Merging Continual Pretraining Models for Domain-Specialized LLMs: A Case Study in Finance

The article argues that referring to large language models (LLMs) as AI is misleading and can lead to poor decision-making and inflated expectations. It highlights the pervasive hype surrounding AI, particularly on platforms like LinkedIn and Reddit, where exaggerated claims about AI's capabilities are common. This mislabeling can result in wasted resources and a misunderstanding of what LLMs can actually do, emphasizing the need for clearer communication about these technologies.

PrivGNN is a groundbreaking approach that enhances the security of graph neural networks in privacy-sensitive cloud environments. By developing secure inference protocols, it addresses the critical need for protecting sensitive graph-structured data, paving the way for safer and more efficient data analysis.

Re-FORC is an innovative adaptive reward prediction method that enhances reasoning models by predicting future rewards based on thinking tokens. It allows for early stopping of ineffective reasoning chains, leading to a 26% reduction in compute while preserving accuracy. This advancement showcases the potential for more efficient AI reasoning.

Recent research highlights the challenges faced by medical chatbots, particularly regarding biases and errors in their responses. While these systems are designed to provide consistent medical advice, factors like demographic information can impact their performance. This study aims to explore the conditions under which these chatbots may fail, emphasizing the need for improved infrastructure to address these issues.

ScenicProver is a new framework designed to tackle the challenges of verifying learning-enabled cyber-physical systems. It addresses the limitations of existing tools by allowing for compositional analysis using various verification techniques, making it easier to work with complex real-world environments.

As AI models gain value, the risk of model weight theft from inference servers increases. This article explores how to verify model responses to prevent such attacks and detect any unusual behavior during inference.

The article discusses the challenges of serving large generative models like LLMs and multi-modal transformers, emphasizing the need for better autoscaling strategies. It highlights the limitations of current methods that treat models as monoliths, which can lead to performance issues and inefficient resource use.

A new study highlights the benefits of query augmentation, which enhances the relevance of search queries by adding useful information. It focuses on Large Language Model-based embedders that improve both representation and generation for better query results. This innovative approach shows promise in making search queries more effective.

The Databricks Free Edition Hackathon is an exciting opportunity for developers and students to showcase their creativity in data and AI. By providing free access to powerful tools, Databricks is fostering innovation and collaboration worldwide. This initiative not only empowers participants to explore new ideas but also highlights the potential of data-driven solutions in various industries, making it a significant event for the tech community.

Walmart has kicked off the holiday shopping season by unveiling its early Black Friday deals for 2025, showcasing a variety of discounts on popular items like TVs and headphones. This is significant as it gives shoppers a head start on their holiday shopping, allowing them to snag great deals before the rush. With more than 20 sales already live, customers can expect to find substantial savings, making it an exciting time for bargain hunters.

In our latest lab tests, we evaluated eight leading portable power stations from brands like Jackery, Anker, and Bluetti to determine which models stand out in efficiency. This matters because as more people rely on portable power for outdoor activities and emergencies, knowing which products perform best can help consumers make informed choices.

The ongoing federal government shutdown has left hundreds of civilian employees at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) either unpaid or furloughed for over a month. This situation not only affects the livelihoods of these workers but also raises concerns about the operational capacity of CBP during a critical time. The implications of such a shutdown extend beyond just the employees, impacting border security and immigration processes, which are vital to national interests.

The Philippines is grappling with the aftermath of Typhoon Kalmaegi, which has tragically claimed at least 40 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands. As the nation begins to recover from this devastation, a new tropical system is on the horizon, raising concerns about further challenges ahead. This situation is critical as it highlights the vulnerability of the region to severe weather events and the urgent need for disaster preparedness.

Two former Meta employees have launched a new startup called Sandbar, introducing a unique ring designed for taking voice notes and controlling music. This innovation is part of a growing trend in voice-based hardware aimed at enhancing companionship and productivity. As technology continues to evolve, products like Sandbar's ring could significantly change how we interact with devices, making everyday tasks more seamless and intuitive.