This is today's download version, Our weekday newsletter providing a daily dose of what's happening in the world of technology.
Why won't the dream of fusion power go away?
There's a joke about the power of fusion that always comes up when people start talking about technology. It goes like this: Fusion is the energy of the future… and always will be.
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Nuclear fusion reactors could one day provide cheap, abundant energy without carbon emissions. But the promise of “someday” has been around for a long time without any reward. The merger has generated a lot of excitement, but it has also generated a lot of skepticism. It's the ultimate shot in energy technology.
But despite the enormous technical challenges, the promise of 24-hour carbon-free nuclear fusion power means experts say we shouldn't give up. Read the full story.
Note: Our climate correspondent Casey Cronhart will discuss the future of long-range climate technologies like fusion during our second annual Climate Technology Conference, taking place at MIT on October 4-5. Get your ticket now!
This story first appeared in The Spark, our weekly climate and energy newsletter. subscription Receive it in your inbox every Wednesday.
This robotic exoskeleton can help runners run faster
What happened: A wearable exoskeleton could help runners increase their speed by encouraging them to take more steps, allowing them to cover short distances more quickly, a new study has found.
How it works: The researchers built a lightweight exosuit with steel cables powered by electric motors attached to the runner's thighs. The motors pull on the cables, simulating muscle contraction. An exosuit helps people run faster by aiding hip extension, the powerful movement that propels a runner forward.
Big ambitions: Buoyed by their findings, the researchers want to know if their exosuit could help a runner beat the men's 100-metre world record. They are working on a custom exosuit for Kyung Soo Oh, South Korea's former national elite runner who retired, attempting to break Usain Bolt's record of 9.58 seconds. Read the full story.
—Rhiannon Williams
MIT Technology Review Flash Sale!
It's the last day of our Flash Sale, allowing you to subscribe to MIT Technology Review for just $8 per month for digital-only access, or $99 per year for digital access and receive our print issues by mail.
Better yet, you'll also get a free copy of our 10 Breakthrough Technologies for 2023 issue. Sign up today and get 17% off the full price.
What to read
I've combed the internet to find today's most interesting/important/scary/cool stories about technology.
1 Meta has released a large number of AI chatbots featuring famous personalities
AI chatbots inspired by Paris Hilton and Snoop Dogg are coming to its apps. (the edge)
+ The new chatbot Meta AI is its answer to ChatGPT. ($WP)
+ Meta is confident that no private data was used to train the model. (Reuters)
+ Chinese AI chatbots want to be your emotional support. (MIT Technology Review)
2 The Hollywood writers strike is over
After they were able to secure protection against artificial intelligence writing texts. (Tech Crunch)
+ However, studios can still provide writers with AI-generated material. (Motherboard)
+ There is no contractual agreement with major AI companies either. ($wired)
3 OpenAI runs secretly on the consumer's device
In conjunction with technology design chief Jony Ive, no less. ($foot)
+ Hardware suitable for the age of artificial intelligence is an interesting proposition. ($information)
+ The inside story of how ChatGPT was built from the people who made it. (MIT Technology Review)
4 Google is increasingly handing over location data to the police
Innocent people's information is often caught in the process. (Bloomberg Dollar)
5X CEO Linda Yaccarino says it will be profitable next year
Despite Elon Musk's recent announcement of a significant decline in advertising revenue. (Wall Street Journal $)
+ Yaccarino says 90% of top advertisers have returned. (Bloomberg Dollar)
6 We live in an era of dramatic austerity
Money saving experts have a lot of influence over their budget-conscious audience. (Watchman)
7 We no longer build cities
But trying to fix what we already have isn't easy either. (The Atlantic $)
+ The smart city is a forever unrealized utopia. (MIT Technology Review)
8 Wikiracing is very useful
The art of racing through Wikipedia articles with the fewest possible clicks is harder than it seems. ($list)
9 Online Creators Are Facing an Identity Crisis
They've outgrown their personal brands, but their fans won't let them change. (hustle)
10 scientists release armies of crabs in Florida 🦀
They are essential to help save vulnerable coral reefs from the ravages of climate change. (Fox)
+ The desperate race to cool the ocean before it's too late. (MIT Technology Review)
Quote of the day
“I think it would be more fun to fight someone who actually fights.”
—Mark Zuckerberg is setting his sights on a matchup with a more worthy opponent, after his spat with rival Elon Musk never came to fruition, he told The Verge.
The big story
Uber's facial recognition technology is blocking Indian drivers from accessing their accounts
December 2022
One evening in February 2021, Uber driver Niradi Srikanth was preparing to start his shift ferrying passengers around the Indian city of Hyderabad. He pointed the phone at his face to take a selfie to verify his identity. The process usually went smoothly. But this time he couldn't log in.
Srikanth suspected it was because he had recently shaved his head. After further attempts to log in were rejected, Uber informed him that his account had been blocked. He is not alone.
In an MIT Technology Review survey of 150 Uber drivers in the country, nearly half were either temporarily or permanently locked out of their accounts due to issues with their profile pictures. It's a flaw that can have devastating consequences for affected workers. Read the full story.
—Varsha Bansal
We can still have nice things
A place of comfort, fun and distraction in these strange times. (Do you have any ideas? Send me a line or Tweet 'em at me.)
+ Acting legend Brian Cox has no time for artificial intelligence.
+ How Beyoncé's Renaissance Tour captured a social and political moment in time.
+ The '90s are well and truly back, and they're coming for the next generation. ($)
+ It's time to play the little piano game.
+ If you're planning a trip to somewhere as remote as possible, these sites are worth seeing.
