Musk vs Altman, nasal spray for depression, water-powered fire alarm

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On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump unveiled Stargate, a groundbreaking $500 billion AI infrastructure initiative. This ambitious joint venture involves OpenAI, led by Sam Altman, alongside SoftBank and Oracle.

Trump hailed Stargate as a cornerstone for developing artificial general intelligence (AGI) within the United States, underscoring its potential to cement America’s leadership in AI innovation.

However, not everyone shared the enthusiasm. Elon Musk, a vocal critic of OpenAI and its direction, swiftly challenged the announcement on X (formerly Twitter). Musk claimed, “They don’t actually have the money,” questioning the financial foundation of the project. Delve deeper into our Must-Read.

🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on jobs.interestingengineering.com:

> Systems Engineer
> Software Engineer

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MUST-READ

💰 ‘Wrong’: Sam Altman fires back after Elon Musk questions $500B Stargate funding

Musk’s skepticism didn’t stop there. He alleged that SoftBank, one of Stargate’s key partners, had less than $10 billion secured. “SoftBank has well under $10B secured. I have that on good authority,” Musk wrote in another X post, though he provided no evidence to support his assertion.

Altman wasted no time responding. On Wednesday, he refuted Musk’s claims, stating, “Wrong, as you surely know.” Altman maintained that Stargate’s funding was solid and emphasized the project’s national significance.

He added, “[Stargate] is great for the country. I realize what is great for the country isn’t always what’s optimal for your companies, but in your new role, I hope you’ll mostly put [US] first.”

⚡️ Scientists turn water into electricity to power new fire-detecting sensor

Researchers have developed a fire sensor that is powered by hydrovoltaics (HV) instead of batteries. Hydrovoltaics, where electricity is generated due to the interaction of water molecules with nanostructured materials, is a cost-effective and sustainable approach to powering small devices, a press release said.

As the world looks to transition to sustainable and clean energy approaches, there is also a need to overhaul energy systems used in small devices. While large wind and solar power plants may power homes and offices, we must find greener ways to power smaller devices like remote controls or electrical sensors.

Fire sensors are a major example of those working independently of the grid. Required to operate even in case of power outages, these sensors rely on batteries. But they are also at risk of exploding in case of a fire. This is where an alternative energy system such as hydrovoltaics can help.

💊 US approves first nasal spray for major depressive disorder, PTSD conditions

Johnson & Johnson has announced a major breakthrough in mental health treatment. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Spravato, a novel nasal spray, for the standalone treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other similar psychiatric conditions.

This approval marks a significant milestone as the medication was previously only available when combined with oral antidepressants.

While the precise mechanisms behind Spravato’s effectiveness remain unclear, it is expected to provide new hope for those suffering from treatment-resistant depression. 

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