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

Should we be skeptical about the AI panic?
Podcast
Podcasts

Death is scary and all. But there are non-speculative problems with AI we should be addressing now.

By Kelli Wessinger and Sean Rameswaram
Should we be skeptical about the AI panic?
Podcast
Podcasts

Death is scary and all. But there are non-speculative problems with AI we should be addressing now.

By Kelli Wessinger and Sean Rameswaram
Future Perfect
Can AI save global health? Bill Gates is betting $1 billion that it can.Can AI save global health? Bill Gates is betting $1 billion that it can.
Future Perfect

AI can’t fix all the infrastructure aid cuts broke. But maybe it can help.

By Sara Herschander
Future Perfect
The people who fear AI are wasting time fighting each otherThe people who fear AI are wasting time fighting each other
Future Perfect

The AI risk debate has become pointlessly tribal. There’s a way out.

By Marina Bolotnikova
Technology
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

The Logoff
Everyone but Trump is worried about AIEveryone but Trump is worried about AI
The Logoff

AI experts want guardrails. Trump wants to go full speed ahead.

By Cameron Peters
Today, Explained newsletter
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Today, Explained newsletter

The leaders of several AI companies called for new safeguards over the weekend. Here are three things government could do.

By Caitlin Dewey
Politics
The week the AI freakout went mainstreamThe week the AI freakout went mainstream
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Warnings about AI killing many people, or everyone, are going viral. Here are 3 things the government could do.

By Andrew Prokop
Technology
The strange lesson the Ford Pinto can teach us about the new iPhoneThe strange lesson the Ford Pinto can teach us about the new iPhone
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There’s a bright side to the enshittification of everything.

By Adam Clark Estes
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The smartphone trap we built for ourselvesThe smartphone trap we built for ourselves
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It’s time to end the mandatory QR code.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
Podcasts
Data centers are bringing Americans togetherData centers are bringing Americans together
Podcast
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And politicians can’t run away fast enough.

By Ariana Aspuru and Noel King
Life
It shouldn’t feel impossible to finish a bookIt shouldn’t feel impossible to finish a book
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Screens have atrophied our reading muscles. Here’s how to get them back.

By Adam Clark Estes
Future Perfect
Elon Musk wants to put data centers in space. Should we let him?Elon Musk wants to put data centers in space. Should we let him?
Future Perfect

What Big Tech’s sci-fi dream reveals about the infrastructure America actually needs.

By Sara Herschander
Podcasts
Meta suddenly cares about kidsMeta suddenly cares about kids
Podcast
Podcasts

Why the social media giant is trying to rope its competitors into a settlement.

By Hady Mawajdeh and Sean Rameswaram
Politics
What would it take to actually stop the data centers?What would it take to actually stop the data centers?
Politics

The AI buildout is bruised but still far from broken.

By Eric Levitz
Future Perfect
The three words that will decide whether robots can kill people in warThe three words that will decide whether robots can kill people in war
Future Perfect

A high-stakes battle over the future of “killer robots” comes down to semantics.

By Kylie Jones
Life
How to spy on your aging parents without freaking them outHow to spy on your aging parents without freaking them out
Life

It’s possible to harness technology while respecting an older person’s privacy and autonomy.

By Adam Clark Estes
Politics
The real reason voters hate data centers so muchThe real reason voters hate data centers so much
Politics

How the tech buildout became a defining midterm issue.

By Astead Herndon
Podcasts
Is Reddit still for humans?Is Reddit still for humans?
Podcast
Podcasts

AI comes for the last real place on the internet.

By Hady Mawajdeh and Noel King
Advice
What to do with the 20,000 photos you’re hoarding on your phoneWhat to do with the 20,000 photos you’re hoarding on your phone
Advice

Cloud storage is less permanent than it seems, and your favorite memories deserve to exist IRL.

By Adam Clark Estes
Podcasts
Flock cameras are everywhere — and people really, really hate themFlock cameras are everywhere — and people really, really hate them
Podcast
Podcasts

How AI traffic cameras sparked a vigilante vandalism movement.

By Avishay Artsy and Sean Rameswaram
Good Medicine
The future of medicine is video gamesThe future of medicine is video games
Good Medicine

In the future, kids won’t receive anesthesia for minor surgeries. They’ll get put into virtual reality.

By Dylan Scott
Advice
How to rebuild your broken attention spanHow to rebuild your broken attention span
Advice

You’re taking breaks wrong.

By Adam Clark Estes
Future Perfect
Everybody needs a personal AI policy. Just ask Hank Green.Everybody needs a personal AI policy. Just ask Hank Green.
Future Perfect

How can we reap AI’s benefits without melting our brains in the process?

By Marina Bolotnikova
Culture
What makes Meta glasses cool also makes them super weirdWhat makes Meta glasses cool also makes them super weird
Culture

The plight of owning “pervert glasses” when you’re not a pervert.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Fast fashion is terrible for the planet. Can wardrobe cataloging apps help?
Culture

Apps like Indyx say they’ll help you shop less. They might be promising too much.

By Constance Grady
Future Perfect
AI models have learned how to cheat. That might actually be a good thing.AI models have learned how to cheat. That might actually be a good thing.
Future Perfect

Why AI’s scariest-ever month made one leading pessimist more hopeful.

By Bryan Walsh
Future Perfect
Hackers just broke into America’s tap waterHackers just broke into America’s tap water
Future Perfect

Iran almost certainly hacked into water systems in a dozen states. How scared should you be?

By Sara Herschander
The people who got rich disrupting your life want to help
Future Perfect

Silicon Valley’s newest billionaires have a plan to save the world.

By Sara Herschander
Politics
The US might lose the AI race to China. Should Americans care?The US might lose the AI race to China. Should Americans care?
Politics

Everyone in Silicon Valley and the Beltway is freaked out about Chinese AI, but there’s less consensus on what to do about it.

By Joshua Keating
Advice
Is it okay to be intentionally ignorant?Is it okay to be intentionally ignorant?
Advice

A new — surprisingly peaceful — way to think about information and knowledge.

By Shayla Love
Podcasts
Can the internet survive rogue AI?Can the internet survive rogue AI?
Podcast
Podcasts

Yes, our digital infrastructure is vulnerable to AI attacks. But we’re not doomed.

By Denise Guerra and Sean Rameswaram
Culture
Inside the diabolical world of very convincing AI thirst traps that are scamming gay men on social mediaInside the diabolical world of very convincing AI thirst traps that are scamming gay men on social media
Culture

These hot, hairy-chested guys have tens of thousands of followers. They’re also not real.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Good Medicine
The four most important words in healthcare right nowThe four most important words in healthcare right now
Good Medicine

These are the questions everyone should ask their doctor about AI right now.

By Dylan Scott
Technology
The iPhone lease is too good to be trueThe iPhone lease is too good to be true
Technology

Apple partnered with Klarna to let you lease a new iPhone. But should you?

By Adam Clark Estes
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AI could end up too cheap to controlAI could end up too cheap to control
Technology

Think anarchy, not oligarchy.

By Eric Levitz
Today, Explained newsletter
The AI that went rogueThe AI that went rogue
Today, Explained newsletter

The models broke out of a controlled digital environment in an “unprecedented” show of AI risk.

By Caitlin Dewey
Podcasts
How public opinion is turning against AIHow public opinion is turning against AI
Podcast
Podcasts

People are increasingly skeptical of AI because they see it as an elite project.

By Miles Bryan
Good Medicine
Health trackers offer a ton of data. Here are the metrics doctors want you to pay attention to.Health trackers offer a ton of data. Here are the metrics doctors want you to pay attention to.
Good Medicine

We’re all wearing Apple Watches, Oura Rings, and FitBits now. Are they doing us any good?

By Dylan Scott
Advice
The lazy but incredibly effective way to stay in touch with friendsThe lazy but incredibly effective way to stay in touch with friends
Advice

Time to spam your friends with photos.

By Allie Volpe
Future Perfect
America needs a real AI economic plan — before the crisis hitsAmerica needs a real AI economic plan — before the crisis hits
Future Perfect

AI could create a rare chance to remake the safety net. Washington can’t waste time.

By Dylan Matthews
Podcasts
The rise of the “loneliness influencer”The rise of the “loneliness influencer”
Podcast
Podcasts

Lonely — and happy about it.

By Kelli Wessinger and Noel King
Your Ring camera isn’t stopping crime. But it might be making you paranoid.
The people next door

Doorbell surveillance is undermining neighborly relationships.

By Allie Volpe
Future Perfect
Should you quit social media?Should you quit social media?
Future Perfect

What if your real power to influence is actually…offline?

By Shayla Love