That is immediately’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a every day dose of what’s occurring on the earth of expertise.
Nokia is placing the primary mobile community on the moon
Later this month, Intuitive Machines, the personal 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 also deliver one thing that’s by no means been put in on the moon or anyplace else in area earlier than—a totally purposeful 4G mobile community. Learn our story to study why.
—Jacek Krywko
The way to have a toddler within the digital age
Earlier than journalist and tradition critic Amanda Hess even obtained pregnant together with her first baby, in 2020, the web knew she was attempting. She noticed being pregnant adverts approach earlier than a health care provider.
Hess’s expertise is fairly typical nowadays, however nonetheless raises some huge questions. How can we retain management over our our bodies when firms and the medical institution have entry to our most private data? What occurs when individuals cease counting on family and friends for recommendation on having a child and as an alternative go surfing, the place there’s a continuing onslaught of data?
In her new guide, Second Life: Having a Youngster 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 together 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 heart on China, which is main the world in electrical autos, robotaxis, drones, and with the launch of DeepSeek, maybe AI quickly too.
Now a brand new development is unfolding inside China’s tech scene: Firms that had been dominant in electrical autos are betting huge on translating that success into creating 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 earth of AI. Enroll to obtain it in your inbox each Monday.
How will generative AI change search?
Generative AI search, one among MIT Know-how Assessment’s 10 Breakthrough Applied sciences of 2025, is ushering in a brand new period of the web. Regardless of fewer clicks, copyright fights, and typically iffy solutions, AI may unlock new methods to summon all of the world’s data.
Be a part of editor in chief Mat Honan and govt editor Niall Firth at 1.30pm ET immediately for a subscriber-only Roundtable dialog exploring how AI will alter search. Enroll right here to attend, and should you haven’t already, learn Mat’s characteristic about it too.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to seek out you immediately’s most enjoyable/necessary/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.
1 DOGE is on the cusp of accessing US taxpayer knowledge
What they’re planning on doing with it’s anybody’s guess. (CNN)
+ FDA workers reviewing Musk’s firm Neuralink had been fired by DOGE final weekend. (Reuters $)
+ A prime official on the Social Safety Administration simply left after refusing DOGE’s request to entry delicate information. (NBC)
+ Can AI assist DOGE slash authorities budgets? It’s complicated. (MIT Know-how Assessment)
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 Know-how Assessment)
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 warfare on range and inclusion initiatives is a smokescreen
And the individuals waging it would go a lot additional, if we allow them to. (The Verge)
5 Some states declare zero abortions
Which is unimaginable, and hints at one thing worrying: official statistics are being politicized within the US. (Undark)
6 China is searching for its personal methods to guard knowledge from quantum computer systems
It’s spurning algorithms created within the US in case they include secret again doorways. (New Scientist $)
+ Chinese language President Xi Jinping met a number of the nation’s prime tech execs yesterday. (The Info $)
7 Reddit moderators are preventing to maintain AI slop off the platform
It’s an necessary battle to many—but it surely’s solely going to get more durable and more durable. (Ars Technica)
8 Meta has wasted $70 billion on the metaverse. This advert exhibits why.
This should presumably be the most effective they might do, and but it’s simply embarrassingly dangerous. (Forbes)
9 Working from dwelling has turned us into workplace weirdos
However hey, possibly that is our likelihood to carve out some higher, kinder workplace etiquette. (Enterprise Insider $)
+ To be truthful, we nonetheless don’t know the right way to behave on Slack or Zoom both. (NYT $)
10 Are noise cancelling headphones inflicting listening to issues?
Audiologists say extreme use might intrude with the way in which teenagers study to course of speech and noise. (BBC)
Quote of the day
“Individuals don’t really feel secure talking out on this nation in opposition to 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 well liked expertise of our time. However what’s it? It seems like a silly query, but it surely’s one which’s by no means been extra pressing.
For those who’re prepared to buckle up and are available for a trip, 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 images taken behind the scenes of final evening’s BAFTAs.
+ Meet Victorian London’s ‘cat’s meat males’.
+ Led Zeppelin followers rejoice: the band’s first official documentary is out.
+ Need to really feel happier? Let Dr Laurie Santos from Yale clarify what it’s worthwhile to do.
