The Download: introducing the Nature issue

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology.

Introducing: the Nature issue

When we talk about “nature,” we usually mean something untouched by humans. But little of that world exists today. 

From microplastics in rainforest wildlife to artificial light in the Arctic Ocean, human influence now reaches every corner of Earth. In this context, what even is nature? And should we employ technology to try to make the world more “natural”?  

In our new Nature issue, MIT Technology Review grapples with these questions. We investigate birds that can’t sing, wolves that aren’t wolves, and grass that isn’t grass. We look for the meaning of life under Arctic ice, within ourselves, and in the far future on a distant world, courtesy of new fiction by the renowned author Jeff VanderMeer. 

Together, these stories examine how technology has altered our planet—and how it might be used to repair it. Subscribe now to read the full print issue.

What’s next for large language models?

After ChatGPT launched in late 2022, the OpenAI chatbot became an everyday everything app for hundreds of millions of people. It led to LLMs being heralded as the new future. The entire tech industry was consumed by the inferno, with companies racing to spin up rival products.

But what’s the next big thing after LLMs? More LLMs—but better. Let’s call them LLMs+. Find out how they’re set to become cheaper, more efficient, and more powerful.

—Will Douglas Heaven

LLMs+ is on our list of the 10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now, MIT Technology Review’s guide to what’s really worth your attention in the busy, buzzy world of AI. We’ll be unpacking one item from the list each day here in The Download, so stay tuned.

Will fusion power get cheap? Don’t count on it.

Fusion power could provide a steady, zero-emissions source of electricity in the future—if companies can get plants built and running. But a new study published in Nature Energy suggests that even if that future arrives, it might not come cheap.

The research team aimed to improve predictions of fusion’s future price by estimating the technology’s experience rate—the percentage by which its cost declines every time capacity doubles. Their findings offer new clues on the technology’s path to deployment. Read the full story.

—Casey Crownhart

This story is from The Spark, our weekly climate newsletter. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Wednesday.

The must-reads

I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.

1 Trump signaled he’s open to reversing the Anthropic ban
What that really means in practice remains to be seen. (Reuters $)
+ Anthropic says there’s no “kill switch” for its AI. (Axios)
+ “Humans in the loop” in AI warfare is an illusion. (MIT Technology Review)

2 SpaceX plans to manufacture its own GPUs
To support the company’s growing AI ambitions. (Reuters $)
+ Musk is shifting SpaceX’s focus from Mars to AI ahead of its IPO. (NYT $)
+ SpaceX and Tesla may be on a collision course. (FT $)

3 Chinese tech giant Tencent has unveiled its first flagship AI model
A former OpenAI researcher is at the helm. (SCMP)
+ Chinese open models are spreading fast. (MIT Technology Review)

4 High earners are racing ahead on AI, deepening workplace divides
The division in adoption risks widening inequality. (FT $)
+ Startups are bragging they spend more on AI than staff. (404 Media)

5 Thousands of Samsung workers are demanding a new share of AI profits
Chip-division employees want 15% of the operating profit. (Bloomberg $)
+ Here’s why opinion on AI is so divided. (MIT Technology Review)

6 AI is helping mediocre Korean hackers steal millions
They’re vibe coding their malware. (Wired $)
+ AI is making online crimes easier. (MIT Technology Review)

7 Kalshi suspended three political candidates for betting on their own races
Including a Democrat and a Republican running for Congress. (CNN)
+ And an independent candidate who said he did it to make a point. (Gizmodo)
+ Lawmakers argue that prediction markets are a loophole for gambling. (NPR)

8 A ping-pong robot is beating elite human players for the first time
The Sony AI system was trained with reinforcement learning. (New Scientist)
+ Just days earlier, a humanoid smashed the human half-marathon record. (AP)

9 Crypto scammers are luring ships into the Strait of Hormuz
By falsely promising safe passage. (Ars Technica)

10 ‘Age tech’ could help us grow old comfortably at home
Apps, wearables, and remote monitoring could fill caregiving gaps. (NYT $)

 

Quote of the day

“It’s a hallucinogenic business plan.”

—Ross Gerber, the chief executive of Gerber Kawasaki, an investment firm that owns SpaceX shares, tells the New York Times that he’s unimpressed by Musk’s changing goals for the aerospace company. 

One More Thing

This grim but revolutionary DNA technology is changing how we respond to mass disasters

After hundreds went missing in Maui’s deadly fires, victims were identified with rapid DNA analysis—an increasingly vital tool for putting names to the dead in mass-casualty events.

The technology helped identify victims within just a few hours and bring families some closure more quickly than ever before. But it also previews a dark future marked by the rising frequency of catastrophic events.

Find out how this forensic breakthrough is preparing us for a more volatile world.

—Erika Hayasaki

We can still have nice things

A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line.)

+ This fascinating dive into botanical history reveals the origins of the first true plants.
+ Here’s how to use Google’s reference desk to find what ordinary search engines miss.
+ Watch duct tape get deconstructed to reveal the physics behind its legendary stickiness.
+ When Radiohead covers Joy Division, the result is a beautiful intersection of two legendary musical eras.