The Download
What's up in emerging technology
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
The US government shutdown might be making crypto winter even worse
From Our Current Issue
March 25-26, 2019
San Francisco, CA
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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.”
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.
Connectivity
Smart cities could be lousy to live in if you have a disability
Cities sometimes fail to make sure the technologies they adopt are accessible to everyone. Activists and startups are working to change that.
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.
Connectivity
Five emerging cyber-threats to worry about in 2019
The risks include AI-powered deepfake videos and the hacking of blockchain-powered smart contracts.
View from the Marketplace
Professional services firms see huge potential in machine learning
B2B marketers share strong convictions about how data analytics can help them understand—and reach—their customers. The more benefits they have witnessed, the greater possibilities they see.
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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MIT professor Dina Katabi is building a gadget that can sit in one spot and track everything from breathing to walking, no wearables required.
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.
by Antonio Regalado
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SPONSORED
The crisis of social reproduction and the end of work
High-income societies are facing the rise of precarious employment.
by Helen Hester and Nick Snircek
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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
Finance for Growth
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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