Rivian hopes to earn carbon credits for its home electric vehicle chargers

It's time to talk about the real AI risks

Sponsored by Rocket Software Subscribe The Download Your daily dose of what's up in emerging technology By Rhiannon Williams • 06.12.23 Hello! Today: Californian automaker Rivian is hoping to earn carbon credits from the chargers that power its electric vehicles, MIT Technology Review can reveal. Plus: what the world's biggest digital rights conference had to say about the threats posed by AI. Rivian hopes to earn carbon credits for its home electric vehicle chargers California-based automaker Rivian markets its high-end electric trucks to climate-conscious consumers hoping to do right by the planet. Now, the firm has applied to earn carbon credits for the chargers that power its pickups and SUVs, including those installed in its customers' homes, MIT Technology Review can reveal. The move raises new questions about who deserves the credit: the person who buys a $75,000 electric pickup or an $800 charger, or the company that manufactures and sells those products? And if those benefits can be quantified, should they be bought by individuals or businesses hoping to cancel out their own ongoing pollution? Read the full story. —James Temple It's time to talk about the real AI risks Unsurprisingly, AI was the topic on everyone's lips at the world's biggest digital rights conference last week. But the conversations the top internet ethicists, activists, and policymakers had at RightsCon were distinctly different from all the warnings from big Silicon Valley voices that have made headlines in recent weeks. Speakers in several sessions reiterated that the current AI gold rush is a product of company profit-seeking, not necessarily regulatory ineptitude or technological inevitability. Their message was loud and clear: we should be focussing less on the existential threats posed by AI, including extinction, and more on the harms staring us in the face. Read the full story. —Tate Ryan-Mosley This story is from The Technocrat, Tate's weekly newsletter giving you the inside track on all things power, politics, and Silicon Valley. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Friday. ADVERTISEMENT Sponsored by Rocket Software Modernization. Without disruption. Are you looking to accelerate your organization's growth without the associated pains? At Rocket Software, we understand the challenges that come with modernizing and scaling your business. That's why we've developed comprehensive modernization solutions to help you grow seamlessly and effortlessly. With our expertise, you can navigate the complexities of expansion while minimizing disruption and maximizing efficiency. Rocket Software has a proven track record of solving thousands of companies most complex IT challenges, with the expertise and tools to get you from your current state to where you want to be.  With Rocket Software as your partner, you can unlock your organization's full potential and scale without constraints.  Contact us today to explore how we can help you achieve growth without the growing pains. Learn more about our modernization solutions →   The must-reads I've combed the internet to find you today's most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Reddit is going dark Moderators are protesting plans to charge developers huge sums. (The Verge) + Visitors will be prevented from accessing thousands of subreddits. (Bloomberg $) 2 Tesla's Autopilot mode has been linked to 736 crashes That's far more crashes than have been previously reported, alongside 17 fatalities. (WP $)   3 Silicon Valley is prepping for AI singularity  But plenty of critics argue that the hype is nearing dangerous levels. (NYT $) + To avoid AI doom, learn from nuclear safety. (MIT Technology Review)   4 An ex-Samsung exec has been accused of stealing chip plant designs It's a staggeringly ambitious crime. (Bloomberg $) 5 US tech giants are slowing freezing out Hong Kong  The restrictions are in similar veins to North Korea. (WSJ $) + China's tech scene is struggling to attract overseas investors. (FT $) + Plenty of Western executives have been visiting, though. (Economist $) + Elon Musk's quiet, untweeted China trip. (MIT Technology Review) 6 Prisoners are being surveilled down to their heartbeat Sophisticated sensor networks mean they have little say in the matter, either. (Wired $)   7 Distributing malaria vaccines is a logistical nightmare It's hugely expensive, and health workers in Africa are hard to come by. (Vox)   8 Interest in offshore wind turbines is booming Researchers (and investors) are impressed by hydrogen production promises. (IEEE Spectrum) + When hydrogen will help climate change—and when it won't.  (MIT Technology Review)   9 Second Life is still thriving The decades-old game is flourishing while the metaverse flounders. (The Guardian) + Welcome to the oldest part of the metaverse. (MIT Technology Review) 10 Robot beauticians are performing eyelash extensions 👁️ Human lash artists are relieved—and worried. (WP $) + Robots are also relatively proficient gardeners. (New Scientist $) Quote of the day "Remorse for what?" —Kyle Davies, co-founder of collapsed cryptocurrency hedge fund Three Arrow Capital, dismisses accusations that his influential firm caused investors to lose millions in the crypto crash, the New York Times reports. The big story Bright LEDs could spell the end of dark skies August 2022 Scientists have known for years that light pollution is growing and can harm both humans and wildlife. In people, increased exposure to light at night disrupts sleep cycles and has been linked to cancer and cardiovascular disease, while wildlife suffers from interruption to their reproductive patterns, increased danger and loss of stealth. Astronomers, policymakers, and lighting professionals are all working to find ways to reduce light pollution. Many of them advocate installing light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, in outdoor fixtures such as city streetlights, mainly for their ability to direct light to a targeted area. But the high initial investment and durability of modern LEDs mean cities need to get the transition right the first time or potentially face decades of consequences. Read the full story.   —Shel Evergreen 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 secret to fulfilling social interactions? Good conversation. + Those ancient Greeks sure did love getting naked. + Mike Brixius is a man on a mission to finish making the Commodore 64 CRPG (that's computer role-playing game) that he started making in 1984. + Reimagining 90s rock on a Cartesian plane is good fun. + Sorry Wes Anderson fans, the man himself is not a fan of that viral TikTok trend. Subscribe for unlimited access to the Education issue and get an inside look at how AI & ChatGPT will transform the future of learning. SUBSCRIBE NOW Event EmTech Next Transform with Technology June 13 - 15, 2023 Learn more » Top image credit: RIVIAN Please send angry, sad songs to hi@technologyreview.com. Follow me on Twitter at @yannon_. Thanks for reading! —Rhiannon Was this newsletter forwarded to you, and you'd like to see more? Sign up today → View in browser | This email was sent to alexvarboffin.abbb@blogger.com. 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