That is at the moment’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a day by day dose of what’s happening on this planet of expertise.
What’s subsequent for China’s digital foreign money?
China’s digital yuan was seemingly born out of a need to centralize a tech giant-dominated cost system. In response to its central financial institution, the digital foreign money, often known as the e-CNY, is each a risk-free various to business platforms and a alternative for bodily money, which is changing into out of date.
Nearly three years into the pilot, although, it appears the federal government remains to be struggling to seek out compelling purposes for it, and adoption has been minimal. Now the objective could also be shifting. China seems to be charging forward with plans to make use of the e-CNY outdoors its borders, for worldwide commerce.
If it’s profitable, it may problem the US greenback’s place because the world’s dominant reserve foreign money—and within the course of shake up the worldwide geopolitical order. Learn the total story.
—Mike Orcutt
This story is from MIT Expertise Evaluation’s What’s Subsequent collection, which appears throughout industries, traits, and applied sciences to provide you a primary have a look at the long run. Take a look at the remainder of the collection right here.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to seek out you at the moment’s most enjoyable/vital/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.
1 How the US is planning to manage AI
It’s a multi-pronged strategy, however progress is grindingly gradual. (Vox)
+ Our fast information to the 6 methods we are able to regulate AI. (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
+ Finally judges, not politicians, would be the first to determine guardrails for AI. (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
2 Covid instances are rising once more
We don’t precisely know why, however infections do appear to shoot up over the summer season. (Wired $)
+ Hospitalizations are on the up, however consultants anticipate the overwhelming majority of infections to be delicate. (NBC)
+ Covid hasn’t solely gone away—right here’s the place we stand. (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
Three There’s not a lot you are able to do if AI lies about you
Persons are beginning to sue tech corporations, however authorized precedent for that is principally non-existent. (NYT $)
+ What does GPT-3 “know” about me? (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
four Apple now has over one billion paying subscribers
Tim Prepare dinner’s push to broaden from {hardware} to subscription companies appears to be paying off. (Quartz $)
5 Google is making it simpler to take away your non-public information from Search
In fact, that requires you to provide Google all that info, however nonetheless nifty. (Engadget)
6 A French information company is suing X for refusing to debate paying it
Elon Musk referred to as the transfer “weird”, and I’m inclined to agree. (Reuters)
+ Meta’s Twitter rival, Threads, has seen its day by day energetic customers drop by 82% since launch. (CNN)
7 Pornhub has gone darkish in Arkansas
In protest at a brand new regulation requiring it to confirm customers’ ages. (The Verge)
+ Why baby security payments are popping up all around the US. (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
eight Actors are heading again to Cameo
To make a bit of money on the aspect whereas the strike is on. (NYT $)
9 Meta’s Ray-Ban good glasses are a flop 
The overwhelming majority of people that purchased them don’t use them. (WSJ $)
10 Mother and father in China are on relationship apps to marry off their grownup youngsters
In case you’re studying this, Mum… don’t go getting any concepts. (Remainder of World)
Quote of the day
“We’re altering the clouds.”
—Duncan Watson-Parris, an atmospheric physicist, tells Science that measures to chop ships’ sulfur air pollution could also be inadvertently serving to to heat oceans, by lowering cloud cowl.
The massive story
Why Technology Z falls for on-line misinformation
June 2021
In November 2019, a TikTok video claiming that if Joe Biden is elected president of the USA, “trumpies” will commit mass homicide of LGBT people and other people of coloration quickly went viral. It was seen, shared, appreciated and commented on by a whole lot of 1000’s of younger folks.
Clearly, the claims have been false. Why, then, did so many members of Technology Z—a label utilized to folks aged roughly 9 to 24, who’re presumably extra digitally savvy than their predecessors—fall for such flagrant misinformation? The reply is complicated, however could partly lie in a way of widespread identification with the one who shared it within the first place. Learn the total story.
—Jennifer Neda John
We will nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Bought any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)
+ This lovely weblog submit is an entreaty to deal with your self to a implausible e book (ideally fiction).
+ Can’t assist however admire Kristina Avakyan, a TikTok fashionista who’s unapologetically dividing the group.
+ This video could be humorous sufficient as it’s, however the truth the cat’s referred to as Susan makes it actually excellent.
+ The enhancing of this quick and livid meals evaluate video is completely bonkers.
