Here’s your latest issue of The Download, our newsletter published on weekdays, delivering a dose of the latest happenings in technology.
What remains uncertain regarding weight-loss medications
Weight-loss medications have gained attention again this week. To start, Eli Lilly, the firm behind Mounjaro and Zepbound, has achieved the milestone of being the first healthcare firm globally to reach a trillion-dollar valuation.
However, we discovered that, regrettably, GLP-1 drugs appear ineffective for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, those who cease using the drugs upon becoming pregnant may face potentially hazardous weight gain. Moreover, some researchers express concern that individuals are utilizing these drugs postpartum to shed pregnancy weight without comprehending the associated risks.
This information highlights the numerous unknowns surrounding these medications. Let’s explore the ongoing inquiries related to GLP-1 agonist medications.
—Jessica Hamzelou
This piece was first published in The Checkup, MIT Technology Review’s weekly newsletter on biotechnology. To get it delivered to your inbox every Thursday, and access articles like this first, sign up here.
If you’re curious about weight loss medications and their impacts, consider checking out:
+ GLP-1 agonists, including Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro, may enhance heart and brain health—but evidence indicates they could also lead to complications during pregnancy and be harmful to some users. Read the entire story.
+ Our understanding of hunger has always been limited. That could be changing soon. Read the entire story.
+ Weight-loss injections have gone viral online. But what are the real-world implications?
+ This vibrating weight-loss pill appears effective—in pigs. Read the entire story.
Insights on AI’s impact on the economy
Understanding how AI is reshaping the economy today is crucial. Should we be concerned? Optimistic? Or is it too complex to categorize?
We aim to guide you toward some clarity. Mat Honan, our editor in chief, will host an exclusive subscriber-only Roundtables conversation with our editor at large David Rotman, and Richard Waters, Financial Times columnist, discussing market transformations. Register here to join at 1pm ET on Tuesday, December 9.
This event is part of the Financial Times and MIT Technology Review partnership “The State of AI,” which examines the global ramifications of artificial intelligence. Over the past month, we’ve facilitated discussions between our journalists—sign up here to receive forthcoming editions every Monday.
The essential readings
I’ve searched the online world for today’s most intriguing/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.
1 Tech magnates prepare to battle AI regulation
By gathering multi-million dollar funding ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections. (WSJ $)
+ Donald Trump’s “Manhattan Project” for AI is undoubtedly ambitious. (The Information $)
2 The EU aims to hold social media companies accountable for financial fraud
New regulations will require tech companies to reimburse banks if they neglect to eliminate reported scams. (Politico)
3 China expresses concerns about a humanoid robot bubble
Due to the existence of over 150 firms developing highly similar machines. (Bloomberg $)
+ It might take some cues from the ongoing AI bubble. (CNN)+ Reasons why the humanoid workforce is behind schedule. (MIT Technology Review)
4 A Myanmar scam location was destroyed
But its inhabitants will simply establish new bases for their operations. (NYT $)
+ Experts believe the demolition may have been merely performative. (Wired $)
+ Exclusive look inside a romance scam hub—and how individuals are lured into joining it. (MIT Technology Review)
5 Navies worldwide are investing in underwater drones
They are considerably less expensive to operate than traditional crewed submarines. (The Guardian)
+ How these drones could influence a possible Taiwan-China conflict. (MIT Technology Review)
6 Anticipating China’s apparently unstoppable drive for innovation
Its highly lenient regulators have a significant impact. (Economist $)
+ Is China on the verge of winning the AI contest? (MIT Technology Review)
7 The UK is launching a campaign against VPNs
Good luck convincing citizens to abandon them. (The Verge)
8 New details emerge about Jeff Bezos’ enigmatic clock project
He has long supported the Clock of the Long Now—and construction is ramping up. (FT $)
+ How aging clocks can illuminate our understanding of aging—potentially offering insights on reversing it. (MIT Technology Review)
9 Have we finally caught our first glimpses of dark matter?
These researchers seem to suppose so. (New Scientist $)
10 An assisting robot is aiding archaeologists in reconstructing Pompeii
Reassembling ancient frescoes is a meticulous and lengthy task, but much simpler with a skillful machine. (Reuters)
Quote of the day
“We do experience failures… frequently.”
—Defense company Anduril articulates its move-fast-and-break-things philosophy to the Wall Street Journal in response to claims that its systems have faced issues in Ukraine.
One last note
How to create a superior AI benchmark
Being among Silicon Valley’s preferred benchmarks is no simple task.
SWE-Bench (pronounced “swee bench”) was introduced in November 2024 as a means to assess an AI model’s coding abilities. It has swiftly risen to prominence as a leading test in the AI field. A SWE-Bench score has become a staple of major model releases from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google—and beyond foundational models, fine-tuners at AI companies constantly compete to surpass one another.
Nonetheless, amidst all this excitement, such assessments do not accurately reflect which model is “better.” Many participants have started to exploit the system—leading others to question if there exists a more effective method to gauge AI progress. Read the complete story.
—Russell Brandom
We can still appreciate nice things
A space for comfort, enjoyment, and distractions that can enhance your day. (Got any suggestions? Let me know or hit me up.)
+ Aww, these sharks appear to be engaging with pool toys.
+ Unusual phenomena are occurring at Easter Island (even stranger than you might think) 🗿
+ Very intriguing—archaeologists have uncovered a Roman tomb that has remained unopened for 1,700 years.
+ This Japanese mass media collage is a mesmerizing experience, in a delightful way.
