That is right now’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 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 grow to be pregnant can expertise probably harmful ranges of weight achieve. 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 rather a lot we nonetheless don’t learn about these medication. So let’s take a look at the enduring questions surrounding GLP-1 agonist medication.
—Jessica Hamzelou
This text first appeared in The Checkup, MIT Expertise Evaluation’s weekly biotech e-newsletter. To obtain it in your inbox each Thursday, and browse articles like this primary, enroll right here.
When you’re curious 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 complete story.
+ We’ve by no means understood how starvation works. That is perhaps about to vary. Learn the complete 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 complete story.
What we learn about how AI is affecting the economic system
There’s rather a lot at stake in relation to 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 Instances columnist, exploring what’s taking place 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 Instances and MIT Expertise 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—enroll right here to obtain future editions each Monday.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to search out you right now’s most enjoyable/essential/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.
1 Tech billionaires are gearing as much as battle AI regulation
By amassing multi-million greenback conflict chests forward of the 2026 US midterm elections. (WSJ $)
+ Donald Trump’s “Manhattan Undertaking” for AI is definitely bold. (The Info $)
2 The EU needs to carry social media platforms chargeable for monetary scams
New guidelines will pressure tech companies to compensate banks in the event that they fail to take away reported scams. (Politico)
3 China is apprehensive a couple of humanoid robotic bubble
As a result of greater than 150 corporations there are constructing very comparable machines. (Bloomberg $)
+ It may be taught some classes from the present AI bubble. (CNN)+ Why the humanoid workforce is working late. (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
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 Evaluation)
5 Navies internationally are investing in submarine drones
They value a fraction of what it takes to run a standard manned sub. (The Guardian)
+ How underwater drones may form a possible Taiwan-China battle. (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
6 What to anticipate from China’s seemingly unstoppable innovation drive
Its extraordinarily permissive regulators play a giant function. (Economist $)
+ Is China about to win the AI race? (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
7 The UK is waging a conflict on VPNs
Good luck attempting to steer individuals to cease utilizing them. (The Verge)
8 We’re studying extra about Jeff Bezos’ mysterious clock mission
He’s backed the Clock of the Lengthy Now for years—and development is amping up. (FT $)
+ How growing old clocks may help us perceive why we age—and if we will reverse it. (MIT Expertise Evaluation)
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 historic frescos is fiddly and time-consuming, however much less so when you’re a dextrous machine. (Reuters)
Quote of the day
“We do fail… rather a lot.”
—Protection firm Anduril explains its move-fast-and-break-things ethos to the Wall Avenue Journal in response to experiences its methods have been marred by points in Ukraine.
Another factor
How you can construct a greater AI benchmark
It’s not straightforward being one among Silicon Valley’s favourite benchmarks.
SWE-Bench (pronounced “swee bench”) launched in November 2024 as a method to consider an AI mannequin’s coding ability. It has since rapidly grow to be one of the vital common checks in AI. A SWE-Bench rating has grow 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 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 method to really measure AI achievement. Learn the complete story.
—Russell Brandom
We are able to nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Obtained any concepts? Drop me a line or skeet ’em at me.)
+ Aww, these sharks look like enjoying with pool toys.
+ Unusual issues are taking place 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.
