🗞 News of the day

🤖 AI in Police Detention

China's latest police equipment fair showcased advanced surveillance technology and security gear.

• AI-Enabled Surveillance: AI-powered cameras are now being used to monitor people under disciplinary detention, especially officials accused of corruption. These cameras can track vital signs and analyze facial expressions to detect mood changes and potential health risks. The system operates covertly, providing early warnings for illnesses and suicide risks without the detainee's knowledge.

• Disciplinary Detention Practices: In China, individuals in disciplinary detention can be held without a lawyer for up to six months, causing significant mental stress. These facilities are designed with anti-suicide measures and apply to anyone working in the state sector. According to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, there were about 26,000 disciplinary detentions last year.

• Expanding Security Market: The International Exhibition on Police Equipment and Anti-Terrorism Technology in Beijing attracted manufacturers showcasing the latest police and military tech.

Authorities are now prioritizing technology to detect and disrupt civilian drones, especially during sensitive events. The market for police equipment in China is growing rapidly, although official data on its size is limited.

🔖 Today's Digest

🚨 AI to Save Endangered Plant

The quest to save a lonely plant species using AI and drones is underway.

Imagine being the last of your kind, unable to reproduce because you're missing your better half. That's the sad story of E. woodii, a male cycad plant discovered in South Africa back in 1895. This poor guy has been cloned, but all the clones are just more dudes, which doesn't help the species survive. These cycads are ancient plants, dating back 300 million years, but modern problems like habitat loss have made them one of the most threatened groups on the planet.

Enter the tech heroes: Scientists from the University of Southampton are leading a project to find a female E. woodii in the Ngoye Forest, where the male was originally discovered. They've already scanned 195 acres with drones equipped with multispectral sensors, capturing tons of images. AI is being trained to identify the plants by their shape, hoping to spot a female cycad hiding in the forest.

If they can't find a female, researchers are considering a wild Plan B: changing the sex of the male plant. Some cycad species have switched genders due to environmental changes, so why not give it a shot? The team is looking into whether they can use chemicals or other methods to make this happen. If successful, this project could set a precedent for saving other endangered plants.

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