Movies of War

You need to enable JavaScript to view this site. Skip to Content This is today's edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. Digging for clues about the North Pole’s past In the past, getting to the North Pole involved a treacherous trip through ice many meters thick. But last year, a research vessel encountered open water and thin ice, which created an easy passage. It provided a reminder of how quickly the Arctic is changing. Now scientists are digging deep below the seabed to find out if the Arctic Ocean was ever ice-free—and what that could mean for the future of Earth’s northernmost waters. Here’s what they hope to discover. —Tim Kalvelage This story is from the latest issue of our print magazine, which is all about nature. Check out the full issue here, and subscribe to get the next one when it lands. Humanoid data: 10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now I was recently invited to join an app that would pay me to film myself doing tasks like putting food in a bowl and microwaving it. Another site asked if I’d like to remotely control a robotic arm to help improve its dexterity. What on earth is happening? These examples are just part of a growing push by robotics companies to collect data on our movements for training humanoids. As the race for real-world data heats up, our everyday movements are being turned into training data. Read the full story. —James O'Donnell Humanoid data is one of our 10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now, a new look at the big ideas, trends, and technologies really worth your attention in the buzzy world of AI. The must-reads I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta have all set AI spending recordsCollectively, they’re up 71% on the same quarter last year. (NYT $)+ Microsoft, Google and Amazon reported big payoffs from the splurge. (FT $)+ But Meta’s shares slid after its plans spooked investors. (BBC)+ What even is the AI bubble? (MIT Technology Review)2 The White House opposes Anthropic’s plan to expand Mythos accessIt’s concerned about the model’s cyber risks. (Bloomberg $)+ And worried that the government will lose compute access. (WSJ $)+ Anthropic is seeking funding at a valuation over $900 billion. (Bloomberg $)3 Elon Musk has claimed OpenAI’s leaders “looted the nonprofit”During testimony, Musk said he “was a fool” for trusting them. (Gizmodo)+ But he had raised his own concerns about OpenAI’s non-profit status. (The Verge)+ The case could reshape the AI landscape. (MIT Technology Review)4 Autonomous vehicles may be worseningAccording to emergency first-responders, glitches are increasing. (Wired)5 OpenAI has abandoned much of its Stargate planIt will no longer develop its own data centers. (FT $)+ The project’s compute requirements have been questioned. (MIT Technology Review)6 A convicted Harvard scientist is rebuilding a brain-computer lab in ChinaHe had previously been named the world’s top chemist. (Reuters $) + But was then convicted for lying about payments from China. (NYT $)7 Families have sued OpenAI over a mass shooter's use of ChatGPTThey say OpenAI provided a dangerously defective version of the chatbot. (NPR)8 Apple is reportedly close to giving up on the Vision ProAfter the latest model flopped. (MacRumors) 9 Senators are interrogating US AI firms on safeguards against ChinaOver fears of IP theft. (Axios)10 Friendly AI chatbots are more likely to be inaccurateA new study found kinder answers contained more mistakes. (BBC) Quote of the day “Never talk about goblins, gremlins, raccoons, trolls, ogres, pigeons, or other animals or creatures unless it is absolutely and unambiguously relevant to the user’s query.” —OpenAI instructs Codex to avoid critter talk in a system prompt for the coding agent, Ars Technica reports. One More Thing ARTHUR MOUNT Is this the most energy-efficient way to build homes? When engineers began designing an ultra-efficient home in the 1970s, they realized the trick wasn’t generating energy in a greener way, but using less of it. They needed to make a better thermos, not a cheaper coffee maker. That idea helped inspire today’s passive-house standard: airtight buildings that can cut energy use by up to 90% through better windows, insulation, and ventilation. Although they're often considered a cold-climate approach, passive houses actually have universal benefits. Find out what makes them so efficient. —Patrick Sisson We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line.) + Finally, someone built a gaming PC inside a microwave that runs DOOM.+ Experience the rhythm of the city through this rapid-fire collage of urban photography.+ Get a dose of pure cuteness as these tiny snow leopard cubs leave their den for the first time.+ If you're staring at a random assortment of groceries, SuperCook will find a recipe based on what’s already in your pantry. PopularOpenAI is throwing everything into building a fully automated researcherWill Douglas HeavenHow Pokémon Go is giving delivery robots an inch-perfect view of the worldWill Douglas HeavenInside the stealthy startup that pitched brainless human clonesAntonio RegaladoWant to understand the current state of AI? Check out these charts.Michelle KimDeep DiveThe DownloadThe Download: DeepSeek’s latest AI breakthrough, and the race to build world modelsPlus: China has blocked Meta’s $2 billion acquisition of AI startup Manus. By Thomas Macaulayarchive pageThe Download: introducing the 10 Things That Matter in AI Right NowPlus: An unauthorized group has reportedly accessed Anthropic’s Mythos. By Thomas Macaulayarchive pageThe Download: 10 things that matter in AI, plus Anthropic’s plan to sue the PentagonPlus: The US DoD has been secretly testing OpenAI models for years By Thomas Macaulayarchive pageThe Download: Quantum computing for health, and why the world doesn’t recycle more nuclear wasteThis is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. A $5 million prize awaits proof that quantum computers can solve health care problems In a laboratory on the outskirts of Oxford, a quantum computer built from atoms and light awaits…By Thomas Macaulayarchive pageStay connectedIllustration by Rose WongGet the latest updates fromMIT Technology ReviewDiscover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.Enter your emailPrivacy PolicyThank you for submitting your email!Explore more newslettersIt looks like something went wrong. We’re having trouble saving your preferences. Try refreshing this page and updating them one more time. If you continue to get this message, reach out to us at customer-service@technologyreview.com with a list of newsletters you’d like to receive.