That is right now’s version of The Obtain, our weekday e-newsletter that gives a day by day dose of what’s happening on this planet of expertise.
Nokia is placing the primary mobile community on the moon
Later this month, Intuitive Machines, the personal firm behind the primary business 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 might harbor water ice, and to place a communications satellite tv for pc on lunar orbit.
However the mission may even deliver one thing that’s by no means been put in on the moon or wherever else in house earlier than—a totally practical 4G mobile community. Learn our story to study why.
—Jacek Krywko
Easy methods to have a baby within the digital age
Earlier than journalist and tradition critic Amanda Hess even acquired pregnant together with her first little one, in 2020, the web knew she was attempting. She noticed being pregnant advertisements approach earlier than a health care provider.
Hess’s expertise is fairly typical lately, however nonetheless raises some large 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 folks cease counting on family and friends for recommendation on having a child and as an alternative log on, the place there’s a relentless onslaught of knowledge?
In her new guide, Second Life: Having a Baby 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 duplicate 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 businesses dominate information from Washington, the Trump administration can be making international strikes. Many of those middle on China, which is main the world in electrical automobiles, robotaxis, drones, and with the launch of DeepSeek, maybe AI quickly too.
Now a brand new pattern is unfolding inside China’s tech scene: Firms that had been dominant in electrical automobiles are betting large 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 e-newsletter all concerning the newest on this planet of AI. Join to obtain it in your inbox each Monday.
How will generative AI change search?
Generative AI search, considered one of 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 generally iffy solutions, AI might unlock new methods to summon all of the world’s information.
Be a part of editor in chief Mat Honan and govt editor Niall Firth at 1.30pm ET right now for a subscriber-only Roundtable dialog exploring how AI will alter search. Join right here to attend, and in case you haven’t already, learn Mat’s characteristic about it too.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to search out you right now’s most enjoyable/essential/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.
1 DOGE is on the cusp of accessing US taxpayer information
What they’re planning on doing with it’s anybody’s guess. (CNN)
+ FDA employees reviewing Musk’s firm Neuralink had been fired by DOGE final weekend. (Reuters $)
+ A high 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 direction of monetizing its AI fashions
Proper now, they’re open supply and free. How lengthy can that final? (South China Morning Submit $)
+ How DeepSeek ripped up the AI playbook—and why everybody’s going to observe its lead. (MIT Know-how Assessment)
3 We’re inching nearer to a norovirus vaccine 
Loads of folks would possibly welcome this, particularly after this winter’s nasty rash of infections. (Scientific American $)
4 The conflict on variety and inclusion initiatives is a smokescreen
And the folks waging it’s going to go a lot additional, if we allow them to. (The Verge)
5 Some states declare zero abortions
Which is inconceivable, and hints at one thing worrying: official statistics are being politicized within the US. (Undark)
6 China is on the lookout for its personal methods to guard information from quantum computer systems
It’s spurning algorithms created within the US in case they comprise secret again doorways. (New Scientist $)
+ Chinese language President Xi Jinping met a few of the nation’s high tech execs yesterday. (The Data $)
7 Reddit moderators are combating to maintain AI slop off the platform
It’s an essential battle to many—but it surely’s solely going to get tougher and tougher. (Ars Technica)
8 Meta has wasted $70 billion on the metaverse. This advert reveals why.
This should presumably be the most effective they might do, and but it’s simply embarrassingly unhealthy. (Forbes)
9 Working from house has turned us into workplace weirdos
However hey, possibly that is our probability to carve out some higher, kinder workplace etiquette. (Enterprise Insider $)
+ To be honest, we nonetheless don’t know find out how to behave on Slack or Zoom both. (NYT $)
10 Are noise cancelling headphones inflicting listening to issues?
Audiologists say extreme use could 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 regulation professor on the College of Washington, tells the Washington Submit 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 popular 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.
If you happen to’re prepared to buckle up and are available for a journey, I can inform you why no person actually is aware of, why all people appears to disagree, and why you’re proper to care about it. Learn the total 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 pictures 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.
+ Wish to really feel happier? Let Dr Laurie Santos from Yale clarify what you want to do.
