The Download: 2024’s biggest technology flops, and AI’s search for energy

Technology

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 8 worst technology failures of 2024 They say you learn more from failure than success. If so, this is the story for you: MIT Technology Review’s annual roll call of the biggest flops, flimflams, and fiascos in all domains of technology. Some of the foul-ups were funny, like the “woke” AI which got Google in trouble after it drew Black Nazis. Some caused lawsuits, like a computer error by CrowdStrike that left thousands of Delta passengers stranded. And we also reaped failures among startups that raced to expand from 2020 to 2022, a period of ultra-low interest rates. Check out what made our list of this year’s biggest technology failures.
—Antonio Regalado Antonio will be discussing this year’s worst failures with our executive editor Niall Firth in a subscriber-exclusive online Roundtable event today at 12.00 ET. Register here to make sure you don’t miss outf you haven’t already, subscribe! 
AI’s search for more energy is growing more urgent If you drove by one of the 2,990 data centers in the United States, you’d probably think little more than “Huh, that’s a boring-looking building.” You might not even notice it at all. However, these facilities underpin our entire digital world, and they are responsible for tons of greenhouse-gas emissions. New research shows just how much those emissions have skyrocketed during the AI boom.That leaves a big problem for the world’s leading AI companies, which are caught between pressure to meet their own sustainability goals and the relentless competition in AI that’s leading them to build bigger models requiring tons of energy. And the trend toward ever more energy-intensive new AI models will only send those numbers higher. Read the full story. —James O’Donnell This story originally appeared in The Algorithm, our weekly newsletter on AI. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Monday. The must-reads I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.

1 TikTok has asked the US Supreme Court for a lifeline   It’s asked lawmakers to intervene before the proposed ban kicks in on January 19. (WP $)+ TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew reportedly met with Donald Trump yesterday. (NBC News)+ Trump will take office the following day, on January 20. (WSJ $)+ Meanwhile, the EU is investigating TikTok’s role in Romania’s election. (Politico) 2 Waymo’s autonomous cars are heading to TokyoIn the first overseas venture for the firm’s vehicles. (The Verge)+ The cars will require human safety drivers initially. (CNBC)+ What’s next for robotaxis in 2024. (MIT Technology Review) 3 China’s tech workers are still keen to work in the USBut securing the right to work there is much tougher than it used to be. (Rest of World) 4 Digital license plates are vulnerable to hackingAnd they’re already legal to buy in multiple US states. (Wired $) 5 We’re all slaves to the algorithmsFrom the mundane (Spotify) to the essential (housing applications.) (The Atlantic $)+ How a group of tenants took on screening systems—and won. (The Guardian)+ The coming war on the hidden algorithms that trap people in poverty. (MIT Technology Review) 6 How to build an undetectable submarineThe race is on to stay hidden from the competition. (IEEE Spectrum)+ How underwater drones could shape a potential Taiwan-China conflict. (MIT Technology Review) 7 How Empower became a viable rival to UberIts refusal to cooperate with authorities is straight out of Uber’s early playbook. (NYT $) 8 Even airlines are using AirTags to find lost luggage 🧳Which begs the question: how were they looking for missing bags before?(Bloomberg $)+ Here’s how to keep tabs on your suitcase as you travel. (Forbes $)
9 You’re reading your blood pressure all wrongKeep your feet flat on the floor and ditch your phone, for a start. (WSJ $) 10 The rise and rise of the group chat Expressing yourself publicly on social media is so last year. (Insider $)+ How to fix the internet. (MIT Technology Review)
Quote of the day “Where are the adults in the room?” —Francesca Marano, a long-time contributor to WordPress, lambasts the platform’s decision to require users to check a box reading “Pineapple is delicious on pizza” to log in, 404 Media reports. The big story
Responsible AI has a burnout problem October 2022 Margaret Mitchell had been working at Google for two years before she realized she needed a break. Only after she spoke with a therapist did she understand the problem: she was burnt out. Mitchell, who now works as chief ethics scientist at the AI startup Hugging Face, is far from alone in her experience. Burnout is becoming increasingly common in responsible AI teams.
All the practitioners MIT Technology Review interviewed spoke enthusiastically about their work: it is fueled by passion, a sense of urgency, and the satisfaction of building solutions for real problems. But that sense of mission can be overwhelming without the right support. Read the full story. —Melissa Heikkilä We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet ’em at me.) + This timelapse of a pine tree growing from a tiny pinecone is pretty special 🎄+ Shaboozey’s A Bar Song (Tipsy) is one of 2024’s biggest hits. But why has it struck such a chord?+ All hail London’s campest Christmas tree!+ Stay vigilant, Oregon’s googly eye bandit has struck again 👀

A worrisome sign as media companies and tech leaders start lining up to bend the knee to Trump | Editorial

Technology

Even before the presidential election, many members of the press began caving to the possibility of Donald Trump’s return to the White House.The owners of major newspapers, including the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and USA Today, decided not to endorse a candidate in the race, prompting some opinion staffers to resign.In the weeks since Trump’s narrow victory, media companies and other influential leaders — including powerful chief executives, federal law enforcement officials, and moderate Republican lawmakers — appear to be falling in line.The widespread capitulation before Trump even takes office is a worrisome omen for the media and the American system of government built on checks and balances.Yale historian Timothy Snyder said the first rule to combat tyranny is: Do not obey in advance.Yet, many are doing just that.» READ MORE:

The Battle Against Trump 2.0 Begins in the States

2024 Election

D onald Trump’s big victory and horrific agenda — for military-led mass deportation, accelerating climate change, rolling back reproductive rights, and pursuing dictatorial powers — sent Democratic governors leaping to the barricades. Or, at least, the microphones. In the days following the 2024 election, California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared he’d invoke a special session of…

Gov. Stitt orders Oklahoma DPS to invest in drone monitoring tech

Technology

Unmanned Aircraft Systems as most people know them — drones — are getting increasingly popular across the U.S. As they do, regulations around when and where people can fly their drones are lagging behind Oklahoma’s and the nation’s need for them.Right now, federal law classifies drones as a form of airplane, meaning they’re protected from being shot down or otherwise disabled by local police without certain permissions.So, instead of destroying the drones, Stitt has opted to monitor and identify them to protect Oklahomans and the state’s critical infrastructure.“This technology is new, and because of that, we don’t have all the measures in place to ensure Oklahomans are protected from those who would use this technology to harm others,” Stitt said in a Monday press release.He directed the state’s public safety commissioner, Tim Tipton, to look into procuring tech that would meet the state’s needs. Tipton said he is ready to execute the governor’s order.The move follows a series of sightings of drones flying at night across the country, and a Biden administration calls for Congress to regulate them.Sightings occurred primarily in New Jersey over the weekend, but a few have been reported in Oklahoma.“While we’ve only had a few reports of drone activity in Oklahoma, we want to be ready in case the need arises,” said Commissioner Tipton. “I’m glad Governor Stitt takes this threat seriously and will equip the Department of Public Safety adequately.”At the national level, Biden’s Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, told ABC News on Sunday that his department is working on identifying drones flying at night and better working with local authorities to address problematic ones.It would be good, Mayorkas said, if Congress allowed better and more streamlined avenues for local and federal authorities to cooperate.“It’s clear, as a number of us have said for years, that we need Congress to address the drone situation,” he said. “We want state and local authorities to also have the ability to counter drone activity under federal supervision.”For now, Mayorkas said no foreign involvement has been identified in connection to any of the spotted drones. And if people are concerned about the sightings happening specifically at night, it makes sense, he said, because the Federal Aviation Administration recently allowed unmanned aircraft to fly in low light.“There are more than 8,000 drones flown every day in the United States,” Mayorkas said.

Turkmenistan–USA: Expanding Horizons of Economic Cooperation

Technology

On 16 December 2024, the Turkmen-American Business Forum was held in the building of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan.

The Turkmen side was headed by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Nokerguly Atagulyyev. The US delegation was headed by Executive Director of the «Turkmenistan-US» Business Council Eric Stewart.

Among the US companies represented at the forum were «Case New Holland», «Climate Compass», «Boeing», «John Deere», «Nicklaus Companies», «Westport Trading Europe» and others.

During the meeting, the sides discussed current issues of bilateral cooperation and outlined plans for the near future.

The importance of the «Turkmenistan-US» Business Council in the development of mutually beneficial ties between the two countries was emphasised. In this regard, the effectiveness of regular business meetings, forums and exhibitions held by the Council in cooperation with Turkmen partners was noted.

Among the priority areas of cooperation, the parties highlighted trade and investment activities in the field of supplying machinery for industry, agriculture and water management. In addition, the prospects for expanding partnership in such areas as fuel and energy complex, transport and communications, construction, innovative technologies, healthcare, ecology, etc. were announced.

American companies confirmed their interest in further expansion of partnership with Turkmenistan.

The participants of the Turkmen-American business forum also exchanged views on opportunities to expand trade turnover between the two countries and enhance bilateral cooperation in the field of high technology.

Representatives of relevant ministries, agencies and private companies of Turkmenistan met with American businessmen to discuss joint plans and projects.