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Microsoft has introduced a GPT-4-based generative AI model designed specifically for US intelligence agencies that operates disconnected from the Internet, according to a Bloomberg report. This reportedly marks the first time Microsoft has deployed a major language model in a secure setting, designed to allow spy agencies to analyze top-secret information without connectivity risks—and to allow secure conversations with a chatbot similar to ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot. But it may also mislead officials if not used properly due to inherent design limitations of AI language models.

GPT-4 is a large language model (LLM) created by OpenAI that attempts to predict the most likely tokens (fragments of encoded data) in a sequence. It can be used to craft computer code and analyze information. When configured as a chatbot (like ChatGPT), GPT-4 can power AI assistants that converse in a human-like manner. Microsoft has a license to use the technology as part of a deal in exchange for large investments it has made in OpenAI.

According to the report, the new AI service (which does not yet publicly have a name) addresses a growing interest among intelligence agencies to use generative AI for processing classified data, while mitigating risks of data breaches or hacking attempts. ChatGPT normally  runs on cloud servers provided by Microsoft, which can introduce data leak and interception risks. Along those lines, the CIA announced its own plan to create a ChatGPT-like service last year, but this Microsoft effort reportedly stands as a separate project.

William Chappell, Microsoft's chief technology officer for strategic missions and technology, noted to Bloomberg that developing the new system involved 18 months of work to modify an AI supercomputer in Iowa. The modified GPT-4 model is designed to read files provided by its users but cannot access the open Internet. "This is the first time we’ve ever had an isolated version—when isolated means it’s not connected to the Internet—and it’s on a special network that’s only accessible by the US government," Chappell told Bloomberg.

The new service was activated on Thursday and is now available to about 10,000 individuals in the intelligence community, ready for further testing by relevant agencies.

One serious drawback of using GPT-4 to analyze important data is that it can potentially confabulate (make up) inaccurate summaries, draw inaccurate conclusions, or provide inaccurate information to its users. Since trained AI neural networks are not databases and operate on statistical probabilities, they make poor factual resources unless augmented with external access to information from another source using a technique such as retrieval augmented generation (RAG).

Given that limitation, it's entirely possible that GPT-4 could potentially misinform or mislead America's intelligence agencies if not used properly. We don't know what oversight the system will have, any limitations on how it can or will be used, or how it can be audited for accuracy. We have reached out to Microsoft for comment.

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Enlarge / An American Airlines Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner preparing to take off at Barcelona-El Prat Airport in Spain on May 1, 2024. (credit: Getty Images | NurPhoto )

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating whether Boeing failed to complete required inspections on 787 Dreamliner planes and whether Boeing employees falsified aircraft records, the agency said this week. The investigation was launched after an employee reported the problem to Boeing management, and Boeing informed the FAA.

"The FAA has opened an investigation into Boeing after the company voluntarily informed us in April that it may not have completed required inspections to confirm adequate bonding and grounding where the wings join the fuselage on certain 787 Dreamliner airplanes," the FAA said in a statement provided to Ars today.

The FAA said it "is investigating whether Boeing completed the inspections and whether company employees may have falsified aircraft records. At the same time, Boeing is reinspecting all 787 airplanes still within the production system and must also create a plan to address the in-service fleet." The agency added that it "will take any necessary action—as always—to ensure the safety of the flying public."

Boeing exec confirms skipped tests

Boeing VP Scott Stocker, who leads the 787 Dreamliner program, described "misconduct" in an April 29 email to employees in South Carolina. Boeing provided a copy of the email to Ars.

"After receiving the report, we quickly reviewed the matter and learned that several people had been violating Company policies by not performing a required test, but recording the work as having been completed," Stocker wrote. "As you all know, we have zero tolerance for not following processes designed to ensure quality and safety. We promptly informed our regulator about what we learned and are taking swift and serious corrective action with multiple teammates."

Stocker's email praised a Boeing employee, or "teammate" as he called him, for reporting the problem. "The teammate saw what appeared to be an irregularity in a required conformance test in wing body join," Stocker wrote. "He raised it with his manager, who brought it to the attention of executive leadership. I wanted to personally thank and commend that teammate for doing the right thing. It's critical that every one of us speak up when we see something that may not look right, or that needs attention."

Stocker wrote that Boeing's "engineering team has assessed that this misconduct did not create an immediate safety of flight issue." But there will be an impact on customers and employees "because the test now needs to be conducted out of sequence on airplanes in the build process." Stocker urged employees "to ensure full compliance with our policies and procedures" and to "speak up if you see something that doesn't seem right."

Dreamliner cockpit problem

In March, about 50 people were injured on a LATAM Airlines flight in which a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner experienced a "strong shake" that reportedly caused some passengers' heads to hit the ceiling. Boeing subsequently "advised airlines to check the cockpit seats on 787 Dreamliner jets after a seat mishap likely pushed a pilot into the controls," The Wall Street Journal wrote.

The WSJ wrote that in the LATAM incident, a "flight attendant hit a switch on the pilot's seat while serving a meal, leading a motorized feature to push the pilot into the controls and push down the plane's nose, according to US industry officials briefed on preliminary evidence from an investigation. The switch, on the back of the chair, is usually covered and isn't supposed to be used when a pilot is in the seat."

Boeing sent a memo to airlines "recommending that they inspect the cockpit chairs for loose covers on the switches and instructing them how to turn off power to the pilot seat motor if needed," the WSJ wrote.

Boeing scrutiny

Boeing has been under increased scrutiny since January when a 737 Max 9 used by Alaska Airlines was forced to make an emergency landing because a door plug blew off the aircraft in mid-flight. The National Transportation Safety Board found that four bolts that were supposed to secure the door plug were missing.

The NTSB also told US senators that its door-plug investigation was hampered by a lack of repair records and security camera footage. Boeing was unable to find records documenting work on the door plug and said it only kept video recordings for 30 days before they are overwritten.

Boeing also withdrew an application for a safety exemption related to its 737 Max 7 aircraft after criticism from US Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.). Duckworth criticized Boeing for seeking "an exemption from safety standards to prematurely allow the 737 Max 7 to enter commercial service."

Recent news reports describe the deaths of two whistleblowers, one who worked for Boeing and another who worked for a Boeing supplier. Former Boeing quality manager John Barnett died in March from what a coroner said "appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound." Barnett worked at Boeing for 32 years and "became a whistleblower at the South Carolina factory that builds the 787 Dreamliner" before resigning in 2017, CBS News wrote.

The second whistleblower death occurred a week ago. "Joshua Dean, a former quality auditor at Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems and one of the first whistleblowers to allege Spirit leadership had ignored manufacturing defects on the 737 Max, died Tuesday morning after a struggle with a sudden, fast-spreading infection," The Seattle Times wrote last week.

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There’s still much debate about range on both electric and combustion cars. We’re all familiar with cars that have microscopic fuel tanks and the concept of EV range anxiety, and since both share similar concepts, let’s put it to the people. How long can you specifically drive in one sitting without stopping and taking a break?

This means no fill-ups, no stand-up leg-stretches, no bathroom breaks, no pulling over for food, just driving. Pretty simple, right? I’ll go first. You might think that doing this whole car thing for a living might imbue me with superhuman stint abilities, but my answer’s likely more modest than you’d expect.

If I really have somewhere to be and I’m in a car with comfortable seats and a big enough fuel tank, I can do 425 miles in one shot. That’s about six hours in a car, and that’s more or less my limit. I’ve done it multiple times, to the point where it’s stable, repeatable, and an answer I feel confident in. Now, is it the most comfortable thing in the world? No, but by managing hydration and timing meals, it’s totally feasible.

However, not everyone can one-shot 425 miles. Some people are good for longer, truly testing the limits of fuel capacities. Some people need more frequent breaks, and that’s also totally okay. I don’t want to say that human backs and knees are wear items, but discomfort is a real thing that’s nothing to be ashamed of. So, let’s turn it over to you — how long can you drive for in one sitting?

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Traditional motor vehicles are dangerous things when they’re in motion, but they’re relatively safe at standstill as long as you don’t set them on fire. EVs pose unique risks, and thus workshops that intend to deal with them must take certain precautions. Chief among them is keeping a big yellow hook on hand, and today, we’ll explore why.

This is no mere superstition. Known as “rescue hooks,” they have a design that might remind you of the medieval concept of the man catcher. Indeed, it’s function is not so different!

Rescue hooks are designed for saving workers in an electric shock scenario while protecting the rescuer in the process. They typically consist of a large hook on the end of a long non-conductive pole.

The problem with electric shocks is that they can instantly incapacitate someone. They often cause muscle spasms, which in the worst cases can lead to the body remaining in prolonged contact with a high voltage source. In these scenarios, it’s not safe to directly try and pull the person away to safety, as the rescuer would receive an electric shock in turn. Hence, the proper technique is to use a stout hook on the end of a non-conductive pole to drag the person to safety.

The hook can also be used in another way. A person who has been shocked may be lying on the ground, for example, in contact or near a high-voltage cable. In these cases, the hook can be used to lift and move the cable a safe distance away, ideally after an attempt has been made to shut the current off.

It also bears noting that these hooks only make up one small part of a workshop’s total EV safety precautions. Others include using personal protective equipment like insulating gloves, safety boots, and non-conductive tools for working on or near high-voltage connectors.

EV batteries typically start in the 400-volt range, with 800-volt examples becoming more common. While it’s not strictly voltage that kills, higher voltages do pose greater risks than lower voltages. Combine that with the fact that EV batteries can deliver plenty of current, and you can see why they pose a genuine risk to anyone working on them.

As an aside, you might have heard typical cliches that current kills, not voltage. However, this is really an oversimplification. As per Ohm’s Law, the current flowing through a given resistance is determined by a simple formula: I= V/R. That is, the current in amps equals the voltage in volts divided by the resistance in ohms. Let’s create a pretend scenario where a human body has a resistance of 1,000 ohms. When we apply 10 volts with a big battery, the body would see a current of roughly 0.01 amps, or 10 milliamps. This would be painful, but would not be debilitating under typical conditions. However, do the same experiment with a battery at 800 volts, and the body would see a current of 0.8 amps, or 800 milliamps. This would likely cause burns, muscle contractions, and come with a high chance of death.

It’s worth noting that the resistance of the human body can vary greatly depending on method of contact and various other factors; these numbers are just a guide. As per the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, high voltages can also quickly break down human skin, massively dropping the body’s resistance as low as 500 ohms. This greatly elevates the risk of harmful electric shock.

Rescue hooks were not exclusively invented for use during EV repairs. After all, workers have been dealing with high voltages in the electrical trades for a long time before EVs became mainstream. In fact, most rescue hook demos online show workers being rescued from faux shock scenarios while working on switchboards or high-voltage transmission lines.

Grid infrastructure and industrial installations often operate in the tens of thousands of volts. These situations require rescue hooks rated to be safe at higher voltages. Rescuers may also wear arc flash protection gear, including full overalls and flash hoods, to avoid getting injured themselves. A rescue hook may even be held around a worker as a preventative measure, so in the event something happens, they can be instantly pulled away.

Rescue hook and high voltage detector
byu/toolgifs intoolgifs

It would really suck waiting for your colleague to slowly jog over to fetch the rescue hook in a situation like this one.

The sticks can range in price from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. This depends on their voltage rating, length, and certification level, among other things. In the grand scheme of things, they’re not a major expense for a workshop, but an important tool to have on hand.

So now you know why EV workshops have big hooks hanging on the walls. Hopefully, you’ll never see one used, but it’s good to know they’re there when they’re needed.

Image credits: via Amazon, Lewin Day, Grade A Tools, Nissan; top graphic base image WavebreakmediaMicro/stock.adobe.com

The post Why Electric Car Repair Shops Have Huge Yellow Hooks On The Wall appeared first on The Autopian.

While fans of Futurama—who’ve learned to be very patient and eternally hopeful—await the show’s next season, premiering July 29 on Hulu, here’s a fun nugget to chew on: The Art of Futurama, an art book timed to the show’s 25th anniversary, is on the way. The book’s not arriving until October, but a first look did drop today; feast your eyes, or eye, as the case may be!

Futurama’s 10-episode 12th season begins July 29 on Hulu; it’ll be a weekly rollout, not a binge release (if you must binge, an urge the hapless Philip J. Fry himself certainly understands, all the other seasons are up on Hulu now). It will also arrive at some point internationally on Disney+. And there are two more confirmed seasons on the way after this one!

Here’s what we know so far about season 12, courtesy of Hulu: “On this orbit around the sun, our occasionally heroic crew embarks on mind-bending adventures involving birthday party games to the death, the secrets of Bender’s ancestral robot village, AI friends (and enemies), impossibly cute beanbags, and the true five million-year-old story behind the consciousness-altering substance known as coffee. And, of course, the next chapter in Fry and Leela’s fateful, time-twisted romance.”

Here are images, first shared at the Hollywood Reporter (go to that link to see the trade’s full preview gallery), from The Art of Futurama by creator Matt Groening, with an introduction by executive producer David X. Cohen and a foreword by executive producer Claudia Katz. It’s out October 8, but you can pre-order a copy now from Abrams ComicArts.

The cover

Bender concept art

Concept art of Dr. Zoidberg, Professor Farnsworth, and Nibbler