That is at this time’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a every day dose of what’s occurring on the planet of know-how.
Adventures within the genetic time machine
An ancient-DNA revolution is popping the high-speed tools used to review the DNA of residing issues on to specimens from the previous.
The know-how is getting used to create genetic maps of saber-toothed cats, cave bears, and 1000’s of historic people, together with Vikings, Polynesian navigators, and quite a few Neanderthals. The overall variety of historic people studied is greater than 10,000 and rising quick.
The previous genes have already revealed outstanding tales of human migrations across the globe.
However researchers are hoping historic DNA shall be greater than a telescope on the previous—they hope it’s going to have concrete sensible use within the current. Learn the complete story.
—Antonio Regalado
This artist collaborates with AI and robots
Many artists fear concerning the encroachment of synthetic intelligence on inventive creation. However Sougwen Chung, a nonbinary Canadian-Chinese language artist, as an alternative sees AI as a possibility for artists to embrace uncertainty and problem folks to consider know-how and creativity in surprising methods.
Chung’s exhibitions are pushed by know-how; they’re additionally reside and kinetic, with the art work rising in actual time. Audiences watch because the artist works alongside or surrounded by a number of robots, human and machine drawing concurrently. These works are on the frontier of what it means to make artwork in an age of fast-accelerating synthetic intelligence and robotics. Right here’s what they need to say about their work, and AI in artwork typically.
—Stephen Ornes
Each of the subscriber-only tales above are from the subsequent version of our print journal, which is all about relationships. Subscribe now to get a duplicate when it lands on February 26!
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to seek out you at this time’s most enjoyable/necessary/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.
1 US illness monitoring capabilities are disappearing
DOGE simply fired half of a vital ‘illness detective’ workforce on the Facilities of Illness Management and Prevention. (CBS)
+ A measles outbreak in Texas is spreading quickly. (NBC)
+ Louisiana mentioned it’ll cease selling mass vaccination applications, on the identical day RFK Jr was sworn in as well being secretary. (NYT $)
+ Why childhood vaccines are a public well being success story. (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
2 Who’s Elon Musk accountable to?
Once you’re the world’s richest man, it appears the reply is: nobody. (WSJ $)
+ Musk is utilizing X to unfold misinformation about DOGE’s targets. (WP $)
+ A Musk-linked group provided $5 million for proof of voter fraud. It couldn’t discover any. (The Guardian)
3 South Korea eliminated DeepSeek from app shops
Fairly a number of international locations have achieved this now, citing privateness issues. (BBC)
+ Baidu and OpenAI are responding to DeepSeek with new launches. (CNN)
+ E-scooter manufacturers are amongst many corporations in China racing to combine DeepSeek AI. (South China Morning Publish $)
+ 4 Chinese language AI startups to observe past DeepSeek. (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
4 Contained in the US’s fragile nuclear renaissance
Tech corporations are betting that it will probably assist meet AI’s power calls for. However large challenges lay forward. (The Info $)
+ Why Microsoft made a deal to assist restart Three Mile Island. (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
5 OpenAI’s board rejected Elon Musk’s supply to purchase it for $97.4 billion
Unanimously. (WSJ $)
+ Musk did it to attempt to chuck a grenade into OpenAI’s strategy of transitioning from a analysis lab to a for-profit firm. (Vox $)
6 A brand new system can clone your voice from simply 5 seconds of audio
And the tip result’s scarily good. (The Register)
+ Motor neuron ailments took their voices. AI is bringing them again. (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
7 Individuals who misplaced cash on crypto are livid with Argentina’s President
He’s going through impeachment calls over allegations he promoted a traditional ‘pump and dump’ rip-off over the weekend. (CNN)
8 How musicians are utilizing AI instruments 
AI makes it straightforward to do historically tough engineering duties like isolating and extracting sounds. (The Subsequent Net)
+ A Disney director tried—and failed—to make use of an AI Hans Zimmer to create a soundtrack. (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
9Meta is engaged on humanoid robots
It’s hoping it will probably mix its expertise in each {hardware} and AI to win on this more and more crowded class. (Bloomberg $)
+ China’s EV giants are betting massive on humanoid robots. (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
10 How Diablo hackers uncovered a speedrunning scandal
This makes me marvel simply how endemic dishonest may very well be within the gaming neighborhood. (Ars Technica)
Quote of the day
“He appears to have ghosted his personal firm.”
—Investor Nell Minow, vice chair of ValueEdge Advisors, tells the Washington Publish that Elon Musk’s inattention is beginning to do actual hurt to Tesla.
The large story
Three-parent child approach might create infants liable to extreme illness
March 2023
When the primary child born utilizing a controversial process that meant he had three genetic mother and father was born again in 2016, it made headlines. The infant boy inherited most of his DNA from his mom and father, however he additionally had a tiny quantity from a 3rd particular person.
The concept was to keep away from having the infant inherit a deadly sickness, and it appeared to work. However new proof now suggests this method won’t work as hoped, on account of a phenomenon scientists name “reversion.” Learn the complete story.
—Jessica Hamzelou
We are able to nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Bought any concepts? Drop me a line or skeet ’em at me.)
+ Keen to guess your weekend wasn’t as eventful as this man’s was.
+ Cease overthinking. Begin ‘satisficing’.
+ Nicely, that’s one factor AI positively can’t do.
+ In the event you’ve solely obtained the time or power for one stretch, make it this one.
