Must-read
I've scoured the internet to find today's most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories in tech.
1. Trump-Biden debate conspiracy theories are already spreading online
And much of it is being driven by Trump himself. (Wired)
+ Election misinformation is also being replicated by AI tools such as ChatGPT and Copilot.(NBC)
+ Think about pollsters: their job has become increasingly difficult these days. (Ars Technica)
2 The voice of AI has a lot to teach us
The technology is new, but the stereotype of the submissive, infinitely empathetic female assistant is long gone. (NYT $)
3 Efforts underway to promote responsible use of AI in music
But of course, it depends on getting enough adoption, and that's a big ask. (CNET)
+ In particular, there is a major legal battle underway over getting AI companies to pay for the use of records for training data.MIT Technology Review
+ Content licensing resellers form first AI dataset trade group. (Reuters $)
+ Time is the latest publisher to enter into a licensing agreement with OpenAI. (Axios)
4 The efficacy of weight loss drugs is becoming clear
The researchers focused on two groups of neurons in the brain that seem to regulate satiety. (Nature)
5 According to Google, Gemini AI is 20% faster than ChatGPT
And executives say they can now cite sources, which is perhaps even more important. (Quartz)
+ It's not just Nvidia. Here are some AI stocks to watch. (WP$)
6 Amazon is investigating AI search startup Perplexity
About whether scraping the company's website violated rules. (Wired $)
+ Perplexity's CEO openly admitted to some pretty shady data practices when the company launched.(404 Media)
Russian satellite disintegrates, forcing seven astronauts to evacuate International Space Station
It broke into over 100 pieces, sparking speculation that it may have been the target of an anti-satellite missile test. (Gizmodo)
+ Why is the first-ever space junk fine such a big deal? (MIT Technology Review)
8 Many Gen Zers describe themselves as content creators
Being passive online is no longer an option. (WP $)
9 Would you clone your dog?
It costs $50,000, so in a way you have to ask what you want to do. Really That's what you get for it. (New Yorker $)
+ These scientists are working to extend the lifespan of pet dogs and their owners. (MIT Technology Review)
10 Reasons the Internet is Obsessed with NARS Gummy Clusters
No joke, some people have tattoos. (Slate $)
Quote of the Day
“Let's not go overboard on this. Data centers are an additional 6% in the most extreme cases. [in energy demand] But it's probably only 2% to 2.5%. The question is, will AI accelerate that reduction to 6% or more? The answer is, 'Absolutely.'”
