MIT Technology Review Threads
Publication offering insights on emerging tech, including robotics and AI.
New Eco-Friendly Method Cuts Lithium Extraction Costs
Researchers say they’ve found a new way to extract lithium, a crucial metal used in the lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles and energy storage arrays. This new technique could be more environmentally friendly and cheaper than existing ones.
DeepMind's AI Nobel Win Sparks Next Research Frontier
Two years ago, an AI tool won Google DeepMind a Nobel. Researchers are now climbing toward a new goal.
AI Coding Tools Permanently Reshape Software Development
As tools like Claude Code get better, more and more developers are happy to hand off coding tasks to them. The way software gets built has changed for good.
Colossal's 3D‑Printed Chick Incubator:
Colossal Biosciences has grown baby chicks inside 3D-printed plastic containers coated with a silicone-based membrane that mimics an eggshell's oxygen exchange — a meaningful step, but scientists say the company is overselling it.
Google Enters Third Place in Foundation Model Race
When Google opens its doors tomorrow for its annual developer conference, I/O, it will do so as a clear third place in the foundation model race. Here are three things AI reporter Grace Huckins will be paying particular attention to...
Anduril's AR Headset Lets Soldiers Call Drone Strikes
The defense-tech company Anduril has shared new details about the augmented-reality headset for the military it’s prototyping with Meta, including a vision for ordering drone strikes via eye-tracking and voice commands.
China's AI‑driven Short Dramas Replace Actors, Crews
China’s short drama industry is fueled by bite-sized, melodramatic, and smutty shows built for smartphone scrolling. Now, many are being made entirely with AI: no actors, camera operators, cinematographers, or CGI specialists required.
Tesla Semi Finally Reveals Specs, Pricing, and Major Orders
This moment has been nearly a decade in the making: The company first announced the Tesla Semi in late 2017. And now we’ve got final battery specs, official prices, and big news about big orders.
LLM Agents Link Anonymized Data to Individuals at Scale
While gathering that data has become easier in the smartphone era, making use of it at scale has remained difficult. But researchers are beginning to show that LLM agents can connect anonymized data to real people quickly, cheaply, and at...
Tech Advances Redefine IVF and Our View of Reproduction
Tech advances not only made IVF safer and more effective; they fundamentally changed the way we think about our reproduction.
AI and Robotics Reshape IVF, Eye Gene Editing
Researchers are using AI to identify promising sperm and embryos, developing robotic systems that could automate parts of the IVF process, and even exploring controversial genetic editing techniques designed to prevent inherited disease.
Generative AI Now Guides Military Decisions in War Rooms
Algorithms have long automated military grunt work, but now generative AI has its own seat in the war room, and commanders take its advice seriously. It’s reshaping how militaries share intelligence, work with Big Tech, and make lethal decisions.
AI Co-Scientists Poised for Nobel-Level Discoveries
Academics and companies alike are developing agents that can carry out research tasks autonomously and work with scientists as genuine collaborators. Some believe these AI co-scientists will one day reach Nobel Prize–worthy heights.
AI as New Civic Interface: Risk and Opportunity
Faster than many realize, AI is becoming the primary interface through which we form beliefs and participate in democratic self-governance. This shift could further strain already fragile institutions, but it could also help address problems like polarization and declining civic...
Musk’s Partial Win Could Delay OpenAI’s IPO Plans
The stakes are high—even a partial win for Musk could set OpenAI back as it reportedly plans to go public this year.