This is the current edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter delivering a daily overview of the happenings in the tech world.
How AGI Became the Most Significant Conspiracy Theory of Our Era
—Will Douglas Heaven, Senior AI Editor
Are you sensing it?
I’ve heard it’s imminent: two years, five years—maybe even next year! And I’ve also listened to claims that it will resolve our most significant challenges in ways we can’t yet envision. I’ve even heard it will herald the end of days and eliminate us all…
We’re obviously referring to artificial general intelligence, or AGI—this speculative near-future technology that (apparently) will be capable of doing nearly everything a human brain is capable of.
Every era has its devotees, individuals possessed of unwavering belief that something monumental is on the brink of occurring—a split into before and after that they are fortunate (or cursed) to witness. For us, that is the anticipated arrival of AGI. And my perspective is this: AGI resembles a conspiracy theory and may well be the most impactful one of our era. Read the complete story.
This article is a component of MIT Technology Review’s series “The New Conspiracy Age,” focusing on how the current surge in conspiracy theories is influencing science and technology.
The State of AI: Is China on the Verge of Winning the Race?
From an international standpoint, it seems only a matter of time before China becomes the AI superpower of the 21st century.
In the West, our instinct is to emphasize America’s considerable head start in semiconductor knowledge, its pioneering AI research, and its enormous capital in data centers.
However, at present, China possesses the capacity, incentive, and chance to excel. When it comes to mobilizing nationwide resources necessary for optimizing AI development and application, it may be unwise to count against it. Read the complete story.
—John Thornhill & Caiwei Chen
This marks the inaugural edition of The State of AI, a partnership between the Financial Times & MIT Technology Review, investigating how AI is transforming global power dynamics. Every Monday, for the upcoming six weeks, writers from both outlets will discuss one facet of the generative AI revolution that is redefining global influence. Subscribe to receive future editions every Monday.
The essential reads
I’ve scoured the web to bring you today’s most entertaining/critical/fearsome/captivating stories about technology.
1 China is ready to offer its data centers a fantastic deal
Provided they opt for domestic chips over American competitors. (FT $)
+ The events that transpired when a data center relocated to a small American town. (WSJ $)
+ Microsoft and OpenAI are seeking increased power—they just aren’t certain how much more. (TechCrunch)
+ The data center surge in the desert. (MIT Technology Review)
2 Norway’s oil fund has turned down Elon Musk’s $1 trillion compensation package
The Tesla investor is worried about the size of the compensation. (WSJ $)
+ It has announced it will vote against the proposal on Thursday. (FT $)
3 OpenAI has finalized a substantial compute agreement with Amazon
This is the latest in a series of high-stakes contracts for the AI firm. (Wired $)
4 Cybersecurity professionals moonlighted as illicit hackers
They are alleged to have shared profits with the creators of the ransomware they utilized. (Bloomberg $)
+ The hackers demanded tens of millions in extortion payments. (The Register)
5 Tech elites are financing measures to preserve MAGA
Entrepreneur Chris Buskirk is leveraging donor funds to ensure it outlasts Trump. (WP $)
6 These startups provide the workforce to train multitasking humanoid robots
Human teams are doing the tedious tasks, including recording themselves folding towels hundreds of times daily. (LA Times $)
+ This innovative system can teach a robot a simple household chore in as little as 20 minutes. (MIT Technology Review)
7 LLMs struggle to accurately articulate their internal workings
Anthropic is striving to evaluate their so-called introspective awareness. (Ars Technica)
8 Why are individuals utilizing AI to cheat at their hobbies?
Discuss the demise of enjoyment. (NY Mag $)
+ While we’re on the topic, avoid using chatbots to address friends’ dilemmas as well. (Wired $)
+ Or to compose academic papers. (404 Media)
9 Coca-Cola is increasing its investment in AI for its advertising
Undeterred by previous backlash, it’s reintroducing its AI approach for the 2025 holiday season. (WSJ $)
+ Nothing conveys holiday cheer like AI-generated content. (The Verge)
10 Facebook Dating is surprisingly…popular?
But remain cautious about potential scammers. (NYT $)
+ It’s not exclusive to older generations—young people are engaging with it as well. (TechCrunch)
+ For better or worse, AI is infiltrating all major dating services. (Economist $)
Quote of the Day
“That was the twist of it, that the AI genuinely did find compatibility. It was the human element that fell short.”
—Emma Inge, a project manager on a quest for romance in San Francisco, discusses the challenges of relying on an AI matchmaker to the New York Times: it can’t prevent you from getting ghosted.
One last note
Inside the Most Perilous Asteroid Search Ever
If you were informed that there was a 3.1% chance of something occurring, it may not sound significant. However, for those tasked with safeguarding our planet, it was monumental.
On February 18, astronomers concluded that a 130- to 300-foot asteroid faced a 3.1% likelihood of colliding with Earth in 2032. This marked the highest probability for an asteroid of such perilous size to impact our planet. Just days later, on February 24, experts announced that the risk had diminished. Earth would be safe.
How did they manage this? What was it like to monitor the escalating threat of this asteroid and finally determine it would miss us?
This is the detailed account of how a vast network of astronomers discovered, tracked, mapped, prepared for, and ultimately ruled out the most threatening asteroid ever detected—all under strict time constraints and, for a brief moment, with the highest stakes imaginable. Read the complete story.
—Robin George Andrews
We can still enjoy good things
A space for solace, enjoyment, and distractions to enhance your day. (Have any suggestions? Shoot me an email or send them my way.)
+ Medieval individuals had unique ways of illustrating the devil, to say the least.
+ We might be approaching an explanation for why animals have developed such intricate patterns.
+ The soundtrack of the new game Pokémon Legends: Z-A is quite intriguing.
+ Slow cooker meals are calling to you.
