This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. What you need to know the monkeypox outbreak The news: Monkeypox infections are spreading around the world, with 62 confirmed cases so far, and 55 suspected, according to a database compiled by researchers…

The world is rapidly moving from human-directed manufacturing using computerized assembly lines to largely automated smart factories that manufacture more efficiently using real-time data. Considered by many to be the fourth industrial revolution, or “Industry 4.0,” this transformation requires a bevy of technologies to deliver on its promise of ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC). From smart devices…

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. Why China is still obsessed with disinfecting everything In a one-minute video that went viral in China in early May, three government workers in hazmat suits spray disinfectant all over someone’s home: inside…

In a one-minute video that went viral in China in early May, three government workers in hazmat suits spray disinfectant all over someone’s home: inside the fridge, under the television, over the couch. On social media, Chinese people worried about whether their home would experience the same treatment if they were unlucky enough to catch…

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. The baby formula shortage has birthed a shady online marketplace Across the United States, parents are scrambling to find baby formula amid a nationwide shortage. To non-parents, the shortage may seem sudden, but…

Money is weird now. When we were settling in on the theme for our May/June issue, I decided to buy an NFT of an Olive Garden for my friend Katie, who really loves Olive Garden. It was also an attempt to try to better understand NFTs. Each of the “Non-Fungible Olive Gardens,” really just a…

Solar panels are basically synonymous with silicon. The material is used in about 95% of the panels in today’s market. But silicon solar cells are limited in how much energy they can harness from the sun, and they are still relatively expensive to make.  For many, compounds called perovskites have long held promise as potentially…

After Ashley Diaz had her baby in early April, she faced a setback. She wasn’t producing enough breast milk. Her newborn son needed formula to supplement his nutrition. So she sent her mother to Target to stock up. She came back with only two boxes—the maximum allowed. Now, many of those store shelves are empty,…

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. Anti-aging drugs are being tested as a way to treat covid Covid-19 is far more likely to kill you if you’re old. One reason is that aged immune systems struggle to cope with…

Covid-19 is far more likely to kill you if you’re old. One reason is that aged immune systems struggle to cope with infections and recover from them. So why not try drugs that make bodies young again? That’s the bold idea now being explored in clinical trials around the world, which are testing drugs that…

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. Social media platforms are still struggling to stop the spread of the Buffalo shooting video Social media platforms are still struggling to stop the spread of the video of the racist mass shooting…

One shiny premise of DeFi, or decentralized finance—a catch-all term for cryptocurrencies and blockchain projects related to the exchange of value—is that by spreading out and automating operations, and removing power from middlemen like banks, it can offer a system more resilient to global forces, able to survive events like war and economic downturns that…

Last month, a video went viral that showed a San Francisco police officer, at night, stopping a car that didn’t have its headlights on. Except that this was no ordinary car. As the cop approaches the vehicle, someone off-camera shouts, “Ain’t nobody in it!” The car, operated by Cruise, a subsidiary of General Motors, is…

Thank you for joining us on “The cloud hub: From cloud chaos to clarity.” Read this conversation with Matthias Haberstroh, director of supply chain management at ZF Group, where he discusses the pandemic’s impact on the digitalization of the automotive supply chain and how it will define the future of the industry. Click here to…

Thank you for joining us on “The cloud hub: From cloud chaos to clarity.” Contact centers hold significant value for businesses, but they often have to deal with a disengaged workforce and unsatisfied customers. New AI systems can help contact centers become future-ready with a smarter workforce, happier customers, and stronger finances. Click here to…

Thank you for joining us on “The cloud hub: From cloud chaos to clarity.” The transformative potential of algorithmic systems, the reach of their effects, combined with the paucity of supervision, can bring certain reputational, financial, and ethical risks. Responsible AI is required to provide assurance to users and build continuous trust in AI-based systems.…

Thank you for joining us on “The cloud hub: From cloud chaos to clarity.” Watch this panel discussion to hear experts explain how global manufacturers can harness the power of data and analytics on top of cloud. Panel experts include: Scott Anderson, director of IT, enterprise architecture, and BI/data analytics apps, and automation CoE at…

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. A quick guide to the most important AI law you’ve never heard of It’s a Wild West out there for artificial intelligence. AI applications are increasingly used to make important decisions about humans’…

It’s a Wild West out there for artificial intelligence. AI applications are increasingly used to make important decisions about humans’ lives with little to no oversight or accountability. This can have devastating consequences: wrongful arrests, incorrect grades for students, and even financial ruin. Women, marginalized groups, and people of color often bear the brunt of…

Geo-political tensions and digital transformation—which continue to reshape production and assembly processes across various industries—have exposed vulnerabilities in the traditional “just-in-time” (JIT) supply-chain model in the last few years. Pioneered in Japan and popularized by Toyota in the 1970s, the JIT method aims to avoid excess inventory by ordering products and raw materials only when…