That is at the moment’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a each day dose of what’s occurring on this planet of know-how.
Nokia is placing the primary mobile community on the moon
Later this month, Intuitive Machines, the personal 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 may even carry one thing that’s by no means been put in on the moon or wherever else in house earlier than—a totally useful 4G mobile community. Learn our story to be taught why.
—Jacek Krywko
Tips on how to have a toddler 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 method earlier than a physician.
Hess’s expertise is fairly typical nowadays, however nonetheless raises some large questions. How can we retain management over our our bodies when companies 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 an alternative go surfing, the place there’s a relentless onslaught of knowledge?
In her new e book, 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 subsequent 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 businesses dominate information from Washington, the Trump administration can be making international strikes. Many of those middle 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: Corporations that have been dominant in electrical autos are betting large on translating that success into creating 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. Enroll 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 typically iffy solutions, AI might unlock new methods to summon all of the world’s data.
Be a part of editor in chief Mat Honan and government editor Niall Firth at 1.30pm ET at the moment for a subscriber-only Roundtable dialog exploring how AI will alter search. Enroll right here to attend, and should you haven’t already, learn Mat’s function about it too.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to search out you at the moment’s most enjoyable/essential/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.
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 employees reviewing Musk’s firm Neuralink have 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 advanced. (MIT Expertise Overview)
2 DeepSeek could also be shifting in 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 observe 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 warfare on variety and inclusion initiatives is a smokescreen
And the folks waging it should 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 comprise secret again doorways. (New Scientist $)
+ Chinese language President Xi Jinping met a few of the nation’s high tech execs yesterday. (The Info $)
7 Reddit moderators are combating to maintain AI slop off the platform
It’s an essential battle to many—but it surely’s solely going to get tougher and tougher. (Ars Technica)
8 Meta has wasted $70 billion on the metaverse. This advert exhibits why.
This should presumably be the most effective they might do, and but it’s simply embarrassingly dangerous. (Forbes)
9 Working from house has turned us into workplace weirdos
However hey, possibly that is our probability to carve out some higher, kinder workplace etiquette. (Enterprise Insider $)
+ To be truthful, we nonetheless don’t know the right way to behave on Slack or Zoom both. (NYT $)
10 Are noise cancelling headphones inflicting listening to issues?
Audiologists say extreme use could intervene with the way in which teenagers be taught to course of speech and noise. (BBC)
Quote of the day
“Folks don’t really feel secure talking out on this nation in opposition to the federal government.”
—Ryan Calo, a legislation 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 know-how of our time. However what’s it? It feels like a silly query, but it surely’s one which’s by no means been extra pressing.
For those who’re keen to buckle up and are available for a journey, I can inform you why no one actually is aware of, why all people appears to disagree, and why you’re proper to care about it. Learn the complete story.
—Will Douglas Heaven
We are able to nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Acquired any concepts? Drop me a line or skeet ’em at me.)
+ Love these glitzy, cheerful pictures taken behind the scenes of final night time’s BAFTAs.
+ Meet Victorian London’s ‘cat’s meat males’.
+ Led Zeppelin followers rejoice: the band’s first official documentary is out.
+ Wish to really feel happier? Let Dr Laurie Santos from Yale clarify what you should do.
