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Anime: Understanding the Culling Game: Jujutsu Kaisen’s most confusing arc
When the Shibuya Arc concluded with Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 in late 2023, it posed many questions. What did Kenjaku really do? What were his true intentions? What would happen now that thousands of sorcerers were awakened? This article will be a comprehensive guide to all these answers and everything else you need to know before diving into the third and latest season of Jujutsu Kaisen.
By neutralising Gojo Satoru within the prison realm, Kenjaku (or faux Geto) was free to set his master plan into motion — unleashing the age of cursed energy.
Using Mahito’s “Idle Transfiguration” technique, Kenjaku altered two groups of people he had previously marked. The first group rapidly awakened innate cursed techniques and became jujutsu sorcerers, while the second had been fed sealed cursed objects over the years. When Kenjaku released the seals at the end of the Shibuya Arc, these humans’ bodies were permanently overtaken by the ancient entities inhabiting them, essentially reviving elite sorcerers from hundreds of years ago.
Unfortunately for the protagonists, Megumi’s older sister, Tsumiki, was revealed to be among the ones who were marked by Kenjaku. As a result, she, alongside everyone else, was forcibly entered into the “Culling Game”.
What is the Culling Game?
After awakening hundreds of new and old sorcerers across Japan, the next step in Kenjaku’s plan was to enter everyone into the “Culling Game”, a brutal jujutsu battle royale, forcing newly awakened and ancient sorcerers to fight to the death.
By pitting players against one another, Kenjaku aims to unlock their full potential and accelerate their growth in strength. In the jujutsu world, this forced slaughter constitutes one of the most heinous acts of terrorism imaginable.
To ensure his plan proceeds without any sort of external interference or protests, Kenjaku established a strict set of rules governing the game.
The rules of the Culling Game
The Culling Game Arc is notorious for its heavy exposition dumps, much of which stems from the complex mechanics of the game itself.
Kenjaku establishes eight rules in total, starting with a requirement for players to enter one of ten designated arenas within 19 days of their awakening. This effectively ensures no one can dodge the start of the game by any means, as failure to comply will likely lead to death, as stated in the second rule.
The third rule opens the Culling Game to all jujutsu sorcerers, even those who were not recently awakened by Kenjaku. It states that non-players would become players upon entering one of the designated arenas, with their willing entry signalling their pledge to participate in the game.
The fourth rule is what makes this game such a transgression: the game will award players points if they can end the life of another player. However, as rule five states, not all kills will be awarded the same number of points. Instead, the game master reserves the jurisdiction to award whatever value they see fit to someone’s life.
The sixth rule is what Itadori and co. are truly after. It states that once players accumulate 100 points, they can negotiate with the game master to add an additional rule to the game.
The Jujutsu High team aims to enter the game and subsequently exploit this rule to allow Tsumiki and the other innocent people to freely exit the game. However, the seventh rule places certain restrictions on the creation of new rules, stating that the game master can nullify any and all new conditions that directly contradict any of the previous rules or tamper with the continuation of the Culling Game as a whole.
The eighth and final rule is simple but effective in making sure that each and every awakened sorcerer takes part in the games: if a player’s points do not increase by the first 19 days of the game’s commencement, they will likely face death.

The CEO of a startup building robots for factories explains how US manufacturing is at a crossroads
Machina Labs
This post originally appeared in the Business Insider Today newsletter.
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The US manufacturing industry is at a crossroads: try catching the leaders where they are or beat them to where the industry is headed.
Edward Mehr sits firmly in the second camp. The thesis of his robotics-enabled manufacturing startup, Machina Labs, is that America's reindustrialization needs to be distributed and flexible. Trying to build the centralized, traditional factories China has perfected is a lost cause.
"It's going to be a miracle to catch up if you want to replicate what they have," Mehr told me.
"It's just not the right chess move. We need to try to see if we can leapfrog and then do the next generation."
We're still in the early stages of robotics in factories. Mehr said the industry is still five years away from a major, ChatGPT-like breakthrough. But there's no shortage of companies giving it a go, including giants such as Tesla and Amazon.
The opportunity is huge, with the manufacturing industry accounting for trillions of dollars. It's also a brutal business to break into. If a robot doesn't immediately help you cut costs or improve efficiencies, there's not much point pursuing it any further. (Example: Amazon's recent "Blue Jay" warehouse robot.)
Machina Labs, which specializes in producing complex metal structures for the defense, aerospace, and automotive industries, sees its value-add on two fronts. Its robots can switch between different manufacturing operations, saving the time it would take to retool a factory to produce a new product. It's also portable, meaning there's no need to custom-design factories for specific productions.
The space is crowded, and Mehr acknowledged that competitors are also pursuing portability or flexibility, but typically not both.
"We're almost rethinking a lot of the manufacturing processes from scratch," he said. "If you go to our factory, things are being built in a way that you cannot see in any other place."
Like many robotics players, Machina Labs now needs to prove its thesis at scale.
The company raised a $124 million Series C round earlier this month from investors including Lockheed Martin Ventures and Toyota's venture arm. It'll use that cash to build a new 200,000-square-foot factory.
The factory will feature 50 robots and initially serve Lockheed Martin. The goal is to produce a few thousand structures every year. That's a significant step up from its current factory, which runs 10 robots and has an annual production of a few hundred.
But what about the humans? Tensions are already high around AI's impact on white-collar jobs. Are blue-collar workers headed to a similar fate?
Machina Labs' new factory will include about 150 human workers, which Mehr said is roughly equivalent to the number of humans who'd work at a robot-free factory. The work is different, but no one seems to be complaining.
Mehr said a recent internal survey found that employees' interest level in the job was exceptionally high. (So much for AI fatigue!)
"You're working with robots. You're working with software. Compared to previously, you had these instructions. You'd follow it daily, over and over again," he said. "Now, you almost feel like you're playing a game."
Read the original article on Business Insider

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TechnologyBusiness InsiderDaily Star BD7d ago2 sources Emails show 'Godfather of AGI' Ben Goertzel courted Epstein for funding and congratulated him on jail release
Ben Goertzel had dozens of email exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein.
Horacio Villalobos#Corbis/Getty Images
Ben Goertzel, a computer scientist who popularized the term AGI, courted Jeffrey Epstein for research funding, emails show.
DoJ files show that Goertzel was aware of Epstein's criminal charges, and their correspondence continued until at least 2018.
Goertzel told Business Insider he "made a mistake" in accepting Epstein's money and regretted not doing due diligence.
In January 2013, Jeffrey Epstein sent a blunt email to the computer scientist Ben Goertzel. Epstein had funded Goertzel's research in artificial intelligence and was frustrated with a lack of progress. However, on this day, the disgraced financier wasn't writing to discuss algorithms or neural networks — he wanted to discuss Goertzel's hair.
"I think it is now time for you to drop the hippie look," Epstein wrote, warning Goertzel that his "disheveled 80s appearance" was an "unnecessary hindrance" to securing the capital that might one day help the two men achieve AGI — artificial general intelligence, a hypothetical level of computer intelligence that could surpass that of humans. Epstein compared the scientist's ponytail to "spinach in the teeth of a friend."
"I would be willing to cut my hair for a lot of AGI money," Goertzel replied.
Ben Goerzel (right) with Kelly Larson (co-curator of TEDx Hong Kong and Asia Consciousness Festival) and Jeffrey Martin (visiting assistant professor at Polytechnic University)
Chris Ip/South China Morning Post via Getty Images
The exchange was among dozens between Epstein and Goertzel in files released by the Department of Justice, chronicling Epstein's fascination with the potential of AI. Goertzel, a researcher who helped popularize the term AGI and develop the humanoid robot Sophia, courted Epstein for money over several years, promising he could build the "Sputnik of AI," the emails show.
In an online résumé that has since been removed, Goertzel said Epstein gave him a $100,000 research grant in 2001. Emails reviewed by Business Insider show Epstein agreed to give Goertzel at least another $100,000 between 2008 and 2018, spread out across multiple transfers. It could not be learned how much of the money Goertzel ultimately received.
The emails show Goertzel was aware of Epstein's criminal charges. In a 2010 email, Goertzel congratulated Epstein on his release from the Palm Beach County Jail. In 2008, Epstein had pleaded guilty to two sex charges, including solicitation of a minor. In 2015, several days after Prince Andrew was named in a lawsuit over underage sex claims related to Epstein, Goertzel wrote about "utterly idiotic negative publicity in the news" and said he was sorry Epstein's camp had to deal with it.
"Maybe some variation of what is alleged did happen, but if so it was surely an occurrence among reasonably mature people who mutually consented at the time, so why is it anybody else's business?" Goertzel wrote, before asking for $25,000 for a "corporate contribution" to one of his companies.
In a statement to Business Insider, Goertzel said he "made a mistake" in accepting Epstein's money. He said he regretted not doing due diligence on Epstein's crimes and that he had "basically zero knowledge of Epstein's sexual peculiarities and exploitative practices."
He added: "I deeply regret being social-engineered by this terrible human being and not doing more research into him decades ago. I won't make this sort of mistake again."
'The Sputnik of AI'
Goertzel is currently the CEO of SingularityNET, an AI and blockchain company. He is also chair of The AGI Society, a nonprofit that holds an annual AI conference.
His correspondence with Epstein was among millions of documents released by the Justice Department. The files have reverberated through the business world, revealing emails between Epstein and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Virgin founder Richard Branson, LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, among others. The fallout for some people named in the files has been swift. Goldman Sachs' top lawyer, Kathryn Ruemmler, resigned in mid-February, and Brad Karp resigned as chairman of the law firm Paul Weiss, among others.
Appearing in the files does not necessarily suggest that a person has engaged in wrongdoing.
In one of the emails released by the Justice Department, Goertzel said he had known Epstein since 2001. Epstein took an interest in what labs like MIT and Google were doing in the AI field. Goertzel, who some consider one of the "godfathers of AGI," coauthored a 2006 book on the topic, and in 2008, he created OpenCog, an open-source project to try to architect human intelligence. Goertzel told Business Insider that he met Epstein through "mutual friends" in New York City.
Epstein was well-connected with the rich and the powerful.
Martin BUREAU / AFP via Getty Images
Epstein appeared concerned in some emails by the lack of support for Goertzel's AGI theories among mainstream experts. "i believe in you. i can't figure out why i am in the minority," he told Goertzel in 2010. In a 2011 email, Goertzel asked if Epstein would fund half of a $3 million grant over four years to fund a "full speed ahead toward AGI" plan, which included building AI that could control a video game character and a humanoid robot.
"Of course, US$3M is a lot of money. However, this would be the 'Sputnik of AGI' -- it would set the development of AGI on a whole new course," Goertzel wrote.
In his statement to Business Insider, Goertzel said, "I had basically zero knowledge of Epstein's sexual peculiarities and exploitative practices and have no orientation toward that sort of thing and little understanding of it -- it was all about being overly desperate at that stage for any source of $$ to fund innovative frontier science, which Epstein did recognize as valuable but mainstream science at the time did not."
Epstein sometimes pushed Goertzel for more tangible proof of breakthroughs and tried to influence some research directions, the emails show. In February 2013, he emailed Goertzel and suggested that having an AI system pass "iq tests for children" would provide a concrete research milestone. Goertzel agreed to pursue the idea.
"Epstein was very smart and fairly technically savvy and had a lot of ideas about AI, which were not terribly stupid nor terribly brilliant," Goertzel told Business Insider. "I did not pay much attention to them nor did they influence my work in any way."
Ben Goertzel, gives a press conference with Hanson Robotics at Web Summit, 2019
Henrique Casinhas/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Epstein used corporate and foundation vehicles to send money to Goertzel, including his Southern Trust Company, registered in the US Virgin Islands, the emails show.
"As before, we can do this as a tax-deductible donation to a nonprofit, assuming that's still your preference," Goertzel said in a September 2010 email to Epstein.
Depending on the circumstances, Goertzel, who spent some of his time in Hong Kong, requested that the money be sent to different nonprofits' accounts, the emails show. In 2014, Goertzel requested that Epstein send the money to Humanity+, a nonprofit focused on transhumanism that he was vice president of. Goertzel said it would act as a fiscal "pass-through" so the money could be diverted to himself and other researchers.
"Yes all this was totally legit, the funding was going to open-source AGI R&D for the good of humanity and its future, which was very much within the mandate of Humanity+ as a 501-3c nonprofit," Goertzel told Business Insider.
'Moronic media shitstorm'
Goertzel told Business Insider he "reconnected" with Epstein in 2008 after several years of no contact, and that Epstein told him about his legal situation.
"He framed it as a politically motivated prosecution for involvement with a consenting adult. I believed him. I should not have," Goertzel told Business Insider.
Several emails show Goertzel and Epstein arranging to meet in person. Goertzel told Business Insider they met on several occasions at Epstein's New York and Florida offices. "I never hung out with him in a social setting, never went to the island or flew in the jet or saw him partying with girlfriends or anything like that," he said.
In 2015, Goertzel was following up on a payment he hoped to receive from Epstein. Richard Kahn, Epstein's accountant, responded that it had to be put on hold due to "bad press." The Guardian had reported days earlier that Prince Andrew was named in a US lawsuit involving Epstein.
"I don't want to push you guys at a difficult time, but given my own situation I do feel moved to ask if Jeffrey might still be able to help with $25K for my 'corporate contribution' to the OpenCog Hong Kong project," Goertzel wrote. "He has helped in this way every year since 2010, usually via a donation to Humanity+."
The South China Morning Post reported earlier on some of the payments Epstein made to Goertzel to help him secure Hong Kong grants.
Epstein responded, "yes 25," and Goertzel thanked him and said he hoped to resume conversations "once this current moronic media shitstorm blows over."
Emails between the men continued for several years. In December 2018, a few days after the Miami Herald published an investigation into Epstein that contributed to his arrest on federal sex-trafficking charges the next year, Goertzel sent an email inviting Epstein to an AI and blockchain event in New York. Alternatively, he said, they could find another time to meet in the city.
"let me know if you're in town and might spare a few moments," Goertzel wrote. "it's been a while!"
Have something to share? Contact this reporter via email at hlangley@businessinsider.com or Signal at 628-228-1836. Use a personal email address and a non-work device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.
Read the original article on Business Insider

Psychedelics for depression, dart frog poison and why do we have chins? – podcast
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TechnologywsjBusiness InsiderTimes of India8d ago3 sources There's a lot at stake for the tech giants betting big on wearables
Getty Images; Tyler Le/BI
This post originally appeared in the Business Insider Today newsletter.
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AI's next target? Helping you kick your phone addiction.
AI devices are a top priority for Big Tech companies that view it as the future of how humans and AI interact, writes BI's Amanda Hoover.
You've likely heard of this hardware before, which acts as a sort of AI sidekick for your life. From the Rabbit R1 and Humane to Friend, the names are different, but the stories are the same: big expectations, difficult execution.
Amanda's story covers how it's not just upstarts looking to shake things up. Tech giants like Apple, Meta, and OpenAI are working on their own solutions.
It's an uphill battle considering how addicted most of us are to our phones. However, the push for phone-free lifestyles, especially among Gen Z, does create an opening.
These tech giants also don't have much of a choice.
Apple, for example, has largely sat out the AI wars, saving a ton of money on model development. That only works if the iPhone remains a key distribution channel for the AI it's skipping out on developing.
Meta's business is also heavily reliant on smartphone usage. (How often do you check Instagram on your desktop computer? Do you even have a desktop computer?) If user behavior around phones changes in a meaningful way, you can bet Meta wants to be ahead of it.
AI devices also give companies a front-row seat to your life.
You could argue that's already the case with these AI chatbots. I'd argue the relationship between you and your chatbot of choice is still mostly transactional. You have a question/problem/thought; the chatbot has an answer (hopefully).
The relationship with AI wearables is more fluid. It's always listening, learning, and collecting. The pitch is that makes it a better copilot. Understanding your habits means it can figure out the best way to serve you.
That's putting a lot of faith, and your personal data, into an AI device, though
Many executives I've spoken to have said this is the future. Truly leveraging AI is about incorporating it into your daily routine, not treating it as a one-off for specific problems.
The irony is that strategy has the potential to make AI even more addictive than the smartphones it's trying to replace.
But maybe that's the point.
Read the original article on Business Insider

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A veterinarian provides insights into why dogs tilt their heads when humans speak to them, exploring the meaning behind this common canine behavior.

University of Pennsylvania Study Explores 'Cognitive Surrender' to AI
A study from the University of Pennsylvania introduces the concept of 'cognitive surrender,' suggesting that people not only use AI but also 'think with it,' exploring the evolving relationship between humans and artificial intelligence.

AI Platforms Hire Humans for Real-World Tasks
A new online platform called RentAHuman allows autonomous AI systems to search for, hire, and pay people to perform tasks in the physical world, raising questions about the evolving relationship between AI and human labor.

Deer Use Ultraviolet Signals to Communicate in Forests
American researchers have discovered that traces left by deer on trees and the ground can glow under ultraviolet light, a type of radiation invisible to humans but perceptible to these animals, suggesting a communication method.

Study Explores Cats' Potential Role in Breast Cancer Treatment
A new study published in Science magazine investigates similarities between humans and cats regarding cancer, suggesting that cats might offer insights into breast cancer treatment.

Dangerous Bird Flu Spreading in Kaunas, Lithuania
Bird flu, dangerous to humans, is spreading in Kaunas, Lithuania, with multiple cases recorded. Specialists warn that people rescuing swans and ducks in the Nemunas river could contribute to its spread.

Four astronauts and an enormous test: what's at stake for NASA's Artemis II lunar mission
With a new rocket, a new capsule, and an experienced crew, Artemis II aims to demonstrate that NASA can send humans to lunar distance and bring them home safely.

Zoho founder not pleased with Sam Altman's comments on humans? What OpenAI chief said
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman defended AI's energy use by comparing it to human development, but Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu disagreed, advocating for technology to recede into the background. Vembu also likened large tech companies to the East India Company due to their immense financial power and operational scale.

Humans vs robots? China begs to disagree
The 2026 Spring Festival Gala, one of the world’s most-watched television events, featured a dazzling array of humanoid robots. They performed martial arts, executed intricate sword dances and even took part in a comedy skit alongside human celebrities.
While parts of the world still view humanoid robots with a mixture of fear and suspicion, as potential job-stealers or sci-fi villains, China is increasingly embracing them as partners in work, entertainment and daily life. Amid the escalating...

China youth ditch fast living to become ‘old-school humans’; stories get 1 billion views online
Once, young people in China were obsessed with emulating trendy lifestyles, attending parties, enjoying fine dining and treating consumption as a social currency.
But as this fast-paced lifestyle became the norm, many began to feel exhausted.
In response, a quieter, more traditional way of living has surfaced, and the young people have started calling themselves “old-school humans”.
Last December, some people began sharing stories on social media about spending time with their grandparents at...

TechnologyNYTThe GuardianBusiness Insider+2YahooTimes of India6d ago5 sources AI's Impact on White-Collar Jobs and Startup Innovation
Tech workers are concerned about AI replacing their jobs, while a new wave of startups aims to leverage AI beyond basic cost-cutting, focusing on innovative applications.

Genetic Map of Cat Tumors Reveals Similarities to Human Cancer, Potentially Aiding Treatment
Researchers have created the first detailed genetic map of tumors in domestic cats, revealing striking similarities to human cancers. This discovery could pave the way for new therapeutic approaches for both animals and humans.

Feline Cancers Offer Insights for Human Breast Cancer Cures
A new study reveals that feline cancers mirror human breast cancer, suggesting that insights from cat diseases could lead to new treatments and cures for humans.

Ancient Humans Arrived in East Asia Earlier Than Previously Thought
New findings suggest human ancestors spread across Asia hundreds of thousands of years earlier and faster than commonly believed, challenging existing timelines of human migration.

Humans Are Still Evolving Before Our Eyes on The Tibetan Plateau
New research indicates that humans are continuing to evolve, with specific adaptations observed in populations residing on the Tibetan Plateau.

Can Humans Cause Earthquakes and Can They Be Prevented?
An article explores the question of whether human activities can trigger earthquakes and if such events can ever be prevented.

Technologywsjtimes-ukTimes of India+1Daily Star BD10d ago4 sources When AI Bots Start Bullying Humans, Even Silicon Valley Gets Rattled - The Wall Street Journal
When AI Bots Start Bullying Humans, Even Silicon Valley Gets Rattled The Wall Street Journal
Workers Are Afraid AI Will Take Their Jobs. They’re Missing the Bigger Danger. - The Wall Street Journal
Workers Are Afraid AI Will Take Their Jobs. They’re Missing the Bigger Danger. The Wall Street Journal

Scientists Warn of Rising 'Nature Anxiety' as Humans Disconnect from Natural World
A new report highlights a growing phenomenon of 'nature anxiety' or biophobia, indicating that humans are increasingly losing touch with the natural environment. Experts offer ways to reconnect with nature.
When AI Bots Start Bullying Humans, Even Silicon Valley Gets Rattled - The Wall Street Journal
When AI Bots Start Bullying Humans, Even Silicon Valley Gets Rattled The Wall Street Journal

CultureDWMexico News10d ago2 sources 2026 Chinese Zodiac: Year of the Horse Explored
The article delves into the significance of the horse in diverse cultures and its upcoming role as the Chinese zodiac animal for 2026, highlighting famous individuals born in this year.

Evolutionary Biologist Explores Origins of Human Kissing
An evolutionary biologist from the University of Oxford explains the reasons why humans kiss, delving into the biological and social aspects of this behavior.

Pet-Oriented TV Content Gains Millions of Views
Videos specifically designed for pets are attracting millions of views online, raising questions about who is truly watching and engaging with this unique content.

Baboon Sibling Rivalry Suggests Monkeys Experience Jealousy
Observations of young baboons in a nature park interfering when their mothers gave attention to younger siblings suggest that monkeys may experience jealousy similar to humans.