The US is resuming intelligence and aid sharing with Ukraine
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Manus is a topic of conversation in AI. It was put to the test.
Manus, the AI general agent launched just last week on the internet, has taken off like wildfire. Not just in China where the Wuhan startup Butterfly Effect developed it. Some have even dubbed it the “second DeepSeek”.
Manus is the first AI general agent in the world. It builds off of multiple AI agents and models to perform tasks autonomously. Few people actually have a chance of using it despite all the hype. MIT Technology Review managed to get access to Manus. What we did with it.
–Caiwei Chen
Waabi claims its virtual robotrucks can be used to demonstrate that real robtrucks are safe
News: Waabi, a Canadian startup that makes driverless trucks, says it can now prove their safety without running them on the road for long distances.
What it is: It uses a digital version of the real-world robot trucks, which is loaded with sensor data. The performance of this twin truck can then be compared to real trucks driving on actual roads. Waabi claims that they match now almost exactly and says its approach to demonstrating safety is better than simply racking up miles on real roads, like many of its rivals do. Click here to read the complete story.
Will Douglas Heaven
The artificial leaf converts carbon dioxide into hydrocarbons
Researchers have spent years trying to create devices that mimic the process of photosynthesis, where plants convert sunlight and carbon dioxide into fuel. The artificial leaves are made to use the sun to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. These two elements can then be used as fuel for cars or electricity. A team of researchers from Cambridge University has set out to create fuels that are more energy dense.
The device created by the group produces ethane and ethylene, which proves that synthetic leaves can produce hydrocarbons. This development may offer an easier, cheaper way to produce fuels, plastics and chemicals. You can read the entire story.
Carly Kay
The startup has just achieved a major milestone in green steel production
Boston Metal, a green-steel start-up company, has just demonstrated that they have all of the necessary ingredients to produce steel without emitting tons of greenhouse gasses. MIT Technology Review exclusively reports that the company has successfully run its biggest reactor to date to produce steel. It produced over a tonne of metal.
Boston Metal has just moved one step closer towards commercializing their technology with the latest milestone. While there are many more milestones to reach before the company reaches the size needed to have a significant impact on the steel industry the most recent run proves that it can increase its production. The full story is available.
–Casey Crownhart
The article below is taken from The Spark, MIT Technology Review’s weekly climate newsletter. Subscribe to The Spark and receive the newsletter every Wednesday. Sign up for our newsletter .
Must-reads
I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.
US aid to Ukraine has been resumed
The leaders have agreed to resume sharing of military intelligence. (The Guardian)
+ Ukraine has also supported a US ceasefire proposal. (Vox)
+ The radio-obsessed Ukrainian civilian who is shaping Ukraine’s drone defence. (MIT Technology Review)
Donald Trump has implemented a tariff of 25% on imports of metal
This decision will likely increase costs for American automakers and other manufacturers. (NYT $)
+ His frequent and mixed messages about tariffs have business leaders spooked. (WSJ $)
+ The tariffs are a welcome relief for US metal manufacturers. (Economist $)
+ The impact of Trump’s tariffs on the price of batteries and EVs. (MIT Technology Review)
Texas measles outbreak spreading
Oklahoma is treating two people with symptoms similar to measles. (Ars Technica)
+ A six-year-old girl who was not vaccinated recently died in Texas. The Atlantic Dollar
+ State officials are scrambling for a response to this outbreak. (Undark)
+ Children and adults are at risk from this virus, which is highly contagious. (Wired $)
Elon Musk is calling for the US Government to be shut down
It would be easier to dismiss federal employees. (Wired $)
+ The Freedom of Information Act must be followed by DOGE, according to a judge. (The Verge)
+ Can AI help DOGE slash government budgets? It’s complex. (MIT Technology Review)
OpenAI claims to have trained a creative AI that is’really, really good.’|
Can a computer model that is trained to use existing materials ever be creative? (TechCrunch)
+ Artificial intelligence can help you be more creative, but it also has its limits. (MIT Technology Review)
Six Silicon Valley AI companies are expanding to India
Bangalore, the tech hub of India, is awash with talent. (Bloomberg $)
Spotify says it has paid out $10 billion in royalties since last year
The payout was described as “the biggest in the history of music.”
+ Spotify algorithm: How to bypass it (MIT Technology Review)
Saturn is the only planet with more than eight moons.
Scientists have discovered a new moon that had previously been elusive. (New Scientist £)
The hottest AI coffee spot in New York is this cafe
OpenAI is conveniently located just around the corner. (Insider $)
Netflix should not use AI for upscaled resolution
A Different World looks distorted thanks to the technology. (Vice)
Today’s Quote
The uncertainty surrounding tariffs is as damaging as the tariffs themselves.
Donald Schneider, deputy director of US policy for investment bank Piper Sandler explains why investors feel rattled by Donald Trump’s unpredictable approach in imposing tariffs.
This is a big story
Can Afghanistan’s “sneakernet”, the underground network, survive Taliban rule?
November 2021
Mohammad Yasin was forced to take some very difficult decisions when Afghanistan fell under the Taliban. Mohammad Yasin began to erase some sensitive data from his computer, and moved the remainder onto his two largest hard drives. He then wrapped them in plastic and buried the drive underground.
Yasin, or “computer kar”, is a person who, in an area where internet connections are often unreliable, sells digital products by hand. These include everything from mobile apps, movies and music to iOS updates. The country’s “sneakernet”, despite its dangers under Taliban rule, is not planning to shut down. Click here to read the complete story.
–Ruchi Kumar
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 skeet them at you .)
These novels are inspired by middle age.
It looks like after a long time, the Loch Ness Monster will be making a comeback.
You are amazing, Chappell.
What if I had an AI that told me what to wear and how? Please, no.
