That is as we speak’s version of The Obtain, our weekday e-newsletter that gives a each day dose of what’s occurring on the planet of know-how.
Everybody in AI is speaking about Manus. We put it to the check.
Because the common AI agent Manus was launched final week, it has unfold on-line like wildfire. And never simply in China, the place it was developed by the Wuhan-based startup Butterfly Impact. It’s made its method into the worldwide dialog, with some even dubbing it “the second DeepSeek”.
Manus claims to be the world’s first common AI agent, constructing off a number of AI fashions and brokers to behave autonomously on a variety of duties. Regardless of all of the hype, only a few folks have had an opportunity to make use of it. MIT Expertise Assessment was in a position to get hold of entry to Manus. Right here’s what we fabricated from it.
—Caiwei Chen
Waabi says its digital robotrucks are practical sufficient to show the actual ones are secure
The information: Canadian robotruck startup Waabi says its super-realistic digital simulation is now correct sufficient to show the protection of its driverless large rigs with out having to run them for miles on actual roads.
The way it did it: The corporate makes use of a digital twin of its real-world robotrucks, loaded up with actual sensor information, and measures how the dual’s efficiency compares to that of actual vehicles on actual roads. Waabi says they now match virtually precisely, and claims its method is a greater approach to show security than simply racking up real-world miles, as a lot of its opponents do. Learn the complete story.
—Will Douglas Heaven
This synthetic leaf makes hydrocarbons out of carbon dioxide
For a few years, researchers have been working to construct units that may mimic photosynthesis—the method by which vegetation use daylight and carbon dioxide to make their gas. These synthetic leaves use daylight to separate water into oxygen and hydrogen, which may then be used to gas vehicles or generate electrical energy. Now a analysis crew from the College of Cambridge has taken goal at creating extra energy-dense fuels.
The group’s system produces ethylene and ethane, proving that synthetic leaves can create hydrocarbons. The event may supply a less expensive, cleaner approach to make fuels, chemical substances, and plastics—with the last word objective of making fuels that don’t depart a dangerous carbon footprint after they’re burned. Learn the complete story.
—Carly Kay
This startup simply hit an enormous milestone for inexperienced metal manufacturing
Inexperienced-steel startup Boston Metallic simply confirmed that it has all of the elements wanted to make metal with out emitting gobs of greenhouse gases. The corporate efficiently ran its largest reactor but to make metal, producing over a ton of metallic, MIT Expertise Assessment can solely report.
The most recent milestone signifies that Boston Metallic simply received one step nearer to commercializing its know-how. And whereas there are nonetheless quite a lot of milestones left earlier than reaching the size wanted to make a dent within the metal business, the most recent run reveals that the corporate can scale up its course of. Learn the complete story.
—Casey Crownhart
This text is from The Spark, MIT Expertise Assessment’s weekly local weather e-newsletter. To obtain it in your inbox each Wednesday, join right here.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to seek out you as we speak’s most enjoyable/vital/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.
1 The US has resumed help deliveries to Ukraine
Leaders have additionally agreed to start out sharing army intelligence once more. (The Guardian)
+ Ukraine additionally endorsed a US proposal for a ceasefire. (Vox)
+ Meet the radio-obsessed civilian shaping Ukraine’s drone protection. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
2 Donald Trump has imposed a 25% tariff on metallic imports
The choice is prone to increase prices for American carmakers, and different producers. (NYT $)
+ Enterprise leaders really feel spooked by his frequent combined messaging round tariffs. (WSJ $)
+ Nonetheless, US-native metallic makers are delighted by the tariffs. (Economist $)
+ How Trump’s tariffs may drive up the price of batteries, EVs, and extra. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
3 Texas’ measles outbreak seems to be spreading
Two folks in Oklahoma are being handled for measles-like signs. (Ars Technica)
+ An unvaccinated six-year outdated lady not too long ago died in Texas. (The Atlantic $)
+ The state is scrambling to answer the outbreak. (Undark)
+ The virus is extraordinarily contagious and harmful to kids and adults alike. (Wired $)
4 Elon Musk needs the US authorities to close down
Partly as a result of it will make it simpler to fireplace federal staff. (Wired $)
+ A decide has dominated that DOGE should adjust to the Freedom of Data Act. (The Verge)
+ Can AI assist DOGE slash authorities budgets? It’s advanced. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
5 OpenAI says it’s educated an AI to be ‘actually good’ at artistic writing|
The query is, can a mannequin educated on present materials ever be really artistic? (TechCrunch)
+ AI could make you extra artistic—however it has limits. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
6 Silicon Valley’s AI startups are increasing in India
Expertise is plentiful, notably in tech hub Bangalore. (Bloomberg $)
7 Spotify claims it paid $10 billion in royalties final yr
It referred to as the payout “the most important in music business historical past.” (FT $)
+ break freed from Spotify’s algorithm. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
8 Saturn has extra moons than the remainder of the planets mixed 
Researchers have lastly noticed new moons which have beforehand evaded detection. (New Scientist $)
9 This espresso store is New York’s hottest AI spot 
Handily, OpenAI’s workplace is simply throughout the road. (Insider $)
10 Netflix shouldn’t use AI to upscale decision
The know-how left sitcom A Completely different World trying freakishly warped. (Vice)
Quote of the day
“The uncertainty is simply as dangerous as tariffs themselves.”
—Donald Schneider, deputy head of US coverage at funding financial institution Piper Sandler, explains to the Washington Submit why buyers are feeling rattled by Donald Trump’s risky method to imposing tariffs.
The massive story
Can Afghanistan’s underground “sneakernet” survive the Taliban?
November 2021
When Afghanistan fell to the Taliban, Mohammad Yasin needed to make some tough selections in a short time. He started erasing a number of the delicate information on his pc and transferring the remainder onto two of his largest onerous drives, which he then wrapped in a layer of plastic and buried underground.
Yasin is what’s regionally known as a “pc kar”: somebody who sells digital content material by hand in a rustic the place a gentle web connection may be onerous to return by, promoting all the pieces from films, music, cellular purposes, to iOS updates. And regardless of the risks of Taliban rule, the nation’s in depth “sneakernet” isn’t planning on shutting down. Learn the complete story.
—Ruchi Kumar
We are able to nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Received any concepts? Drop me a line or skeet ’em at me.)
+ Try these novels impressed by what it means to be middle-aged.
+ After a protracted absence, it’s trying just like the Loch Ness Monster is staging its return.
+ Chappell Roan, you might be simply unbelievable.
+ An AI stylist telling me what to put on? No thanks.
