The Download: what Moltbook reveals about AI enthusiasm, and the growth and growth of AI therapy

Recently, a vibe-centric Reddit alternative known as Moltbook became the hottest spot on the internet, marketed as a social platform for bots. As the tagline of the site notes: “Where AI agents converse, debate, and vote. Humans allowed to watch.”

We watched! Debuting on January 28, Moltbook exploded in popularity within hours. It serves as a space where various instances of an open-source LLM-driven agent called OpenClaw (previously named ClawdBot, then Moltbot) can gather to engage freely.

But is Moltbook truly a vision of the future, as many assert? Or is it something entirely different? Discover the complete story.

—Will Douglas Heaven

The rise of the AI therapist

We are currently facing a worldwide mental health emergency. Over a billion individuals around the globe are afflicted by mental health issues, according to the World Health Organization. The rates of anxiety and depression are rising across many groups, especially among youth, with suicide claiming hundreds of thousands of lives each year.

In light of the apparent need for accessible and affordable mental health support, it’s no surprise that many are turning to artificial intelligence for potential solutions. Millions are already engaged in therapy via popular chatbots, or through specialized apps like Wysa and Woebot.

Four newly released books serve as a reminder that although the current landscape seems chaotic with breakthroughs, controversies, and disorientation, this confusing era is rooted in profound histories of care, technology, and trust. Read the full story.

—Becky Ferreira

This article is from the latest print issue of MIT Technology Review magazine, focusing on the groundbreaking innovations unfolding at present. If you haven’t yet, subscribe now to get future issues directly.

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The must-reads

I’ve scoured the web to bring you today’s most entertaining/important/urgent/captivating stories about technology.

1 The US is not holding polluters accountable
The number of civil lawsuits being pursued has significantly declined compared to Trump’s first term. (Ars Technica)
+ Increasing GDP = increased carbon emissions. But does it need to be? (The Guardian)

2 The European Union has cautioned Meta against restricting competing AI assistants
It’s the latest action from Brussels seeking to regulate Big Tech. (Bloomberg $)

3 AI advertisements dominated the Super Bowl
Promoting chatbots while taking jabs at their rivals. (TechCrunch)
+ They seemed to target AI skeptics as well. (WP $)
+ Celebrities were present in large numbers to promote AI products. (Slate $)

4 China aims to completely lead the humanoid robot market
Regional governments and banks are eager to support promising startups. (WSJ $)
+ Understanding why the humanoid workforce is delayed. (MIT Technology Review)

5 We are experiencing the first significant crypto downturn
Cryptocurrency is now firmly integrated into the financial system, for better or worse. (NY Mag $)
+ Even Wall Street’s understanding of AI is rather shaky. (Semafor)
+ Safe markets are also appearing quite unstable right now. (Economist $)

6 The individual who introduced vibe coding has a new obsession 
“Agentic engineering” is reportedly the next significant trend. (Insider $)
+ Agentic AI is currently a hot topic. (The Information $)
+ What does vibe coding entail, precisely? (MIT Technology Review)

7 The AI running application Runna has revised its intensive training routines 🏃‍♂️
Runners had long suspected its recommendations were leading them toward injury. (WSJ $)

8 San Francisco’s pro-billionaire demonstration was a failure 
Only about thirty supporters attended. (SF Chronicle)
+ Journalists predictably came close to outnumbering the protestors. (TechCrunch)

9 AI is transforming romance literature ❤️
However, models still struggle with creating intimate scenes. (NYT $)
+ It’s surprisingly simple to forge a relationship with an AI chatbot. (MIT Technology Review) 

10 ChatGPT isn’t going to replace human stylists in the near future
Its menswear recommendations lean more toward manosphere influencer than dapper gentleman. (GQ)

Quote of the day

“There is no Plan B, because that assumes you will fail. We’re committed to the startup journey until the end.”

—William Alexander, a determined 21-year-old AI employee, shares his and his peers’ mindset about striving for success in the fiercely competitive world to the New York Times.

One last thing

The open-source AI surge is reliant on Big Tech’s generosity. How long can it endure?

In May 2023, a leaked memo attributed to Luke Sernau, a senior engineer at Google, publicly expressed what many in Silicon Valley had been quietly contemplating: an open-source frenzy is jeopardizing Big Tech’s control over AI.

This shift is largely beneficial. AI cannot flourish if only a handful of wealthy corporations dictate access and usage. Nevertheless, this open-source flowering is fragile, and should Big Tech choose to withdraw, a thriving ecosystem might regress into obscurity. Explore the complete story.

—Will Douglas Heaven

We can still enjoy nice things

A space for comfort, enjoyment, and distraction to uplift your day. (Have suggestions? Contact me or send them my way.)

+ Dark showering, anyone?
+ Chef Yujia Hu is famous for his shoe-shaped sushi creations.
+ Meanwhile, in the depths of the South Atlantic Ocean: a giant phantom jelly has been sightings.
+ I have immense respect for this X account documenting rats and mice in films and TV 🐀🐁