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IBM quantum computer passes calculation milestone
‘Benchmark’ experiment suggests quantum computers could have useful real-world applications within two years.
- Davide Castelvecchi
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Article
| Open AccessEvidence for the utility of quantum computing before fault tolerance
Experiments on a noisy 127-qubit superconducting quantum processor report the accurate measurement of expectation values beyond the reach of current brute-force classical computation, demonstrating evidence for the utility of quantum computing before fault tolerance.
- Youngseok Kim
- , Andrew Eddins
- & Abhinav Kandala
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News |
DeepMind AI creates algorithms that sort data faster than those built by people
The technology developed by DeepMind that plays Go and chess can also help to write code.
- Matthew Hutson
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News & Views |
AI learns to write sorting software on its own
Deep reinforcement learning has been used to improve computer code by treating the task as a game — with no special knowledge needed on the part of the player. The result has already worked its way into countless programs.
- Armando Solar-Lezama
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Article
| Open AccessFaster sorting algorithms discovered using deep reinforcement learning
Artificial intelligence goes beyond the current state of the art by discovering unknown, faster sorting algorithms as a single-player game using a deep reinforcement learning agent. These algorithms are now used in the standard C++ sort library.
- Daniel J. Mankowitz
- , Andrea Michi
- & David Silver
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Article
| Open AccessHealth system-scale language models are all-purpose prediction engines
A clinical language model trained on unstructured clinical notes from the electronic health record enhances prediction of clinical and operational events.
- Lavender Yao Jiang
- , Xujin Chris Liu
- & Eric Karl Oermann
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Technology Feature |
Six tips for better coding with ChatGPT
Although powerful, the tools are not as intelligent as they seem. Use them with caution, computer scientists warn.
- Jeffrey M. Perkel
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News & Views |
Golden jubilee for an iconic financial formula
Fifty years ago, an equation called the Black–Scholes formula revolutionized finance, leading to a rapid growth of markets and stimulating quantitatively oriented minds. But, with time, its simplicity became a liability — and yet its legacy persists.
- Blanka N. Horvath
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News |
This infinite tiling pattern could end a 60-year mathematical quest
First truly single aperiodic tile discovered that can cover an infinite surface without repeating itself.
- Davide Castelvecchi
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Spotlight |
Towards quantum machine learning
Jungsang Kim discusses his interest in the pioneering technology.
- Michael Brooks
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Outlook |
Rewriting the quantum-computer blueprint
An architecture for quantum computers based on parity is attracting money from government and industry.
- Edwin Cartlidge
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Outlook |
Commercializing quantum computers step by step
Alongside developing a quantum computer, one group of scientists is selling its components to other researchers.
- Edwin Cartlidge
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Spotlight |
Quantum computers: what are they good for?
For now, absolutely nothing. But researchers and firms are optimistic about the applications.
- Michael Brooks
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News & Views |
People, not search-engine algorithms, choose unreliable or partisan news
Analysis of people’s web searches and visited websites suggests that it is more likely that they are choosing to engage with partisan or unreliable news than that they are being unduly exposed to it by search-engine algorithms.
- Eni Mustafaraj
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Career Feature |
Why AI’s diversity crisis matters, and how to tackle it
Machine-learning researchers from under-represented groups say the field desperately needs more people like them to ensure the technologies deliver for all.
- Rachel Crowell
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Comment |
Humans and algorithms work together — so study them together
Adaptive algorithms have been linked to terrorist attacks and beneficial social movements. Governing them requires new science on collective human–algorithm behaviour.
- J. Nathan Matias
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News |
Physicists create long-sought topological quantum states
Exotic particles called nonabelions could fix quantum computers’ error problem.
- Davide Castelvecchi
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Nature Careers Podcast |
Unlocking the mysteries of the brain’s neocortex
Entrepreneur Jeff Hawkins explains how our knowledge of the brain can help us to better understand artificial intelligence.
- Dom Byrne
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Article
| Open AccessAlgorithm for optimized mRNA design improves stability and immunogenicity
An algorithm based on concepts established in computational linguistics enables rapid principled design of mRNA vaccines optimizing both structural stability and codon usage, resulting in improved half-life, protein expression and immune responses.
- He Zhang
- , Liang Zhang
- & Liang Huang
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Technology Feature |
The sleight-of-hand trick that can simplify scientific computing
Computational environments and the tools to manage them can help researchers to deliver code that is reproducible, documented and shareable.
- Jeffrey M. Perkel
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News & Views |
Online tools help large language models to solve problems through reasoning
The large language models popularized by chatbots are being taught to alternate reasoning with calls to external tools, such as Wikipedia, to boost their accuracy. The strategy could improve fact-finding outcomes, as well as online shopping.
- Aleksandra Piktus
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Outlook |
Synthetic data could be better than real data
Machine-generated data sets have the potential to improve privacy and representation in artificial intelligence, if researchers can find the right balance between accuracy and fakery.
- Neil Savage
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News Explainer |
Moon mission failure: why is it so hard to pull off a lunar landing?
The ispace lander’s failed touchdown highlights the challenges Moon landings pose, especially for private companies.
- Alexandra Witze
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Correspondence |
Stat checkers: make reproducible computer code mandatory
- Dominic Guitard
- & Sylvain Fiset
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Research Briefing |
Memristor devices denoised to achieve thousands of conductance levels
The number of distinguishable conductance levels in memristor devices — electronic components that store information without power — has been limited by noise. An understanding of the source of the noise, and development of an effective denoising process, have now enabled 2,048 conductance levels to be achieved in memristors in large arrays fabricated in a chip factory.
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Nature Video |
The driving test for driverless cars
A virtual world filled with bad AI drivers can be used to test autonomous vehicles.
- Shamini Bundell
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News & Views |
Hazards help autonomous cars to drive safely
Collecting training data by focusing on dangerous scenarios offers an efficient way for artificial intelligence to improve the safety of autonomous vehicles. Augmented reality allows the approach to be tested without risking lives.
- Colin Paterson
- & Chiara Picardi
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News |
Abel Prize: pioneer of ‘smooth’ physics wins top maths award
Luis Caffarelli’s work includes equations underpinning physical phenomena, such as melting ice and flowing liquids.
- Davide Castelvecchi
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News |
New maths formula answers long-standing party problem
How many invitees guarantee at least a certain number all know each other? Formula is first major improvement since 1935.
- Philip Ball
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News |
GPT-4 is here: what scientists think
Researchers are excited about the AI — but many are frustrated that its underlying engineering is cloaked in secrecy.
- Katharine Sanderson
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Technology Feature |
‘Spell-checker for statistics’ reduces errors in the psychology literature
Developed to detect statistical errors, statcheck reduces mistakes in reported P values by up to 4.5-fold.
- Dalmeet Singh Chawla
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Nature Index |
Japanese robotics lags as AI captures global attention
The country’s automation research might need a renewed focus to rekindle past successes.
- Rachel Nuwer
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News Feature |
In AI, is bigger always better?
As generative AI models grow larger and more powerful, some scientists advocate for leaner, more energy-efficient systems.
- Anil Ananthaswamy
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News & Views |
From the archive: Leo Szilard’s science scene, and rules for maths
Snippets from Nature’s past.
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News |
Quick uptake of ChatGPT, and more — this week’s best science graphics
Three charts from the world of research, selected by Nature editors.
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Outlook |
Why artificial intelligence needs to understand consequences
A machine with a grasp of cause and effect could learn more like a human, through imagination and regret.
- Neil Savage
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Career Column |
AI writing tools could hand scientists the ‘gift of time’
ChatGPT might not yet give us sparkling prose. But it can free scientists up to focus on more-stimulating writing tasks, says John Tregoning.
- John Tregoning
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Research Briefing |
Towards quantum computers that are robust to errors
For quantum computers to fulfil their potential, they need to detect and correct errors in encoded information to reach sufficiently low error rates for reliable operation. For the first time, a device has been created in which encoded error rates improve as the system size is increased.
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News |
Google’s quantum computer hits key milestone by reducing errors
Researchers demonstrate for the first time that using more qubits can lower error rate of quantum calculations.
- Davide Castelvecchi
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Comment |
AI weapons: Russia’s war in Ukraine shows why the world must enact a ban
Conflict pressures are pushing the world closer to autonomous weapons that can kill without human control. Researchers and the international community must join forces to prohibit them.
- Stuart Russell
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News |
How Nature readers are using ChatGPT
Eighty per cent of respondents have used AI chatbots — and 57% say they use them for ‘creative fun’.
- Brian Owens
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News |
How will AI change mathematics? Rise of chatbots highlights discussion
Machine-learning tools already help mathematicians to formulate new theories and solve tough problems. But they’re set to shake up the field even more.
- Davide Castelvecchi
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News Explainer |
AI chatbots are coming to search engines — can you trust the results?
Google, Microsoft and Baidu are using tools similar to ChatGPT to turn Internet search into a conversation. How will this change humanity’s relationship with machines?
- Chris Stokel-Walker
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News Feature |
What ChatGPT and generative AI mean for science
Researchers are excited but apprehensive about the latest advances in artificial intelligence.
- Chris Stokel-Walker
- & Richard Van Noorden
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Comment |
ChatGPT: five priorities for research
Conversational AI is a game-changer for science. Here’s how to respond.
- Eva A. M. van Dis
- , Johan Bollen
- & Claudi L. Bockting
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Career Feature |
Charting a course to make maths truly universal
Mathematicians leading decolonization efforts say that building knowledge-sharing partnerships with communities is key.
- Rachel Crowell
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News & Views |
From the archive: an economic model named after a goddess, and an ill-fated octopus
Snippets from Nature’s past.
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Book Review |
How mathematics stopped being defined by reality — and started to invent new ones
Abstraction is a powerful mathematical technique that has influenced everything from quantum theories of gravity to nuclear deterrence theory. But has it gone too far?
- Davide Castelvecchi
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Technology Feature |
Hunting for the best bioscience software tool? Check this database
A data set funded by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative shows how research software and tools are used across disciplines — and helps developers gain credit for their work.
- Matthew Hutson