The Changing World Order
Drones are the new bombs, code the new currency, chips the new oil, and AI the new everything. Technology has reshaped geopolitics forever and a new world order is being carved in silicon
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Tracy Chou built a startup to “deep clean” your socials
Tracy Chou’s Block Party is helping people enjoy the benefits of social media while staying safe both online and IRL.
AI is now designing chips for AI
AI-designed microchips have more power, lower cost, and are changing the tech landscape.
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Technology expert tells us why the AI “doomer” narrative is all wrong
Alex Kantrowitz believes “doomerism” is born of our misplaced and exaggerated human propensity for fear. Plus, fear sells.
BlackRock invests $550M in world’s largest direct air capture plant
Money manager BlackRock has invested $550 million in STRATOS, the world’s largest direct air capture facility.
Amazon’s Prime Air is coming to a new US city
Amazon’s Prime Air drone delivery service is expanding to three new cities and adding a drug-delivery option in an existing one.
Desalination system could produce freshwater that is cheaper than tap water
Engineers are aiming to turn seawater into drinking water with a completely passive, solar-powered device that is inspired by the ocean.
Should you charge your phone overnight? Will “overcharging” make it explode?
Does prolonged (or overnight) charging wreak havoc on your phone battery? An expert answers this and other common battery questions.
Researchers brew a stronger concrete using — coffee?
Researchers and engineers from RMIT University made concrete 30% stronger in the lab by incorporating aggregates made from coffee grounds.
New experiment brings us closer to unbreakable quantum encryption
Researchers at Linkӧping University have built a quantum random number generator to be easier to integrate into consumer electronics.
MIT students develop energy “mini-grid” software for remote & mountainous areas
MIT Energy Initiative spinoff Waya Energy helps countries work toward universal, cheap access to electricity.
The US military just got its hands on a mini laser weapon
Laser weapons could shape the future of warfare — and the US military just got a “mini” version of the tech.
Hackers get AI to share credit card info and endorse hate speech
At DEFCON 2023, ethical hackers targeted generative AIs by OpenAI, Google, and other tech leaders to aid responsible AI development.
Brain-computer interfaces could let soldiers control weapons with their thoughts
Brain-computer interfaces raise many ethical questions about how and whether they should be used for certain applications — including war.
Apple has reportedly built its own ChatGPT
Apple is reportedly exploring the potential of generative AI, but hasn’t decided how to incorporate the tech into its products yet.
Will AI kill humanity by 2100? “Superforecasters” and experts disagree on the odds
AI was the most divisive topic in a recent predictions tournament.
How building more backyard homes, granny flats, and in-law suites can help alleviate the housing crisis
Accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, are sometimes called “granny flats,” “backyard homes,” “in-law suites,” or “backyard cottages.”
Military vet’s lightweight mask is protecting soldiers from toxic fumes
A Canadian military veteran’s innovative mask is protecting soldiers, police, and first responders from toxic exposure.
We are spectacularly bad at predicting the future
Forecasters say AI will either enslave or liberate us, but the history of prediction suggests we have little way of knowing who will be correct.
Open-source “Davids” are taking on GPT-4 and other Goliaths
Powerful tech companies keep LLMs like GPT-4 shrouded in secrecy. But a new wave of open-source LLMs is giving the power of chatbots to the people.
Your smartphone may become a thermometer
Researchers at the University of Washington are developing an app that can turn the ubiquitous smartphone into an accurate thermometer.
Neuralink’s monkey can play Pong with its mind. Elon Musk says human trials are next.
If Neuralink’s monkey can play Pong with its mind, imagine what humans could do with the same technology in just a few years.
To fear AI is to fear Newton and Einstein. There are no “dragons” here.
Who’s afraid of utopia? AI doubters have cold feet. History can warm them.
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