The Download: OpenAI’s latest model, and 4D printing’s potential [MIT Tech Review]

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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.

Why OpenAI’s new model is such a big deal

Last week OpenAI released a new model called o1 (previously referred to under the code name “Strawberry” and, before that, Q*) that blows GPT-4o out of the water.

Unlike previous models that are well suited for language tasks like writing and editing, OpenAI o1 is focused on multistep “reasoning,” the type of process required for advanced mathematics, coding, or other STEM-based questions. The model is also trained to answer PhD-level questions in subjects ranging from astrophysics to organic chemistry.

The bulk of LLM progress until now has been language-driven, but in addition to getting lots of facts wrong, such LLMs have failed to demonstrate the types of skills required to solve important problems in fields like drug discovery, materials science, coding, or physics. OpenAI’s o1 is one of the first signs that LLMs might soon become genuinely helpful companions to human researchers in these fields. Read the full story.

—James O’Donnell

This story is from The Algorithm, our weekly newsletter giving you the inside track on all things AI. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Monday.

This designer creates magic from everyday materials

Back in 2012, designer and computer scientist Skylar Tibbits started working on 3D-printed materials that could change their shape or properties after being printed—a concept that Tibbits dubbed “4D printing,” where the fourth dimension is time.

Today, 4D printing is its own field—the subject of a professional society and thousands of papers, with researchers around the world looking into potential applications from self-adjusting biomedical devices to soft robotics.

But not long after 4D printing took off, Tibbits was already looking toward a new challenge: What other capabilities can we build into materials? And can we do that without printing? Read the full story.

—Anna Gibbs

This piece is from the latest print issue of MIT Technology Review, which celebrates 125 years of the magazine! If you don’t already, subscribe now to get 25% off future copies once they land.

A special preview of EmTech MIT: AI, Climate, and the new rules of business

Artificial intelligence and climate technologies are the two greatest forces impacting business decisions today. This year at EmTech MIT, our annual flagship conference, we examine the breakthroughs, concerns, and the near-future possibilities brought on by AI, as well as the climate technologies building the green economy.

Register here to join us at 12.30pm ET today for a LinkedIn event previewing everything you can expect from this year’s event.

The must-reads

I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.

1 TikTok had a rough day in court

Federal judges questioned its argument that Congress lacks the authority to ban it. (NYT $)
+ If TikTok doesn’t break from its parent company, it’ll be banned on January 19 2025. (FT $)
+ There’s a good chance TikTok may have to escalate its fight to the Supreme Court. (Bloomberg $)
+ The depressing truth about TikTok’s impending ban. (MIT Technology Review)

2 Intel could receive up to $3 billion in chip grants
To manufacture chips for the US military. (Bloomberg $)
+ Intel’s contract manufacturing business has inked a deal with Amazon. (Reuters)
+ What’s next in chips. (MIT Technology Review)

3 Apple’s new iOS 18 software is here
But Apple Intelligence, its suite of AI tools, is nowhere to be seen. (WSJ $)
+ The new software is much more customizable than previous versions. (Ars Technica)
+ Here are the best features worth paying attention to. (NYT $)

4 Donald Trump has launched a new cryptocurrency business
The venture looks an awful lot like a play to the crypto faithful. (CNN)
+ Trump doesn’t seem to know a great deal about crypto. (Reuters)
+ Opportunists are already taking advantage of Trump’s fans. (The Verge)

5 More Meta smartglasses are likely to be on their way
The company signed a 10-year extension deal with glasses maker EssilorLuxottica. (Reuters)

6 Working in a data center is like firefighting
Human workers are constantly on the lookout for technical issues. (WP $)

7 Googling one of art’s most famous paintings returned AI slop
Users searching for Hieronymus Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights were met with AI-generated garbage. (404 Media)
+ Why artists are becoming less scared of AI. (MIT Technology Review)

8 An Nvidia GPU purse can be yours for $1,024
Hype? What hype? (Insider $)
+ The company’s stranglehold on the chip industry is being closely watched. (IEEE Spectrum)

9 Can you tell blue and green apart?
A new viral test plays with our personal color perception. (The Guardian)  

10 The latest YouTube trend? 80s weather reports
Set to dreamy soundtracks. (Wired $)

Quote of the day

“The speech on TikTok is not Chinese speech. It is American speech.”

—Jeffrey Fisher, a lawyer arguing on behalf of TikTok content creators, argues that banning the app in the US could violate the rights of Americans, the BBC reports.

The big story

Psychedelics are having a moment and women could be the ones to benefit

August 2022

Psychedelics are having a moment. After decades of prohibition and vilification, they are increasingly being employed as therapeutics. Drugs like ketamine, MDMA, and psilocybin mushrooms are being studied in clinical trials to treat depression, substance abuse, and a range of other maladies.

And as these long-taboo drugs stage a comeback in the scientific community, it’s possible they could be especially promising for women. Read the full story.

—Taylor Majewski

We can still have nice things

A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)

+ The artists who created these Star Wars matte paintings for the films’ futuristic backdrops were supremely talented.
+ Madrid really loves crisps (or potato chips, to the uninitiated)
+ #Restock videos are all the rage these days.
+ How to enjoy the great outdoors without getting lost.