Democrats aren’t happy about Trump’s U-turn on China’s AI chips
The Download for today is here , Our weekly newsletter provides you with a daily update on the latest in technology.
The Earth could be used as a huge battery by this startup
Quidnet Energy, a Texas-based start-up company, has just finished a test that showed it could store energy underground for six months.
Water storage for electricity is not a novel concept. Pumped hydropower has existed in the form of pumped water since more than a hundred years. The company is hoping that its version of the technology will help to bring long-term, cheap energy storage in new areas. Click here to read the complete story.
–Casey Crownhart
You may not have known about Trump’s AI Action Plan
Details are scarce on the executive orders, announcements and plans that have come out of the White House following Donald Trump’s return to power.
Last week’s White House AI Action Plan is intended to correct this. Trump wants to increase the building of data centers through a reduction in environmental regulations; he also wants to withhold funds from states who pass “burdensome AI regulation” and only contract with AI firms whose models “are free from top-down ideologic bias”.
If you look deeper, some parts of the AI plan are not mentioned in the headlines but reveal more information about the direction the AI plans will take. Three of the key issues are listed below.
–James O’Donnell
The Algorithm is our AI weekly newsletter. Get stories like these delivered to your inbox. 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.
Democrats don’t like Trump’s China Chip U-turn
The government is concerned about security issues if Nvidia chips are exported. (WP $)
+ The Trump administration uses export controls to bargain. (The Hill)
+ Both parties plan to introduce new legislation aimed at China. (Reuters)
The US Tariffs have reached their highest levels since World War II
Trump’s wall of tariffs is likely to lead to a global trade reordering. (FT $)
+ Who pays the bill? (The Guardian)
+ The US manufacturing recovery could be threatened by sweeping tariffs. (MIT Technology Review)
Three utility companies are asking Big Tech for more money to spend on their data centres
If rates are not controlled, they may increase for customers. (WSJ $)
+ Data centers are booming in the desert. (MIT Technology Review)
Four citizen science initiatives are gaining popularity in the US
Platform iNaturalist plays a crucial role in helping identify new species. (NYT $)
+ What nonprofits and academics are doing to save US climate programs. (MIT Technology Review)
Five Anthropic crackdown on Claude Power Users
Its AI-coding tool is used by some customers around the clock. (TechCrunch)
+ This is bad for the environment. (Engadget)
+ AI’s carbon footprint was calculated. This is the story that you’ve never heard. (MIT Technology Review)
MAHA could revive psychedelic therapies
The FDA rejected MDMA treatment last year. It could be given a chance to survive. (Wired $)
+ AI is used to sit with people while they take psychedelics. (MIT Technology Review)
7 Waymo launches its robotaxi in Dallas
Uber is not involved in a new agreement with Avis. (Reuters)
+ The company is growing steadily unlike Tesla. (Forbes $)
How an aspiring young programmer ended up working at DOGE
Luke Farritor assessed, cut, and demolished at least 10 departments. (Bloomberg $)
+ America is losing its prosperity. (MIT Technology Review)
The robot of this Californian startup kills fish in the Japanese style
This method of killing is believed to be the most compassionate. (Semafor)
Artificial intelligence is transforming online shopping.
Searches like “revenge outfit to wear at a party on Sicily” will be served up. (CNN).
Today’s Quote
This step will prove that I am not a robot.
Ars Technica describes how OpenAI’s ChatGPT agent explains that it is able to pass a standard internet security checkpoint intended to detect bots like itself.
Another thing
Gamification has taken over the worldEvery video game player has thought about this at one point or another: what if I could apply the hyper-focused, weird state that I get into when playing virtual worlds to real life?
This is a question that’s often asked during particularly challenging or monotonous tasks (like writing essays or filing your taxes). After all, life is tough. Video games can be hard, but they also promote superhuman concentration.
This phenomenon can lead to interest in immersion and flow states. Others simply use it as a motivation to play more video games. In the late 2000s it was the secret to unlocking the true potential of humans for a few consultants, game designers, and startup experts. Gamification was not liberating, but instead it became a tool of coercion and distraction. You can read the entire story.
–Bryan Gardiner
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 .)
USPS wants to know what stamps you want back (thanks Amy!)
Make your breakfast toast a little more exciting with these tips.
Apparently, the long-awaited Madonna Biopic will still happen.
Matcha lovers, bad news: there’s a worldwide shortage