The Download: selling via AI, and Congress testing tech
I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.
1 Electricity demand is set to soar globally
On current trends, we’ll add the equivalent of Japan’s entire consumption each year between now and 2027. (The Verge)
+ China is planning to boost its energy storage sector to cope with a surge in demand. (South China Morning Post $)
+ Why artificial intelligence and clean energy need each other. (MIT Technology Review)
2 How Israel uses US-made AI to wage war
Its use of OpenAI and Microsoft skyrocketed after October 7 2023. (AP)
+ OpenAI’s new defense contract completes its military pivot. (MIT Technology Review)
+ How the drone battles of Ukraine are shaping the future of war. (New Scientist $)
3 Google’s AI efforts are being marred by turf wars
It has a lot of people working on AI, and they’re not all pulling in the same direction. (The Information $)
4 OpenAI’s ex-CTO has launched a rival lab
Thinking Machines will focus on how humans and AI can work together better. (Axios)
5 Humane’s AI Pin is dead
HP is buying most of its assets for $116 million, which is quite the climbdown from being valued at nearly $1 billion. (TechCrunch)
6 Tech IPOs keep getting delayed
Everyone’s waiting for more certainty and stability. But there’s no sign of it arriving. (NYT $)
7 Scientists in the US feel under siege
Sweeping layoffs, funding freezes and executive orders are really starting to bite. (NBC)
+ It’s likely only the start of a long battle over how research can and will be done in the United States. (The Atlantic $)
8 China may use Tesla as a pawn in US trade negotiations
That gives it quite a lot of leverage to use, if it wishes. (Gizmodo)
9 Researchers have linked a gene to the emergence of spoken language
This is cool, and could even one day potentially help people with speech problems. (ABC)
10 The chances of an asteroid hitting us in 2032 just went up
Better try to really savor the next seven years, just in case. (New Scientist $)
Quote of the day
“Well, he’s wrong.”
—A fired Federal Aviation Administration employee responds to Elon Musk’s claim that no one who works on safety was laid off in a recent round of job cuts, Rolling Stone reports.
