Curated from MIT Technology Review — Here’s what matters right now:
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. Expanded carrier screening: Is it worth it? Carrier screening tests would-be parents for hidden genetic mutations that might affect their children. It initially involved testing for specific genes in at-risk populations. Expanded carrier screening takes things further, giving would-be parents an option to test for a wide array of diseases in prospective parents and egg and sperm donors. The companies offering these screens “started out with 100 genes, and now some of them go up to 2,000,” Sara Levene, genetics counsellor at Guided Genetics, said at a meeting I attended this week. “It’s becoming a bit of an arms race amongst labs, to be honest.” But expanded carrier screening comes with downsides. And it isn’t for everyone. Read the full story . —Jessica Hamzelou This article first appeared in The Checkup, MIT Technology Review’s weekly biotech newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Thursday, and read articles like this first, sign up here . Southeast Asia seeks its place in space It’s a scorching October day in Bangkok and I’m wandering through the exhibits at the Thai Space Expo, held in one of the city’s busiest shopping malls, when I do a double take. Amid the flashy space suits and model rockets on display, there’s a plain-looking package of Thai basil chicken. I’m told the same kind of vacuum-sealed package has just been launched to the International Space Station. It’s an unexpected sight, one that reflects the growing excitement within the Southeast Asian space sector. And while there is some uncertainty about how exactly the region’s space sector may evolve, there is plenty of optimism, too. Read the full story . —Jonathan O’Callaghan This story is from the next print issue of MIT Technology Review magazine. If you haven’t already, subscribe now to receive future issues once they land. The must-reads I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Disney just signed a major deal with OpenAI Meaning you’ll soon be able to create Sora clips starring 200 Marvel, Pixel and Star Wars characters. ( Hollywood Reporter $) + Disney used to be openly skeptical of AI. What changed? ( WSJ $) + It’s not feeling quite so friendly towards Google, however. ( Ars Technica ) + Expect a load of AI slop making its way to Disney Plus. ( The Verge ) 2 Donald Trump has blocked US states from enforcing their own AI rules But technically, only Congress has the power to override state laws. ( NYT $) + A new task force will seek out states with “inconsistent” AI rules. ( Engadget ) + The move is particularly bad news for California. ( The Markup ) 3 Reddit is challenging Australia’s social media ban for teens It’s arguing that the ban infringes on their freedom of political communication. ( Bloomberg $) + We’re learning more about the mysteri
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Original reporting: MIT Technology Review