Welcome to the latest installment of The Download, our weekday newsletter offering a daily summary of happenings in the realm of technology.
Introducing: the emerging age of conspiracies
Almost everything has become a conspiracy theory. Conspiracy theorists are infiltrating the White House, transforming marginal views into perilous policies. The institutions of America are disintegrating under a heavy load of skepticism and the prolonged impacts of covid-related isolation. Online echo chambers are increasingly difficult to leave, and generative AI is reshaping our understanding of veracity. A blend of technology and politics has provided a remarkable lift to once-marginal beliefs—but they continue to echo the same myths that have circulated for centuries.
MIT Technology Review is here to explore how this moment is reshaping science and technology—and how we might navigate through it. We’re excited to unveil The New Conspiracy Age, a fresh series investigating how the current surge in conspiracy theories is transforming science and technology.
To begin, take a look at Dorian Lynskey’s captivating article detailing why today it’s easier than ever to be a conspiracy theorist. And keep watching—each day, we’ll feature a new story from this package in upcoming editions of The Download!
Four insights from Bill Gates regarding climate technology
Bill Gates does not hide his significance or downplay his role in today’s climate dialogue. “Who is the largest financier of companies innovating in climate technology?” he posed to several reporters during a media roundtable last week. “If there’s another, I’ve never encountered them.”
The former Microsoft CEO has dedicated the last ten years to investing in climate technology via Breakthrough Energy, which he established in 2015. With the UN climate meetings set to commence next week, Gates released a memo outlining the key issues he believes activists and negotiators should concentrate on and his current thoughts on the status of climate technology. Here’s his perspective.
—Casey Crownhart
This article comes from The Spark, MIT Technology Review’s weekly climate newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Wednesday, subscribe here.
The essential reads
I’ve sifted through the internet to find today’s most entertaining/important/scary/enlightening stories related to technology.
1 US Homeland Security disseminated misleading videos of immigration activities
They claimed to show recent events but actually used old footage or clips recorded thousands of miles away. (WP $)
+ ICE is scanning the faces of pedestrians to confirm their citizenship. (404 Media)
2 Character.AI is prohibiting users under 18 from interacting with its virtual avatars
The company is currently facing multiple lawsuits from families claiming its chatbots have harmed their kids. (NYT $)
+ They state that they are implementing age verification features. (FT $)
+ Teenage boys are using chatbots for role-playing as girlfriends. (The Guardian)
+ The impending crackdown on AI companionship. (MIT Technology Review)
3 Trump ordered the Pentagon to restart nuclear weapons testing
America has not conducted such tests for over three decades. (BBC)
+ The US President made several inaccurate claims in his announcement. (The Verge)
+ He seems unclear even why he desires to resume the tests. (The Atlantic $)
4 A Google DeepMind AI model successfully anticipated Hurricane Melissa’s severity
It marks the first time it has been used by the US National Hurricane Center. (Nature $)
+ Here’s how to genuinely assist those impacted by its widespread devastation. (Vox)
+ Google DeepMind’s recent AI model excels at weather forecasting. (MIT Technology Review)
5 A prominent record label has reached an agreement with AI music company Udio
Universal Music Group had formerly sued it for copyright violations. (WSJ $)
+ AI is also making its way into the music industry. (MIT Technology Review)
6 Are businesses exploiting AI as a pretext for layoffs?
It certainly appears to be the case. (NBC News)
+ Big Tech will continue investing billions in AI, regardless. (WP $)
7 Meta Ray-Ban users are filming themselves inside massage parlors
They’re intimidating employees, who seem unaware they are being recorded. (404 Media)
+ China’s smart glasses makers are eager to tap into this market. (FT $)
8 Just three nations dominate global space launches
What will be required to include more nations in these efforts? (Rest of World)
9 Reasons to avoid hiring an AI agent
Their freelancing skills are… limited. (Wired $)
+ Individuals paid to train AI are outsourcing their duties… to AI. (MIT Technology Review)
10 This application’s AI-generated podcasts featuring dog videos are extremely popular 🐶🎙️
Yet DogPack aims to ensure viewers understand it’s not attempting to deceive them. (Insider $)
Quote of the day
“Zuck invested five years and $70 billion to build a business that incurs a loss of $4.4 billion annually to generate merely $470 million in revenue. So unappealing that you can’t even give it away, apparently.”
—Greg Linden, a former data scientist at Microsoft, humorously critiques Meta’s troubled Reality Labs’ financials in a post on Bluesky.
Another note
How scientists aspire to rejuvenate you
Over 15 years ago, researchers at Kyoto University in Japan made an astonishing finding. By adding just four proteins to a skin cell and waiting around two weeks, some of the cells experienced an unforeseen and remarkable change: they became youthful once more. They transformed into stem cells almost identical to those found in a days-old embryo, just starting out on life’s path.
At least in a lab setting, investigators employing this method can rejuvenate aged skin cells from a 101-year-old to behave as if they’ve never aged whatsoever.
Now, following more than a decade of investigating and refining the process known as cellular reprogramming, various biotech firms and research institutions claim they have intriguing indications that this technique could lead to a groundbreaking new technology for reversing aging. Read the complete story.
—Antonio Regalado
We can still enjoy nice things
A space for comfort, enjoyment, and diversion to uplift your day. (Have any suggestions? Send me a note or share them with me.)
+ The 2025 Comedy Wildlife Award winners and nominees are classics of the category.
+ This Instagram profile has been sharing the same video of Thomas the Tank Engine’s daring rail stunts daily, and I find that simply wonderful.
+ Strategies for attaining more of that elusive deep sleep.
+ Here’s an intriguing perspective on why we remain captivated by dragons so much 🐉
