That is at this time’s version of The Obtain, our weekday e-newsletter that gives a each day dose of what’s occurring on this planet of expertise.
Motor neuron illnesses took their voices. AI is bringing them again.
Jules Rodriguez misplaced his voice in October of final 12 months. His speech had been deteriorating since a prognosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2020, however a tracheostomy to assist him breathe dealt the ultimate blow.
Rodriguez and his spouse, Maria Fernandez, who reside in Miami, thought they might by no means hear his voice once more. Then they re-created it utilizing AI. After feeding outdated recordings of Rodriguez’s voice right into a instrument skilled on voices from movie, tv, radio, and podcasts, the couple had been capable of generate a voice clone—a manner for Jules to speak in his “outdated voice.”
Rodriguez is one among over a thousand folks with speech difficulties who’ve cloned their voices utilizing free software program from ElevenLabs. The AI voice clones aren’t excellent. However they signify an unlimited enchancment on earlier communication applied sciences and are already bettering the lives of individuals with motor neuron illnesses. Learn the complete story.
—Jessica Hamzelou
The AI relationship revolution is already right here
AI is in all places, and it’s beginning to alter {our relationships} in new and surprising methods—relationships with our spouses, youngsters, colleagues, mates, and even ourselves. Though the expertise stays unpredictable and typically baffling, people from all the world over and from all walks of life are discovering it helpful, supportive, and comforting, too.
Individuals are utilizing giant language fashions to hunt validation, mediate marital arguments, and assist navigate interactions with their group. They’re utilizing it for assist in parenting, for self-care, and even to fall in love. Within the coming a long time, many extra people will be a part of them. And that is solely the start. What occurs subsequent is as much as us. Learn the complete story.
—Rhiannon Williams
This subscriber-only story is the subsequent version of our print journal, which is all about relationships. Subscribe now to get a replica when it lands on February 26!
What a significant battery fireplace means for the way forward for vitality storage
A couple of weeks in the past, a fireplace broke out on the Moss Touchdown Energy Plant in California, the world’s largest assortment of batteries on the grid. Though the flames had been extinguished in just a few days, the metaphorical smoke remains to be clearing. Residents have reported well being points, and pollution have been discovered within the water and floor close by. A lawsuit has been filed.
Within the wake of high-profile fires like Moss Touchdown, there are comprehensible considerations about battery security. On the identical time, as extra wind, solar energy, and different variable electrical energy sources come on-line, giant vitality storage installations shall be much more essential for the grid.
Learn our story to atone for what occurred on this fireplace, what the lingering considerations are, and what comes subsequent for the vitality storage trade.
—Casey Crownhart
This story is from The Spark, our weekly e-newsletter explaining the tech fixing 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 at this time’s most enjoyable/vital/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.
1 Inside Elon Musk’s AI coup
When you suppose authorities run by AI sounds dystopian, you’d be proper. (New Yorker $)
+ Can AI assist DOGE slash authorities budgets? It’s complicated. (MIT Expertise Evaluate)
+ Musk says DOGE is being clear. That couldn’t be farther from the reality. (Gizmodo)
2 OpenAI is loosening restrictions on what its bots can say
It’s nudging the steadiness away from security, and in direction of ‘mental freedom’. (The Verge)
+ Musk’s legal professionals say he’ll withdraw his $97.4 billion bid for OpenAI if it drops plans to turn into a for-profit firm. (Reuters $)
3 Relationship apps depart folks in the dead of night over harmful customers
Match Group appears to do shockingly little in response to studies of rape. (The Guardian)
4 Apple is reportedly exploring humanoid robots
Nevertheless it’s nonetheless very early days, so I wouldn’t prefer to wager on something coming to fruition simply but. (TechCrunch)
+ Right here’s what’s subsequent for robots. (MIT Expertise Evaluate)
5 Effectivity is the brand new frontier for AI
DeepSeek claims to have constructed a mannequin for $6 million. One other staff says they’ve finished it for simply $6. (The Economist $)
+ China’s EV corporations are racing so as to add DeepSeek’s AI to their vehicles. (Enterprise Insider $)
+ China’s smartphone makers are speeding to undertake it too. (South China Morning Put up $)
6 Apple simply launched a large well being research
It’s going to analyze how information from its gadgets can monitor, handle and predict adjustments in customers’ well being. (CNBC)
7 Contained in the radically unambitious return of Pebble smartwatches 
It’s kinda telling that constructing gadgets that may final for years is so uncommon. (Quick Firm $)
8 Syria simply hosted its first worldwide tech convention in 50 years
Hope abounds because the nation begins to rebuild after a 13-year-old civil conflict. (Remainder of World)
9 The man who threw away $775 million in Bitcoin desires to purchase the rubbish dump
He’s by no means going to surrender, is he. (Quartz $)
10 Google goes to get AI to guess how outdated you might be for age verification
I worry it’d take one have a look at my tastes and add on just a few a long time. (The Verge)
Quote of the day
“The AI summaries of questions on Ask are horrible. Can we return to answering the questions folks really requested?”
—Google staff bemoan using AI to compile their numerous questions right into a single one throughout all-staff conferences, The Guardian studies.
The large story
No matter occurred to DNA computing?
October 2021
For greater than 5 a long time, engineers have shrunk silicon-primarily based transistors again and again, creating progressively smaller, quicker, and extra energy-efficient computer systems within the course of. However the lengthy technological successful streak—and the miniaturization that has enabled it —can’t final endlessly.
What might this successor expertise be? There was no scarcity of different computing approaches proposed during the last 50 years. Listed here are 5 of the extra memorable ones. Examine 5 of probably the most memorable ones.
—Lakshmi Chandrasekaran
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.)
+ Monty is such boy that he’s been topped finest canine in America.
+ A shortcut recipe for rooster rice? I’m going to must attempt it out.
+ When you’ve obtained a good neck and shoulders, a fast hit of reduction is simply ten minutes away.
+ To make lasting adjustments to your life, motivation has to come back from inside.
