Half a century ago, a small group of esteemed thinkers that called itself the Club of Rome got together to chew over a thorny question: What would happen if humanity continued to consume the world’s finite resources as if they were limitless? Their efforts generated the now-famous 1972 paper “The Limits to Growth,” in which they… Continue reading The Planet Can’t Sustain Rapid Growth Much Longer
Author: Wired Magazine
Gravity Move Mini Massager Review: Warm and Portable
There are a lot of massage guns on the market. I’ve tried many of them, and as more come out, the differences between them become less and less clear. This one is from Gravity, a company that makes some of our favorite weighted blankets. It’s compact and portable, and it heats up! It also comes… Continue reading Gravity Move Mini Massager Review: Warm and Portable
How You, or Anyone, Can Dodge Montana’s TikTok Ban
Montana’s TikTok ban is a technological nightmare. Experts warn it will be incredibly difficult for officials to enforce and incredibly easy for almost anyone to get around. But more than that, it’s a move that undermines America’s history of fostering an open, democratic internet. The law, which comes into effect at the start of 2024, will… Continue reading How You, or Anyone, Can Dodge Montana’s TikTok Ban
The Looming El Niño Could Cost the World Trillions of Dollars
While the effects of El Niño are more concentrated in the tropics, other regions will feel the heat as well. The southwestern United States tends to get more rain, while the northern parts of the country warm up. One upside: El Niño typically reduces hurricane activity in the Atlantic Ocean. Courtesy of Christopher Callahan Tropical countries… Continue reading The Looming El Niño Could Cost the World Trillions of Dollars
ChatGPT Now Has an iPhone App
In March, The Wall Street Journal reported that Apple had rejected an email app’s generative-AI-infused update until the developer gave the app a 17+ restriction, expressing concerns that AI tools could generate inappropriate content for children. In the App Store, OpenAI’s ChatGPT app is rated for “12+ years old.” OpenAI did not respond to questions about any… Continue reading ChatGPT Now Has an iPhone App
The US Post Office Is Spying on the Mail. Senators Want to Stop It
The notion that only a mail carrier will view a piece of mail is based on a quainter understanding of the mail handling process; a Norman Rockwell view of what a modern postal delivery system entails. In the US, the exterior of every piece of mail is photographed. And the information obtained from these photos,… Continue reading The US Post Office Is Spying on the Mail. Senators Want to Stop It
8 Great Deals: Smartphones, Fitness Trackers, and More
We’re in that weird liminal deals space between sales holidays. It’s not quite early enough for Memorial Day deals, but most Mother’s Day discounts have come and gone. That didn’t stop us from scouring the web for the best discounts we could find. You probably don’t want to buy a new mattress or grill right… Continue reading 8 Great Deals: Smartphones, Fitness Trackers, and More
CNET Published AI-Generated Stories. Then Its Staff Pushed Back
In November, venerable tech outlet CNET began publishing articles generated by artificial intelligence, on topics such as personal finance, that proved to be riddled with errors. Today the human members of its editorial staff have unionized, calling on their bosses to provide better conditions for workers and more transparency and accountability around the use of AI.… Continue reading CNET Published AI-Generated Stories. Then Its Staff Pushed Back
The All-Clad Factory Seconds Kitchenware Sale Is Back
All-Clad cookware is popular among home chefs and professional reviewers alike. The company makes some of the best, most durable, most reliable, and most expensive pots and pans you can buy. The cost can be a barrier, but every so often, the All-Clad Factory Seconds Sale comes around. Right now is one of those times.… Continue reading The All-Clad Factory Seconds Kitchenware Sale Is Back
WhatsApp 2023: New Privacy Features, Settings, and More
While turning on disappearing messages will give you some more privacy, it’s worth remembering that whoever you message could still screenshot or take a photograph of what’s on the screen. In addition to disappearing messages, you can also set photos and views to View Once. This—rather unsurprisingly—behaves exactly how it is described: The message can… Continue reading WhatsApp 2023: New Privacy Features, Settings, and More