The Download: AI lessons for the US election, and our climate tech list is coming
Science & Technology

The Download: AI lessons for the US election, and our climate tech list is coming

Technology tamfitronics Plus: the US is considering banning China and Russia-made tech from connected cars This is today's edition of The Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. What the US can learn from the role of AI in other elections When the generative AI boom kicked off, one of the biggest concerns was that hyperrealistic deepfakes could be used to influence elections. But new research from the Alan Turing Institute recently found that AI-generated falsehoods seem to have had no effect on election results around the world so far this year. However, one of the most consequential elections of the year is still ahead of us. In just over a month, Americans will head to the polls to choose Donald Trump...
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Leadership Lessons from a NASA Tragedy
Science & Technology

Leadership Lessons from a NASA Tragedy

NASA Space Technology August 21, 2024 In early 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated as it re-entered the earth’s atmosphere. All seven astronauts on board were killed.This was not the first NASA mission to end in disaster, and it inspired Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson to write a business case about what went wrong.Edmondson studies psychological safety and organizational learning. Her most recent book is Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well.In this episode, she breaks down the organizational challenges within NASA that contributed to the Columbia tragedy, offering a window into the organization’s leadership. Edmondson also shares lessons for all leaders about the dangers of unyielding hierarchy and...
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Lessons from the political minefield of Pro Philosopher 2
Politics

Lessons from the political minefield of Pro Philosopher 2

Politics tamfitronics I’m Connor Fallon, the main designer and writer for Pro Philosopher 2an upcoming indie game where you challenge over-the-top anime renditions of famous philosophers in a series of puzzly debates. If that sounds familiar, you were probably around for our first game, Socrates Jones: Pro Philosopherwhich was a bit of a cult hit on Kongregate in 2013. (Now rereleased for free on Steam!)Back then, I wrote about the challenges of adapting Ace Attorney-inspired gameplay to fit the more abstract nature of philosophical debate. As a team, we’ve learned a lot since then – having shipped multiple AAA games during the day and Elsinore on the side – so it would be natural to assume development of the sequel would be easier. But Pro Philosopher 2 posed a whole new set of challenges...
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Lessons from Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
Science & Technology

Lessons from Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

Technology tamfitronics Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is the most visually accomplished game released in 2024 to date, and for me it represents the most significant Unreal Engine 5 release next to Epic's own Fortnite. As well being a game with fascinating technology in its own right, with so many developers jumping on the UE5 bandwagon it seems inevitable that Hellblade 2 will be instructive for future developers. There's a lot that the game gets right which ought to be copied wholesale, while other elements might be best avoided. Let's start with a strongly positive element, and that's the user experience you'll notice when first starting up Hellblade 2. Before the game starts, you have the chance to change important...
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