That is right this moment’s version of The Obtain, our weekday e-newsletter that gives a day by day dose of what’s happening on this planet of know-how.
How church buildings use knowledge and AI as engines of surveillance
On a Sunday morning in a Midwestern megachurch, worshippers step via sliding glass doorways right into a bustling foyer—unaware they’ve simply handed via a gauntlet of biometric surveillance. Excessive-speed cameras snap a number of face “probes” per second, earlier than passing the outcomes to a neighborhood neural community that distills these photos into digital fingerprints. Earlier than folks discover their seats, they’re matched towards an on-premises database—tagged with names, membership tiers, and watch-list flags—that’s saved behind the church’s firewall.
This hypothetical scene displays actual capabilities more and more woven into locations of worship nationwide, the place religious care and surveillance converge in methods few congregants ever understand.
The place Massive Tech’s rationalist ethos and evangelical spirituality as soon as blended like oil and holy water, now they’re combining to redraw the contours of group and pastoral energy in fashionable religious life. Learn the total story.
—Alex Ashley
This story is from our forthcoming print concern, which is all about safety. When you haven’t already, subscribe now to obtain future points as soon as they land.
MIT Expertise Assessment Narrated: Methods to run an LLM in your laptop computer
For people who find themselves involved about privateness, need to break away from the management of the large LLM firms, or simply get pleasure from tinkering, native fashions provide a compelling various to ChatGPT and its web-based friends. Right here’s how to get began working one from the protection and luxury of your personal laptop.
That is our newest story to be became a MIT Expertise Assessment Narrated podcast, which we’re publishing every week on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Simply navigate to MIT Expertise Assessment Narrated on both platform, and comply with us to get all our new content material because it’s launched.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to search out you right this moment’s most enjoyable/necessary/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.
1 US tech shares are sliding over fears the AI bubble could also be about to burst
After an MIT report discovered that the overwhelming majority of organizations are getting zero return on their AI investments. (FT $)
+ Even Sam Altman thinks the present hype is unsustainable. (CNBC)
2 Meta is reportedly weighing up downsizing its AI division
It needs to separate it into 4 teams—and layoffs might be imminent. (NYT $)+ What’s occurring with the metaverse, then? (NY Magazine $)
+ Meta is desperately hoping its AI hiring spree will repay. (Bloomberg $)
3 The American Academy of Pediatrics is defying RFK Jr
By releasing its personal vaccination schedule for kids. (Ars Technica)
+ It’s breaking with present CDC suggestions. (CNN)
+ Why US federal well being businesses are abandoning mRNA vaccines. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
4 Elon Musk’s America Occasion isn’t going so effectively
He’s stated to be refocusing his consideration on his firms as an alternative. (WSJ $)
5 The White Home has a TikTok account now
The exact same TikTok that Donald Trump as soon as tried to ban. (WP $)
+ What seems to have modified Congress’ stance? (The Verge)
+ There’s nonetheless no signal of a sale on the horizon. (The Guardian)
6 Nvidia is engaged on one other chip for China
One which’s sooner and extra highly effective than its present H20 mannequin. (Reuters)
7 How AGI preppers are bracing themselves for an AI apocalypse
Some are spending all their retirement financial savings alongside the way in which. (Insider $)
8 Demand for vital minerals is hovering
Is there a less-invasive method to mine them? (New Scientist $)
+ The race to provide uncommon earth parts. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
9 What’s an automaker CEO to do?
In our more and more topsy turvy world, a lot of them really feel like they’ll’t win. (Wired $)
10 This mattress firm is constructing an AI agent for sleep
Eight Sleep’s agent may simulate digital twins of a consumer’s sleep habits. (The Info $)
+ I attempted to hack my insomnia with know-how. Right here’s what labored. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
Quote of the day
“Too many cooks, too many kitchens.”
—Tech investor M.G. Siegler wryly feedback on the information Meta is planning to restructure its AI division in a put up on Bluesky.
Yet another factor
Accountable AI has a burnout downside
Margaret Mitchell had been working at Google for 2 years earlier than she realized she wanted a break. Solely after she spoke with a therapist did she perceive the issue: she was burnt out.
Mitchell, who now works as chief ethics scientist on the AI startup Hugging Face, is much from alone in her expertise. Burnout is turning into more and more widespread in accountable AI groups.
All of the practitioners MIT Expertise Assessment interviewed spoke enthusiastically about their work: it’s fueled by ardour, a way of urgency, and the satisfaction of constructing options for actual issues. However that sense of mission may be overwhelming with out the fitting help. Learn the total story.
—Melissa Heikkilä
We will nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Acquired any concepts? Drop me a line or skeet ’em at me.)
+ Take a look at Wes Andersons’ quirky love letter to New York 
+ Uhoh—beware the rise of the groomzilla.
+ The Rocky Horror Image Present is 50 years previous, if you happen to can imagine it.
+ Whisk me away to Lake George ASAP.
