That is at the moment’s version of The Obtain, our weekday e-newsletter that gives a day by day dose of what’s occurring on this planet of expertise.
How “personhood credentials” may assist show you’re a human on-line
As AI fashions grow to be higher at mimicking human habits, it’s turning into more and more troublesome to differentiate between actual human web customers and complex techniques imitating them.
That’s an actual drawback when these techniques 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 gaggle of researchers have developed a possible answer— a verification idea known as ‘personhood credentials’ that proves its holder is an actual individual, with out revealing any additional details about their id. Learn the complete story to be taught the way it works.
—Rhiannon Williams
The race to exchange the highly effective greenhouse fuel that underpins the ability grid
The facility grid is underpinned by a single fuel that’s used to insulate a spread of high-voltage gear. The issue is, it’s additionally a brilliant highly effective greenhouse fuel: a nightmare for local weather change.
Sulfur hexafluoride (or SF6) is much from the most typical fuel that warms the planet, contributing round 1% of warming so far—carbon dioxide and methane are rather more well-known and plentiful. However emissions of the fuel are steadily ticking up yearly.
Now, corporations want to put off gear that depends on the fuel and looking for replacements that may match its efficiency. Learn the complete story.
—Casey Crownhart
Unveiling the 2024 Innovator of the Yr
Yearly, MIT Expertise Assessment acknowledges 35 Innovators Beneath 35. These younger entrepreneurs, researchers, and humanitarians are inventing supplies and constructing techniques 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 dwell on LinkedIn. Be part of us at 12.30pm ET to search out out who it’s, and study their work and the impression they’re having on this particular broadcast forward of the listing’s publication. Register right here to be among the many first to know!
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to search out you at the moment’s most enjoyable/vital/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.
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 below hearth 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 demise of anonymity on-line in China. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
3 Intel has a plan to revive its fortunes
The once-mighty chipmaker plans to shed as many pointless property as potential. (Reuters)
+ Its gross sales are shrinking, and rival Nvidia is flourishing. (Bloomberg $)
4 We’d like rather more grid storage
EVs haven’t totally taken off, so battery makers want to the grid as a substitute. (Economist $)
+ New iron batteries may assist. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
5 Relationship apps are growing AI wingmen that will help you flirt
Tinder, Hinge, Bumble and Grindr’s new bots will recommend easy chat-up strains. (FT $)
6 US sanctions are pushing China and Russia to construct new fee techniques
To assist them skirt the US-dollar-dominated international monetary order. (Insider $)
+ Is the digital greenback useless? (MIT Expertise Assessment)
7 These scientists need to retailer organic samples on the moon
Seeds, plant, animal and microbial samples could possibly be safer there than on Earth. (Wired $)
+ Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is making bizarre noises. (Ars Technica)
+ Future house meals could possibly be comprised of astronaut breath. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
8 Making video calls from jail is significantly costly
However US regulators are lastly capping how a lot personal corporations can cost. (WSJ $)
9 Interest apps are exploding in reputation
Social media fatigue is actual, and Strava and Letterboxd are reaping the advantages. (Bloomberg $)
+ Wish to see what your mates are as much as? Test your Venmo. (The Atlantic $)
+ How one can repair the web. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
10 Why AI is such a compelling film villain
From 2001: A House Odyssey to the Terminator to the Matrix. (WP $)
Quote of the day
“Pls flip off historical past.”
—A Google worker tells others to show off their chat historical past whereas discussing delicate topics, which the US Federal Authorities claims is proof that employees knew to keep away from making a authorized paper path, 404 Media stories.
The large story
The race to provide uncommon earth supplies
Abandoning fossil fuels and adopting lower-carbon applied sciences are our greatest choices for avoiding the accelerating risk of local weather change. And entry to uncommon earth components, key substances in lots of of those applied sciences, will partly decide which nations will meet their objectives for reducing emissions.
Some nations, together with the US, are more and more frightened about whether or not the provision of these components will stay secure. Consequently, scientists and firms alike are intent on growing entry and bettering sustainability by exploring secondary or unconventional sources. Learn the complete story.
—Mureji Fatunde
We are able to nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Acquired any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)
+ Now fall is formally on its manner, it’s time to replace your autumnal studying listing ($)
+ I 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 automobiles right here (thanks Claire!)
+ Marginal beneficial properties actually do work.
