That is as we speak’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a every day dose of what’s occurring on the planet of expertise.
Why recycling alone can’t energy local weather tech
The potential to make use of previous, discarded merchandise to make one thing new sounds a little bit bit like magic. Because of this, in some circumstances at the least, recycling goes to be an important device for local weather expertise.
However there are large challenges forward in materials demand for local weather applied sciences, and sadly, recycling alone gained’t be sufficient to deal with them. Our local weather reporter Casey Crownhart has taken a have a look at why recycling isn’t all the time the reply—and what else would possibly assist as an alternative. Learn the total story.
This story is from The Spark, our weekly publication overlaying local weather expertise. Join to obtain it in your inbox each Wednesday.
This robotic can tidy a room with none assist
The information: A brand new robotic system referred to as OK-Robotic might prepare robots to choose up and transfer objects in settings they haven’t encountered earlier than. A robotic operating the system, which makes use of publicly-available AI fashions, was capable of decide up and transfer objects round a room with an 58.5% success fee—rising to 82% in rooms that had been much less cluttered.
Why it issues: Whereas robots could simply full duties like these in a laboratory, getting them to work in an unfamiliar surroundings is an actual problem. OK-Robotic might assist to plug the hole between quickly bettering AI fashions and precise robotic capabilities, because it doesn’t require any further coaching. Learn the total story.
—Rhiannon Williams
When you’re attention-grabbing in studying extra about dwelling robots, why not take a look at:
+ Right here’s why everybody’s getting enthusiastic about family robots once more.
+ This new system can train a robotic a easy family activity inside 20 minutes. The Dobb-E home robotics system was educated in actual individuals’s properties and will assist remedy the sector’s information downside. Learn the total story.
+ Watch this robotic cook dinner shrimp and clear autonomously. Even low cost {hardware} can carry out advanced duties, and AI helps robots get smarter nonetheless. Learn the total story.
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The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to search out you as we speak’s most enjoyable/essential/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.
1 Mark Zuckerberg apologized to households harmed by social media
Beneath some duress, throughout a Senate grilling. (WP $)
+ X boss Linda Yaccarino acknowledges that the platform wants extra moderators. (Wired $)
+ TikTok’s Singaporean CEO was grilled at size, however not about baby security. (Motherboard)
+ Dramatic moments had been in plentiful provide in the course of the listening to. (NY Magazine $)
+ Baby on-line security legal guidelines will really damage children, critics say. (MIT Expertise Overview)
2 Autonomous automotive agency Cruise is hemorrhaging cash
To the tune of just about $3.5 billion final yr alone. (WP $)
+ What’s subsequent for robotaxis in 2024. (MIT Expertise Overview)
3 Hackers spied on critics of Jordan utilizing NSO Group’s adware
In a concerted marketing campaign concentrating on journalists, activists, and legal professionals. (Bloomberg $)
4 AI startups are placing themselves up on the market
They’re extremely costly to run, and elevated competitors has small companies clamoring to be acquired. (The Data $)
+ One rising startup has ambitions of difficult Google’s search dominance. (NYT $)
+ Make no mistake—AI is owned by Huge Tech. (MIT Expertise Overview)
5 Amazon might quickly be chargeable for the security of third-party merchandise
A proposed US authorities order might reclassify it from a retailer to a distributor. (WSJ $)
6 Ovaries could supply clues on methods to prolong our lifespans
Pay attention up, longevity bros. (FT $)
+ Contained in the billion-dollar assembly for the mega-rich who wish to dwell endlessly. (MIT Expertise Overview)
7 Product placement is getting an AI-powered makeover
It’s a sneaky new manner of getting merchandise in entrance of eyeballs outdoors of conventional adverts. (NYT $)
+ TikTok might be about to lose a serious chunk of its music catalog. (Wired $)
8 Life is imitating artwork for Ukraine’s online game makers
Apocalyptic survival sport Stalker 2: Coronary heart of Chernobyl has a brand new resonance for its creators. (The Guardian)
9 The Solar’s magnetic poles are about to reverse 
And communication satellites and our power grid again on Earth is susceptible to disruption. (Vox)
+ LED lights are contributing to an entire lot of sunshine air pollution. (The Atlantic $)
10 How you can inform if we’re dwelling in a simulation or not
Simulated and pretend will not be the identical factor. (Ars Technica)
Quote of the day
“Your product is killing individuals.”
—US Senator Josh Hawley rounds on Fb boss Mark Zuckerberg throughout a Senate listening to on baby security, the New York Instances reviews.
The large story
Authorities expertise is famously dangerous. It doesn’t must be.
October 2023
It’s a actuality of politics that’s typically missed: as soon as a regulation is handed, it must evolve from an concept right into a plan with a finances and employees, and from there it wants to truly attain the lives of thousands and thousands of individuals. Transferring from coverage to implementation has all the time been a tough a part of governing. As we speak it’s straightforward to imagine expertise could make it simpler. However is that truly true?
New York Metropolis is one thing of a take a look at lab for methods to confront some massive issues that plague the trendy state. And it’s discovering that generally the options are surprisingly low-tech. Learn the total story.
—Tate Ryan-Mosley
We will nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction in these bizarre occasions. (Acquired any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)
+ Crime Pays However Botany Doesn’t is a improbable identify for a YouTube channel.
+ It’s referred to as the world’s biggest stretch for a cause.
+ Highway tripping in Saudi Arabia seems suitably surreal.
+ Cease placing it off: right here’s methods to declutter your property, room by room.
+ What can’t The Bear actor Jeremy Allen White dwell with out? Momentary tattoos, apparently.
