That is at present’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a day by day dose of what’s happening on this planet of expertise.
Nokia is placing the primary mobile community on the moon
Later this month, Intuitive Machines, the non-public firm behind the primary business lander that touched down on the moon, will launch a second lunar mission. The plan is to deploy a lander, a rover, and hopper to discover a website close to the lunar south pole that would harbor water ice, and to place a communications satellite tv for pc on lunar orbit.
However the mission can even deliver one thing that’s by no means been put in on the moon or wherever else in house earlier than—a totally purposeful 4G mobile community. Learn our story to study why.
—Jacek Krywko
The best way to have a baby within the digital age
Earlier than journalist and tradition critic Amanda Hess even obtained pregnant together with her first baby, in 2020, the web knew she was making an attempt. She noticed being pregnant adverts manner earlier than a health care provider.
Hess’s expertise is fairly typical today, however nonetheless raises some large questions. How will we retain management over our our bodies when firms and the medical institution have entry to our most private info? What occurs when folks cease counting on family and friends for recommendation on having a child and as a substitute log on, the place there’s a relentless onslaught of data?
In her new guide, Second Life: Having a Youngster within the Digital Age, Hess explores these questions whereas delving into her firsthand experiences with apps, merchandise, algorithms, on-line boards, advertisers, and extra—every promising a better, more healthy, higher path to parenthood. Hess asks: Is that basically what they’re delivering? Learn our interview together with her.
—Alison Arieff
This subscriber-only story is from the following version of our print journal, which is all about relationships. Subscribe now to get a replica when it lands on February 26!
Inside China’s electric-vehicle-to-humanoid-robot pivot
—James O’Donnell
Whereas DOGE’s efforts to shutter federal companies dominate information from Washington, the Trump administration can be making world strikes. Many of those heart on China, which is main the world in electrical autos, robotaxis, drones, and with the launch of DeepSeek, maybe AI quickly too.
Now a brand new pattern is unfolding inside China’s tech scene: Firms that had been dominant in electrical autos are betting large on translating that success into growing humanoid robots. I spoke with China reporter Caiwei Chen about what it’d imply for Trump’s insurance policies.
This story is from The Algorithm, our weekly publication all concerning the newest on this planet of AI. Join to obtain it in your inbox each Monday.
How will generative AI change search?
Generative AI search, one in every of MIT Expertise Overview’s 10 Breakthrough Applied sciences of 2025, is ushering in a brand new period of the web. Regardless of fewer clicks, copyright fights, and generally iffy solutions, AI might unlock new methods to summon all of the world’s information.
Be a part of editor in chief Mat Honan and govt editor Niall Firth at 1.30pm ET at present for a subscriber-only Roundtable dialog exploring how AI will alter search. Join right here to attend, and in case you haven’t already, learn Mat’s function about it too.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to seek out you at present’s most enjoyable/vital/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.
1 DOGE is on the cusp of accessing US taxpayer knowledge
What they’re planning on doing with it’s anybody’s guess. (CNN)
+ FDA workers reviewing Musk’s firm Neuralink had been fired by DOGE final weekend. (Reuters $)
+ A high official on the Social Safety Administration simply left after refusing DOGE’s request to entry delicate data. (NBC)
+ Can AI assist DOGE slash authorities budgets? It’s complicated. (MIT Expertise Overview)
2 DeepSeek could also be shifting in the direction of monetizing its AI fashions
Proper now, they’re open supply and free. How lengthy can that final? (South China Morning Publish $)
+ How DeepSeek ripped up the AI playbook—and why everybody’s going to comply with its lead. (MIT Expertise Overview)
3 We’re inching nearer to a norovirus vaccine 
Loads of folks may welcome this, particularly after this winter’s nasty rash of infections. (Scientific American $)
4 The struggle on variety and inclusion initiatives is a smokescreen
And the folks waging it can go a lot additional, if we allow them to. (The Verge)
5 Some states declare zero abortions
Which is inconceivable, and hints at one thing worrying: official statistics are being politicized within the US. (Undark)
6 China is on the lookout for its personal methods to guard knowledge from quantum computer systems
It’s spurning algorithms created within the US in case they include secret again doorways. (New Scientist $)
+ Chinese language President Xi Jinping met among the nation’s high tech execs yesterday. (The Info $)
7 Reddit moderators are combating to maintain AI slop off the platform
It’s an vital battle to many—however it’s solely going to get tougher and tougher. (Ars Technica)
8 Meta has wasted $70 billion on the metaverse. This advert reveals why.
This should presumably be one of the best they might do, and but it’s simply embarrassingly dangerous. (Forbes)
9 Working from dwelling has turned us into workplace weirdos
However hey, perhaps that is our probability to carve out some higher, kinder workplace etiquette. (Enterprise Insider $)
+ To be honest, we nonetheless don’t know the best way to behave on Slack or Zoom both. (NYT $)
10 Are noise cancelling headphones inflicting listening to issues?
Audiologists say extreme use might intervene with the best way teenagers study to course of speech and noise. (BBC)
Quote of the day
“Folks don’t really feel protected talking out on this nation in opposition to the federal government.”
—Ryan Calo, a regulation professor on the College of Washington, tells the Washington Publish that Elon Musk and President Trump’s keenness to take vengeance on individuals who criticize them is having a chilling impact.
The large story
What’s AI?
What’s AI?
July 2024
Synthetic intelligence is the most popular expertise of our time. However what’s it? It appears like a silly query, however it’s one which’s by no means been extra pressing.
In the event you’re prepared to buckle up and are available for a experience, I can let you know why no person actually is aware of, why everyone appears to disagree, and why you’re proper to care about it. Learn the total story.
—Will Douglas Heaven
We are able to nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Received any concepts? Drop me a line or skeet ’em at me.)
+ Love these glitzy, cheerful pictures taken behind the scenes of final evening’s BAFTAs.
+ Meet Victorian London’s ‘cat’s meat males’.
+ Led Zeppelin followers rejoice: the band’s first official documentary is out.
+ Need to really feel happier? Let Dr Laurie Santos from Yale clarify what it’s essential do.
That is at present’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a day by day dose of what’s happening on this planet of expertise.
Nokia is placing the primary mobile community on the moon
Later this month, Intuitive Machines, the non-public firm behind the primary business lander that touched down on the moon, will launch a second lunar mission. The plan is to deploy a lander, a rover, and hopper to discover a website close to the lunar south pole that would harbor water ice, and to place a communications satellite tv for pc on lunar orbit.
However the mission can even deliver one thing that’s by no means been put in on the moon or wherever else in house earlier than—a totally purposeful 4G mobile community. Learn our story to study why.
—Jacek Krywko
The best way to have a baby within the digital age
Earlier than journalist and tradition critic Amanda Hess even obtained pregnant together with her first baby, in 2020, the web knew she was making an attempt. She noticed being pregnant adverts manner earlier than a health care provider.
Hess’s expertise is fairly typical today, however nonetheless raises some large questions. How will we retain management over our our bodies when firms and the medical institution have entry to our most private info? What occurs when folks cease counting on family and friends for recommendation on having a child and as a substitute log on, the place there’s a relentless onslaught of data?
In her new guide, Second Life: Having a Youngster within the Digital Age, Hess explores these questions whereas delving into her firsthand experiences with apps, merchandise, algorithms, on-line boards, advertisers, and extra—every promising a better, more healthy, higher path to parenthood. Hess asks: Is that basically what they’re delivering? Learn our interview together with her.
—Alison Arieff
This subscriber-only story is from the following version of our print journal, which is all about relationships. Subscribe now to get a replica when it lands on February 26!
Inside China’s electric-vehicle-to-humanoid-robot pivot
—James O’Donnell
Whereas DOGE’s efforts to shutter federal companies dominate information from Washington, the Trump administration can be making world strikes. Many of those heart on China, which is main the world in electrical autos, robotaxis, drones, and with the launch of DeepSeek, maybe AI quickly too.
Now a brand new pattern is unfolding inside China’s tech scene: Firms that had been dominant in electrical autos are betting large on translating that success into growing humanoid robots. I spoke with China reporter Caiwei Chen about what it’d imply for Trump’s insurance policies.
This story is from The Algorithm, our weekly publication all concerning the newest on this planet of AI. Join to obtain it in your inbox each Monday.
How will generative AI change search?
Generative AI search, one in every of MIT Expertise Overview’s 10 Breakthrough Applied sciences of 2025, is ushering in a brand new period of the web. Regardless of fewer clicks, copyright fights, and generally iffy solutions, AI might unlock new methods to summon all of the world’s information.
Be a part of editor in chief Mat Honan and govt editor Niall Firth at 1.30pm ET at present for a subscriber-only Roundtable dialog exploring how AI will alter search. Join right here to attend, and in case you haven’t already, learn Mat’s function about it too.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to seek out you at present’s most enjoyable/vital/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.
1 DOGE is on the cusp of accessing US taxpayer knowledge
What they’re planning on doing with it’s anybody’s guess. (CNN)
+ FDA workers reviewing Musk’s firm Neuralink had been fired by DOGE final weekend. (Reuters $)
+ A high official on the Social Safety Administration simply left after refusing DOGE’s request to entry delicate data. (NBC)
+ Can AI assist DOGE slash authorities budgets? It’s complicated. (MIT Expertise Overview)
2 DeepSeek could also be shifting in the direction of monetizing its AI fashions
Proper now, they’re open supply and free. How lengthy can that final? (South China Morning Publish $)
+ How DeepSeek ripped up the AI playbook—and why everybody’s going to comply with its lead. (MIT Expertise Overview)
3 We’re inching nearer to a norovirus vaccine
Loads of folks may welcome this, particularly after this winter’s nasty rash of infections. (Scientific American $)
4 The struggle on variety and inclusion initiatives is a smokescreen
And the folks waging it can go a lot additional, if we allow them to. (The Verge)
5 Some states declare zero abortions
Which is inconceivable, and hints at one thing worrying: official statistics are being politicized within the US. (Undark)
6 China is on the lookout for its personal methods to guard knowledge from quantum computer systems
It’s spurning algorithms created within the US in case they include secret again doorways. (New Scientist $)
+ Chinese language President Xi Jinping met among the nation’s high tech execs yesterday. (The Info $)
7 Reddit moderators are combating to maintain AI slop off the platform
It’s an vital battle to many—however it’s solely going to get tougher and tougher. (Ars Technica)
8 Meta has wasted $70 billion on the metaverse. This advert reveals why.
This should presumably be one of the best they might do, and but it’s simply embarrassingly dangerous. (Forbes)
9 Working from dwelling has turned us into workplace weirdos
However hey, perhaps that is our probability to carve out some higher, kinder workplace etiquette. (Enterprise Insider $)
+ To be honest, we nonetheless don’t know the best way to behave on Slack or Zoom both. (NYT $)
10 Are noise cancelling headphones inflicting listening to issues?
Audiologists say extreme use might intervene with the best way teenagers study to course of speech and noise. (BBC)
Quote of the day
“Folks don’t really feel protected talking out on this nation in opposition to the federal government.”
—Ryan Calo, a regulation professor on the College of Washington, tells the Washington Publish that Elon Musk and President Trump’s keenness to take vengeance on individuals who criticize them is having a chilling impact.
The large story
What’s AI?
What’s AI?
July 2024
Synthetic intelligence is the most popular expertise of our time. However what’s it? It appears like a silly query, however it’s one which’s by no means been extra pressing.
In the event you’re prepared to buckle up and are available for a experience, I can let you know why no person actually is aware of, why everyone appears to disagree, and why you’re proper to care about it. Learn the total story.
—Will Douglas Heaven
We are able to nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Received any concepts? Drop me a line or skeet ’em at me.)
+ Love these glitzy, cheerful pictures taken behind the scenes of final evening’s BAFTAs.
+ Meet Victorian London’s ‘cat’s meat males’.
+ Led Zeppelin followers rejoice: the band’s first official documentary is out.
+ Need to really feel happier? Let Dr Laurie Santos from Yale clarify what it’s essential do.
