required reading
I combed the internet to find you the funniest/most important/scary/fascinating stories about technology today.
1 How Ukraine cobbled together a scrappy digital army
It creates an inexpensive version of a system the Pentagon has spent decades (and billions of dollars) developing. (wall street journal $)
+ Ukraine says it has shot down nearly 500 drones since September. (protector)
2 Sam Bankman-Fried plans to plead not guilty
If the FTX founder is convinced of the fraud and conspiracy, he could face up to 115 years in prison. (Reuters)
3 China’s zero-epidemic turnaround exacerbates social inequality
Young people in rural areas are less likely to recover from education disruptions. (Financial Times $)
+ Other countries require travelers from China to test negative for COVID-19. (sound)
+ China’s foreign minister gave rare praise for U.S. unity. (Bloomberg $)
4 Tech Startups to Do Badly in 2022
For now, 2023 doesn’t look much better. (wall street journal $)
+ Workers laid off from big tech companies are looking to start their own businesses. (Reuters)
+ A look back at the biggest tech failures of the past 12 months. (sound)
5 Brazil’s far-right is thriving on Twitter
Just as the country’s new leftist president took office. (rest of the world)
+ We’re witnessing Twitter’s brain death. (MIT Technology Review)
6China’s Generative AI Model Has Serious Problems
As with their Western counterparts, the results are often inaccurate and offensive. (technology crisis)
+ How AI-generated text is poisoning the internet. (MIT Technology Review)
7The earth is constantly creating its own music
A tiny device is helping seismologists adjust its rhythm. (New York Times $)
8 The James Webb Space Telescope Revolutionized Astronomy
It is particularly good at illuminating the life cycles of stars. (edge)
+ The U.S. military plans to launch the constellation of satellites in March. (Atlantic Organization $)
+ NASA is hunting for potentially deadly asteroids. (inverse)
+ What’s next in space. (MIT Technology Review)
9 Your Concentration May Not Be As Bad As You Think
A distraction might actually be the productive break your brain craves. (protector)
+ Why not start the new year without your smartphone? (slate $)
10 Things You Can Blame Your Nose For A Cold That You Can’t Get Rid Of 👃
Colder temperatures make it harder to repel pesky bugs. (wired $)
daily quote
“When you take it seriously, it’s mostly hoaxes and memes.”
