Welcome to today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter designed to keep you updated on the latest happenings in technology.
Sodium-ion batteries are starting to be integrated into vehicles and power grids
For many years, lithium-ion batteries have served as the power source for our smartphones, laptops, and electric cars. However, the limited availability and fluctuating costs of lithium have prompted the industry to look for more stable substitutes. Introducing: sodium-ion batteries.
These function similarly to lithium-ion batteries: they store and discharge energy by transferring ions between two electrodes. Yet, contrary to lithium, which is a relatively scarce resource sourced from only a few nations, sodium is affordable and widely available. Discover why it is set to play a bigger role in our energy future.
—Caiwei Chen
Sodium-ion batteries are among MIT Technology Review’s 10 Breakthrough Technologies for this year. See what else made the cut.
CES highlighted why Chinese tech firms are so hopeful
—Caiwei Chen
I opted to attend CES somewhat last minute. During the holiday season, contacts from China inundated me with texts regarding their travel plans. After several “See you in Vegas?” messages, I gave in. As a tech writer focused on China residing in the US, there’s one week annually when my entire area of focus seems to converge—no lengthy flights involved.
CES, or the Consumer Electronics Show, is the largest tech exhibition globally, where businesses unveil new devices and announce advancements, taking place every January. China has consistently been part of CES, but this year it made a significant impression. Chinese firms presented everything from AI gadgets to home appliances and robots, with an optimistic overall sentiment. Find out why.
This article first appeared in The Algorithm, our weekly newsletter offering an inside look at the developments in AI. Subscribe to receive it every Monday.
This firm is working on gene therapies for muscle development, erectile issues, and “extreme longevity”
Later this month, a small group of volunteers will participate in an experimental gene therapy clinical trial. According to Ivan Morgunov, the CEO of Unlimited Bio, the firm conducting the trial, these treatments are potential longevity solutions.
The volunteers, who are individually covering their travel and treatment expenses, will undergo a series of injections in their arms and legs. One therapy aims to enhance blood flow to those muscles, while the other promotes muscle growth. The firm anticipates seeing advancements in strength, endurance, and recovery and plans to eventually test similar therapies for the scalp (treating baldness) and penis (addressing erectile dysfunction).
However, experts caution that the trial size is too limited and may not yield significant insights. Read the complete story.
—Jessica Hamzelou
The essential reads
I’ve scoured the internet to bring you today’s most interesting/important/terrifying/captivating technology stories.
1 Apple collaborates with Google to revitalize Siri with AI
This marks a significant victory for Google and a setback for OpenAI. (CNBC)
2 Trump seeks Elon Musk’s assistance to end Iran’s internet blackout
He’s urging Musk to enable Iranians to bypass it using Starlink. (WP $)
+ Smuggled technology serves as Iran’s sole connection to the outside world. (The Guardian)
3 Right-wing influencers have descended upon Minneapolis
Their aim is to portray it as a chaotic city and justify ICE’s shooting of Renee Nicole Good. (Wired $)
4 The Pentagon is incorporating Musk’s Grok AI chatbot
Just as it faces international criticism over creating non-consensual deepfakes. (NPR)
+ The UK is initiating a formal investigation into X. (The Guardian)
+ New legislation will be introduced to outlaw such image creation. (BBC)
5 The initiative to power AI is wreaking havoc on coastal villages in Taiwan
A swift expansion of wind energy is negatively impacting farmers and fishermen. (Rest of World)
+ Instead of worrying about your AI impact, focus on the broader picture. (MIT Technology Review)
6 Don’t expect a ChatGPT breakthrough for robots anytime soon
AI has achieved remarkable progress in robotics, but we are still far from human-like abilities. (FT $)
+ Will we ever accept humanoid robots in our households? (MIT Technology Review)
7 Meta is gearing up to cut hundreds of positions within the metaverse division
Reality Labs belongs to the past—now the focus is on AI. (NYT $)
8 We could potentially eliminate influenza
A “universal” flu vaccine may provide significantly better protection than current alternatives. (Vox $)
9 You can now book a hotel stay on the moon
It’s available for just $250,000. (Ars Technica)
+ This astronaut is preparing tourists for flights to the first-ever commercial space station. (MIT Technology Review)
10 AI-generated images are complicating the search for some monkeys in Missouri
For real. 🙈 (AP)
Quote of the day
“In major cities, everyone exists as a solitary, detached individual. People reside in soundproof homes, unaware of their neighbors’ surnames.”
—A user on the social media platform RedNote discusses the popularity of a new app named ‘Are you dead’ in China, Business Insider reports.
One last note
AI is also making its way into music
While large language models that generate text have surged in popularity over the last three years, another kind of AI utilizing diffusion models is making a significant mark on creative fields.
By converting random noise into structured patterns, diffusion models can produce new images, videos, or audio based on text prompts or other data inputs. The top models generate results that are indistinguishable from those crafted by humans.
These models are now moving into a creative arena that could be even more susceptible to disruption than any other: music. Their outputs highlight the increasing complexity of defining authorship and originality in the AI era. Read the entire narrative.
—James O’Donnell
We can still enjoy nice things
A hub for comfort, entertainment, and distraction to brighten your day. (Do you have any suggestions? Send me a message or message me on.)
+ Bricking your phone is the new trend for Dry January.
+ If you’re craving an adventure this year, check out this National Geographic compilation.
+ Very few individuals are as passionately punk as women experiencing menopause, as highlighted in this new television show ($).
+ Take a look at how Pallas cats keep warm during winter.
