3 America is gripped by a flu outbreak
Infections have reached their highest levels since the Covid pandemic. (Bloomberg $)
+ All but four states reported high levels of influenza activity. (CNN)
+ The cause may be a new strain of the virus. (AP News)
4 humanoid robots in the factory will become much smarter
Google DeepMind is teaming up with Boston Dynamics to help Atlas' bipedal robots complete tasks faster. (Wired $)
+ In theory, the deal could help Atlas interact with people more naturally. (TechCrunch)
+ Why the humanoid workforce is late. (MIT Technology Review)
5. NASA's 2026 budget was better than we expected.
That's down just 1% from last year, despite a number of proposals for sharp cuts. (Ars Technique)
6. Nvidia's first self-driving cars will go on sale later this year
Watch out, Tesla! (NOW $)
+ Apparently they have a pretty smooth ride. (Ars Technique)
+ The company is also actively working on the production of new chips. (Reuters)
7. Elon Musk's fans use Grok to make revenge porn of the mother of one of his sons
Ashley St. Clair says her complaints have gone unanswered. (Guardian)
+ This is what happens when you abandon almost all safety rules and protocols. (404 Media)
+ Authorities around the world are trying to crack down on Grok. (Rest of the world)
8. The Greenland Ice Dome Has Already Melted Once
And if the temperature remains high, it could happen again. (New scientist $)
+ Inside the new quest to save the “Doomsday Glacier.” (MIT Technology Review)
9. Chinese chatbot crashed and snapped at the user
Tencent AI assistant Yuanbao told them their request was “stupid” and “to get lost.” (Insider $)
+ At least it's not too sycophantic… (MIT Technology Review)
10 Lego bricks have been given a clever makeover
They contain tiny computers that allow entire sets to come to life. (Edge)
+ The technology will create fun contextual sounds and lighting effects. (Wired $)
Quote of the day
“The goal of this administration is to make vaccines optional. And we are paying the price for that.”
