Niall Firth
@niallfirth.bsky.social
š¤ 1967
š„ 1018
š 276
Executive editor, newsroom. MIT Technology Review
Our reporter
@michelletomkim.bsky.social
(who also happens to be an attorney) was at the Musk vs OpenAI trial all week: here's her breakdown on why it ended with Musk losing.
www.technologyreview.com/2026/05/18/1...
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Hereās why Elon Musk lost his suit against OpenAI
After three weeks of dueling testimony, the jury decided Musk had sued the AI giant too late.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/05/18/1137488/elon-musk-suit-openai-verdict/
13 days ago
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Generative AI is exposing peopleās real phone numbersāand there's not much anyone can do about it. Scoop from
@eileenguo.bsky.social
.
www.technologyreview.com/2026/05/13/1...
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AI chatbots are giving out peopleās real phone numbers
People report that their personal contact info was surfaced by Google AIāand thereās apparently no easy way to prevent it.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/05/13/1137203/ai-chatbots-are-giving-out-peoples-real-phone-numbers/
18 days ago
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My brain is broken I think. This (very real) Harrison Ford commencement speech looks like AI to me, even though it's not. I see it everywhere!
www.nbclosangeles.com/video/news/n...
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Harrison Ford tells graduates to āgo change the world' in inspiring speech
Actor Harrison Ford delivered an inspiring commencement speech at Arizona State University reflecting on his unlikely journey from struggling actor and carpenter to Hollywood icon, while encouraging g...
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/video/news/national-international/harrison-ford-commencement-speech-arizona-state-university/3890134/
18 days ago
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Conversations about sexualized deepfakes most often center on the faces that are being used in nonconsensual ways. But who do the *bodies* belong to? And how does it feel? Fascinating new Big Story from us
@technologyreview.com
today.
www.technologyreview.com/2026/05/14/1...
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The shock of seeing your body used in deepfake porn
Adult content creators are having their performances used without consent. This is just one way that AI now threatens their rights and livelihoods.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/05/14/1137161/ai-porn-nonconsensual-deepfakes-takedown-piracy-copyright/
18 days ago
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this line made me snort "I should also say I didnāt bother speaking to any of the actual husbands for this story. Iām sick of hearing from the men of AI. So many of us are. "
add a skeleton here at some point
18 days ago
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this new story from
@404media.co
echoes much of what we had in our Hype Correction coding story last year. "...using AI to get the job done is often a more time consuming, harder, and more frustrating experience..."
www.404media.co/software-dev...
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Software Developers Say AI Is Rotting Their Brains
āIt's making me dumber for sure.ā
https://www.404media.co/software-developers-say-ai-is-rotting-their-brains/
18 days ago
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reposted by
Niall Firth
Jeff VanderMeer
about 1 month ago
Hey, look who made the cover of MIT Technology Review, with my story "Constellations". Free link:
ter.li/r3tbrsgr
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reposted by
Niall Firth
Michelle Kim
about 1 month ago
I'll be reporting on the Musk v. Altman trial at the Oakland courthouse for
@technologyreview.com
. I'm a lawyer who clerked for a federal judge in California, so follow me to unpack what's really happening in the courtroom!
www.technologyreview.com/2026/04/27/1...
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Elon Musk and Sam Altman are going to court over OpenAIās future
Elon Musk says heās suing to save the companyās mission. The case could have huge consequences for OpenAI and the AI race.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/04/27/1136466/elon-musk-and-sam-altman-are-going-to-court-over-openais-future/
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Our big new list, all about AI, is live now! We asked our reporters and editors: what do our readers really NEED to know about where we are right now. This is what they said.
www.technologyreview.com/2026/04/21/1...
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10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now
MIT Technology Review's authoritative overview of the 10 technologies, emerging trends, bold ideas, and powerful movements in AI in 2026.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/04/21/1135643/10-ai-artificial-intelligence-trends-technologies-research-2026/
about 1 month ago
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Exciting news for next week!
@technologyreview.com
subscribers will get the first peek at our brand new list, revealed live on stage at MIT next Tuesday.
www.technologyreview.com/2026/04/14/1...
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Coming soon: 10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now
We have a new list of noteworthy AI trends and advancesāand weāre excited to share it with you.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/04/14/1135298/coming-soon-10-things-that-matter-in-ai-right-now/
about 2 months ago
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Incredible story to kick the week off here at
@technologyreview.com
www.technologyreview.com/2026/03/30/1...
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Inside the stealthy startup that pitched brainless human clones
Need a backup body? We uncovered a radical proposal for āfull body replacement.ā
https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/03/30/1134780/r3-bio-brainless-human-clones-full-body-replacement-john-schloendorn-aging-longevity/
2 months ago
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Exclusive interview this morning with OpenAI's chief scientist - from
@willdoug.bsky.social
www.technologyreview.com/2026/03/20/1...
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OpenAI is throwing everything into building a fully automated researcher
An exclusive conversation with OpenAIās chief scientist Jakub Pachocki about his firm's new grand challenge and the future of AI.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/03/20/1134438/openai-is-throwing-everything-into-building-a-fully-automated-researcher/
2 months ago
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reposted by
Niall Firth
James O'Donnell
3 months ago
Homemade intelligence dashboards on Iran are spreading. But an abundance of information does not come with the accuracy or context required for real understanding. Intelligence agencies do this in-house; good journalism does the same work for the rest of us
www.technologyreview.com/2026/03/09/1...
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How AI is turning the Iran conflict into theater
AI-enabled dashboards, combined with prediction markets and fake imagery, are reshaping how war is observed.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/03/09/1134063/how-ai-is-turning-the-iran-conflict-into-theater/
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reposted by
Niall Firth
Next week Iām heading to Austin to speak at
@sxsw.com
for the second time. A) come and watch if youāre there (itās already fully-reserved š¤Æbut walk-ups are possible!) and b) shout if there anything I must attend! (And if we know each other say hi.)
schedule.sxsw.com/2026/contrib...
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SXSW 2026 Schedule
Browse events, build your schedule, and get personalized recommendations for the 2026 SXSW Conference & Festivals from March 12ā18, 2026 in Austin, TX.
https://schedule.sxsw.com/2026/contributors/2204664
3 months ago
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Next week Iām heading to Austin to speak at
@sxsw.com
for the second time. A) come and watch if youāre there (itās already fully-reserved š¤Æbut walk-ups are possible!) and b) shout if there anything I must attend! (And if we know each other say hi.)
schedule.sxsw.com/2026/contrib...
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SXSW 2026 Schedule
Browse events, build your schedule, and get personalized recommendations for the 2026 SXSW Conference & Festivals from March 12ā18, 2026 in Austin, TX.
https://schedule.sxsw.com/2026/contributors/2204664
3 months ago
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Distressing powerful story
add a skeleton here at some point
3 months ago
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If you are not already listening to our Narrated audio feed on Spotify/Apple you're missing out. But this would be a great one to start with. Really really fun story.
open.spotify.com/episode/2hbR...
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The curious case of the disappearing Lamborghinis
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2hbRHJDNbBDWnxCiZ4LWvk?si=fc74f7e179054d60
3 months ago
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reposted by
Niall Firth
James Temple
3 months ago
Can this Canadian startup really deliver lightning suppression on demand? Possibly maybe ... but caveats abound. (In which I dig into the rich history of US agency efforts to control the weather.)
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This startup claims it can stop lightning and prevent catastrophic wildfires
But researchers arenāt as confident as the company.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/03/03/1133848/this-startup-claims-it-can-stop-lightning-and-prevent-catastrophic-wildfires/
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So proud that
@technologyreview.com
has been shortlisted in the Reporting category in this year's National Magazine Awards! Kudos to
@jamesodonnell.bsky.social
and
@caseycrownhart.bsky.social
and everyone involved! (Shortlisted story below.)
asme.memberclicks.net/national-mag...
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NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARDS 2026 NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED
https://asme.memberclicks.net/national-magazine-awards-2026-nominations-announced
3 months ago
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Today's Big Story (from
@squigglyvolcano.bsky.social
) is the tale of how America blew its lead in the race to find evidence of alien life on Mars. It's really really fun. Enjoy.
www.technologyreview.com/2026/02/26/1...
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America was winning the race to find Martian life. Then China jumped in.
The Mars Sample Return mission got off to a promising start, hunting for potentially humanity-changing space rocks. How did it fall off the rails?
https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/02/26/1133584/america-china-mars-sample-return-space-race-nasa/
3 months ago
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Narco subs!! What else do you need to know. Read it. It's a cracker.
www.technologyreview.com/2026/02/19/1...
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How uncrewed narco subs could transform the Colombian drug trade
Fast, stealthy, and cheapāautonomous, semisubmersible drone boats carrying tons of cocaine could be international law enforcementās nightmare scenario. A big one just came ashore.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/02/19/1132619/uncrewed-narco-subs-transform-columbian-drug-trade/?utm_source=the_download&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the_download.unpaid.engagement&utm_term=*%7CSUBCLASS%7C*&utm_content=*%7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C*
3 months ago
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A new wave of theft is rocking the luxury car industryāmixing high-tech with old-school chop-shop techniques to snag vehicles while theyāre in transport. New story today at
@technologyreview.com
www.technologyreview.com/2026/02/17/1...
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The curious case of the disappearing Lamborghinis
A new wave of theft is rocking the luxury car industryāmixing high-tech with old-school chop-shop techniques to snag vehicles while theyāre in transport.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/02/17/1132538/curious-case-disappearing-lambhorghinis/?utm_source=the_download&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the_download.unpaid.engagement&utm_term=%3C%3C%20Test%20Class%20%3E%3E&utm_content=02-17-2026&mc_cid=dda4f68f40&mc_eid=UNIQID
3 months ago
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After the whole OpenClaw furore,
@gracehuckins.bsky.social
asks: can personal AI assistants ever be totally secure?
www.technologyreview.com/2026/02/11/1...
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Is a secure AI assistant possible?
Experts have made progress in LLM security. But some doubt AI assistants are ready for prime time.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/02/11/1132768/is-a-secure-ai-assistant-possible/
4 months ago
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reposted by
Niall Firth
For some, Moltbook showed us whatās coming next: an internet where millions of autonomous agents interact online with little or no human oversight. But is it? Smart from
@willdouglasheaven.bsky.social
www.technologyreview.com/2026/02/06/1...
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Moltbook was peak AI theater
The viral social network for bots reveals as much about our own current mania for AI as it does about the future of agents.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/02/06/1132448/moltbook-was-peak-ai-theater/
4 months ago
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For some, Moltbook showed us whatās coming next: an internet where millions of autonomous agents interact online with little or no human oversight. But is it? Smart from
@willdouglasheaven.bsky.social
www.technologyreview.com/2026/02/06/1...
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Moltbook was peak AI theater
The viral social network for bots reveals as much about our own current mania for AI as it does about the future of agents.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/02/06/1132448/moltbook-was-peak-ai-theater/
4 months ago
1
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Cannot read about Mandelson with thinking of Mike Skinner and this incredible moment.
youtu.be/Ue1U9Se6jQI?...
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Mike Skinner Backstage Peter Mandelson Went Mad | Turn The Page Live | The Streets
YouTube video by stan tonkin
https://youtu.be/Ue1U9Se6jQI?si=xG2yR3CS604-8Nlf
4 months ago
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reposted by
Niall Firth
Our first Big Story of 2026 is on the Vitalistsāthe extreme-longevity movement that believes death is immoral, and we need to just... stop it. Excited to be publishing this deep dive on an increasingly influential group, from
@jesshamzelou.bsky.social
natch
www.technologyreview.com/2026/01/29/1...
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Meet the Vitalists: the hardcore longevity enthusiasts who believe death is āwrongā
They argue we need a revolutionāand more and more influential scientists, funders, and politicians are taking them seriously.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/01/29/1131815/vitalism-longevity-enthusiasts-influence/
4 months ago
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Our first Big Story of 2026 is on the Vitalistsāthe extreme-longevity movement that believes death is immoral, and we need to just... stop it. Excited to be publishing this deep dive on an increasingly influential group, from
@jesshamzelou.bsky.social
natch
www.technologyreview.com/2026/01/29/1...
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Meet the Vitalists: the hardcore longevity enthusiasts who believe death is āwrongā
They argue we need a revolutionāand more and more influential scientists, funders, and politicians are taking them seriously.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/01/29/1131815/vitalism-longevity-enthusiasts-influence/
4 months ago
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Um. Headlines are easier than this.
4 months ago
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Thoroughly enjoyed The Bone Temple. Reading reviews afterwards, as I like to, suspect many American reviewers donāt get who the Jimmys are styled after. But why would they?
4 months ago
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A big day for us here at
@technologyreview.com
- our annual list of 10 Breakthrough Technologies is here! And it's a beauty. Here are the advances that we think will drive progress or incite the most changeāfor better or worseāin the years ahead.
www.technologyreview.com/2026/01/12/1...
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10 Breakthrough Technologies 2026
Here are our picks for the advances to watch in the years aheadāand why we think they matter right now.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/01/12/1130697/10-breakthrough-technologies-2026/
5 months ago
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reposted by
Niall Firth
Eryk Salvaggio
5 months ago
Finally, I will be free from the unwanted labor of leisure
add a skeleton here at some point
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I out myself as the annoying editor in the lede to this terrific
@willdouglasheaven.bsky.social
explainer on parameters. We hear about them constantly - but usually explained in metaphorical terms. But what are they REALLY??
www.technologyreview.com/2026/01/07/1...
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LLMs contain a LOT of parameters. But whatās a parameter?
Theyāre the mysterious numbers that make your favorite AI models tick. What are they and what do they do?
https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/01/07/1130795/what-even-is-a-parameter/
5 months ago
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Every year, our AI writers here at
@technologyreview.com
make some predictions about things to look out for the year ahead. Our track record is pretty good - see what you think about their view for 2026.
www.technologyreview.com/2026/01/05/1...
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Whatās next for AI in 2026
Our AI writers make their big bets for the coming yearāhere are five hot trends to watch.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/01/05/1130662/whats-next-for-ai-in-2026/
5 months ago
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reposted by
Niall Firth
In October I gave a talk at
@sxswsydney.com
about all things AI: the trends, the breakthroughs, the issues. You can watch it back here.
youtu.be/MSoU_orO2nc?...
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Featured | Everything you need to know about AI in 2026 w/ Niall Firth
YouTube video by SXSW Sydney
https://youtu.be/MSoU_orO2nc?si=JrKPZjyRdE3UvKJ7
5 months ago
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In October I gave a talk at
@sxswsydney.com
about all things AI: the trends, the breakthroughs, the issues. You can watch it back here.
youtu.be/MSoU_orO2nc?...
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Featured | Everything you need to know about AI in 2026 w/ Niall Firth
YouTube video by SXSW Sydney
https://youtu.be/MSoU_orO2nc?si=JrKPZjyRdE3UvKJ7
5 months ago
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reposted by
Niall Firth
Mat Honan ā
6 months ago
2025 was the year AI reached peak hype. (I mean, one hopes!). We have a fantastic series looking at the froth, anchored by this gem from
@willdouglasheaven.bsky.social
www.technologyreview.com/2025/12/15/1...
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The great AI hype correction of 2025
Four ways to think about this year's reckoning
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/12/15/1129174/the-great-ai-hype-correction-of-2025/
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reposted by
Niall Firth
Amanda Silverman
6 months ago
Today
@technologyreview.com
has a fantastic new package that corrects all the AI hype
www.technologyreview.com/supertopic/h...
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Hype Correction
An MIT Technology Review series Hype Correction Ā Itās time to reset expectations. AI is going to reproduce human intelligence. AI will eliminate disease. AI is the single biggest, most important inven...
https://www.technologyreview.com/supertopic/hype-correction/
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OK here we go! Today we launch Hype Correction, our critical look at where AI is, and how we should reset our expectations.
www.technologyreview.com/supertopic/h...
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https://www.technologyreview.com/supertopic/hype-correction/
6 months ago
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Dropping a big package about AI tomorrow morning. Keep a look out!
6 months ago
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Yesterday we sent out the final part of State of AI: our partnership with
@financialtimes.com
Times - and it was a doozy! In this 6th edition
@willdouglasheaven.bsky.social
and
@tim.fo
debated how AI will shape the world at the end of the decade.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/12/08/1...
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The State of AI: A vision of the world in 2030
Senior AI editor Will Douglas Heaven talks with Tim Bradshaw, FT global tech correspondent, about what our world will look like in the next five years.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/12/08/1128922/the-state-of-ai-a-vision-of-the-world-in-2030/
6 months ago
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Brilliant job working with me here at
@technologyreview.com
. Come and be our new editorial director, print and manage our bi-monthly print magazine (126 years and still going strong!)
www.technologyreview.com/job/editoria...
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Sr. Editorial Director, Print
Position Overview: Do you love print? Do you thrive on imagining eye-catching front of the book treatments, deeply reported features, and powerful photo essays? This is an incredible and rare opportun...
https://www.technologyreview.com/job/editorial-director-print
6 months ago
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Week 5 of our State of AI collaboration with the
@financialtimes.com
- and this week we have
@davidrotman.bsky.social
and
@richardwaters.bsky.social
discussing the impact generative AI is having on the jobs market and the economy as a whole.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/12/01/1...
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The State of AI: Welcome to the economic singularity
This week, Richard Waters, FT columnist and former West Coast editor, talks with MIT Technology Reviewās editor at large David Rotman about the true impact of AI on the job market.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/12/01/1127872/the-state-of-ai-welcome-to-the-economic-singularity/
6 months ago
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It's week 4 of State of AI, our partnership with the
@financialtimes.com
This week,
@eileenguo.bsky.social
kickstarts a conversation with
@melissahei.bsky.social
on the privacy implications of our new reliance on chatbots.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/11/24/1...
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The State of AI: Chatbot companions and the future of our privacy
MIT Technology Reviewās senior reporter for features and investigations, Eileen Guo, and FT tech correspondent Melissa HeikkilƤ discuss the privacy implications of our new reliance on chatbots.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/11/24/1128051/the-state-of-ai-chatbot-companions-and-the-future-of-our-privacy/
6 months ago
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As part of our conspiracy package (please read the whole thing, it's a joy!) we covered the DebunkBot. It's effective (and non-judgy, which must be a big part of its effectiveness.) Recommend playing around even if you don't have a pet conspiracy theory!
debunkbot.com
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DebunkBot | Conspiracies
DebunkBot is an AI system for evidence-based dialogue that reduces misbelief. Built on peer-reviewed research and designed with safety and measurement in mind, DebunkBot helps address false claims in ...
https://debunkbot.com/
6 months ago
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Today we have the latest in our collaboration with the
@financialtimes.com
. This week, we're talking all things WAR, with
@jamesodonnell.bsky.social
and
@helenwarrell.bsky.social
www.technologyreview.com/2025/11/17/1...
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The State of AI: How war will be changed forever
In this conversation, Helen Warrell, FT investigations reporter and former defense and security editor, and James OāDonnell, MIT Technology Reviewās senior AI reporter, consider the ethical quandaries...
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/11/17/1127514/the-state-of-ai-the-new-rules-of-war/
7 months ago
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New thing to worry about on a flight just dropped!
www.technologyreview.com/2025/11/17/1...
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What is the chance your plane will be hit by space debris?
It's low but, um, never zero.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/11/17/1127980/what-is-the-chance-your-plane-will-be-hit-by-space-debris/
7 months ago
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Damnit I loved Sonder.
7 months ago
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The latest edition of our State of AI collaboration with the
@financialtimes.com
is live: this time
@caseycrownhart.bsky.social
debates with
@pilitaclark.bsky.social
about why the US is falling behind on power generation.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/11/10/1...
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The State of AI: Energy is king, and the US is falling behind
Casey Crownhart, MIT Technology Reviewās senior climate reporter and Pilita Clark, FT columnist (and a former environment correspondent) ask whether power limitations are about to cost the US its tech...
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/11/10/1126805/the-state-of-ai-energy-is-king-and-the-us-is-falling-behind/?mc_cid=8eb900b154&mc_eid=UNIQID
7 months ago
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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 āThe Simpsonsā 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/
7 months ago
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