This is the current edition of The Download, our weekday bulletin delivering a daily insight into the technology world.
From mess to masterpieces? AI art transitions into a new era
In this age of AI chaos, the notion that generative AI tools such as Midjourney and Runway could be utilized for artistic creation might appear ridiculous.
Yet, among all the confusion, individuals are employing AI tools with genuine thought and purpose. Some are achieving notable accomplishments as AI artists: They are amassing substantial online audiences, auctioning their pieces, and even showcasing their art in galleries and museums. Discover the complete story.
—Grace Huckins
This article comes from our upcoming print release, which focuses on the body. If you haven’t done so yet, subscribe now to get future editions delivered to you. Additionally, you’ll receive a complimentary digital report on nuclear energy.
Take our quiz: What do you know about antimicrobial resistance?
This week brought alarming news from the World Health Organization: Antibiotics are failing us. An increasing number of bacterial infections aren’t responding to these treatments—including common ones affecting the blood, gut, and urinary tract. If you contract one of these infections, there’s a considerable chance that antibiotics will be ineffective.
You may have encountered the topic of antimicrobial resistance before, but how well do you really understand it? Here’s our effort to inject some “fun” into the “fundamental threat to contemporary medicine.” Test your knowledge here!
—Jessica Hamzelou
This piece was featured in The Checkup, MIT Technology Review’s weekly biotech newsletter. To get it in your inbox each Thursday, sign up here.
2025 climate tech innovators to keep an eye on: Envision Energy and its “smart” wind turbines
Envision Energy, one of the leading manufacturers of wind turbines in China, has branched out into batteries, green hydrogen, and industrial zones aimed at powering heavy industry with renewable energy.
With flagship initiatives in Inner Mongolia and new projects proposed internationally, the firm is exploring whether clean energy can decarbonize areas that electricity alone cannot penetrate. Read the full story.
Envision Energy is featured on our list of the top 10 climate tech companies to monitor—an annual compilation of some of the most promising green technology companies around the globe. Discover the full list here.
Essential reads
I’ve searched the web to bring you today’s most entertaining/critical/frightening/captivating stories about technology.
1 ICE is enhancing its surveillance capabilities
It has recently acquired iris-scanning technology, spyware, and location tracking software. (WP $)
+ Viral ICE videos are influencing public opinion about the agency. (Vox)
+ Demonstrators in Chicago are pushing back after widespread arrests in the city. (New Yorker $)
2 OpenAI has halted the generation of MLK Jr videos
After some users employed Sora to create “disrespectful portrayals” of the civil rights figure. (TechCrunch)
+ This isn’t the first time AI’s representation of public figures has faced scrutiny. (The Information $)
3 A teenager is suing the creators of the “nudifying” app ClothOff
A classmate utilized an image of the New Jersey teenager to fabricate fake nude pictures. (WSJ $)
+ Meet the 15-year-old victim of deepfakes advocating for legislative action. (MIT Technology Review)
4 Amazon’s Ring camera division is entering into agreements with law enforcement
It’s collaborating with Flock Safety and Axon to provide footage for criminal investigations. (CNBC)
+ A segment of ICE has utilized Flock’s AI-enhanced surveillance network. (404 Media)
+ How Amazon Ring exploits domestic violence to market doorbell cameras. (MIT Technology Review)
5 Plug-in hybrids emit pollution nearly on par with diesel vehicles
A recent report indicates that emission levels exceed official estimates. (The Guardian)
+ What to anticipate if you’re considering a plug-in hybrid. (MIT Technology Review)
6 South Korea is banning its citizens from traveling to Cambodia
It asserts that numerous nationals have been kidnapped and coerced into scam operations. (FT $)
+ A glimpse inside a romance scam center—and how individuals are deceived into being there. (MIT Technology Review)
7 The experience of being trans online in 2025
The internet used to facilitate connections among trans individuals—now it’s being used against them. (The Verge)
8 Generative AI will make you the center of advertisements
Companies need to recuperate their investments in AI somehow. (NY Mag $)
9 AI-related growth is driving up housing costs in San Francisco
Rental prices are rising in a city already infamous for its exorbitant living expenses. (NYT $)
10 Samsung is developing a tri-folding smartphone
However, attendees at its unveiling will not be permitted to handle it. (Bloomberg $)
Quote of the day
“Grandma might get kicked off the Internet because Junior downloaded a couple of songs illegally during a visit.”
—US broadband provider Cox Communications outlines a possible scenario in a legal case initiated by major record labels, which have accused Cox of not disconnecting individuals who download music illegally, Ars Technica reports.
One more thing
An AI startup created a hyper-realistic deepfake of me that’s alarmingly precise
Previously, AI-generated videos of individuals often displayed some stiffness, glitches, or other unnatural features that made them easily distinguishable from real life.
For several years, AI video company Synthesia has been producing these types of AI-crafted avatars. However, back in April 2024, it released a new generation, the first to leverage the most recent advancements in generative AI, resulting in avatars that are more lifelike and expressive than any we have encountered before.
We tested it by creating an AI version of Melissa Heikkilä, our former senior AI correspondent. Read the full piece and check out the synthetic incarnation of Melissa.
We can still enjoy nice things
A space for relaxation, enjoyment, and diversion to lift your spirits. (Have any suggestions? Get in touch or send me a message.)
+ As support for Windows 10 winds down this week, did you realize its blue Windows icon desktop image was derived from a real photograph? Check out the background story.
+ Rest in peace Ace Frehley, co-founder of Kiss and iconic guitar legend.
+ A week dedicated to eating along France’s 385-mile gastronomy trail? Yes, please.
+ As we embrace the Halloween season, would you dare to explore America’s most haunted cities?
