{"id":19993,"date":"2026-03-24T13:06:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T13:06:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/24\/the-download-tracing-ai-fueled-delusions-openai-warns-microsoft-risks\/"},"modified":"2026-03-24T13:06:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T13:06:18","slug":"the-download-tracing-ai-fueled-delusions-openai-warns-microsoft-risks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/24\/the-download-tracing-ai-fueled-delusions-openai-warns-microsoft-risks\/","title":{"rendered":"The Download: tracing AI-fueled delusions, and OpenAI admits Microsoft risks"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

This is today\u2019s edition of <\/em>The Download<\/em><\/a>, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what\u2019s going on in the world of technology.<\/em><\/p>\n

The hardest question to answer about AI-fueled\u00a0delusions<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\n

What\u00a0actually happens\u00a0when people spiral into delusion with AI? To find out, Stanford researchers\u00a0analyzed\u00a0transcripts from chatbot users who experienced these spirals.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Their findings suggest that chatbots have a unique ability to turn a benign, delusion-like thought into a dangerous obsession. But the research struggles to answer a vital question: does AI cause delusions or merely amplify them?\u00a0Read the full story<\/a>\u00a0to understand\u00a0the answer\u2019s enormous implications.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014James O\u2019Donnell<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

This\u00a0<\/strong>story<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is from The Algorithm, our weekly newsletter giving you the inside track on all things AI.\u00a0<\/strong>Sign up<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0to receive it in your inbox every Monday.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

The next era of space exploration<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Our footprint in the solar system is rapidly expanding. Programs to build permanent Moon bases and find life on Mars have transitioned from science fiction to active space agency missions. The scientists behind them will not only shed new light on the\u00a0cosmos, but\u00a0also reveal where humanity is headed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

To examine what the future holds in store, MIT Technology Review features editor Amanda Silverman will sit down on Wednesday with award-winning science journalist and author Robin George Andrews for an exclusive subscriber-only Roundtable conversation about \u201cThe Next Era of Space Exploration.\u201d\u00a0Register here<\/a>\u00a0to join the session at 16:00 GMT \/ 12:00 PM ET \/ 9:00 AM PT.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The must-reads\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve\u00a0combed the internet to find you today\u2019s most fun\/important\/scary\/fascinating stories about technology.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

1 OpenAI has admitted its close ties with Microsoft are a business risk<\/strong>\u00a0
It highlighted the dangers in a pre-IPO document. (CNBC<\/a>)\u00a0
+ OpenAI is wooing private equity firms with a sweeter deal than\u00a0Anthropic\u2019s.\u00a0<\/em>(Reuters<\/a>\u00a0$)\u00a0
+\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0also building a fully automated researcher.<\/em>\u00a0(MIT Technology Review<\/a>)\u00a0
+ And wants to muscle in on Google\u2019s search dominance.<\/em>\u00a0(Telegraph<\/a>\u00a0$)\u00a0<\/p>\n

2 The US just banned all new foreign-made consumer routers<\/strong>\u00a0
Citing national security concerns. (BBC<\/a>)\u00a0
+ The EU has been urged to tighten rules for big tech-built smart TVs.<\/em>\u00a0(Guardian<\/a>)\u00a0<\/p>\n

3 Elon Musk\u2019s \u201cTerafab\u201d chip factory faces a harsh reality check<\/strong>\u00a0
In the form\u00a0of chip production shortages. (Bloomberg<\/a>)\u00a0
+ Future AI chips could be built on glass.\u00a0<\/em>(MIT Technology Review<\/a>)\u00a0<\/p>\n

4 Mark Zuckerberg is building an AI CEO to help him run Meta<\/strong>\u00a0
He wants everyone to have their own personal AI agent. (WSJ<\/a>\u00a0$)\u00a0
+ But\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0let the hype about agents get ahead of reality.<\/em>\u00a0(MIT Technology Review<\/a>)\u00a0<\/p>\n

5 Palantir has become a \u201cpoisonous\u201d flashpoint on the campaign trail\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0
Candidates are facing scrutiny over their ties to the company. (FT<\/a>\u00a0$)\u00a0
+ Palantir\u2019s access to sensitive UK data is also causing concern.<\/em>\u00a0(Guardian<\/a>)\u00a0<\/p>\n

6 Mistral\u2019s CEO has called for AI companies to pay a content levy in Europe<\/strong>\u00a0
It would apply to all commercial models on the continent. (FT<\/a>\u00a0$)\u00a0
+ Siemens\u2019 CEO says Europe risks \u201cdisaster\u201d from prioritizing AI independence.\u00a0<\/em>(FT<\/a>\u00a0$)\u00a0<\/p>\n

7 Hong Kong police can now demand device passwords under a new law<\/strong>\u00a0
Refusing to comply could lead to a year in jail. (Guardian<\/a>)\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

8\u00a0 Russia\u2019s\u00a0aspiring SpaceX rival has put its first internet satellites into orbit\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0
It plans to create a low-Earth orbit network. (Bloomberg<\/a>\u00a0$)\u00a0<\/p>\n

9 A biotech startup wants to replace animal testing with\u00a0nonsentient\u00a0\u201corgan sacks\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0
The genetically engineered system is backed by billionaire Tim Draper (Wired<\/a>\u00a0$)\u00a0\u00a0
+ Several\u00a0new technologies\u00a0are promising alternatives to lab animals.\u00a0<\/em>(MIT Technology Review<\/a>)\u00a0<\/p>\n

10 AI agents in a video game spontaneously created their own religion<\/strong>\u00a0
They reinterpreted a mission in the MMORPG. (Gizmodo<\/a>)\u00a0
+\u00a0They\u2019re\u00a0not the first agents to get religious.<\/em>\u00a0(MIT Technology Review<\/a>)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Quote of the day\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI think we\u2019ve achieved AGI.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n

\u2014Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang tells the\u00a0Lex Fridman Podcast<\/a>\u00a0that artificial general intelligence is already here (at least by one generous definition).\u00a0<\/p>\n

One More Thing\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/p>\n
MICHAEL BYERS<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Beyond gene-edited babies: the possible paths for tinkering with human evolution<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h4>\n

In 2018, a Chinese scientist created the world\u2019s first gene-edited babies, a milestone that fell between a medical breakthrough and the start of a slippery slope toward human enhancement.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He achieved the feat with CRISPR, which was sweeping across biology labs because it was so easy to use. For his actions, He was sentenced to three years in prison, and his work was roundly excoriated. Yet even his biggest critics saw the basic idea as inevitable.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the years since, CRISPR has continued getting\u00a0easier and easier\u00a0to administer. What does that mean for the future of our species?\u00a0Read the full story<\/a>\u00a0to find out why.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014Antonio Regalado<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

We can still have\u00a0nice things\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas?\u00a0<\/em>Drop me a line<\/em><\/a>.)<\/em>\u00a0
\u00a0
+ This\u00a0candle-powered Game Boy<\/a>\u00a0is a romantic approach to gaming during a blackout.\u00a0
+ Apparently,\u00a0Monopoly would\u00a0be more fun<\/a>\u00a0if we\u00a0actually followed\u00a0the rules.\u00a0
+ Watching rubber bands\u00a0explode these everyday objects<\/a>\u00a0is strangely hypnotic.\u00a0
+This\u00a0spellbinding site<\/a>\u00a0simulates what Earth looked like hundreds of millions of years ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This is today\u2019s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[226],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19993","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-technology"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19993","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19993"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19993\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19993"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19993"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19993"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}