That is at the moment’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a day by day dose of what’s occurring on the earth of know-how.
How “personhood credentials” may assist show you’re a human on-line
As AI fashions develop into higher at mimicking human habits, it’s turning into more and more troublesome to tell apart between actual human web customers and complicated methods imitating them.
That’s an actual drawback when these methods are deployed for nefarious ends like spreading misinformation or conducting fraud, and it makes it lots more durable to belief what you encounter on-line.
A bunch of researchers have developed a possible answer— 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 be taught the way it works.
—Rhiannon Williams
The race to switch the highly effective greenhouse gasoline that underpins the facility grid
The facility grid is underpinned by a single gasoline that’s used to insulate a variety of high-voltage gear. The issue is, it’s additionally a brilliant highly effective greenhouse gasoline: a nightmare for local weather change.
Sulfur hexafluoride (or SF6) is way from the commonest gasoline that warms the planet, contributing round 1% of warming up to now—carbon dioxide and methane are far more well-known and ample. However emissions of the gasoline are steadily ticking up yearly.
Now, firms want to get rid of gear that depends on the gasoline and trying to find replacements that may match its efficiency. Learn the total story.
—Casey Crownhart
Unveiling the 2024 Innovator of the Yr
Yearly, MIT Expertise Evaluation acknowledges 35 Innovators Beneath 35. These younger entrepreneurs, researchers, and humanitarians are inventing supplies and constructing methods to assist deal with 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 Yr stay on LinkedIn. Be a part of us at 12.30pm ET to seek out out who it’s, and find out about their work and the affect they’re having on this particular broadcast forward of the checklist’s publication. Register right here to be among the many first to know!
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to seek out you at the moment’s most enjoyable/vital/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.
1 X is lots quieter with out its Brazilian customers
The extraordinarily on-line nation ran a lot of X’s hottest fan accounts. (NYT $)
+ Brazil’s Supreme Courtroom is beneath 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 web is widening
Influencers’ followers are more and more turning 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 property as attainable. (Reuters)
+ Its gross sales are shrinking, and rival Nvidia is flourishing. (Bloomberg $)
4 We’d like far more grid storage
EVs haven’t absolutely taken off, so battery makers want to the grid as an alternative. (Economist $)
+ New iron batteries may assist. (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
5 Courting apps are growing AI wingmen that will help you flirt
Tinder, Hinge, Bumble and Grindr’s new bots will counsel easy chat-up traces. (FT $)
6 US sanctions are pushing China and Russia to construct new fee methods
To assist them skirt the US-dollar-dominated world monetary order. (Insider $)
+ Is the digital greenback lifeless? (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
7 These scientists need to retailer organic samples on the moon
Seeds, plant, animal and microbial samples might be safer there than on Earth. (Wired $)
+ Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is making bizarre noises. (Ars Technica)
+ Future area meals might be comprised of 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 recognition
Social media fatigue is actual, and Strava and Letterboxd are reaping the advantages. (Bloomberg $)
+ Wish to see what your folks are as much as? Examine your Venmo. (The Atlantic $)
+ Tips on 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 $)
Quote of the day
“Pls flip off historical past.”
—A Google worker tells others to show off their chat historical past whereas discussing delicate topics, which the US Federal Authorities claims is proof that employees knew to keep away from making a authorized paper path, 404 Media studies.
The large story
The race to provide uncommon earth supplies
Abandoning fossil fuels and adopting lower-carbon applied sciences are our greatest choices for heading off the accelerating risk of local weather change. And entry to uncommon earth components, key elements in lots of of those applied sciences, will partly decide which international locations will meet their objectives for decreasing emissions.
Some nations, together with the US, are more and more frightened about whether or not the provision of these components will stay steady. Consequently, scientists and corporations alike are intent on growing entry and bettering sustainability by exploring secondary or unconventional sources. Learn the total story.
—Mureji Fatunde
We are able to nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Bought any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)
+ Now fall is formally on its means, it’s time to replace your autumnal studying checklist ($)
+ I really like this picture of a neuroscientist and her child captured by an MRI machine.
+ My favourite Olympic sport? Snail racing! You’ll be able to learn extra about how the snails energy their little vehicles right here (thanks Claire!)
+ Marginal good points actually do work.
