This is today’s edition download, Our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s happening in the world of technology.
A reality check on the AI jobs craze
Despite the growing hysteria over the threat of AI to white-collar jobs, there is still little evidence that the technology has had a large-scale impact on the labor market.
Analysis of US labor data shows that unemployment in occupations most exposed to AI is actually lower than in less-exposed jobs. There is also no sign that large numbers of workers are shifting from AI-threatened occupations to supposedly safer manual-labor jobs.
It’s true that things aren’t great in the job market—but the question is why. Here’s what the data really says about AI and jobs.
-David Rotman
Opinion: It’s time to address the looming crisis in entry-level work
—Georgios Petropoulos, Assistant Professor at the USC Marshall School of Business
AI has not yet created mass unemployment. But it can quietly undermine the first rung of the career ladder.
A recent Stanford study found that young workers in AI-exposed occupations suffered steep declines in employment after the spread of generic AI. The same pattern did not appear in low-exposure jobs, suggesting that AI is replacing the junior tasks that once gave young workers a chance to gain a foothold for the first time.
Now is the time to rethink how we train, prepare, and support young people entering the workforce. Read this op-ed on how job seekers, businesses and society can adapt.
Must read
I’ve scoured the internet to find you today’s funniest/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.
1 Pope calls on governments to regulate AI
In his first major teaching document, Pope Leo said that AI should be “disarmed”. (BBC)
+ He warned that AI promotes war and misinformation. (cnn)
+ But it can also “open up horizons stretching in all directions.” (Engadget)
Chris Olah, co-founder of Anthropic, also spoke at the event. (reuters $)
2 SpaceX launches its largest and most powerful rocket ever
Starship V3 begins its test flight two days after Elon Musk announced SpaceX’s IPO.(Guardian)+ SpaceX has launched, but not landed. (Ars Technica)
+ The rocket could be key to SpaceX’s valuation. (Luck $)
+ But the company’s rivals are growing. (MIT Technology Review)
3 Huawei says it can make industry-leading chips within five years
The Chinese tech giant announced a breakthrough in chip design. (reuters $)
+ Its progress underscores Beijing’s effort to neutralize US sanctions. (nbc)
+ Chinese chip stocks rose after the announcement. (bloomberg $)
4 A new vaccine could protect against the Ebola strain behind the current crisis
Trials have shown promising results for the mRNA vaccine. (new scientists)
+ Another Ebola vaccine that could be ready for testing within months. (BBC)
+ But vaccines face a new problem: their name. (MIT Technology Review)
5 A swimmer broke the world record in the ‘Steroid Olympics’
Athletes were encouraged to take dope in the Enhanced Games. (wired $)
+ Silicon Valley’s elite have supported the competition. (WP $)
+ Which fits perfectly into the longevity vibes of 2026. (MIT Technology Review)
6 EU plans to impose massive antitrust fine on Google
Allegedly to favor their own services in search results. (cnbc)
+ This will be the largest penalty for violation of the Digital Markets Act. (reuters $)
7 US quantum computing subsidies may not be legal
Congress critics say the funding has been misused. (Ars Technica)
8 AI is creating new billionaires—and workers want their share
Samsung’s labor protest reflects global concerns. (rest of the world)
9 China launches artificial human embryo into orbit
To find out if we can reproduce beyond Earth. (gizmodo)
10 Jonny Ives has designed Ferrari’s first fully-electric car
The renowned Apple designer has created a polarizing aesthetic. (foot $)
today’s thought
“Technology is never neutral, because it takes on the characteristics of those who create, finance, regulate, and use it.”
-Pope Leo issues warning about AI in his letter first encyclopedic paperIt is titled ‘Magnifica Humanitas: On the Security of the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence.’
one more thing
How climate vulnerability and the digital divide are linked
In Anacostia, a historically African-American section of Washington, DC, Monica Sanders is measuring Wi-Fi speeds. This is less than the FCC’s minimum to qualify as broadband service. Then she checks the temperature: 46.9 °F.
Sanders, an assistant professor of law at Georgetown University, often records this combination of weak Internet access and environmental conditions. Their work shows how underinvestment in infrastructure can leave disadvantaged communities vulnerable to climate risks such as extreme heat and flooding.
Learn how the digital divide is shaping climate vulnerability in America.
-Colleen Haggerty
we can still have good things
A place of relaxation, fun and distractions to brighten your day. (Any ideas? drop me a line.)
+ Here’s a fun way to settle sibling fights: a mandatory dance-off.
+ build metropolis of your dreams In this browser-based city simulation game.
+ look This charming little train Spin in a perfect, endless loop on a rotating turntable.
+ Take a look back at early computing history with this curated gallery old punch cards.
