That is right now’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a each day dose of what’s happening on the earth of know-how.
Weight-loss injections have taken over the web. However what does this imply for individuals IRL?
Over the course of the final 12 months, so-called “miracle” weight-loss medicine have blown up throughout the web. Though superstar customers have boosted their standing, they owe a lot of their fame to social media and dialogue boards, the place they’re promoted by influencers and on a regular basis individuals alike.
But not everybody who desires them goes to a physician. All through 2022, rising demand for weight-loss injections triggered international shortages. Because of this, some individuals started searching for these medicine illegally, crossing borders or shopping for them below the counter with out a prescription.
Do the hype and the hashtags inform the total story? What are the bodily, social, and psychological uncomfortable side effects of a miracle? And might all of the publicity lead individuals to do issues they positively shouldn’t? Learn the total story.
—Amelia Tait
Texas is making an attempt out new ways to limit entry to abortion drugs on-line
There’s been a quiet shift within the abortion battle within the US. For the reason that reversal of Roe v. Wade final June, legal guidelines that make most abortions unlawful have handed in 13 states. Efforts to limit abortion care have, up to now, centered totally on criminalizing medical suppliers. However more and more, the battleground is shifting on-line.
Texas is at the moment within the technique of making an attempt to restrict entry to abortion drugs by cracking down on web service suppliers and bank card processing corporations. Earlier this month, Republicans within the state legislature launched two payments to that impact.
These ways mirror the fact that, post-Roe, the web is a vital channel for individuals searching for details about abortion or making an attempt to purchase drugs to terminate a being pregnant—particularly in states the place they will now not entry these items in bodily pharmacies or medical facilities. Learn the total story.
—Tate Ryan-Mosley
Tate’s story is from The Technocrat, her weekly publication providing you with the within observe on all issues tech coverage. Enroll to obtain it in your inbox each Friday.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to seek out you right now’s most enjoyable/necessary/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.
1 Tesla’s engineers are burning out
Full-self driving capabilities look as distant as ever, and Elon Musk is distracted along with his new toy. (WP $)
+ Is Tesla’s dream of constructing EVs with out uncommon earths really possible? (Bloomberg $)
+ This super-realistic digital world is a driving faculty for AI. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
2 The warfare over abortion drugs within the US is escalating
Wyoming has outlawed mifepristone, and different states wish to observe. (Vox)
+ The place to get abortion drugs and how you can use them. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
three This new app goals to cease AI from scraping artists’ work
It makes use of a “cloaking” approach to intrude with fashions’ capability to learn artworks. (TechCrunch)+ Why GPT-Four has such a stunning reminiscence. (The Atlantic $)
+ Artists can now decide out of the subsequent model of Secure Diffusion. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
Four Digital detectives are digging into the Nord Stream assault
Six months on, we’re nonetheless not sure who ruptured the pipeline—or why. (Wired $)
5 What the tech trade’s failure means for the remainder of us
The sector’s struggling ripples out to different jobs, too. (WSJ $)
6 China is investigating one other former chip chief
Zhao Weiguo is the most recent high-profile trade determine caught up in an enormous inquiry. (Bloomberg $)
+ Corruption is sending shock waves by way of China’s chipmaking trade. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
7 TikTok creators are philosophical a couple of potential ban
Platforms come, and platforms go. (WSJ $)
eight EVs are lastly changing into extra inexpensive
You’ll be able to thank the falling worth of lithium. (NYT $)
+ Mercedes is poised to sink billions into new EV vegetation. (Reuters)
+ Meet the brand new batteries unlocking cheaper electrical autos. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
9 Can you actually be associates with an AI?
For some individuals, chatting with bots brings them nice consolation. (The Guardian)
+ Different chatbot customers desire to pursue romance over friendship. (Reuters)
+ A phrase of warning in opposition to asking an AI to make all of your choices. (Vice)
10 Make a while for the web’s watch influencers
Tick-tockers are turning the standard trade on its head. (FT $)
Quote of the day
“They’re simply carrying a distinct outfit to the identical occasion.”
—Todd Irwin, chief technique officer at branding company Fazer, explains how crypto corporations are dropping the time period from their advertising supplies in a bid to flee the trade’s adverse connotations to the New York Occasions.
The massive story
Inside China’s surprising quest to guard information privateness
August 2020
Within the West, it’s extensively believed that neither the Chinese language authorities nor Chinese language individuals care about privateness. In actuality, this image of Chinese language attitudes to privateness is outdated.
Over the previous couple of years the Chinese language authorities, searching for to strengthen shoppers’ belief and participation within the digital financial system, has begun to implement privateness protections that in lots of respects resemble these in America and Europe right now.
Whilst the federal government has strengthened client privateness, nonetheless, it has ramped up state surveillance. This paradox has develop into a defining characteristic of China’s rising information privateness regime, and raises a critical query: Can a system endure with sturdy protections for client privateness, however virtually none in opposition to authorities snooping? Learn the total story.
—Karen Hao
We are able to nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction in these bizarre occasions. (Received any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)
+ Completely happy spring equinox! Right now the entire world could have 12 hours of sunshine, and 12 nighttimes. 
+ Time journey is an artwork kind. Right here’s just a few well-known vacationers that managed to get it proper (largely.)
+ These large bubble installations are an actual delight.
+ For those who’ve by no means had the pleasure of watching the Spice Ladies’ film Spice World, that is your signal to stream it instantly.
+ What do canine do once we’re not round? Fairly a bit, really.
