Photo by SpaceX on Unsplash
SpaceX to Send 5 Uncrewed Missions to Mars in Two Years
- Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
- Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor
In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!
- Elon Musk said on X that SpaceX will launch around 5 uncrewed Starships to Mars in two years
- The CEO will launch crewed missions later if the first 5 are successful
- Musk has raised a political debate on the future of space missions in the United States
Elon Musk, Space X’s CEO, announced yesterday on X that the American aerospace company plans to launch around five uncrewed Starships to the planet Mars in two years.
“If those all land safely, then crewed missions are possible in four years,” wrote Musk. “If we encounter challenges, then the crewed missions will be postponed another two years.”
The CEO expanded more on his plan for the next few years to send humans to Mars. According to Reuters, Musk has mentioned this before and said that the first mission should happen in two years “when the next Earth-Mars transfer window opens.” In this recent post, he explains that it has to do with the nature of our solar system. “It is only possible to travel from Earth to Mars every two years when the planets are aligned,” stated Musk. “This increases the difficulty of the task, but also serves to immunize Mars from many catastrophic events on Earth.”
SpaceX is relying on its reusable model, Starship, to achieve the upcoming milestone. The company successfully tested the latest model system in June, after the first efforts failed and the rockets were destroyed.
Musk has also raised a political debate regarding the future of space missions. The CEO wrote that the current bureaucracy from the government of the United States is slowing down and affecting the missions and that he is concerned that Democratic party candidate Kamala Harris would not ease the process.
Last week, Musk also said that they are working on SpaceX “to offer travel to Mars to anyone who wants to go” and that the experience would be similar to a long sea voyage as it was centuries ago.
Image by Contaminazionivisive, from Pixabay
Finnish Prisoners Work As Data Labelers To Enhance AI Models
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor
In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!
- Finnish inmates work as data labelers for AI training.
- Ethical concerns arise from low-paid prison labor practices.
- Focus on rehabilitation over workforce creation is crucial.
Finnish inmates are being employed as data labelers, a task crucial for training AI systems, as reported by Euronews . While this arrangement offers potential benefits for both prisoners and companies, it raises ethical concerns.
Finnish inmates are now performing clickworker tasks, typically associated with low-wage labor in the Global South, taking advantage of cheaper labor costs, as highlighted by Euronews.
However, this model presents challenges for languages like Finnish, spoken by only five million people worldwide. AI systems require human input during development, and finding native speakers in a high-wage economy like Finland can be costly, as Euronews points out.
To address this issue, Metroc, a Finnish market data company, has partnered with the Finnish Prison and Probation Service. They are utilizing prison labor for data annotation. This involves classifying and labeling information to enhance AI accuracy, as noted by Euronews.
This practice has garnered support in Finland, aligning with the “Smart Prison” project launched in 2018 to increase prisoner rehabilitation and education through digital services.
By familiarizing inmates with digital skills, the program aims to bridge the digital divide they may face upon release.
However, concerns about the ethics of AI labeling work are widespread, especially as companies like OpenAI and Google faced criticism for exploiting low-paid workers .
Dr. Oğuz Alyanak, a cultural anthropologist with the Fairwork project at the Oxford Internet Institute, pointed out to Euronews that AI annotation work is typically low-paid, short-term, and carries health risks.
He emphasized the importance of addressing workers’ concerns and critically examining the AI supply chain. While he didn’t comment on the Finnish prison case specifically, he noted that many companies market these roles as skill-building opportunities.
Yet, Alyanak stressed that most workers pursue these precarious data jobs not to acquire modern skills but to secure limited job options in their home countries.
Marmalade, a Finnish inmate interviewed by WIRED , said that she noticed other Inmates working for tasks like cleaning, laundry, or sewing for a six-hour shift.
Marmalade found these roles too tiring and preferred staying in her cell. When a counselor suggested she try “AI work,” the shorter three-hour shifts appealed to her.
“It’s a little boring,” she admits, highlighting the repetitive nature of the tasks.
Red, an inmate interviewed by Euronews, shares a similar sentiment, describing the data annotation work as “boring.” He prefers physical labor, stating, “I am a lively and energetic person.” For him, this job serves primarily as a way to pass the time and earn some money while incarcerated.
Finnish authorities assert that prisoners are fairly compensated for their work as data labelers. Robin reported to Euronews that he initially received €3 per day (approximately $3.20).
Marmalade reported that she would be paid €1.54 ($1.67) per hour for her data annotation tasks.
Tuukka Lehtiniemi, a researcher at the University of Helsinki who is monitoring the project said to Euroneurs that the controlled prison environment mitigates potential exploitation.
However, researchers warn that the focus should remain on rehabilitation rather than simply creating a workforce for data production, as reported by Euronews.
