The Download: AI puzzles and a path to our nearest star system (www.technologyreview.com)

AI advancements are showcasing significant progress in puzzle-solving capabilities, with models expected to dramatically improve from solving just 18% of the New York Times Connections puzzles in late 2024 to near-perfect accuracy by early 2025. This evolution not only demonstrates the rapid development of AI technology but also offers insights into the strengths and weaknesses of current models, revealing where human intelligence still excels. A set of challenges is available for audiences to test their own skills against AI. In a groundbreaking announcement, the Fermi Explorer Mission revealed plans to launch a spacecraft to Alpha Centauri by the end of 2029, utilizing a unique trajectory identified by an AI system developed by PSI. This ambitious mission aims to reach the closest star system to Earth, approximately 4.4 light-years away, with an estimated travel time of up to 80,000 years, marking a significant milestone in interstellar exploration. The application of AI in such a pioneering project illustrates its transformative potential in advancing space exploration efforts and tackling complex calculations that were previously unattainable.