Elon Musk’s and Donald Trump’s fallout continues to escalate
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Manus is the AI agent that has sparked a boom in China
China experienced a huge boom last year in the foundation models-the large, multifaceted language models which are the backbone of the AI revolution. The focus this year has been on AI agents, systems that do more than just respond to user queries. They can also autonomously perform tasks for users.
Many Chinese startups are building general-purpose digital devices that can do everything from answer emails to browse the web for vacation planning and design interactive websites. These tools have been developed in only the past two months. They follow in the footsteps Manus, a general AI assistant that caused a social media frenzy to get invite codes following its launch.
In the race to determine what an AI agent should look like, ambitious startups as well as established tech giants test how their tools will actually perform in real life. Click here to read the complete story.
–Caiwei Chen
The race for GPS alternatives
A 150 kilogram satellite will be launched into orbit by SpaceX Transporter 14 later this month. It will be used to test the super-accurate new-generation satellite navigation technology that is designed to compensate for the deficiencies of the US Global Positioning System.
The GPS system is essential, but it can be easily disrupted and suppressed. This includes everything from 5G cell phone towers to small jammers that cost a few dollars to space weather. Experts have been talking about this problem for many years but the issue has only really become apparent in the past three years since Russia invaded Ukraine.
The startup Xona Space Systems is now working on a system that will do everything GPS does, but even better. Click here to read the complete story.
–Tereza Pultarova
Doctors should prescribe hope
–Jessica Hamzelou
The powerful link between the mind and the body has been on my mind this week. New research shows that those with heart problems have a better outcome when they’re more optimistic and hopeful. The opposite is true: hopelessness increases the risk of dying.
These findings are based on decades of research that has been fascinatingly focused on the placebo effect. The way a medication (or a fake treatment) works can be affected by our beliefs. Nocebo, the “evil twin” of the placebo effect is also powerful. Negative thinking can cause real symptoms.
Scientists are trying to better understand how thoughts affect our body physiology. Many are working on ways to use it in hospitals. Can a doctor prescribe hope? The full story is available.
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Must-reads
I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.
Elon Musk has threatened to stop NASA from using SpaceX’s Dragon rocket
The war of words between him and Donald Trump has escalated dramatically. (WP $)
+ NASA will be in serious trouble if Musk follows through on his threats. (NYT $)
+ Silicon Valley has started to take sides. (Wired $)
+ Musk appears to have more at stake from the painful breakup. New York Mag ($)
Apple’s and Alibaba’s AI launch in China is delayed
The latest victim of Trump’s trade war. (FT $)
+ This deal will support the AI capabilities of iPhones in India. (Reuters)
3 X has a new policy that prohibits the use of their posts for ‘tuning or training’ AI models.
It is not possible to do so unless companies reach a contract with the government. (TechCrunch)
+ Reddit, Google and other platforms could form an agreement with the platform. (The Verge)
RJK Jr.’s latest hire hunts for evidence that vaccines can cause autism
David Geier, a vaccine skeptic who was barred access from a database previously, is now seeking to gain entry. (WSJ $)
+ Health professionals can combat vaccine hesitancy by measuring it. (MIT Technology Review)
5 Anthropic launched a service specifically for military personnel
The Claude Gov system is specifically designed for US intelligence and defense agencies. (The Verge)
+ The US Military is using Generative AI to learn how to spy. (MIT Technology Review)
Your billion-dollar business may fail.
One in five will. (Bloomberg $)
+ Watch out for the AI-coding startups. (Reuters)
Walmart drone delivery is taking off
In the coming year, it will be adding 100 more US stories. (Wired $)
Eight AI could tell us the age of the Dead Sea Scrolls
The models suggest that they are even older than previously believed. The Economist ($)
+ AI helps historians understand the past better. (MIT Technology Review)
The Gulf is a big fan of 9 super all-in-one apps
The rest of the world is following China’s lead. Rest of World
The midnight launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 is back!
The new Xbox console was a big hit with fans who waited in line for several hours to purchase it. (Insider $)
+ The company’s strategy to avoid Trump tariffs. (The Guardian)
Today’s Quote
Elon has finally found a new way to make Twitter more fun.
In a recent post to X, Dan Pfeiffer of the podcast Pod Save America made jokes on Elon Musk’s feud with Donald Trump.
Another thing
Rare earth metals are the key to our future resources.
We are in a moment that could be transformative. The technologies that we rely on to produce cleaner energy are based on metals found less than a century earlier.
Neodymium is one of those rare earth metals. Cryogenic coolers are used to achieve ultra-low temperatures for superconductors, and high-powered magnets powering everything from wind turbines to smartphones. Demand for this material could soon exceed supply. Then, what happens? What does this reveal about the wider supply chain? Find out more by reading our article.
–Casey Crownhart
You can have good things even if you’re not a fanatic
This is a place of comfort, entertainment and fun to make your day brighter. Have you got any ideas? Drop me a line You can also find out more about I’ll spit ’em back at you .)
Bigfoot Sightings just You can also find out more about To correlate with the black bear population? There’s a plot brewing!
These symbols will magically turn into an impressive Black Sabbath wall mural.
The UK is a hotbed for underwater rugby.
TikTok brings back the 80s after Gen Z’s beige trends.
