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SUMMER 2024 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING INTERNSHIPS BY CARBOS

A constantly updated board that watches a list of over 1,000 high-growth companies for software engineering internships.

JOINS 13 WAYS

This article looks at relational joins - different definitions, ways of thinking about them, and interesting ways to implement them.

GOOGLE SAYS IT'LL SCRAPE EVERYTHING YOU POST ONLINE FOR AI

Google's recently updated privacy policy says that the company reserves the right to scrape everything anyone posts online to build its AI tools.

INSIGHTS FROM GLOBAL CONVERSATIONS

OpenAI discusses the insights gained from their global conversations initiative, which aimed to gather public input on AI-related topics.

RUNWAYML RAISES $141M SERIES C EXTENSION

This short announcement shows that RunwayML is still dedicated to building creative tools. Much of it will go to fund internal R&D.

CLASSIFIER-FREE GUIDANCE FOR LANGUAGE MODELS

If you're looking for interesting trends in AI today, the idea of decoding tokens in new ways is an avenue of active research. Currently, each model gives the same amount of compute to each token, and the sampling method is somewhat simple. If we can improve sampling and guidance, we may be able to dramatically improve performance without retraining. This paper suggests that we can double our effective model size just by using classifier free guidance, which was first explored in the context of text to image diffusion models.

A NEW FRAMEWORK TO DETECT ANY DEEPFAKES

This research presents a new system called Detect Any Deepfakes (DADF) for improved detection and precise location identification of manipulated facial images (deepfakes). Using the Segment Anything Model (SAM) and incorporating a multiscale adapter and Reconstruction Guided Attention (RGA), DADF improves deepfake detection performance.

HUMAN BRAIN ACTIVITY

Researchers have proposed a new method using a diffusion model, specifically a latent diffusion model (LDM) named Stable Diffusion, for reconstructing high-resolution, high-fidelity images from human brain activity captured via fMRI. The method, which reduces computational cost while maintaining generative performance, does not require extra training or fine-tuning of complex deep learning models. The study also gives a neuroscientific interpretation of different LDM components, presenting a promising new approach to understand how our brain represents visual experiences.

CREATING 3D SHAPES FROM 2D IMAGES AND TEXTS

This project introduces a method to generate 3D shapes from 2D images or texts, reducing inconsistencies that result from the dimensional differences. The method uses a two-model framework, the Shape-Image-Text-Aligned Variational Auto-Encoder (SITA-VAE) and Aligned Shape Latent Diffusion Model (ASLDM), to map the 3D shapes into a space that aligns with images and texts.

A NEW METHOD FOR MORE REALISTIC 3D MOVEMENT ANALYSIS

The research introduces a new method that improves the understanding of 3D movement in relation to the environment, offering more realistic poses in contrast to existing techniques that produce implausible results.

SEAMLESS VIDEO GENERATION WITH TEXT

This paper presents a new method for generating consistent, high-quality videos from text. It involves creating key frames using an adapted image model, and then spreading these styles across the video with special matching and blending techniques, resulting in videos that look great and flow smoothly.

AI AND THE AUTOMATION OF WORK

An exploration into how AI will affect work, specifically whether it will automate away the need for humans.

OPENAI’S CODE INTERPRETER IS ABOUT TO REMAKE FINANCE

This article details a breakthrough in artificial intelligence automation for accounting minutiae due to a ChatGPT plug-in called Code Interpreter and how it could potentially revolutionize the way finance knowledge work is completed.

TECH WORKERS ARE SCRAMBLING TO BECOME AI EXPERTS

As AI continues to grow in importance, tech workers are scrambling to learn new skills in order to stay relevant in the job market. Many are turning to boot camps, online courses, and self-education in order to gain the AI skills that employers are increasingly seeking.

GOOGLE SAYS IT’LL SCRAPE EVERYTHING YOU POST ONLINE FOR AI

Google will be scraping and indexing all publicly available online content, including forum posts and social media, to train its AI models. This move raises concerns about privacy and the potential for Google to have access to vast amounts of personal information.

HONG KONG STACKS WEB3 TASK FORCE WITH TOP FINANCE REGULATORS

Hong Kong has launched a dedicated task force for web3, another step in its decision to embrace crypto companies and blockchain tech. Led by Financial Secretary Paul Chan, the 15-member team includes professionals from various sectors, such as university professors, government officials, and financial regulators. Financial Secretary Chan highlighted the potential for blockchain tech to drive innovation across multiple sectors.

NFT PRICES SLUMP AS POPULAR COLLECTION TUMBLES FOLLOWING DEBUT

The NFT market has seen a precipitous drop in the past couple weeks, with prominent collections' prices declining by over 30%. Notably, Azuki’s floor price fell by over 60%. The decrease followed the controversial launch of a new Azuki collection, Azuki Elementals, which seemed like a repeat of a previous collection. The launch caused an uproar in the Azuki community, leading to widespread selling. In addition to drastic floor price declines, the resultant fallout has also prompted a wave of defaulted loans in the NFT lending industry.

SEGA DIVING INTO WEB3

SEGA, the famed Japanese gaming company, is taking a leap into web3 gaming. It plans to roll out 12 non-mobile games this year. The company's first web3 game is a remake of the successful Web2 IP, Sangokushi Taisen. Developed by double jump Tokyo, the game, targeted for a late 2023 release, will initially be available in English and Japanese on PCs, with more languages planned for 2024. SEGA has earlier shown its interests in blockchain technology by launching its first NFTs called Virtua Fighter.

TON BLOCKCHAIN LAUNCHES ON-CHAIN ENCRYPTED MESSAGING FEATURE

The TON Foundation has unveiled an on-chain encrypted messaging feature for the TON network. Forked from Telegram's abandoned project, TON now enables private communication between users through encrypted messages, enhancing the personalization of transactions. Interestingly, the feature could also be a reliable communication method should traditional servers fail. Currently supported on several retail wallet apps, the facility is set to be included in the mobile wallet Tonkeeper in future updates.

This tool allows Uniswap users to align trading hours with the New York Stock Exchange. The v4 hook in this repo will revert trades conducted outside the standard hours of 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM ET on weekdays, excluding holidays. Special functions will return the current state of the market, identify holidays, and determine daylight savings. The platform will also celebrate the opening bell, with the initiator of the first daily swap receiving recognition. The feature is live on both Goerli and Mainnet networks, incorporating a pre-calculated NYSE holiday calendar and daylight savings timestamps up to 2123.

OPTIMISM, APTOS, AND APECOIN SET FOR LARGEST TOKEN UNLOCKS IN JULY

Optimism, Aptos, and ApeCoin are preparing for substantial token unlocks this July, releasing over $100 million worth of this crypto into circulation. ApeCoin's unlock is the largest, releasing 15.6 million APE tokens on July 17, a 4.23% increase in circulating supply. Aptos’ token release will cause a token supply increase of 2.17%, while Optimism’s token circulating supply will rise by 3.75%. This could potentially affect the prices of these tokens, so it might be helpful to keep the timing of these releases in mind.

STABLECOIN SETTLEMENTS

This article from Coinbase explains how the company is aiming to modernize the financial system by developing crypto-based alternatives to the ACH direct deposit method. Coinbase says that the current ACH system, established in the 1970s, is slow and lacks standardization, resulting in inefficiencies. By swapping ACH for blockchain-based stablecoin settlement, Coinbase asserts that transaction confirmation times could be dramatically reduced, saving costs and minimizing price volatility. It would also eliminate intermediaries, streamline transactions, and promote transparency.

SINGAPORE WANTS CRYPTO FIRMS TO KEEP CLIENT FUNDS IN A TRUST

Singapore's Monetary Authority has introduced a new mandate for crypto firms to separately store their customers' digital assets in a trust by year-end, enhancing protection against potential insolvency and misuse. Measures include daily reconciliation, maintenance of proper records, custody services operation, and clear risk disclosures to customers. Crypto platforms will additionally be restricted from facilitating lending and staking services to retail customers, save for self-staking. These developing regulations aim to protect consumers from the volatility of crypto trading while urging increased vigilance in dealing with unregulated entities. The proposed regulations are open for public response until August 3.

LENDING SERVICES

Thailand and Singapore have banned crypto exchanges from offering lending services, focusing on investor protection.

CRYPTO ATM COMPANY BITCOIN DEPOT LAUNCHES ON NASDAQ

Bitcoin Depot, a top US Bitcoin ATM operator, has gone public on the Nasdaq following a merger with GSR II Meteora. It's the first such US operator to do so.

POLY NETWORK HACKER MINTS BILLIONS OF TOKENS FROM THIN AIR

Poly Network, a cross-chain bridging protocol, has suffered another hack. The hacker created billions of tokens on various networks. Despite limited liquidity, the hacker reportedly made out with at least $10.1 million. Poly Network has suspended services and alerted authorities.

WHY

Argentine hacker Federico Jaime stole $200 million from DeFi platform Euler Finance but returned it all in a stated attempt to promote ethical hacking and negotiation with attackers. This interview is the hacker’s first public attempt to explain the motives behind his hack.

A DEEP DIVE INTO SVG PATH COMMANDS

SVG are common on the web, but they’re images made up of code. This means they can be hard to understand and parse upon first look. This visual guide to SVG path commands breaks down SVGs with simplicity. The path attribute of an SVG is just a series of commands.

CSS: THE GOOD PARTS

This article lays out a comprehensive overview of the evolution of CSS, from basic selectors to complex animations and transitions. It also discusses the shift from table-based layouts to responsive designs using flexbox and grid. The article concludes by highlighting exciting upcoming features in CSS, emphasizing the importance of staying updated with these developments.

HUNTING FOR NGINX ALIAS TRAVERSALS IN THE WILD

This article delves into the intricacies of Nginx, a versatile web server dominant across many internet infrastructures, focusing on location and alias directives, which are central to how Nginx handles specific URLs. It also explores potential vulnerabilities arising from misconfigurations and demonstrates how they can lead to security exploits. The guide illustrates these points through a thorough examination of popular open-source repositories using GitHub Code Search to identify potential Nginx configuration vulnerabilities.

WHY I PREFER TRUNK-BASED DEVELOPMENT

HOW EMOTIONS AFFECT PERCEIVED PRODUCTIVITY

5 RESUME FORMATTING TIPS THAT CAPTIVATE RECRUITERS

WUNDERGRAPH

REACTYPE

ReacType is a rapid prototyping tool that allows users visualize their application architecture dynamically, employing a drag-and-drop canvas display and an interactive, real-time component code preview that can be exported as a React app for developers employing React component architecture alongside the comprehensive type-checking of TypeScript. In other words, you can draw prototypes and export React/TypeScript code.

NEXT-SITEMAP

next-sitemap is a sitemap generator for Next.js. It generates sitemap(s) and robots.txt files for all static/pre-rendered/dynamic/server-side pages.

IS PRODUCT MANAGEMENT GOING AWAY? WHY AIRBNB GOT RID OF ITS PMS

BEYOND THE BROWSER: THE LONG TERM FUTURE OF JAVASCRIPT STANDARDS

HALLUCINATIONS IN AI

This blog discusses the rapid development of AI and the various narratives surrounding it. The author argues that these narratives are often driven by self-interest and can be misleading. For example, the motive of the recent “pause giant AI experiments” open letter is really for AI researchers to catch up. The article also debunks other popular topics like “foundational models have already plateaued” or “open source models will dominate”.

NEXT.JS’S NEW APP VS PAGES ROUTER: A DETAILED COMPARISON

WRITING A NODE LIBRARY IN RUST

Metlo is an open source API security tool that needs to support many different platforms. The Metlo team was successfully able to do this for their Node.js library, using a Rust-based library called Neon. This article deep dives into the process and benefits of working with Rust.

PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND

META'S NICK CLEGG ON HOW AI IS RESHAPING THE FEED

READING TWEETS

Twitter has announced new 'temporary' limits on how many posts people can read per day. Unverified accounts will now only be able to see 600 posts per day, with new unverified accounts limited to just 300 posts per day. Verified accounts will be able to read up to 6,000 posts per day. The platform has started blocking access for anyone who isn't logged in. Elon Musk blames data scrapers and system manipulation for the new limitations.

THIS YEAR

Humane, a company started by former Apple employees that aims to create an AI-first post-smartphone future, has announced that its first gadget will be called the Humane Ai Pin. There is not much information about how the gadget will work, what it will do, or what it looks like. Humane has a partnership with Qualcomm to power the Ai Pin with an advanced Snapdragon platform. A video showing the company's co-founder demonstrating a device that could be the Ai Pin at a TED conference earlier this year is available in the article.

OPTIMIZATION PROBLEMS

Microsoft's Analog Interactive Machine (AIM) uses both binary and continuous variables to solve problems of optimization at a lightning-fast pace. The system uses optics and electronics to process continuous value data and perform vector-matrix multiplications. Its components have been miniaturized to fit centimeter-scale chips - the AIM is no bigger than a rack enclosure. Optical computers could open up new fields of research while also reducing resources spent on performing complex calculations.

JAPAN

A Japanese research team is set to begin clinical trials in July 2024 on a medication that might allow people to grow new teeth. If everything goes to plan, the team plans to have the medication ready for general use in 2030. The medicine is intended for people who lack a full set of adult teeth due to a congenital condition called anodontia. It works by blocking a certain protein's function. If the drug works in humans, it will be a game-changer for the entire field of dentistry.

GPT-MIGRATE

GPT-Migrate makes it easy to migrate a codebase from one framework or language to another. It is still currently in development alpha and not yet ready for production use. A video demo showing GPT-Migrate being used to convert Python code to JavaScript is available.

DEV PERFORMANCE

This article discusses how to quantify engineering performance. It covers how to track tasks, ranking, what metrics to measure performance with, complexity, bugs, and much more. Many maladaptive symptoms in the corporate environment are caused by not having good methods for quantifying engineering performance. There are tremendous advantages to getting this right as it holds the key to solving many of the dysfunctions that hold back engineering teams.

HOW REDDIT CRUSHED THE BIGGEST PROTEST IN ITS HISTORY

Thousands of Reddit communities locked down last month to protest platform changes that would force a variety of third-party apps and services to shut down. Most communities have now opened back up as the site told subreddit mods that it would replace them if their communities remained closed. Reddit has now exempted accessibility-focused apps from the new API pricing and it promises to make accessibility improvements to its moderation tools over the next couple of months. While Reddit has gotten things mostly back to normal, many parts of its community are still pushing the protest message.