That is right this moment’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a every day dose of what’s occurring on the earth of know-how.
What are AI brokers?
When ChatGPT was first launched, everybody in AI was speaking in regards to the new technology of AI assistants. However over the previous 12 months, that pleasure has turned to a brand new goal: AI brokers.
Brokers featured prominently in Google’s annual I/O convention in Could, when the corporate unveiled its new AI agent known as Astra, which permits customers to work together with it utilizing audio and video. OpenAI’s new GPT-4o mannequin has additionally been known as an AI agent.
And it’s not simply hype, though there’s undoubtedly a few of that too. Tech firms are plowing huge sums into creating AI brokers, and their analysis efforts may usher within the sort of helpful AI we have now been dreaming about for many years. Many specialists, together with Sam Altman, say they’re the subsequent massive factor. However what are they? And the way can we use them? Learn the total story.
—Melissa Heikkilä
AI lie detectors are higher than people at recognizing lies
Can you see a liar? It’s a query I think about has been on a variety of minds these days, within the wake of varied televised political debates. Analysis has proven that we’re typically fairly dangerous at telling a fact from a lie.
Some imagine that AI may assist enhance our odds, and do higher than dodgy quaint methods like polygraph assessments. AI-based lie detection methods may sooner or later be used to assist us sift reality from pretend information, consider claims, and probably even spot fibs and exaggerations in job functions. The query is whether or not we’ll belief them. And if we must always. Learn the total story.
—Jessica Hamzelou
This story is from The Checkup, our weekly well being and biotech publication. Join to obtain it in your inbox each Thursday.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to seek out you right this moment’s most enjoyable/vital/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.
1 The EU is plotting tariffs for Chinese language-made EVs
The choice is a large spanner within the works for automakers searching for a reprieve from the continuing commerce conflict. (WSJ $)
+ Chinese language officers can be allowed to make use of Teslas for the primary time. (Bloomberg $)
+ The nation’s EV battery makers need to get into stationary power storage. (Reuters)
+ Europe’s best-selling Chinese language EV maker has a shocking identify. (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
2 Xenophobia is rampant on social media in China
Excessive Chinese language nationalism seems to be fueling violent assaults on foreigners. (NYT $)
3 Cloudflare has launched a instrument designed to thwart AI bots
The cloud agency’s mannequin flags bots making an attempt to scrape its websites’ information. (TechCrunch)
+ It’s not a good time for cloud firms throughout the board. (FT $)
4 Afghan girls are main secret lives on-line
They’re turning to the web to fight the Taliban’s restrictions on their freedom. (WP $)
5 Political candidates are monitoring their stolen marketing campaign indicators
With just a little little bit of assist from Apple AirTags. (WSJ $)
6 An ‘moral’ AI music generator can’t create good songs
Skilled musicians had been left unimpressed by its dodgy compositions. (Wired $)
+ Coaching AI music fashions is about to get very costly. (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
7 Mapping apps are wildly simplistic
Their must cater to a large viewers leaves few feeling glad. (The Atlantic $)
8 WhatsApp is dabbling with AI-generated avatars
A phrase to the clever: don’t. (The Verge)
9 TikTok customers are hungry for political content material
Because the UK’s common election has proved. (The Guardian)
+ Three know-how tendencies shaping 2024’s elections. (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
10 Minecraft is eyeing a future past video video games
AI is prone to play a component in these plans, I’d wager. (Bloomberg $)
+ Fb gaming juggernaut FarmVille continues to be going, too. (The Guardian)
+ A bot that watched 70,000 hours of Minecraft may unlock AI’s subsequent massive factor. (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
Quote of the day
“I’m so cute; please watch my marketing campaign broadcast.”
—Airi Uchino, a candidate in Tokyo’s forthcoming governor elections, takes a novel method in attempting to safe residents’ votes, the Related Press stories.
The massive story
How tradition drives foul play on the web, and the way new “upcode” can defend us
From Bored Apes and Fancy Bears, to Shiba Inu cash, self-replicating viruses, and whales, the web is crawling with fraud, hacks, and scams.
And whereas new applied sciences come and go, they modify little about the truth that on-line unlawful operations exist as a result of some persons are keen to behave illegally, and others fall for the tales they inform.
Finally, on-line crime is a human story. However why does it work, and the way can we defend ourselves from falling for such schemes? Learn the total story.
—Rebecca Ackermann
We will nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Bought any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)
+ These geese simply love the hose.
+ We will’t say for certain, however popcorn was most likely invented as a method of storing corn for lengthy durations of time 
+ Congratulations to Patrick Bertoletti, who received Nathan’s annual sizzling dog-eating competitors after consuming a whopping 58 canine inside 10 minutes.
+ Hurry up George R.R. Martin, we would like one other e-book!
