In other news, SpaceX has been accused of illegally firing workers who criticized Elon Musk, creating a toxic work culture. The newsletter also covers various other tech-related topics, such as the increasing sophistication of crypto scams, the threat of off-radar fishing to fish stocks, and the stockpiling of abortion pills by women in the US due to access concerns. It concludes with a feature on tactile graphics, a tool that can help blind people create and explore images.
Key takeaways:
- AI writers at MIT Technology Review have made predictions for the AI industry in 2024, including the rise of multimodal chatbots and tougher regulations.
- Quantum computing is facing a significant challenge in handling noise, which can cause errors or halt computations. However, recent breakthroughs suggest this issue may soon be resolved.
- A new platform called Digital Benin is helping to track the location of stolen African artifacts known as the Benin Bronzes, with the ultimate goal of returning them to their rightful owners.
- Global material production, which includes the manufacturing and disposal of various goods, is responsible for approximately a quarter of global greenhouse-gas emissions.