and honestly it's ok to fuck up and it's ok to be where you're at right now. every day i wake up and know i'm going to fuck up and be a nuisance and probably mess up numerous tasks due to the state of my mental health and sometimes i hate myself for it and sometimes i learn from it but always it passes. when it comes to work i also have memory issues and i recommend writing down what you do and why (doesn't have to be complicated at all, literally just the task and then a bullet pointed reason why) so you have an answer to give your boss if she asks. it's very very very easy to catastrophise when youre in a bad place and to think every mistake is going to lead to the implosion of your life but you have to understand there is so much more grey area than that - so much more room to breathe than it feels. unless your boss has warned you that you're on thin ice try to remind yourself that what you're doing is anxious mind reading - assuming how someone feels about you without evidence, drowning in an insecurity that has not even fully manifested itself in your reality in any tangible way yet. right now, you're doing your best with the tools you currently have. it is your employers job to work with people through their hardships. multi-faceted and flawed and real people - not machines who perform flawlessly constantly no matter the circumstances. you do not have to be that and you do not have to ignore all the energy it takes just to show up and do your job in the first place while you're dealing with something so difficult - it's a lot. and it's only natural you're overwhelmed. but you're doing it anyway and i promise that is a good thing. i am so so proud of you for breaking up with that asshole and for putting yourself first even if it was the scariest or most painful or most difficult choice you've had to make in forever - future you is absolutely going to thank you for it. from the deepest part of my heart, you deserve better and better is genuinely out there. i understand feeling like you want to give up and i'm not saying you're wrong or bad for processing that emotion and those thoughts. what i am saying is that you're obviously in a massive period of transition and growth and as much as it sounds like bullshit it is not always going to be as intensely hurtful as it is right now in this moment. get some rest, breathe, focus on getting through the next hour. that is more than good enough. tomorrow isn't here yet and when it is you can cross that bridge when you come to it. sending you the biggest hug ever - please take it easy and please don't do anything rash. if you need a friend, please come say hi any time. i get it in a lot of ways and i'd love to chat. i'm going to leave some resources that might come in handy if you implement them - they're just there for if you're ever looking for an option when you feel like you're out of them. they're not the full answer and they don't have to be, they're just a start. you're not stuck and you're not alone, though i totally get feeling as if you are. much love. x

resource / resource / resource / resource / resource