That is as we speak’s version of The Obtain, our weekday e-newsletter that gives a every day dose of what’s occurring on this planet of know-how.
What we nonetheless don’t learn about weight-loss medicine
Weight-loss medicine have been again within the information this week. First, we heard that Eli Lilly, the corporate behind Mounjaro and Zepbound, grew to become the primary healthcare firm on this planet to realize a trillion-dollar valuation.
However we additionally realized that, disappointingly, GLP-1 medicine don’t appear to assist folks with Alzheimer’s illness. And that individuals who cease taking the medicine after they change into pregnant can expertise probably harmful ranges of weight achieve. On high of that, some researchers fear that individuals are utilizing the medicine postpartum to lose being pregnant weight with out understanding potential dangers.
All of this information ought to function a reminder that there’s quite a bit we nonetheless don’t learn about these medicine. So let’s have a look at the enduring questions surrounding GLP-1 agonist medicine.
—Jessica Hamzelou
This text first appeared in The Checkup, MIT Know-how Evaluation’s weekly biotech e-newsletter. To obtain it in your inbox each Thursday, and browse articles like this primary, enroll right here.
Should you’re occupied with weight reduction medicine and the way they have an effect on us, check out:
+ GLP-1 agonists like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro would possibly profit coronary heart and mind well being—however analysis suggests they could additionally trigger being pregnant issues and hurt some customers. Learn the total story.
+ We’ve by no means understood how starvation works. That may be about to alter. Learn the total story.
+ Weight-loss injections have taken over the web. However what does this imply for folks IRL?
+ This vibrating weight-loss capsule appears to work—in pigs. Learn the total story.
What we learn about how AI is affecting the financial system
There’s quite a bit at stake with regards to understanding how AI is altering the financial system proper now. Ought to we be pessimistic? Optimistic? Or is the state of affairs too nuanced for that?
Hopefully, we will level you in direction of some solutions. Mat Honan, our editor in chief, will maintain a particular subscriber-only Roundtables dialog with our editor at giant David Rotman, and Richard Waters, Monetary Instances columnist, exploring what’s taking place throughout totally different markets. Register right here to affix us at 1pm ET on Tuesday December 9.
The occasion is a part of the Monetary Instances and MIT Know-how Evaluation “The State of AI” partnership, exploring the worldwide affect of synthetic intelligence. Over the previous month, we’ve been working discussions between our journalists—enroll right here to obtain future editions each Monday.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to seek out you as we speak’s most enjoyable/vital/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.
1 Tech billionaires are gearing as much as battle AI regulation
By amassing multi-million greenback struggle chests forward of the 2026 US midterm elections. (WSJ $)
+ Donald Trump’s “Manhattan Mission” for AI is definitely bold. (The Data $)
2 The EU needs to carry social media platforms accountable for monetary scams
New guidelines will power tech companies to compensate banks in the event that they fail to take away reported scams. (Politico)
3 China is nervous a couple of humanoid robotic bubble
As a result of greater than 150 corporations there are constructing very comparable machines. (Bloomberg $)
+ It might study some classes from the present AI bubble. (CNN)+ Why the humanoid workforce is working late. (MIT Know-how Evaluation)
4 A Myanmar rip-off compound was blown up
However its residents will merely discover new bases for his or her operations. (NYT $)
+ Specialists suspect the destruction might have been for present. (Wired $)
+ Inside a romance rip-off compound—and the way folks get tricked into being there. (MIT Know-how Evaluation)
5 Navies internationally are investing in submarine drones
They price a fraction of what it takes to run a conventional manned sub. (The Guardian)
+ How underwater drones might form a possible Taiwan-China battle. (MIT Know-how Evaluation)
6 What to anticipate from China’s seemingly unstoppable innovation drive
Its extraordinarily permissive regulators play a giant function. (Economist $)
+ Is China about to win the AI race? (MIT Know-how Evaluation)
7 The UK is waging a struggle on VPNs
Good luck making an attempt to influence folks to cease utilizing them. (The Verge)
8 We’re studying extra about Jeff Bezos’ mysterious clock mission
He’s backed the Clock of the Lengthy Now for years—and development is amping up. (FT $)
+ How growing older clocks may also help us perceive why we age—and if we will reverse it. (MIT Know-how Evaluation)
9 Have we lastly seen the primary hints of darkish matter?
These researchers appear to suppose so. (New Scientist $)
10 A useful robotic helps archaeologists reconstruct Pompeii
Reassembling historic frescos is fiddly and time-consuming, however much less so if you happen to’re a dextrous machine. (Reuters)
Quote of the day
“We do fail… quite a bit.”
—Protection firm Anduril explains its move-fast-and-break-things ethos to the Wall Avenue Journal in response to experiences its techniques have been marred by points in Ukraine.
Another factor
How one can construct a greater AI benchmark
It’s not straightforward being one among Silicon Valley’s favourite benchmarks.
SWE-Bench (pronounced “swee bench”) launched in November 2024 as a option to consider an AI mannequin’s coding ability. It has since rapidly change into one of the vital widespread checks in AI. A SWE-Bench rating has change into a mainstay of main mannequin releases from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google—and out of doors of basis fashions, the fine-tuners at AI companies are in fixed competitors to see who can rise above the pack.
Regardless of all of the fervor, this isn’t precisely a truthful evaluation of which mannequin is “higher.” Entrants have begun to sport the system—which is pushing many others to wonder if there’s a greater option to really measure AI achievement. Learn the total story.
—Russell Brandom
We will 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.)
+ Aww, these sharks look like taking part in with pool toys.
+ Unusual issues are taking place over on Easter Island (even weirder than you possibly can think about) 
+ Very cool—archaeologists have uncovered a Roman tomb that’s been sealed shut for 1,700 years.
+ This Japanese mass media collage is making my eyes swim, in a great way.