That is at this time’s version of The Obtain, our weekday e-newsletter that gives a every day dose of what’s occurring on the earth of expertise.
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, turned the primary healthcare firm on the earth to attain a trillion-dollar valuation.
However we additionally discovered that, disappointingly, GLP-1 medication don’t appear to assist individuals with Alzheimer’s illness. And that individuals who cease taking the medication once they turn out to be pregnant can expertise probably harmful ranges of weight achieve. On high 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 quite a bit we nonetheless don’t find out about these medication. So let’s have a look at the enduring questions surrounding GLP-1 agonist medication.
—Jessica Hamzelou
This text first appeared in The Checkup, MIT Expertise Assessment’s weekly biotech e-newsletter. To obtain it in your inbox each Thursday, and browse articles like this primary, enroll right here.
Should you’re considering weight reduction medication and the way they have an effect on us, check out:
+ GLP-1 agonists like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro would possibly profit coronary heart and mind well being—however analysis suggests they may additionally trigger being pregnant issues and hurt some customers. Learn the total story.
+ We’ve by no means understood how starvation works. That is perhaps about to alter. Learn the total story.
+ Weight-loss injections have taken over the web. However what does this imply for individuals 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 quite a bit at stake on the subject of understanding how AI is altering the economic system proper now. Ought to we be pessimistic? Optimistic? Or is the state of affairs too nuanced for that?
Hopefully, we will level you in the 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 Occasions columnist, exploring what’s occurring 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 Occasions and MIT Expertise Assessment “The State of AI” partnership, exploring the worldwide impression of synthetic intelligence. Over the previous month, we’ve been working discussions between our journalists—enroll right here to obtain future editions each Monday.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to seek out you at this time’s most enjoyable/vital/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.
1 Tech billionaires are gearing as much as struggle AI regulation
By amassing multi-million greenback struggle chests forward of the 2026 US midterm elections. (WSJ $)
+ Donald Trump’s “Manhattan Challenge” for AI is actually formidable. (The Data $)
2 The EU needs to carry social media platforms answerable 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 firms there are constructing very comparable machines. (Bloomberg $)
+ It might study some classes from the present AI bubble. (CNN)+ Why the humanoid workforce is working late. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
4 A Myanmar rip-off compound was blown up
However its residents will merely discover new bases for his or her operations. (NYT $)
+ Consultants suspect the destruction might have been for present. (Wired $)
+ Inside a romance rip-off compound—and the way individuals get tricked into being there. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
5 Navies internationally are investing in submarine drones
They price a fraction of what it takes to run a standard manned sub. (The Guardian)
+ How underwater drones might form a possible Taiwan-China battle. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
6 What to anticipate from China’s seemingly unstoppable innovation drive
Its extraordinarily permissive regulators play an enormous function. (Economist $)
+ Is China about to win the AI race? (MIT Expertise Assessment)
7 The UK is waging a struggle on VPNs
Good luck making an attempt to steer individuals to cease utilizing them. (The Verge)
8 We’re studying extra about Jeff Bezos’ mysterious clock challenge
He’s backed the Clock of the Lengthy Now for years—and development is amping up. (FT $)
+ How ageing clocks will help us perceive why we age—and if we will reverse it. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
9 Have we lastly seen the primary hints of darkish matter?
These researchers appear to assume so. (New Scientist $)
10 A useful robotic helps archaeologists reconstruct Pompeii
Reassembling historical frescos is fiddly and time-consuming, however much less so for those who’re a dextrous machine. (Reuters)
Quote of the day
“We do fail… quite a bit.”
—Protection firm Anduril explains its move-fast-and-break-things ethos to the Wall Road Journal in response to experiences its techniques have been marred by points in Ukraine.
Yet another factor
The way to construct a greater AI benchmark
It’s not simple being certainly one of Silicon Valley’s favourite benchmarks.
SWE-Bench (pronounced “swee bench”) launched in November 2024 as a option to consider an AI mannequin’s coding talent. It has since rapidly turn out to be some of the well-liked checks in AI. A SWE-Bench rating has turn out to be a mainstay of main mannequin releases from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google—and out of doors 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 option to truly 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. (Received any concepts? Drop me a line or skeet ’em at me.)
+ Aww, these sharks look like enjoying with pool toys.
+ Unusual issues are occurring over on Easter Island (even weirder than you may 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.
