Welcome to Discover Daily by Perplexity , an AI-generated show on tech , science and culture . I'm Alex . Today we're exploring how AI is reshaping scientific research with Google's new co-scientist . But first let's look at what else is happening across global politics and technology . Across global politics and technology .
In a surprising move , ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has offered to resign from his position in exchange for either peace in Ukraine or NATO membership for his country . This offer comes amid ongoing tensions with Russia and recent criticism from Donald Trump .
During a conference in Kiev , zelensky stated if you need me to leave this chair , I am ready to do that and I also can exchange it for NATO membership for Ukraine . This unprecedented proposal demonstrates Zelensky's commitment to Ukraine's well-being and security as the country approaches the three-year mark since Russia's invasion .
Ukraine has been under martial law since 2022 , which has significantly impacted the country's political landscape , including the postponement of elections originally scheduled for 2024 . Zelensky's offer comes as a rebuttal to accusations of authoritarianism , highlighting the complex challenges faced by Ukraine's leadership in balancing democratic ideals with wartime necessities .
But Ukraine's path to NATO membership remains challenging due to ongoing conflict with Russia and complex geopolitical considerations . Recent surveys reveal a nuanced picture of public opinion regarding Zelensky's leadership , while he maintains substantial domestic and international support , with 69% of Ukrainians believing he should remain in power until martial law ends .
Opinions vary significantly across different demographics and regions . Moving on to technological advancements , china has deployed an underwater intelligent computing cluster off the coast of Hainan , delivering processing power equivalent to 30,000 high-end gaming PCs . The Hynan Underwater Data Center is the world's first commercial underwater data center project .
It began operations in March 2023 and has recently expanded its capabilities . This new data module , measuring 18 meters in length and 3.6 meters in diameter , can accommodate over 400 high-performance servers .
This expansion has significantly enhanced the cluster's capabilities , enabling it to process massive amounts of data for various applications , including scientific computing , industrial calculations and large-scale AI model training .
One of the key advantages of this underwater data center is its use of seawater as a natural coolant , which significantly reduces energy consumption compared to traditional land-based data centers . The method improves energy efficiency by 40 to 60 percent and eliminates the need for complex cooling systems and air conditioning units .
The underwater computing cluster has already attracted significant commercial interest , with 10 companies signing contracts to utilize its computing power . Applications range from AI model training and industrial simulation to game development and marine scientific research .
Now let's dive deeper into our main story of the day Google's unveiling of an AI co-scientist built on its Gemini 2.0 platform . This system aims to strengthen scientific research by generating novel hypotheses and accelerating the discovery process .
The AI co-scientist employs a multi-agent system that mirrors the scientific method to assist researchers in formulating research directions and analyzing existing literature .
Key features include the generation of testable hypotheses based on natural language research queries , tournament-style evaluation using ELO ratings to refine proposals , and integration with scientific literature and public datasets . Early demonstrations of the AI co-scientist's capabilities have yielded impressive results across various scientific domains .
For instance , it successfully matched unpublished discoveries at Stanford University and Imperial College London , showcasing its ability to generate cutting-edge hypotheses . In the field of antimicrobial resistance research , it identified a novel gene transfer mechanism .
Resistance research , it identified a novel gene transfer mechanism , while in medical research , it proposed viable drug candidates for liver fibrosis treatment . The AI co-scientist generated a hypothesis about bacterial evolution in just two days , replicating conclusions that took human scientists at Imperial College London a decade to develop .
These early successes highlight the potential of AI to significantly accelerate scientific discovery processes across multiple disciplines . But the AI co-scientist faces several challenges and ethical concerns . Data quality and reliability remain potential issues , as the system's output is only as good as its input data .
Technical safeguards are necessary to prevent unethical research queries and ensure responsible use of the technology . The black box nature of AI systems in scientific research has raised concerns about transparency and reproducibility .
Additionally , there are questions about the system's broader applicability across different scientific disciplines and its potential impact on traditional research methodologies . Despite these limitations , google emphasizes that the AI co-scientist system through a trusted tester program .
This program allows select research organizations to evaluate and explore the technology's potential , assess its strengths and limitations in various scientific fields and contribute to the responsible exploration of AI-assisted scientific discovery . That's it for today . Thanks for listening .
For more info on anything we covered today , check out the links in our episode description . And don't forget you can now access Perplexity's AI-powered knowledge base on the go with the mobile app available for both Android and iOS . There's also the Perplexity desktop app for macOS .
In other Perplexity news , the company just launched Deep Research , a powerful new feature that digs deep into hundreds of sources to create thorough research reports . The tool , which is free to try and unlimited for pro users , can tackle complex research questions in just minutes .
Early tests show it's remarkably accurate , making it a promising tool for anyone needing in-depth research assistance . We'll be back with more stories that matter . Until then , stay curious .