The embryos weren't used to try to establish a pregnancy, but the researchers behind the technique say it could one day be used to address infertility. In a controversial step that raises the possibility of a new kind of infertility treatment, scientists report that they have produced functional human eggs in the lab that were able to be fertilized with sperm. The proof-of-concept study, published today in the journal Nature Communications, involves using human skin cells to generate eggs, some of which were capable of producing early-stage embryos. None of the embryos were used to try to establish a pregnancy, and it's unlikely that they would have developed much further in the womb. Yet the authors, from Oregon Health and Science University, say the technique could one day be used as an alternative to in vitro fertilization, or IVF.

A Japanese research team has developed artificial intelligence models that can help deliver personalized infertility treatments by predicting the number and quality of eggs that a woman has. The AI models can accurately predict a patient's ovarian function by using answers to simple questions -- such as age and menstrual cycle -- and a small sampling of blood, according to the group study led by University of Tokyo researcher Miyuki Harada. The group collected data from 442 patients who were undergoing infertility treatment between June 2021 and January 2023 in Japan. Using their medical records and residual serum, the group created multiple AI prediction models.

Although the terms are often confused or used interchangeably, sperm and semen are not the same thing. Semen is the fluid that comes out of the penis, while sperm are the microscopic cells within the semen. Sperm cells are specialized for the task of fertilizing an egg. Semen analysis is considered essential for diagnosis of male infertility, but is not readily available at medical institutions other than those specializing in infertility treatment. 'Fertility specialists take it for granted that the first step in diagnosing male infertility is to perform a semen analysis,' Professor Kobayashi added.

When OpenAI launched ChatGPT, with zero fanfare, in late November 2022, nobody inside the company was prepared for a viral mega-hit. It was viewed in-house as a "research preview," a tease of a more polished version of a two-year-old technology and a way to iron out some of its flaws. But then it absolutely blew up. The firm has been scrambling to catch up--and capitalize on its success--ever since. To get the inside story behind the chatbot--how it was made, how OpenAI has been updating it since release, and how its makers feel about its success--our senior AI editor Will Douglas Heaven talked to four people who helped build what has become the most popular internet app ever.