That is in the present day’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a each day dose of what’s occurring on the planet of expertise.
Nokia is placing the primary mobile community on the moon
Later this month, Intuitive Machines, the non-public firm behind the primary industrial 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 web site 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 area earlier than—a completely useful 4G mobile community. Learn our story to study why.
—Jacek Krywko
Easy methods to have a toddler within the digital age
Earlier than journalist and tradition critic Amanda Hess even obtained pregnant along with her first youngster, in 2020, the web knew she was attempting. She noticed being pregnant adverts means earlier than a health care provider.
Hess’s expertise is fairly typical lately, however nonetheless raises some large questions. How will we retain management over our our bodies when firms and the medical institution have entry to our most private info? What occurs when individuals cease counting on family and friends for recommendation on having a child and as an alternative go browsing, the place there’s a continuing onslaught of knowledge?
In her new ebook, Second Life: Having a Baby 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 neater, more healthy, higher path to parenthood. Hess asks: Is that actually what they’re delivering? Learn our interview along with her.
—Alison Arieff
This subscriber-only story is from the following 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 companies dominate information from Washington, the Trump administration can also be making world strikes. Many of those middle on China, which is main the world in electrical automobiles, 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 had been dominant in electrical automobiles are betting large on translating that success into growing 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 the planet of AI. Enroll to obtain it in your inbox each Monday.
How will generative AI change search?
Generative AI search, certainly one of MIT Expertise Evaluate’s 10 Breakthrough Applied sciences of 2025, is ushering in a brand new period of the web. Regardless of fewer clicks, copyright fights, and generally iffy solutions, AI may unlock new methods to summon all of the world’s data.
Be part of editor in chief Mat Honan and government editor Niall Firth at 1.30pm ET in the present day for a subscriber-only Roundtable dialog exploring how AI will alter search. Enroll right here to attend, and in the event you haven’t already, learn Mat’s function about it too.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to search out you in the present day’s most enjoyable/essential/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.
1 DOGE is on the cusp of accessing US taxpayer information
What they’re planning on doing with it’s anybody’s guess. (CNN)
+ FDA employees reviewing Musk’s firm Neuralink had 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 complicated. (MIT Expertise Evaluate)
2 DeepSeek could also be shifting in the direction of monetizing its AI fashions
Proper now, they’re open supply and free. How lengthy can that final? (South China Morning Put up $)
+ How DeepSeek ripped up the AI playbook—and why everybody’s going to comply with its lead. (MIT Expertise Evaluate)
3 We’re inching nearer to a norovirus vaccine 
Loads of individuals would possibly welcome this, particularly after this winter’s nasty rash of infections. (Scientific American $)
4 The struggle on variety and inclusion initiatives is a smokescreen
And the individuals waging it should go a lot additional, if we allow them to. (The Verge)
5 Some states declare zero abortions
Which is not possible, and hints at one thing worrying: official statistics are being politicized within the US. (Undark)
6 China is in search of its personal methods to guard information 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 Data $)
7 Reddit moderators are combating to maintain AI slop off the platform
It’s an essential battle to many—however it’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 perfect 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 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 study to course of speech and noise. (BBC)
Quote of the day
“Folks don’t really feel secure talking out on this nation towards the federal government.”
—Ryan Calo, a legislation professor on the College of Washington, tells the Washington Put up 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 expertise of our time. However what’s it? It appears like a silly query, however it’s one which’s by no means been extra pressing.
Should you’re keen to buckle up and are available for a journey, I can let you know why no person actually is aware of, why everyone 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. (Obtained any concepts? Drop me a line or skeet ’em at me.)
+ Love these glitzy, cheerful photographs 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 could do.
