What do WB Yeats, a 20th century Irish poet, and 21st century techies have in common? Frances McCue points to their use of language to create something sleek and more beautiful than the sum of its parts. Coders aim to make programs that work elegantly, and move us towards the “technical singularity” — the point where machine learning trumps humans and takes over. Yeats, she says, is similar; using words, he leads us into a mystical world, making poems so profound that they take over and become alive. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
