Today's edition of The Download is the weekday newsletter that gives you a daily dose from the world of technology.
Some good news about climate change (and some reality checks)
The climate picture can be bleak.
In 2022, the emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change will reach new levels. Climate disasters are erupting at an alarming pace, from the record heat waves in China, Europe, and Pakistan to the devastating floods in Pakistan.
However, a closer look at global data shows there are some bright spots and potential for progress. Renewable energy sources account for a larger share of the world's energy supply and are becoming more affordable every year. New targets are being set by countries to reduce their emissions. Unprecedented public investments could lead to more technological advancements.
Even though it can seem like there is a lot of bad news, there are still some reasons to be optimistic. You can read the whole story.
–Casey Crownhart
These design principles could change the direction of the chip industry
Humans have created many programming languages since the invention of the computer. Software must translate your code into instructions that a chip can use in order for a chip to execute it. Engineers create specific binary sequences that instruct the hardware to execute certain actions. This is called the computer's instruction list.
The chip industry relies on a variety proprietary instruction sets that companies license for millions of dollar per piece.
Recently, however, many software and hardware companies around the world have started to converge on RISC-V, a publicly available instruction set. This could radically transform the chip industry and help small businesses become more entrepreneurial. The full story is available here.
–Sophia Chen
RISC–V is one MIT Technology Review's ten Breakthrough Technologies for 2023. Check out the rest of this list and vote in our poll to let us know what the 11th technology should look like.
While the economy is in decline, AI is booming. What's next?
The world's most successful tech companies announced mass layoffs over the past week. The job losses have rippled across the board, from Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Twitter. They are not just affecting individual AI researchers but also entire AI teams.
Economists believe the US economy could enter recession in the face of a uncertain global economic outlook. Big tech companies are already feeling the pinch.
Economic downturns in the past have prevented funding for AI research. These are known as "AI winters" but this time, we're seeing something completely different. AI research is still very hot and making huge leaps in progress, even as tech companies tighten their belts. The full story is available here.
–Melissa Heikkila
Melissa's story comes from The Algorithm. This weekly newsletter gives you all the information on AI. Get it delivered to your inbox every Monday by signing up
The must-read
I've combed the internet to find you today's most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.
1 Elon Musk defends his controversial tweet in court
He insists that his offer to Tesla for $420 per share was not a joke. (The Verge)
+ Tesla investors claim that they have lost billions of dollars due to the tweet. (WP $)
+ Musk claims that his SpaceX stake could have been used to finance a buyout. (Reuters)
+ Twitter is currently being sued for unpaid rent at its UK headquarters. (Bloomberg $)
2 Microsoft will invest billions in OpenAI
It confirmed plans to layoff 10,000 workers just days after the announcement. (CNN)
+ This is a significant coup for Microsoft's AI credentials. (Vox)
+ CEO Satya Nadella first invested in OpenAI back in 2019. (The Information $).
+ Microsoft could use ChatGPT in this way: (MIT Technology Review)
3 Silicon Valley is out of money
Even the most powerful players are finding it difficult. (NYT $)
+ These layoffs are particularly bad news for the metaverse. (Insider $)
+ Spotify is the latest company that announced it was cutting jobs. (Engadget)
4 Crypto investors are doing it all
They are withdrawing their exchange holdings to their wallets. (Reuters)
+ How it feels to investigate super-rich fraudsters. (The Guardian)
5 US banks' green credentials being evaluated
The Federal Reserve wants to know what they will do in case of climate emergencies. (Vox)
6 The US Government is set to sue Google
The company's digital advertising dominance. (Bloomberg $)
7 What is the best way to make electric cars mainstream?
Customers must believe that the benefits outweigh any potential risks. (IEEE Spectrum)
+ In theory, EV owners could support the power grid. (Wired $)
+ Why EVs will not replace hybrid cars any time soon. (MIT Technology Review)
8 How it feels to be the only one with a medical condition
It is not fun to live in a situation in which no one else has the exact same genetic mutation. (New Yorker $).
9 Give a thought to sneaker resellers 
Tough times ahead with possible recession and bot crackdowns (Insider $)
10 Corecore will take over TikTok
It's an unusually beautiful expression for existential angst. Vice)
+ What's the deal with TikTok? (Wired $)
Quote for the Day
"I didn’t give my wife enough attention." "Now that World of Warcraft has ended, I want to make amends."
The Guardian reports that Wu, a long-time fan of World of Warcraft, attempts to find a positive in the game's offline status in China.
The big story
How mobile money has fueled Kenya's addiction to sports betting
[TAG2]
April 2022
Kenyans have largely benefited from mobile money. It has also driven the country's sports betting industry.
Experts and other public figures on the continent of Africa are raising alarm about the sector's growth. Although it has brought about stories of wealth, it has also caused many to lose their families, ruined college tuitions and even led to some people taking their own lives. The full story is available here.
–Jonathan W. Rosen
You can still enjoy nice things
This is a place to find comfort, joy and distraction during these crazy times. (Have any suggestions? Drop me a note or send me a tweet. )
+ Jane Fonda sounds just like Charlotte!
+ I enjoyed Gritty the Philadelphia Flyers' mascot recreating the famous DVD screensaver live at an actual game.
+ Communication with cats is not for everyone.
+ The restoration of this shipwrecked Teddy Bear is truly heartwarming.
+ You won't ever separate me from my useless little treats
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
By: Rhiannon Williams
Title: The Download: some good climate news, and a revolutionary new chip design
Sourced From: www.technologyreview.com/2023/01/24/1067237/download-good-climate-news-revolutionary-new-chip-design/
Published Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2023 13:10:00 +0000
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