That is at the moment’s version of The Obtain, our weekday e-newsletter that gives a each day dose of what’s happening on this planet of expertise.
What we nonetheless don’t learn 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 this planet to attain a trillion-dollar valuation.
However we additionally realized that, disappointingly, GLP-1 medication don’t appear to assist individuals with Alzheimer’s illness. And that individuals who cease taking the medication after they turn out to be pregnant can expertise probably harmful ranges of weight acquire. On prime of that, some researchers fear that persons 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 so much we nonetheless don’t learn 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 Know-how Evaluation’s weekly biotech e-newsletter. To obtain it in your inbox each Thursday, and skim articles like this primary, join right here.
When you’re excited about 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 could additionally trigger being pregnant problems 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 learn about how AI is affecting the financial system
There’s so much at stake on the subject of understanding how AI is altering the financial system proper now. Ought to we be pessimistic? Optimistic? Or is the state of affairs too nuanced for that?
Hopefully, we are able to 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 giant David Rotman, and Richard Waters, Monetary Instances columnist, exploring what’s occurring throughout totally different markets. Register right here to hitch us at 1pm ET on Tuesday December 9.
The occasion is a part of the Monetary Instances and MIT Know-how Evaluation “The State of AI” partnership, exploring the worldwide influence of synthetic intelligence. Over the previous month, we’ve been working discussions between our journalists—join right here to obtain future editions each Monday.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to search out you at the moment’s most enjoyable/necessary/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.
1 Tech billionaires are gearing as much as battle AI regulation
By amassing multi-million greenback struggle chests forward of the 2026 US midterm elections. (WSJ $)
+ Donald Trump’s “Manhattan Mission” for AI is actually bold. (The Info $)
2 The EU needs to carry social media platforms responsible for monetary scams
New guidelines will drive tech companies 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 related machines. (Bloomberg $)
+ It might study some classes from the present AI bubble. (CNN)+ Why the humanoid workforce is working late. (MIT Know-how Evaluation)
4 A Myanmar rip-off compound was blown up
However its residents will merely discover new bases for his or her operations. (NYT $)
+ Specialists 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 Know-how Evaluation)
5 Navies internationally are investing in submarine drones
They value a fraction of what it takes to run a conventional manned sub. (The Guardian)
+ How underwater drones might form a possible Taiwan-China battle. (MIT Know-how Evaluation)
6 What to anticipate from China’s seemingly unstoppable innovation drive
Its extraordinarily permissive regulators play an enormous position. (Economist $)
+ Is China about to win the AI race? (MIT Know-how Evaluation)
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 building is amping up. (FT $)
+ How growing older clocks may help us perceive why we age—and if we are able to reverse it. (MIT Know-how Evaluation)
9 Have we lastly seen the primary hints of darkish matter?
These researchers appear to suppose 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… so much.”
—Protection firm Anduril explains its move-fast-and-break-things ethos to the Wall Avenue Journal in response to stories its techniques have been marred by points in Ukraine.
Yet one more factor
How you can construct a greater AI benchmark
It’s not simple being one among Silicon Valley’s favourite benchmarks.
SWE-Bench (pronounced “swee bench”) launched in November 2024 as a strategy to consider an AI mannequin’s coding ability. It has since shortly turn out to be some of the widespread assessments in AI. A SWE-Bench rating has turn out to be a mainstay of main mannequin releases from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google—and outdoors of basis fashions, the fine-tuners at AI companies 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 sport the system—which is pushing many others to wonder if there’s a greater strategy to really measure AI achievement. Learn the total story.
—Russell Brandom
We will nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Acquired any concepts? Drop me a line or skeet ’em at me.)
+ Aww, these sharks look like taking part in 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.
