That is right now’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a each day dose of what’s occurring on the earth of know-how.
This benchmark used Reddit’s AITA to check how a lot AI fashions suck as much as us
Again in April, OpenAI introduced it was rolling again an replace to its GPT-4o mannequin that made ChatGPT’s responses to consumer queries too sycophantic.
An AI mannequin that acts in a very agreeable and flattering manner is extra than simply annoying. It may reinforce customers’ incorrect beliefs, mislead individuals, and unfold misinformation that may be harmful—a selected danger when rising numbers of younger individuals are utilizing ChatGPT as a life advisor. And since sycophancy is tough to detect, it may possibly go unnoticed till a mannequin or replace has already been deployed.
A brand new benchmark known as Elephant that measures the sycophantic tendencies of main AI fashions may assist firms keep away from these points sooner or later. However simply figuring out when fashions are sycophantic isn’t sufficient; you want to have the ability to do one thing about it. And that’s trickier. Learn the total story.
—Rhiannon Williams
The AI Hype Index
Separating AI actuality from hyped-up fiction isn’t all the time simple. That’s why we’ve created the AI Hype Index—a easy, at-a-glance abstract of every little thing you’ll want to know in regards to the state of the trade. Check out this month’s version of the index right here.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to search out you right now’s most enjoyable/essential/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.
1 Anduril is partnering with Meta to construct a sophisticated weapons system
EagleEye’s VR headsets will improve troopers’ listening to and imaginative and prescient. (WSJ $)
+ Palmer Luckey needs to show “warfighters into technomancers.” (TechCrunch)
+ Luckey and Mark Zuckerberg have buried the hatchet, then. (Insider $)
+ Palmer Luckey on the Pentagon’s way forward for blended actuality. (MIT Know-how Overview)
2 A brand new Texas regulation requires app shops to confirm customers’ ages
It’s following in Utah’s footsteps, which handed an identical invoice in March. (NYT $)
+ Apple has pushed again on the regulation. (CNN)
3 What occurs to DOGE now?
It has misplaced its chief and a prime lieutenant throughout the area of per week. (WSJ $)
+ Musk’s departure raises questions over how a lot energy it can wield with out him. (The Guardian)
+ DOGE’s tech takeover threatens the protection and stability of our vital knowledge. (MIT Know-how Overview)
4 NASA’s ambitions of a 2027 moon touchdown are wanting much less probably
It wants SpaceX’s Starship, which retains blowing up. (WP $)
+ Is there a viable different? (New Scientist $)
5 College students are utilizing AI to generate nude photos of one another
It’s a grave and rising downside that nobody has an answer for. (404 Media)
6 Google AI Overviews doesn’t know what yr it’s
A yr after its introduction, the characteristic remains to be making apparent errors. (Wired $)
+ Google’s new AI-powered search isn’t match to deal with even primary queries. (NYT $)
+ The corporate is pushing AI into every little thing. Will it repay? (Vox)
+ Why Google’s AI Overviews will get issues unsuitable. (MIT Know-how Overview)
7 Hugging Face has created two humanoid robots 
The machines are open supply, which means anybody can construct software program for them. (TechCrunch)
8 A well-liked vibe coding app has a significant safety flaw
Regardless of being notified about it months in the past. (Semafor)
+ Any AI coding program catering to amateurs faces the identical difficulty. (The Data $)
+ What’s vibe coding, precisely? (MIT Know-how Overview)
9 AI-generated movies have gotten far more sensible
However not with regards to depicting gymnastics. (Ars Technica)
10 This digital tattoo measures your stress ranges
Take into account it a temper ring to your face. (IEEE Spectrum)
Quote of the day
“I feel lastly we’re seeing Apple being dragged into the kid security enviornment kicking and screaming.”
—Sarah Gardner, CEO of kid security collective Warmth Initiative, tells the Washington Submit why Texas’ new app retailer regulation may sign a turning level for Apple.
Another factor
Home-flipping algorithms are coming to your neighborhood
When Michael Maxson discovered his dream house in Nevada, it was not owned by an individual however by a tech firm, Zillow. When he went to try the property, nevertheless, he found it broken by an enormous water leak. Regardless of providing to deal with the pricey repairs himself, Maxson found that the home had already been bought to a different household, on the similar worth he had supplied.
Throughout this time, Zillow misplaced greater than $420 million in three months of erratic home shopping for and unprofitable gross sales, main analysts to query whether or not the complete tech-driven mannequin is absolutely viable. For the remainder of us, an even bigger query stays: Does the arrival of Silicon Valley tech level to a greater future for housing or an trade disruption to concern? Learn the total story.
—Matthew Ponsford
We are able to nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Bought any concepts? Drop me a line or skeet ’em at me.)
+ A 100-mile real-time ultramarathon online game that lasts wherever as much as 27 hours is about as enjoyable because it sounds.
+ Right here’s how edible glitter may assist save the standard water vole from extinction.
+ Cleansing huge statues isn’t for the faint-hearted ($)
+ When is a flute trainer not a flautist? When he’s a whistleblower.
