The Download
What's up in emerging technology
Millions of e-mail addresses have been exposed—here’s how to check if yours was one of them
Most people don’t know what Facebook knows about them
A robot dog has learned to run faster with machine learning
The first artificial meteor shower is about to be tested in space
CERN wants to build a particle collider that’s four times bigger than the LHC
From Our Current Issue
March 25-26, 2019
San Francisco, CA
Artificial intelligence is here. Own what happens next.
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Connectivity
Hate lawyers? Can’t afford one? Blockchain smart contracts are here to help.
Mainstream online legal services are getting serious about using crypto to automate bits of what they do—and lower the bar to entry for us all.
Intelligent Machines
A neural network can learn to organize the world it sees into concepts—just like we do
Generative adversarial networks are not just good for causing mischief. They can also show us how AI algorithms “think.”
Connectivity
When Chinese hackers declared war on the rest of us
Many thought the internet would bring democracy to China. Instead it empowered rampant government oppression, and now the censors are turning their attention to the rest of the world.
Intelligent Machines
Americans want to regulate AI but don’t trust anyone to do it
The public thinks that human-level AI is likely to cause more harm than good, a new report has shown.
Intelligent Machines
Opioid overdoses could be prevented by an app that listens to breathing
Many overdoses don’t have to be fatal if they’re caught in time. A new app can identify when you might be in trouble and call for help.
Business Impact
Israel’s “startup nation” is under threat from the tech giants that nurtured it
Global companies trying to tap into Tel Aviv’s unique innovation ecosystem are threatening to destroy the very thing they came for.
Intelligent Machines
Cheaper AI for everyone is the promise with Intel and Facebook’s new chip
Companies hoping to use artificial intelligence should benefit from more efficient chip designs.
View from the Marketplace
Digital transformation sparks innovation in networking
The network needs to keep pace with the demands of exciting new technologies like containers and microservices, according to presenters at a recent industry event. The first step in that process is changing the culture.
View from the Marketplace
For data-savvy marketers, there’s a new keyword: Intent
As more companies look to machine learning for insights, marketers need to use new tools and technology to engage potential customers at the right time and place.
View from the Marketplace
From innovation to monetization: The economics of data-driven transformation
Used strategically, an organization’s data gains value over time. But to unlock its potential requires first establishing the right technical and cultural foundations.
View from the Marketplace
The state of artificial intelligence
AI technologies are coming into mainstream business usage—but a host of challenges remains. An interactive infographic illustrates the opportunities and the hurdles.
In association with Oracle, Intel
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Rewriting Life
Reprogramming our bodies to make us healthier.
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Electric nanoparticles can target and kill cancer cells by zapping them
Particles that produce electrical signals when bombarded with ultrasound could be a way to direct a cell-killing treatment directly to tumors.
by Emerging Technology from the arXiv
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Gene engineers make super-size plants that are 40% larger
Researchers hope to create a new “green revolution” by improving photosynthesis.
by Antonio Regalado
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All the reasons 2018 was a breakout year for DNA data
Gene information on millions of people is revolutionizing how we predict disease, catch criminals, and find new drugs.
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The crisis of social reproduction and the end of work
High-income societies are facing the rise of precarious employment.
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Advanced tech, but growth slow and unequal: paradoxes and policies
Slowing productivity growth in major economies amid seemingly booming technology presents a paradox.
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From the age of perplexity to the era of opportunities
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Features
Intelligent Machines
Never mind killer robots—here are six real AI dangers to watch out for in 2019
Last year a string of controversies revealed a darker (and dumber) side to artificial intelligence.
Intelligent Machines
Artificial intelligence and robots are transforming how we work and live.
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Should a self-driving car kill the baby or the grandma? Depends on where you’re from.
The infamous “trolley problem” was put to millions of people in a global study, revealing how much ethics diverge across cultures.
by Karen Hao
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We’d have more quantum computers if it weren’t so hard to find the damn cables
Quantum machines will deliver the next great leap forward in computing, but researchers building them can’t easily get some of the exotic components they need.
by Martin Giles
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This Ikea kitchen might teach industrial robots to be less dumb and more helpful
Nvidia’s new robotics lab will see if robots can learn to fetch the ketchup, load the dishwasher, and—eventually—make a cake.
by Will Knight