The Download: the most disappointing technology of 2025, along with Sam Altman’s AI exaggeration

Welcome to our yearly roundup of the most disappointing, unsuccessful, and frankly absurd technologies of the year.

We often believe each technological misstep carries a lesson. However, when technology relies heavily on power, sometimes the conclusion is more straightforward: it might have been wiser to avoid it.

2025 had its share of regrets. Here are some of the key examples.

—Antonio Regalado

A concise history of Sam Altman’s hype

Whenever you’ve encountered a nearly unbelievable prediction about AI capabilities, it often turns out that Sam Altman was, if not the pioneer behind it, at least the most compelling and impactful advocate for it.

For over a decade, he has been recognized in Silicon Valley as a premier fundraiser and influencer. Throughout this time, Altman’s statements have driven the conversation. His comments on AI are seldom verifiable at the moment he makes them, but they lead us to one clear conclusion: This trajectory we are on with AI could culminate in either remarkable advancements or dire outcomes, and OpenAI will require substantial funding to guide it in the right direction. In this regard, he is the quintessential hype man.

To grasp how his perspective has influenced our perceptions of AI’s potential, we reviewed nearly all his remarks about the technology. His own words outline how we reached this point. Read the full narrative.

—James O’Donnell

This narrative is part of our fresh Hype Correction compilation, a series of articles aimed at helping you recalibrate your expectations regarding what AI can achieve—and what it cannot. Explore the complete compilation here.

Can AI genuinely aid in discovering new materials?

One of my favorite articles in the Hype Correction compilation comes from my colleague David Rotman, who examined AI’s role in materials research. AI has the potential to revolutionize the discovery of new materials—innovation that could be particularly beneficial in the climate technology sector, which requires new batteries, semiconductors, magnets, and more.

However, the field still needs to demonstrate it can produce truly innovative and functional materials. Can AI genuinely enhance materials research? What form would that take? Read the complete narrative.

—Casey Crownhart

This article originates from The Spark, MIT Technology Review’s weekly climate newsletter. To get it in your inbox every Wednesday, subscribe here.

The must-reads

I’ve scoured the internet to bring you today’s most amusing/essential/daunting/captivating technology stories.

1 China developed a chip-making machine to challenge Western dominance
Indicating that China is much closer to achieving semiconductor autonomy than previously thought. (Reuters)
+ China’s chip surge is generating a new class of billionaires in the AI era. (Insider $)

2 NASA finally has a new leader
It’s billionaire astronaut Jared Isaacman, a close associate of Elon Musk. (Insider $)
+ But will Isaacman lead the US back to the Moon before China? (BBC)
+ Trump had previously withdrawn his nomination, but reappointed Isaacman last month. (The Verge)

3 The family of a teenage sextortion victim is suing Meta
Murray Dowey took his own life after being deceived into sending intimate photos to an international criminal network. (The Guardian)
+ It is believed that the gang is operating out of West Africa. (BBC)

4 US and Chinese satellites are competing in orbit
In fact, these encounters are so frequent that officials have coined the term—”dogfighting.” (WP $)
+ How to engage in warfare in space (and avoid consequences) (MIT Technology Review)

5 It’s not just AI that’s currently caught in a bubble
Labubus, anyone? (Bloomberg $)
+ What exactly is the AI bubble? (MIT Technology Review)

6 Elon Musk’s Texas school isn’t running as a conventional school
Rather, it operates as a “licensed child care program” with only a handful of children enrolled. (NYT $)

7 US Border Patrol is constructing a network of small drones
In an effort to enhance its clandestine surveillance capabilities. (Wired $)
+ This massive microwave may alter the future of warfare. (MIT Technology Review)

8 This spoon enhances the flavor of low-salt meals
By directing the food’s sodium ions directly to the eater’s taste buds. (IEEE Spectrum)

9 AI cannot be relied upon to manage an office vending machine
Though the fortunate Wall Street Journal employee who ended up with a free PlayStation might disagree. (WSJ $)

10 Physicists have created a 3D-printed Christmas tree made of ice 🎄
No refrigeration system needed. (Ars Technica) 

Quote of the day

“It will be referenced less frequently, similar to how Microsoft Office isn’t mentioned in job listings anymore.”

—Marc Cenedella, founder and CEO of the career platform Ladders, shares with Insider why employers will increasingly expect their new hires to be fully familiar with AI.

One more thing

Is this the future of the electric grid?

Lincoln Electric System, a municipal utility in Nebraska, is accustomed to enduring intense blizzards. However, what’s upcoming—not just for Lincoln Electric but for all energy providers—is a different type of challenge.

Utilities must maintain service during increasingly severe and frequent storms and wildfires, heightened cyberattack risks and physical disruptions, and a highly unpredictable policy and regulatory environment. They must keep costs down amid inflationary pressures. Furthermore, they must adapt to a monumental shift in grid functionality, as the sector strives to move from fossil fuel-generated power to renewable sources like solar and wind.

The electric grid is preparing for a near future defined by upheaval. In many ways, Lincoln Electric serves as an ideal focal point for examining what lies ahead. Read the entire story.

—Andrew Blum

We can still enjoy nice things

A space for comfort, enjoyment, and diversion to lighten your day. (Have any suggestions? Send me an email or send them my way.)

+ A fragrance firm is working to recreate the scent of extinct flowers, incredible. 
+ Seattle’s Sauna Festival seems like my kind of event.
+ Switzerland has constructed what’s basically a theme park dedicated to Saint Bernards. 
+ I fear I’ll never recover from this story of director extraordinaire James Cameron performing CPR on a drowning rat to save its life 🐀