The Obtain: recycling’s position, and tidying robots


That is as we speak’s version of The Obtain, our weekday e-newsletter that gives a each day dose of what’s happening on the earth of know-how.

Why recycling alone can’t energy local weather tech

The potential to make use of previous, discarded merchandise to make one thing new sounds somewhat bit like magic. That is why, in some circumstances not less than, recycling goes to be an important instrument for local weather know-how.

However there are huge challenges forward in materials demand for local weather applied sciences, and sadly, recycling alone gained’t be sufficient to handle them. Our local weather reporter Casey Crownhart has taken a have a look at why recycling isn’t all the time the reply—and what else would possibly assist as an alternative. Learn the total story

This story is from The Spark, our weekly e-newsletter masking local weather know-how. Join to obtain it in your inbox each Wednesday.

This robotic can tidy a room with none assist

The information: A brand new robotic system known as OK-Robotic might prepare robots to choose up and transfer objects in settings they haven’t encountered earlier than. A robotic operating the system, which makes use of publicly-available AI fashions, was capable of decide up and transfer objects round a room with an 58.5% success fee—rising to 82% in rooms that have been much less cluttered.

Why it issues: Whereas robots could simply full duties like these in a laboratory, getting them to work in an unfamiliar surroundings is an actual problem. OK-Robotic might assist to plug the hole between quickly enhancing AI fashions and precise robotic capabilities, because it doesn’t require any extra coaching. Learn the total story.

Rhiannon Williams

Should you’re attention-grabbing in studying extra about house robots, why not try:

+
Right here’s why everybody’s getting enthusiastic about family robots once more.

+ This new system can educate a robotic a easy family job inside 20 minutes. The Dobb-E home robotics system was skilled in actual individuals’s properties and will assist clear up the sector’s information drawback. Learn the total story.

+ Watch this robotic prepare dinner shrimp and clear autonomously. Even low-cost {hardware} can carry out complicated duties, and AI helps robots get smarter nonetheless. Learn the total story.

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The must-reads

I’ve combed the web to seek out you as we speak’s most enjoyable/necessary/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.

1 Mark Zuckerberg apologized to households harmed by social media
Below some duress, throughout a Senate grilling. (WP $)
+ X boss Linda Yaccarino acknowledges that the platform wants extra moderators. (Wired $)
+ TikTok’s Singaporean CEO was grilled at size, however not about baby security. (Motherboard)
+ Dramatic moments have been in plentiful provide through the listening to. (NY Magazine $)
+ Little one on-line security legal guidelines will really damage children, critics say. (MIT Know-how Evaluation)

2 Autonomous automotive agency Cruise is hemorrhaging cash
To the tune of just about $3.5 billion final 12 months alone. (WP $)
+ What’s subsequent for robotaxis in 2024. (MIT Know-how Evaluation)

3 Hackers spied on critics of Jordan utilizing NSO Group’s spyware and adware 
In a concerted marketing campaign concentrating on journalists, activists, and legal professionals. (Bloomberg $)

4 AI startups are placing themselves up on the market
They’re extremely costly to run, and elevated competitors has small companies clamoring to be acquired. (The Info $)
+ One rising startup has ambitions of difficult Google’s search dominance. (NYT $)
+ Make no mistake—AI is owned by Massive Tech. (MIT Know-how Evaluation)

5 Amazon might quickly be answerable for the security of third-party merchandise
A proposed US authorities order might reclassify it from a retailer to a distributor. (WSJ $)

6 Ovaries could provide clues on the best way to prolong our lifespans
Hear up, longevity bros. (FT $)
+ Contained in the billion-dollar assembly for the mega-rich who need to dwell eternally. (MIT Know-how Evaluation)

7 Product placement is getting an AI-powered makeover
It’s a sneaky new approach of getting merchandise in entrance of eyeballs exterior of conventional advertisements. (NYT $)
+ TikTok may very well be about to lose a serious chunk of its music catalog. (Wired $)

8 Life is imitating artwork for Ukraine’s online game makers
Apocalyptic survival sport Stalker 2: Coronary heart of Chernobyl has a brand new resonance for its creators. (The Guardian)

9 The Solar’s magnetic poles are about to reverse ☀
And communication satellites and our vitality grid again on Earth is liable to disruption. (Vox)
+ LED lights are contributing to an entire lot of sunshine air pollution. (The Atlantic $)

10 The way to inform if we’re dwelling in a simulation or not
Simulated and pretend should not the identical factor. (Ars Technica)

Quote of the day

“Your product is killing individuals.”

—US Senator Josh Hawley rounds on Fb boss Mark Zuckerberg throughout a Senate listening to on baby security, the New York Instances stories.

The large story

Authorities know-how is famously unhealthy. It doesn’t need to be.

October 2023

It’s a actuality of politics that’s usually missed: as soon as a regulation is handed, it must evolve from an thought right into a plan with a price range and workers, and from there it wants to truly attain the lives of tens of millions of individuals. Shifting from coverage to implementation has all the time been a tough a part of governing. Right now it’s simple to imagine know-how could make it simpler. However is that really true?

New York Metropolis is one thing of a take a look at lab for methods to confront some large issues that plague the trendy state. And it’s discovering that generally the options are surprisingly low-tech. Learn the total story.

—Tate Ryan-Mosley

We will nonetheless have good issues

A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction in these bizarre occasions. (Obtained any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)

+ Crime Pays However Botany Doesn’t is a improbable title for a YouTube channel.
+ It’s known as the world’s best stretch for a cause.
+ Street tripping in Saudi Arabia appears to be like suitably surreal.
+ Cease placing it off: right here’s the best way to declutter your private home, room by room.
+ What can’t The Bear actor Jeremy Allen White dwell with out? Non permanent tattoos, apparently.