The Obtain: the mysteries surrounding weight-loss medicine, and the financial results of AI

That is right this moment’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a every day dose of what’s happening on the planet of know-how.

What we nonetheless don’t find out about weight-loss medicine

Weight-loss medicine have been again within the information this week. First, we heard that Eli Lilly, the corporate behind Mounjaro and Zepbound, turned the primary healthcare firm on the planet to realize a trillion-dollar valuation.

However we additionally discovered that, disappointingly, GLP-1 medicine don’t appear to assist folks with Alzheimer’s illness. And that individuals who cease taking the medicine once they develop into pregnant can expertise probably harmful ranges of weight acquire. On high of that, some researchers fear that individuals are utilizing the medicine postpartum to lose being pregnant weight with out understanding potential dangers.

All of this information ought to function a reminder that there’s loads we nonetheless don’t find out about these medicine. So let’s take a look at the enduring questions surrounding GLP-1 agonist medicine.

—Jessica Hamzelou

This text first appeared in The Checkup, MIT Know-how Evaluate’s weekly biotech publication. To obtain it in your inbox each Thursday, and browse articles like this primary, join right here.

When you’re fascinated by weight reduction medicine and the way they have an effect on us, check out:

+ GLP-1 agonists like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro may profit coronary heart and mind well being—however analysis suggests they could additionally trigger being pregnant problems and hurt some customers. Learn the total story.

+ We’ve by no means understood how starvation works. That is perhaps about to alter. Learn the total story.

+ Weight-loss injections have taken over the web. However what does this imply for folks IRL?

+ This vibrating weight-loss capsule appears to work—in pigs. Learn the total story.

What we find out about how AI is affecting the economic system

There’s loads at stake in relation to understanding how AI is altering the economic system proper now. Ought to we be pessimistic? Optimistic? Or is the scenario too nuanced for that?

Hopefully, we are able to level you in direction of some solutions. Mat Honan, our editor in chief, will maintain a particular subscriber-only Roundtables dialog with our editor at giant David Rotman, and Richard Waters, Monetary Instances columnist, exploring what’s taking place throughout completely different markets. Register right here to affix us at 1pm ET on Tuesday December 9.

The occasion is a part of the Monetary Instances and MIT Know-how Evaluate “The State of AI” partnership, exploring the worldwide impression of synthetic intelligence. Over the previous month, we’ve been working discussions between our journalists—join right here to obtain future editions each Monday.

The must-reads

I’ve combed the web to seek out you right this moment’s most enjoyable/vital/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.

1 Tech billionaires are gearing as much as battle AI regulation 
By amassing multi-million greenback warfare chests forward of the 2026 US midterm elections. (WSJ $)
+ Donald Trump’s “Manhattan Venture” for AI is actually bold. (The Info $)

2 The EU needs to carry social media platforms accountable for monetary scams
New guidelines will pressure tech companies to compensate banks in the event that they fail to take away reported scams. (Politico)

3 China is frightened a couple of humanoid robotic bubble
As a result of greater than 150 firms there are constructing very related machines. (Bloomberg $)
+ It might study some classes from the present AI bubble. (CNN)+ Why the humanoid workforce is working late. (MIT Know-how Evaluate)

4 A Myanmar rip-off compound was blown up
However its residents will merely discover new bases for his or her operations. (NYT $)
+ Consultants suspect the destruction could have been for present. (Wired $)
+ Inside a romance rip-off compound—and the way folks get tricked into being there. (MIT Know-how Evaluate)

5 Navies the world over are investing in submarine drones 
They value a fraction of what it takes to run a standard manned sub. (The Guardian)
+ How underwater drones might form a possible Taiwan-China battle. (MIT Know-how Evaluate)

6 What to anticipate from China’s seemingly unstoppable innovation drive
Its extraordinarily permissive regulators play a giant function. (Economist $)
+ Is China about to win the AI race? (MIT Know-how Evaluate)

7 The UK is waging a warfare on VPNs
Good luck making an attempt to influence folks to cease utilizing them. (The Verge)

8 We’re studying extra about Jeff Bezos’ mysterious clock mission
He’s backed the Clock of the Lengthy Now for years—and development is amping up. (FT $)
+ How growing older clocks might help us perceive why we age—and if we are able to reverse it. (MIT Know-how Evaluate)

9 Have we lastly seen the primary hints of darkish matter?
These researchers appear to suppose so. (New Scientist $)

10 A useful robotic helps archaeologists reconstruct Pompeii
Reassembling historical frescos is fiddly and time-consuming, however much less so should you’re a dextrous machine. (Reuters)

Quote of the day

“We do fail… loads.”

—Protection firm Anduril explains its move-fast-and-break-things ethos to the Wall Avenue Journal in response to studies its techniques have been marred by points in Ukraine.

Yet one more factor

The way to construct a greater AI benchmark

It’s not simple being considered one of Silicon Valley’s favourite benchmarks.

SWE-Bench (pronounced “swee bench”) launched in November 2024 as a approach to consider an AI mannequin’s coding talent. It has since rapidly develop into one of the crucial common exams in AI. A SWE-Bench rating has develop into a mainstay of main mannequin releases from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google—and out of doors of basis fashions, the fine-tuners at AI companies are in fixed competitors to see who can rise above the pack.

Regardless of all of the fervor, this isn’t precisely a truthful evaluation of which mannequin is “higher.” Entrants have begun to recreation the system—which is pushing many others to wonder if there’s a greater approach to truly measure AI achievement. Learn the total story.

—Russell Brandom

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.)

+ Aww, these sharks look like enjoying with pool toys.
+ Unusual issues are taking place over on Easter Island (even weirder than you’ll be able to think about)
+ Very cool—archaeologists have uncovered a Roman tomb that’s been sealed shut for 1,700 years.
+ This Japanese mass media collage is making my eyes swim, in a great way.