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.

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.

On the first day of a significant antitrust trial in Alexandria, Virginia, federal prosecutors launched serious accusations against Google, alleging that the tech giant’s size has been leveraged to stifle competition. Julia Tarver Wood, an attorney from the Department of Justice’s antitrust division, emphasized in her opening remarks, “Google is not on trial because they are big, but because they leveraged that size to crush competition.”

The trial follows a recent federal court ruling that found Google guilty of violating antitrust laws with its dominance in search engine services. Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has announced plans to appeal this decision.

Prosecutors argue that Google’s dominance extends to the digital advertising ecosystem, which supports more than 150,000 ad sales per second on various websites. They accuse Google of using aggressive tactics to eliminate competitors, including strategic acquisitions, customer lock-ins, and controlling transaction processes within the ad market.

Tim Wolfe, an executive from Gannett, testified about his company’s reliance on Google’s publisher ad server for over 13 years due to a lack of viable alternatives. This testimony is central to the argument that Google’s practices have hindered competition and innovation in the ad industry.

In defense, Google’s lead attorney, Karen Dunn, countered that the DoJ’s case is based on outdated practices. She argued that the digital advertising landscape has evolved significantly, with new competition from companies like Amazon and Comcast. Dunn described the case as a relic of the past, likening it to “a time capsule that, if opened, would reveal a BlackBerry, an iPod, and a Blockbuster Video card.”

The trial, overseen by US District Judge Leonie Brinkema, is being conducted without a jury and is anticipated to last several weeks. If Google is found to be in violation of antitrust laws, Judge Brinkema will later deliberate on whether to grant the prosecution’s request for Google to divest its Google Ad Manager platform, which includes its publisher ad server and ad exchange.

According to analysts from Wedbush Securities, Google’s ad tech tools contributed $20 billion, or 11 percent, of its total revenue in 2020, and generated approximately $1 billion, or 2.6 percent, of its operating profit.