Everyone wants AI sovereignty. No one can really get it.
-Kathy Lee heads the Center of Excellence in AI at the World Economic Forum
Governments plan to put $1.3 trillion into AI infrastructure by 2030 to invest in “sovereign AI”, the premise of which is that countries should take control of their own AI capabilities. The fund includes financing for domestic data centres, locally trained models, independent supply chains and national talent pipelines.
It is a response to real shocks: COVID-era supply chain disruptions, rising geopolitical tensions, and the war in Ukraine. But the quest for full autonomy is running into reality: AI supply chains are irreversibly global. If sovereignty is to remain meaningful, it must move away from defensive self-reliance toward an approach that balances national autonomy with strategic partnerships. Read the full story.
Here’s how extinct DNA could help us in the present and future
Thanks to genetic science, technologies such as gene editing and cloning, it is now possible to transfer DNA through time, study the genetic information in ancient remains and then recreate it in the bodies of modern beings. And, scientists say, it could offer new ways to help endangered species, engineer new plants that resist climate change, or even create new human medicines.
Read more about why genetic reengineering is one of our 10 Breakthrough Technologies this year, and check out the rest of the list.
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I’ve scoured the internet to find you today’s funniest/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.
1 The White House wants Americans to embrace AI
It faces an uphill battle – the American public is understandably bleak about the impact of AI. (WP $)
+ What’s next for AI in 2026? (MIT Technology Review)
2 The UN says we are entering an “era of water bankruptcy”
And it’s set to affect most of us on the planet. (reuters $)
+ Protests are increasing due to water shortage in Iran. (dark)
+ This Nobel Prize-winning chemist dreams of creating water out of thin air. (MIT Technology Review)
3 How is American science performing after a year of Trump?
After a proposed budget cut of $32 billion, it’s not so good. (Nature $)
+ The foundation of America’s prosperity is being demolished. (MIT Technology Review)
4 We need to talk about the crisis of early-career AI jobs
Young people are graduating and finding that there is nothing for them to do. (NY Magazine $)
+ AI companies are struggling to win over teachers. (Axios $)
+ Chinese universities want students to use more AI, not less. (MIT Technology Review)
5 The AI boyfriend business is booming in China
And it’s mostly targeted toward Gen Z women. (wired $)
+ Building a relationship with an AI chatbot is surprisingly easy. (MIT Technology Review)
