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.
The dream of offshore rocket launches is finally blasting off
Want to send something to space? Get in line. The demand for rides off Earth is skyrocketing, with launches more than doubling over the past four years, from about 100 to 250 annually. That number is projected to spiral further up, fueled by an epic growth spurt in the commercial space sector.
To relieve the congestion, some mission planners are looking to the ocean as the next big gateway to space. But sea-based launches come with some unique regulatory, geopolitical, and environmental trade-offs. They also offer a glimpse of new technologies and industries, enabled by a potentially limitless launch capacity, that could profoundly reshape our lives. Read the full story.
—Becky Ferreira
Can AI help DOGE slash government budgets? It’s complex.
No tech leader before has played the role in a new presidential administration that Elon Musk is playing now. Under his leadership, DOGE has entered offices in a half-dozen agencies and counting, accessed various payment systems, had its access to the Treasury halted by a federal judge, and sparked lawsuits questioning the legality of the group’s activities.
The stated goal of DOGE’s actions is “slashing waste, fraud, and abuse.” So where is fraud happening, and could AI models fix it, as DOGE staffers hope? Read our story to find out.
—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.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.
1 Elon Musk is leading an unsolicited bid to buy OpenAI for $97.4 billion
This is an escalation in his long-running feud with CEO Sam Altman, but it may well come to nothing. (WSJ $)
+ The timing is annoying for Altman, as he’s in the middle of complex restructuring negotiations. (FT $)
+ Still, he says he’s confident OpenAI’s board is going to reject Musk’s offer. (The Information $)
2 What we’re learning from the AI Action Summit in Paris
As tech companies ship AI products relentlessly, policymakers still haven’t got a clue how to respond. (NYT $)
3 A federal judge blocked NIH cuts to research grants
A hearing has been set for February 21. (STAT $)
+ Why the cuts would be so devastating, according to the scientists who’d be affected. (Scientific American $)
4 AI chatbots cannot accurately summarize news
A study of leading models found 51% of their answers to questions about the news had ‘significant issues’. (BBC)
+ The tendency to make things up is holding chatbots back. But that’s just what they do. (MIT Technology Review)
5 BYD is bringing advanced self-driving to its cars
Including even the cheapest models. (FT $)
+ Analysts expect this to solidify the company’s position as China’s top EV maker. (South China Morning Post)
+ Why the world’s biggest EV maker is getting into shipping. (MIT Technology Review)
+ Meanwhile in the US, the next big robotaxi push is underway. (Quartz)
6 Trump is imposing 25% tariffs on foreign steel
You may recall he did this during his last term, and ended up having to roll it back. (NYT $)
7 A Silicon Valley job isn’t as desirable as it used to be
Multiple rounds of layoffs have really broken employees’ trust in their superiors. (WP $)
8 Google Maps now shows the ‘Gulf of America’
Unless you live in Mexico! (The Verge)
9 Can the human body endure a voyage to Mars? 
Space travel exacts an extremely high physical toll on even the fittest astronauts. (New Yorker $)
+ Space travel is dangerous. Could genetic testing and gene editing make it safer? (MIT Technology Review)
10 Thinking of re-playing the Sims? Maybe don’t.
25 years on, it feels a bit like a psyop to prepare millennials for the capitalist grind. (The Guardian)
Quote of the day
“No thank you but we will buy twitter for $9.74 billion if you want.”
—Sam Altman responds on X to news that Elon Musk is leading an unsolicited bid to buy OpenAI for $97.4 billion.
The big story
This sci-fi blockchain game could help create a metaverse that no one owns
November 2022
Dark Forest is a vast universe, and most of it is shrouded in darkness. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to venture into the unknown, avoid being destroyed by opposing players who may be lurking in the dark, and build an empire of the planets you discover and can make your own.
But while the video game seemingly looks and plays much like other online strategy games, it doesn’t rely on the servers running other popular online strategy games. And it may point to something even more profound: the possibility of a metaverse that isn’t owned by a big tech company. Read the full story.
—Mike Orcutt
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 skeet ’em at me.)
+ Tiles can be such a beautiful artform. Just ask the Portuguese!
+ Here are some quick ways to jumpstart your energy levels.
+ I’m obsessed with spicy smacked cucumbers. Turns out, they’re easy to make at home.
+ Aww… This little boy and his Dad managed to visit every city in England by train last year.
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