The hottest Research Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health Politics Topics

What is Kyutai?

Machine Economy Press • 2 implied HN points • 18 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Kyutai is a French AI research lab with a $330 million budget that will make everything open source
  2. Kyutai was founded by billionaires Eric Schmidt, Xavier Niel, and Rodolphe Saadé to contribute to AI progress in Europe
  3. Kyutai aims to democratize artificial general intelligence through open science, backed by philanthropic efforts and support from the French government

Five years of progress in GPTs

Artificial Fintelligence • 3 HN points • 29 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Focus on the evolution of GPT models over the past five years, highlighting key differences between them.
  2. Explore the significant impact of large models, dataset sizes, and training strategies on language model performance.
  3. Chinchilla and LLaMa papers reveal insights about the optimal model sizes, dataset sizes, and computational techniques for training large language models.

GPT-4 has come, poor man's ChatGPT - Alpaca

AI Progress Newsletter • 3 implied HN points • 18 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Research
  1. GPT-4 is a large multimodal model that can take text and image inputs but only gives text outputs.
  2. Alpaca offers a way to train your own ChatGPT for $100, providing easy access to powerful instruction-following LLMs.
  3. OpenAI faced criticism for not disclosing GPT-4's training data and architecture, making some NLP research projects irrelevant.

Where Do Most AGEs Come From? O Glycation, How Thy Name Hast Deceived Me!

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 39 implied HN points • 07 Oct 11
🏥 Health & Wellness Research
  1. AGEs are mostly formed from dicarbonyls, which are much more reactive than glucose and come from broken pieces of glucose, protein, and fat.
  2. Dietary AGEs are unlikely to significantly contribute to the pool of AGEs circulating in our bodies at any given moment as they are absorbed and excreted quickly.
  3. Most AGEs in our bodies are likely formed inside our cells, emphasizing the importance of cellular processes and defense mechanisms in handling AGEs.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

ICP #001: melanotan II

Aliveness Studies • 2 HN points • 20 Aug 23
🔬 Science Research
  1. Melanotan II activates pathways triggered by UV light for sunless tanning.
  2. Melanotan II binds to different melanocortin receptors resulting in various effects like nausea and sexual arousal.
  3. Palatin Technologies developed bremelanotide from Melanotan II for treating sexual dysfunction without tanning effects.

Is the “Receptor for AGEs (RAGE)” Really a Receptor for AGEs?

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 39 implied HN points • 21 Nov 10
🔬 Science Research
  1. The Receptor for AGEs (RAGE) may not actually bind to and activate AGEs as previously believed, leading to a debate in the scientific community
  2. Studies have shown that RAGE is involved in processes like cell proliferation, tissue repair, and immune system function, rather than solely causing inflammation
  3. Deletions of the RAGE gene in mice have shown varied effects, indicating the complex role RAGE plays in the body

Will AI Doom Humanity?

Dilemmas of Meaning • 2 HN points • 28 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Research
  1. The biggest names in the AI industry are causing fear about AI despite AI not dooming humanity.
  2. Industry leaders are using the narrative of doom to shape public perception and gain advantage in the market.
  3. The focus should shift from vague doomsday scenarios to real harms caused by AI, such as fabrication, inefficiency, and ethical concerns.

The Age of Agents

Sudo Apps • 2 HN points • 24 May 23
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Advancements in large language models have enabled new possibilities through chat interfaces.
  2. Experimenting with instructing multiple agents shows potential for improved outcomes in task completion.
  3. Using a lead engineer can help review, guide, and improve outputs from engineering agents in experiments.

The AI Report - #2

The AI Report • 2 HN points • 14 May 23
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Unlimiformer approach enables handling unlimited input lengths in transformer models.
  2. Real-Time Neural Appearance Models by Nvidia improve performance for real-time applications.
  3. Self-Alignment paper introduces a new approach for language models with minimal human supervision.

Update #46: GPT-4 and Modular Reasoning for Visual Question Answering

The Gradient • 2 HN points • 28 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Research
  1. OpenAI announced GPT-4, a significant improvement over previous models, capable of accepting visual input.
  2. ViperGPT and VisProg use large language models to output executable programs for Visual Question Answering, enhancing interpretability and generalization.
  3. GPT-4 being integrated into various real-world products highlights the potential impact of advanced machine learning models on society and the workforce.

Partial Taxonomy of 8-bit Floating-Point Formats

Fprox’s Substack • 1 HN point • 11 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Research
  1. The interest in small floating-point formats, like 8-bit, has increased due to the computational needs of neural networks, leading to the development of various formats.
  2. Standardization efforts are underway for 8-bit floating-point formats, with organizations like Open Compute Project and IEEE working on defining formats like OFP8 and binary8p1 to address challenges and enhance industry adoption.
  3. Different companies have proposed unique 8-bit floating-point formats, such as Microsoft's msfp8-11 and Tesla's CFloat8, each with specific characteristics like configurable bias values and special value encodings.

Upcoming Chances to Influence NIH

The Good Science Project • 1 HN point • 01 Feb 24
🔬 Science Research
  1. NIH is seeking input on reducing publication bias against null studies to improve science integrity and innovation
  2. NIH is inviting comments on their strategic plan for data science to ensure data is findable, accessible, and leads to tangible health improvements
  3. Prioritizing null results and meaningful data metrics can advance science and human health

Vitamin K2 in Foods: A Closer Look

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 19 implied HN points • 28 Apr 13
🏥 Health & Wellness Research
  1. Vitamin K2 in foods comes from the conversion of other K vitamins to MK-4 in animals or from bacterial production of various MKs, highlighting how cheese production involves these processes.
  2. Different cheeses have varying amounts of vitamin K2 based on the specific bacteria used in fermentation, showcasing how the type of bacteria impacts the levels of MKs like MK-7 and MK-10 in the final product.
  3. The presence of MK-10 and MK-11 in pork products raises questions about their bioavailability compared to other MKs found in foods like cheese and natto, emphasizing the need for further research on the different biological functions of various MKs.

Having Sex Protects Against Vitamin D Toxicity

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 19 implied HN points • 19 Oct 12
🏥 Health & Wellness Research
  1. Balancing vitamin D with vitamins A and K2 may prevent soft tissue calcification caused by vitamin D toxicity.
  2. Studies on mice suggest that sex can protect against vitamin D toxicity by reducing lethality and toxicity levels.
  3. The exact amount of sex needed for this protective effect, whether pregnancy is necessary, and the effects of contraception are still unclear.

Strategic Computing's Machine Acquisition Program

FreakTakes • 1 implied HN point • 05 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Research
  1. The Machine Acquisition Program helped DARPA researchers acquire expensive machines for AI research at a lower cost through negotiation with manufacturers.
  2. The program had successful cost savings but faced challenges due to rapid technological changes, making some purchased machines obsolete within a few years.
  3. Lessons learned included the importance of adapting to evolving technology, weighing risks of investing in rapidly changing fields, and considering long-term impacts of equipment purchases.

When Standing At the Brink of the Abyss, Staring Into the Great Unknown, We Randomize

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 19 implied HN points • 17 Dec 11
🔬 Science Research
  1. Randomization is key in experiments to help remove the influence of known and unknown confounders.
  2. The vast unknown in scientific research is likely much greater than what is presently known, reminding us to approach findings with humility and caution.
  3. Observational evidence is useful for generating hypotheses, but randomized controlled experiments are crucial for supporting or refuting cause-and-effect relationships.

I’m Thankful for Wise Traditions, Past and Present

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 19 implied HN points • 28 Nov 11
🏥 Health & Wellness Research
  1. The author expresses gratitude for the Wise Traditions conference and the impact it had on their personal and academic development.
  2. Attending events like Wise Traditions can lead to forming valuable friendships and connections with like-minded individuals in the same field.
  3. The conference included insightful talks on topics like saturated fats, vitamin absorption, and overall health, highlighting the importance of continuous learning and knowledge sharing.

This Just In: The Infamous Lard-Based High-Fat Rodent Diet Is Twice as High in PUFA as Previously Reported

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 19 implied HN points • 19 Nov 11
🏥 Health & Wellness Research
  1. The lard-based high-fat rodent diet contains twice as much PUFA as previously reported, with a higher omega-6 to omega-3 ratio.
  2. Research Diets opted for direct analysis over using the USDA database for determining the diet's fatty acid profile, showing commitment to honesty and transparency.
  3. Despite potential variations in each batch, Research Diets aims to accurately reflect the diet's fatty acid profile for the well-being of the 50,000 mice worldwide fed on it.

The Trouble With Measuring AGEs — Butter and More

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 19 implied HN points • 06 Oct 11
🏥 Health & Wellness Research
  1. Immunological techniques for measuring AGEs may not provide accurate results because they are like throwing gum at a wall - crude and questionable in terms of specificity and reliability.
  2. Chromatographic methods are a more reliable alternative to measure AGEs, as they allow for precise identification and measurement of individual compounds in a sample.
  3. Critics, including notable researchers like PJ Thornalley and Thomas Henle, emphasize the importance of using chromatographic techniques over immunological methods for accurate quantification of AGEs in food.

The Origin of the Lipid Hypothesis — And Proposal of a New Term

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 19 implied HN points • 25 Feb 11
🔬 Science Research
  1. The term 'lipid hypothesis' originated in 1976 as a testable prediction that high blood cholesterol levels correlate with heart disease risk.
  2. The lipid hypothesis predates the diet-heart hypothesis by decades and focuses on cholesterol's role without claiming exclusivity, also considering factors like inflammation and hormones.
  3. A proposal suggests differentiating between the 'infiltrative lipid hypothesis' focusing on cholesterol quantity and the 'degenerative lipid hypothesis' emphasizing lipid degeneration's role in atherosclerosis.

They Did the Same Thing to the Lab Rats That They Did to Us

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 19 implied HN points • 04 Nov 10
🏥 Health & Wellness Research
  1. Purified diets for lab rats have caused health issues, leading to adjustments in diet composition over time.
  2. The AIN-93 diet updated lab rat nutrition with changes like using corn starch, balancing fatty acids, and adding ultratrace elements.
  3. Human arrogance in assuming knowledge about nutrition has led to health problems for both lab animals and humans.

A tale of twin sisters

De Novo • 1 HN point • 04 Jun 23
🔬 Science Research
  1. Identical twins with discordant fertility levels can mystify medical experts.
  2. Monoamniotic twinning can lead to uneven distribution of primordial germ cells between twins.
  3. Ovarian tissue transplant from a fertile twin can restore fertility in an infertile twin.

cứ như một giấc mơ

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 19 implied HN points • 05 Mar 10
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Research presented at conferences like Black Hat can have a significant impact, potentially affecting thousands of websites with dangerous web attack techniques.
  2. Presenting at prestigious conferences like Black Hat can be a meaningful achievement for researchers, providing encouragement and validation for their work.
  3. For individuals passionate about learning and researching, the recognition from colleagues and the community can be a great source of motivation and joy.

OpenAI's Product Leader Discusses Their Strategy & the Future of AI

Unsupervised Learning • 1 implied HN point • 09 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Research
  1. Value accrual in AI is likely to happen at the application layer, enabling more builders to create products on top of AI technology.
  2. The debate between open source and closed source Language Model Models (LLMs) continues, with closed source models currently dominating.
  3. One of the biggest risks in AI is the lack of understanding of what goes on inside AI models, including interpretability and goal specification.

When Glucose Makes a Mess

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 19 implied HN points • 19 Jan 10
🏥 Health & Wellness Research
  1. Oxidative stress caused by sugars can be similar to other types of stress like nitrative and carbonyl stress
  2. Methylglyoxal, a compound from sugar breakdown, can damage proteins by forming harmful imidazole rings
  3. Methylglyoxal's reaction with lysine can lead to crosslinking of proteins, potentially disrupting protein function and structure