That is at the moment’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a day by day dose of what’s happening on this planet of expertise.
The AI Hype Index: AI agent cyberattacks, racing robots, and musical fashions
Separating AI actuality from hyped-up fiction isn’t all the time simple. That’s why we’ve created the AI Hype Index—a easy, at-a-glance abstract of all the pieces it’s essential know concerning the state of the trade. Check out this month’s version of the index right here.
Is AI “regular”?
Regardless of its ubiquity, AI is seen as something however a standard expertise. There may be discuss of AI techniques that can quickly benefit the time period “superintelligence,” and the previous CEO of Google lately prompt we management AI fashions the way in which we management uranium and different nuclear weapons supplies.
A latest essay by two AI researchers at Princeton argues that AI is a general-purpose expertise whose utility may be higher in comparison with the drawn-out adoption of electrical energy or the web than to nuclear weapons. Learn on to be taught extra concerning the insurance policies the authors suggest.
—James O’Donnell
This story initially appeared in The Algorithm, our weekly publication on AI. To get tales like this in your inbox first, enroll right here.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to seek out you at the moment’s most enjoyable/essential/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.
1 US Congress has handed the Take It Down Act
The laws is designed to crack down on revenge porn and deepfake nudes. (WP $)
+ However critics worry it’ll be weaponized to suppress on-line speech and encryption. (The Verge)
+ Donald Trump has stated he needs to make use of the invoice to guard himself. (The Hill)
2 The Trump administration is embracing shady crypto companies
Together with Tether, whose stablecoin is commonly utilized by criminals. (NYT $)
+ Crypto lender Nexo, which bumped into regulatory bother, is now returning to the US. (CoinDesk)
+ The UAE is planning a stablecoin regulated by the nation’s central financial institution. (Bloomberg $)
3 Elon Musk’s DOGE conflicts of curiosity are value $2.37 billion
Though consultants estimate the true value may very well be increased. (The Guardian)
+ DOGE’s tech takeover threatens the protection and stability of our crucial information. (MIT Know-how Evaluation)
4 Researchers secretly deployed bots right into a debate subreddit
In a extremely unethical bid to try to change customers’ minds. (404 Media)
+ AI isn’t any substitute for human mediators. (MIT Know-how Evaluation)
5 Amazon’s first web satellites have been launched efficiently
27 down, 3,209 to go. (Reuters)
+ It’s Bezos’s reply to Musk’s Starlink. (FT $)
6 Amazon is pressuring its suppliers to slash their costs
It’s attempting to guard its margins as Trump’s tariffs begin to chew. (FT $)
+ Temu’s method? Go on the brand new taxes to its clients. (Bloomberg $)
+ Right here’s how the tariffs are going to worsen the digital divide. (Wired $)
+ Sweeping tariffs might threaten the US manufacturing rebound. (MIT Know-how Evaluation)
7 Sam Altman and Satya Nadella are drifting aside
The pair disagree on OpenAI’s method to AGI, amongst different issues. (WSJ $)
8 Duolingo is changing human staff with AI
It’s all a part of the plan to make the language studying app “AI-first.” (The Verge)
9 Earthquakes could also be a wealthy supply of hydrogen
Which is nice information for the scientists attempting to trace down the gasoline. (New Scientist $)
+ Why the following vitality race is for underground hydrogen. (MIT Know-how Evaluation)
10 The Hubble Area Telescope is popping 35-years previous
And it’s nonetheless capturing jaw dropping photos. (The Atlantic $)
+ Scientists have made some fascinating discoveries about Jupiter’s volcanic moon. (Quanta Journal)
Quote of the day
“When the individual championing your anti-abuse laws is promising to make use of it for abuse, you may need an issue.”
—Entrepreneur Mike Masnick says Donald Trump’s endorsement of the Take It Down Invoice is self-serving in a put up on Techdirt.
Yet one more factor
The horrible complexity of technological issues
The thinker Karl Popper as soon as argued that there are two sorts of issues on this planet: clock issues and cloud issues. Because the metaphor suggests, clock issues obey a sure logic. The repair might not be simple, nevertheless it’s achievable.
Cloud issues provide no such assurances. They’re inherently complicated and unpredictable, and so they often have social, psychological, or political dimensions. Due to their dynamic, shape-shifting nature, attempting to “repair” a cloud downside typically finally ends up creating a number of new issues.
However there are methods to reckon with this sort of technological complexity—and the depraved issues it creates. Learn the complete story.
—Bryan Gardiner
We will nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Obtained any concepts? Drop me a line or skeet ’em at me.)
+ The annual Corgi Derby is a sight to behold—congratulations to the winner Juno!
+ Caroline Polachek is the sound of spring.
+ Why ladies are overtaking males in probably the most excessive sporting occasions 
+ Perhaps there’s one thing to those obscenely-priced superstar smoothies.
