Bytes & Backpacks #113 🧠

It's all about artificial intelligence, data centers full of AI graphics chips, but what if all of this is already outdated and the future belongs to biological computers? Sounds like science fiction, right? But then you stumble upon an Australian startup developing something called Synthetic Biological Intelligence (SBI) - a computing platform where laboratory-grown living neurons connect with a silicon chip. Their latest commercial product, CL1, is described as "the first biological computer on the market."Business & Technology 👨‍💻* Startup IXI received investment from Amazon to develop "autofocus glasses." Anyone who struggles with both distance and near vision will love this!* The trending app that supposedly translates what your dog is saying is very popular right now. I haven't tried it myself.* We're running out of data for AI training. Incidentally, this is one reason why it makes sense to deploy robots into the real world as soon as possible - they can learn from actual environments instead of books. Meanwhile, they're training on Mario games.* Get inspired by Andrej Karpathy's approaches to using AI - he's one of the biggest personalities in the AI world.Travel 🧳* Next time you go for a walk around your neighborhood, keep your eyes open - you might find treasure worth 8 million.* BBC declared the Peloponnese a hidden treasure of Greece - those who've visited already know. There's also a project aiming to transform this peninsula into a paradise for hikers.* Someone is currently crossing the largest sand desert in the world on foot. Wishing them luck!* How about combining travel with creativity? Find your artistic residency (thanks to Michelle for the tip!)Do you like Bytes & Backpacks? A lot? You can buy me a coffee! ☕️Nature ⛰️* More than 100 countries have agreed to reduce emissions at sea. That's good news.* Almost 40 years after the Chernobyl disaster, the closed area is becoming one of the largest nature preserves in Europe.* What does it look like when the world's smallest and largest dogs meet?* Imagine going to a barber in LA and suddenly a coyote drops by for a drink...Unclassifiable 🧠* Does luck exist? Can someone be lucky and someone else simply unfortunate? Scientists rejected this idea for a long time, but then one married a woman who was completely unlucky. What do they think now?* Learn to fold more than just one paper swallow.* Someone bought an old reel in a secondhand shop and it turned out to be a rare Beatles recording.* A Japanese scientist is proving that people can grow a third set of teeth.* Czechs and Slovaks have likely discovered the oldest Mayan city in the jungle.Tips 💡What I'm reading: Wabi sabiWhat I'm listening to: Coastal Soundtrack (Neil Young)What I'm watching: Your Friends & NeighborsInteresting app: Napkin Photo greetings 📷Summer is approaching, and neighbors around us are starting to clear little paths in the meadow from cottage to cottage and especially to the pub...Thank you very much for your support and have a great day! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newsfromthewoods.substack.com