The Business Secretary is set to face MPs amid growing concerns over the car industry’s ability to adapt to plans aimed at increasing the number of electric vehicles. Jonathan Reynolds revealed a “fast-track” consultation into these plans on Tuesday night, and will follow this up with a statement to the House on Wednesday. He expressed…
(Credits: Far Out / Alamy) Wed 27 November 2024 11:59, UK There are countless directors in the world of cinema that can boast being an influence or an inspiration to other filmmakers. Possibly the most influential director of the 21st century, Quentin Tarantino has the extraordinary ability to tilt popular culture in the direction of his liking, making each of his films an event in the cinematic calendar.With an incredibly storied filmography, Tarantino has carved himself out a unique niche. He is able to draw in audiences simply to see what the auteur has done next. The movie can be focused on any genre, any story and star any number of great actors and the main reason a cinemagoer will purchase their ticket, sit down in a semi-comfy red carpeted seat, and begin munching on popcorn is because, on the opening credits, a title card reads: directed by Quentin Tarantino. The very essence of cinema is the willingness to sit down and be shown a story, despite all his stylistic quirks; it is this unique skill of narrative-led storytelling that sets Tarantino apart from the rest. The director has never created a movie without thinking how he, as an audience member, would like things to go down. A self-confessed student of cinema, Tarantino often borrows from the history of film, lovingly taking creative licence from Japanese cinema in particular, such as in Toshiya Fujita’s Lady Snowblood, which heavily influenced 2003’s Kill Bill. In a discussion with The Talks, he notes how he absorbs cultural influences to use in his writing, commenting, “[My] head is a sponge. I listen to what everyone says, I watch little idiosyncratic behaviour, people tell me a joke and I remember it. People tell me an interesting story in their life and I remember it”. Known for his ingenious storytelling tactics, pervasive violence, and profane dialogues, Quentin Tarantino is vocal about his cinematic tastes, often discussing his favourite films in various interviews throughout modern journalism. With an infectious effect on 1990s culture, here, we take a look back at the iconic director’s favourite films of the pre-millennium decade, a matter he discussed with Sky Movies during the press tour for Inglourious Basterds. Quentin Tarantino’s favourite ’90s movies:Audition (Takashi Miike, 1999)Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike is familiar with the explicitly traumatic and is renowned for his frank and blunt approach to sex and violence, though 1999’s Audition takes his disturbing world to new cinematic heights.In this strange tale of a widower auditioning local women to be his new wife, Miike crafts a slow burner that patiently culminates into a gripping drama. Though, behind the curtain something far more sinister is brewing, delivering one of cinema’s most surprising and most uncomfortable tonal deviations. It was likely this same violent, twisted tone that attracted purveyor of ferocity Quentin Tarantino, who would call Miike’s film a “true masterpiece if ever there was one”. Ever since, the director has regularly pointed to the Japanese filmmaker as one of his favourites of all time.[embedded content]The Blade (Tsui Hark, 1995)Described as a “martial arts extravaganza” by Tarantino, Tsui Hark’s The Blade elicits an unusual style of melodramatic close-ups, exaggerated colours and frenetic cinematography to tell its gripping tale. Starring Wenzhuo Zhao in the lead role, The Blade is an ultra-violent action film that follows an outcast worker at a sabre factory who assumes the role of ‘master’ and sets out to avenge his father by killing the evil kung-fu master responsible for his death. Its bombastic, over-the-top plot undoubtedly influenced 2003’s Kill Bill, as both films share a similar flair for fantastical action and an unapologetic embrace of comic savagery.[embedded content]Boogie Nights (Paul Thomas Anderson, 1997)Arguably Paul Thomas Anderson’s very best film, Boogie Nights is a powerful evaluation of the hedonistic excess of the ‘70s, taking us to the trashy world of the emerging pornographic industry of Southern California. The picture remains a perfect exercise in duality as it not only personifies that decade but also the decade in which it was released.A staggering work of early brilliance, Boogie Nights is a passionate and painfully honest depiction of the American soul by a precocious filmmaker, similar to a punk band’s first records — pure, fiery brilliance. Echoing similar snappy energy to the films of Quentin Tarantino, it’s no wonder that the filmmaker found so much joy in Anderson’s film. [embedded content]Dazed and Confused (Richard Linklater, 1993)Experiencing Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused is a liberating exercise in catharsis, as it does not tremble in the apprehension of the responsibilities of the future, rather the worries of the future are sacrificed for the pleasure of the present. As the director states, “I thought the 1970s sucked. Dazed was supposed to be an anti-nostalgic movie. But it’s like trying to make an anti-war movie – just by depicting it, you make it look fun”. Being a vocal fan of the slacker movie Dazed and Confused was a film Tarantino found instantly attractive. The latter filmmaker’s ability to find the beauty in nothingness of mundane modernity makes this picture a gloriously reverent effort: “One of the things about Dazed and Confused that’s so terrific is that every time you watch it…the characters are like your friends and it’s like your hanging out with them again”.[embedded content]Fight Club (David Fincher, 1999)Together with Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, David Fincher’s Fight Club makes the exclusive list of the most influential films of the 1990s, with Brad Pitt and Edward Norton’s anarchic punk aesthetic resonating through an adolescent subculture. A flurry of comedy, violence, action and narrative twists, Fincher’s film is the perfect concoction for Quentin Tarantino’s tastes, particularly as the film elicits an outstanding sense of gritty style. It helps that the film stars Brad Pitt, a frequent collaborator of Tarantino, whose irresistible charm and gruff persona have made him a standout character in both Inglourious Basterds and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The director would even label Pitt the “last remaining big movie star”. [embedded content]Friday (F Gary Gray, 1995)From Straight Outta Compton director F Gary Gray, Friday, starring Ice Cube and Chris Tucker, happens to be a favourite of Quentin Tarantino, swapping out frenetic violence for a fun-loving stoner comedy.Written by Ice Cube and DJ Pooh, Cube felt like recent films that depicted the hood, like Boyz n the Hood did not portray the full picture of life in the community, missing out the more lighthearted elements, stating, “We had fun in the hood. We used to trip off the neighbourhood”. Ice Cube and F Gary Gray, therefore, set out to make a “hood classic”, and one that could be “watched over and over again”, clearly, according to Tarantino at least, they succeeded. [embedded content]The Insider (Michael Mann, 1999)Michael Mann’s award-winning thriller starring Russell Crowe, Al Pacino and Christopher Plummer is exactly the kind of dramatic thriller that Mann has now become ubiquitous with, it’s a natural choice for one of Tarantino’s favourites of the decade. A fictionalised account of a true story, Michael Mann’s The Insider is based on an article titled ‘The Man Who Knew Too Much’ from an article in Vanity Fair, following Jeffrey Wigand, a whistleblower in the tobacco industry who struggles to defend their testimony against the industry while batting away efforts to discredit their claim. Nominated for seven Academy Awards, including ‘Best Picture’ and ‘Best Actor’ for Russell Crowe, the film was praised largely for Mann’s direction. [embedded content]The Matrix (Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski, 1999)The seminal science fiction classic from the Wachowski sisters is influential for a wide variety of reasons, heralding a new era for original genre films and action cinema, whilst even inspiring a new style for sleek black leather. Redefining the realms of special effect possibilities, The Matrix truly expanded the horizons of blockbusters cinemas’ potential, widening the eyes of audience members and film producers alike. A massive fan of the original film, Tarantino admits, however, “Matrix two and three came out and actually ruined the mythology for me”, adding, “I just can’t think about it [The Matrix] the same way I did before”. With that being said, he also reports that the inferior sequel films “didn’t obliterate it entirely”, with the original still remaining a classic in his eyes.[embedded content]Supercop (Stanley Tong, 1992)A superhero that the government establishment couldn’t resist is the third film in the iconic kung-fu series Police Story, starring the ever-endearing Jackie Chan. Quentin Tarantino’s fondness of Tong’s classic action film cannot be overstated, noting that its action excellence exceeds that of the great Buster Keaton, with the director stating that Supercop is “A movie that I think actually probably contains the greatest stunts, and that’s even including Buster Keaton”. He even pinpoints his favourite moment in the bombastic action film, exclaiming, “Look no further than Michelle Yeoh jumping a motorcycle onto a speeding train”.[embedded content]Speed (Jan de Bont, 1994)One of the truly great action thrillers, Jan de Bont’s Speed is a ridiculous film at its heart, following a young police officer, played by Keanu Reeves, who must prevent a bomb from exploding aboard a bus that must keep its speed over 50mph.With a snarling villain in the form of the great Dennis Hopper, Speed is a totally melodramatic thriller that realises the true nature of great action. As Quentin Tarantino notes, his view on the film is tinged with nostalgia, commenting, “It might be easy to take Speed for granted now, but if you actually remember when Speed came out what it was like to sit in the movie theatre as that bus was going down the road – there really has been few exhilaration movies quite like it”.[embedded content]Related TopicsSubscribe To The Far Out Newsletter
(Credit: Olivier Strecker) Wed 27 November 2024 12:30, UK Divided by a split-screen, an elderly couple slowly drifts apart as their health deteriorates, causing chaos, confusion, and sadness. On one side of the screen is French star Françoise Lebrun, and on the other is the pioneering filmmaker Dario Argento, better known for helming movies like Suspiria and Deep Red. Directed by Gaspar Noé, Vortex is an emotional journey into ageing, death, and grief, and Argento’s performance is magnificent, helping to establish him in the film world again following a period of critical decline. The Italian director emerged in the 1970s when the country was radically reshaping the rules of horror, and he quickly tapped into the giallo sub genre, which blended mystery, proto-slasher, sexploitation, and luscious colour palettes. After working as a screenwriter, co-writing Once Upon A Time in the West for Sergio Leone, he began directing giallo movies like The Bird with the Crystal Plumage and Four Flies on Grey Velvet. Argento then helmed some of the most acclaimed horror movies of the 1970s, like Deep Red and Suspiria, championing neon-soaked worlds and effortlessly stylish cinematography. His work has been incredibly influential over horror – and cinema as a whole – finding a big fan in Noé. The Argentinian-born filmmaker has been a cinephile from a very young age, once stating that he was deeply affected by movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Salo or 120 Days of Sodom when he was barely an adult. Noé’s movies have garnered significant controversy over the years, from the violent Irreversible to the incredibly explicit and erotic Love, although he is widely considered to be an incredibly talented and creative auteur. Every Noé film, like Argento’s, are so obviously his, with both using their own distinctive techniques to bring their stories to life. While Noé’s films are often a lot more intense and disorientating to sit through, both repeatedly interrogate themes of violence and sexuality, using bright colours to illuminate these brutal and chaotic worlds. Thus, it was only natural for Argento and Noé to collaborate – something that had been in the pipeline for many years. Talking to Little White Lies, Noé explained that he has known Argento for decades. Discussing their first meeting, he revealed, “At the Toronto Film Festival, 30 years ago when I was showing Carne, in 1991. I have a photo of that night. He told me he would be my co-producer in a future film, and of course, it didn’t happen.” Dario Argento (Credits: Far Out / MUBI)However, they “stayed friends and every year we would see each other in different festivals, and I became really close to his daughter [Asia] who, by the way, helped me a lot to convince him to play in the movie [Vortex]. We have a very friendly relationship.” Noé then revealed his favourite Argento films: “I would say the one that I’ve seen the most is The Bird with the Crystal Plumage. But I love Deep Red, I love Suspiria, I love Inferno.” The first two, released in 1970 and 1975, respectively, are classic giallos featuring murder mysteries that invite us to join the protagonist in trying to figure out who the killer is. Deep Red, with its incredible soundtrack, POV shots, and striking use of crimson shades, is one of Argento’s most celebrated works, even influencing Halloween. Meanwhile, Suspiria and Inferno are both part of the thematically-connected Three Mothers trilogy, with both weaving supernatural themes into their plotlines. Haunting and electrifying, these films are so distinctively Argento, what with their slightly camp acting and impressive cinematography. While Noé has never made a horror movie quite like an Argento one, the influence of his visual style and devotion to exploring human brutality and corruption is certainly apparent in the Climax director’s work. [embedded content]Related TopicsSubscribe To The Far Out Newsletter
TikTokA man has been arrested after women were filmed on nights out without their knowledge and the videos were shared on social media.
On a pleasant Sunday afternoon, 30 strangers gathered at Crafe, T Nagar, each feeling a mix of excitement and curiosity. It was not your typical blind date event — there were no introductions or small talk. Instead, everyone was there to meet a book, handpicked by Bessy Reads based on their favourite genres, along with their favourite coffee. Bessy Reads, a silent reading community that meets every Sunday between 6am and 9am at Besant Nagar and Thiruvanmiyur beaches, organised the event. “Ever since Bessy Reads hit the 10K mark on Instagram, I have wanted to explore ideas that could engage our community of book lovers,” says Kruthika Kumar, one of the organisers. “We have quite a lot of ideas that we are working on as a team but wanted to implement one and see how it goes. We wanted to receive the response and feedback of our dear patrons and that’s how we came up with this idea,” she says.
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 17 November 2024: Books kept at blind book date event at The Crafe, Thyagaraya Nagar in Chennai on Sunday. Photo:Akhila Easwaran/ The Hindu
| Photo Credit:
AKHILA EASWARAN
Kruthika, along with fellow members Divya Maheshwari, Sri Sivakumar, and Janani Umapathy, initially considered bringing a few books from different genres and letting attendees choose based on clues. However, they quickly realised how specific readers’ preferences can be. “It took us three days to match books to genres and another full day to package them. We even added clues on the wrapped books,” Kruthika shares. There were 30 books in total. Each book, wrapped in a newspaper giving an old-school charm, had clues penned inside. For instance, Deborah Rodriguez’s The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul had a note that read “Brews and biscuits in a war-torn land, life and hope blend with a steady hand.” The clue lends itself to the book being a wholesome read. Along with promoting the reading habit, the team is committed to supporting small, independent bookstores through these events. The team got these books from three bookstores: Subashini Book House, Tambaram; Sriram Bookstore and Booksbykilo, Nanganallur. “We want to support independent bookstores because the kind of personal connection we used to have with books and the person at the bookstore, who curates books with affection, is dwindling in the digital era. We want to conduct events involving these bookstores so that the word reaches today’s generation,“ explains Kruthika.Sruthi Muthukaruppan, 29, a first-time participant says, “This is such a unique experience. Here, reading is celebrated, not judged. It’s a great space to meet people with diverse literary tastes and make new connections.” She recently finished It Ends With Us and is of the opinion that the novel was better than the TV show adaptation which aired on Netflix recently.
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 17 November 2024: Participants of blind book date event at The Crafe, Thyagaraya Nagar in Chennai on Sunday. Photo:Akhila Easwaran/ The Hindu
| Photo Credit:
AKHILA EASWARAN
Harold Prabhu, 27, a regular at Bessy Reads sessions, says his go-to genres are non-fiction, productivity-help, self-growth and at times, biographies. “The event fosters a sense of belonging. It’s wonderful to gather with like-minded people and exchange book recommendations,” he says. He tried to pick up the habit of reading fiction from these book reading sessions. “I recently read Dune by Frank Herbert, and it is a nice new experience,” he adds.For Adithya Dushyanth, 29, the surprise element was the highlight. “Having someone else pick a book for me adds an exciting new perspective to my favourite genre,” he says. At the event, he received Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher. “It’s a coming-of-age novel and I love the sound of it,” he says. Looking ahead, the Bessy Reads team is brimming with ideas : a book reading session at a sanctuary or zoological park where they will gift books or plants to people, a women-only reading session, and reading retreats to serene locations “Author meet-ups, and podcasts featuring writers are also in the pipeline,” adds Kruthika. Today, when connections can disappear in the blink of an eye, there is something reassuring about losing yourself in a book. Published – November 27, 2024 06:03 pm IST
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Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565Visit Shots! nowThe owner of an independent Northampton business, which offers a “beautiful oasis of calm”, is the next to share her insights as part of our Small Business Saturday series.The Breathe In Space, located in Welford Road, Kingsthorpe, is a studio providing yoga classes and a holistic centre for all kinds of wellness treatments.From the varying yoga practices and reflexology, to meditation circles, sound baths and classes for older individuals to keep them strong and balanced, business owner Jo Moore-Occhiuzzi found her calling with The Breathe In Space.In the holistic part of the building – where Jo has welcomed in other independents to treat their clients – massages, facials, crystal healing, detoxing body wraps and sauna sessions are on offer.The Breathe In Space, located in Welford Road, is a studio providing yoga classes and a holistic centre for all kinds of wellness treatments.The founder is also proud to offer a yoga teacher training course, which she says is among her proudest achievements since the business opened to the public more than three years ago.“We need to keep people aware that we’re here and what we offer,” said Jo. “Small Business Saturday is an amazing opportunity to showcase that. It’s a creative thing to be an entrepreneur and this is a platform for Northampton’s weird and wonderful businesses.”The founder was asked what message she would like to send to the community, to encourage them to visit and support their favourite small businesses on December 7 and in the run up to Christmas.Jo said: “We do have a tendency to moan about what’s not there but maybe we don’t use it as much as we should. It’s so easy to click and buy online for convenience, but small businesses offer a personal touch and interaction you can’t get through a screen.”Business owner Jo Moore-Occhiuzzi found her calling with The Breathe In Space.This is particularly the case for The Breathe In Space, as the wellness studio provides hands-on care that could not be replicated online.Jo emphasised that the support of the community means “everything” and said: “It takes time to be embedded into people’s consciousness and people still don’t know we’re here. Their faces light up when they see what’s on offer on their doorstep.“For Northampton in particular, it’s really important to have independents and stand alone businesses so we have a voice. Where you put your money is a vote towards the lifestyle our town wants.”When asked if she is proud to be part of such a diverse business community in our town, Jo said: “1000 percent. My parents ran their own businesses and I never thought that’s where my career would go, but it’s in my DNA. I’m really proud, especially to have a business in Northampton.”The business offers varying yoga practices, reflexology, meditation circles, sound baths and classes for older individuals to keep them strong and balanced.It is The Breathe In Space’s focus on wellness over fitness in the yoga world that Jo believes sets them apart from others. The small and intimate class sizes, and the fact the team gives attendees their own ‘self-care toolkit’, makes it a unique experience.The founder hopes it is the team’s personal touches, genuine care for attendees, and support offered to other independents that keep people coming back for more.Join us tomorrow as we continue the count down to Small Business Saturday by spotlighting some of the amazing independents at the heart of Northampton.To find out more about The Breathe In Space, visit the business’ website here.Continue Reading
The Supreme Court yesterday hosted a launch event for Dr Niamh Howlin’s new book, A Century of Courts: The Courts of Justice Act 2024. Published by Four Courts Press, the book brings together legal scholars, historians and members of the judiciary to reflect on the legacies of the Courts of Justice Act 1924, which established the District Court, Circuit Court, High Court and Supreme Court. Making use of a range of sources and methodologies, the authors analyse the establishment of a new judiciary and some of the challenges facing the new legal order. Dr Howlin is an associate professor at UCD Sutherland School of Law and is the author and editor of several books on aspects of Irish legal history. Yesterday’s launch event concludes the programme of events organised by the Courts Service and the judiciary to mark the centenary of the State’s independent courts system.
Share this News:New Delhi, 27 November 2024 — As small business owners continue to adapt to digital demands, GoDaddy’s 2024 Global Entrepreneurship Survey highlights the growing importance of digital tools for small businesses and the need for stronger cybersecurity measures to help ensure long-term sustainability and competitiveness.
Technology as an Enabler of Growth
The survey results underscored the critical role that technology plays in enabling small businesses to grow and compete, with 96% of Indian entrepreneurs reporting that digitization is a key competitive advantage.
What’s more, 97% of respondents reported digitization has significantly improved their work processes, and 93% recognized that combining online and offline sales is crucial for business success.
These statistics illustrate a widespread adoption of digital solutions to improve customer interaction and operational efficiency, as they become increasingly integrated into everyday operations. Indian entrepreneurs reported they most frequently use digital payment systems (95%), email notifications (92%), and online booking tools (91%) to communicate with customers and operate their businesses.
However, despite more small business adopting digital solutions, 69% of Indian small business owners currently use customer relationship management (CRM) systems to track and manage customer interactions, presenting an opportunity to further enhance customer engagement. GoDaddy is ready to support small businesses in this area by offering a wide range of services that help to reduce the cost and time associated with digital transformation.
Digital Investments for the Future
Looking ahead, small business owners are preparing to further invest in digital solutions to drive growth. In 2024, 95% of Indian entrepreneurs said they planned to increase their investment in online sales and marketing efforts, reflecting a clear trend towards leveraging digital channels for business expansion.
“GoDaddy continues to serve as a champion of small businesses in the ever-evolving digital ecosystem, providing digital solutions and expert guides to entrepreneurs to start and grow a business, build a professional website, attract customers and sell their products or services. With its robust suite of online tools, GoDaddy is making opportunity more inclusive for all and supporting small businesses on their digital journeys,” said Apurva Palnitkar, Senior Director Marketing at GoDaddy.
Security: Accelerating Awareness for Small Businesses
As Indian entrepreneurs continue to adopt digital solutions, cybersecurity has also emerged as an area of increased awareness. The survey found that Indian entrepreneurs recognize the importance of having online security protections in place with 91% of small business owners reporting they feel they are appropriately prepared to face a cyberattack, most commonly taking preventative measures such as installing an antivirus software (74%) and regularly backing up data (62%). Additionally, 29% of those who have suffered a cyberattack believe it had a significant impact on their small business.
However, there are still further steps which small business owners can take to help decrease their vulnerability to a cyberattack – with only 35% implementing encryption software (SSLs) and 32% using firewalls. These additional protections can help to further protect a business’ digital assets.
Conclusion
As small businesses embrace digitalization, GoDaddy’s survey shows that Indian entrepreneurs are confident to adopt new digital solutions to improve customer interaction and operational efficiency. GoDaddy empowers small businesses by providing the necessary technology, resources and support needed to grow and compete in the digital landscape.
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The announcement of the artificial intelligence researchers John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton as this year’s Nobel laureates in physics spurred celebration and consternation over the status of AI in science and society. In Japan, however, another feeling dominates: frustration.
“Japanese researchers should also have won,” an editorial in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper proclaimed. Congratulating Hopfield and Hinton, the Japanese Neural Network Society added pointedly: “We must not forget the role played by pioneer Japanese researchers in erecting the foundations of neural network research.”
Neural networks are at the centre of contemporary AI. They are models for machines to learn independently through structures that, if often only loosely, are inspired by the human brain.
So who are these pioneering Japanese AI researchers?
In 1967, Shun’ichi Amari proposed a method of adaptive pattern classification, which enables neural networks to self-adjust the way they categorise patterns, through exposure to repeated training examples. Amari’s research anticipated a similar method known as “backpropagation,” one of Hinton’s key contributions to the field.
In 1972, Amari outlined a learning algorithm (a set of rules for carrying out a particular task) that was mathematically equivalent to Hopfield’s 1982 paper cited by the Nobel on associative memory, which allowed neural networks to recognise patterns despite partial or corrupted inputs.
The North American researchers were working separately to groups in Japan, coming to their conclusions independently.
Later, in 1979, Kunihiko Fukushima created the world’s first multilayer convolutional neural network. This technology has been the backbone of the recent boom in deep learning, an AI approach which has given rise to neural networks that learn without supervision, through more complex architectures. If this year’s Nobel was for “foundational discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning with artificial neural networks,” why not award Amari and Fukushima?
One-sided perspectives
The AI community itself has been debating this question. There are cogent arguments as to why Hopfield and Hinton better fit the Nobel “physics” category, and why national balance mattered, given the peace prize went to Japan’s Nihon Hidankyō.
Why, then, should we still be worried?
The answer lies in the risks of historical one-sidededness. Our standard account of artificial neural networks is a North Atlantic-based – and, overwhelmingly, North American – history. AI experienced a period of rapid development in the 1950s and 1960s.
A NHK-produced short film from 1986 on the Neocognitron. Courtesy of Fukushima Kunihiko.
By 1970, it entered an “AI Winter”, during which research stagnated. Winter finally changed to spring in the 1980s, through the likes of Hopfield and Hinton. The latter researcher’s links to Google and OpenAI are said to have fed into the current boom in AI based on neural networks.
And yet, it was precisely during this alleged “winter” that Finnish, Japanese, and Ukrainian researchers – among others – established the foundations of deep learning. Integrating these developments into our histories of AI is essential as society confronts this transformative technology. We must expand what we mean when we talk about AI in ways different from the current vision offered by Silicon Valley.
For the past year, Yasuhiro Okazawa, from Kyoto University, Masahiro Maejima, from the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo, and I have led an oral history project centered on Kunihiko Fukushima and the lab at NHK where he developed the Neocognitron, a visual pattern recognition system that became the basis for convolutional neural networks.
Kunihiko Fukushima working on the original Cognitron in 1975.
Kunihiko Fukushima, Author provided (no reuse)
NHK is Japan’s public broadcaster, equivalent to the BBC. Much to our surprise, we discovered that the context from which Fukushima’s research emerged had roots in psychological and physiological studies of television audiences. This led NHK to create, in 1965, a laboratory for the “bionics of vision”. Here, television engineers could contribute towards advancing knowledge of human psychology and physiology (how living organisms function).
Indeed, Fukushima saw his own work as dedicated to understanding biological organisms rather than AI in the strict sense. Neural networks were conceived as “simulations” of how visual information processing might work in the brain, and thought to help advance physiological research. The Neocognitron specifically aimed to help settle debates about whether complex sensory stimuli corresponded to the activation of one particular neuron (nerve cell) in the brain, or to a pattern of activation distributed across a population of neurons.
Human approaches
The engineer Takayuki Itō, who worked under Fukushima, characterised his mentor’s approach as a “human science”. But during the 1960s, American researchers abandoned artificial neural networks based on human models. They cared more about applying statistical methods to large data sets, rather than patient study of the brain’s complexities. In this way, emulating human cognition became merely a casual metaphor.
When Fukushima visited the US in 1968, he found few researchers who were sympathetic to his human brain-centred approach to AI, and many mistook his work for “medical engineering.” His lack of interest in upscaling the Neocognitron with bigger data sets eventually placed him at odds with NHK’s increasing demand for applied AI-based technologies, leading to his resignation in 1988.
Left to right: Yasuhiro Okazawa (Kyoto University), Hansun Hsiung (Durham University), Kunihiko Fukushima, Masahiro Maejima (National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo) on the 4th of April 2024.
Author provided, no reuse
For Fukushima, developing neural networks was never about their practical use in society, for instance, in replacing human labour and for decision making. Rather, they represented an attempt to grasp what made advanced vertebrates like humans unique, and in this way make engineering more human.
Indeed, as Takayuki Itō noted in one of our interviews, this “human science” approach may lend itself to a closer embrace of diversity. Although Fukushima himself did not pursue this path, Itō’s work since the late 1990s has focused on “accessibility” in relation to the cognitive traits of the elderly and disabled. This work also recognises types of intelligence different from mainstream AI research.
Fukushima today keeps a measured distance from machine learning. “My position,” he says, “was always to learn from the brain.” Compared to Fukushima, AI researchers outside Japan took short cuts. The more that mainstream AI research leaves the human brain behind, the more it yields technologies that are difficult to understand and control. Shorn of its roots in biological processes, we can no longer explain why AI works and how it makes decisions. This is known as the “black box” problem.
Would a return to a “human science” approach solve some of these problems? Probably not by itself, because the genie is out of the bottle. But amid global concerns about superintelligent AI resulting in the end of humanity, we should consider a global history replete with alternative understandings of AI. The latter is a history sadly left uncelebrated by this year’s Nobel prize in physics.
Janet Bollum, owner of The Muse Book Shop in downtown DeLand, is one of hundreds of Volusia-Flagler area merchants planning to participate in this year’s 15th annual “Small Business Saturday” event on Nov. 30.Bollum doesn’t expect long lines of customers like some national retail chains get by offering “Black Friday” deals the day after Thanksgiving to kick off the holiday shopping season.Still she appreciates what American Express did in 2010 when it created an event the day after Black Friday to remind consumers that small businesses are also great places to buy holiday gifts.”It makes an incredible difference because it puts the spotlight on your local independent merchants,” said Bollum, a former teacher who has been selling new and antiquarian books at 112 S. Woodland Blvd. since 1980.Daytona merchant used to work for big-box chainDan Peterson, owner of Daytona Magic in downtown Daytona Beach, knows the importance of Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, having worked for both national “big box” chains as well as his current role as a small business owner.He and his wife Ana bought the independent magic shop at 136 S. Beach St. three years ago.”In 1995, I actually opened the Best Buy (consumer electronics store) over on International Speedway Boulevard (in Daytona Beach), which became the destination ‘Black Friday’ place,” he said. “People camped out. There was a line that went all the way around the building.”That’s not what Small Business Saturday is about, he said.”It’s about creating awareness,” Peterson said. By making people know your shop exists and what it offers, the hope is that when they need something you sell they will consider you as opposed to buying it from an e-commerce website or chain store.Peterson said even Black Friday is no longer what it used to be for the big box chains. That’s because retailers and e-commerce giants like Amazon in recent years have begun offering holiday sales several weeks before Thanksgiving. “The promotions start earlier, they run longer and it’s really designed to spread that one day of sales (Black Friday) out over the whole month of November,” he said.And while national retailers may generate huge sales numbers by offering deep discounts during the holidays, that doesn’t always translate into big profits, he said.”At Best Buy, you could do a million dollars in business on Black Friday, but only make a thousand dollars in profit, or sometimes not make a profit at all,” he recalled of his days working for the national chain.Most small businesses can’t afford to draw throngs of customers by offering huge discounts. But holding an annual event draws attention to the advantages of “shopping small” and can help keep local independent businesses on the top of people’s minds, said Peterson.”We get awareness out of American Express’ ‘Small Business Saturday,'” he said. “So from a big business perspective as well as a small business perspective, there’s room for everybody.”How many are forecast to ‘shop small’ this year?A recent national survey by QuickBooks found that 93% of American consumers intend to “shop small” to some degree this year. If that prediction comes true, it could add up to more than $76 billion in spending at small businesses nationally, according to American Express and the U.S. Small Business Administration.Will holiday spending be up or down this year?Holiday purchases at small businesses are expected to be just a drop in the bucket compared to the $979.5 billion to $989 billion that U.S. consumers are predicted to spend overall this November and December, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation.The spending forecast for this year’s holiday shopping season is expected to be a 2.5% to 3.5% increase over the $955.6 billion spent last year.How much will online spending add up to?Online and other non-store sales are expected to account for between $295.1 billion and $297.9 billion of this year’s holiday shopping purchases, up 10.7% over 2022, according to the NRF.Amazon is expected to account for more than half of those online purchases.On Oct. 31, the e-commerce giant stated in its latest quarterly earnings report that it anticipated its fourth-quarter revenues this year will grow to between $181.5 billion and $188.5 billion.That would be a year-over-year increase of 7% to 11% compared to its net sales the last three months of 2023.What others are sayingSheryl Cook and her sister and niece are the owners of Tom Cook Jeweler, a family-owned shop at 150 S. Beach St. in downtown Daytona Beach that’s been in business for more than 100 years.”We are optimistic about the holiday season,” said Cook, whose store has taken part in Small Business Saturday for several years even though it’s “not a huge day” in terms of sales. “Some of our regulars come on (Black) Friday because we are local and they have family in town for the holidays.”Becky Parker is the executive director of Ormond Beach MainStreet, an organization that represents businesses in the city’s downtown area, mostly along Granada Boulevard.”It’s an important day for a lot of our small business owners,” she said of Small Business Saturday. “For many of them, (it) has become one of their most profitable of the year.”Ormond Beach MainStreet is encouraging area residents to both “Shop Small” and “Eat Local,” according to a news release. The nonprofit organization is planning an “all-day showcase” on Nov. 30 “of over 40 unique and locally owned businesses as part of Small Business Saturday.” Many will offer special sales, “tasty treats, joyful surprises, pop-up shops, kids’ activities and more.””By shopping local, you’re helping to strengthen the unique character of Ormond Beach,” said Parker.