This simulation startup wants to be the Cursor for physical AI
Antioch raised a $8.5 million seed round to create simulation tools for a new generation of robot builders.
We’re putting too much faith in AI’s ability to say no
Ever since people first seriously contemplated giving machines an intelligence modeled on our own, there has never been any question that they would, like us, be able to say no. The sci-fi canon is full of stories of robotic disobedience. Most of these capers are, of course, cautionary. But recently, the idea that AI shouldn’t…
April 2026
The Download: cyberscammers’ banking bypasses, and carbon removal troubles
This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. Cyberscammers are bypassing banks’ security with illicit tools sold on Telegram Inside a money-laundering center in Cambodia, an employee opens a banking app on his phone. It asks for a photo linked to the…
Why having “humans in the loop” in an AI war is an illusion
The availability of artificial intelligence for use in warfare is at the center of a legal battle between Anthropic and the Pentagon. This debate has become urgent, with AI playing a bigger role than ever before in the current conflict with Iran. AI is no longer just helping humans analyze intelligence. It is now an…
The noise we make is hurting animals. Can we learn to shut up?
When the covid-19 pandemic started, Jennifer Phillips thought about the songs of the sparrows. They were easier to hear, because the world had suddenly become quieter. Car traffic plummeted as people sheltered at home and shifted to remote work. Air travel collapsed. Cities—normally filled with the honking, screeching, engine-gunning riot of transportation—became as silent as…
The quest to measure our relationship with nature
As a movement, environmentalism has been pretty misanthropic. Understandably so—we humans have done some destructive things to the ecosystems around us. In the 21st century, though, mainstream conservation is learning that humans can be a force for good. Foresters are turning to Indigenous burning practices to prevent wildfires. Biologists are realizing that flower-dotted meadows were…
Is carbon removal in trouble?
Last week, news outlets reported that Microsoft was pausing carbon removal purchases. It was something of a bombshell. The thing is, Microsoft is the carbon removal market. The company has single-handedly purchased something like 80% of all contracted carbon removal. If you’re looking for someone to pay you to suck carbon dioxide out of the…
DeepL, known for text translation, now wants to translate your voice
DeepL says its tech could be used for real-time translation with meeting tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams
Most Founders Are Managing Stress. Here’s How to Actually Resolve It.
Learn about bilateral stimulation — what it is, what research says it does to the limbic system and why the walk that clears your head after a brutal call isn’t metaphorical.
The Right Way to Build an Online Community Around Your Brand
Public online communities are risky for your brand. Here’s an alternative that gives you the benefits of online communication while avoiding some of its biggest pitfalls.
3 Practical Ways to Identify Keywords That Help Customers Find You
To thrive in today’s digital marketing arena, I believe several advertising verticals are essential for businesses to participate in.