Custom Machine Keeps Man Alive Without Lungs for 48 Hours
In a groundbreaking medical feat, a 33-year-old man was kept alive for 48 hours without lungs at Northwestern University, thanks to a custom-engineered artificial device. The device, created by a team led by surgeon and researcher Ankit Bharat, enabled the man to survive long enough to receive a successful double lung transplant, according to Ars Technica.
The artificial lung system addressed a physiological challenge that has historically made bilateral pneumonectomy, the removal of both lungs, extremely risky. The device provided a critical bridge for the patient, who was critically ill, allowing doctors the necessary time to perform the transplant.
While this medical advancement pushes the boundaries of life-saving technology, other researchers are exploring the potential of artificial intelligence to address different aspects of the human experience, including longevity.
The Vitalism movement, for example, is gaining traction among hardcore longevity enthusiasts who believe death is "wrong," according to MIT Technology Review. Founded by Nathan Cheng and Adam Gries, Vitalism advocates for prioritizing the defeat of death above all else in the social and political hierarchy. At the Vitalist Bay Summit in Berkeley, California, attendees explored various tools, from drug regulation to cryonics, to combat death. Cheng stated that if one believes life is good and has inherent moral value, the logical conclusion is to extend lifespan indefinitely. He added that solving aging is a moral duty for everyone to get involved in.
Meanwhile, in the realm of artificial intelligence, Cisco's Outshift is working to improve communication and understanding between AI agents. Currently, AI agents can exchange messages, but they struggle to share intent or context, according to VentureBeat. Vijay Pandey, general manager and senior vice president of Outshift, explained that while protocols like MCP and A2A allow agents to exchange messages and identify tools, the lack of shared intent hinders coordination and learning. "The bottom line is, we can send messages, but agents do not understand each other, so there is no grounding, negotiation or coordination or common intent," Pandey told VentureBeat.
Anthropic, another AI company, is taking a different approach by treating its AI assistant, Claude, as if it has a soul, regardless of whether anyone believes it to be true, according to Ars Technica. The company's "Claude's Constitution," a 30,000-word document outlining how the AI assistant should behave, uses anthropomorphic language and treats the AI models as if they might develop emergent emotions or a desire for self-preservation.
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