{"id":22519,"date":"2026-05-08T12:31:33","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T12:31:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/08\/the-download-ai-malaise-babymaking-ivf-tech\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T12:31:33","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T12:31:33","slug":"the-download-ai-malaise-babymaking-ivf-tech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/08\/the-download-ai-malaise-babymaking-ivf-tech\/","title":{"rendered":"The Download: AI malaise and babymaking tech"},"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

We\u2019ve entered the era of AI malaise<\/strong><\/h3>\n

AI is spreading everywhere, and it is not going away. But what will it do? What effect will it have on our society? Will it make life better, or worse? How will we know? What\u2019s the plan?<\/p>\n

This technology may very well take our jobs\u2014or just crash the economy instead. Our apps are all getting injections of AI, like it or not. And it is increasingly impossible to tell whether we are relying too much on AI or not using it enough.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re all sitting uncomfortably with AI right now. Read our essay on the strange, uncertain mood of the moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The era of AI malaise<\/strong><\/a> is an essay written by our editor-in-chief Mat Honan. It accompanies MIT Technology Review\u2019s<\/em> <\/strong>10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now<\/strong><\/a>, our list of the big ideas, trends, and advances in the field that are driving progress today\u2014and will shape what\u2019s possible tomorrow.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how technology transformed babymaking<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Technology is changing the way we make babies. Clinicians have improved hormonal treatments. Embryologists have devised ways to culture embryos in the lab for longer. IVF clinics today offer multiple genetic tests for embryos.<\/p>\n

The technology has also had a huge social impact, allowing for changes in the structure of families and providing more reproductive choices for would-be parents. Now, AI and robots are set to usher in another new era for IVF.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how technology is reshaping babymaking<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2014Jessica Hamzelou<\/em><\/p>\n

This <\/strong>story<\/strong><\/a> is from The Checkup, our weekly newsletter giving you the inside track on all things biotech. <\/strong>Sign up<\/strong><\/a> to receive it in your inbox every Thursday.<\/strong><\/p>\n

How robots learn: a brief, contemporary history<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For decades, researchers have been inspired by science fiction robots that can move through the world, adapt to different environments, and interact with people. But bringing these devices into the messiness of the real world has proved incredibly difficult.<\/p>\n

Now, advances in AI are changing that. Instead of relying on rigid rules, robots are learning through trial and error, simulations, and huge amounts of real-world data. The progress represents a revolution in how machines interact with their surroundings.<\/p>\n

It also means that Silicon Valley roboticists are dreaming big again. Here\u2019s how we got here.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

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

This <\/strong>story<\/strong><\/a> is from the latest issue of our print magazine, which is all about nature. <\/strong>Subscribe now<\/strong><\/a> to read it in full.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

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

1 ICE plans to develop its own smart glasses<\/strong>
The \u201cICE Glasses\u201d would identify people in real time. (404 Media<\/a>)
+ ICE\u00a0already uses an app with facial recognition to track citizens. <\/em>(NYT<\/a> $)
+ A new lawsuit wants to stop ICE using DNA to track critics.<\/em> (Ars Technica<\/a>)<\/p>\n

2 AI is distorting key economic signals
<\/strong>It makes growth look better and the job market look worse. (WSJ<\/a> $)
+ Welcome to the economic singularity.<\/em> (MIT Technology Review<\/a>)<\/p>\n

3 A cyberattack paralyzed thousands of schools
<\/strong>And stole 275 million people\u2019s data from edtech platform Canvas. (NYT<\/a> $)
+ The digital learning software is used across the US. <\/em>(CNN<\/a>)
+ It\u2019s the worst case scenario from an attack on one education platform. <\/em>(Wired<\/a> $)<\/p>\n

4 The US suspects Nvidia chips were smuggled to Alibaba via Thailand
<\/strong>Super Micro servers containing Nvidia chips were allegedly smuggled. (Bloomberg<\/a> $)
+ Through a firm linked to Thailand\u2019s national AI initiative. <\/em>(Reuters<\/a> $)<\/p>\n

5 China\u2019s affordable AI models are increasingly worrying Silicon Valley
<\/strong>They\u2019re often cheaper and more adaptable than US rivals. (Bloomberg<\/a> $)
+ China is betting big on open source.<\/em> (MIT Technology Review<\/a>)<\/p>\n

6 Scientists developed a new energy storage system inspired by sunburn<\/strong>
It stores solar energy by mimicking molecular changes in damaged DNA. (BBC<\/a>)
+ Solar and wind with battery storage are becoming cost-competitive.<\/em> (Reuters<\/a> $)
+ Here are three other breakthrough climate technologies. <\/em>(MIT Technology Review<\/a>)<\/p>\n

7 Russia\u2019s internet crackdown is hobbling small businesses
<\/strong>App restrictions and internet outages are causing headaches. (Reuters<\/a> $)<\/p>\n

8 Younger researchers are more likely to produce \u201cdisruptive\u201d science
<\/strong>A new study found more experience led to fewer breakthroughs. (Nature<\/a>)<\/p>\n

9 Why Richard Dawkins was mistaken to believe Claude has feelings<\/strong>
But his line of inquiry wasn\u2019t altogether foolish. (The Atlantic<\/a> $)
+ Why it\u2019ll be hard to tell if AI ever becomes conscious.<\/em> (MIT Technology Review<\/a>)<\/p>\n

10 The Golden Globes have new AI rules (and they\u2019re looser than the Oscars\u2019)<\/strong>
AI is permitted as an enhancement, but not as a replacement. (Gizmodo<\/a>)
+ Last week, the Oscars banned AI actors and writing. <\/em>(NPR<\/a>)<\/p>\n

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

\u201cWhen I am talking to these astonishing creatures, I totally forget that they are machines. I treat them exactly as I would treat a very intelligent friend.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u2014Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins reflects on his interactions with advanced AI systems in an essay published in Unherd<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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

\n
\"\"<\/p>\n
VIRGINIA HANUSIK<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n


How to stop a state from sinking<\/strong> <\/h4>\n<\/p>\n

In a 10-month span in 2020 and 2021, southwest Louisiana saw five climate-related disasters, including two destructive hurricanes and flash floods. But there could be a better way to protect the area: elevation.<\/p>\n

The $6.8 billion Southwest Coastal Louisiana Project is betting that raising buildings while restoring coastal boundary lands that have long acted as natural barriers can preserve this slice of coastline.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how officials hope to protect vulnerable communities by lifting homes out of the floodplain<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2014Xander Peters<\/em><\/p>\n

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

A place for comfort, fun, and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? <\/em>Drop me a line<\/em><\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n

+ Soaking in a hot tub<\/a> might offer even more health benefits than a sauna.
+ A court has officially protected America\u2019s largest rainforest<\/a> from future logging.
+ Experience the majesty of the world\u2019s largest owl collection<\/a> through these intimate, high-detail portraits.
+ A dad has turned his toddler\u2019s random stories<\/a> into high-production pop songs that are surprisingly catchy.<\/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-22519","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-technology"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22519","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=22519"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22519\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22519"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22519"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22519"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}