The Changing World Order
Drones are the new bombs, code the new currency, chips the new oil, and AI the new everything. Technology has reshaped geopolitics forever and a new world order is being carved in silicon
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2.6 billion people don’t use the internet. What’s stopping them?
One-third of the world still isn’t online. Here’s how the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is working to close the digital divide.
The next big tech trend will start out looking like a toy
In “Read, Write, Own: Building The Next Era of the Internet,” investor Chris Dixon explains why the biggest trends often go overlooked.
Constitutional warning shot for social media “deplatforming” laws
Can the government tell private websites what they have to publish?
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Desalination system could produce freshwater that is cheaper than tap water
Engineers are aiming to turn seawater into drinking water with a completely passive, solar-powered device that is inspired by the ocean.
Should you charge your phone overnight? Will “overcharging” make it explode?
Does prolonged (or overnight) charging wreak havoc on your phone battery? An expert answers this and other common battery questions.
Researchers brew a stronger concrete using — coffee?
Researchers and engineers from RMIT University made concrete 30% stronger in the lab by incorporating aggregates made from coffee grounds.
New experiment brings us closer to unbreakable quantum encryption
Researchers at Linkӧping University have built a quantum random number generator to be easier to integrate into consumer electronics.
MIT students develop energy “mini-grid” software for remote & mountainous areas
MIT Energy Initiative spinoff Waya Energy helps countries work toward universal, cheap access to electricity.
The US military just got its hands on a mini laser weapon
Laser weapons could shape the future of warfare — and the US military just got a “mini” version of the tech.
Hackers get AI to share credit card info and endorse hate speech
At DEFCON 2023, ethical hackers targeted generative AIs by OpenAI, Google, and other tech leaders to aid responsible AI development.
Brain-computer interfaces could let soldiers control weapons with their thoughts
Brain-computer interfaces raise many ethical questions about how and whether they should be used for certain applications — including war.
Apple has reportedly built its own ChatGPT
Apple is reportedly exploring the potential of generative AI, but hasn’t decided how to incorporate the tech into its products yet.
Will AI kill humanity by 2100? “Superforecasters” and experts disagree on the odds
AI was the most divisive topic in a recent predictions tournament.
How building more backyard homes, granny flats, and in-law suites can help alleviate the housing crisis
Accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, are sometimes called “granny flats,” “backyard homes,” “in-law suites,” or “backyard cottages.”
Military vet’s lightweight mask is protecting soldiers from toxic fumes
A Canadian military veteran’s innovative mask is protecting soldiers, police, and first responders from toxic exposure.
We are spectacularly bad at predicting the future
Forecasters say AI will either enslave or liberate us, but the history of prediction suggests we have little way of knowing who will be correct.
Open-source “Davids” are taking on GPT-4 and other Goliaths
Powerful tech companies keep LLMs like GPT-4 shrouded in secrecy. But a new wave of open-source LLMs is giving the power of chatbots to the people.
Your smartphone may become a thermometer
Researchers at the University of Washington are developing an app that can turn the ubiquitous smartphone into an accurate thermometer.
Neuralink’s monkey can play Pong with its mind. Elon Musk says human trials are next.
If Neuralink’s monkey can play Pong with its mind, imagine what humans could do with the same technology in just a few years.
To fear AI is to fear Newton and Einstein. There are no “dragons” here.
Who’s afraid of utopia? AI doubters have cold feet. History can warm them.
AI is changing how Americans find jobs, get promoted, and succeed at work
AI-driven software has the potential to advance quickly and change how companies make strategic decisions about their employees.
Apple Vision Pro wasn’t the only major announcement at WWDC23
On Day 1 of WWDC23, Apple announced three new Macs, several new operating systems, and the world’s most powerful personal computer chip.
Apple announces the Vision Pro XR headset
Apple has unveiled the Vision Pro, a VR/AR headset, at their annual WorldWide Developers Conference.
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