Linkblog

Posted on October 30, 2019 by jjn1

• If a Robotic Hand Solves a Rubik’s Cube, Does It Prove Something? Solving the cube is easy once you know the algorithm. But building a robotic hand that’s nimble enough to manipulate the cube is harder. The OpenAI researchers built a computer system “that learned to solve the Rubik’s Cube largely on its own”. (Italics added.) Wonder what ‘largely’ means.
• “Conspiracy loons claim victory in Brighton and Hove as council rejects plans to build 5G masts” Note the objective headline. But then that’s The Register’s style for you. Standfirst reads: “No next-gen mobile internet for you but, hey, no cancer either”.
• Machine learning on a USB stick Well, not quite. But we’re not far off as Google moves its Coral system off Beta status. The technology is on the way to being commoditised.
• Fascinating comparison of two photographs of the White House Situation Room during the Bin Laden mission and the Bagdadi mission Guess which one looks most staged.