That is at the moment’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a every day dose of what’s occurring on the earth of expertise.
What we nonetheless don’t learn about weight-loss medicine
Weight-loss medicine have been again within the information this week. First, we heard that Eli Lilly, the corporate behind Mounjaro and Zepbound, grew to become the primary healthcare firm on the earth to realize a trillion-dollar valuation.
However we additionally realized that, disappointingly, GLP-1 medicine don’t appear to assist individuals with Alzheimer’s illness. And that individuals who cease taking the medicine once they turn into pregnant can expertise probably harmful ranges of weight achieve. On high of that, some researchers fear that individuals are utilizing the medicine 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 medicine. So let’s take a look at the enduring questions surrounding GLP-1 agonist medicine.
—Jessica Hamzelou
This text first appeared in The Checkup, MIT Know-how Overview’s weekly biotech publication. To obtain it in your inbox each Thursday, and browse articles like this primary, enroll right here.
For those who’re excited by weight reduction medicine 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 alter. Learn the complete story.
+ Weight-loss injections have taken over the web. However what does this imply for individuals IRL?
+ This vibrating weight-loss tablet 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 scenario 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 occurring 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 Know-how Overview “The State of AI” partnership, exploring the worldwide affect 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 seek out you at the moment’s most enjoyable/essential/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.
1 Tech billionaires are gearing as much as combat AI regulation
By amassing multi-million greenback struggle chests forward of the 2026 US midterm elections. (WSJ $)
+ Donald Trump’s “Manhattan Undertaking” for AI is definitely bold. (The Info $)
2 The EU desires to carry social media platforms accountable 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 apprehensive a couple of humanoid robotic bubble
As a result of greater than 150 firms there are constructing very comparable machines. (Bloomberg $)
+ It might be taught some classes from the present AI bubble. (CNN)+ Why the humanoid workforce is working late. (MIT Know-how Overview)
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 could have been for present. (Wired $)
+ Inside a romance rip-off compound—and the way individuals get tricked into being there. (MIT Know-how Overview)
5 Navies internationally are investing in submarine drones
They price a fraction of what it takes to run a standard manned sub. (The Guardian)
+ How underwater drones might form a possible Taiwan-China battle. (MIT Know-how Overview)
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 Know-how Overview)
7 The UK is waging a struggle on VPNs
Good luck attempting to influence 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 getting older clocks might help us perceive why we age—and if we will reverse it. (MIT Know-how Overview)
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… rather a lot.”
—Protection firm Anduril explains its move-fast-and-break-things ethos to the Wall Road Journal in response to studies its programs have been marred by points in Ukraine.
Another factor
The right way to construct a greater AI benchmark
It’s not simple being certainly one of Silicon Valley’s favourite benchmarks.
SWE-Bench (pronounced “swee bench”) launched in November 2024 as a solution to consider an AI mannequin’s coding talent. It has since shortly turn into one of the well-liked exams in AI. A SWE-Bench rating has turn into 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 recreation the system—which is pushing many others to wonder if there’s a greater solution to really measure AI achievement. Learn the complete 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 seem like enjoying 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.
