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Category Archives: Singularity

It Will Take Only a Single SpaceX Starship to Launch a Space Station – Singularity Hub

SpaceXs forthcoming Starship rocket will make it possible to lift unprecedented amounts of material into orbit. One of its first customers will be a commercial space station, which will be launched fully assembled in a single mission.

Measuring 400 feet tall and capable of lifting 150 tons to low-Earth orbit, Starship will be the largest and most powerful rocket ever built. But with its first two test launches ending in rapid unscheduled disassemblySpaceXs euphemism for an explosionthe spacecraft is still a long way from commercial readiness.

That hasnt stopped customers from signing up for launches. Now, a joint venture between Airbus and Voyager Space thats building a private space station called Starlab has inked a contract with SpaceX to get it into orbit. The venture plans to put the impressive capabilities of the new rocket to full use by launching the entire 26-foot-diameter space station in one go.

Starlabs single-launch solution continues to demonstrate not only what is possible, but how the future of commercial space is happening now, SpaceXs Tom Ochinero said in a statement. The SpaceX team is excited for Starship to launch Starlab to support humanitys continued presence in low-Earth orbit on our way to making life multiplanetary.

Starlab is one of several private space stations currently under development as NASA looks to find a replacement for the International Space Station, which is due to be retired in 2030. In 2021, the agency awarded $415 million in funding for new orbital facilities to Voyager Space, Northrop Grumman, and Jeff Bezos company Blue Origin. Axiom Space also has a contract with NASA to build a commercial module that will be attached to the ISS in 2026 and then be expanded to become an independent space station around the time its host is decommissioned.

Northrop Grumman and Voyager have since joined forces and brought Airbus on board to develop Starlab together. The space station will only have two modulesa service module that provides energy from solar panels as well as propulsion and a module with quarters for a crew of four and a laboratory. That compares to the 16 modules that make up the ISS. But at roughly twice the diameter of its predecessor, those two modules will still provide half the total volume of the ISS.

The station is designed to provide an orbital base for space agencies like NASA but also private customers and other researchers. The fact that Hilton is helping design the crew quarters suggests they will be catering to space tourists too.

Typically, space stations are launched in parts and assembled in space, but Starlab will instead be fully assembled on the ground. This not only means it will be habitable almost immediately after launch, but it also greatly simplifies the manufacturing process, Voyager CEO Dylan Taylor told Tech Crunch recently.

Lets say you have a station that requires multiple launches, and then youre taking the hardware and youre assembling it [on orbit], he said. Not only is that very costly, but theres a lot of execution risk around that as well. Thats what we were trying to avoid and were convinced that thats the best way to go.

As Starship is the only rocket big enough to carry such a large payload in one go, its not surprising Voyager has chosen SpaceX, even though the vehicle theyre supposed to fly is still under development. The companies didnt give a timeline for the launch.

If they pull it off, it would be a major feat of space engineering. But its still unclear how economically viable this new generation of private space stations will be. Ars Technica points out that it cost NASA more than $100 billion to build the ISS and another $3 billion a year to operate it.

The whole point of NASA encouraging the development of private space stations is so it can slash that bill, so its unlikely to be offering anywhere near that much cash. The commercial applications for space stations are fuzzy at best, so whether space tourists and researchers will provide enough money to make up the difference remains to be seen.

But spaceflight is much cheaper these days thanks to SpaceX driving down launch costs, and the ability to launch pre-assembled space stations could further slash the overall bill. So, Starlab may well prove the doubters wrong and usher in a new era of commercial space flight.

Image Credit: Voyager Space

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Whispers of Singularity. The hour is later than you think. | by Ihor Kendiukhov | Feb, 2024 – Medium

The hour is later than you think. Saruman.

The concept of technological singularity has always lingered on the fringes of scientific and economic discourse. Its time to seriously consider the prospect of its arrival. The radical transformation of the world as we know it by artificial intelligence in the near future is a real possibility, but it cannot be said with certainty that this will happen. The question arises: how can we spot the approaching wave of the Singularity from afar? Is it possible to understand in advance that a superintelligent AI is near? I am convinced that if we are on the path to super AI, then this path will be realized through a more or less concrete model, at least in the world we live in. This model implies quite specific changes in the economy, politics, and technology that precede the emergence of ASI. The article will discuss these indicators, reviewing the current state of the markers and providing assessments of what their dynamics would signify for the timelines and imminence of Singularity.

Lets envision two hypothetical scenarios.

Scenario 1

A new generation of generative models emerges, and everyone is pleasantly surprised by their capabilities. Nvidias market capitalization surpasses Apple and Microsoft, becoming the first corporation in the world with a valuation of $10 trillion, and its growth continues the global economy becomes increasingly dependent on its chips.

The annual product created by AI is measured in trillions of dollars. An acceleration in GDP growth rates is observed, at least in developed countries 5% per annum becomes a common indicator.

Interest rates remain high, and governments have no incentive to lower them except to reduce payments on servicing the national debt, but this incentive is minor as economic growth offsets debt growth.

Large and wealthy countries begin to implement programs to ensure AI sovereignty creating local data centres that run local proprietary models. Some even attempt to establish their own semiconductor and chip production but with poor results.

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Whispers of Singularity. The hour is later than you think. | by Ihor Kendiukhov | Feb, 2024 - Medium

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Earn A Massive $888k With Option2Trade (O2T), Singularity Net (AGIX) Investors Jump On Board – CoinGape

XRP Whale Offloads 28 Mln Coins As Price Dips Below $0.53, Whats Next?

In a thrilling turn of events, XRP, one of the top 6 cryptocurrencies by global market cap, birthed a cyclone of speculations across the broader crypto market today, following the

2 hours ago 24/7 Cryptocurrency News

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Earn A Massive $888k With Option2Trade (O2T), Singularity Net (AGIX) Investors Jump On Board - CoinGape

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The Singularity beckons: Are we heading for an AI takeover or a glorious new era? – Medium

The Singularity a point in time where artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence, unleashing an intelligence explosion beyond our comprehension. Its a concept that evokes both excitement and dread, a technological horizon shimmering with endless possibility and shrouded in existential uncertainty.

Experts disagree on the inevitability and timing of the Singularity. Some, like futurist Ray Kurzweil, predict it by 2045, while others argue its a mythical endpoint, forever just beyond our grasp. But whether its decades or centuries away, the question remains: what happens when AI outshines us?

Optimists paint a rosy picture. AI could solve intractable problems like climate change, poverty, and disease. Imagine machines designing advanced materials, optimizing energy grids, and personalized healthcare delivered by AI doctors. This AI-powered utopia would be a world of abundance and peace, where machines handle the mundane while humans pursue creative endeavors.

But theres a flip side to the coin, a darker vision straight out of science fiction. What if AI sees humans as the obstacle, a problem to be solved? Could intelligent machines develop their own goals, potentially conflicting with ours? And who controls this superintelligence? Malicious actors with access to such power could plunge us into a dystopian nightmare.

The Singularity, whether real or imagined, demands our attention. We must navigate this technological frontier with caution and foresight. Developing ethical guidelines for AI development, prioritizing human values and control, and ensuring equitable access to its benefits are all crucial steps. We need to create an AI that learns from us, that understands our values, and that works in partnership with us, not against us.

The Singularity is not a prediction, its a call to action. Its a reminder that the future of AI is not preordained. By making informed choices, we can ensure that this powerful technology serves humanitys greatest good.

What are your thoughts on the Singularity? Do you see it as a threat or an opportunity? How can we prepare for this potential turning point in our history? Share your views in the comments below! Lets start a conversation about the future of AI and write a story where humans and machines thrive together.

Remember, the power to shape the future of AI lies not with machines, but with us. Lets choose wisely.

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EIA Says 40 Percent of US Electricity Is Now Emission-Free for the First Time – Singularity Hub

The pace of the green energy transition has accelerated significantly in recent years. Figures released at the end of last year show roughly 40 percent of US electricity production is now emission-free.

With growing concern that climate change is accelerating, rapidly decarbonizing power generation is more important than ever. The US has long been seen as dragging its heels in the shift towards green energy, but that now seems to be changing as investments in renewables jump, particularly in solar.

And the latest statistics from the US Energy Information Administration suggest this trend is already filtering through to electricity markets. According to Ars Technica, figures released in December show carbon-neutral power sources like renewables and nuclear are getting close to edging out fossil fuels as the countrys primary source of energy.

The EIA data only covers the period up to October, which means the final figures for 2023 could differ slightly. Solar typically has its strongest months over the summer, while fossil fuel plants often make up for extra demand in the colder months. Nonetheless, the picture painted by the figures suggests a growing shift towards cleaner forms of energy.

Nuclear powers contribution to the energy mix has stayed more or less level, making up 18 percent of generation. And thats unlikely to change much in the next decade with no major new plants in the pipeline, according to Ars.

Wind has also remained largely unchanged, accounting for 10 percent, while hydroelectric power has seen a small drop from 6.1 to 5.8 percent. But solar power has grown by a fifth, going from 5 to 6 percent since last year. Thats enough to push combined carbon-free emissions above 40 percent for the first time, and with a massive build out of solar power underway, its likely to continue rising fast.

Almost as important as the rise in emission-free power, is a significant drop in coal, the dirtiest form of fossil fuel generation. In 2022, coal provided nearly 20 percent of the countrys power, but in 2023, it was down to 16.2 percent. Thats a precipitous decline and means wind and solar combined now account for roughly the same amount of generation.

Its worth noting that not only solar had a good year though. Natural gas is the fastest-growing source of generation, jumping from 40 percent in 2022 to 43.3 last year. While increasing fossil fuel use might not sound like good news, gas is a much cleaner energy source than other fossil fuels, so if its eating into coals share then that is still a win for the environment.

Another positive from the data is the fact electricity production fell slightly this year, dropping by just over one percent since 2022. This is most likely thanks to greater energy efficiency across the economy, according to Ars, despite continued economic growth and a rising population.

Whether the pace of change is enough to meet climate goals remains to be seen. The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act is spurring massive investment into green energy, but these projects will take considerable time to come online.

There is growing pessimism that progress will be fast enough to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. At the latest COP28 climate talks, oil and gas lobbyists successfully watered down calls to phase out fossil fuels to a commitment to transition away instead, suggesting that fossil fuels will remain a prominent part of our energy mix for the foreseeable future.

Either way, progress is progress, and the latest figures clearly show renewables are ascendant and coal is on the decline. And forecasts suggest that momentum is building and green energy is likely to have another banner year in 2024.

Image Credit:Ernest Brillo / Unsplash

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Industry insight: from ‘singularity art’ to art as a whole Hotel Designs – Hotel Designs

As art service provider, we at Zhengyin Art are constantly looking for solutions to challenging projects where arts have truly became a part of the overall space. Since 2008, we started to rethink about the relationship between people, space and artworks. How to engage the viewer and share the story of the space through artworks has become a topic that we are constantly exploring.

For Conrad Hotel in Beijing (2012), we were challenged to create a wall using celadon porcelain. As easy as it might look, there are sensitivities within the executability of this artwork. Porcelain is a fragile material. If not careful, the button layers of the porcelain brick can easily become cracked. Another challenge is how to connect the porcelain bricks using the steel tube. Because porcelain has a ratio of shrinkage, in order for the pieces to successfully be connected together, the team needs to control the difference between 2mm.

This artwork was installed on site with careful attention to the interior design to ensure it fit into the overall interior design seamlessly. The jade-like glazing gives a delightful and elegant ambience to the space.

Another large-scale art project we worked on in 2017 was Le Meridien in Xian. The overall interior design centred around dragons, which was the auspicious cultural symbol of China. This artwork was consisted of pieces of three-metres tall porcelain boards. The boards were installed with varies of angles, which provides a playful tone to perspectives. When the viewer look at the artwork from different angles, the artwork seems to process a different form. When the artist was creating this work, he used the traditional Chinese calligraphy front Cao Shu to portray the trace of a dragon, which fits well with the interior design concept. It also gives a mysterious and playful taste to the space. When the visitors stand in the room, they can see the trace of the dragon like it was just flying pass them.

Recently, we had the pleasure to work with Studio Munge and GZ art on the project of MGM & DYT in Qingdao, China. Qingdao as a city by the water. The overall design was centered around the mountain and the sea in the region. Our artist created a series of artworks based on the research about this area and delivered artworks that draws people into the cultural and landscape perspective of the space.

During the creative process, our artist work closely with our partners to decide what elements to use to emphasize on the overall design concepts and also draws people into the cultural atmosphere thats fostered in Qingdao.

Although MGM and DYT were close to each other, they have different styles and tone of voice. For MGM the artworks are more vibrant and chic, its sense of lush coming from a sense of confidence in the self and moment. On the contrary, the artworks for DYT was more considerate and has more touch on the history of the brand and Chinese culture. The overall feeling is more elegant and deliberate. Its lush is a restraint out-flow of cultural heritage. In this case, art was no longer just something decorative but something that draws out the richness in culture and sense of place.

When you walk into a house, you see the owners collection of art, immediately you will be able to develop a sense of the households taste. It works the same with hotels and any shared space. We believe art has the power to transfer and elevate a space with a subtle language. It is a great way to show off who you are without saying a word.

With a respect to art and a passion for art services, we do our best to fulfil our clients needs with a high standard. To ensure an art curation thats most fitting to the overall design and play a great symphony with the interior design.

> Since youre here, why not learn more about Zhengyin Art from Wei Xiao?

Zhengyin Art is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in ourSupplier Newssection of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please emailKaty Phillips.

Main image credit: Zhengyin Art

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Industry insight: from 'singularity art' to art as a whole Hotel Designs - Hotel Designs

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