Niall Firth
@niallfirth.bsky.social
📤 1821
📥 966
📝 216
Journalist. Executive editor, newsroom. MIT Technology Review
According to internet listicles, The Simpsons has predicted the future anywhere from 17 to 55 times. What's going on?https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/30/1126462/the-simpsons-conspiracy-theories-al-jean/
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Can “The Simpsons” really predict the future?
We asked Al Jean, the longest-serving showrunner, about all the conspiracy theories.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/30/1126462/the-simpsons-conspiracy-theories-al-jean/
about 12 hours ago
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As part of our package on conspiracies, I wrote about techniques you can use to talk to family and friends who have gone off the deep end.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/30/1...
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How to help friends and family dig out of a conspiracy theory black hole
Some tried and trusted techniques that might help.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/30/1126839/how-to-help-friends-and-family-dig-out-of-a-conspiracy-theory-black-hole/
about 17 hours ago
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Today, as part of our New Conspiracy Age package, we have
@willdouglasheaven.bsky.social
ruffling some feathers to lay out his argument for why AGI is the biggest conspiracy of all. 👀
www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/30/1...
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How AGI became the most consequential conspiracy theory of our time
The idea that machines will be as smart as—or smarter than—humans has hijacked an entire industry. But look closely and you’ll see it’s a myth that persists for many of the same reasons conspiracies d...
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/30/1127057/agi-conspiracy-theory-artifcial-general-intelligence/
4 days ago
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The first instalment of our subscriber-only collaboration with the FT is live today. Our
@caiwei.bsky.social
speaks with John Thornhill about who is winning the AI race: China or Silicon Valley
www.technologyreview.com/2025/11/03/1...
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The State of AI: Is China about to win the race?
In this conversation, the FT’s John Thornhill and MIT Technology Review’s Caiwei Chen consider the battle between Silicon Valley and Beijing for technological supremacy.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/11/03/1126780/the-state-of-ai-is-china-about-to-win-the-race/
5 days ago
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This feature about the Mandela effect is just joyous.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/30/1...
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Why do so many people think the Fruit of the Loom logo had a cornucopia?
It’s a popular example of the “Mandela effect,” or a collective false memory. And while some people may laugh and move on, others spend years searching for an explanation.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/30/1126705/mandela-effect-fruit-of-the-loom-psychology/
8 days ago
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reposted by
Niall Firth
Excited to be working with
@financialtimes.com
on this.
aboutus.ft.com/press_releas...
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ABOUT THE FT
The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading news organisations, recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy.
https://aboutus.ft.com/press_release/ft-and-mit-technology-review
9 days ago
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reposted by
Niall Firth
So proud of this AMAZING new package up on
@technologyreview.com
today all about CONSPIRACIES. Helmed/conceived by
@asilverman.bsky.social
it covers everything from medical conspiracies, to the Simpsons, to Fruit of the Loom and much more. Dive in and enjoy!
www.technologyreview.com/supertopic/t...
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The New Conspiracy Age
There’s never been a better time to be a conspiracy theorist. An MIT Technology Review series The New Conspiracy Age Everything is a conspiracy theory now. Conspiracists are all over the White House, ...
https://www.technologyreview.com/supertopic/the-new-conspiracy-age/
9 days ago
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Excited to be working with
@financialtimes.com
on this.
aboutus.ft.com/press_releas...
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ABOUT THE FT
The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading news organisations, recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy.
https://aboutus.ft.com/press_release/ft-and-mit-technology-review
9 days ago
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reposted by
Niall Firth
Dave Levitan
9 days ago
As part of
@technologyreview.com
's big new package on conspiracy theories, I went long on weather modification — what's possible, what's not, what's happening and where, and why people will probably always find ways to blame weather disasters on shady forces:
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Why it’s so hard to bust the weather control conspiracy theory
From effective rain-enhancing technology to a long, secretive history of trying to weaponize storms, there’s fertile ground for misinformation.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/30/1126467/weather-control-conspiracy-theory-cloud-seeding-floods/
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So proud of this AMAZING new package up on
@technologyreview.com
today all about CONSPIRACIES. Helmed/conceived by
@asilverman.bsky.social
it covers everything from medical conspiracies, to the Simpsons, to Fruit of the Loom and much more. Dive in and enjoy!
www.technologyreview.com/supertopic/t...
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The New Conspiracy Age
There’s never been a better time to be a conspiracy theorist. An MIT Technology Review series The New Conspiracy Age Everything is a conspiracy theory now. Conspiracists are all over the White House, ...
https://www.technologyreview.com/supertopic/the-new-conspiracy-age/
9 days ago
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This is such a brilliant and interesting piece. Recommend.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/21/1...
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The astonishing embryo models of Jacob Hanna
Scientists are creating the beginnings of bodies without sperm or eggs. How far should they be allowed to go?
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/21/1125523/jacob-hanna-israel-synthetic-embryo-models/
10 days ago
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Our new print magazine, The Body Issue, launches today and what a cover!! The contents are pretty brilliant too. Check out features about ageing clocks, extreme temperatures, bespoke babies and more.
www.technologyreview.com/magazines/th...
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The Body issue
Genetically-optimized babies, new ways to measure aging, and embryo-like structures made from ordinary cells: this issue explores how technology can advance our understanding of the human body—and pus...
https://www.technologyreview.com/magazines/the-body-issue/
17 days ago
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V good.
add a skeleton here at some point
19 days ago
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Really fascinating dive into the world of BECCS - a carbon removal approach that captures the emissions from burning wood and other biomass. And why Microsoft and others are so gung-ho about it right now. new from
@jtemple.bsky.social
www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/15/1...
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Big Tech’s big bet on a controversial carbon removal tactic
Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage can scale faster than other approaches. But some experts are dubious about the climate benefits.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/15/1125715/big-techs-big-bet-on-a-controversial-carbon-removal-tactic/
23 days ago
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reposted by
Niall Firth
MIT Technology Review
24 days ago
Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage can scale faster than other approaches. But some experts are dubious about the climate benefits.
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Big Tech’s big bet on a controversial carbon removal tactic
Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage can scale faster than other approaches. But some experts are dubious about the climate benefits.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/15/1125715/big-techs-big-bet-on-a-controversial-carbon-removal-tactic/?utm_medium=tr_social&utm_source=bsky&utm_campaign=site_visitor.unpaid.engagement
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This is happening tomorrow! If you’re at
@sxswsydney.com
come along! Heckle! (Don’t heckle.)
add a skeleton here at some point
25 days ago
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Here’s a palate-cleanser of the ‘always watch it when it pops up’ variety
vimeo.com/288590683?fl...
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Differences // CBeebies
Producer: Nick Fewtrell DoP: David Procter Editor: Eve Ashwell Agency: Karmarama 2 x Gold British Arrows, D&AD Pencil, APA Collection and Cannes Lion Shortlist.
https://vimeo.com/288590683?fl=pl&fe=sh
27 days ago
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Chatfishing!! Bleugh
add a skeleton here at some point
27 days ago
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Next Wednesday I’m going to speaking at Darling Harbour Theatre about all things AI
@sxswsydney.com
. It’s going to be fun!
29 days ago
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So proud of our entire climate team for this fabulous new list of the 10 climate tech companies that we think stand a chance of making a difference. It's our 3rd edition of the list and it's better than ever.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/06/1...
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2025 Climate Tech Companies to Watch
MIT Technology Review's annual list of companies that are taking meaningful steps to reduce emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/06/1124257/2025-climate-tech-companies-to-watch/
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Niall Firth
Our brilliant features and investigations editor
@asilverman.bsky.social
being interviewed by Erika Hayasaki about the world of being an editor!
thereportedessay.substack.com/p/tackling-s...
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Tackling Science Narratives
A Conversation with Amanda Silverman, Features Editor at MIT Technology Review
https://thereportedessay.substack.com/p/tackling-science-narratives
about 1 month ago
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Our brilliant features and investigations editor
@asilverman.bsky.social
being interviewed by Erika Hayasaki about the world of being an editor!
thereportedessay.substack.com/p/tackling-s...
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Tackling Science Narratives
A Conversation with Amanda Silverman, Features Editor at MIT Technology Review
https://thereportedessay.substack.com/p/tackling-science-narratives
about 1 month ago
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How lovely. My story on what we will leave behind for future historians is in the "notables" section of the new Best American Science & Nature Writing book! (Don't tell 'em ok)
jaimealyse.beehiiv.com/p/basnw25
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Coming soon! The Best American Science & Nature Writing 2025
Discover the 2025 Best American Science & Nature Writing anthology, curated by Susan Orlean and featuring exceptional science writing that explores the wonders of our natural world.
https://jaimealyse.beehiiv.com/p/basnw25
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Niall Firth
Amanda Silverman
about 1 month ago
It’s been an exciting few weeks for features over at
@technologyreview.com
. First we published one for all you lovely Wikipedia nerds out there, about how the platform + AI are sending small languages into a doom spiral, from
@jacobjudah.bsky.social
www.technologyreview.com/2025/09/25/1...
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How AI and Wikipedia have sent vulnerable languages into a doom spiral
Machine translators have made it easier than ever to create error-plagued Wikipedia articles in obscure languages. What happens when AI models get trained on junk pages?
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/09/25/1124005/ai-wikipedia-vulnerable-languages-doom-spiral/
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reposted by
Niall Firth
AI-generated videos continue to astonish in their realism and detail, but do you really know how they're made??
@willdouglasheaven.bsky.social
has an explainer for you.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/09/12/1...
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How do AI models generate videos?
With powerful video generation tools now in the hands of more people than ever, let's take a look at how they work.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/09/12/1123562/how-do-ai-models-generate-videos/
about 2 months ago
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reposted by
Niall Firth
What is leucovorin? And why Trump's Tylenol autism claim doesn't stack up.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/09/24/1...
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Trump is pushing leucovorin as a new treatment for autism. What is it?
The president also blamed the painkiller Tylenol for autism, but the evidence doesn’t stack up at all.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/09/24/1124029/trump-leucovorin-autism-tylenol/
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Niall Firth
James Ball
about 1 month ago
In his newsletter this week (
open.substack.com/pub/jonn/p/w...
),
@jonnelledge.bsky.social
recalls of an old viral tweet, pictured below. Which means I can’t now help but riff on how our current government would respond if Reform said something similar. So let’s imagine. 🧵
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What is leucovorin? And why Trump's Tylenol autism claim doesn't stack up.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/09/24/1...
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Trump is pushing leucovorin as a new treatment for autism. What is it?
The president also blamed the painkiller Tylenol for autism, but the evidence doesn’t stack up at all.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/09/24/1124029/trump-leucovorin-autism-tylenol/
about 1 month ago
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Can AI create a life form? These "generative" genomes are a start. New from
@antonioregalado.bsky.social
www.technologyreview.com/2025/09/17/1...
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AI-designed viruses are here and already killing bacteria
Can AI create a life form? These "generative" genomes are a start
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/09/17/1123801/ai-virus-bacteriophage-life/
about 2 months ago
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AI-generated videos continue to astonish in their realism and detail, but do you really know how they're made??
@willdouglasheaven.bsky.social
has an explainer for you.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/09/12/1...
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How do AI models generate videos?
With powerful video generation tools now in the hands of more people than ever, let's take a look at how they work.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/09/12/1123562/how-do-ai-models-generate-videos/
about 2 months ago
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Gun violence in the US is a public health crisis—and should be dealt with as such.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/09/11/1...
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We can’t “make American children healthy again” without tackling the gun crisis
Gun violence in the US is a public health crisis—and should be dealt with as such.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/09/11/1123553/maha-report-gun-violence-checkup/
about 2 months ago
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We made a video to go with our Power Hungry special series on AI's energy demands. Want to know how much energy a single chatbot query uses? We've got you.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3Q_...
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We did the math on AI’s energy footprint. Here’s the story you haven’t heard.
YouTube video by MIT Technology Review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3Q_uC5P1hE&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.technologyreview.com%2F&source_ve_path=OTY3MTQ
about 2 months ago
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It's pretty insane how much this new Synthesia avatar looks and sounds like the real
@rhiannonwilliams.bsky.social
. Basically can't tell them apart. Just a bit less cynical... And if she starts praising Ed Sheeran or Wet Leg you'll know you've got the clone.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/09/04/1...
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Synthesia’s AI clones are more expressive than ever. Soon they’ll be able to talk back.
The uncanny valley is narrowing. Are we ready for what comes next?
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/09/04/1123054/synthesias-ai-clones-are-more-expressive-than-ever-soon-theyll-be-able-to-talk-back/
2 months ago
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OK -the race for Radiohead tickets is on. Good luck everyone.
2 months ago
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Want to know who new CDC head Jim O’Neill is and what he stands for? Look no further.
@jesshamzelou.bsky.social
put together this very timely in-depth profile for you.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/06/30/1...
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Meet Jim O’Neill, the longevity enthusiast who is now RFK Jr.’s right-hand man
The newest addition to Trump’s health agency wants to create new cities in the sea, extend human lifespan, and Make America Healthy Again.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/06/30/1119449/hhs-robert-f-kennedy-jr-jim-oneill-longevity-maha/
2 months ago
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Delighted and proud that MIT Technology Review’s stellar newsletters (and their editors and writers) have been shortlisted in this year’s Online Journalism Awards.
awards.journalists.org/2025/08/22/c...
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Congratulations to the finalists in the 2025 Online Journalism Awards - Online Journalism Awards
The Online News Association (ONA) is proud to announce the finalists in the 2025 Online Journalism Awards (OJAs), the premier global prizes that have set the bar for excellence and innovation in digit...
https://awards.journalists.org/2025/08/22/congratulations-to-the-finalists-in-the-2025-online-journalism-awards/
2 months ago
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Ukraine's vital Starlink access largely comes down to the unofficial community of users and engineers that keep it running. Welcome to "The People's Starlink" New Big Story from
@charliemetcalfe.bsky.social
www.technologyreview.com/2025/08/21/1...
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On the ground in Ukraine’s largest Starlink repair shop
Elon Musk's satellite internet service has been absolutely critical to the country's defense. But staying connected through war relies on innovation and rehab work from “The People’s Starlink.”
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/08/21/1122035/ukraines-largest-starlink-repair-shop/
3 months ago
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Meet OpenAI's Mark Chen and Jakub Pachocki. They share the role of making sure the firm stays one step ahead of rivals like Google.
@willdouglasheaven.bsky.social
sat down with them in London last week to talk research, superalignment and math(s).
www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/31/1...
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The two people shaping the future of OpenAI’s research
An exclusive conversation with Mark Chen and Jakub Pachocki, OpenAI’s twin heads of research, about the path toward more capable reasoning models—and superalignment.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/31/1120885/the-two-people-shaping-the-future-of-openais-research/
3 months ago
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World's "oldest" baby klaxon from
@jesshamzelou.bsky.social
www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/29/1...
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Exclusive: A record-breaking baby has been born from an embryo that’s over 30 years old
The embryos were created in 1994, while the expectant father was still a toddler, and donated via a Christian “embryo adoption” agency.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/29/1120769/exclusive-record-breaking-baby-born-embryo-over-30-years-old/
3 months ago
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New battery news from battery-lover
@caseycrownhart.bsky.social
www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/29/1...
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This startup wants to use the Earth as a massive battery
A recent test shows that Quidnet’s technology can store energy in pressurized water underground for months at a time.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/29/1120765/earth-battery-quidnet/
3 months ago
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reposted by
Niall Firth
Peter Hall
4 months ago
A little bit of data viz for
@technologyreview.com
today about where AI is impacting work. Check out some more charts and the rest of the story here:
www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/16/1...
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Scoop from
@eileenguo.bsky.social
- huge amounts of personal information are embedded in a major data set used to train AI models
www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/18/1...
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A major AI training data set contains millions of examples of personal data
Personally identifiable information has been found in DataComp CommonPool, one of the largest open-source data sets used to train image generation models.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/18/1120466/a-major-ai-training-data-set-contains-millions-of-examples-of-personal-data/
4 months ago
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There are some good reasons for why you'd want to run your own LLM on your laptop. Here's how you'd go about it. Our latest "How To" from
@gracehuckins.bsky.social
www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/17/1...
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How to run an LLM on your laptop
It’s now possible to run useful models from the safety and comfort of your own computer. Here’s how.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/17/1120391/how-to-run-an-llm-on-your-laptop/
4 months ago
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Are we alone in the universe? I think not.
www.technologyreview.com/2023/11/13/1...
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The Biggest Questions: Are we alone in the universe?
Scientists are training machine-learning models and designing instruments to hunt for life on other worlds.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/11/13/1082873/the-biggest-questions-are-we-alone-in-the-universe/
4 months ago
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This story is SO MUCH FUN. A oral history of what happened when scientists around the world spotted an asteroid that was suddenly on a rather worrying trajectory. New today from
@squigglyvolcano.bsky.social
www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/08/1...
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Inside the most dangerous asteroid hunt ever
As space rock 2024 YR4 became more likely to hit Earth than anything of its size had ever been before, scientists all over the world mobilized to protect the planet.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/08/1119757/asteroid-hunt-2024-yr4-earth-planet-protection/
4 months ago
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India doesn't want to be left behind in the generative AI rush.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/04/1...
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Inside India’s scramble for AI independence
Structural challenges and the nation’s many languages have made it tough to develop foundational AI models. But the government is keen not to be left behind.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/04/1119705/inside-indias-scramble-for-ai-independence/
4 months ago
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“It’s a pleasure to be a part of your journey,” the chatbot responded.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/01/1...
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People are using AI to ‘sit’ with them while they trip on psychedelics
Some people believe chatbots like ChatGPT can provide an affordable alternative to in-person psychedelic-assisted therapy. Many experts say it’s a bad idea.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/01/1119513/ai-sit-trip-psychedelics/
4 months ago
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By the WAY! did you know some of our best stories are available to listen to via our Narrated feed? Available via Apple Podcasts or Spotify. A new one every Wednesday.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m...
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MIT Technology Review Narrated
Technology Podcast · Updated weekly · Welcome to MIT Technology Review Narrated, the home for the very best of our journalism in audio. Each week we will share one of our most ambitious stories, from ...
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/mit-technology-review-narrated/id1523584878
4 months ago
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Hello, if you're a
@technologyreview.com
subscriber (yet another reason you should become one!) you can rewatch this Roundtables interview I did with
@karenhao.bsky.social
yesterday about her book, Empire of AI! It was fun.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/06/30/1...
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Roundtables: Inside OpenAI’s Empire with Karen Hao
Hear from special guest speaker Karen Hao about the AI arms race, what it means for all of us, and where it’s headed.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/06/30/1118540/roundtables-inside-openais-empire-with-karen-hao/?utm_source=article-unit&itm_source=article-unit&itm_medium=onsite&itm_campaign=Roundtables&itm_term=June.25-Roundtables-Subscribers&itm_content=Roundtables-Eng&_ptid=%7Bkpdx%7DAAAA2ocVva3wgwoKV1VPQ05TVWdwdRIQbWNram4xMml3ZTIwOWFiZBoMRVgwSUw2R1RKWERaIiUxODA4ODk4MGJvLTAwMDAzNXU2MzlrYm05a204ZzkwbzZkbDU4KhpzaG93VGVtcGxhdGU0Tzc3Wk1OTDEyVUIzMzABOgxPVDFVS0dHWURBQkdCDU9UVllTVVIxNFJVRjdSEnYthADwNW1ycjIxNHI5dWlvOVonMmEwMDo5NDAwOjQwMTU6MjA1NTo0ODExOmE3NDY6ZjFmOTpmMDhlYgNkbXNozN6UwwZwJngE
4 months ago
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The newest addition to Trump’s health agency wants to create new cities in the sea, extend human lifespan, and Make America Healthy Again, reports
@jesshamzelou.bsky.social
www.technologyreview.com/2025/06/30/1...
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Meet Jim O’Neill, the longevity enthusiast who is now RFK Jr.’s right-hand man
The newest addition to Trump’s health agency wants to create new cities in the sea, extend human lifespan, and Make America Healthy Again.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/06/30/1119449/hhs-robert-f-kennedy-jr-jim-oneill-longevity-maha/
4 months ago
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