Google AlphaGo AI clean sweeps European Go champion
Computational encroachment and dominance of the human pastime of board games is almost complete, with one of the few remaining vestiges of human supremacy taking a beating with Google's AlphaGo system besting the European Go champion by five games to nil.
Due to the sheer amount of moves available on a Go board -- 10^761 possible games, versus 10^120 for chess -- the game has been seen as harder for computers to crack, and almost impossible by the brute force methods used to conquer many other board games.
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Published in Nature today, Google has taken the wraps off its AlphaGo system, which trades raw power for a more nuanced approach involving a pair of neural networks and a new search algorithm.
"The key to AlphaGo is reducing the enormous search space to something more manageable," David Silver and Demis Hassabis, from Google DeepMind, said in a blog post. "One neural network, the 'policy network', predicts the next move, and is used to narrow the search to consider only the moves most likely to lead to a win.
"The other neural network, the 'value network', is then used to reduce the depth of the search tree -- estimating the winner in each position in place of searching all the way to the end of the game."
AlphaGo uses a Monte-Carlo tree search to look ahead to possible moves, with the neural networks suggesting moves and judging the board position. The system was trained on 30 million moves from games played by human experts, Google said, until it could predict the human move 57 percent of the time. Then it played against itself thousands of times.
Against existing Go programs, AlphaGo won all but one of 500 games, and in October beat 2-dan professional player Fan Hui 5-0 -- replays of which can be viewed -- with a March match locked in against 9-dan professional Lee Sedol.
Google said the most significant part of AlphaGo was not mastering Go, but rather using general-purpose learning techniques that could be applied to climate modelling or disease analysis.
"While games are the perfect platform for developing and testing AI algorithms quickly and efficiently, ultimately, we want to apply these techniques to important real-world problems," Silver and Hassabis said. "Because the methods we have used are general purpose, our hope is that one day, they could be extended to help us address some of society's toughest and most pressing problems."
Artificial intelligence systems beating humans at games entered popular consciousness when IBM's Deep Blue system was able to defeat Gary Kasparov in the late '90s and early 2000s. One of the towers that made up Deep Blue is now in the Smithsonian Museum.
In 2011, IBM's Watson computer beat two of the most successful Jeopardy players of all time. Watson is currently being used primarily in healthcare.
3 lucrative side hustles you can start right now with OpenAI's Sora video generator
Whenever a company announces a fancy new AI feature, I think to myself...
"Wow, I can take a pic of a plate of sushi, turn it into a cartoon character, and make it dance with a single prompt."
Incredible... Truly life-changing stuff. 😐
Sarcasm aside, OpenAI Sora is cool.
Also: Is this the end of Google? This new AI tool isn't just competing, it's winning
But I had to ask myself…
"Self, how can I make a living with this?"
So, if you've looked at these AI tools and thought:
"This is dope, but I got bills."
I got you.
In this article, I'll share three ideas to turn Sora into cash flow and break down how I'd build a sustainable business.
If you stick around to the end, I'll share a little gift to make your life easier when using Sora to create content 🙃.
Quick Intro
If you're new to my work, I'm Lester Mapp, but my friends call me Les. 👋
I'm a founder with a successful exit and currently the executive chairman of a group of DTC brands. At my core, though, I'm an award-winning performance marketer.
Needless to say, coming up with ideas and getting them to market is my thing.
Also: There's a new king of online shopping, and it's built an unstoppable monopoly
Oh, and if you're into data-driven marketing insights and strategies, check out my free newsletter, No Fluff Just Facts.
Now that we have the pleasantries out of the way kick up your feet and get comfortable.
We're about to dive into a mini AI Shark Tank and say yes or no to some business ideas.
Before we jump into it, I need to bring you up to speed on Sora and why it is the next best thing since sliced bread (sliced bread that can dance; see what I did there 😏).
What is OpenAI Sora?
OpenAI has changed the game yet again… this time for video creation.
Sure, other tools exist, but Sora fits my needs best now. Plus, those other tools aren't $20 a month and bundled with my ChatGPT Plus plan… so there's that.
Also: 15 surprising ways I used AI to save me weeks of work in 2024
So, what is Sora? Simply put, you type a prompt, and Sora generates high-quality video in minutes.🎬
It's truly mind-blowing stuff and set to redefine how content is created.
Up until now, text-to-video has been tricky. Getting AI video to match with what's in your head isn't easy.
However, Sora simplifies this by offering features that help you fine-tune your results. You can view the full prompts used to create any video, copy them, or remix them with slight tweaks to fit your vision.
It's like being able to tweak the answer on a test while the test is being graded… game changer! 🤯
Also: I'm an AI tools expert, and these are the only two I pay for
Sora is about more than just generating videos from scratch.
It can also:
- Combine multiple videos into one coherent scene
- Animate still images like cartoons or illustrations
- Modify existing videos seamlessly based on your prompt
- Create stable, coherent videos without the usual AI morphing issues
This level of control and quality sets Sora apart. It keeps objects stable, even when obscured, and can generate different camera angles of a scene all from a single prompt. 😲
While it's not perfect, Sora is a giant leap forward, and over time, it will get better and become more robust.
How is this possible
I'm sure you're thinking, how is this even possible?
AI magic. 🤪
If that wasn't a good enough answer, here's the short and oversimplified version.
In 2017, Google invented something called Transformer Architecture and published its findings. Transformers are a revolutionary neural network that dramatically improved AI's ability to understand, generate, and process complex sequential data, especially for natural language.
OpenAI built on this foundation and developed powerful language models.
The result? ChatGPT.🎉
Also: ChatGPT Search could destroy online businesses - how you can stay ahead
But then Google noticed that Transformer didn't just find patterns in text; it also found patterns in videos.
OpenAI took that, expanded on it, combined it with its image generation work (like DALL-E 3), and boom, Sora was born.
Think of it like this:
Google would be Alexander Graham Bell, who made the first phone.
And OpenAI is Steve Jobs, who made the iPhone.
While it's not a straight line from Google's work to Sora, it's a fascinating story of stacked innovations where each breakthrough builds on the last.
3 ways I would make some money using Sora
1. Become a prompt engineer
A prompt engineer helps users create precise prompts to unlock Sora's full potential, generating high-quality videos for ads, tutorials, and more. This tech is powerful but needs finesse to get the best results. Since it's new, many people don't know how to use it, and plenty of them won't want to bother learning. That's where you come in.
Create a social profile on LinkedIn or Instagram to showcase your work and attract clients.
ProTip: Focus on a niche audience, like plumbers or real estate agents, and specialize your offer, i.e., marketing ads, educational videos, product demos, etc. You want to do this because you need to focus, especially in the early days, if you want meaningful results.
2. Start an AI video creative agency
A creative agency can use Sora to create finished videos for marketing campaigns, social media content, B-roll, and more. Unlike a prompt engineer who delivers text, agencies deliver polished, ready-to-use videos. Knowing your way around video editing is ideal, giving you more creative freedom to mix and match different scenes.
To get your first clients, start by talking to local small businesses and offering to create videos that promote their goods and services. I would literally knock on doors and show people my work.
Protip: Do some free videos for local businesses in exchange for an honest review. Use those reviews to land paid clients. You're welcome.
3. Use Sora for content creation
This one is my fav because I wouldn't need to talk to anyone -- lol. I would use Sora to create engaging video content for Instagram and YouTube. Leverage AI-generated visuals to enhance storytelling or educational content.
My favorite style is faceless YouTube videos, usually in a documentary format. I would use ChatGPT for scripting and Sora for visuals. For the voiceover, either do it yourself or use a natural-sounding AI voice.
Focus on niches that pay the most per ad, like finance or business. Even though this is my favorite option, it takes longer to gain traction, so staying consistent is key.
Protip: Master the art of storytelling. Good storytelling follows a "simple" framework called the hero's journey.
- Ordinary World – Introduce the current situation or status quo.
- Call to Adventure – Present an opportunity or problem that needs solving.
- Crisis Challenges – Detail obstacles, challenges, or risks encountered.
- Results or Reward – Show the outcome, success, or transformation achieved.
Write that down; this format is an industry secret!
My two cents
First off, thanks for coming to my TED talk. This was a long one, but now you know what Sora is and how you can pay some bills with it. 🎓
Regardless of the methods you choose, remember building a business is hard work, and while it may be hard, it's not impossible.
So, pick an idea and stick with it.
Also: What's really destroying your productivity - and 3 simple ways to focus better today
Keep learning and growing; don't get emotional if things don't work out immediately.
A mentor once told me, "You can change the plan, but don't change the goal."
Let me know which idea is your fav on LinkedIn.
Oh, I almost forgot the gift! Use this reference guide when creating prompts. These camera shots and movements will level up your Sora outputs. Credit @MindBranches
😇 Hope this helps; I'm rooting for you.
P.S. 📩 Want more data-driven marketing insights? Sign up for my free newsletter, No Fluff Just Facts. I share what's working in the world of digital marketing, the latest trends, and the occasional pep talk to keep you inspired. If this sounds like your jam and you wanna be besties forever, click here to sign up. It's totally FREE!
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New Windows 11 24H2 bug list: 12 reasons to avoid this update for now
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After months of beta testing, Microsoft officially released its major 2024 update for Windows 11 on October 1. Known as Windows 11 24H2, the latest version enhances the Copilot AI, spruces up File Explorer, promises faster performance and greater stability, and kicks in other improvements.
Rolling out to some Windows 11 users, the update may appear on your PC's Windows Update screen. If so, you can certainly install it from there. Otherwise, the new version is accessible on Microsoft's Download Windows 11 page, where you can grab it through the Installation Assistant, installation media, or as an ISO file.
Also: No, Microsoft has not 'reversed course' on Windows 11 hardware requirements
But before you dive into the 2024 update, you may want to reconsider. The new version has been plagued by a variety of bugs that could prevent you from fully using Windows the way you want and expect to.
Some of the glitches have been documented by Microsoft, and others have been reported by Windows users. In response, Microsoft has put the update on hold for problematic PCs that could encounter blue screens and other issues.
To address the barrage of bugs, the company has rolled out three series of patches so far -- one in late October, another in mid-November, and a third on December 10 as part of the monthly Patch Tuesday.
Also: How to upgrade your 'incompatible' Windows 10 PC to Windows 11: Two ways
The October update fixed a few bugs but also created a couple of new ones. The November update resolved several, but certainly not all, of the outstanding glitches. The December update fixed one specific glitch with certain USB-connected scanners and other devices. But further bugs continue to pop up, turning the update into a continual albatross around Microsoft's neck.
Here are just some of the issues you may bump into if you jump to the new version.
1. Conflict with Ubisoft games
Certain games from Ubisoft could freeze, crash, or even trigger a black screen if you try to run them in the 2024 update for Windows 11. The five games are Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Assassin's Creed Origins, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Star Wars Outlaws, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.
Also: Microsoft blocked your Windows 11 upgrade? This trusty tool can (probably) fix that
Ubisoft has released temporary hotfixes for Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora to prevent those games from freezing or crashing. But Microsoft says that you may still run into performance problems. Otherwise, the two companies are working on a resolution to defeat the bug across all five titles.
2. Auto HDR feature conflict with games
Windows 11 24H2 users with Auto HDR enabled could find that many games fail to display the right colors, while some may not respond at all. Auto HDR tries to enhances the graphics for games by converting standard dynamic range (SDR) content to high dynamic range (HDR). Microsoft has paused the update for affected PCs. If you've already installed the 2024 update, you can sneak past the problem by simply turning off AutoHDR through the display settings in Windows.
3. Conflict with Easy Anti-Cheat online gaming app
A program known as Easy Anti-Cheat is automatically installed with some online games to prevent cheating. Windows 11 2024 doesn't play well with this software -- users can experience the dreaded Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), at least in rare cases, according to Microsoft.
Only devices with Intel's Alder Lake+ processors and vPro platform are affected. Microsoft is working with the developer of Easy Anti-Cheat to resolve the glitch. Until then, those who run this app on PCs with the affected Intel chip should be aware of the conflict.
4. Blue screens in other instances
Beyond the clash with Easy Anti-Cheat, other situations can lead to the BSOD in the Windows 11 2024 update. Intel and Microsoft have discovered incompatibility issues with certain drivers for Intel Smart Sound Technology (Intel SST) on Intel 11th Gen Core processors. People running the affected driver and Windows 11 24H2 could run into blue screens.
Also: Can't quit Windows 10? Microsoft will charge for updates next year. Here's how much
Sources told Windows Latest that Microsoft is reportedly aware of a glitch in the 24H2 update that causes blue screening for PCs with certain Western Digital SSDs. This one has affected Lenovo, Asus VivoBook, and other model computers.
In another issue spotted by Windows Latest, PCs with Z890 motherboards sold by MSI, Asus, and other vendors can run into blue screens. This occurs most notably on systems with the Core Ultra 200S series and its integrated Xe-LPG graphics.
5. Disappearing mouse pointer
A bug in Windows 11 24H2 and other recent Windows updates causes the mouse pointer or cursor to vanish in Chromium-based apps such as Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, according to Windows Latest. The glitch only occurs when you interact with a text input field, though there is a workaround for it, which Windows Latest describes in its article.
6. Internet connection issues
Some people who've installed the Windows 11 2024 update report that their internet connections are now glitchy. As discovered by Windows Report, these users seem to be able to connect via Ethernet or Wi-Fi, but they don't receive a valid IP address and therefore can't get an internet or network connection.
Also: The best VPN services of 2024: Expert tested
Neither updating drivers and firmware nor resetting the network connectivity resolves the problem. In certain cases, using a static IP address instead of a dynamic address resolves the issue.
7. Time zone glitch
Unless you have administrative privileges in Windows, you may be unable to change the time zone at the Date & Time screen in Windows Settings. In this case, the time zone option fails to even appear. Microsoft has tagged this bug as mitigated, which means it hasn't been fixed, but there is a workaround. Just head to the old Date and Time setting in Control Panel and change it from there.
8. Broken clipboard history
The Windows clipboard history is a great tool for storing and syncing a history of copied clipboard items across multiple devices. I've liked this feature ever since Microsoft introduced it in 2018. Alas, the latest Windows 11 update breaks the clipboard history, at least for some people.
Also: The best Windows laptops: Expert tested
As spotted by Windows Latest, dozens of users chiming in on different online forums report that the tool keeps insisting that the clipboard history is empty even though they've already copied one or more items to it. Though this bug seems to affect only a small number of users, it was flagged by Windows Insider testers a few months ago. But apparently, Microsoft didn't bother to fix it or didn't fix it properly.
9. Network sharing doesn't work
In another network-related issue triggered by the 24H2 update on some PCs, either the computer or other devices fail to appear in the network list, according to Windows Latest. As a result, you're unable to share files and printers between different PCs.
The problem could be related to Function Discovery Resource Publication (FDResPub), which lets Windows 11 remain visible on the network. As a workaround, some people have resolved the glitch by setting FDResPub to start manually instead of automatically.
10. Printer issues with ARM-based Copilot+ PCs
Yet another issue that has been popping up affects people who own Copilot+ PCs. Based on several user reports spotted by Neowin, some users who upgrade to Windows 11 24H2 are unable to set up or use a printer. The glitch seems to be hitting those with printers made by HP, Canon, and Brother, as well as other manufacturers.
Microsoft has posted a support article highlighting the problem and offering some workarounds. But at this point, this bug remains unresolved.
Also: Microsoft to start charging for Windows 10 updates next year. Here's how much
11. Audio output glitch on some PCs
PCs that contain Dirac Audio with a file named cridspapo.dll could bump into audio issues. Dirac Audio is a digital sound technology that improves audio clarity and precision. Some users with this configuration who ran the update say that the integrated speakers, Bluetooth speakers, and Bluetooth headsets have stopped working and that first-party and third-party applications not longer recognize these speakers or headsets.
As with most of the bugs, Microsoft has paused the update for affected PCs. Once the manufacturer releases a fix, Microsoft promises to offer a new driver through the standard Windows Update process.
12. Outlook may not launch with Google Workspace Sync
In some cases, Microsoft Outlook may fail to load if Google Workspace Sync is installed. This particular Google Workspace Sync tool lets you manage your Google Workspace emails, calendar events, contacts, notes, and tasks directly in Outlook.
The specific error that pops up says: "Cannot Start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot Open the Outlook Window. The set of folders cannot be opened. An unexpected error has occurred. MAPI was unable to load the information service..."
Microsoft has put a hold on the update for affected users. You may be able to resolve the issue on your own by updating to the latest version of Google Workspace Sync (4.3.68.0). But if the glitch persists, you'll have to contact Google Workspace Support for help.
These are just some of the glitches plaguing Microsoft and its users with the Windows 11 2024 update. Microsoft has listed others on its Known Issues and Notifications page.
I installed the update on a test Windows 11 PC and have encountered a few of the bugs described here and others. A calendar and contact syncing program I use called Sync2Cloud won't run in Windows 11 24H2. Two driver updates from Intel keep failing when I try to install them. Connecting to the PC using Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection doesn't always work the first time around.
Also: You can finally test Microsoft's controversial Recall feature - here's how
Some conflicts are expected when Microsoft rolls out a major new Windows update. Even with widescale beta testing, not every potential problem will be found. However, issues like these are still frustrating for those of us who need to use Windows for work and other tasks.
The number of bugs in Windows 11 24H2 also seems greater than in past annual Windows updates. The ongoing spread of one bug after another and Microsoft's need to stall the update for many people both point to a problem with this latest update. Until more of these bugs can be squashed, Windows 11 users may want to hold off on the 2024 update and stick with their current version.
