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每日跟讀#760: About Technology - What is Deepfake?

Deepfakes rely on a branch of AI called Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs). It requires two machine learning networks that teach each other with an ongoing feedback loop. The first one takes real content and alters it. Then, the second machine learning network, known as the discriminator, tests the authenticity of the changes.

「深度偽造」依賴人工智慧（AI）的分支「生成對抗網路」（GAN）。「生成對抗網路」責成兩個機器學習網路，透過不斷生成的回饋迴路互相學習。第一個「機器學習」網路變造真實的內容。然後，第二個機器學習網路「資料辨識器」，對這些更動進行鑑識。

GANs are still in the early stages, but people expect numerous potential commercial applications. For example, some can convert a single image into different poses. Others can suggest outfits similar to what a celebrity wears in a photo or turn a low-quality picture into a high-resolution snapshot.

「生成對抗網路」仍處於初步發展階段，但人們預期它在商業應用上擁有巨大潛力。例如，它可以將單張影像變換成不同的姿勢。它們可以找出名人在照片中所穿的類似服裝，或將低畫質的照片轉換為高解析度的快照。

But, outside of those helpful uses, deepfakes could have sinister purposes. Consider the blowback if a criminal creates a deepfake video of something that would hurt someone’s reputation — for instance, a deepfake video of a politician "admitting" to illegal activities, like accepting a bribe.

然而，除了正向的應用之外，也會有居心不良的「深度偽造」。倘若罪犯創造出一部妨害他人名聲的深度偽造影片，例如讓一名政治人物「承認」接受賄賂等違法行為的一部深偽影片，所造成的衝擊將難以衡量。

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Facebook is making its own AI deepfakes to head off a disinformation disaster 防制假訊息災難，臉書積極產製人工智慧「深度偽造」影片

Facebook fears that AI-generated “deepfake” videos could be the next big source of viral misinformation—spreading among its users with potentially catastrophic consequences for the next US presidential election.

臉書擔心用戶散播由人工智慧生成、未來有望成為假訊息主要來源的「深度偽造」影片，對下屆美國總統選舉帶來具有災難性潛力的後果。

Its solution? Making lots of deepfakes of its own, to help researchers build and refine detection tools.

提出因應「深度偽造」的解決方案？臉書自己產製大量深偽影片，助力研究者創建及改善辨識工具。

The rise of deepfakes has been driven by recent advances in machine learning. Algorithms capable of capturing and re-creating a person’s likeness have already been used to make point-and-click tools for pasting a person’s face onto someone else.

機器學習的技術進展助長了深偽的崛起。能夠捕捉及重現人物肖像的演算法，已被應用在點擊式工具的製作，它能把人臉貼在另一個人身上。

Facebook will dedicate $10 million. Together with Microsoft and academics from institutions including MIT, UC Berkeley, and Oxford University, the company is launching the Deepfake Detection Challenge, which will offer unspecified cash rewards for the best detection methods.

臉書將貢獻1000萬美元。與微軟及學術機構麻省理工學院、加州大學柏克萊分校、牛津大學等，一起推出「辨識深偽挑戰賽」，該挑戰賽將頒發未指定金額的獎金給最優秀的檢測方法。

Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1327942 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1329588

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每日跟讀#759: “Possibility of life”— scientists map Saturn’s exotic moon Titan

Scientists on Monday unveiled the first global geological map of Saturn’s moon Titan including vast plains and dunes of frozen organic material and lakes of liquid methane, illuminating an exotic world considered a strong candidate in the search for life beyond Earth.

科學家在週一公布史上第一張土星衛星「泰坦」的全球地質圖，其中包含許多廣闊的平原，冰凍有機物質構成的沙丘，以及液態甲烷形成的湖泊，揭露這片咸認為是地球以外生命搜尋重要候選地點的奇特世界。

The map was based on radar, infrared and other data collected by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft, which studied Saturn and its moons from 2004 to 2017. Titan, with a diameter of 5,150km, is the solar system’s second-biggest moon behind Jupiter’s Ganymede. It is larger than the planet Mercury.

該地質圖是根據美國國家航空暨太空總署的卡西尼太空探測船，在二○○四年到二○一七年間研究土星及其衛星時，收集到的雷達、紅外線等資料。直徑達五千一百五十公里的泰坦星，是我們太陽系第二大的衛星，僅次於木星的衛星蓋尼米德。泰坦甚至比水星還大。

Organic materials — carbon-based compounds critical for fostering living organisms — play a leading role on Titan. “Organics are very important for the possibility of life on Titan, which many of us think likely would have evolved in the liquid water ocean under Titan’s icy crust,” said planetary geologist Rosaly Lopes of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. “Organic materials can, we think, penetrate down to the liquid water ocean and this can provide nutrients necessary for life, if it evolved there,” added Lopes, who led the research published in the journal Nature Astronomy.

有機物質──也就是對於培養生物體而言非常關鍵的碳基化合物──在泰坦星上扮演重要角色。美國太空總署加州噴射推進實驗室的行星地質學家羅莎莉‧洛佩茲指出：「有機物對於泰坦形成生命的可能性至關重要，我們有許多人認為，生命可能在泰坦結冰地殼底下的液態海洋中進行演化。」這篇研究發表於《自然‧天文》期刊，主持該研究的洛佩茲補充說：「我們認為，有機物質會向下滲透到液態海洋，如果其中有生命演化，就能為生命提供必要營養物。」

On Earth, water rains down from clouds and fills rivers, lakes and oceans. On Titan, clouds spew hydrocarbons like methane and ethane — which are gases on Earth — in liquid form due to the moon’s frigid climate. Rainfall occurs everywhere on Titan, but the equatorial regions are drier than the poles, said study co-author Anezina Solomonidou, a European Space Agency research fellow.

在地球上，水從雲層降下，注入河流、湖泊和海洋。在泰坦星上，雲層則會噴出液態的甲烷或乙烷等碳氫化合物。這類碳氫化合物在地球上以氣態存在，但在泰坦星上卻因為嚴寒氣候而呈現液態。這份研究的共同作者是歐洲太空總署的研究員安聶琦娜‧所羅門妮朵，她表示泰坦星上各處都有降雨，不過赤道地區比起兩極較為乾燥。

Plains (covering 65 percent of the surface) and dunes (covering 17 percent of the surface) made up of frozen bits of methane and other hydrocarbons dominate Titan’s mid-latitudes and equatorial regions, respectively.

由結冰的甲烷和其他碳氫化合物形成的碎屑組成的平原（佔其地表百分之六十五）與沙丘（佔其表面百分之十七），分別分布於泰坦星的中緯度和赤道地區。

Titan is the only solar system object other than Earth boasting stable liquids on the surface, with lakes and seas full of methane being major features at its polar regions. Hilly and mountainous areas, thought to represent exposed portions of Titan’s crust of water ice, represent 14 percent of the surface.

除了地球以外，泰坦星是太陽系中唯一表面擁有穩定液體的星球，充滿甲烷的湖泊和海洋是兩極地區的主要特徵。丘陵和高山區域則被認為是泰坦地殼部分裸露出來的冰塊，佔其表面百分之十四。

“What is really fun to think about is if there are any ways that those more complex organics can go down and mix with water in the deep icy crust or deep subsurface ocean,” JPL scientist and study co-author Michael Malaska said. Noting that on Earth there is a bacterium that can survive just on a hydrocarbon called acetylene and water, Malaska asked, “Could it or something like it live in Titan deep in the crust or ocean where temperatures are a little warmer?”

噴射推進實驗室的科學家麥可‧馬拉斯加是這篇研究的另一位共同作者，他指出：「真正有趣的是，我們可以想像那些更複雜的有機物，有什麼方法能夠滲入冰凍的地殼深處、或是沉入地殼下的深層海洋，和水混合。馬拉斯加提到，地球上有一種細菌只靠乙炔這種碳氫化合物跟水就可以生存，於是他問：「這種細菌，或是類似的有機物，會不會也存在於泰坦地殼深處或是底下溫度較暖的海洋中呢？」

The map was created seven years before the US space agency is set to launch its Dragonfly mission to dispatch a multi-rotor drone to study Titan’s chemistry and suitability for life. Dragonfly is scheduled to reach Titan in 2034. “It is not only scientifically important but also really cool — a drone flying around on Titan,” Lopes said. “It will be really exciting.”

這張地圖的誕生將為美國太空總署即將於七年後啟動的「蜻蜓號」任務做好準備。該任務將派遣一架多旋翼無人機，前往泰坦星探索其化學性質和適合生命存在的可能性。「蜻蜓號」預計於二○三四年抵達泰坦星。洛佩茲表示：「這項任務不只具有重要的科學意義，同時也很酷──派一架無人機在泰坦星上四處盤旋，這將會非常讓人興奮。」

Source article: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2019/11/24/2003726362/2

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每日跟讀#758: New measures to take effect in Taiwan from Jan. 1

A slew of new regulations will come into force in Taiwan today, including higher monthly and hourly minimum wages, raising the age of eligibility for full labor insurance pensions, and introducing electronic work permits for international students.

在台灣，許多新法規自一月一日起生效，包括調漲最低基本月薪及時薪、提高勞工保險全額年金法定請領年齡、國際學生可申請電子工作許可……等。

The monthly minimum wage for workers covered under the Labor Standards Act will be raised from NT$23,100 (US$767) to NT$23,800, while the hourly minimum wage will be increased from NT$150 to NT$158.

受到《勞動基準法》保障，勞工的基本工資由每月新台幣兩萬三千一百元（約七百六十七美元），調升至兩萬三千八百元。而基本時薪由一百五十元，調升至一百五十八元。

The minimum monthly wage increase is expected to benefit 1.83 million workers, while raising the minimum hourly wage will boost the pay for 483,300 other workers.

基本月薪調漲，預估約有一百八十三萬多名勞工受惠；基本時薪調漲，預估約有四十八萬三千三百多人加薪。

In line with the adjustment of basic wages, the starting insured salary under the labor insurance program will be increased to NT$23,800. The age of eligibility for receiving full labor insurance pensions will be pushed back from 61 to 62.

為配合基本工資調升，勞工保險投保薪資第一級的月投保薪資同步調升為兩萬三千八百元。至於勞工保險全額年金法定請領年齡，則從六十一歲延後到六十二歲。

In addition, the Ministry of Labor will accept online applications from employers to extend the permitted time span for importing migrant workers in the manufacturing, fishery, construction, caregiving and domestic help sectors.

此外，勞動部將接受雇主透過線上申辦，延長外籍勞工聘僱許可，其範圍包括製造業、海洋漁撈工、建築業、家庭看護工、家庭幫傭等類別。

Online applications will also be accepted from employers for recurring recruitment, entry permit, transfer and extended transfer of migrant workers in the construction sector. Meanwhile, international students studying in Taiwan will be able to apply for electronic work permits.

線上申辦並擴及建築業外籍勞工之遞補招募、入境許可、轉出及延長轉出等。

同時，在台灣就讀的國際學生亦可申請電子工作許可。

The Ministry of Finance will increase the basic allowance that taxpayers can deduct from their incomes when filing income taxes by NT$4,000 to NT$175,000. Another new regulation will require cross-border e-commerce suppliers to issue cloud-based invoices.

而財政部將每人基本生活費多增加了四千元至十七萬五千元，於今年申報所得稅時，即可從所得當中扣除。其另一項新制，則規定跨境電商須開雲端發票。

At the same time, all commercial aircraft aged over 26 years will have to be retired from service. In addition, a modified intensity scale to more accurately reflect the effect earthquakes have on people, structures and the environment will be introduced. Also, all transactions of ivory products are banned as of today.

同時，所有機齡超過二十六年的商用客機都將要強制退役。

此外，修正後的「地震震度分級表」今日起上路，新版將能更準確反應出地震對民眾、建築和環境所造成的影響。自元旦起，所有象牙製品交易也將全面禁止。

Source article: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2020/01/01/2003728488

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精選詞彙 Vocab #041: About Korea - For college students, Samsung Electronics remains most coveted employer

According to a survey of 473 male students and 586 female students conducted by online job portal JobKorea, 10.6 percent chose Samsung Electronics as the company where they would most like to work.

根據網路的求才求職入口（網站）JobKorea，對473名男（大）學生和586名女（大）學生所做的調查，其中共10.6%選擇三星電子為他們最想進入的公司。

Since 2004, when JobKorea began conducting the annual survey, Samsung Electronics topped the list every year until 2016, when food manufacturer CJ CheilJedang took the top spot. But Samsung Electronics reclaimed its lead in 2017 and has remained No. 1 ever since.

JobKorea自2004年起開始實施這項年度調查，三星電子每年皆獨占鰲頭。直到2016年，才由食品公司「CJ第一製糖」奪走寶座。但三星電子翌年即拿回第一，並蟬聯至今。

Respondents cited a high salary as the most important factor when choosing a potential employer. Other factors included benefits, the working environment and the image of the president of the company.

（今年該調查的）受訪者舉出高薪為選擇潛在雇主時的最重要因素。其他因素包括福利、工作環境與公司社長的形象。

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Till death do I stay single: South Korea’s #NoMarriage women／單身到死：南韓的「不婚女性」

"I’m a straight woman who is no longer interested in having relationships with men," said Bonnie Lee who doesn’t care about finding a boyfriend or a fairytale wedding.

「我是個不想再和男性談戀愛的異性戀女性，」不在乎找男朋友或舉辦童話般婚禮的李邦妮（譯音）這麼說道。

She has gone even further embracing the nation’s radical feminist movement "Four Nos": no dating, no sex, no marriage, and no child-rearing.

她甚至進一步擁抱南韓激進的女權運動「四不要」：不要戀愛、不要性愛、不要結婚、不要小孩。

Marriage rates are plummeting in South Korea where wives are often expected to work, raise children, and care for ageing in-laws with little state or community help.

南韓結婚率正在暴跌，已婚女性常被期待一邊工作、一邊照顧小孩和夫家長輩，且國家和社區幾乎不會伸出援手。

A decade ago almost 47 percent of single and never-married Korean women said they thought marriage was necessary. That fell to 22.4 percent in 2018. The number of couples getting hitched slumped to 257,600 － down from 434,900 in 1996.

十年前，近47%的單身、從未結婚的南韓女性認為有必要結婚，這個數字在2018年跌至22.4%。結婚對數從1996年的43萬4900對，驟降至25萬7600對。

There is no official data on the size of the Four Nos movement, but its members say it has at least 4,000 followers. Meanwhile a separate feminist YouTube channel that features boycotting marriage and childrearing has more than 100,000 subscribers.

官方並未統計「四不要」運動的規模，但成員表示，追隨者至少4000人。與此同時，另一個主張抵制婚姻和養育後代的YouTube女權頻道，也有逾10萬名訂閱者。

Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1342133 ;https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1340074

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