That is at present’s version of The Obtain, our weekday e-newsletter that gives a every day dose of what’s happening on the planet of expertise.
How “personhood credentials” may assist show you’re a human on-line
As AI fashions turn out to be higher at mimicking human conduct, it’s changing into more and more tough to differentiate between actual human web customers and complicated techniques imitating them.
That’s an actual downside when these techniques are deployed for nefarious ends like spreading misinformation or conducting fraud, and it makes it so much more durable to belief what you encounter on-line.
A bunch of researchers have developed a possible resolution— 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 interchange the highly effective greenhouse fuel that underpins the ability grid
The facility grid is underpinned by a single fuel that’s used to insulate a variety of high-voltage gear. The issue is, it’s additionally an excellent highly effective greenhouse fuel: a nightmare for local weather change.
Sulfur hexafluoride (or SF6) is much from the commonest fuel that warms the planet, contributing round 1% of warming so far—carbon dioxide and methane are way more well-known and plentiful. However emissions of the fuel are steadily ticking up yearly.
Now, firms want to get rid of gear that depends on the fuel and looking for replacements that may match its efficiency. Learn the total story.
—Casey Crownhart
Unveiling the 2024 Innovator of the 12 months
Yearly, MIT Expertise Evaluation acknowledges 35 Innovators Below 35. These younger entrepreneurs, researchers, and humanitarians are inventing supplies and constructing techniques 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 12 months dwell on LinkedIn. Be part of us at 12.30pm ET to search out out who it’s, and find out about their work and the influence they’re having on this particular broadcast forward of the listing’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 at present’s most enjoyable/necessary/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.
1 X is so much quieter with out its Brazilian customers
The extraordinarily on-line nation ran a lot of X’s hottest fan accounts. (NYT $)
+ Brazil’s Supreme Court docket is below fireplace from some quarters for banning entry to the platform. (FT $)+ The traders who helped Elon Musk purchase X are significantly 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 loss of life 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 way more grid storage
EVs haven’t totally taken off, so battery makers want to the grid as a substitute. (Economist $)
+ New iron batteries may assist. (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
5 Courting apps are creating AI wingmen that can assist you flirt
Tinder, Hinge, Bumble and Grindr’s new bots will counsel clean chat-up traces. (FT $)
6 US sanctions are pushing China and Russia to construct new fee techniques
To assist them skirt the US-dollar-dominated world monetary order. (Insider $)
+ Is the digital greenback useless? (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
7 These scientists wish to retailer organic samples on the moon
Seeds, plant, animal and microbial samples could possibly be safer there than on Earth. (Wired $)
+ Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is making bizarre noises. (Ars Technica)
+ Future house meals could possibly be constructed from astronaut breath. (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
8 Making video calls from jail is significantly costly
However US regulators are lastly capping how a lot non-public firms can cost. (WSJ $)
9 Interest apps are exploding in reputation
Social media fatigue is actual, and Strava and Letterboxd are reaping the advantages. (Bloomberg $)
+ Wish to see what your mates are as much as? Verify your Venmo. (The Atlantic $)
+ Learn 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 $)
Quote of the day
“Pls flip off historical past.”
—A Google worker tells others to show off their chat historical past whereas discussing delicate topics, which the US Federal Authorities claims is proof that staff knew to keep away from making a authorized paper path, 404 Media studies.
The massive story
The race to provide uncommon earth supplies
Abandoning fossil fuels and adopting lower-carbon applied sciences are our greatest choices for avoiding the accelerating menace of local weather change. And entry to uncommon earth components, key components in lots of of those applied sciences, will partly decide which nations will meet their targets for reducing emissions.
Some nations, together with the US, are more and more anxious about whether or not the provision of these components will stay secure. Consequently, scientists and corporations alike are intent on rising entry and bettering sustainability by exploring secondary or unconventional sources. Learn the total story.
—Mureji Fatunde
We are able to nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Bought any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)
+ Now fall is formally on its method, it’s time to replace your autumnal studying listing ($)
+ I really like this picture of a neuroscientist and her child captured by an MRI machine.
+ My favourite Olympic sport? Snail racing! You may learn extra about how the snails energy their little vehicles right here (thanks Claire!)
+ Marginal beneficial properties actually do work.