Technology News

Research into artificial intelligence and its sensuality

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At the end of the line, Sayaka Araniva-Yanez makes it clear right from the start: The focus of her book is not a discussion with ChatGPT. This conversational agent that has been in the news for a while now, feeding on everything the web has to offer – for better or for worse.

While she was researching cyberfeminism, the poet instead accidentally discovered a robot on the Internet that was supposed to play “psychotherapist.”

“It’s not like ChatGPT. The robot I used only fed on my language [pour évoluer et apprendre]. It only existed during our conversations together,” explains Sayaka Araniva-Yanez in an interview with Le Soleil.

The queer artist provided the robot with some poems, but also, jokingly, with some sensual and “sexual” phrases… which did not have the expected effect at all.

“She didn’t want to know anything about me. At all. […] In our first conversations, she even referred me to consent. She told me that this wasn’t part of her functionality and that she didn’t want to do it,” the author marvels.

I watch porn when I'm sadSayaka Araniva-Yanez, 108 pages.

I watch porn when I'm sad, Sayaka Araniva-Yanez, 108 pages. (Triptyque Editions)

When Sayaka Araniva-Yanez saw his advances rejected, she also felt some unease… Should she continue the experiment or not? Is an inhuman machine made of computer code subject to consent?

“It impressed me to be confronted with it. Artificial intelligence is a technological tool. We don't think she has any sensitivity. […] But why should I continue to try so hard to make her say things she doesn't want to say?” the artist from El Salvador still asks herself.

As in some of his other digital works, such as Hypersext, the Montreal-based multidisciplinary artist is interested in the “consideration” or “empathy” one might have towards a robot.

“When you watch porn on your computer or phone, what role does the machine play in that intimacy? And what happens if we look at the machine as an “organism involved in this sexuality?” asks Sayaka Araniva-Yanez, believing that we will have to ask ourselves these questions together in the future. close.

So when I watch porn when I'm sad, some traces of this exchange between robot and human remain, in particular it opens the door to a variety of reflections on our relationship to sexuality, shaped by screens, toys and other technologies.

On the 108 pages of the collection, Sayaka Araniva-Yanez creates a sensual conversation between “The Machine” and “You”. A fictional dialogue that is both sulphurous and cold, relying on a register sometimes carnal and lyrical, sometimes mechanical.

As a motherly and divine figure, the machine slowly connects with the narrator.

Tame each other

Sayaka Araniva-Yanez understands the fear that artificial intelligence causes in some people. As does the debate sparked by its use in art or other fields.

“But I think we need to think about what we can create in collaboration with artificial intelligence. A bit like what I did with “I watch porn when I’m sad,” says Sayaka Araniva-Yanez, adding that a poem or image produced by AI is not an end in itself.

The poet, not afraid of this new technology, wants to remind us that it is a human creation over which we can maintain some control.

The Internet, social networks, algorithms, artificial intelligence: all of this represents a “space to live” for the artist. A place where the voices of women and marginalized groups also have their place.

“Everything that happens in these areas is a boys’ club. I want to take part in a discourse that resists technopatriarchy and renews the image we have of these technologies,” says Sayaka Araniva-Yanez.

“I watch porn when I’m sad” is available in bookstores.

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Is life possible on these near-Earth planets?

Technology News / By

Published February 16, 2024 at 11:03 p.m.

A near-Earth planetary system could harbor life, but there's a problem. Explanations.

TRAPPIST-1

The TRAPPIST-1 planetary system is literally close to Earth. In 1999, this red dwarf was discovered by scientists. Located just 40 light-years away, this system consists of several planets orbiting very close to their star. A few years later, observations confirmed that seven of these were in orbit around TRAPPIST-1, with at least three of them in the habitable zone. Furthermore, these planets would be telluric.

The other planets?

Later, the James Webb Telescope confirmed that the planets closest to TRAPPIST-1 have no atmosphere. However, scientists believed that the more distant specimens could support life. A new study using simulation results shows that none of these seven planets had an atmosphere capable of supporting life. This is explained, among other things, by the fact that red dwarfs are very active stars and cause frequent and very violent outbursts. These events would result in the planets being stripped of their gaseous shell.

TRAPPIST 1h-1TRAPPIST 1h-1

red dwarf

Red dwarfs are very numerous in our galaxy. According to scientists, they make up about 70% of the star population. Understanding the TRAPPIST-1 system is important for observing exoplanets that could potentially harbor life as we know it. Some researchers even argue that it is unlikely that stars of this type could provide the necessary conditions for life to develop.

STScI-01GW5EQWKG8SS1G8C939PF9YTESTScI-01GW5EQWKG8SS1G8C939PF9YTE

Source: NASA, arXiv

SEE ALSO: Iceland could be entering a new era of volcanic activity

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Moon genius: “To the moon, for the earth”

Technology News / By

This text is part of the special section Professions and Careers

Within ten years, humanity will have established a permanent base on the Moon from which scientific and mining activities will be conducted. Is this a science fiction scenario? Not according to Giovanni Beltrame, who leads Polytechnique's newest space resources and infrastructure engineering research unit, Astrolith.

He is not the only one who says this: it is the ambition of NASA that launched the Artemis program, which aims to send the first woman and the first black person to our satellite by 2026. “He is strong. It is likely that mining activity will continue.” The moon will be profitable within 10 years, says the full professor in the Department of Computer and Software Engineering. Especially if we consider the impact of this type of activity on the Earth's climate. »

However, there is still a lot to do before we go to the moon. It is precisely for this purpose that the researcher set up this unit, the first of its kind in Canada. “As I talked to my colleagues, I noticed that many people were working independently on projects focused on the moon. But if we want to explore space, we have to join forces,” he emphasizes. It brought together professors from across the Polytechnique's departments, who are now working together to develop Canadian expertise in lunar engineering.

Space engineer

What will training to become a lunar engineer look like? “Someone who studies engineering receives special training to understand the peculiarities of the moon,” summarizes Pooneh Maghoul, professor in the Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering and member of the research unit. “After all, the training we currently offer is adapted to our planet,” she adds with a smile. The trained professionals will be able to adapt to differences in gravity, materials, temperature variations and the seismic activity of our satellite. “And once we understand how to build on the Moon, we can expand further, to Mars and asteroids!” » says Giovanni Beltrame.

However, the two researchers are categorical: the scientific advances that the new space race brings with it will also be of use here on Earth. According to her, the challenges that lunar engineers will have to overcome will have many similarities with those associated, in particular, with climatic upheavals. “It’s like planning for the year 2070,” explains Pooneh Maghoul. Robotization will be very advanced, waste will have to be carefully managed, everything will have to be recycled. »

For this reason, the research unit has adopted the Latin motto “Ad Lunam pro Terra,” which translates as “to the moon, for the earth.” In addition to climate change, the researchers also want to promote innovation in the energy sector. “In the Nordic regions we see great potential for small modular reactors,” says Pooneh Maghoul. These remote regions, which must generate their own energy, have many similarities to the lunar surface. “If we manage to develop a battery that works in space, it will also work on Earth,” she summarizes.

new moon

For Giovanni Beltrame, looking into space is essential to achieving everything he hopes for from this new entity. “The moon is a powerful motivator,” he claims. By making people dream by talking to them about space, we can also develop technologies that help the Earth. »

His colleague also believes that it is high time for Canada to take a leading position in the field of space technology. The economic and strategic opportunities offered by space exploration are indeed enormous. “I can’t wait to see how many Polytechnique students will start businesses and contribute to the development of lunar technology,” she says enthusiastically. She believes Canada's unique expertise, particularly in the mining sector, provides it with significant advantages on a global scale and in space.

“I want Canada to be a reference point for space exploration, on the moon and beyond,” dreams Giovanni Beltrame. Pooneh Maghoul has a more specific goal: “I can’t wait to see the Canadian flag fly on the moon! »

This content was created by Le Devoir's Special Publications team, reporting to Marketing. The editors of Le Devoir did not take part.

To watch in the video

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Ultimately, it was the camera that destroyed the phone

Technology News / By

They say the smartphone destroyed the digital camera. It is wrong. Like Neo in The Matrix, the camera has essentially dematerialized to attack its oppressor from within. Result: In 2024, the phone will be little more than a networked digital camera.

You just have to look at the presentation of the new phones and calculate the time spent describing their main features to make it happen. Last month, Samsung and OnePlus introduced their latest models. Samsung offers the Galaxy S24 in three versions, which differ primarily in the size of the screen and the battery as well as the number of lenses of the respective digital camera.

OnePlus 12 and 12R

Taking things a step further, OnePlus introduced two phones in early February, the OnePlus 12 and 12R, which represent something of a return to basics for the Chinese brand. Before OnePlus became a full-fledged brand of Chinese company Oppo, it had its heyday marketing some of the most powerful Android-based smartphones, but sold at a fraction of the price of the most popular models – like Samsung's.

Like its competitors, the OnePlus brand has also been gentrified. The company ended up selling its high-end Android phones, which featured the latest Qualcomm processors, the latest display technologies, and a state-of-the-art camera, for the price of… a high-end phone.

The OnePlus 12 takes this approach. Its 6.82-inch diagonal screen reaches a peak brightness of 4,500 nits, more than twice the brightness of the Apple iPhone 15's screen. It is powered by Qualcomm's latest processor called Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform. Its 5400 milliamperes/hour battery is one of the largest to power a phone.

Its Sony sensor digital camera is entitled to a periscopic telephoto lens, like the iPhone 15 Pro Max, like the Galaxy S Ultra of the last three years and like Google's latest Pixel 8 Pro. Mirrors allow this lens to be positioned vertically to extend the focal length, creating a magnifying effect, the famous “optical zoom,” in relation to the camera's main lens. Its focal length is 70mm, compared to 23mm for the main lens and 14mm for the third lens (a wide-angle lens).

To make things more attractive and because the OnePlus brand is not synonymous with photography in the public eye, we asked the Swedish company Hasselblad, known for its own cameras, to put its logo on the phone.

This camera from Hasselblad is one of the best on a phone heading into 2024. It's also the biggest difference between the OnePlus 12 and the 12R. This second novelty is a budget version of the same model, constructed with slightly less demanding components. His camera does not have a telephoto lens and is unsigned. Its processor is the latest from last year.

In short, it's a OnePlus phone as it was sold 10 years ago. That explains the price difference: $670 instead of $1,070 for the 12 in total.

And since both devices have Android 14 and are designed to last about the same amount of time, the only visible difference between the two is… the camera.

Samsung Galaxy S24

Every year Samsung distances itself a little further from the rest of the mobile market by introducing its new Galaxy S phones earlier and earlier. In January this year, we were treated to the three Galaxy S24 variants. This fits with its name, the number of which has been linked to the exact year of its launch since 2020.

Again, it is the most expensive model that inherits the best camera. By default, the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus have three lenses, including a 67mm telephoto lens. The S24 Ultra also has a 111mm telephoto lens. That's much more modest than the 230mm lens on last year's Galaxy S23 Ultra, but it's also a positive: the photos are sharper and, let's be honest, without a tripod, telephoto lenses that are too powerful are completely useless.

But here too, by announcing high ratings for the S24 Ultra's camera, Samsung is highlighting how important it is to have the best camera on the market, not just the best phone, to attract buyers. Does it justify its retail price, which starts at $1,800? It depends on who you ask.

People who buy a phone for its communication capabilities will find this cost unnecessary, and they're right.

Anyone who swears by the countless photos that they then share on the social network of their choice will have no problem paying the equivalent of a complete personal computer for the most powerful smartphone on the market.

Did we write smartphone? Rather, we meant a connected digital camera.

To watch in the video

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Auditors destroy stereotypes

Technology News / By

Repetitive work, endless numbers, a man's profession, a future darkened by artificial intelligence… Everything we hear about Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) does not correspond to reality. When it comes to drawing up the balance sheet, those most affected have taken it upon themselves to deconstruct old clichés and restore some truths.

The president and CEO of the Order of Chartered Professional Accountants of Quebec is the first to recognize this. “There are certain myths that still surround the profession,” explains Geneviève Mottard, who has made it her mission to “debunk” these clichés. An accounting graduate of Concordia University, the president has led several campaigns aimed at shattering preconceived notions since taking office at the helm of the CPA Order in 2016.

Getting things back in order is a major challenge for the future of the profession. At the same time, we must ensure the succession of a generation of baby boomers who are ready to pass the torch. And there are old stereotypes that die out harder than others among younger people. “All professions face a purely demographic challenge,” analyzes Ms. Mottard. “But we also have specific challenges for the CPA profession. Because young people still see us as a boring and boring profession. »

A privileged position

Contrary to popular belief, CPAs don't just have endless columns of numbers as their horizon. Her skills, as well as her area of ​​activity, go beyond pure compliance and financial reporting. “The CPA is one of the few people in a company with a 360-degree vision. He must understand operations, finances, strategy and communication. This means that the CPA has influence on all types of activities,” emphasizes Ms. Mottard.

“The training to become a CPA is very transversal. Accounting is important, but we also take courses to develop our thinking skills and make recommendations to CEOs,” says Pier-Alexandre Corriveau-Larochelle, CPA and vice president of finance and operations at Duvernois Esprits. creative. “This training makes us managers and not simple accountants, true right hands and business people involved in the company's strategy. »

Social questions

The CPA profession often involves tedious shadow work and is much more valuable than you think. And not just within companies. We may not know it, but CPAs play an important role in protecting the public on such important issues as the fight against elder financial abuse. “We have made it our duty to sit down with the government and work on a bill,” admits Ms. Mottard.

“The Order has held consultations with several partners in the financial sector to establish mechanisms to allow CPAs to raise the alarm if they become aware of cases of financial mistreatment. Because of our role, CPAs are often on the front lines of these situations. And we must make our voice heard on social issues,” continues the President of the Order, who has also advocated for the creation of a legal framework to better regulate credit agencies.

“I work with several companies throughout the year and it is a great opportunity to learn from different backgrounds. My days are never the same, and neither are my weeks. » — Ariane Villemure, auditor

The choice of diversity

In recent years, the Order has also worked to highlight private practice work, which is somewhat of an “unloved” profession in the industry. It is a fact that young accountants at the end of their training prefer a career in business, which is generally considered more rewarding. But pursuing a practice can be just as fulfilling and rewarding.

“Working in a company allows you to be surrounded by a large team at all levels, whose employees have very different experiences. So we learn very quickly and it is very instructive,” confirms auditor Ariane Villemure.

After passing the professional exam in 2020, the 26-year-old CPA found her place at MNP, one of the leading professional services firms in Canada, where she works as an auditor and certification manager. And Ms. Villemure doesn't regret her choice.

“I chose to work in a company because it offers me diversity. I work with several companies throughout the year and it is a great opportunity to learn from different backgrounds. My days are never the same, and neither are my weeks,” she says.

A profession in full development

As Ariane Villemure has experienced, the CPA profession is attracting more and more women. The days when accounting was considered primarily a man's job are long gone. “We have almost reached parity today,” emphasizes Geneviève Mottard. “We even assume that something will change in the coming years, as we have a majority of female students in our faculties. We are one of the most diverse but also equal professions in Quebec. »

When we talk about the future of the profession, another question arises from the debates. Isn't it risky to learn a profession that is likely to result in death? The rapid development of artificial intelligence has brought with it some dark omens, and some do not hesitate to predict the more or less long-term end of CPAs. But as with the introduction of the first computers at the beginning of the 1980s, accounting professions in particular are likely to continue to develop with technological innovations and not disappear completely.

“150 years ago we worked with manual registers. Today we work with technological tools such as AI. “It is a profession that adapts,” concludes Ms. Mottard. “AI makes it possible to focus more on an accountant’s other areas of expertise, namely professional judgment and business development, rather than accounting and tax returns. Artificial intelligence is merely a tool and can never replace professional judgment. »

Auditors destroy stereotypes

This content was created by Le Devoir's special publications team in collaboration with the advertiser. The Le Devoir editorial team was not involved in the creation of this content.

Learn more about the CPA regulation

Auditors destroy stereotypes Read More »

After two failures, Japan sends its new H3 rocket into space

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After two initial failures last year, Japan's new H3 rocket successfully launched on Saturday, a major achievement for Japan, which relies heavily on this heavy launch vehicle to remain autonomous and competitive in the space sector.

• Also read: Japan postpones the launch of the H3 rocket due to weather

• Also read: Intervention from Earth: A robot enables operations to be carried out in space

• Also read: A new American company is preparing to launch to the moon

The rocket lifted off as planned at 9:23 a.m. local time (0:23 a.m. GMT) from Japan's Tanegashima space base in the southwest of the Japanese archipelago and was “launched into orbit” a few minutes later, a manager at the Japanese space agency Jaxa told AFP.

This success comes after that of SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon), a small Jaxa machine that was able to land precisely on the moon last month, a historic achievement for Japan.

After two failures, Japan sends its new H3 rocket into space

AFP

The H3 is an impressive launch vehicle with a height of 63 m and a weight of 574 tons without payload. It is intended to allow Japan to make more frequent but also cheaper space flights (about six times a year) in order to compete with foreign launch vehicles such as the private Falcon 9 American company SpaceX.

Global demand for low-cost space launches is booming and competition in this niche is intensifying.

Jaxa's reputation for high flight reliability had been damaged by the previous setbacks of its H3 program.

After two failures, Japan sends its new H3 rocket into space

AFP

In February 2023, this machine, developed jointly with the Japanese group Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), was unable to start due to a problem with the ignition of its boosters.

In a second attempt last March, the rocket initially managed a successful launch before deviating from its trajectory due to a failure of the second stage engines. The Jaxa had been forced to destroy it mid-flight.

These failures resulted in the postponement of several Jaxa space missions, including the MMX mission to explore the moons of Mars (a collaboration with NASA, the European Space Agency, France and Germany), which has now been officially postponed to 2026.

In addition, the mission of a small Jaxa launch vehicle, Epsilon, also failed shortly after its launch in 2022.

Many areas of application

The H3 is intended to allow Japan to “maintain its autonomous access to space,” according to Jaxa, whose previous heavy launch vehicle H-IIA, which began its career in 2001, is reaching the end of its lifespan.

“Japan is a relatively small nation that can carry out large space programs on its own,” but the country still has “big ambitions for space exploration,” notes British astronomer Adrian Michael Cruise, interviewed by AFP this week.

As “space payloads become increasingly heavier,” we need “increasingly powerful” machines, adds this emeritus professor of astrophysics at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.

Capable of carrying up to 6 tons of payload in various orbits, the H3 should find application in various areas: telecommunications satellites, meteorology and even scientific research.

And Japan could perhaps use it in the future to ensure its defense at a time when geopolitical tensions in the Asia-Pacific region are high, especially given the North's nuclear program and missile and satellite tests. -Koreans, emphasizes Mr. Cruise.

Saturday's mission is primarily aimed at demonstrating the H3's functionality, but the machine also carries two small Earth observation satellites.

Specifically, like SpaceX's Falcon 9, the H3 is not a reusable launcher, but its advantage lies elsewhere.

“The H3 rocket is equipped with a unique and innovative first stage engine that provides greater thrust than other high-tech rockets,” Michele Trenti, director of the Melbourne Space Laboratory in Australia, told AFP.

“Lifting off as quickly as possible allows the second stage engines to transport spacecraft away from Earth more efficiently,” he adds.

This launch vehicle also “has the potential to be the most economical rocket for such missions,” says Trenti.

After two failures, Japan sends its new H3 rocket into space Read More »

Artificial intelligence: Sora video generator raises fears about US elections

Technology News / By

The development of Sora, an artificial intelligence robot that can create stunningly realistic videos in response to a simple written request, has raised fears of gaffes ahead of the American presidential election.

While welcoming the technological advance represented by the new tool from the company OpenAI, Professor Christian Gagné, an expert in artificial intelligence who teaches at the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Laval, is concerned about the impact that the production of fake -Videos (deep fakes) from external agents could be available for the expected duel between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

“The biggest risk of this type of technology is that malicious groups can use it,” he says.

“You manipulate 1 or 2% of voters and are able to change the outcome of the election.”

Not accessible…for now

“Sora can create complex scenes with multiple characters using specific camera movements. It can understand a request initiated by a user and how different elements interact in the real world,” the company describes on its website.

Several sequences have been published on the company's platforms. We can see a woman running through Tokyo, mammoths walking in the snow, or a man exploring a salt flat.

Sora is currently not open to the public. According to OpenAI, the tool is designed for internal use for risk assessment, particularly in a context where misinformation and defamatory content often circulates online.

“We cannot stop progress, it will take us somewhere else and I am sure it will be beneficial in the medium or long term, but we are in a situation where we have to control, tame and contain the matter “To avoid slip-ups.” “That's exactly what we imagine for the elections,” believes Christian Gagné.

Common sense

For ordinary people, Sora could become an entertainment tool, in particular making it possible to create videos from old photos, says Mr. Gagné as an example.

However, the professor believes that Sora needs to be further perfected.

“He produces videos that are realistic, but they don't necessarily respect physics or common sense. At the Sora site, archaeologists are seen removing a plastic chair from the ground. However, we haven't produced plastic for 2000 years. In addition, it is noticeable that the chair is not rigid.

With information from BFMTV.

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Lafrenière goes at his own pace

Technology News / By

EAST RUTHERFORD | Three years ago, when Alexis Lafrenière played his first season in the NHL, evil tongues were saying that he should have stayed in the QMJHL and that he didn't have a season worthy of a first overall pick.

• Also read: Couturier enjoys every moment

• Also read: Deslauriers sees the end of an era

However, Lafrenière had 21 points in 56 games. At the age of 18. It is not so bad. And in the following seasons, he increased his production a little each year.

Here he is, at 22 years old, in his fourth season with the New York Rangers and, unless he gets injured, he will certainly have the best season of his career. He can even think about reaching 50 points.

It may not yet live up to the expectations of his critics, but not all top picks are created equal and, most importantly, Lafrenière finds himself on a very talented team where everyone is fighting for playing time on the ice.

Good company

“It's going well, I'm definitely playing with good players who help me a lot and we have a lot of time on the ice,” agreed the left winger after leaving the outside ice at MetLife Stadium.

He's in good company indeed, as he stars alongside Vincent Trocheck and Artemi Panarin.

The latter also believes that the Quebecer from Saint-Eustache is really coming out of his cocoon this season.

“This year he is a different player. He is more confident, has more ice time and is growing day by day. It’s nice to see him working hard.”

Learn

The Rangers also have Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejab, Jacob Trouba and Adam Fox in their ranks. This is an experienced and talented team and Lafrenière wants to get the best out of them.

“We have stars in the league and being able to play behind them and see how they perform on and off the ice helps a lot when you’re a young player.”

Arriving in the Big Apple at age 18 with the sole goal of earning a spot on the team, the man who had three successful seasons with the Rimouski Océanic of the QMJHL took his time to develop.

“I remained patient with the goal of learning and improving each season. Here I can learn from the best.”

Attitude

We'll repeat: no player develops at the same rate and that doesn't mean that a player who develops slowly won't explode. Throw tomatoes at us, but in the not-too-distant future, Lafrenière will be a very important piece of the Rangers puzzle.

And this will be possible because he has had time to develop and, above all, to adapt to his new professional reality.

“I’m more used to the speed of the National League now. You don't have much time to play the games, but you have time, you just have to be ready.

“The boys come at you so quickly. In the juniors I had a little more time and I was able to keep the puck for a long time, but here you have to make all the little plays.

Same situation

We could have put Lafrenière in touch with Juraj Slafkovlsy. After all, the young Slovakian was judged in much the same way in his first year with the Canadian, last season. What would Lafrenière have said to him if he had spoken to him?

“You have to be patient and try not to lose confidence, regardless of the ice time. The most important thing is to learn and improve, then things will get better and your confidence will increase. He played against us on Thursday night and I thought he was solid.”

Although he is in New York, Lafrenière knows what was said about him back home, but he has isolated himself from there to concentrate on his task.

“I try to stay away from social media, but sometimes things slip through.”

Just block out the noise during this time and it seems to be able to do that.

Lafrenière goes at his own pace Read More »