Your daily dose of what's up in emerging technology
By Rhiannon Williams • 1.11.24
Hello! Today: how advanced drilling technology could unlock the potential of a carbon-free renewable energy source. Plus: a guide to the three climate technologies featured in this year's 10 Breakthrough Technologies list.
Geothermal heat, an abundant and carbon-free energy source, offers an alternative to fossil fuels that doesn't vary with the weather or time of day. However, conventional geothermal plants require specific geological conditions—in particular, permeable rocks with water sources.
Because of this, geothermal accounts for less than 1% of global renewables capacity. But an emerging technology could let us exploit even more of the heat beneath our feet.
Enhanced geothermal systems allow companies to access geothermal heat in new locations, cracking open relatively solid rocks at depths much greater than existing geothermal wells. Water is then injected into these rocks to generate steam, which subsequently drives turbines to produce electricity. But the technology is not without potential risks. Read the full story.
Three climate technologies breaking through in 2024
Climate tech is big news for 2024. So much so, it makes up not one, not two, but three entries in this year's 10 Breakthrough Technologies, MIT Technology Review's list of the tech that's changing our world.
Our climate reporter Casey Crownhart has written a handy guide to why these technologies are so noteworthy, and what you need to know about them. Read the full story.
This story is from The Spark, our weekly climate and energy newsletter. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Wednesday.
Success will define the market leading enterprises of tomorrow.
In recent years, stakeholder expectations have raised the visibility of enterprise level sustainability initiatives. Now, emerging laws and regulations around the world are establishing these initiatives as a C-suite priority. Forward looking organizations are leveraging technologies such as AI, cloud, and automation to gain competitive advantage as sustainability principles are increasingly integrated into all corners of the enterprise.
While U.S. regulators finalize national emission disclosure requirements, the EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is in effect, requiring regular reporting on sustainability. In addition, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has launched global disclosure standards. Establishing a more comprehensive, data informed approach to measuring enterprise value is a priority for many of today's executive teams. In turn, leaders at the forefront are poised to recognize competitive advantages and growth opportunities.
I've combed the internet to find you today's most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.
1 US regulators have approved a new bitcoin-tracking product after all Just hours after saying a tweet confirming the news was the result of a hack. (NYT $) + The approval of bitcoin exchange traded funds is a major boon for crypto. (Reuters) + A goldrush for investors could be on the horizon. (Wired $) + Funding for crypto startups is still in the doldrums, though. (Bloomberg $)
2 OpenAI's GPT Store is live Visitors can both buy and sell customized chatbots through it. (The Guardian) + The bots can be as simple or complex as their creators desire. (TechCrunch) + What's next for OpenAI. (MIT Technology Review)
3 America's EV charging network just got a major boost To the tune of $623 million to build 7,5000 new charge points. (Wired $) + Why getting more EVs on the road is all about charging. (MIT Technology Review)
4 How Mark Zuckerberg fell out of love with the metaverse And pivoted fully to AI. (Bloomberg $)
5 We don't have proper tools to detect plagiarism AI checkers are trained to look for matching text—not plagiarism itself. (The Markup) + AI-text detection tools are really easy to fool. (MIT Technology Review)
6 The US is on the verge of a dangerous vaccination tipping point Misinformation online is the driving force behind falling vaccination rates for numerous conditions, regulators warn. (Ars Technica)
7 Meta's content moderators are fighting for their rights After being forced to watch online atrocities, they were sacked without warning. (FT $) + How an undercover content moderator polices the metaverse. (MIT Technology Review)
8 Gadgets that used to be 'smart' are 'AI-powered' now As ever, clever marketing is no guarantee they'll be successful—but it doesn't hurt. (WSJ $) + AI binoculars for identifying birds? Take my money! (The Verge)
9 TikTok has a bland fixation with performative cleanliness It's a reminder that excessive oversanitization can cause more harm than good. (Vox) + Things are getting crazy over in TikTok Shop. (NY Mag $)
10 There's no shame in playing your video games on easy mode 🧟 Life's too short to be mauled to death by zombies. (The Atlantic $)
Quote of the day
"I'm sure if Picasso or Matisse were still alive they would quit their job."
—Renowned artist Ai Weiwei explains how even some of the world's most-recognized artists would have had to rethink their approach if AI had existed in their era to the Guardian.
The big story
The rise of the tech ethics congregation
August 2023
Just before Christmas 2022, a pastor preached a gospel of morals over money to several hundred members of his flock. But the leader in question was not an ordained minister, nor even a religious man.
Polgar is the founder of All Tech Is Human, a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting ethics and responsibility in tech. His congregation is undergoing dramatic growth in an age when the life of the spirit often struggles to compete with cold, hard, capitalism.
Its leaders believe there are large numbers of individuals in and around the technology world, often from marginalized backgrounds, who wish tech focused less on profits and more on being a force for ethics and justice. But attempts to stay above the fray can cause more problems than they solve. Read the full story.
—Greg M. Epstein
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.)
+ How to fall in love with cottage cheese (even if you hate it). + The recipient of the most Razzie Awards, celebrating the worst in cinematic achievement? One Sylvester Stallone. + Here's a good rundown of the albums we're most looking forward to this year. + I had no idea it was possible to grow tea in Scotland, of all places. + Awards show speeches aren't all dull—sometimes they can be downright hilarious.
Our most coveted list, the 10 Breakthrough Technologies of 2024, is now live. Learn which technological innovations will have the biggest impact on our lives. Subscribe & save 25%for full access + get a FREE tote.
Subscribe & save 25% for access to our subscriber-only virtual event series, Roundtables. Don't miss our next session on Jan. 16 at 12:30pm ET as we dive deep into the 10 Breakthrough Technologies 2024 list and what you need to know about the innovations.
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