That is in the present day’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a each day dose of what’s happening on the planet of know-how.
It’s surprisingly straightforward to stumble right into a relationship with an AI chatbot
The information: The primary large-scale computational evaluation of the Reddit neighborhood r/MyBoyfriendIsAI, which is devoted to discussing AI relationships, discovered that many individuals shaped these relationships unintentionally whereas utilizing AI for different functions. In truth, solely 6.5% of them stated they’d intentionally sought out an AI companion.
Why it issues: The examine discovered that AI companionship gives very important help for some however exacerbates underlying issues for others. This implies it’s exhausting to take a one-size-fits-all method to consumer security. Learn the total story.
—Rhiannon Williams
Be part of us at 1.30pm ET in the present day to find out about the way forward for contraception
Conversations round contraception often concentrate on girls, however Kevin Eisenfrats, one of many MIT Expertise Assessment 2025 Innovators Below 35, is working to alter that. His firm, Contraline, is working towards testing new contraception choices for males. Be part of us for an unique subscribers-only Roundtable interview to listen to Kevin in dialog with our govt editor Amy Nordrum at 1.30 ET in the present day.
MIT Expertise Assessment Narrated: What’s subsequent for AI and math
The final yr has seen speedy progress within the capability of huge language fashions to sort out math at highschool degree and past. Is AI closing in on human mathematicians?
This story is the newest to be was a MIT Expertise Assessment Narrated podcast, which we publish each week on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Simply navigate to MIT Expertise Assessment Narrated on both platform, and observe us to hearken to all our new episodes as they’re launched.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to search out you in the present day’s most enjoyable/essential/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.
1 Secret Service brokers dismantled an enormous operation to cripple cell networks
They are saying it’s probably it was meant for use for scams. (Wired $)
2 Welcome to the brand new period of fragmented US vaccine insurance policies
The federal authorities is abdicating duty for public well being. Who will fill the void? (New Yorker $)
+ Why US federal well being companies are abandoning mRNA vaccines. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
3 European protection leaders are discussing constructing a ‘drone wall’
They’re scrambling to catch up as Russian incursions into their territory improve. (ABC)
4 How will we all know if we’ve reached synthetic basic intelligence?
That’s the multi-billion greenback query—however there’s no clear reply. (IEEE Spectrum)
+ Consultants don’t even agree on what AI is to start with, by no means thoughts AGI. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
5 Robotic umpires are coming to baseball’s main leagues subsequent yr 
People will nonetheless be accountable for calling balls and strikes, however tech will assist to guage appealed choices. (AP)
6 AI’s vitality wants are being overstated
And that might lock us into pointless, pricey fossil gasoline tasks. (The Verge)
+ 4 causes to be optimistic about AI’s vitality utilization. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
7 Excessive drought is about to change into much more commonplace
Governments have to do much more to arrange. (Gizmodo)
8 AI is coming for subtitle writers’ jobs
However their work is more durable to switch than you may assume. (The Guardian)
+ ‘Workslop’ is slowing the whole lot down. (Harvard Enterprise Assessment)
+ And, so as to add to the issue, AI programs could by no means be safe. (The Economist $)
9 How epigenetics may assist save wildlife from extinction
It may permit scientists to detect accelerated getting old earlier than an animal inhabitants begins to visibly collapse. (Knowable)
+ Ageing clocks purpose to foretell how lengthy you’ll dwell. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
10 TikTok is getting launched to the idea of the rapture
Which is due in the present day, in keeping with some. If that’s the case, it’s been nice understanding you. Good luck! (The Guardian)
Quote of the day
“Everyone has a backup.”
—Stella Li, govt vp at BYD, tells CNBC the corporate has contingency plans in case Beijing orders it to cease utilizing Nvidia chips.
Another factor
This app helps employees reclaim tens of millions in misplaced wages
Reclamo, a brand new net app, helps immigrant employees who’ve skilled wage theft. It guides them by means of assembling case particulars, and finally produces completed authorized claims that may be filed immediately. A course of that might in any other case take a number of conferences with an lawyer can now be achieved inside an hour.
A major quantity of wage theft targets immigrants, each authorized and undocumented, partially due to communication obstacles and their perceived lack of energy or authorized recourse. However the app is already making a distinction—serving to employees to reclaim $1 million in misplaced wages because it began beta testing in October 2022. Learn the total story.
—Patrick Sisson
We will nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Received any concepts? Drop me a line or skeet ’em at me.)
+ It’s Fats Bear Week! Who will get your vote this yr?
+ Find out about Lord Woodbine, the forgotten sixth Beatle.
+ There are some actually wild and wacky recipes on this Medieval Cookery assortment. Venison porridge, anybody?
+ Pessimism about know-how is as previous as know-how itself, as this archive exhibits.
