That is in the present day’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a day by day dose of what’s occurring on the planet of know-how.
Persons are frightened that AI will take everybody’s jobs. We’ve been right here earlier than.
It was 1938, and the ache of the Nice Melancholy was nonetheless very actual. Unemployment within the US was round 20%. New equipment was remodeling factories and farms, and everybody was frightened about jobs.
Had been the spectacular technological achievements that had been making life simpler for a lot of additionally destroying jobs and wreaking havoc on the financial system? To make sense of all of it, Karl T. Compton, the president of MIT from 1930 to 1948 and one of many main scientists of the day, wrote within the December 1938 difficulty of this publication in regards to the “Bogey of Technological Unemployment.”
His essay concisely framed the talk over jobs and technical progress in a approach that is still related, particularly given in the present day’s fears over the influence of synthetic intelligence. It’s a worthwhile reminder that worries over the way forward for jobs are usually not new and are finest addressed by making use of an understanding of economics, reasonably than conjuring up genies and monsters. Learn the total story.
—David Rotman
This high-tech mouthguard would possibly assist forestall concussions
When athletes or troopers have a concussion, probably the most helpful plan of action is to easily get them off the enjoying discipline or out of the motion to allow them to get better. But a lot about head accidents stays a thriller, together with the explanation why some impacts lead to concussion whereas others don’t.
New measuring gadgets, such because the Impression Monitoring Mouthguard, are being developed that might assist ship a wealth of details about head impacts. By giving a right away warning that an individual must be faraway from motion or play, they may assist shield troopers and athletes alike from mind injury. Learn the total story.
—David Hambling
Be part of us to debate important AI points in Europe and past
Synthetic intelligence took the world by storm in 2023. Its future—and ours—can be formed by what we do subsequent. Register now to hitch MIT Expertise Assessment journalists for a free LinkedIn Stay dialogue tomorrow at 11am ET as they discover what’s subsequent for AI in Europe, the US, and past.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to seek out you in the present day’s most enjoyable/necessary/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.
1 X has blocked all searches for Taylor Swift
It’s a heavy-handed try and cease the circulation of AI-generated specific pictures of her. (FT $)
+ X is reportedly engaged on a brand new content material moderation HQ in Texas. (Bloomberg $)
+ The viral AI avatar app Lensa undressed me—with out my consent. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
2 Huge Tech is determined to sever its dependence on Nvidia’s chips
Sadly for them, it’s not as straightforward as merely constructing their very own semiconductors. (NYT $)
+ Japan is investing closely in its personal chip manufacturing traces. (FT $)
+ Huawei’s 5G chip breakthrough wants a actuality examine. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
3 China has authorised dozens of AI fashions for public use
Regulators authorised 14 previously week alone. (Reuters)
+ The US is spooked, and needs cloud corporations to flag international shoppers. (Bloomberg $)
+ 4 issues to learn about China’s new AI guidelines in 2024. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
4 Meta is optimistic about going head-to-head with Apple
The battle of the combined actuality headsets is beginning to warmth up. (WSJ $)
+ 2024 hasn’t been plain crusing for Apple to date. (Economist $)
+ These minuscule pixels are poised to take augmented actuality by storm. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
5 A George Carlin “AI comedy particular” was, in reality, written by a human
Confronted with a lawsuit, the video’s creators admitted an algorithm had not generated the fabric. (NYT $)
6 US spies are sifting by way of huge quantities of public information
They’re lastly tapping into OSINT information. (Bloomberg $)
+ Leaked datasets are a trove of knowledge, if you understand what you’re on the lookout for. (Motherboard)
7 Decarbonizing the financial system is simpler stated than completed
The authorized obstacles are even harder to navigate than the excessive prices. (The Atlantic $)
+ That doesn’t imply it’s not price pursuing, although. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
8 Instacart is utilizing gross AI-generated meals images
Which makes your complete platform look spammy. (Insider $)
9 BeReal is courting celebrities now
The issue is, they aren’t precisely identified for his or her authenticity. (Wired $)
10 What it takes to develop meals in area
Mmm, tasty 3D-printed meals! (The Guardian)
+ Future area meals might be constituted of astronaut breath. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
Quote of the day
“Organizations wish to say, ‘Yeah, we now have a chief AI officer,’ as a result of that makes them look good.”
—Marketing consultant Randy Bean means that corporations’ rush to capitalize on the AI growth is usually a type of company bragging, he tells the New York Occasions.
The massive story
How existential danger turned the most important meme in AI
June 2023
Who’s afraid of the massive dangerous bots? Lots of people, it appears. A whole lot of scientists, enterprise leaders, and policymakers have not too long ago made public pronouncements or signed open letters warning of the catastrophic risks of synthetic intelligence, from deep studying pioneer Geoffrey Hinton to California congressman Ted Lieu.
We’ve been right here earlier than: AI doom follows AI hype. However this time feels totally different. What had been as soon as excessive views at the moment are mainstream speaking factors, grabbing not solely headlines however the consideration of world leaders.
Has AI actually turn out to be (extra) harmful? And why are the individuals who ushered on this tech now those elevating the alarm? Or is the looming specter of regulation responsible? Learn the total story.
—Will Douglas Heaven
We will nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction in these bizarre occasions. (Received any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)
+ Patrick Swayze basic Highway Home has had a 2024 makeover.
+ I don’t know should you’ve seen, however taprooms are fairly fancy lately.
+ The champagne bottles onboard the fateful Titanic are nonetheless intact. How?
+ Blissful 57th anniversary to the Mantra-Rock Dance, the apex of San Francisco’s hippie period.
+ A Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot is within the pipeline, based on, err, Dolly Parton.
