That is right this moment’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a day by day dose of what’s occurring on the earth of expertise.
How a brand new kind of AI helps police skirt facial recognition bans
Police and federal companies have discovered a controversial new method to skirt the rising patchwork of legal guidelines that curb how they use facial recognition: an AI mannequin that may observe individuals primarily based on attributes like physique dimension, gender, hair coloration and magnificence, clothes, and equipment.
The device, referred to as Monitor and constructed by the video analytics firm Veritone, is utilized by 400 prospects, together with state and native police departments and universities all around the US. Additionally it is increasing federally.
The product has drawn criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union, which—after studying of the device by way of MIT Expertise Evaluate—mentioned it was the primary occasion they’d seen of a nonbiometric monitoring system used at scale within the US. Learn the complete story.
—James O’Donnell
In case you’re fascinated by studying extra about facial recognition and police tech, try:
+ How the most important gathering of US police chiefs is speaking about AI. Officers coaching in digital actuality, cities surveilled by webs of sensors, and AI-generated police stories are all an indication of what’s to come back. Learn the complete story.
+ Clear, the corporate that has helped thousands and thousands of individuals lower safety traces, needs to provide you a frictionless future—in alternate on your face. Learn the complete story.
+ The US needs to make use of facial recognition to establish migrant kids as they age.
+ Why the motion to restrict face recognition tech would possibly lastly get a win. Learn the complete story.
+ Uber’s facial recognition is locking Indian drivers out of their accounts— and a few persons are discovering their accounts completely blocked. Learn the complete story.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to seek out you right this moment’s most enjoyable/essential/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.
1 The US and China have struck a deal to slash tariffs
For the following 90 days, at the least. (Politico)
+ However America’s 30% tariffs are nonetheless extraordinarily excessive. (FT $)
+ China has agreed to chop its levies from 125% to 10%. (CNN)
2 OpenAI is negotiating a future IPO with Microsoft
Whereas nonetheless preserving Microsoft’s entry to the startup’s AI fashions. (FT $)
+ In the meantime, Microsoft is continually racing to remain forward of hackers. (Bloomberg $)
3 DOGE cuts go away US employees at growing danger of growing silicosis
The lung illness is lethal—and preventable. (The Atlantic $)
+ Can AI assist DOGE slash authorities budgets? It’s complicated. (MIT Expertise Evaluate)
4 Scammers are posing as legal professionals on TikTok to trick undocumented migrants
Immigration scams have skyrocketed since Trump took workplace. (WP $)
+ An intensive sextortion community on TikTok is concentrating on American youngsters. (The Guardian)
+ AI-powered fraud is in all places proper now. (Wired $)
5 Climate balloons are being phased out in favor of AI instruments
Extreme funds cuts imply that fewer balloon flights are being scheduled. (Semafor)
+ Trump’s tariffs will ship a giant blow to local weather tech. (MIT Expertise Evaluate)
6 Amazon Internet Service is determined by this mysterious chip startup
Annapurna, the corporate behind Amazon’s cloud success, is important to its future. (WSJ $)
7 Inside the hunt to create the proper solid-state battery
Massachusetts start-up Factorial needs to overtake EVs’ picture. (NYT $)
+ However tariffs are dangerous information for batteries. (MIT Expertise Evaluate)
8 A colossal knowledge heart in North Dakota is sitting empty
It’s struggling to discover a main tech buyer to lease it. (The Data $)
+ China constructed lots of of AI knowledge facilities to catch the AI increase. Now many stand unused. (MIT Expertise Evaluate)
9 Housewives make up Vietnam’s newest wave of gig employees
They’re storing items of their fridges whereas they’re at dwelling to chop prices. (Remainder of World)
10 Skilled writers love Substack 
They’re utilizing the medium to experiment with thrilling new kinds. (New Yorker $)
+ Area of interest newsletters are massive enterprise today. (NYT $)
Quote of the day
“It feels a bit like a prisoner seeing their triple life sentence lowered to a single one.”
—Katja Bego, a senior analysis fellow at Chatham Home, feedback on the settlement between the US and China to chop tariffs from 145% to 30% in a submit on Bluesky.
Another factor
The $100 billion wager {that a} postindustrial US metropolis can reinvent itself as a high-tech hub
On a day in late April, a small drilling rig sits on the fringe of the scrubby overgrown fields of Syracuse, New York, taking soil samples. It’s the primary signal of building on what may develop into the most important semiconductor manufacturing facility in the US.
The CHIPS and Science Act was extensively seen by business leaders and politicians as a method to safe provide chains, and make the US aggressive once more in semiconductor chip manufacturing.
Now Syracuse is turning into an financial check of whether or not, over the following a number of a long time, aggressive authorities insurance policies—and the large company investments they spur—can each enhance the nation’s manufacturing prowess and revitalize uncared for elements of the nation. Learn the complete story.
—David Rotman
We will nonetheless have good issues
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