The Download: chatbots for health, and US fights over AI regulation
The Download: AI's Impact on Healthcare and the US's Struggle with AI Regulation
ChatGPT Health: A New Era for Medical Information Seeking
For the past two decades, the first step for anyone experiencing new medical symptoms has been to look them up online, earning the pejorative moniker "Dr. Google." However, times are changing, and many medical-information seekers are now using Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT. According to OpenAI, 230 million people ask ChatGPT health-related queries each week. This context sets the stage for the launch of OpenAI's new ChatGPT Health product, which debuted earlier this month.
The big question is: can the obvious risks of using AI for health-related queries be mitigated enough for them to be a net benefit? While ChatGPT Health promises to provide accurate and reliable information, there are concerns about the potential for misinformation, misdiagnosis, and over-reliance on AI. The healthcare industry is at a crossroads, and the success of ChatGPT Health will depend on its ability to balance the benefits of AI with the need for human expertise and oversight.
The US's Struggle with AI Regulation
In the final weeks of 2025, the battle over regulating artificial intelligence in the US reached boiling point. On December 11, after Congress failed twice to pass a law banning state AI laws, President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order seeking to handcuff states from regulating the booming industry. Instead, he vowed to work with Congress to establish a "minimally burdensome" national AI policy. The move marked a victory for tech titans, who have been marshaling multimillion-dollar war chests to oppose AI regulations, arguing that a patchwork of state laws would stifle innovation.
However, the fight is far from over. In 2026, the battleground will shift to the courts, where some states may challenge the executive order, and others may continue to pass their own AI laws. The outcome will have significant implications for the development and deployment of AI in the US, and the world will be watching to see how this drama unfolds.
Measles Outbreaks and the Role of Wastewater Surveillance
This week marked a rather unpleasant anniversary: it's a year since Texas reported a case of measles, the start of a significant outbreak that ended up spreading across multiple states. Since the start of January 2025, there have been over 2,500 confirmed cases of measles in the US, with three people dying. As vaccination rates drop and outbreaks continue, scientists have been experimenting with new ways to quickly identify new cases and prevent the disease from spreading.
One promising approach is wastewater surveillance, which involves testing wastewater for the presence of the measles virus. This method has shown significant promise in detecting outbreaks early, allowing for swift action to be taken to contain the spread of the disease. As the US continues to grapple with measles outbreaks, wastewater surveillance is likely to play an increasingly important role in the fight against this highly contagious and potentially deadly disease.
The Must-Reads
- The US is dismantling itself: a foreign enemy could not invent a better chain of events to wreck its standing in the world. (Wired)
- Big Tech is taking on more debt to fund its AI aspirations, and the bubble just keeps growing. (WP)
- DOGE accessed even more personal data than we thought, even now, the Trump administration still can't say how much data is at risk, or what it was used for. (NPR)
- TikTok has finalized a deal to create a new US entity, ending years of uncertainty about its fate in America. (CNN)
- The US is now officially out of the World Health Organization, and it's leaving behind nearly $300 million in bills unpaid. (Ars Technica)
Quote of the Day
"The rate at which AI is progressing, I think we have AI that is smarter than any human this year, and no later than next year." —Elon Musk, simply cannot resist the urge to make wild predictions at Davos, Wired reports.
One More Thing
Africa fights rising hunger by looking to foods of the past. After falling steadily for decades, the prevalence of global hunger is now on the rise, nowhere more so than in sub-Saharan Africa. Africa's indigenous crops are often more nutritious and better suited to the hot and dry conditions that are becoming more prevalent, yet many have been neglected by science, which means they tend to be more vulnerable to diseases and pests and yield well below their theoretical potential.
Now the question is whether researchers, governments, and farmers can work together in a way that gets these crops onto plates and provides Africans from all walks of life with the energy and nutrition that they need to thrive, whatever climate change throws their way.
We Can Still Have Nice Things
A place for comfort, fun, and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet 'em at me.)
- The only thing I fancy dry this January is a martini. Here's how to make one.
- If you absolutely adore the Bic crystal pen, you might want this lamp.
- Cozy up with a nice long book this winter. ($)
- Want to eat healthier? Slow down and tune out food 'noise'. ($)
Deep Dive
The Download: AI's impact on the economy, and DeepSeek strikes again. Plus: OpenAI is sounding the "code red" alarm.
By Rhiannon Williams
The Download: China's dying EV batteries, and why AI doomers are doubling down. Plus: TikTok has finally signed a deal to keep operating in the US.
By Rhiannon Williams
The Download: sodium-ion batteries and China's bright tech future. Plus: This company is developing gene therapies for muscle growth, erectile dysfunction, and "radical longevity".
By Charlotte Jeer
The Download: the worst technology of 2025, and Sam Altman's AI hype. Plus: China has built a major chip-making machine.
By Rhiannon Williams
Stay connected
Illustration by Rose Wong
Get the latest updates from MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.
Enter your email
Privacy PolicyThank you for submitting your email!
Explore more newsletters
It looks like something went wrong.
We're having trouble saving your preferences. Try refreshing this page and updating them one more time. If you continue to get this message, reach out to us at [email protected] with a list of newsletters you'd like to receive.
