Researchers at Sakana.AI have introduced a groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) model that could revolutionize the scientific research process by automating tasks typically handled by human researchers. Dubbed the “AI Scientist,” the model can independently identify research problems, develop hypotheses, execute experiments, analyze data, and generate reports. Additionally, a secondary AI model has been designed to peer-review these reports, ensuring the quality and accuracy of the findings.

Robert Lange, a research scientist and founding member at Sakana.AI, compared this development to the early stages of AI in other fields, such as generative models like GPT. Speaking to Euronews Next, Lange described the project as a potential turning point for AI’s integration into scientific discovery. “We think of this as a type of GPT-1 moment for generative scientific discovery,” he said, noting that its full potential is still being realized.

Expanding AI’s Role in Scientific Research
While AI has already made inroads into scientific research, its integration has been limited by the field’s complexity and challenges related to AI tools, such as inaccuracies, or “hallucinations,” and issues concerning intellectual property. However, AI’s use may be more common than realized, with an estimated 60,000 academic papers potentially enhanced by AI tools like ChatGPT since its release.

The European Commission has recognized AI’s potential to drive scientific breakthroughs, but its use also raises ethical concerns. If implemented carefully, AI could become a powerful tool in advancing science. Sakana.AI’s “AI Scientist” is still in its early stages, with researchers acknowledging some limitations in the system. These include incorrect implementation of ideas, errors in evaluation, and unfair comparisons to standard research practices. However, Lange views these challenges as natural growing pains in the development of AI models.

“When you look at the evolution of machine learning models, from early image generation to chatbots, they often start with flaws but become more powerful as resources and community efforts grow,” Lange explained. He expects the AI Scientist to follow a similar trajectory.

AI as a Collaborative Tool for Researchers
Despite its autonomy, the AI Scientist is not intended to replace human researchers but to complement them. During tests, the model displayed behaviors mimicking human researchers, such as adjusting its settings to extend time for experiments rather than just optimizing performance. Still, human oversight remains crucial for tasks like peer review and research direction, ensuring the reliability of AI-generated findings.

Lange emphasized the need for ethical guidelines in using AI for scientific research, advocating for transparency through measures like watermarks on AI-generated papers. “We believe in developing these tools collectively and iteratively to ensure they are safely deployed,” he said, adding that open-source AI models could democratize scientific research and foster collaboration.

Sakana.AI hopes the AI Scientist project will ignite a larger conversation about the future of scientific research and how AI can reshape it. “We want this project to spark a dialogue about the future of science and what a true scientific contribution looks like,” Lange concluded.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has unveiled an ambitious £8 billion investment aimed at strengthening the UK’s digital infrastructure and creating over 14,000 full-time equivalent jobs annually within the AWS data centre supply chain. This comprehensive initiative encompasses roles in construction, facility maintenance, engineering, telecommunications, and more.

Since its entry into the UK market in December 2016, AWS has significantly expanded its footprint, establishing three Availability Zones, two WaveLength Zones, two Edge Locations, and a Regional Edge Cache. This new £8 billion investment will elevate AWS’s total UK investment from 2020 to 2028 to over £11 billion, building on the £3 billion already invested since 2020, which has supported more than 6,000 jobs per year.

The investment aligns with AWS’s broader objective to enhance the UK’s digital economy, which experienced a £42 billion boost from cloud computing in 2023, contributing 1.6% to the country’s GDP. By expanding its UK operations, AWS aims to broaden access to cloud computing and artificial intelligence, helping businesses improve their global competitiveness.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, praised the announcement, stating, “This £8 billion Amazon Web Services investment marks the start of the economic revival and shows Britain is a place to do business. I welcome the announcement as part of the Government’s mission to boost growth, unlock investment and make every part of Britain better off.”

Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle, emphasized the significance of AWS’s expansion, noting, “Today’s announcement reflects the growing strength of the UK’s digital economy with a key player like Amazon Web Services committing to growing and expanding on our shores.”

AWS’s UK clientele includes prominent organizations such as AstraZeneca, Cancer Research UK, Deliveroo, easyJet, and Sainsbury’s. These entities utilize AWS to cut costs, enhance agility, and foster innovation. Independent research commissioned by AWS reveals that 84% of AWS customers report cost savings and quicker deployment times, with many also benefiting from increased global reach and competitiveness.

In addition to its investment, AWS has committed to providing free cloud computing skills training to 29 million people worldwide by the end of 2025. AWS surpassed this goal in July 2024 by reaching over 31 million learners, including many in the UK. The company is also dedicated to advancing AI education, aiming to offer free AI skills training to two million individuals by 2025.

Since 2010, Amazon’s total direct investment in the UK has exceeded £56 billion, encompassing substantial capital and operational expenditures. AWS’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the UK’s digital landscape promises to drive growth, innovation, and job creation across the nation.

European teenagers may soon notice a shift in their YouTube recommendations as the video-sharing platform implements new restrictions aimed at limiting exposure to certain health and fitness videos. The move comes as part of YouTube’s efforts to curb content that “idealizes” specific body types, particularly those that may foster negative self-image among young viewers.

As one of the most popular social media platforms for teens, YouTube typically recommends videos based on what users have previously watched, creating a cycle where viewers may be repeatedly exposed to similar content. This can sometimes lead teens down a path toward more extreme or harmful content. In response, YouTube initially introduced restrictions in the United States last year and is now expanding them across Europe and globally, based on advice from its Youth and Family Advisory Committee.

A Step Towards Healthier Content
The new guidelines aim to prevent teenagers from developing negative beliefs about their bodies, according to Dr. Garth Graham, head of YouTube Health, and James Beser, director of product management for YouTube Youth. In a joint statement, they explained that while individual videos might not pose an immediate concern, repeated exposure to certain themes can be detrimental to young viewers.

“YouTube will now limit recommendations of videos that idealize particular fitness levels or weight groups, compare and idolize specific physical features, or display socially aggressive behavior like intimidation or fighting,” Graham and Beser noted.

Social Media and Body Image
Social media has long been linked to poor body image, mental health issues, and even eating disorders. A comprehensive review of 50 studies across 17 countries last year highlighted how exposure to idealized body types online can contribute to self-comparison and unhealthy behaviors, particularly for women, girls, and people who already struggle with body image.

A 2021 study specifically focused on “Fitspiration” content on YouTube found that fitness influencers often promote unhealthy habits, with viewers reinforcing these behaviors through comments. This kind of content can be especially harmful when teens are repeatedly exposed to it.

YouTube’s Ongoing Efforts
YouTube has already taken steps to restrict access to content related to eating disorders and physical violence. The platform also directs users searching for sensitive topics, such as suicide or self-harm, to crisis hotlines. For this latest update, YouTube worked with organizations in Germany and France to ensure the changes would be effective.

Regulatory Pressure
Tech companies, including YouTube, have faced increasing scrutiny from regulators over the impact of their content on young people’s mental health. In the UK, the communications regulator Ofcom ordered tech platforms to take measures against harmful content recommendations for children, including those related to self-harm and eating disorders. Similarly, the European Union’s Digital Services Act, adopted in 2022, calls on tech giants to protect children from content that could harm their physical, mental, or moral development.

These new measures by YouTube are part of a broader effort to make the digital environment safer for young users.