That is right this moment’s version of The Obtain, our weekday e-newsletter that gives a each day dose of what’s happening on the earth of expertise.
What we nonetheless don’t find out 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 the earth to attain a trillion-dollar valuation.
However we additionally realized that, disappointingly, GLP-1 medication don’t appear to assist folks with Alzheimer’s illness. And that individuals who cease taking the medication 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 medication postpartum to lose being pregnant weight with out understanding potential dangers.
All of this information ought to function a reminder that there’s loads we nonetheless don’t find out about these medication. So let’s have a look at the enduring questions surrounding GLP-1 agonist medication.
—Jessica Hamzelou
This text first appeared in The Checkup, MIT Expertise Evaluate’s weekly biotech e-newsletter. To obtain it in your inbox each Thursday, and browse articles like this primary, enroll right here.
In case you’re desirous about weight reduction medication and the way they have an effect on us, check out:
+ GLP-1 agonists like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro may profit coronary heart and mind well being—however analysis suggests they may additionally trigger being pregnant issues and hurt some customers. Learn the complete story.
+ We’ve by no means understood how starvation works. That is likely to be about to alter. Learn the complete story.
+ Weight-loss injections have taken over the web. However what does this imply for folks IRL?
+ This vibrating weight-loss capsule appears to work—in pigs. Learn the complete story.
What we find out about how AI is affecting the financial system
There’s loads at stake on the subject of understanding how AI is altering the financial system proper now. Ought to we be pessimistic? Optimistic? Or is the state of affairs too nuanced for that?
Hopefully, we are able to level you in 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 Occasions columnist, exploring what’s occurring throughout completely different markets. Register right here to hitch us at 1pm ET on Tuesday December 9.
The occasion is a part of the Monetary Occasions and MIT Expertise Evaluate “The State of AI” partnership, exploring the worldwide impression 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 this moment’s most enjoyable/necessary/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.
1 Tech billionaires are gearing as much as combat AI regulation
By amassing multi-million greenback warfare chests forward of the 2026 US midterm elections. (WSJ $)
+ Donald Trump’s “Manhattan Challenge” for AI is definitely bold. (The Data $)
2 The EU desires to carry social media platforms answerable for monetary scams
New guidelines will power tech companies to compensate banks in the event that they fail to take away reported scams. (Politico)
3 China is frightened a couple of humanoid robotic bubble
As a result of greater than 150 corporations 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 Expertise Evaluate)
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 folks get tricked into being there. (MIT Expertise Evaluate)
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 Expertise Evaluate)
6 What to anticipate from China’s seemingly unstoppable innovation drive
Its extraordinarily permissive regulators play a giant position. (Economist $)
+ Is China about to win the AI race? (MIT Expertise Evaluate)
7 The UK is waging a warfare on VPNs
Good luck attempting to influence folks to cease utilizing them. (The Verge)
8 We’re studying extra about Jeff Bezos’ mysterious clock challenge
He’s backed the Clock of the Lengthy Now for years—and building is amping up. (FT $)
+ How getting old clocks can assist us perceive why we age—and if we are able to reverse it. (MIT Expertise Evaluate)
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 in the event you’re a dextrous machine. (Reuters)
Quote of the day
“We do fail… loads.”
—Protection firm Anduril explains its move-fast-and-break-things ethos to the Wall Avenue Journal in response to reviews its programs have been marred by points in Ukraine.
Yet one more factor
Methods to construct a greater AI benchmark
It’s not straightforward being considered one of 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 shortly turn into one of the common checks 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 method 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. (Bought any concepts? Drop me a line or skeet ’em at me.)
+ Aww, these sharks look like taking part in 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.
