Additionally: the recent US executive order on AI has been issued
Here’s the current issue of The Install, a weekday publication delivering a daily dosage of the latest happenings in the realm of technology.
A primer for discussing climate tech during Thanksgiving
Oh, the festive season. A period for delectable meals, cherished interactions with kin, and complex inquiries regarding climate disruption … or does that only occur to us?
Our environmental correspondent Casey Crownhart has navigated numerous vigorous debates around the dining table. While the temptation may be strong to evade or shift topics, there could be merit in staying engaged and guiding others through the myriad of misleading information they’ve encountered on television, online, or through peers.
If you’re up for the challenge, we’ve prepared some assistance. Here are some potential queries about climate change, and particularly about climate innovation, that you might encounter during the holiday gatherings. Explore the full narrative.
This article originates from The Spark, our comprehensive weekly digest on all matters energy and climate disruption. Enroll to get it straight to your email every Wednesday.
Essential reads
I have scoured the web in search of today’s most entertaining/significant/alarming/intriguing tech narratives.
1 Reflections on Sam Altman’s background elucidate why OpenAI’s board attempted to dismiss him
The traits some hold in high esteem simultaneously cause disputes among others. (WP $)
+ Updates on who remains and who leaves OpenAI’s board. (NYT $)
+ An inside look at the OpenAI battle. (WSJ $)
+ The victors? The financiers. (NYT $)
+ Clients of OpenAI have been weighing alternatives to the company. (CNBC)
+ And now, a small circle of corporations overwhelmingly dominate AI progression. (NBC)
+ Vocal interaction with ChatGPT is now an option. (https%3A%2F%2Fwww.engadget.com%2F%2Fchatgpt%E2%-%2Fvoice-chat-feature-is-rolling-out-to-free-users-085549323.html%3Fmc_cid%3D55729c068d%26mc_eid%3DUNIQID&data=05%7C01%7C%7C7561182ef771458475e108dbec1cba3a%7C961f23f8614c4756bafff1997766a273%7C1%7C0%7C638363380378274782%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAi1%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=YGs24SzrKVPng0hy6%2BUYJolqTU5TI%2B7NHSzZMTiM%2F%2Bc%3D&reserved=0″ target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Engadget)
2 In the past day, Binance customers have extracted over $1 billion
Considering the CEO’s confession to a plethora of criminal infringements, their decision is hardly shocking. (CNBC)
+ An advantage Binance provided to its elite clients was early warning about probes from regulatory bodies. (CNBC)
+ However, does the unfolding spectacle suggest cryptocurrency may turn uneventful? (Wired $)
+ What’s on the horizon for digital currencies. (MIT Technology Review)
3 Gazans strive to maintain internet access
Prior to the blockade, the web connection was already substandard. Presently, the crisis has escalated. (Vice)
4 The extensive and grim past of online animosity in India
Anticipate the situation to deteriorate with an impending election next year. (Wired $)
5 AI-crafted imagery proliferates across stock photo platforms
Discerning actuality from fantasy is increasingly difficult. (WP $)
+ AI models for text-to-image can be coaxed into creating unsettling visuals. (MIT Technology Review)
6 A magistrate concluded that Elon Musk disregarded critical shortcomings in Tesla Autopilot
Combined with the debacle at Cruise, it constitutes a particularly challenging week for the autonomous driving industry. (Ars Technica)
+ Cruise insists it will likely restart operations soon in either Texas or Arizona. (Axios)
+ Competition for pilot-assist superiority is propelling China to lead in autonomous driving technology. (MIT Technology Review)
7 TikTokers are circulating clips of strangers sharing rumors about individuals
While,uh, possibly causing detriment to all parties involved in the undertaking. (The Guardian)
8 We’re advancing in leveraging technology to identify scents 👃
Yet, electronic noses are intricate for tuning, and notably costly. (BBC)
+ Ongoing investigations endeavor to incorporate smells into digital realms. (MIT Technology Review)
9 Go ahead and utilize your mobile phone this Thanksgiving
Granted, you may not wish to be tethered to it, though it could serve as a useful source of amusement. (WSJ $)
10 The enterprise of Paris Hilton has joined an extensive roster of advertisers withdrawing from X
It’s turning into an ‘X-odus’ (apologies.) (CNN)
Quotation of the day
“You could drop him onto an isle swarming with cannibals and return in half a decade to find he’d be their ruler.”
—Paul Graham regarding his Y Combinator collaborator Sam Altman in a blog entry from 2008.
The prominent narrative
The FBI implicated him of espionage on behalf of China. It devastated his life.
June 2021
In April 2018, Anming Hu, an ethnic Chinese scholar with Canadian citizenship at the University of Tennessee, was taken by surprise with a visit from the FBI. The officials inquired whether he had participated in a Chinese state “talent scheme,” which offers inducements to international researchers for repatriating their expertise to universities in China.
A while back, educational institutions in America endorsed their scholars to foster connections with counterparts in China, however, nowadays the US administrations view these efforts with suspicion, considering them potential avenues for espionage recruitment. Despite Hu’s assertions to the contrary regarding his involvement in such initiatives, the agents returned after nearly two years, this time to detain him. Discover the full account.
—Karen Hao & Eileen Guo
We can still possess delightful things
A corner for solace, enjoyment, and diversions to enhance your day. (Any propositions? Email me or send them via Twitter.)
+ These stylish equines are making moves across the globe 🐴
+ Expecting a newborn and looking for a moniker that’s bilingual? MixedName can provide assistance.
+ Oh, the notably timid Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna spotted on film for the premier time.
+ What pairs excellently with Thanksgiving than a