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Tuesday, April 29, 2025

The Obtain: the AI Hype Index, and “regular” AI


That is right this moment’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a each day dose of what’s occurring on this planet of know-how.

The AI Hype Index: AI agent cyberattacks, racing robots, and musical fashions

Separating AI actuality from hyped-up fiction isn’t at all times simple. That’s why we’ve created the AI Hype Index—a easy, at-a-glance abstract of all the pieces you should know concerning the state of the trade. Check out this month’s version of the index right here.

Is AI “regular”?

Regardless of its ubiquity, AI is seen as something however a traditional know-how. There may be discuss of AI methods that may quickly advantage the time period “superintelligence,” and the previous CEO of Google lately recommended we management AI fashions the way in which we management uranium and different nuclear weapons supplies.

A current essay by two AI researchers at Princeton argues that AI is a general-purpose know-how whose software may be higher in comparison with the drawn-out adoption of electrical energy or the web than to nuclear weapons. Learn on to study extra concerning the insurance policies the authors suggest.

—James O’Donnell

This story initially appeared in The Algorithm, our weekly publication on AI. To get tales like this in your inbox first, join right here.

The must-reads

I’ve combed the web to search out you right this moment’s most enjoyable/essential/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.

1 US Congress has handed the Take It Down Act
The laws is designed to crack down on revenge porn and deepfake nudes. (WP $)
+ However critics worry it’ll be weaponized to suppress on-line speech and encryption. (The Verge)
+ Donald Trump has mentioned he needs to make use of the invoice to guard himself. (The Hill)

2 The Trump administration is embracing shady crypto companies
Together with Tether, whose stablecoin is commonly utilized by criminals. (NYT $)
+ Crypto lender Nexo, which bumped into regulatory bother, is now returning to the US. (CoinDesk)
+ The UAE is planning a stablecoin regulated by the nation’s central financial institution. (Bloomberg $)

3 Elon Musk’s DOGE conflicts of curiosity are value $2.37 billion
Though consultants estimate the true value might be greater. (The Guardian)
+ DOGE’s tech takeover threatens the security and stability of our essential knowledge. (MIT Know-how Overview)

4 Researchers secretly deployed bots right into a debate subreddit
In a extremely unethical bid to try to change customers’ minds. (404 Media)
+ AI isn’t any substitute for human mediators. (MIT Know-how Overview)

5 Amazon’s first web satellites have been launched efficiently
27 down, 3,209 to go. (Reuters)
+ It’s Bezos’s reply to Musk’s Starlink. (FT $)

6 Amazon is pressuring its suppliers to slash their costs
It’s attempting to guard its margins as Trump’s tariffs begin to chunk. (FT $)
+ Temu’s method? Move on the brand new taxes to its prospects. (Bloomberg $)
+ Right here’s how the tariffs are going to worsen the digital divide. (Wired $)
+ Sweeping tariffs may threaten the US manufacturing rebound. (MIT Know-how Overview)

7 Sam Altman and Satya Nadella are drifting aside
The pair disagree on OpenAI’s method to AGI, amongst different issues. (WSJ $)

8 Duolingo is changing human staff with AI
It’s all a part of the plan to make the language studying app “AI-first.” (The Verge)

9 Earthquakes could also be a wealthy supply of hydrogen 
Which is sweet information for the scientists attempting to trace down the fuel. (New Scientist $)
+ Why the subsequent power race is for underground hydrogen. (MIT Know-how Overview)

10 The Hubble Area Telescope is popping 35-years previous 🔭
And it’s nonetheless capturing jaw dropping photos. (The Atlantic $)
+ Scientists have made some fascinating discoveries about Jupiter’s volcanic moon. (Quanta Journal)

Quote of the day

“When the individual championing your anti-abuse laws is promising to make use of it for abuse, you might need an issue.”

—Entrepreneur Mike Masnick says Donald Trump’s endorsement of the Take It Down Invoice is self-serving in a submit on Techdirt.

Yet another factor

The horrible complexity of technological issues

The thinker Karl Popper as soon as argued that there are two sorts of issues on this planet: clock issues and cloud issues. Because the metaphor suggests, clock issues obey a sure logic. The repair is probably not simple, however it’s achievable.

Cloud issues supply no such assurances. They’re inherently advanced and unpredictable, they usually normally have social, psychological, or political dimensions. Due to their dynamic, shape-shifting nature, attempting to “repair” a cloud downside typically finally ends up creating a number of new issues.

However there are methods to reckon with this sort of technological complexity—and the depraved issues it creates. Learn the total story.

—Bryan Gardiner

We will nonetheless have good issues

A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Acquired any concepts? Drop me a line or skeet ’em at me.)

+ The annual Corgi Derby is a sight to behold—congratulations to the winner Juno!
+ Caroline Polachek is the sound of spring.
+ Why girls are overtaking males in probably the most excessive sporting occasions 🏃‍♀️
+ Possibly there’s one thing to those obscenely-priced superstar smoothies.

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