That is at present’s version of The Obtain, our weekday e-newsletter that gives a every day dose of what’s occurring on the earth of expertise.
How cuddly robots might change dementia care
Companion animals can stave off among the loneliness, anxiousness, and agitation that include Alzheimer’s illness, in response to research. Sadly, individuals with Alzheimer’s aren’t all the time outfitted to take care of pets, which may require a variety of care and a focus.
Enter cuddly robots. Probably the most well-known are Golden Pup, a robotic golden retriever toy that cocks its head, barks and wags its tail, and Paro the seal, which may sense contact, gentle, sound, temperature, and posture. As robots go they’re decidedly low tech, however they’ll present consolation and leisure to individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Now researchers are engaged on far more subtle robots for individuals with cognitive issues—gadgets that leverage AI to converse and play video games—that might change the way forward for dementia care. Learn the complete story.
—Cassandra Willyard
This story is from The Checkup, our weekly well being and biotech e-newsletter. Enroll to obtain it in your inbox each Thursday.
What tech realized from Daedalus
At present’s climate-change kraken could have been unleashed by human exercise, however reversing course and taming nature’s rising fury appears past human means, a quest solely legendary heroes might fulfill.
But the dream of human-powered flight—of rising over the Mediterranean fueled merely by the energy of mortal limbs—was additionally the stuff of myths for 1000’s of years. Till 1988.
That 12 months, in October, MIT Expertise Assessment printed the aeronautical engineer John Langford’s account of his mission to retrace the legendary flight of Daedalus, described in an historic Greek fantasy. Examine how he obtained on.
—Invoice Gourgey
The story is from the present print problem of MIT Expertise Assessment, which is on the fascinating theme of Construct. Should you don’t already, subscribe now to obtain future copies as soon as they land.
Prepare for EmTech Digital
AI is in all places nowadays. If you wish to study how Google plans to develop and deploy AI, come and listen to from its vp of AI, Jay Yagnik, at our flagship AI convention, EmTech Digital. We’ll hear from OpenAI about its video technology mannequin Sora too, and Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of world affairs, will even be a part of MIT Expertise Assessment’s govt editor Amy Nordrum for an unique interview on stage.
It’ll be held on the MIT campus and streamed stay on-line subsequent week on Might 22-23. Readers of The Obtain get 30% off tickets with the code DOWNLOADD24—register right here for extra data. See you there!
Thermal batteries are sizzling property
Thermal batteries may very well be a key a part of cleansing up heavy trade and chopping emissions. Casey Crownhart, our in-house battery skilled, held a subscriber-only on-line Roundtables occasion yesterday digging into why they’re such a giant deal. Should you missed it, we’ve obtained you coated—you possibly can watch a recording of the way it unfolded right here.
To maintain forward of future Roundtables occasions, be sure you subscribe to MIT Expertise Assessment. Subscriptions begin from as little as $eight a month.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to search out you at present’s most enjoyable/essential/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.
1 OpenAI has struck a take care of Reddit
Shortly after Google agreed to offer the AI agency entry to its content material. (WSJ $)
+ The discussion board’s vocal group are unlikely to be thrilled by the choice. (The Verge)
+ Reddit’s shares rocketed after information of the deal broke. (FT $)
+ We might run out of knowledge to coach AI language applications. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
2 Tesla’s European gigafactory goes to get even greater
But it surely nonetheless wants German environmental authorities’ permission. (Wired $)
three Assist! AI stole my voice
Voice actors are suing a startup for creating digital clones with out their permission. (NYT $)
+ The lawsuit is searching for to symbolize different voiceover artists, too. (Hollywood Reporter $)
four The times of twitter.com are over
The platform’s urls had retained its outdated moniker. However no extra. (The Verge)
5 The aviation trade is determined for greener fuels
The way forward for their companies depends upon it. (FT $)
+ A brand new report has warned there’s no sensible or scalable various. (The Guardian)
+ The whole lot it’s worthwhile to know in regards to the wild world of other jet fuels. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
6 The time for a superconducting supercomputer is now
We have to overhaul how we compute. Superconductors may very well be the reply. (IEEE Spectrum)
+ What’s subsequent for the world’s quickest supercomputers. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
7 How AI destroyed a once-vibrant on-line artwork group
DeviantArt was a hotbed of creativity. Now it’s filled with bots. (Slate $)
+ This artist is dominating AI-generated artwork. And he’s not joyful about it. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
eight TV bundles are again in a giant manner 
Streaming hasn’t delivered on its many guarantees. (The Atlantic $)
9 This creator couple act as “digital dad and mom” to their followers in China
Jiang Xiuping and Pan Huqian’s loving clips resonate with their million followers. (Remainder of World)
+ Deepfakes of your lifeless family members are a booming Chinese language enterprise. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
10 We’re hooked on the beautiful ache of sharing memes 
In case your pal has already seen it, their response might wreck your day. (GQ)
Quote of the day
“It was a good suggestion, however sadly individuals took benefit of it and it introduced out their lewd aspect. Folks obtained carried away.”
—Aaron Cohen, who visited the video portal connecting New York and Dublin, is disillusioned that the artwork set up was shut down after enthusiastic customers took issues too far, he tells the Guardian.
The large story
Psychedelics are having a second and ladies may very well be those to profit
August 2022
Psychedelics are having a second. After a long time of prohibition, they’re more and more being employed as therapeutics. Medication like ketamine, MDMA, and psilocybin mushrooms are being studied in scientific trials to deal with melancholy, substance abuse, and a spread of different maladies.
And as these long-taboo medication stage a comeback within the scientific group, it’s attainable they may very well be particularly promising for girls. Learn the complete story.
—Taylor Majewski
We are able to nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Obtained any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)
+ Is it attainable to stay by the unique structure in current day New York Metropolis? The reply is sure: should you don’t thoughts being bombarded with questions.
+ These Balkan recipes sound completely scrumptious.
+ The Star Wars: The Phantom Menace backlash is thoughts boggling to today.
+ Like to get together? Get your self to those cities, stat.
