This is immediately’s version of The Download, our weekday publication that gives a day by day dose of what is going on on on the earth of expertise.
A couple of items of good information on climate change (and a actuality verify)
When it involves the climate, the image can look bleak.
Emissions of the greenhouse gasses that trigger climate change are estimated to have reached new heights in 2022. Meanwhile, climate disasters, from file warmth waves in China and Europe to devastating floods in Pakistan, appear to be hitting at a breakneck tempo.
But a shut have a look at world information reveals that there are a few shiny spots of good information, and a lot of potential progress forward. Renewable sources make up a rising fraction of the vitality provide, and they’re getting cheaper yearly. Countries are additionally setting new targets for emissions reductions, and unprecedented public investments might unlock extra technological advances.
So regardless of what can really feel like a barrage of unhealthy information, there are a minimum of a few causes to be hopeful. Read the total story.
—Casey Crownhart
These easy design guidelines might flip the chip trade on its head
Since the pc was invented, people have devised many programming languages to command them to do our bidding. For a chip to execute your code, software program should translate it into directions a chip can use. So engineers designate particular binary sequences to immediate the {hardware} to carry out sure actions, generally known as the pc’s instruction set.
For years, the chip trade has relied on a number of proprietary instruction units, which firms license for hundreds of thousands of {dollars} a pop.
Lately, although, many {hardware} and software program firms worldwide have begun to converge round a publicly out there instruction set generally known as RISC-V. It’s a shift that would seriously change the chip trade, and empower smaller firms and budding entrepreneurs alongside the best way. Read the total story.
—Sophia Chen
RISC-V is one among MIT Technology Review’s 10 Breakthrough Technologies of 2023. Explore the remainder of the listing, and inform us what you suppose the eleventh expertise needs to be by voting in our ballot.
The economic system is down, however AI is sizzling. Where can we go from right here?
Over the previous few weeks, the world’s richest tech firms have introduced large layoffs. From Alphabet, Amazon and Meta, to Microsoft and Twitter, the job losses are affecting not solely particular person AI researchers, however whole AI groups.
Economists predict the US economic system could enter a recession this yr amid a extremely unsure world financial outlook and large tech firms have began to really feel the squeeze.
In the previous, financial downturns have shut off the funding faucets for AI analysis. These durations are referred to as “AI winters.” But this time we’re seeing one thing completely totally different. AI analysis remains to be extraordinarily sizzling, and it’s persevering with to make large leaps in progress—at the same time as tech firms have began tightening their belts. Read the total story.
—Melissa Heikkilä
Melissa’s story is from The Algorithm, her weekly publication providing you with the within monitor on all issues AI. Sign as much as obtain it in your inbox each Monday.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to search out you immediately’s most enjoyable/vital/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.
1 Elon Musk has defended his controversial tweet in court docket
He insists his proposal to take Tesla non-public at $420 a share wasn’t a weed joke. (The Verge)
+ Tesla traders declare they misplaced billions due to the tweet. (WP $)
+ Musk says his SpaceX stake might have funded a buyout. (Reuters)
+ Meanwhile, Twitter is being sued over its UK HQ’s unpaid hire. (Bloomberg $)
2 Microsoft plans to take a position billions into OpenAI
+ It’s undeniably a main coup for Microsoft’s AI credentials. (Vox)
+ CEO Satya Nadella first invested in OpenAI again in 2019. (The Information $)
+ Here’s how Microsoft might use ChatGPT. (MIT Technology Review)
3 Silicon Valley has run out of low cost cash
It’s robust for even the largest gamers in the meanwhile. (NYT $)
+ All these layoffs are particularly unhealthy information for the metaverse. (Insider $)
+ Spotify is the newest firm to announce it’s chopping jobs. (Engadget)
4 Crypto traders are going it alone
They’re withdrawing their holdings from exchanges to their very own wallets. (Reuters)
+ What it’s like to analyze tremendous wealthy fraudsters. (The Guardian)
5 US banks’ inexperienced credentials are being assessed
The Federal Reserve needs to understand how they’ll deal with climate emergencies. (Vox)
6 The US Government is poised to sue Google
Over the corporate’s digital advert dominance. (Bloomberg $)
7 What will it take to make electrical autos really mainstream? 🚗
Customers should be satisfied the rewards outweigh the potential dangers. (IEEE Spectrum)
+ In principle, EV house owners might assist to prop up the ability grid. (Wired $)
+ Why EVs gained’t exchange hybrid vehicles anytime quickly. (MIT Technology Review)
8 What it’s wish to be the one individual with a medical situation
It’s not a lot enjoyable to be in a scenario the place nobody else is thought to have the very same genetic mutation as you. (New Yorker $)
9 Spare a thought for the sneaker resellers 👟
Bot crackdowns and a potential recession spell robust occasions forward. (Insider $)
10 Corecore is taking on TikTok
It’s an oddly lovely expression of existential angst. Vice)
+ What’s up with TikTok, precisely? (Wired $)
Quote of the day
“I didn’t give my wife enough time. Now that World of Warcraft is gone, I want to make amends.”
—Wu, a longtime fan of online game World of Warcraft, tries to search out an upside to the sport being taken offline in China, the Guardian reviews.
The large story
How cellular cash supercharged Kenya’s sports activities betting habit
April 2022
Mobile cash has principally been massively helpful for Kenyans. But it has additionally turbo-charged the nation’s sports activities betting sector.
Experts and public figures throughout the African continent are sounding the alarm over the expansion of the sector more and more loudly. It’s produced tales of riches, but it surely has additionally damaged households, consumed faculty tuitions, and even pushed some to suicide. Read the total story.
—Jonathan W. Rosen
We can nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction in these bizarre occasions. (Got any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)
+ Jane Fonda simply seems like the very best buddy ever (thanks Charlotte!)
+ I loved Gritty, the Philadelphia Flyers’ mascot, recreating the enduring DVD screensaver stay at a recreation.
+ Communicating with cats is just not for the faint of coronary heart.
+ This shipwrecked teddy bear’s restoration journey is actually heartwarming.
+ You’ll by no means separate me from my ineffective little treats!
…. to be continued
Read the Original Article
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