This is todays edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of whats going on in the world of technology.What Africa needs to do to become a major AI playerAfrica is still early in the process of adopting AI technologies. But researchers say the continent is uniquely hospitable to it for several reasons, including a relatively young and increasingly well-educated population, a rapidly growing ecosystem of AI startups, and lots of potential consumers.However, ambitious efforts to develop AI tools that answer the needs of Africans face numerous hurdles. The biggest are inadequate funding and poor infrastructure. Limited internet access and a scarcity of domestic data centers also mean that developers might not be able to deploy cutting-edge AI capabilities. Complicating this further is a lack of overarching policies or strategies for harnessing AIs immense benefitsand regulating its downsides.Taken together, researchers worry, these issues will hold Africas AI sector back and hamper its efforts to pave its own pathway in the global AI race. Read the full story.Abdullahi TsanniScience and technology stories in the age of TrumpMat HonanIve spent most of this year being pretty convinced that Donald Trump would be the 47th president of the United States. Even so, like most people, I was completely surprised by the scope of his victory. This level of victory will certainly provide the political capital to usher in a broad sweep of policy changes.Some of these changes will be well outside our lane as a publication. But very many of President-elect Trumps stated policy goals will have direct impacts on science and technology.So I thought I would share some of my remarks from our edit meeting on Wednesday morning, when we woke up to find out that the world had indeed changed. Read the full story.This story is from The Debrief, the weekly newsletter from our editor in chief Mat Honan. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Friday.The must-readsIve combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.1 Canada has recorded its first known bird flu case in a humanOfficials are investigating how the teenager was exposed to the virus. (NPR)+ Canada insists that the risk to the public remains low. (Reuters)+ Why virologists are getting increasingly nervous about bird flu. (MIT Technology Review)2 How MAGA became a rallying call for young menThe Republicans online strategy tapped into the desires of disillusioned Gen Z men. (WP $)+ Elon Musk is assembling a list of favorable would-be Trump advisors. (FT $)3 Trumps victory is a win for the US defense industryPalmer Luckeys Anduril is anticipating a lucrative next four years. (Insider $)+ Heres what Luckey has to say about the Pentagons future of mixed reality. (MIT Technology Review)+ Traditional weapons are being given AI upgrades. (Wired $)4 This year is highly likely to be the hottest on recordThis weeks Cop29 climate summit will thrash out future policies. (The Guardian)+ A little-understood contributor to the weather? Microplastics. (Wired $)+ Trumps win is a tragic loss for climate progress. (MIT Technology Review)5 Ukraine is scrambling to repair its power stationsWorkers are dismantling plants to repair other stations hit by Russian attacks. (WSJ $)+ Meet the radio-obsessed civilian shaping Ukraines drone defense. (MIT Technology Review)6 We need better ways to evaluate LLMsTech giants are coming up with better methods of measuring these systems. (FT $)+ The improvements in the tech behind ChatGPT appear to be slowing. (The Information $)+ AI hype is built on high test scores. Those tests are flawed. (MIT Technology Review)7 FTX is suing crypto exchange BinanceIt claims Sam Bankman-Fried fraudulently transferred close to $1.8 billion to Binance in 2021. (Bloomberg $)+ Meanwhile, bitcoin is surging to new record heights. (Reuters)8 What we know about tech and lonelinessWhile theres little evidence tech directly makes us lonely, theres a strong correlation between the two. (NYT $)9 Whats next for space policy in the USIf one persons interested in the cosmos, its Elon Musk. (Ars Technica)10 Could you save the Earth from a killer asteroid?Its a game thats part strategy, part luck. (New Scientist $)+ Earth is probably safe from a killer asteroid for 1,000 years. (MIT Technology Review)Quote of the dayConflict of interest seems rather quaint.Gita Johar, a professor at Columbia Business School, tells the Guardian about Donald Trump and Elon Musks openly transactional relationship.The big storyQuartz, cobalt, and the waste we leave behindMay 2024It is easy to convince ourselves that we now live in a dematerialized ethereal world, ruled by digital startups, artificial intelligence, and financial services.Yet there is little evidence that we have decoupled our economy from its churning hunger for resources. We are still reliant on the products of geological processes like coal and quartz, a mineral thats a rich source of the silicon used to build computer chips, to power our world.Three recent books aim to reconnect readers with the physical reality that underpins the global economy. Each one fills in dark secrets about the places, processes, and lived realities that make the economy tick, and reveals just how tragic a toll the materials we rely on take for humans and the environment. Read the full story.Matthew PonsfordWe can still have nice thingsA place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or tweet em at me.)+ Oscars buzz has already begun, and this years early contenders are an interesting bunch.+ This sweet art project shows how toys age with love + Who doesnt love pretzels? Heres how to make sure they end up with the perfect fluffy interior and a glossy, chewy crust.+ These images of plankton are really quite something.

Share Item Location helps users locate and recover misplaced items by securely sharing the location of an AirTag or Find My network accessory.

A newly-discovered iPhone 14 Pro prototype features one of the earliest known incarnations of Apple's scrapped haptic button project.An iPhone 14 Pro featuring Apple's Bongo design was recently discovered.Back in July of 2024, AppleInsider published exclusive imagery of a prototype iPhone 15 Pro Max equipped with Apple's long-rumored haptic buttons. Developed under the codename Project Bongo, the haptic buttons were supposed to make their debut in 2023 but never ended up on mass-production units. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The third developer beta of iOS 18.2 is now available for all compatible iPhone models, as Apple Intelligence testing continues. Here's everything you need to know about the update.iOS 18.2 developer beta 3 introduces enhancements to existing features.On Monday, Apple released iOS 18.2 developer beta 3, with build number 22C5131e, up from the previous 22C5125e. While the update is compatible with devices as old as the iPhone XS and iPhone XR, the software includes a variety of Apple Intelligence features that only work on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the iPhone 16 range.The iOS 18.2 update introduces support for Image Playground, Genmoji, Visual Intelligence, and ChatGPT integration via Siri. There's also a new FindMy feature that helps users locate lost luggage or AirTags. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

O-office Architects Lianzhou Museum of Photography was built on the site of the local sugar mill, with the purpose of revitalising a traditional remote city of northern Guangdong in South Chinahttps://www.e-architect.com/china/lianzhou-museum-of-photography-guangdong-china#museum #photography #China #architecture

TAOAs Resea Chic Space building aimed to break down the isolated and enclosed facade, fostering a relationship between interior spaces and the surrounding environment in Chinahttps://www.e-architect.com/china/resea-chic-space-qinhuangdao-building#visitorscenter #holidaydestination #China #architectureTAOA's renovation of the Resea Chic Space building aimed to break down the isolated and enclosed facade in China

Were thrilled to share that Sothebys is taking over Marcel Breuers iconic building on Madison Avenue, formerly home to the Whitney Museum! This renowned architectural landmark will be reimagined by Herzog & de Meuron, blending historical significance with modern functionality for art exhibitions, auctions, and cultural events. The team is committed to preserving Breuers vision while creating a vibrant space for the future of art and culture. Renovations are set to be unveiled in 2025stay tuned! #Sothebys #Breuer #Architecture #HerzogdeMeuron #ArtWorld #CulturalLandmark #NYCSothebys will transform the former Whitney Museum into a state-of-the-art venue for art, auctions, and culture.

Following our previous visit toOFFICEUNTITLED (OU), we are keeping ourMeet Your Next Employer seriesin Los Angeles this week to explore the work ofAUX Architecture.Founded in 2008 and led by Brian Wickersham, the 40-person studio has amassed a portfolio along an ethos that brings craft and clarity to designs at every scalefrom hearth to urban realm. Archinect has previously reported on the firms success at the 2023 AIA|LA Design Awards, the 2022 American Architecture Awards, and the 2022 AIA California Design Awards, while 2022 also saw Archinect speak with Wickersham on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on architectural practice.Over on Archinect Jobs, the firm iscurrently hiringfor a Designer to join their Los Angeles team. For candidates interested in applying for a position or anybody interested in learning more about the firms output, we have rounded up five unique Los Angeles projects by AUX Architecture that exemplify the firms ethos.Glorya Kaufman Performing...

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For over a decade, Architizers A+Awards have been championing architectural excellence worldwide. This year, the program celebrates local innovation with global recognition. Click to enter before the Main Entry Deadline on Friday December 6th.Although the sheer size of Chengdus 38 million-person population conjures images of highly urban topography, in reality, the nickname of Sichuans capital city is revealing: The Garden City at the Foot of the Snow Mountains. Bordered by the Longmen Mountains in the northwest and the Qionglai Mountains due directly west, the city bursts with bamboo-laden green spaces and set in a region smattered with lakes. These geographic features have played a decisive role in the citys architectural growth, as exemplified in the iconic warm, red geological profile of the stunning building that will host Architizers 2024 A+Awards Gala on November 21st, 2024.Designed by Antoine Predock Architects, LUXELAKES The Water Theater stands out for its mix of iconic red bush hammered concrete, all-glass structural glazing system, and regionally sourced granite and bronze cladding. Taken together with its highly complex massing the building varies from one floor to nine the design appears like a geological formation rising alongside the lake and merging with the hillside. Drawing from Chinese culture, Sichuans landscape, the sites agricultural history and the demands of a new city, the building could not be a more fitting venue for this years gala, hosted in partnership with LUXELAKES A8 Design Center.The building perfectly encapsulates the theme of the 13th Annual A+Awards: celebrating architecture that balances local innovation with global vision. The current A+Awards program is inviting entries through December 6th, 2024, with global recognition and international publication on offer for the winners. Get your entry started here:Start SubmissionArchitizers Managing Editor Hannah Feniak sat down with Antoine Predock Architects Executive Senior Associate, Paul Fehlau, to discuss the process for designing a contextual masterpiece in a country and culture on the other side of the world. Introducing the concept of portable regionalism, he reflected on the legacy of the firms founder and the LUXELAKES The Water Theater in Chengdu. LUXELAKES The Water Theater by Antoine Predock Architect, Chengdu, ChinaHannah Feniak: Architizers A+Awards gala will take place at LUXELAKES The Water Theater on November 21st, 2024, just one decade after work on the project began. Reflecting back, how do you feel about the project, and where does it sit for you in the context of your firms wider work?Paul Fehlau: The project holds a very special place in our firms history. It was our first completed project in China and a very special design for a very special and engaged client. The client wanted to set the tone for their Luxe Lakes development with the Gateway Arts Center and they allowed us broad design latitude to engage the site entry and waterfront. The clients also supported the design with high quality materials and construction. The building achieved a sense of timelessness and we continue to be proud of the enduring beauty of the project. LUXELAKES The Water Theater by Antoine Predock Architect, Chengdu, ChinaModels from the projects design process reveal how the building was, from the beginning, conceived as part of the hilly topography surrounding the lake. The design also draws from Chinese culture, Sichuans landscape and the sites agricultural history. As an American firm, what were the challenges of designing a highly contextual project from halfway around the world?As Antoine always said, our regionalism is portable. He began his design practice here in the High Desert of New Mexico. It is a harsh climate with a deep natural and cultural history. It is not possible to work here successfully without taking these aspects in to account. Antoine built his practice on the principal of listening that is listening to the land, to geologic and cultural history, to the dreams and desires of his clients, to the climate and any significant aspects of a project and site.We carefully consider and catalog all of these understandings before launching any design process. This practice allows us to design structures that resonate with landforms and people far from our home. Our design practice was built on a place, a region, but the they way of interfacing with a people and a place are applicable to a wide variety of projects. Therefore portable regionalism. Antoines desire to have a very specific understanding of each client, place and project explains the reason that no two Predock designs look the same. LUXELAKES The Water Theater by Antoine Predock Architect, Chengdu, ChinaThe building is massive, enclosing a total of 250,000 square feet, with volumes ranging from one floor to nine floors, with highly accessible roofs with pathways, plazas and areas of greenery open to the public. What were the challenges of taking such a complex design from concept to reality?The program for the new structure was more of a joy than a challenge. The clients encompassing vision for the new building gave us as designers so much to work with it was an embarrassment of riches from a designers point to view. As you may know, the initial design for the program and building was quite a bit bigger than the building you see today. One big challenge was a change to the infrastructure in the luxe lake region during the early construction process. The design had to be adapted to these new constraints during construction. Thanks to the efforts of the client, contractor and local team one is unable to see that the building was significantly changed at this late stage. LUXELAKES The Water Theater by Antoine Predock Architect, Chengdu, ChinaIn addition to its uniquely varied massing, the buildings warm materiality stands out. Which materials and building products are central to the project, and why were they chosen?The key material for the project is the bush hammered concrete. The color is derived directly from soil on the site. The hand bush hammering technique resulted in a beautifully variegated surface recalling natural sandstone formations around Luxe Lakes. Other important materials include the green roofs which blend the building into adjacent landforms. The cast bronze panels on the tower with their deep cultural resonance. And the polished stainless steel knife edges that soften the leading edge of the building and bring reflections of water and light into the structure.Which details in LUXELAKES The Water Theatre are you particularly proud of and why?The way the building embraces the lake and gently and informally terraces down to the water, creating pockets where guests can gather to chat, eat and experience the waterfront. The waterfront experience was always an important part of the design. But the actual experience is better than we could have imagined. LUXELAKES The Water Theater by Antoine Predock Architect, Chengdu, ChinaWhat has the public reaction to the project been like?We have gotten a lot of very positive feedback from clients and visitors. I often get emails and texts from other designers who are visiting Chengdu and come across the building. It is a building that photographs well, but the photographs do not do the building justice. You really need to experience the space to get the full impact. And I often hear that people have been blown away by a visit to the center.In the ten years since you took on this project, Chengdu has grown and changed as a city (as has the contemporary design landscape in China more broadly). How do you view this evolution in relation to your work on LUXELAKES The Water Theater?I havent been back to Chengdu in a few years but the last time I was at Luxe Lakes it was very rewarding to see the way the city had reached out to Luxe Lakes in the intervening years. It was also rewarding to see the way that Luxe Lakes has evolved and thrived with so many new and innovative structures on the waterfront. Chengdu, from my first visit, was an amazingly beautiful and engaging place and its been very rewarding to play a small part in the evolution of this important city. LUXELAKES The Water Theater by Antoine Predock Architect, Chengdu, ChinaFinally, the theme of the 13th Annual A+Awards celebrates the way that architects are mediating between the industrys global reach while responding to projects highly local needs. The landscape of New Mexico famously inspired the late Antoine Predock, but projects such as LUXELAKES The Water Theatre demonstrate his sensitivity to local context on a global scale. As your firm looks ahead, how do you plan to carry his legacy forward?During his lifetime, Antoine design process considered land, climate, energy, culture and time within architecture. He never intended that his process would create a static results but instead would inspire design experimentation rooted in site, climate and humanity. Antoine was always carful to acknowledge that we has humans only have a limited time and experience in the small band between earth and sky and that we need to use our time to make peoples lives richer. In honoring Antoines legacy we continue his experimental design practice focused on site and culturally specific design. For over a decade, Architizers A+Awards have been championing architectural excellence worldwide. This year, the program celebrates local innovation with global recognition. Click to enter before the Main Entry Deadline on Friday December 6th.The post Our Regionalism Is Portable: Antoine Predock Architects on Designing Contextually Across the Globe appeared first on Journal.