February 7, 2025

These documents are influencing the DOGE-sphere’s agenda

Reports from the US Government Accountability Office on improper federal payments in recent years are circulating on X and elsewhere online, and they seem to be a big influence on Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency and its supporters as the group pursues cost-cutting measures across the federal government.  The payment reports have been…

Technology

Data analytics reveal real business value

October 4, 2023
Business data provides an often untapped well of organizational value. Customer interaction data, supply chain data, operational data, human resource data, financial data, market research data, back-office data—these oft-hidden data sources “hold immense potential for operational insights and value creation,” says Sidharth Mukherjee, chief digital officer of Teleperformance, a global digital business services company. Making…

2023 Climate Tech Companies to Watch: Sublime Systems and its clean cement

October 4, 2023
Sublime Systems has invented a new way to make cement. The startup’s approach employs electrochemistry to dramatically cut emissions, both by tweaking the chemical reactions involved and by eliminating the need for high temperatures. Intro Sublime Systems is reinventing how we make cement—a material that’s a real climate nightmare, accounting for roughly 8% of global…

2023 Climate Tech Companies to Watch: Form Energy and its iron batteries

October 4, 2023
Form Energy is building iron-based batteries that could store renewable energy on the grid for long stretches, saving up for times when electricity sources such as wind and solar aren’t available. Using iron, one of the most common metals on the planet, could help the company build batteries that are cheap enough to be practical. …

2023 Climate Tech Companies to Watch: Twelve and its electrochemical reactor

October 4, 2023
Twelve is converting carbon dioxide emissions into sustainable jet fuel. It recently launched the first commercial-scale production facility for sustainable aviation fuels in the US.  Intro Twelve is commercializing a process that breaks down and reforms carbon dioxide into nearly any chemical that is currently produced by fossil fuels. The company is already using it…

Okta plans to weave AI across its entire identity platform using multiple models

October 4, 2023
One thing is clear this year: generative AI is having a tremendous impact on the software industry, and a week doesn’t pass without software companies announcing their plans to incorporate the seemingly game changing technology into their platforms. This week, it’s Okta’s turn. The identity company is making a slew of AI-related announcements at the […]

The Download: thermal energy networks, and AI propaganda

October 4, 2023
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. Underground thermal energy networks are becoming crucial to the US’s energy future The news: Thirteen US states are now implementing underground thermal energy networks to reduce buildings’ carbon emissions as part of a…

Will These 3 Tech Stocks Be Wins in October?

October 4, 2023
The technology hardware industry is well-poised for significant growth and expansion, driven by growing digitalization across multiple sectors and the rapid adoption of emerging technologies like AI, IoT, and more….

E-sports are more popular than traditional sports in Asia

October 4, 2023
This story first appeared in China Report, MIT Technology Review’s newsletter about technology in China. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Tuesday. It was probably the highest-stakes mobile game match that’s ever been played. On the evening of September 26, 10 men from China and Malaysia sat on a stage in Hangzhou, China, each…

Underground thermal energy networks are becoming crucial to the US’s energy future

October 4, 2023
Thirteen US states are now implementing underground thermal energy networks to reduce buildings’ carbon emissions as part of a nationwide push to adopt cleaner energy sources. Thermal energy networks use pipe loops that connect multiple buildings and provide heating and cooling through water-source heat pumps. Geothermal heat is commonly used in these networks, but it…