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Technology

Uncovering and explaining how our digital world is changing — and changing us.

Artificial intelligence isn’t a good argument for basic income
Future Perfect

A major study backed by OpenAI’s Sam Altman shows unconditional cash has benefits that have nothing to do with AI.

By Oshan Jarow
Artificial intelligence isn’t a good argument for basic income
Future Perfect

A major study backed by OpenAI’s Sam Altman shows unconditional cash has benefits that have nothing to do with AI.

By Oshan Jarow
Will AI ever become conscious? It depends on how you think about biology.Will AI ever become conscious? It depends on how you think about biology.
Future Perfect

The debate that will steer the future of consciousness — and us.

By Oshan Jarow
Toxic lies are surging in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and MiltonToxic lies are surging in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

Donald Trump and Elon Musk are two of the biggest misinformation superspreaders.

By Miles Bryan and Sean Rameswaram
The rise of artificial intelligence, explainedThe rise of artificial intelligence, explained
Technology

Understand how ChatGPT, Stable Diffusion, and DALL-E are transforming our world — from text and image generation to how we live and work.

By Shira Tarlo

The latest in Technology

Are humans the only ones that can be creative?Are humans the only ones that can be creative?
Audio
The Gray Area

Essayist and author Meghan O’Gieblyn on the meaning of art in the age of artificial intelligence.

By Sean Illing
The shady origins of the climate haven mythThe shady origins of the climate haven myth
Climate

How the media, city mayors, and the real estate industry filled us with false hope.

By Adam Clark Estes
Your iPhone is probably a satellite phone. Here’s how it could help you.Your iPhone is probably a satellite phone. Here’s how it could help you.
TechnologyMember Exclusive

Cell towers in space are more capable than ever of helping people on the ground.

By Adam Clark Estes
Your phones and computers rely on this remote mine in North Carolina. Helene just drowned it.Your phones and computers rely on this remote mine in North Carolina. Helene just drowned it.
ClimateMember Exclusive

Hurricane Helene exposed the vulnerable underbelly of the global chip industry.

By Adam Clark Estes
How zapping the brain can supercharge meditationHow zapping the brain can supercharge meditation
Future Perfect

New brain stimulation techniques could help scientists understand how meditation changes the mind.

By Oshan Jarow
In the new Miami, the old office culture reignsIn the new Miami, the old office culture reigns
Audio
Future of Work

How a tech and finance boom brought workers back to the office. It might just be the future of work for all of us.

By Jolie Myers
These remote workers moved to Portugal for work-life balance. Is their life as fun as it looks?These remote workers moved to Portugal for work-life balance. Is their life as fun as it looks?
Future of WorkMember Exclusive

For the Portuguese, the answer is complicated.

By Victoria Chamberlin
California’s governor has vetoed a historic AI safety billCalifornia’s governor has vetoed a historic AI safety bill
Future Perfect

SB 1047 would have been a landmark in AI safety. Gavin Newsom’s veto is a major setback in the fight against AI risk

By Sigal Samuel, Kelsey Piper and 1 more
Venmo and Chime don’t have fees. They have bigger problems.Venmo and Chime don’t have fees. They have bigger problems.
Technology

Yes, you can use an app as your checking account — but there are risks.

By Adam Clark Estes
Yuval Noah Harari on whether democracy and AI can coexistYuval Noah Harari on whether democracy and AI can coexist
Audio
The Gray Area

“If humans are so smart, why are we so stupid?”

By Sean Illing
OpenAI as we knew it is deadOpenAI as we knew it is dead
Future Perfect

The maker of ChatGPT promised to share its profits with the public. But Sam Altman just sold you out.

By Sigal Samuel
The cultural power of the anti-woke tech broThe cultural power of the anti-woke tech bro
The present — and future — of the American right

The aesthetic of Cybertrucks, energy drinks, and MMA, explained.

By Rebecca Jennings
New York’s governor wants to “liberate” kids — by taking their phonesNew York’s governor wants to “liberate” kids — by taking their phones
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul spoke to Today, Explained co-host Sean Rameswaram about her plan.

By Miles Bryan
What it means that new AIs can “reason”What it means that new AIs can “reason”
Future Perfect

OpenAI’s new ChatGPT is better than ever — and more dangerous.

By Kelsey Piper
I asked Bill Gates why there are still so many hungry childrenI asked Bill Gates why there are still so many hungry children
Future Perfect

The billionaire philanthropist talks about how the fight for global health lost steam — and how to get it back.

By Dylan Scott
What if the panic over teens and tech is totally wrong?What if the panic over teens and tech is totally wrong?
Technology

The collective freakout about the youth mental health crisis has reached a tipping point.

By Adam Clark Estes
Instagram’s Teen Accounts aren’t really for teensInstagram’s Teen Accounts aren’t really for teens
Technology

What to know about Meta’s new restrictions on young people’s social media use.

By Ellen Ioanes
The new followup to ChatGPT is scarily good at deception
Future Perfect

The safety paradox at the heart of OpenAI’s “Strawberry” model.

By Sigal Samuel
Why the SpaceX spacewalk is such a huge dealWhy the SpaceX spacewalk is such a huge deal
Science

The mission tested lots of new technology for future, longer missions.

By Ellen Ioanes
The perfect escape from our online world
Future Perfect

Why the new luxury is flip phones and vinyl LPs

By Zoë Bernard
The impact of the Supreme Court’s reversal of affirmative action, explained in one chartThe impact of the Supreme Court’s reversal of affirmative action, explained in one chart
Policy

Preliminary data shows a negative impact on Black enrollment at some universities.

By Nicole Narea
Apple’s new AI is magically mediocreApple’s new AI is magically mediocre
Technology

Apple Intelligence is not that scary, not that advanced, and definitely not finished.

By Adam Clark Estes
There’s a fix for AI-generated essays. Why aren’t we using it?There’s a fix for AI-generated essays. Why aren’t we using it?
Future Perfect

ChatGPT didn’t write this and I can prove it.

By Kelsey Piper
Why Nvidia triggered a stock market freakoutWhy Nvidia triggered a stock market freakout
Artificial Intelligence

What does Nvidia’s massive stock sell-off tell us about the economy?

By Ellen Ioanes
iPad kids speak upiPad kids speak up
Life

Inside Gen Alpha’s relationship with tech.

By Anna North
Electric school buses are the future we deserveElectric school buses are the future we deserve
Climate

The largest mass transit system in the United States is overdue for an upgrade.

By Adam Clark Estes
That Chase “money glitch” hack was just fraudThat Chase “money glitch” hack was just fraud
Money

TikTok probably can’t teach you to game the financial system like a rich person, but it might teach you crime.

By Whizy Kim
Rich countries are flooding the developing world with their used gas carsRich countries are flooding the developing world with their used gas cars
Future Perfect

EVs help reduce greenhouse emissions. But too many used gas-guzzlers could make that impossible.

By David Zipper
Two astronauts are stranded in space. This one is jealous.Two astronauts are stranded in space. This one is jealous.
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

February?! Until February?!?! Boeing slip leaves astronauts in limbo.

By Sean Rameswaram and Avishay Artsy
I’m an AI skeptic. But one critique misses the mark.I’m an AI skeptic. But one critique misses the mark.
Future Perfect

Are tech companies actually pushing AI down our throats?

By Kelsey Piper
Amazon’s recommendations are getting a little too creepyAmazon’s recommendations are getting a little too creepy
Technology

The retail giant now uses your grocery purchases to recommend prescription drugs.

By Adam Clark Estes
We spoke with the architect behind the notorious AI safety billWe spoke with the architect behind the notorious AI safety bill
Future Perfect

California legislator Scott Wiener on why the home of the AI industry is the right place to regulate it.

By Kelsey Piper
The AI safety bill Big Tech hates has passed the California legislatureThe AI safety bill Big Tech hates has passed the California legislature
Future Perfect

Some tech leaders think SB 1047 will kill innovation. It won’t.

By Kelsey Piper
Why Telegram’s CEO was detained in FranceWhy Telegram’s CEO was detained in France
Technology

Telegram’s lax content moderation policy is catching up with its CEO.

By Ellen Ioanes
Mark Zuckerberg’s letter about Facebook censorship is not what it seemsMark Zuckerberg’s letter about Facebook censorship is not what it seems
Technology

This is not a win for free speech. It’s a political grenade.

By Adam Clark Estes
SpaceX’s risky mission will go farther into space than we’ve been in 50 yearsSpaceX’s risky mission will go farther into space than we’ve been in 50 years
Science

The privately funded venture will test out new aerospace technology.

By Ellen Ioanes
How would we even know if AI went rogue?How would we even know if AI went rogue?
Future Perfect

An early warning system could help fix the dangerous information gap between Big Tech and the US.

By Jack Titus
The massive Social Security number breach is actually a good thingThe massive Social Security number breach is actually a good thing
Technology

Freezing your credit files has never been easier. Here’s how to protect yourself.

By Adam Clark Estes
People are falling in love with — and getting addicted to — AI voicesPeople are falling in love with — and getting addicted to — AI voices
Future Perfect

Even OpenAI warns that chatting with an AI voice can breed “emotional reliance.”

By Sigal Samuel
How AI’s booms and busts are a distractionHow AI’s booms and busts are a distraction
Future Perfect

However current companies do financially, the big AI safety challenges remain.

By Kelsey Piper