That is at present’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a every day dose of what’s occurring on this planet of know-how.
What we nonetheless don’t find out about weight-loss medication
Weight-loss medication have been again within the information this week. First, we heard that Eli Lilly, the corporate behind Mounjaro and Zepbound, grew to become the primary healthcare firm on this planet to realize a trillion-dollar valuation.
However we additionally realized that, disappointingly, GLP-1 medication don’t appear to assist folks with Alzheimer’s illness. And that individuals who cease taking the medication once they turn into pregnant can expertise doubtlessly harmful ranges of weight achieve. On prime of that, some researchers fear that individuals are utilizing the medication postpartum to lose being pregnant weight with out understanding potential dangers.
All of this information ought to function a reminder that there’s loads we nonetheless don’t find out about these medication. So let’s take a look at the enduring questions surrounding GLP-1 agonist medication.
—Jessica Hamzelou
This text first appeared in The Checkup, MIT Know-how Assessment’s weekly biotech publication. To obtain it in your inbox each Thursday, and browse articles like this primary, join right here.
Should you’re excited by weight reduction medication and the way they have an effect on us, check out:
+ GLP-1 agonists like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro may profit coronary heart and mind well being—however analysis suggests they may additionally trigger being pregnant problems and hurt some customers. Learn the total story.
+ We’ve by no means understood how starvation works. That could be about to vary. Learn the total story.
+ Weight-loss injections have taken over the web. However what does this imply for folks IRL?
+ This vibrating weight-loss capsule appears to work—in pigs. Learn the total story.
What we find out about how AI is affecting the economic system
There’s loads at stake in terms of understanding how AI is altering the economic system proper now. Ought to we be pessimistic? Optimistic? Or is the scenario too nuanced for that?
Hopefully, we will level you in direction of some solutions. Mat Honan, our editor in chief, will maintain a particular subscriber-only Roundtables dialog with our editor at massive David Rotman, and Richard Waters, Monetary Instances columnist, exploring what’s taking place throughout completely different markets. Register right here to affix us at 1pm ET on Tuesday December 9.
The occasion is a part of the Monetary Instances and MIT Know-how Assessment “The State of AI” partnership, exploring the worldwide influence of synthetic intelligence. Over the previous month, we’ve been working discussions between our journalists—join right here to obtain future editions each Monday.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to search out you at present’s most enjoyable/necessary/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.
1 Tech billionaires are gearing as much as battle AI regulation
By amassing multi-million greenback conflict chests forward of the 2026 US midterm elections. (WSJ $)
+ Donald Trump’s “Manhattan Challenge” for AI is actually formidable. (The Info $)
2 The EU desires to carry social media platforms responsible for monetary scams
New guidelines will power tech corporations to compensate banks in the event that they fail to take away reported scams. (Politico)
3 China is anxious a couple of humanoid robotic bubble
As a result of greater than 150 corporations there are constructing very comparable machines. (Bloomberg $)
+ It might be taught some classes from the present AI bubble. (CNN)+ Why the humanoid workforce is working late. (MIT Know-how Assessment)
4 A Myanmar rip-off compound was blown up
However its residents will merely discover new bases for his or her operations. (NYT $)
+ Specialists suspect the destruction could have been for present. (Wired $)
+ Inside a romance rip-off compound—and the way folks get tricked into being there. (MIT Know-how Assessment)
5 Navies internationally are investing in submarine drones
They price a fraction of what it takes to run a conventional manned sub. (The Guardian)
+ How underwater drones might form a possible Taiwan-China battle. (MIT Know-how Assessment)
6 What to anticipate from China’s seemingly unstoppable innovation drive
Its extraordinarily permissive regulators play an enormous position. (Economist $)
+ Is China about to win the AI race? (MIT Know-how Assessment)
7 The UK is waging a conflict on VPNs
Good luck making an attempt to steer folks to cease utilizing them. (The Verge)
8 We’re studying extra about Jeff Bezos’ mysterious clock venture
He’s backed the Clock of the Lengthy Now for years—and building is amping up. (FT $)
+ How getting older clocks might help us perceive why we age—and if we will reverse it. (MIT Know-how Assessment)
9 Have we lastly seen the primary hints of darkish matter?
These researchers appear to suppose so. (New Scientist $)
10 A useful robotic helps archaeologists reconstruct Pompeii
Reassembling historic frescos is fiddly and time-consuming, however much less so should you’re a dextrous machine. (Reuters)
Quote of the day
“We do fail… loads.”
—Protection firm Anduril explains its move-fast-and-break-things ethos to the Wall Avenue Journal in response to stories its methods have been marred by points in Ukraine.
Another factor
The way to construct a greater AI benchmark
It’s not straightforward being one in every of Silicon Valley’s favourite benchmarks.
SWE-Bench (pronounced “swee bench”) launched in November 2024 as a technique to consider an AI mannequin’s coding ability. It has since rapidly turn into one of the crucial widespread assessments in AI. A SWE-Bench rating has turn into a mainstay of main mannequin releases from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google—and outdoors of basis fashions, the fine-tuners at AI corporations are in fixed competitors to see who can rise above the pack.
Regardless of all of the fervor, this isn’t precisely a truthful evaluation of which mannequin is “higher.” Entrants have begun to recreation the system—which is pushing many others to wonder if there’s a greater technique to really measure AI achievement. Learn the total story.
—Russell Brandom
We are able to nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Obtained any concepts? Drop me a line or skeet ’em at me.)
+ Aww, these sharks seem like taking part in with pool toys.
+ Unusual issues are taking place over on Easter Island (even weirder than you possibly can think about) 
+ Very cool—archaeologists have uncovered a Roman tomb that’s been sealed shut for 1,700 years.
+ This Japanese mass media collage is making my eyes swim, in a great way.
