The Obtain: easy methods to show you’re human, and changing the grid’s fuel

That is right this moment’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a day by day dose of what is going on on on the planet of expertise.

How “personhood credentials” might assist show you’re a human on-line

As AI fashions turn into higher at mimicking human conduct, it’s turning into more and more troublesome to differentiate between actual human web customers and complex methods imitating them.

That’s an actual drawback when these methods are deployed for nefarious ends like spreading misinformation or conducting fraud, and it makes it lots more durable to belief what you encounter on-line.

A gaggle of researchers have developed a possible resolution— a verification idea known as ‘personhood credentials’ that proves its holder is an actual particular person, with out revealing any additional details about their identification. Learn the total story to be taught the way it works.

—Rhiannon Williams

The race to exchange the highly effective greenhouse fuel that underpins the ability grid

The ability grid is underpinned by a single fuel that’s used to insulate a variety of high-voltage gear. The issue is, it’s additionally an excellent highly effective greenhouse fuel: a nightmare for local weather change.

Sulfur hexafluoride (or SF6) is way from the most typical fuel that warms the planet, contributing round 1% of warming thus far—carbon dioxide and methane are far more well-known and ample. However emissions of the fuel are steadily ticking up yearly. 

Now, corporations need to get rid of gear that depends on the fuel and trying to find replacements that may match its efficiency. Learn the total story.

—Casey Crownhart

Unveiling the 2024 Innovator of the Yr

The must-reads

I’ve combed the web to seek out you right this moment’s most enjoyable/necessary/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.

1 X is lots quieter with out its Brazilian customers
The extraordinarily on-line nation ran a lot of X’s hottest fan accounts. (NYT $)
+ Brazil’s Supreme Courtroom is below fireplace from some quarters for banning entry to the platform. (FT $)+ The traders who helped Elon Musk purchase X are severely out of pocket. (WP $)

2 China’s on-line surveillance web is widening
Influencers’ followers are more and more turning into targets for police interrogation. (The Guardian)
+ How 2023 marked the demise of anonymity on-line in China. (MIT Expertise Evaluate)

The once-mighty chipmaker plans to shed as many pointless property as attainable. (Reuters)
+ Its gross sales are shrinking, and rival Nvidia is flourishing. (Bloomberg $)

4 We’d like far more grid storage
EVs haven’t absolutely taken off, so battery makers need to the grid as a substitute. (Economist $)
+ New iron batteries might assist. (MIT Expertise Evaluate)

5 Courting apps are creating AI wingmen that will help you flirt
Tinder, Hinge, Bumble and Grindr’s new bots will counsel easy chat-up strains. (FT $)

6 US sanctions are pushing China and Russia to construct new fee methods
To assist them skirt the US-dollar-dominated world monetary order. (Insider $)
+ Is the digital greenback useless? (MIT Expertise Evaluate)

7 These scientists need to retailer organic samples on the moon
Seeds, plant, animal and microbial samples could possibly be safer there than on Earth. (Wired $)
+ Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is making bizarre noises. (Ars Technica)
+ Future house meals could possibly be produced from astronaut breath. (MIT Expertise Evaluate)

8 Making video calls from jail is severely costly
However US regulators are lastly capping how a lot personal corporations can cost. (WSJ $)

9 Passion apps are exploding in recognition
Social media fatigue is actual, and Strava and Letterboxd are reaping the advantages. (Bloomberg $)
+ Need to see what your mates are as much as? Test your Venmo. (The Atlantic $)
+ How one can repair the web. (MIT Expertise Evaluate)

10 Why AI is such a compelling film villain
From 2001: A House Odyssey to the Terminator to the Matrix. (WP $)

Quote of the day

“Pls flip off historical past.”

—A Google worker tells others to show off their chat historical past whereas discussing delicate topics, which the US Federal Authorities claims is proof that staff knew to keep away from making a authorized paper path, 404 Media stories.

The massive story

The race to supply uncommon earth supplies

January 2024

Abandoning fossil fuels and adopting lower-­carbon applied sciences are our greatest choices for averting the accelerating menace of local weather change. And entry to uncommon earth components, key components in lots of of those applied sciences, will partly decide which international locations will meet their targets for reducing emissions.

Some nations, together with the US, are more and more nervous about whether or not the availability of these components will stay steady. Because of this, scientists and corporations alike are intent on rising entry and bettering sustainability by exploring secondary or unconventional sources. Learn the total story. 

—Mureji Fatunde

We will nonetheless have good issues

A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Received any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)

+ Now fall is formally on its manner, it’s time to replace your autumnal studying record ($)
+ I really like this picture of a neuroscientist and her child captured by an MRI machine.
+ My favourite Olympic sport? Snail racing! You possibly can learn extra about how the snails energy their little automobiles right here (thanks Claire!)
+ Marginal positive factors actually do work.