Throughout the past year, we followed some interesting new inventions in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Here is a look back at some notable AI developments in 2022.
Meta's speech-to-speech translation
Facebook's parent Meta said it had built a technology tool to directly translate between English and the Hokkien language, a spoken language without a widely used written form.
Meta said it trained its AI models on written text examples from Mandarin Chinese. In addition, developers used an encoding (编码) tool designed to compare spoken Hokkiento similar English text.
Method to identify Parkinson's disease
Researchers announced a new AI method to identify Parkinson's disease. The system works by measuring a person's breathing patterns during sleep. With just one night of sleep, the AI system was able to correctly identify Parkinson's up to 86 percent of the time. With 12 nights of data, the rate went up to 95 percent.
Tool to interpret pig emotions
Researchers announced they had created a technology tool that uses pig sounds to interpret different emotions.
The tool is based on thousands of recordings collected from more than 400 pigs throughout their lives. The scientists developed an AI-driven algorithm (算法) to identify a series of emotions pigs could be experiencing. It is expected to lead to further systems farmers can use to improve the productivity and well-being of their animals.
Tool to fill in missing words in ancient writings
Researchers-led by Alphabet's AI company DeepMind-said they developed an AI system to help fill in missing words in ancient writings. The tool, called Ithaca, is designed to help historians repair the writings and identify when and where they were written.
The team said that when historians work on their own, the success rate: for repairing damaged writings is about 25 percent. But when humans teamed up with Ithaca to assist in their work, the success rate jumped to 72 percent.
Virginia Guarddon can't remember her life without some sort of art. She started playing the piano when she was 6. At 10, she came across works by the Spanish poet Gustavo Adolfo Becquer, and she was hooked. She started writing poems that would be featured in a couple of books.
There's something else that's always been in her life: a type of skin lupus (狼疮). "All of my life, I tried to find ways to make it better,'' Guarddon said. "And that led to my trying to help others feel better about their skin." The attempt took her to the U.S. in 1994, where she studied science and piano. And then she began a career in skin care. "To me, skin is a form of art,'' she said. "I love making women feel beautiful."
"I wanted to create something of my own,'' Guarddon said. "I wanted to realize my dream." Her dream? Combining all of her passions into one.
The result is Poet's Garden Apothecary, Guarddon's own skin care line and the online business: Poet's Garden Alchemist. Guarddon teamed up with a laboratory to create her line of products, which she called "skin poetry". The products, made for every skin type, include an oil face cleanser, day cream and night cream. With each purchase, customers receive a custom poem from one of the company's contributors. And some earnings from the business go to the Poetry Foundation.
In the first few months of running business, Guarddon said, Poet's Garden Alchemist is turning into an online poet's movement. She often hosts live poetry readings on Instagram. "To me, skin care and poetry go together," she says. "I'm trying to show that beauty is not just skin deep. It's about our voice and how we express it."
By drawing patterns on the surface of a cup of tea, chabaixi (茶百戏), an ancient Chinese tea trick displayed in a recent TV drama, has gone viral for its apparent similarity with modern coffee art. However, ten years ago, this distinctive technique was close to disappearing. Zhang Zhifeng, a practician of chabaixi, found scenes of chabaixi in the drama aroused great interest among ordinary people.
Chabaixi can create endless patterns such as bamboos and mountains or even calligraphy. There are over a dozen steps, from grinding (碾碎) tea for fine powder, to pouring boiled water, stirring the mixture for thick froth (泡沫), and finally drawing the patterns. It is different from making coffee because people use clear water as the object to put into the cup instead of milk. But when the water touches the surface of whipped (搅打起泡的) tea, it turns into a white color and disappears in 20 minutes. The process before the drawing is known as the tea—making technique, diancha. The quality of diancha is crucial to whether patterns can be successfully produced later.
"Chabaixi is one of the countless forms of tea-making techniques in China. The importance of chabaixi is not only that this technique is unique in the world, but also it gives us a window into people's lifestyle in the Song Dynasty, a period of time when leisure activities in some ways are similar to what we have now," Zhang said.
Before chabaixi was discovered by TV audiences, the technique was listed as part of China's Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2017, after it was recovered by Zhang Zhifeng. He started researching the origins of chabaixi in the 1980s and brought the technique back in 2009 after decades of trials and practice.
"To let this technique fade would be a shame. It must be passed on to the next generations so they can understand its history," Zhang said.
Lithium (锂) is called "white gold" for good reason. The metal's value has been growing rapidly over the last several years, mainly because it is an essential material of lithium—ion (锂离子) batteries which play an important part in several key sustainable technologies, eg. electric cars.
As ocean waves, wind and solar power have grown into major players in the energy industry, lithium has also become key to building a future free of petrol. But getting lithium comes at a huge cost. Just like most metals, its mining is damaging. It often works like this: Briny water, containing lithium and other metals, is pumped to the surface from underground. Then it sits in pools to allow the water to evaporate (蒸发), leaving the rest behind as poisonous matter. Workers use chemical reactions to remove the lithium from that, making it into powder which is then packaged and shipped to the buyers around the world. Any accident that releases mine matter into surrounding communities or the groundwater supply could have damaging long-term impacts.
Indigenous (原住民) communities often bear the result of the damage, and political leaders have paid little attention to their concerns. In Arizona, for example, an expanding lithium mine is threatening the Hualapai Tribe's historical sites. And for politicians who have promised to work with locals to deal with it, mining lithium and other precious metals is putting them into a dilemma: How do you ensure the availability of materials which are essential to the future while protecting indigenous people's living environment?
Mining of the metal is expected to increase greatly in coming years. Over time, that will make electric cars inexpensive and, therefore, more popular.
As environmentally conscious consumers buy electric cars in ever-greater numbers, it's important to be aware of the dirty process that powers those clean air vehicles.
ChatGPT, launched in November, 2022, has attracted over 100 million monthly users in just two months, which is considered the fastest-growing consumer app.
ChatGPT can write emails, computer code, even academic papers and poems. With various functions, it is suspected to do no good to many areas, especially the higher education.
So is ChatGPT a benefit or a trouble?
Some universities have banned it due to the warning that it could cause more students to cheat, especially in exams. Andreas Schleicher, director of education and skills of the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development, for instance, said he welcomes ChatGPT because "it gives people a chance" to concentrate less on tasks that technology can perform equally well.
According to a survey covering more than 100 educators and over 1,000 students, one-third of the educators said they believe ChatGPT should be banned in schools and universities, while the rest supported students having access to it. The attitude of most students sees a distinct difference.
As a result, the observed value and usefulness of ChatGPT seem to outweigh the risks. What we should focus on has shifted to better deal with the chatbot and its development.
A. It is undoubtedly a shocking achievement.
B. The answers varies greatly across the world.
C. Others regard it as an aid rather than a barrier.
D. It is widely discussed whether AI should be involved in a scientific article.
E. They admitted having sought help from ChatGPT to complete their homework.
F. The worry is that ChatGPT could change the structure of higher education.
G. Also, it has succeeded in passing different kinds of exams.
One day, I was driving my truck on the Harare —Mutare Highway in Zimbabwe. When traffic 1 to a crawl (徐行，爬行), I realized there was an accident 2. Drawing- closer, I saw that a bus had 3 into a fuel tanker, and the bus was on fire. More than 60 people were 4 inside the bus when the accident occurred, so without a thought for my own safety, I jumped from my truck, 5 into the fire.
I was one of the 6 people on the scene. I knew the passengers in 7 needed my help. 8, I ran into the bus and started pulling out victims. By the time the rescuers arrived, I'd single-handedly rescued eight people from the fire! 9 all the people were rescued, I was covered in 10 third-degree burns.
I was taken to Kadoma General Hospital to be 11 for my wounds. When word about the accident 12, people all over Zimbabwe praised me for risking my 13 to save people I didn't even know. People from all over the world have sent donations to aid in my 14. A stranger even sent me $250, 000! Now my condition is 15 and I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of kindness and generosity I have since received.
People in Western countries often greet each other by saying "How are you?", while Chinese people might ask each other "Did you eat?" instead. (eat) has long been a crucial part of China and (it) food culture has also attracted many foreigners, including Mino Fifaliana Razanakoto from Madagascar.
When she was little, going to Chinese restaurants was routine for Razanakoto's family. On weekends, Razanakoto's father often drove the family to the city and ate Chinese food. Ever since then, a love for Chinese food (take) root in Razanakoto's heart.
But it was only in 2020 when the then-20-year-old Razanakoto studied in China and began her own journey (discover) more about Chinese food. In the past 2 years, the
Madagascan girl has tasted many different (food) and drinks from various provinces in China such as hot dry noodles in Hubei province and morning tea in Guangdong province.
Apart these delicacies (美食), impressed Razanakoto most however was the culture behind them.
Take Sichuan food as an example. Since the province sits in a basin, Sichuan is (extreme) humid (潮湿的).To dispel dampness (祛湿) from the body, the people there prefer spicy food.
" (tradition) Chinese philosophy has crept into every aspect of Chinese food culture," said Razanakoto. "And this philosophical thinking also suggests that people's diet should be adapted to the natural environment they live,'' added she.
Dear Jim,
Yours, Li Hua
My great-grandmother Eileen is ambitious, determined, loyal, strong and a bit of legend in her own lifetime, which now reaches 92 years. I should add that we're not allowed to call her Gran, because she says it makes her feel old.
That summer, I lost my job and felt hopeless. One day, I paid a visit to her. On my arrival, seeing my low spirits, she asked me whether I had prepared to get a new start. I just kept silent. Without any more words, she picked up a box which she placed on the coffee table, saying "You do know what you're doing with these things, don't you?"
It was a new phone. Her current mobile was pretty ancient.
"Yes," I said.
"Good. That's why I ask you. You young people know more about such things than us oldies. You can take it home and get it all set up," she went on. "Then, when you bring it back, show me how to use my new phone, such as getting on the Internet, sending e-mails and so on." She smiled so sweetly. Setting up the phone would be easy, but teaching her how to use it might be challenging.
The following day I headed back to my great-grandmother's with the phone. "Here's your phone. It's all ready to use."
For the next hour, I was busy setting up her passcode (密码) and fingerprint recognition, which she said was like something out of James Bond.
When I finally got her to swipe (滑动屏幕), she didn't put the right amount of pressure on and the menu slipped away. After what seemed like hours, she threw the phone across the room and it landed on the sofa. "Take it away!" she howled. "I want my old phone back!"
I picked up the phone and was about to leave to give her time to cool down when I realized I didn't want to go home when she was angry.
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右；2.请在答题卡的相应位置作答。
"Come on, Eileen. One more try." I said.
I was not feeling so hopeless any more now.
