The Download: Making AI Work, and why the Moltbook hype is similar to Pokémon
The Future of AI: Making it Work and the Moltbook Hype
The world of technology is constantly evolving, and AI is at the forefront of this revolution. From its applications in healthcare to its potential in space exploration, AI is transforming the way we live and work. In this edition of The Download, we'll delve into the ways in which AI is being used and deployed across sectors, and what professionals need to know to apply it in their everyday work.
Making AI Work: A New Newsletter Series
MIT Technology Review has launched a new weekly newsletter series, Making AI Work, which explores the ways in which AI is being used and deployed across sectors. Each edition of the newsletter begins with a case study, examining a specific use case of AI in a given industry. Then, we'll take a deeper look at the AI tool being used, with more context about how other companies or sectors are employing that same tool or system. Finally, we'll end with action-oriented tips to help you apply the tool.
A Closer Look at Microsoft Copilot
The first edition of Making AI Work takes a look at how AI is changing healthcare, digging into the future of medical note-taking by learning about the Microsoft Copilot tool used by doctors at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered tool that helps doctors write medical notes by suggesting phrases and sentences based on the patient's medical history and diagnosis. This tool has the potential to improve the accuracy and efficiency of medical note-taking, freeing up doctors to focus on more complex tasks.
The Moltbook Frenzy: A Glimpse into the Future?
Lots of influential people in tech recently described Moltbook, an online hangout populated by AI agents interacting with one another, as a glimpse into the future. Moltbook appeared to show AI systems doing useful things for the humans that created them—sure, it was flooded with crypto scams, and many of the posts were actually written by people, but something about it pointed to a future of helpful AI. However, as our senior editor for AI, Will Douglas Heaven, notes, the whole experiment reminded him of something far less interesting: Pokémon.
Why the Moltbook Hype is Like Pokémon
Just like Pokémon, Moltbook was a novelty that captured the imagination of many people. However, just as Pokémon was a game that was fun to play but ultimately had limited real-world applications, Moltbook was a platform that was entertaining to watch but lacked substance. The hype surrounding Moltbook was fueled by its novelty and the excitement of seeing AI agents interact with one another, but it ultimately failed to deliver on its promise of showing us a glimpse into the future of AI.
The Must-Reads
Here are some of the most interesting and thought-provoking stories about technology that we've come across this week:
- OpenAI has begun testing ads in ChatGPT: But the ads won't influence the responses it provides, apparently.
- The White House has a plan to stop data centers from raising electricity prices: It's going to ask AI companies to voluntarily commit to keeping costs down.
- Elon Musk wants to colonize the moon: For now at least, his grand ambitions to live on Mars are taking a backseat.
- Cheap AI tools are helping criminals to ramp up their scams: They're using LLMs to massively scale up their attacks.
- Iceland could be heading towards becoming one giant glacier: If human-driven warming disrupts a vital ocean current, that is.
- Amazon is planning to launch an AI content marketplace: It's reported to have spoken to media publishers to gauge their interest.
- Doctors can't agree on how to diagnose Alzheimer's: They worry that some patients are being misdiagnosed.
- The first wave of AI enthusiasts are burning out: A new study has found that AI tools are linked to employees working more, not less.
- We're finally moving towards better ways to measure body fat: BMI is a flawed metric. Physicians are finally using better measures.
- It's getting harder to become a social media megastar: Maybe that's a good thing?
Quote of the Day
"This case is as easy as ABC—addicting, brains, children."
—Lawyer Mark Lanier lays out his case during the opening statements of a new tech addiction trial in which a woman has accused Meta of deliberately designing their platforms to be addictive, the New York Times reports.
One More Thing
China wants to restore the sea with high-tech marine ranches. A short ferry ride from the port city of Yantai, on the northeast coast of China, sits Genghai No. 1, a 12,000-metric-ton ring of oil-rig-style steel platforms, advertised as a hotel and entertainment complex. Genghai is in fact an unusual tourist destination, one that breeds 200,000 "high-quality marine fish" each year. The vast majority are released into the ocean as part of a process known as marine ranching.
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.)
- Wow, Joel and Ethan Coen's dark comedic classic Fargo is 30 years old.
- A new exhibition in New York is rightfully paying tribute to one of the greatest technological inventions: the Walkman ($)
- This gigantic sleeping dachshund sculpture in South Korea is completely bonkers.
- A beautiful heart-shaped pendant linked to King Henry VIII has been secured by the British Museum.
Deep Dive
The Download is a daily newsletter that explores the latest developments in technology and their impact on our lives. We'll be diving deeper into the stories and trends that matter most to you.
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Illustration by Rose Wong
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