This is today’s editiondownload,Our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s happening in the world of technology.
“Dr. Google” had its issues. Can ChatGPT Improve Health?
For the past two decades, there has been an obvious first step for anyone who starts experiencing new medical symptoms: Look them up online. This practice was so common that it earned the derogatory nickname “Dr. Google”. But times are changing, and many medical-information seekers are now using LLMs. According to OpenAI, 230 million people ask ChatGPT health-related questions each week.
This is a reference to the launch of OpenAI’s new ChatGPT Health product, which launched earlier this month. The big question is, can the obvious risks of using AI for health questions be mitigated enough to outweigh the net benefits? Read the full story.
-Grace Huckins
America’s war on AI regulation is coming
In the final weeks of 2025, the battle to regulate artificial intelligence in the US reached a tipping point. On December 11, after Congress failed twice to pass legislation banning state AI laws, President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order to prevent states from regulating the rapidly growing industry.
Instead, he vowed to work with Congress to establish a “least burdensome” national AI policy. The move marked a victory for tech giants, which have been building a multimillion-dollar war chest to oppose AI regulations, arguing that a patchwork of state laws will stifle innovation.
The battleground will shift to the courts in 2026. While some states may hold back on passing AI laws, others will move forward and take the charge. Read our story about what’s on the horizon.
-Michelle Kim
This story is from MIT Technology Review’s What’s Next series of stories that look at industries, trends, and technologies to give you a first look at the future. You can read the rest of them here.
Measles is on the rise in America. Wastewater tracking can help.
This week marked an unpleasant anniversary: It’s one year since a single case of measles was recorded in Texas — the beginning of a significant outbreak that spread to several states. Since the beginning of January 2025, there have been more than 2,500 confirmed cases of measles in the US. Three people have died.
As vaccination rates decline and the outbreak continues, scientists are experimenting with new methods to quickly identify new cases and stop the disease from spreading. And they’re starting to see some success in wastewater monitoring. Read the full story.
-Jessica Hamzelau
This story is from The Checkup, our weekly newsletter that gives you the inside scoop on all things health and biotech.Sign upTo get it in your inbox every Thursday.
Must read
I’ve scoured the internet to find you today’s funniest/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.
1 America is destroying itself
A foreign enemy could not invent a better series of events to worsen his position in the world. (wired$)
+We need to talk about whether Donald Trump might be losing this.(New Yorker$)
2 Big Tech is taking on more debt to fund its AI aspirations
And the bubble continues to grow. (WP$)
+Forget unicorns. 2026 is shaping up to be the year of the “hectocorn.” (Guardian)
+Everyone in tech agrees we’re in a bubble. They can’t agree on what will happen when it pops.(MIT Technology Review)
3 DOGE Accessed Even More Personal Data Than We Thought
Even now, the Trump administration still can’t say how much data is at risk, or what it was used for. (npr)
4 TikTok has finalized a deal to form a new US entity
Years of uncertainty about its fate in the US are coming to an end. (cnn)
+Why is China the big winner in all this?(foot$)
5 The US is now officially out of the World Health Organization
And it’s leaving behind nearly $300 million in unpaid bills. (Ars Technica)
+America’s withdrawal from WHO will harm all of us.(MIT Technology Review)
6 AI-powered disinformation swarms pose a threat to democracy
A future autocratic ruler could use them to persuade the population to accept canceled elections or overturn the results. (Guardian)
+The era of AI persuasion in elections is about to begin.(MIT Technology Review)
7 We’re About to Start Seeing More Robots Everywhere
But exactly what they will look like remains a matter of debate. (Vocal$)
+Chinese companies are beginning to dominate the entire field of AI and robotics.(MIT Technology Review)
8 Some people seem to be especially sensitive to loneliness
If you’re ‘other-directed’, you may particularly benefit from less screentime. (new scientists$)
9 This academic lost two years’ work with one click
TL;DR: Don’t rely on ChatGPT to store your data. (Nature)
10 How animals develop a sense of direction
It seems that their ‘internal compass’ is informed by landmarks that help them create mental maps. (Quanta$)
today’s thought
“At the rate at which AI is progressing, I think we will have AI that is smarter than any human this year, and not smarter than next year.”
-Elon Musk Can’t resist the urge to make wild predictions at Davos, wired Report.
one more thing
Africa fights growing hunger by turning to foods of the past
After decades of steady decline, the prevalence of global hunger is now rising – nowhere more so than in sub-Saharan Africa.
Africa’s indigenous crops are often more nutritious and better adapted to the hot and dry conditions that are becoming more prevalent, yet many have been neglected by science, meaning they are more susceptible to diseases and pests and yield well below their theoretical potential.
The question now is whether researchers, governments and farmers can work together in a way that can get these crops onto plates and provide Africans from all walks of life with the energy and nutrition they need to thrive, even if climate change stands in their way. Read the full story.
-Jonathan W. Rosen
we can still have good things
A place of relaxation, fun and distractions to brighten your day. (Any ideas? drop me a line Or make them sneak up on me.)
+ There’s only one thing I love to drink dry this January and that’s a martini. Here’s how to make it.
+ If you really like the Bic Crystal Pen, you’ll probably want this Chirag.
+ living comfortably with a good long book This winter. ($)
+ Want to eat healthier? slow down And tune out the ‘noise’ of food. ($)
