Tech Enthusiast Weekly(2024-07-12) : Introducing Crawlee for Python: A Reliable Web Scraping and Browser Automation Tool
Introducing Crawlee for Python: A Reliable Web Scraping and Browser Automation Tool
Crawlee for Python: a new open-source tool. It excels at web scraping and browser automation. Quickly gathers data, stores it securely, dodges blocks. Uses headless browsers and smart proxy rotation.
Web scraping: extracting data from websites. Headless browsers: web browsers without a GUI, used for automation. Proxy rotation: changing IP addresses to avoid detection during data extraction.
ScoresTech News
DotaMath: Advanced Mathematical Reasoning with Code Assistance
DotaMath, a new approach to complex math problems, breaks them down into simpler parts. It uses code to solve these parts, checks its work, and corrects mistakes. Trained on a large dataset of math questions and answers, DotaMath models perform well on tests, even outperforming other models. The method shows promise for tackling tough math challenges. Code is available online for anyone to use.
BM25S: Accelerating Lexical Search with Eager Sparse Scoring
BM25S is a new Python tool. It accelerates search by 500 times, outperforming popular Python and Java tools. It achieves this by storing search scores in a specialized matrix during setup. This method makes it exceptionally fast. It also adeptly handles various types of BM25 searches. The code is available online for anyone to use.
"China showcases AI prowess at Shanghai forum"
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang champions AI development at Shanghai forum, stressing global collaboration for safety and reliability. China's AI industry surpasses $68.7 billion, with top tech firms showcasing cutting-edge products. President Xi Jinping's goal is for China to lead AI by 2030. U.S. restrictions on AI chip exports to China have fueled domestic investment. Chinese government supports AI development with new funds and supervision of tech giants. Competition among AI companies intensifies in the domestic market. OpenAI's ChatGPT app success prompts global investment frenzy. China pushes for self-sufficiency in advanced technology, emphasizing safe and controllable AI for mankind's benefit.
Quark Search Engine upgrades to version 7.0, introducing AI services.
Quark Search Engine has upgraded to version 7.0, introducing the "Super Search Box." New features include AI writing and document summarization. Usage during the college entrance examination season exceeded 100 million times. Quark's PC version has launched on Windows, integrating browsers, cloud storage, and more. Technical director Jiang Guanjun stated that the hallucination rate of the answer content has been reduced to 5%.
Hallucination Rate: Refers to the ratio of errors or inaccurate information in AI-generated content. Quark has significantly reduced this rate through large-scale model optimization.
EU Closes Apple Pay Antitrust Probe with Binding Commitments
The EU closed its Apple Pay antitrust probe. Apple agreed to open NFC tech for rival wallets by July 25. This allows competitors to offer "tap and go" payments on iPhones and use Face ID, Touch ID, and passcodes for security.
Apple must allow users to set third-party wallets as default. The EU initially probed Apple Pay in 2020, focusing on NFC access. In 2022, the EU found that Apple blocked rivals from using NFC, stifling competition.
Apple proposed changes for 2024, including free access to NFC via APIs, excluding the secure element chip but offering "Host Card Emulation (HCE)" mode for secure transactions.
The EU refined Apple's commitments after industry feedback, with key changes including removing the need for a Payment Service Provider (PSP) license and adapting HCE to industry standards.
Apple's commitments exceed new EU rules, the Digital Markets Act (DMA). These pledges bind Apple for ten years, with potential penalties for non-compliance.
Apple's statement confirms they will enable NFC payments for various services while maintaining Apple Pay's security.
Helsing Raises $487M for AI Defense Expansion in Baltic Region
Helsing, a defense AI firm, has just raised $487 million. They are expanding into Estonia with the aim of strengthening defenses against Russia. This move aligns with NATO's concerns over the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Helsing's technology enhances drone and jet fighter capabilities and assists in battlefield decision-making. They have partnered with Airbus and several defense ministries.
Gundbert Scherf, co-CEO of the company, views their technology as essential for defending European democracies. Estonia's Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, welcomes Helsing's presence.
Torsten Reil, Helsing's co-CEO, emphasizes the urgency to create a "capability gap" to deter and defend against potential broader threats.
The firm utilizes its own compute resources and some from unnamed third parties for security reasons. They are also working on Project Centaur, an AI for air combat that employs reinforcement learning.
This latest funding values Helsing at approximately $5.4 billion. Investors include Spotify's Daniel Ek and Saab AB.
Defense technology is gaining momentum with Western investors, reflecting the increase in defense budgets. Helsing stands out as a significant European player in this field.
OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample: Clues to Life's Origins
NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission successfully returned 121.6 grams of asteroid Bennu. Initial analysis indicates that the sample is abundant in carbon, nitrogen, and organic compounds—essential elements for life as we understand it. The sample also contains pristine magnesium-sodium phosphate, a first for any meteorite.
Bennu's composition suggests a history involving water, possibly originating from a small, ancient oceanic world. This discovery prompts questions about how these elements aggregated and provides insights into Bennu's past.
The asteroid's elements closely match those of the Sun, preserved since the birth of the solar system. This makes Bennu a time capsule, offering a window into the early solar system and potentially the prebiotic chemistry that preceded life on Earth.
Dante Lauretta, the principal investigator of OSIRIS-REx, underscores the significance of studying these materials, vital for comprehending the solar system's formation and the origins of life.
In the coming years, various laboratories will examine Bennu's sample, anticipating further insights into the origins and evolution of Earth-like planets.
Tools
"Simplified Mobile App Creation for Shopify Stores"
LEO Mobile App Builder streamlines Shopify app development by offering a drag-and-drop interface, unlimited alerts, in-app filters, multi-currency support, and native language options. This tool empowers anyone to create a mobile app for their Shopify store without the need for coding.
Drag-and-drop interface: A user-friendly design method where elements are moved and placed on a screen using simple mouse actions, eliminating the need for complex coding.