Is expanded carrier screening beneficial?
Carrier screening evaluates prospective parents for concealed genetic variations that could impact their offspring. Initially, it consisted of assessing certain genes in targeted groups.
Expanded carrier screening goes beyond this, allowing prospective parents along with egg and sperm donors to be tested for a broader range of diseases.
Sara Levene, a genetics counselor at Guided Genetics, mentioned at a meeting I attended this week, “Companies began with screening 100 genes, and now some are up to 2,000. Honestly, it feels like a competition between labs.”
However, expanded carrier screening has its drawbacks. It’s not suitable for everyone. Discover the complete narrative.
—Jessica Hamzelou
This piece first appeared in The Checkup, MIT Technology Review’s weekly biotech bulletin. For it to land in your inbox every Thursday, and to be among the first to read similar articles, register here.
Southeast Asia strives for its role in space
On a sweltering October afternoon in Bangkok, I find myself strolling through the exhibits at the Thai Space Expo, hosted in one of the city’s most crowded shopping centers, when something catches my eye. Among the extravagant space suits and model rockets, I see a simple-looking package of Thai basil chicken. I learn that this exact kind of vacuum-sealed packaging has recently been sent to the International Space Station.
It’s an unusual scene that embodies the rising enthusiasm within the Southeast Asian space industry. Despite some uncertainty regarding the direction of the region’s space endeavors, there remains substantial optimism. Explore the full story.
—Jonathan O’Callaghan
This article is featured in the upcoming print issue of MIT Technology Review magazine. If you haven’t yet, subscribe now to get future editions as they arrive.
The essential reads
I’ve searched the internet to bring you today’s most engaging/important/frightening/captivating stories on technology.
1 Disney has inked a significant agreement with OpenAI
This means you will soon have the ability to generate Sora clips featuring 200 Marvel, Pixel, and Star Wars characters. (Hollywood Reporter $)
+ Disney had previously expressed skepticism towards AI. What changed? (WSJ $)
+ However, it’s becoming less favorable towards Google. (Ars Technica)
+ Prepare for an influx of AI content heading to Disney Plus. (The Verge)
2 Donald Trump has prohibited US states from implementing their own AI regulations
Yet technically, only Congress holds the power to override state legislation. (NYT $)
+ A new task force will identify states with “inconsistent” AI regulations. (Engadget)
+ This development is particularly troublesome for California. (The Markup)
3 Reddit is contesting Australia’s social media prohibition for teenagers
It argues that the restriction violates their freedom of political expression. (Bloomberg $)
+ We are gaining insights into the enigmatic workings of the teenage mind. (Vox)
4 ChatGPT’s “adult mode” is set to launch early next year
However, OpenAI acknowledges the need to enhance its age estimation technology first. (The Verge)
+ It’s relatively simple to get DeepSeek to engage in inappropriate conversation. (MIT Technology Review)
5 The fall of Running Tide’s carbon removal aspirations
The company’s failure is a warning to others exploring experimental technologies. (Wired $)
+ We initially reported on Running Tide’s challenges back in 2022. (MIT Technology Review)
+ What lies ahead for carbon removal? (MIT Technology Review)
6 That AI teddy bear that talks dirty was not just an isolated case
It appears that a variety of LLM-based toys are unsuitable for children. (NBC News)
+ AI toys are becoming incredibly popular in China—and now they are starting to be available in the US as well. (MIT Technology Review)
7 The most affordable locations to establish a phony online account
For just a few cents, fraudsters can effortlessly create bots. (FT $)
8 How educators are striving to make exams impervious to AI
ChatGPT won’t assist you in taking shortcuts to excel in an oral exam. (WP $)
9 Is it possible for a font to be woke?
Marco Rubio seems to believe so. (The Atlantic $)
10 The upcoming year will revolve around maximalist circus aesthetics 🎪
According to Pinterest’s forecasts for 2026. (The Guardian)
Quote of the day
“Trump is fulfilling exactly what his billionaire backers demanded—all to the detriment of our children, communities, workforce, and planet.”
—Senator Ed Markey critiques Donald Trump’s decision to enact an order limiting US states’ capacity for AI self-regulation, the Wall Street Journal reports.
