In this episode of Discover Daily, we explore the implementation of remote kill switches in advanced chip-making machines by ASML and TSMC to prevent sophisticated technologies from falling into the wrong hands in the event of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. We also discuss the European Union's approval of the world's first comprehensive legal framework for AI, known as the AI Act, which aims to regulate AI technologies based on their potential risks and impacts, ensuring the development of safe and trustworthy AI systems while protecting the rights of EU citizens.

Next, we look into Volvo's autonomous semi-truck initiatives, which are part of a broader strategy to revolutionize the transportation industry through advanced technology and sustainable solutions. Volvo's flagship model for autonomous trucking, the Volvo VNL, is being integrated with the Aurora Driver's sensor suite to build fully autonomous Class 8 trucks for commercial use in North America. We also explore the potential of light-based computer chips, which utilize photons to perform computations, offering advantages in speed, energy efficiency, and data bandwidth compared to traditional electronic chips.

Finally, we discuss the groundbreaking detection of the most distant black hole merger ever observed, which occurred when the Universe was only 740 million years old. This discovery, made by an international team of astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope, provides evidence that black hole mergers were already occurring at such an early stage in the Universe's history, suggesting that merging is a crucial mechanism for the rapid growth of black holes, even at cosmic dawn.

From Perplexity’s Discover feed:

Taiwan Semiconductor remote kill switch
https://www.perplexity.ai/search/Taiwan-Semiconductor-remote-AItFxJqCQz6ox.4E2ai2xw

EU approves world-first AI rules
https://www.perplexity.ai/search/EU-approves-worldfirst-Wa_qktYlRViDx.cyFwN2Fw

Volvo's autonomous semi truck
https://www.perplexity.ai/search/Volvos-autonomous-semi-4kURfQZ1TKa1uKOQK0x71Q

Light-based computer chips
https://www.perplexity.ai/search/Lightbased-computer-chips-JG7W.mmeSxKsMZt6sZXypQ

Oldest black hole merger observed
https://www.perplexity.ai/search/Oldest-black-hole-OHsGLMCSTwSdzDKnXyJR1w

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