The Obtain: AI’s gaming prowess, and calculating methane emissions

The information: A brand new AI agent from Google DeepMind can play completely different video games, together with ones it has by no means seen earlier than comparable to Goat Simulator 3, a enjoyable motion sport with exaggerated physics. Not like earlier game-playing AI programs, which mastered just one sport or may solely comply with single targets or instructions, this new agent is ready to play a wide range of completely different video games, together with Valheim and No Man’s Sky. 

How they did it: Researchers have been in a position to get it to comply with textual content instructions to play seven completely different video games and transfer round in three completely different 3D analysis environments. They skilled it on numerous examples of people enjoying video video games, alongside keyboard and mouse enter and annotations of what the gamers did. Then they used an AI method known as imitation studying to show the agent to play video games as people would.

Why it’s a giant deal: It’s a step towards extra generalized AI that may switch expertise throughout a number of environments—and this type of data switch between video games represents a major milestone for AI analysis. Learn the total story.

—Melissa Heikkilä

Methane leaks within the US are worse than we thought

What’s taking place: Methane emissions within the US are worse than scientists beforehand estimated, a brand new examine has discovered. The analysis represents one of the crucial complete surveys but of methane emissions from US oil- and gas-producing areas, and located that  emissions have been considerably increased than beforehand estimated.

The massive image: The examine highlights the pressing want for brand new and higher methods of monitoring the highly effective greenhouse gasoline. The issue is, it’s mainly not possible to make use of only one instrument to measure all of the completely different methane sources. Learn the total story.

—Casey Crownhart

To be taught extra about why methane emissions are nonetheless such a thriller, try the newest version of The Spark, our weekly local weather e-newsletter. Enroll to obtain it in your inbox each Wednesday.