That is immediately’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a day by day dose of what’s occurring on this planet of expertise.
Yann LeCun’s new enterprise is a contrarian wager towards massive language fashions
Yann LeCun is a Turing Award recipient and a prime AI researcher, however he has lengthy been a contrarian determine within the tech world. He believes that the trade’s present obsession with massive language fashions is wrong-headed and can in the end fail to resolve many urgent issues.
As a substitute, he thinks we must be betting on world fashions—a special kind of AI that precisely displays the dynamics of the true world. Maybe it’s no shock, then, that he just lately left Meta, the place he had served as chief scientist for FAIR (Basic AI Analysis), the corporate’s influential analysis lab that he based.
LeCun sat down with MIT Expertise Evaluate in an unique on-line interview from his Paris residence to debate his new enterprise, life after Meta, the way forward for synthetic intelligence, and why he thinks the trade is chasing the flawed concepts. Learn the total interview.
—Caiwei Chen
Why 2026 is a scorching 12 months for lithium
—Casey Crownhart
In 2026, I’m going to be carefully watching the worth of lithium.
In case you’re not within the behavior of obsessively monitoring commodity markets, I definitely don’t blame you. (Although the information recently positively makes the case that minerals can have main implications for international politics and the financial system.)
However lithium is worthy of a detailed look proper now. The metallic is essential for lithium-ion batteries utilized in telephones and laptops, electrical automobiles, and large-scale vitality storage arrays on the grid.
Costs have been on fairly the curler coaster over the previous few years, they usually’re ticking up once more. What occurs subsequent might have huge implications for mining and battery expertise. Learn the total story. This story first appeared in The Spark, our publication all in regards to the tech we will use to fight the local weather disaster. Join to obtain it in your inbox each Wednesday.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to search out you immediately’s most enjoyable/vital/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.
1 Trump has climbed down from his plan for the US to take Greenland
To the aid of many throughout Europe. (BBC)
+ Trump says he’s agreed a deal to entry Greenland’s uncommon earths. Consultants say that’s ‘bonkers.’ (CNN)
+ European leaders are feeling flummoxed about what’s occurring. (FT $)
2 Apple is reportedly creating a wearable AI pin
It’s nonetheless within the very early levels—however this might be an enormous deal if it makes it to launch. (The Info $)
+ It’s additionally planning to revamp Siri and switch it into an AI chatbot. (Bloomberg $)
+ Are we able to belief AI with our our bodies? (MIT Expertise Evaluate)
3 CEOs say AI saves individuals time. Their staff disagree.
Many even say that it’s at the moment dragging down their productiveness. (WSJ $)
+ The AI growth will improve US carbon emissions—nevertheless it doesn’t need to. (Wired $)
+ Let’s additionally not neglect that enormous language fashions stay a safety nightmare. (IEEE Spectrum)
4 This chart exhibits how measles instances are exploding in America
They’ve hit a 30-year excessive, with the US on monitor to lose its ‘elimination standing.’ (Axios $)
+ Issues are poised to get even worse this 12 months. (Wired $)
5 Your first humanoid robotic coworker will virtually positively be Chinese language
However will or not it’s really helpful? That’s the even larger query. (Wired $)
+ Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says Europe might do extra to compete in robotics and AI. (CNBC)
6 Bezos’ Blue Origin is about to compete with Starlink
It plans to ship the primary ‘TeraWave’ satellites into house subsequent 12 months. (Reuters $)
+ On the bottom in Ukraine’s largest Starlink restore store. (MIT Expertise Evaluate)
7 Trump’s household made $1.4 billion off crypto final 12 months
Transfer alongside, no conflicts of curiosity to see right here. (Bloomberg $)
8 Comedian-Con has banned AI artwork
After an artist-led backlash final week. (404 Media)
+ Lots of of creatives are warning towards an AI future constructed on ‘theft on a grand scale’. (The Verge $)
9 What it’s like residing with out a smartphone for a month
Doubtlessly blissful for you, however most likely a bit annoying for everybody else. (The Guardian)
+ Why teenagers with ADHD are notably susceptible to the perils of social media. (Nature)
10 Elon Musk is feuding with a funds airline
The airline is profitable, in case you puzzled. (WP $)
Quote of the day
“I wouldn’t edit something about Donald Trump, as a result of the person makes me insane.”
—Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales tells Wired why he’s steering away from the US President’s web page.
Yet one more factor
How electrical energy might assist sort out a shocking local weather villain
Cement hides in plain sight—it’s used to construct every part from roads and buildings to dams and basement flooring. However it’s additionally a local weather menace. Cement manufacturing accounts for greater than 7% of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions—greater than sectors like aviation, transport, or landfills.
One answer to this local weather disaster is likely to be coursing via the pipes at Elegant Programs. The startup is creating a completely new approach to make cement. As a substitute of heating crushed-up rocks in lava-hot kilns, Elegant’s expertise zaps them in water with electrical energy, kicking off chemical reactions that kind the primary elements in its cement.
However it faces large challenges: competing with established trade gamers, and persuading builders to make use of its supplies within the first place. Learn the total story.
—Casey Crownhart
We will nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Obtained any concepts? Drop me a line or skeet ’em at me.)
+ Earth could also be a rubbish hearth, however house is lovely.
+ Have you learnt the right way to tie your shoelaces up correctly? Are you positive?!
+ I defy British readers to not really feel a pang of nostalgia at these crisp packets.
+ Going to mattress across the identical time each night time appears to be a behavior price adopting. ($)