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The Download: escalating pandemic risks, and ask us anything on Reddit

Jan 10, 2025 - technologyreview.com
The article discusses several current issues in technology and society. It highlights Meta's controversial rollback of guidelines preventing anti-LGBTQIA+ hate speech, allowing denigration of trans people, which has caused internal embarrassment and led to the dismissal of fact-checkers. Additionally, the US is preparing for a potential bird flu pandemic, with concerns rising after a man in Louisiana died from an H5N1 infection. The article emphasizes the importance of early detection to prevent another zoonotic pandemic.

Other topics include the US Supreme Court's impending decision on TikTok's ban, AI-generated images exacerbating perceptions of the Los Angeles fires, and last year's record-high global temperatures. The piece also touches on Foxconn halting the transfer of Chinese workers to Indian iPhone factories, a new cell type potentially revolutionizing plastic surgery, and Yandex's co-founder distancing himself from Putin. Lastly, it mentions PlayStation's experiment with adding smells to games and critiques the flawed testing of AI models, which fuels unrealistic expectations about their capabilities.

Key takeaways:

  • Meta has rolled back guidelines preventing anti-LGBTQIA+ hate speech, allowing denigration of trans people.
  • The US is preparing for a potential bird flu pandemic, with concerns about its transmission from animals to humans.
  • AI-generated images are contributing to misinformation about the Los Angeles fires.
  • Last year was the hottest ever recorded, with global temperatures exceeding 1.5°C above the pre-industrial baseline.
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