Tech Bros Before Average Joes

“Elon Musk and Sam Altman are two of the most influential people in Silicon Valley, if not the world. Between the two of them, Musk and Altman run technology companies worth many trillions of dollars that promise to reshape civilization. But this morning, both sat under fluorescent lights in a courthouse in downtown Oakland, suffering through all manner of technical glitches as their respective attorneys kicked off the long-awaited trial in Musk v. Altman.” The Atlantic (Gift Article): The trial between the CEOs makes the AI boom seem sordid and small. “The next few weeks of the trial will illuminate tensions about the development of AI that have grown only more urgent—between profit and social good, and over who can be trusted with this technology.” (That this trial makes it a choice between these two guys should worry you.)

+ “That night in the scientist’s home office, the chatbot explained how to modify an infamous pathogen in a lab so that it would resist known treatments. Worse, the bot described in vivid detail how to release the superbug, identifying a security lapse in a large public transit system … The bot outlined a plan to maximize casualties and minimize the chances of being caught.” NYT (Gift Article): A.I. Bots Told Scientists How to Make Biological Weapons.

+ How many robots does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Only one. “We’re approaching a ChatGPT moment for the physical world.” Wired: I’ve Covered Robots for Years. This One Is Different.