That is as we speak’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a each day dose of what’s occurring on the earth of know-how.
How “personhood credentials” might assist show you’re a human on-line
As AI fashions develop into higher at mimicking human conduct, it’s changing into more and more troublesome to differentiate between actual human web customers and complex methods imitating them.
That’s an actual downside when these methods are deployed for nefarious ends like spreading misinformation or conducting fraud, and it makes it rather a lot more durable to belief what you encounter on-line.
A bunch of researchers have developed a possible answer— a verification idea referred to as ‘personhood credentials’ that proves its holder is an actual particular person, with out revealing any additional details about their id. Learn the total story to study the way it works.
—Rhiannon Williams
The race to exchange the highly effective greenhouse gasoline that underpins the ability grid
The ability grid is underpinned by a single gasoline that’s used to insulate a variety of high-voltage tools. The issue is, it’s additionally an excellent highly effective greenhouse gasoline: a nightmare for local weather change.
Sulfur hexafluoride (or SF6) is way from the commonest gasoline that warms the planet, contributing round 1% of warming so far—carbon dioxide and methane are rather more well-known and ample. However emissions of the gasoline are steadily ticking up yearly.
Now, corporations want to put off tools that depends on the gasoline and trying to find replacements that may match its efficiency. Learn the total story.
—Casey Crownhart
Unveiling the 2024 Innovator of the Yr
Yearly, MIT Expertise Evaluation acknowledges 35 Innovators Beneath 35. These younger entrepreneurs, researchers, and humanitarians are inventing supplies and constructing methods to assist sort out the world’s most urgent issues in biotechnology, computing, and local weather science.
On Monday, September 9, we’ll introduce our 2024 Innovator of the Yr reside on LinkedIn. Be part of us at 12.30pm ET to search out out who it’s, and study their work and the affect they’re having on this particular broadcast forward of the checklist’s publication. Register right here to be among the many first to know!
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to search out you as we speak’s most enjoyable/essential/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.
1 X is rather a lot quieter with out its Brazilian customers
The extraordinarily on-line nation ran a lot of X’s hottest fan accounts. (NYT $)
+ Brazil’s Supreme Courtroom is below fireplace from some quarters for banning entry to the platform. (FT $)+ The traders who helped Elon Musk purchase X are severely out of pocket. (WP $)
2 China’s on-line surveillance internet is widening
Influencers’ followers are more and more changing into targets for police interrogation. (The Guardian)
+ How 2023 marked the dying of anonymity on-line in China. (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
3 Intel has a plan to revive its fortunes
The once-mighty chipmaker plans to shed as many pointless belongings as doable. (Reuters)
+ Its gross sales are shrinking, and rival Nvidia is flourishing. (Bloomberg $)
4 We want rather more grid storage
EVs haven’t absolutely taken off, so battery makers want to the grid as a substitute. (Economist $)
+ New iron batteries might assist. (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
5 Relationship apps are growing AI wingmen that will help you flirt
Tinder, Hinge, Bumble and Grindr’s new bots will counsel clean chat-up strains. (FT $)
6 US sanctions are pushing China and Russia to construct new cost methods
To assist them skirt the US-dollar-dominated international monetary order. (Insider $)
+ Is the digital greenback lifeless? (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
7 These scientists wish to retailer organic samples on the moon
Seeds, plant, animal and microbial samples may very well be safer there than on Earth. (Wired $)
+ Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is making bizarre noises. (Ars Technica)
+ Future area meals may very well be made out of astronaut breath. (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
8 Making video calls from jail is severely costly
However US regulators are lastly capping how a lot personal corporations can cost. (WSJ $)
9 Pastime apps are exploding in recognition
Social media fatigue is actual, and Strava and Letterboxd are reaping the advantages. (Bloomberg $)
+ Need to see what your pals are as much as? Examine your Venmo. (The Atlantic $)
+ Tips on how to repair the web. (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
10 Why AI is such a compelling film villain
From 2001: A Area Odyssey to the Terminator to the Matrix. (WP $)
Quote of the day
“Pls flip off historical past.”
—A Google worker tells others to show off their chat historical past whereas discussing delicate topics, which the US Federal Authorities claims is proof that employees knew to keep away from making a authorized paper path, 404 Media experiences.
The large story
The race to provide uncommon earth supplies
Abandoning fossil fuels and adopting lower-carbon applied sciences are our greatest choices for avoiding the accelerating risk of local weather change. And entry to uncommon earth components, key components in lots of of those applied sciences, will partly decide which international locations will meet their objectives for decreasing emissions.
Some nations, together with the US, are more and more anxious about whether or not the availability of these components will stay secure. Because of this, scientists and corporations alike are intent on growing entry and enhancing sustainability by exploring secondary or unconventional sources. Learn the total story.
—Mureji Fatunde
We are able to nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Obtained any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)
+ Now fall is formally on its manner, it’s time to replace your autumnal studying checklist ($)
+ I really like this picture of a neuroscientist and her child captured by an MRI machine.
+ My favourite Olympic sport? Snail racing! You possibly can learn extra about how the snails energy their little automobiles right here (thanks Claire!)
+ Marginal good points actually do work.