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.
We’re in a new era of AI-driven scams
When ChatGPT was released in late 2022, it showed how easily generative AI could create human-like text. This quickly caught the eye of cybercriminals, who began using LLMs to compose malicious emails. Since then, they’ve adopted AI for everything from turbocharged phishing and hyperrealistic deepfakes to automated vulnerability scans.
Many organizations are now struggling to cope with the sheer volume of cyberattacks. AI is making them faster, cheaper, and easier to carry out, a problem set to worsen as more cybercriminals adopt these tools—and their capabilities improve. Read the full story on how AI is reshaping cybercrime.
—Rhiannon Williams
“Supercharged scams” is one of the 10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now, our essential guide to what’s really worth your attention in the field.
Subscribers can watch an exclusive roundtable unveiling the technologies and trends on the list, with analysis from MIT Technology Review’s AI reporter Grace Huckins and executive editors Amy Nordrum and Niall Firth.
Healthcare AI is here. We don’t know if it actually helps patients.
Doctors are using AI to help them with notetaking. AI-based tools are trawling through patient records, flagging people who may require certain support or treatments. They are also used to interpret medical exam results and X-rays.
A growing number of studies suggest that many of these tools can deliver accurate results. But there’s a bigger question here: Does using them actually translate into better health outcomes for patients? We don’t yet have a good answer—here’s why.
—Jessica Hamzelou
The story is from The Checkup, our weekly newsletter that gives you the latest from the worlds of health and biotech. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Thursday.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.
1 DeepSeek has unveiled its long-awaited new AI model
The Chinese company has just launched preview versions of DeepSeek-V4. (CNN)
+It says V4 is the most powerful open-source platform. (Bloomberg $)
+ And rivals top closed-source models from OpenAI and DeepMind. (SCMP)
+ The model is adapted for Huawei chip technology. (Reuters $)
2 More countries are curbing children’s social media access
Norway is set to enforce the latest ban. (Reuters $)
+ The Philippines could follow soon. (Bloomberg $)
+ Americans are pushing to get AI out of schools. (The New Yorker)
3 The US has accused China of mass AI theft as tensions rise
A White House memo claims Chinese firms are exploiting American models. (BBC)
+ Beijing calls the accusations “slander.” (Ars Technica)
4 OpenAI set itself apart from Anthropic by widely releasing its new model
It’s releasing GPT-5.5 to all ChatGPT users, despite cybersecurity concerns. (NYT $)
+ OpenAI says the new model is better at coding and more efficient. (The Verge)
5 Meta is cutting 10% of jobs to offset AI spending
Roughly 8,000 layoffs are set to be announced on May 20. (QZ)
+ Anti-AI protests are growing. (MIT Technology Review)
6 Palantir is facing a backlash from employees
Thanks to its work with ICE and the Trump administration. (Wired $)
+ Surveillance tech is reshaping the fight for privacy. (MIT Technology Review)
7 The era of free access to advanced AI is coming to an end
AI labs are under mounting pressure to start turning profits. (The Verge)
8 Elon Musk’s feud with Sam Altman is heading to court
The case has already revealed several unflattering secrets. (WP $)
9 A new movement is encouraging people to ditch their smartphones for a month
“Month Offline” is like a Dry January for smartphones. (The Atlantic)
10 Spotify has revealed its most-streamed music of the last 20 years
Featuring Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, and The Weeknd. (Gizmodo)
Quote of the day
“We want a childhood where children get to be children. Play, friendships, and everyday life must not be taken over by algorithms and screens.”
—Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store announces age restrictions for social media.
One More Thing
NASA/JPL-CALTECH VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS; CRAFT NASA/JPL-CALTECH/SWRI/MSSS; IMAGE PROCESSING: KEVIN M. GILL
The search for extraterrestrial life is targeting Jupiter’s icy moon Europa
As astronomers have discovered more about Europa over the past few decades, Jupiter’s fourth-largest moon has excited planetary scientists interested in the geophysics of alien worlds.
All that water and energy—and hints of elements essential for building organic molecules —point to an extraordinary possibility. In the depths of its ocean, or perhaps crowded in subsurface lakes or below icy surface vents, Jupiter’s big, bright moon could host life.
To find further evidence, NASA is now searching for signs of alien existence on Europa. Read the full story on the mission.
—Stephen Ornes
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.)
+ Here’s a fun look at the secret collaborations of pop history.
+ Meet the mannequins showing how the “ideal” body has evolved.
+ A photographer has cataloged all 12,795 objects in her home into an archive of a life.
+ Slime molds are unexpectedly beautiful when viewed through these high-detail macro shots.
