That is right now’s version of The Obtain, our weekday e-newsletter that gives a every day dose of what’s occurring on the earth of expertise.
What are AI brokers?
When ChatGPT was first launched, everybody in AI was speaking concerning the new era of AI assistants. However over the previous yr, that pleasure has turned to a brand new goal: AI brokers.
Brokers featured prominently in Google’s annual I/O convention in Might, 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 may be positively a few of that too. Tech corporations are plowing huge sums into creating AI brokers, and their analysis efforts may usher within the sort of helpful AI we now have been dreaming about for many years. Many specialists, together with Sam Altman, say they’re the following huge 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 loads of minds currently, within the wake of assorted televised political debates. Analysis has proven that we’re typically fairly unhealthy at telling a reality from a lie.
Some consider that AI may assist enhance our odds, and do higher than dodgy quaint methods like polygraph checks. AI-based lie detection programs may in the future be used to assist us sift reality from faux information, consider claims, and doubtlessly even spot fibs and exaggerations in job purposes. The query is whether or not we are going to belief them. And if we should always. Learn the total story.
—Jessica Hamzelou
This story is from The Checkup, our weekly well being and biotech e-newsletter. Enroll to obtain it in your inbox each Thursday.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to seek out you right now’s most enjoyable/essential/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.
1 The EU is plotting tariffs for Chinese language-made EVs
The choice is a large spanner within the works for automakers looking for a reprieve from the continued commerce battle. (WSJ $)
+ Chinese language officers will probably be allowed to make use of Teslas for the primary time. (Bloomberg $)
+ The nation’s EV battery makers wish to get into stationary vitality storage. (Reuters)
+ Europe’s best-selling Chinese language EV maker has a shocking title. (MIT Know-how 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 software designed to thwart AI bots
The cloud agency’s mannequin flags bots trying to scrape its websites’ knowledge. (TechCrunch)
+ It’s not a good time for cloud corporations 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 a bit little bit of assist from Apple AirTags. (WSJ $)
6 An ‘moral’ AI music generator can’t create good songs
Skilled musicians have been left unimpressed by its dodgy compositions. (Wired $)
+ Coaching AI music fashions is about to get very costly. (MIT Know-how Evaluation)
7 Mapping apps are wildly simplistic
Their must cater to a large viewers leaves few feeling happy. (The Atlantic $)
8 WhatsApp is dabbling with AI-generated avatars
A phrase to the smart: don’t. (The Verge)
9 TikTok customers are hungry for political content material
Because the UK’s normal election has proved. (The Guardian)
+ Three expertise developments shaping 2024’s elections. (MIT Know-how Evaluation)
10 Minecraft is eyeing a future past video video games
AI is more likely to play an element in these plans, I’d wager. (Bloomberg $)
+ Fb gaming juggernaut FarmVille remains to be going, too. (The Guardian)
+ A bot that watched 70,000 hours of Minecraft may unlock AI’s subsequent huge factor. (MIT Know-how 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 strategy in making an attempt 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 shield 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 prepared to behave illegally, and others fall for the tales they inform.
In the end, on-line crime is a human story. However why does it work, and the way can we shield 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. (Acquired any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)
+ These geese simply love the hose.
+ We will’t say for positive, however popcorn was most likely invented as a method of storing corn for lengthy durations of time 
+ Congratulations to Patrick Bertoletti, who gained Nathan’s annual sizzling dog-eating competitors after consuming a whopping 58 canines inside 10 minutes.
+ Hurry up George R.R. Martin, we wish one other guide!
