OpenAI O3 breakthrough high score on ARC-AGI-PUB

OpenAI's o3 AI system achieved a remarkable 75.7% score on the ARC-AGI-Pub benchmark's Semi-Private Evaluation set, exceeding expectations within a $10k compute budget. A higher-compute configuration reached 87.5%.

This significant leap in AI capability showcases unprecedented task adaptation, surpassing previous GPT models. The o3 system demonstrates novel abilities in handling unfamiliar tasks, representing a step-change in AI performance.

The ARC Prize, aiming to guide AGI development, plans to launch ARC-AGI-2, a more challenging benchmark, alongside the 2025 competition. The grand prize remains open until a high-efficiency, open-source solution achieves an 85% score.

Grayjay Desktop App

Grayjay is a new app that lets users watch videos from various platforms like YouTube and Twitch in one place. It aims to give users more control over their viewing experience, emphasizing ownership and personalized feeds.

The app is available for Android, Windows, Linux, and MacOS. Users can import data from other platforms and manage their subscriptions and playlists within the Grayjay interface. Several plugins are available, allowing integration with other services.

A key focus is privacy; Grayjay stores viewing history locally on the device. The app also features casting functionality for streaming to larger screens. A related service, Harbor, is also mentioned, focusing on online identity management and monetization options.

Show HN: Artemis, a Calm Web Reader

Artemis is a web reader designed for a calm and minimal experience, prioritizing slow updates and a focused approach to viewing content from favorite sites. It updates once daily, around midnight in the user's timezone.

The application focuses on simplicity and ease of use, aiming to provide a tranquil space for checking website updates. Its design philosophy emphasizes a deliberate pace, avoiding the sense of urgency common in many online platforms.

Artemis is free to use and is created by capjamesg. Support is available via email and donations are welcome. Information on data storage and accessibility features can be found on the website.

Why are UK electricity bills so expensive?

UK electricity bills are far higher than the actual cost of power. Wholesale electricity prices make up only one-third of the average bill; the rest covers network costs, generation subsidies, and administrative expenses.

These additional costs are set to increase substantially. Network upgrades are needed, and renewable energy support schemes like Contracts for Difference and the Capacity Market will significantly raise bills in the coming years. Existing long-term contracts further inflate costs.

High costs from past renewable energy initiatives, such as the Renewables Obligation and Feed-in Tariff, continue to burden current bills despite cheaper renewable technology now being available. Solutions to lower future costs include decentralized energy and optimizing grid usage.

A bestiary of exotic hadrons

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has unearthed 76 new particles, including 23 exotic hadrons with structures defying current understanding. These exotic hadrons, a mix of tetraquarks and pentaquarks, present a complex puzzle for theorists, with various models attempting to explain their existence.

The LHC's discovery of these exotic states, including the first doubly charmed meson, has challenged established theories and models. The diverse nature of these particles highlights the need for more research and data analysis to fully understand their composition and behavior.

Future experiments at the High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC), Belle II (Japan), BESIII (China), and potential new facilities, are expected to significantly advance the study of exotic hadrons. The data from these experiments is crucial in testing the accuracy of theoretical models and shedding light on the still-mysterious world of the strong interaction.

Collections: On Bread and Circuses

Analysis of the phrase "bread and circuses," originating from Juvenal's satire, reveals its original intent as a condemnation of Roman citizens for surrendering political oversight. The phrase is not presented as the cause of Roman decline but rather as a symptom of a people apathetic to public affairs after extensive periods of civil war.

Juvenal's scathing critique targets the Roman populace for their indifference towards political turmoil, contrasting their earlier active participation in the state's governance with their current passive acceptance of basic sustenance and entertainment provided by the emperor. This contrasts with common modern interpretations which often frame the phrase as a means of political control or a catalyst for societal decay.

Contrary to prevalent interpretations, the "bread" represents the Roman state's grain distribution program, intended as price stabilization to prevent shortages and riots. The "circuses" encompass various public entertainment, emphasizing that the citizens' apathy stemmed from weariness of prolonged conflict rather than being directly bribed into political submission.

CISA: Do not use SMS as a second factor for authentication [pdf]

A significant weather event impacted the region, causing widespread disruption and damage. Heavy rainfall led to flooding in several areas, forcing evacuations and disrupting transport networks.

Emergency services responded to numerous incidents, assisting those affected and working to restore essential services. The extent of the damage is still being assessed, but initial reports suggest substantial losses.

Authorities have issued warnings and safety advice to residents, urging caution and preparedness. Recovery efforts are underway, with focus on clearing debris, restoring power and providing support to those displaced.

Show HN: Spotify and Apple Health data as art

Day by Data app transforms personal data into art. Users connect their health or Spotify data to create visualizations, including step count receipts and music charts.

Features include visualizing yearly step counts, top Spotify songs, and daily activity highs. The app aims to make data meaningful through visual representations.

Developed by a solo developer, the app is available for free on iOS and iPadOS devices, with high user ratings. Future development will be guided by user feedback.

Early Evals for OpenAI O3

Global temperatures are rising, impacting weather patterns and ecosystems. This increase is primarily attributed to human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels.

The consequences include more frequent and intense heatwaves, droughts, floods, and sea level rise. These events pose significant risks to human health, infrastructure, and food security.

Mitigation efforts focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions through renewable energy adoption, improved energy efficiency, and sustainable land management. International cooperation is crucial for effective climate action.

Louisiana forbids public health workers from promoting Covid, flu and mpox shots

Louisiana's health department has instructed staff to halt promotion of COVID-19, flu, and mpox vaccines. This includes ceasing press releases, interviews, and public events focused on vaccine promotion.

The policy, confirmed through interviews with several anonymous employees fearing retaliation, applies to all department communication and outreach. It is currently not officially documented.

This decision follows the election of a new governor and surgeon general who have previously expressed skepticism regarding vaccines and public health measures, prompting concern about potential negative impacts on public health and vaccine confidence.