This is the latest issue of The Download, our weekday newsletter delivering a daily insight into the happenings within the tech world.
Microsoft claims AI can generate “zero day” threats in biology
A group from Microsoft reports that they employed artificial intelligence to uncover a “zero day” flaw in biosecurity measures aimed at preventing DNA misuse.
These monitoring systems are intended to prevent individuals from acquiring genetic codes capable of producing lethal toxins or diseases. However, researchers assert they have discovered methods to circumvent these defenses that were previously unknown to security personnel. Read the complete story.
—Antonio Regalado
If you’re keen on diving deeper into AI and biology, take a look at:
+ AI-crafted viruses are emerging and already effective against bacteria. Read the full story.
+ OpenAI is venturing into longevity research with an AI designed to assist in stem cell production.
+ AI is conceptualizing medications that have never been envisioned. Now we need to find out if they are effective.
The essential reads
I have scoured the web to present you with today’s most engaging/critical/terrifying/captivating stories regarding technology.
1 Apple has taken down an app for reporting sightings of ICE officials
The US Attorney General requested the removal of ICEBlock—and Apple complied. (Insider $)
+ Apple claims the app’s removal was due to the safety risks it involved. (Bloomberg $)
+ The company provided a similar rationale for removing a map app related to Hong Kong back in 2019. (The Verge)
2 OpenAI’s parental controls can be easily bypassed
Notifications about teenagers’ concerning chats often take hours to arrive. (WP $)
+ The upcoming regulation on AI companionship. (MIT Technology Review)
3 Investors have poured a record sum into AI startups this year
Totaling $192.7 billion to date. (Bloomberg $)
+ The AI investment landscape appears increasingly fragile, however. (FT $)
+ Strategies for refining AI for success. (MIT Technology Review)
4 The US federal vaccination schedule is still pending an update
Authorities have yet to approve recommendations for this year’s updated Covid vaccinations. (Ars Technica)
+ Numerous individuals have found themselves unable to receive vaccinations. (NPR)
5 The US Department of Energy has terminated more clean energy initiatives
Primarily in blue states. (TechCrunch)
+ Over 300 funding initiatives have been canceled. (CNBC)
+ Strategies for advancing clean energy under Trump in various states. (MIT Technology Review)
6 TikTok is suggesting inappropriate content to children’s accounts
Despite activating its “restricted mode” meant to block sexualized material. (BBC)
7 China has initiated a new skilled worker visa scheme
Following the US H-1B visa restrictions. (Wired $)
+ Local residents have not received the initiative positively. (BBC)
8 Air travel was disrupted in Germany due to multiple drone sightings
NATO nations are concerned about potential Russian violations of their airspace. (WSJ $)
+ This incident is part of a series of alarming airspace sightings. (FT $)
9 The impact of YouTube on Hollywood
Its influential creators are starting to unsettle the traditional entertainment industry—and Netflix. (FT $)
10 Tools to combat robocalls are improving
Call screening capabilities are serving as an effective first defense. (NYT $)
Quote of the day
“Yielding to an authoritarian government is never the right course.”
—Joshua Aaron, the creator of ICEBlock, the app that crowdsources sightings of ICE officials, responds to Apple’s choice to remove it from the App Store, 404 Media reports.
One more thing
How AI can enhance creativity
Current generative technologies can facilitate a wide array of creative endeavors and provide near-instant satisfaction—but at what expense? Some artists and scholars worry that this technology might turn us into mere consumers of yet more AI-generated content.
Thus, they are seeking methods to reintegrate human creativity into the mix: focusing on what’s termed co-creativity or more-than-human creativity. The goal is to design AI tools that enhance our creative capabilities rather than diminish them. Read the full story.
—Will Douglas Heaven
We can still enjoy nice things
A place for comfort, entertainment, and distraction to brighten your day. (Have any suggestions? Send me a message or shoot ’em my way.)
+ Congratulations to Fizz, the charming UK cat of the year! 🐈
+ What was involved in transforming actor Jeremy Allan White into the iconic Boss in his new film, Deliver Me from Nowhere.
+ Divers have retrieved over 1,000 gold and silver coins from a 1715 shipwreck off Florida’s east coast.
+ The internet is captivated by crabs. But why?
