DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF by Edward Kane, Journalist

DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF

By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane

ELEPHANTS: THE 1ST NON-HUMAN SPECIES TO CALL EACH OTHER BY NAME

Source: Kenya Elephants Stock

New research on Kenyan elephants suggest that they call each other by specific names. Here's what we know:
Using AI and advanced acoustic analysis of hundreds of elephant calls, researchers have identified individual, specific calls used by elephants to address one another
This means that elephants are the first, non-human species scientifically demonstrated to call each other by name
AI determined that elephants are using specific calls to contact and communicate with individual elephants
Scientists found the elephants were not mimicking the receiver's vocalization as is the case with dolphins and parrots
The study, which included scientists from Colorado State University, identified elephant "rumbles" or calls specific to individuals and found unique callers and receivers, where calls to the same elephant seemed very similar
Most importantly, receivers of calls could be identified by a call structure
Scientists say this study sheds light on the evolution of language across species
It also has identified the 1st non-humans to use names
Next time you go to the zoo, you have to wonder what names the elephants are calling you.

DEEPMIND AI SUPER-ACCURATE WX FORECASTING

Source: Google DeepMind

Google DeepMind's weather AI has emerged as the gold standard of forecasting extreme weather faster and more accurately than current weather models and their supercomputers. Here are the facts:
DeepMind system can predict weather conditions 10 days in advance with greater speed and accuracy than any other system, including the top-rated European model
Called GraphCast, it uses machine learning based on 4 decades of weather data
Provides forecast in one minute
Outperformed the European model in more than 99% of weather variables like rain and air temperature
Example: accurately predicted Hurricane Lee would hit Nova Scotia, in October, 9 days in advance, which was 3 days ahead of traditional models
Very important new use of AI to provide meteorologists with earlier & more accurate forecasts
Exciting and critical, new early warning system as extreme weather is hitting at record levels

FLYING TAXIS COMING TO AIRPORTS NEAR YOU

Source: NYC & Tampa International Airport

This week, flying taxis were doing test flights in New York City and at Tampa International Airport. Here's what we know:
Joby Aviation and Volocopter air taxis both performed successful test flights over New York City in the past few days
These flights were part of NYC Mayor Eric Adams' plan to establish the world 1st heliport for eVTOLs on a pier on the East River
Called the Downtown Manhattan Heliport (DMH), Mayor Adams views it as a sustainable transport hub for air cab passengers and local deliveries
The air taxi flights were the 1st ever in Manhattan
Adams hopes to have NYC air taxis cleared by FAA by 2025
Meanwhile, Tampa International Airport hosted 1st ever eVTOL test flights at a major US airport
Volocopter air taxis did the flying
Airport CEO Joe Lopano expects air taxis to be operational at his Airport "really very soon"
We are getting closer to yellow cabs turning into air cabs that are electric-powered and take-off and land vertically from small heliports in major cities like DMH and from major airports like Tampa.

Important Innovations Collection