That is right now’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a each day dose of what’s occurring on the planet of know-how.
What we nonetheless don’t find out about weight-loss medicine
Weight-loss medicine have been again within the information this week. First, we heard that Eli Lilly, the corporate behind Mounjaro and Zepbound, turned the primary healthcare firm on the planet to attain a trillion-dollar valuation.
However we additionally discovered that, disappointingly, GLP-1 medicine don’t appear to assist individuals with Alzheimer’s illness. And that individuals who cease taking the medicine once they turn out to be pregnant can expertise doubtlessly harmful ranges of weight acquire. On high of that, some researchers fear that persons are utilizing the medicine postpartum to lose being pregnant weight with out understanding potential dangers.
All of this information ought to function a reminder that there’s loads we nonetheless don’t find out about these medicine. So let’s take a look at the enduring questions surrounding GLP-1 agonist medicine.
—Jessica Hamzelou
This text first appeared in The Checkup, MIT Expertise Assessment’s weekly biotech publication. To obtain it in your inbox each Thursday, and skim articles like this primary, enroll right here.
For those who’re fascinated with weight reduction medicine and the way they have an effect on us, check out:
+ GLP-1 agonists like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro may profit coronary heart and mind well being—however analysis suggests they could additionally trigger being pregnant issues and hurt some customers. Learn the total story.
+ We’ve by no means understood how starvation works. That is perhaps about to vary. Learn the total story.
+ Weight-loss injections have taken over the web. However what does this imply for individuals IRL?
+ This vibrating weight-loss capsule appears to work—in pigs. Learn the total story.
What we find out about how AI is affecting the financial system
There’s loads at stake on the subject of understanding how AI is altering the financial system proper now. Ought to we be pessimistic? Optimistic? Or is the state of affairs too nuanced for that?
Hopefully, we will level you in the direction of some solutions. Mat Honan, our editor in chief, will maintain a particular subscriber-only Roundtables dialog with our editor at massive David Rotman, and Richard Waters, Monetary Instances columnist, exploring what’s occurring throughout completely different markets. Register right here to affix us at 1pm ET on Tuesday December 9.
The occasion is a part of the Monetary Instances and MIT Expertise Assessment “The State of AI” partnership, exploring the worldwide impression of synthetic intelligence. Over the previous month, we’ve been working discussions between our journalists—enroll right here to obtain future editions each Monday.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to search out you right now’s most enjoyable/necessary/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.
1 Tech billionaires are gearing as much as battle AI regulation
By amassing multi-million greenback struggle chests forward of the 2026 US midterm elections. (WSJ $)
+ Donald Trump’s “Manhattan Challenge” for AI is definitely bold. (The Data $)
2 The EU desires to carry social media platforms answerable for monetary scams
New guidelines will pressure tech corporations to compensate banks in the event that they fail to take away reported scams. (Politico)
3 China is fearful a few humanoid robotic bubble
As a result of greater than 150 firms there are constructing very comparable machines. (Bloomberg $)
+ It may study some classes from the present AI bubble. (CNN)+ Why the humanoid workforce is working late. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
4 A Myanmar rip-off compound was blown up
However its residents will merely discover new bases for his or her operations. (NYT $)
+ Consultants suspect the destruction could have been for present. (Wired $)
+ Inside a romance rip-off compound—and the way individuals get tricked into being there. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
5 Navies internationally are investing in submarine drones
They value a fraction of what it takes to run a standard manned sub. (The Guardian)
+ How underwater drones may form a possible Taiwan-China battle. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
6 What to anticipate from China’s seemingly unstoppable innovation drive
Its extraordinarily permissive regulators play an enormous position. (Economist $)
+ Is China about to win the AI race? (MIT Expertise Assessment)
7 The UK is waging a struggle on VPNs
Good luck making an attempt to influence individuals to cease utilizing them. (The Verge)
8 We’re studying extra about Jeff Bezos’ mysterious clock undertaking
He’s backed the Clock of the Lengthy Now for years—and building is amping up. (FT $)
+ How getting old clocks may help us perceive why we age—and if we will reverse it. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
9 Have we lastly seen the primary hints of darkish matter?
These researchers appear to assume so. (New Scientist $)
10 A useful robotic helps archaeologists reconstruct Pompeii
Reassembling historic frescos is fiddly and time-consuming, however much less so when you’re a dextrous machine. (Reuters)
Quote of the day
“We do fail… loads.”
—Protection firm Anduril explains its move-fast-and-break-things ethos to the Wall Avenue Journal in response to studies its programs have been marred by points in Ukraine.
Yet another factor
Find out how to construct a greater AI benchmark
It’s not straightforward being one in every of Silicon Valley’s favourite benchmarks.
SWE-Bench (pronounced “swee bench”) launched in November 2024 as a method to consider an AI mannequin’s coding ability. It has since rapidly turn out to be one of the in style checks in AI. A SWE-Bench rating has turn out to be a mainstay of main mannequin releases from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google—and out of doors of basis fashions, the fine-tuners at AI corporations are in fixed competitors to see who can rise above the pack.
Regardless of all of the fervor, this isn’t precisely a truthful evaluation of which mannequin is “higher.” Entrants have begun to sport the system—which is pushing many others to wonder if there’s a greater method to truly measure AI achievement. Learn the total story.
—Russell Brandom
We will nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Bought any concepts? Drop me a line or skeet ’em at me.)
+ Aww, these sharks seem like enjoying with pool toys.
+ Unusual issues are occurring over on Easter Island (even weirder than you’ll be able to think about) 
+ Very cool—archaeologists have uncovered a Roman tomb that’s been sealed shut for 1,700 years.
+ This Japanese mass media collage is making my eyes swim, in a great way.