The Downloadis our weekly newsletterthat gives you a daily dose on what’s happening in the worlds of technology. Bryan Johnson wants to create a new religion where “the body is God”.
Bryan Johnson has a mission not to die. The 47-year old multimillionaire already used his slogan “Don’t Die” on merchandise, events, and a Netflix document. He’s now establishing a Don’t Die religion.
Johnson has received extensive media coverage and a large social media following. He is known for spending millions of dollars on scans and tests, supplements and a lifestyle designed to slow or reverse aging. He has become a face of the longevity industry for many people.
In late April, I met Johnson at a longevity event in Berkeley, California to learn more about his Don’t Die mission. Read the complete story.
Jessica Hamzelou
The humanoid workers are running late
I watched Daniela, one of the top experts in the world on AI-powered robotics, speak to a packed room during a Boston Robotics Expo. Rus spent part of her talk dispelling the myth that giant fleets are already being used in warehouses and manufacturing around the world.
This might surprise you. Investors have been clamoring for AI to make robot training faster. Figure AI, which aims to create general-purpose humanoid robotics for homes and industries, is preparing a $1.5 billion round of funding. Amazon and automakers are also conducting commercial experiments using humanoids. Bank of America predicts that these robots will be widely adopted in the near future, with one billion humanoids working by 2050.
Rus and other people I spoke to at the expo suggested that this hype doesn’t add-up. Read the complete story. This story was originally published in The Algorithm – our weekly newsletter about AI. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to receive stories like this first or
The must-reads
I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.
OpenAI has abandoned its plans to become for-profit
After a legal battle against Elon Musk and meetings of lawmakers. (WP $)
+ But Microsoft, a major stakeholder, is still negotiating details. Bloomberg ($)
+ Musk has also filed a lawsuit. Reuters
Donald Trump’s green-energy crackdown could hurt America’s AI aspirations
Data center industries in the US are having a harder time finding reliable energy. (FT $)+ China continues to access banned Nvidia chip. The Economist ($)
+ Is it time to move data centers into space? MIT Technology Review
US border protection wants to take photos of everyone entering a vehicle
and it’s asking companies to pitch facial-recognition tools to do that. (Wired $)
+ US wants to use face recognition to identify migrant kids as they age. MIT Technology Review
The 4 ChatGPT is fueling vulnerable user’s spiritual delusions.
Leaving friends and family unsure how to best help them. (Rolling Stone $)
+ Chatbots seem to be getting worse. The NYT $]
+ A chatbot gave a user instructions on how to kill themselves, but the company does not want to “censor” that information. MIT Technology Review
Five US companies may find it more difficult to raise funds from overseas investors.
Trump’s tariffs bite, even for Big Tech. (The Information $)
+ Dollar is in freefall. The Economicist ($)
and A massive tariff could threaten the US Manufacturing Recovery. MIT Technology Review
Waymo is ramping-up its robotaxi production.
The new factory in Arizona, which will produce more than 2,000 vehicles, will be built by the company. (TechCrunch)
+ Tesla is planning to launch its robotaxi service next month in Austin. Insider ($)
Elon Musk’s Texan neighbors aren’t pleased
Residents in the cul-de’-sac have had enough of his frequent comings andgoings. (NYT $)
+ The people who live near crypto mining facilities also suffer. The Guardian
8 The food-scanning app is changing the way consumers shop.
However, critics claim that their nutrition and additives are often wrong. (WSJ $)
9 We live in the Community Notes age of the internet
for better or worse. (The Atlantic $)
+ Fixing the internet. MIT Technology Review
10 The social media is obsessed with “recession indicators” even though we are not in one. Not yet, at least. (CNN)
Today’s Quote
: “This changes nothing. The founding mission is still betrayed.
–Marc Toberoff is Elon Musk’s main lawyer in his legal case against OpenAI. According to the Wall Street Journal (19459033), Marc Toberoff is not convinced by changes that the startup is making to their structure.
Another thing
The origin of life is one the most difficult and important questions in science. We only know that something happened more than 3.5 million years ago on Earth, and it could have happened on other planets in the universe.
The environment on the primordial Earth was complex, with metals, chemicals, minerals, gases, and water all being blown around by wind and volcanic eruptions. But we don’t exactly know what worked.
A few researchers are now using artificial intelligence to pinpoint the winning conditions. Machine learning tools are hoped to help develop a universal theory about the origins and spread of life, one that can be applied not only on Earth, but also on other planets. Read the complete story.
– Michael Marshall
You can still enjoy nice things
An area for comfort, entertainment and distraction that will brighten your day. (Do you have any ideas? Drop a line to me orskeet them at me
– If you are the type of person who gets stuck on video games puzzles, then these tips and hints may help.
+ This artichoke is so delicious, that fraudsters are growing counterfeit versions.
Meet the men who bring TikTok’s Romantasy to life.
– Did you know the ancient Egyptians had a keen eye for astronomy?
