That is in the present day’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a day by day dose of what’s happening on this planet 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 yr, 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 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 complete story.
—Melissa Heikkilä
AI lie detectors are higher than people at recognizing lies
Can you notice a liar? It’s a query I think about has been on plenty of minds these days, within the wake of varied televised political debates. Analysis has proven that we’re typically fairly unhealthy at telling a fact from a lie.
Some imagine that AI may assist enhance our odds, and do higher than dodgy quaint strategies like polygraph assessments. AI-based lie detection methods may in the future be used to assist us sift truth from faux information, consider claims, and probably even spot fibs and exaggerations in job purposes. The query is whether or not we’ll belief them. And if we should always. Learn the complete story.
—Jessica Hamzelou
This story is from The Checkup, our weekly well being and biotech publication. Enroll to obtain it in your inbox each Thursday.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to seek out you in the present day’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 looking for a reprieve from the continued commerce battle. (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 stunning identify. (MIT Know-how Evaluate)
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 making an attempt to scrape its websites’ information. (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 somewhat 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 Evaluate)
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 sensible: 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 developments shaping 2024’s elections. (MIT Know-how Evaluate)
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 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 Evaluate)
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 making an attempt to safe residents’ votes, the Related Press reviews.
The large 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 alter 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.
In the end, 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 complete 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 certain, however popcorn was in all probability invented as a way of storing corn for lengthy durations of time 
+ Congratulations to Patrick Bertoletti, who received Nathan’s annual scorching dog-eating competitors after consuming a whopping 58 canines inside 10 minutes.
+ Hurry up George R.R. Martin, we would like one other guide!