This story originally appeared in The Algorithm, our weekly newsletter on AI. To get stories like this in your inbox first, sign up here. The start of a new year, and maybe especially this one, feels like a good time for a gut check: How optimistic are you feeling about the future of technology? Our annual list of 10 Breakthrough Technologies, published on Friday, might help you decide. Its the 24th time weve published such a list. But just like our earliest picks (2001s list featured brain-computer interfaces and ways to track copyrighted content on the internet, by the way), this years technologies may come to help society, harm it, or both. Artificial intelligence powers four of the breakthroughs featured on the list, and I expect your optimism about them will vary widely. Take generative AI search. Now becoming the norm on Google with its AI Overviews, it promises to help sort through the internets incomprehensible volume of information to offer better answers for the questions we ask. Along the way, it is upending the model of how content creators get paid, and positioning fallible AI as the arbiter of truth and facts. Read more here. Also making the list is the immense progress in the world of robots, which can now learn faster thanks to AI. This means we will soon have to wrestle with whether we will trust humanoid robots enough to welcome them into our most private spaces, and how we will feel if they are remotely controlled by human beings working abroad. The list also features lots of technologies outside the world of AI, which I implore you to read about if only for a reminder of just how much other scientific progress is being made. This year may see advances in studying dark matter with the largest digital camera ever made for astronomy, reducing emissions from cow burps, and preventing HIV with an injection just once every six months. We also detail how technologies that youve long heard aboutfrom robotaxis to stem cellsare finally making good on some of their promises. This year, the cultural gulf between techno-optimists and, well, everyone else is set to widen. The incoming administration will be perhaps the one most shaped by Silicon Valley in recent memory, thanks to Donald Trumps support from venture capitalists like Marc Andreessen (the author of the Techno-Optimist Manifesto) and his relationship, however recently fraught, with Elon Musk. Those figures have critiqued the Biden administrations approach to technology as slow, woke, and overly cautiousattitudes they have vowed to reverse. So as we begin a year of immense change, heres a small experiment Id encourage you to do. Think about your level of optimism for technology and whats driving it. Read our list of breakthroughs. Then see how youve shifted. I suspect that, like many people, youll find you dont fit neatly in the camp of either optimists or pessimists. Perhaps thats where the best progress will be made. Now read the rest of The Algorithm Deeper Learning The biggest AI flops of 2024 Though AI has remained in the spotlight this year (and even contributed to Nobel Prizewinning research in chemistry), it has not been without its failures. Take a look back over the years top AI failures, from chatbots dishing out illegal advice to dodgy AI-generated search results. Why it matters: These failures show that there are tons of unanswered questions about the technology, including who will moderate what it produces and how, whether were getting too trusting of the answers that chatbots produce, and what well do with the mountain of AI slop that is increasingly taking over the internet. Above all, they illustrate the many pitfalls of blindly shoving AI into every product we interact with. Bits and Bytes What it's like being a pedestrian in the world of Waymos Tech columnist Geoffrey Fowler finds that Waymo robotaxis regularly fail to stop for him at a crosswalk he uses every day. Though you can sometimes make eye contact with human drivers to gauge whether theyll stop, Waymos lack that social intelligence, Fowler writes. (The Washington Post) The AI Hype Index For each print issue, MIT Technology Review publishes an AI Hype Index, a highly subjective take on the latest buzz about AI. See where facial recognition, AI replicas of your personality, and more fall on the index. (MIT Technology Review) What's going on at the intersection of AI and spirituality Modern religious leaders are experimenting with A. just as earlier generations examined radio, television, and the internet. They include Rabbi Josh Fixler, who created Rabbi Bot, a chatbot trained on his old sermons. (The New York Times) Meta has appointed its most prominent Republican to lead its global policy team Just two weeks ahead of Donald Trumps inauguration, Meta has announced it will appoint Joel Kaplan, who was White House deputy chief of staff under George W. Bush, to the companys top policy role. Kaplan will replace Nick Clegg, who has led changes on content and elections policies. (Semafor) Apple has settled a privacy lawsuit against Siri The company has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging that Siri could be activated accidentally and then record private conversations without consent. The news comes after MIT Technology Review reported that Apple was looking into whether it could get rid of the need to use a trigger phrase like Hey Siri entirely. (The Washington Post)

MIT Technology Reviews Whats Next series looks across industries, trends, and technologies to give you a first look at the future. You can read the rest of them here. Every day, we are tracked hundreds or even thousands of times across the digital world. Cookies and web trackers capture every website link that we click, while code installed in mobile apps tracks every physical location that our devicesand, by extension, wehave visited. All of this is collected, packaged together with other details (compiled from public records, supermarket member programs, utility companies, and more), and used to create highly personalized profiles that are then shared or sold, often without our explicit knowledge or consent. A consensus is growing that Americans need better privacy protectionsand that the best way to deliver them would be for Congress to pass comprehensive federal privacy legislation. While the latest iteration of such a bill, the American Privacy Rights Act of 2024, gained more momentum than previously proposed laws, it became so watered down that it lost support from both Republicans and Democrats before it even came to a vote. There have been some privacy wins in the form of limits on what data brokersthird-party companies that buy and sell consumers personal information for targeted advertisements, messaging, and other purposescan do with geolocation data. These are still small steps, thoughand they are happening as increasingly pervasive and powerful technologies collect more data than ever. And at the same time, Washington is preparing for a new presidential administration that has attacked the press and other critics, promised to target immigrants for mass deportation, threatened to seek retribution against perceived enemies, and supported restrictive state abortion laws. This is not even to mention the increased collection of our biometric data, especially for facial recognition, and the normalization of its use in all kinds of ways. In this light, its no stretch to say our personal data has arguably never been more vulnerable, and the imperative for privacy has never felt more urgent. So what can Americans expect for their personal data in 2025? We spoke to privacy experts and advocates about (some of) whats on their mind regarding how our digital data might be traded or protected moving forward. Reining in a problematic industry In early December, the Federal Trade Commission announced separate settlement agreements with the data brokers Mobilewalla and Gravy Analytics (and its subsidiary Venntel). Finding that the companies had tracked and sold geolocation data from users at sensitive locations like churches, hospitals, and military installations without explicit consent, the FTC banned the companies from selling such data except in specific circumstances. This follows something of a busy year in regulation of data brokers, including multiple FTC enforcement actions against other companies for similar use and sale of geolocation data, as well as a proposed rule from the Justice Department that would prohibit the sale of bulk data to foreign entities. And on the same day that the FTC announced these settlements in December, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposed a new rule that would designate data brokers as consumer reporting agencies, which would trigger stringent reporting requirements and consumer privacy protections. The rule would prohibit the collection and sharing of peoples sensitive information, such as their salaries and Social Security numbers, without legitimate purposes. While the rule will still need to undergo a 90-day public comment period, and its unclear whether it will move forward under the Trump administration, if its finalized it has the power to fundamentally limit how data brokers do business. Right now, there just arent many limits on how these companies operatenor, for that matter, clear information on how many data brokerages even exist. Industry watchers estimate there may be 4,000 to 5,000 data brokers around the world, many of which weve never heard ofand whose names constantly shift. In California alone, the states 2024 Data Broker Registry lists 527 such businesses that have voluntarily registered there, nearly 90 of which also self-reported that they collect geolocation data. All this data is widely available for purchase by anyone who will pay. Marketers buy data to create highly targeted advertisements, and banks and insurance companies do the same to verify identity, prevent fraud, and conduct risk assessments. Law enforcement buys geolocation data to track peoples whereabouts without getting traditional search warrants. Foreign entities can also currently buy sensitive information on members of the military and other government officials. And on people-finder websites, basically anyone can pay for anyone elses contact details and personal history. Data brokers and their clients defend these transactions by saying that most of this data is anonymizedthough its questionable whether that can truly be done in the case of geolocation data. Besides, anonymous data can be easily reidentified, especially when its combined with other personal information. Digital-rights advocates have spent years sounding the alarm on this secretive industry, especially the ways in which it can harm already marginalized communities, though various types of data collection have sparked consternation across the political spectrum. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the Republican chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, for example, was concerned about how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention bought location data to evaluate the effectiveness of pandemic lockdowns. Then a study from last year showed how easy (and cheap) it was to buy sensitive data about members of the US military; Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat, called out the national security risks of data brokers in a statement to MIT Technology Review, and Senator John Cornyn, a Republican, later said he was shocked when he read about the practice in our story. But it was the 2022 Supreme Court decision ending the constitutional guarantee of legal abortion that spurred much of the federal action last year. Shortly after the Dobbs ruling, President Biden issued an executive order to protect access to reproductive health care; it included instructions for the FTC to take steps preventing information about visits to doctors offices or abortion clinics from being sold to law enforcement agencies or state prosecutors. The new enforcers With Donald Trump taking office in January, and Republicans taking control of both houses of Congress, the fate of the CFPBs proposed ruleand the CFPB itselfis uncertain. Republicans, the people behind Project 2025, and Elon Musk (who will lead the newly created advisory group known as the Department of Government Efficiency) have long been interested in seeing the bureau deleted, as Musk put it on X. That would take an act of Congress, making it unlikely, but there are other ways that the administration could severely curtail its powers. Trump is likely to fire the current director and install a Republican who could rescind existing CFPB rules and stop any proposed rules from moving forward. Meanwhile, the FTCs enforcement actions are only as good as the enforcers. FTC decisions do not set legal precedent in quite the same way that court cases do, says Ben Winters, a former Department of Justice official and the director of AI and privacy at the Consumer Federation of America, a network of organizations and agencies focused on consumer protection. Instead, they require consistent [and] additional enforcement to make the whole industry scared of not having an FTC enforcement action against them. (Its also worth noting that these FTC settlements are specifically focused on geolocation data, which is just one of the many types of sensitive data that we regularly give up in order to participate in the digital world.) Looking ahead, Tiffany Li, a professor at the University of San Francisco School of Law who focuses on AI and privacy law, is worried about a defanged FTC that she says would be less aggressive in taking action against companies. Lina Khan, the current FTC chair, has been the leader of privacy protection action in the US, notes Li, and shell soon be leaving. Andrew Ferguson, Trumps recently named pick to be the next FTC chair, has come out in strong opposition to data brokers: This type of datarecords of a persons precise physical locationsis inherently intrusive and revealing of peoples most private affairs, he wrote in a statement on the Mobilewalla decision, indicating that he is likely to continue action against them. (Ferguson has been serving as a commissioner on the FTC since April 20214.) On the other hand, he has spoken out against using FTC actions as an alternative to privacy legislation passed by Congress. And, of course, this brings us right back around to that other major roadblock: Congress has so far failed to pass such lawsand its unclear if the next Congress will either. Movement in the states Without federal legislative action, many US states are taking privacy matters into their own hands. In 2025, eight new state privacy laws will take effect, making a total of 25 around the country. A number of other stateslike Vermont and Massachusettsare considering passing their own privacy bills next year, and such laws could, in theory, force national legislation, says Woodrow Hartzog, a technology law scholar at Boston University School of Law. Right now, the statutes are all similar enough that the compliance cost is perhaps expensive but manageable, he explains. But if one state passed a law that was different enough from the others, a national law could be the only way to resolve the conflict. Additionally, four statesCalifornia, Texas, Vermont, and Oregonalready have specific laws regulating data brokers, including the requirement that they register with the state. Along with new laws, says Justin Brookman, the director of technology policy at Consumer Reports, comes the possibility that we can put some more teeth on these laws. Brookman points to Texas, where some of the most aggressive enforcement action at the state level has taken place under its Republican attorney general, Ken Paxton. Even before the states new consumer privacy bill went into effect in July, Paxton announced the creation of a special task force focused on enforcing the states privacy laws. He has since targeted a number of data brokersincluding National Public Data, which exposed millions of sensitive customer records in a data breach in August, as well as companies that sell to them, like Sirius XM. At the same time, though, Paxton has moved to enforce the states strict abortion laws in ways that threaten individual privacy. In December, he sued a New York doctor for sending abortion pills to a Texas woman through the mail. While the doctor is theoretically protected by New Yorks shield laws, which provide a safeguard from out-of-state prosecution, Paxtons aggressive action makes it even more crucial that states enshrine data privacy protections into their laws, says Albert Fox Cahn, the executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, an advocacy group. There is an urgent need for states, he says, to lock down our residents data, barring companies from collecting and sharing information in ways that can be weaponized against them by out-of-state prosecutors. Data collection in the name of security While privacy has become a bipartisan issue, Republicans, in particular, are interested in addressing data brokers in the context of national security, such as protecting the data of military members or other government officials, says Winters. But in his view, its the effects on reproductive rights and immigrants that are potentially the most dangerous threats to privacy. Indeed, data brokers (including Venntel, the Gravy Analytics subsidiary named in the recent FTC settlement) have sold cell-phone data to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as well as to Customs and Border Protection. That data has then been used to track individuals for deportation proceedingsallowing the agencies to bypass local and state sanctuary laws that ban local law enforcement from sharing information for immigration enforcement. The more data that corporations collect, the more data thats available to governments for surveillance, warns Ashley Gorski, a senior attorney who works on national security and privacy at the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU is among a number of organizations that have been pushing for the passage of another federal law related to privacy: the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act. It would close the so-called data-broker loophole that allows law enforcement and intelligence agencies to buy personal information from data brokers without a search warrant. The bill would dramatically limit the ability of the government to buy Americans private data, Gorski says. It was first introduced in 2021 and passed the House in April 2024, with the support of 123 Republicans and 93 Democrats, before stalling in the Senate. While Gorski is hopeful that the bill will move forward in the next Congress, others are less sanguine about these prospectsand alarmed about other ways that the incoming administration might co-opt private systems for surveillance purposes, as Hartzog puts it. So much of our personal information that is collected for one purpose, he says, could easily be used by the government to track us. This is especially concerning, adds Winters, given that the next administration has been very explicit about wanting to use every tool at its disposal to carry out policies like mass deportations and to exact revenge on perceived enemies. And one possible change, he says, is as simple as loosening the governments procurement processes to make them more open to emerging technologies, which may have fewer privacy protections. Right now, its annoying to procure anything as a federal agency, he says, but he expects a more fast and loose use of commercial tools. Thats something we've [already] seen a lot, he adds, pointing to federal, state, and local agencies using the Clearviews of the worlda reference to the controversial facial recognition company. The AI wild card Underlying all of these debates on potential legislation is the fact that technology companiesespecially AI companiescontinue to require reams and reams of data, including personal data, to train their machine-learning models. And theyre quickly running out of it. This is something of a wild card in any predictions about personal data. Ideally, says Jennifer King, a privacy and data policy fellow at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, the shortage would lead to ways for consumers to directly benefit, perhaps financially, from the value of their own data. But its more likely that there will be more industry resistance against some of the proposed comprehensive federal privacy legislation bills, she says. Companies benefit from the status quo. The hunt for more and more data may also push companies to change their own privacy policies, says Whitney Merrill, a former FTC official who works on data privacy at Asana. Speaking in a personal capacity, she says that companies have felt the squeeze in the tech recession that were in, with the high interest rates, and that under those circumstances, weve seen people turn around, change their policies, and try to monetize their data in an AI worldeven if its at the expense of user privacy. She points to the $60-million-per-year deal that Reddit struck last year to license its content to Google to help train the companys AI. Earlier this year, the FTC warned companies that it would be unfair and deceptive to surreptitiously change their privacy policies to allow for the use of user data to train AI. But again, whether or not officials follow up on this depends on those in charge. So what will privacy look like in 2025? While the recent FTC settlements and the CFPBs proposed rule represent important steps forward in privacy protectionat least when it comes to geolocation dataAmericans personal information still remains widely available and vulnerable. Rebecca Williams, a senior strategist at the ACLU for privacy and data governance, argues that all of us, as individuals and communities, should take it upon ourselves to do more to protect ourselves and resist by opting out of as much data collection as possible. That means checking privacy settings on accounts and apps, and using encrypted messaging services. Cahn, meanwhile, says hell be striving to protect [his] local community, working to enact safeguards to ensure that we live up to our principles and stated commitments. One example of such safeguards is a proposed New York City ordinance that would ban the sharing of any location data originating from within the city limits. Hartzog says that kind of local activism has already been effective in pushing for city bans on facial recognition. Privacy rights are at risk, but theyre not gone, and its not helpful to take an overly pessimistic look right now, says Li, the USF law professor. We definitely still have privacy rights, and the more that we continue to fight for these rights, the more were going to be able to protect our rights.

Amanda Driscoll, 26, is a mom of two living in Florida.She was inspired to prepare for her second child with a "nesting party" after seeing a TikTok about one.Family and friends helped with tasks like putting together a crib and making freezer meals.This as-told-to essay is based on an interview with Amanda Driscoll. It has been edited for length and clarity.I didn't originally plan to have a nesting party. I held a typical baby shower in June of last year with 30 of my family and friends. I have a huge family, and they're really fun to hang out with. Then, a month later, I saw a TikTok about a nesting party, where people help you clean your house and set up the nursery, and I was super inspired. By that point, I was already 38 weeks pregnant, and it had just dawned on me that I still had so much to do to prepare for the new baby.I already had a toddler and was still working as a pet sitter for my mom's pet-sitting business at the time. I decided that having a nesting party would relieve me of organizing all those tasks I'd whirling around in my head.When I gave birth to my first son in 2021, my sister-in-law, mom, and godmother helped me assemble furniture and fold the baby clothes, but it wasn't as involved as a nesting party.I started by sending a group text to my closest friends to say, "Hey, I'm having a nesting party." I admit I was nervous to ask them to come and help me, but I needn't have worried. All my friends said yes.I looked to TikTok for advice on throwing my nesting partyA nesting party feels so much more intimate than a baby shower. I invited five of my closest friends, my mom, and my godmother. At a baby shower, there are usually more people and activities. My nesting party was smaller, and I spent more one-on-one time with everyone.I took tips from TikTok on what to do during my nesting party. I started by making a list of the tasks I needed help with in my notes app. The tasks were separated into rooms on the checklist, and I shared the list with my friends so they could choose which task they wanted to do before they arrived. It was a shared list, so they could check off tasks when they'd finished them to avoid miscommunication.When my friends arrived at my house, we socialized first. My mom brought a rotisserie chicken and some sides for everyone to eat, and I bought wine and soft drinks. My husband Christian took our toddler to the park to keep him occupied for about 90 minutes, then when they got back, he started cooking meals we could put in the freezer. My friends also brought postpartum meals with them. One friend brought a stir-fry, another a lasagna, and one of my friends, who says she's not a cook, gave me a restaurant gift card, which was lovely.My friends and family helped me get crucial tasks done before I had my babyOne friend washed and sterilized the baby bottles, another put up the crib, and another folded the baby clothes I received at the baby shower and put them in the drawers of the new changing table. They also placed a caddy in the nursery filled with wipes and diapers, snacks, and supplements. One task that was a huge help was when my friend got my car cleaned and then installed the infant car seat for me. As I live in Florida and had a summer pregnancy, I was dreading doing this in the heat.While there were more people in the house than usual, it wasn't stressful at all, because I knew they were there to help me. My friends stayed until everything was done, for over three hours.Though I had both, a nesting party would be a perfect substitute for a baby shower, if you have to choose one. I don't know what I would have done without all that help. From that moment until after I'd given birth, I was able to relax. Going into my postpartum period, I didn't have to worry as I knew that everything was clean, and I didn't have to worry about where things were as every item had been stored neatly and was within my reach.Being pregnant can feel really isolating. I urge mothers to reach out to friends or family because they want to be a part of these important times. If you don't live close to your family or friends, I'd recommend contacting mom groups on Facebook to see if other moms would be willing to come to your nesting party. Community in parenting is important, and it's never too early to get started building one.

Elon MuskThe world's richest man, Elon Musk, leads various tech companies with government contracts. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Trump's pick for: Co-leader of the Department of Government Efficiency Background: Elon Musk is the world's richest person and the founder of several major companies, including SpaceX, Tesla, Neuralink, and xAI.Musk, who spent at least $277 million supporting Trumpand the Republican Party during the 2024 cycle, has said his super PAC will remain active in the midterms. In the months since the election, Musk has remainedclose to Trump's sideand waded into political issues beyond his capacity as the DOGE co-head, like congressional budget negotiations. Vivek RamaswamyRamaswamy founded an anti-woke investment firm. AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File Trump's pick for: Co-leader of the Department of Government EfficiencyBackground: Vivek Ramaswamy founded the pharmaceutical company Roivant Sciences and Strive Asset Management, an investment fund supported by conservative tech billionaire Peter Thiel. Though he ran for the Republican presidential nomination, Ramaswamy will join Musk in overseeing DOGE. Ramaswamy has said that he expects "certain agencies to be deleted outright."Musk has said he wants to slash some $2 trillion from the federal budget, and the DOGE co-heads outlined their cost-cutting agenda in a lengthy opinion piece. Federal outlays hit $6.75 trillion in 2024, so the proposed cuts could run up against mandatory spending for entitlement programs such as Medicare and Social Security. Ramaswamy and Musk have criticized overregulation and the size of the federal workforce in particular. JD VanceVance worked at VC firms before launching his own in 2019. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Trump's pick for: Vice PresidentBackground: Before rising in Republican politics, JD Vance worked in Silicon Valley, including at Peter Thiel's venture capital firm, Mithril Capital. He eventually started his own VC firm in 2019, Narya Capital, whose early backers included Thiel and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen. According to his vice president and senate disclosure forms, Vance still has a stake in Narya Capital Fund I, Narya Capital Fund II, and Rise of the Rest Seed Fund. David SacksDavid Sacks is a member of the PayPal Mafia. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/Getty Images Trump's pick for: White House AI and crypto czarBackground: The venture capitalist and former PayPal COO founded the enterprise social networking platform Yammer, acquired by Microsoft for $1.2 billion in 2012. He now works at the VC firm Craft, which he co-founded in 2017. Sacks was also an angel investor in companies such as SpaceX, Uber, and Palantir. As a member of the "PayPal Mafia," Sacks has worked with other tech titans like Musk and Thiel. The "All-In" podcaster will develop a framework for digital currency as the chair of Trump's Presidential Council of Advisers for Digital Assets. Scott KuporScott Kupor has spent years working for Andreessen Horowitz. Andreessen Horowitz Trump's pick for: Director of the Office of Personnel ManagementBackground: Scott Kupor is a partner at the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz and was one of the company's first employees. Kupor has said he looks for "egomaniacal" founders. He managed a16z's growth from $300 million in assets under management to more than $40 billion, according to the firm's website. Before joining a16z, Kupor worked in various capacities at Hewlett-Packard, the software company Opsware, and in M&A at Credit Suisse First Boston and Lehman Brothers, according to a16z's website. Sriram KrishnanSriram Krishnan was a general partner at VC powerhouse Andreessen Horowitz. YouTube Trump's pick for: Senior policy advisor for artificial intelligence at the White House Office of Science and Technology PolicyBackground: Most recently, Sriram Krishnan was a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz. Before joining a16z, he ran product and engineering groups at X, Meta, and Snap, according to a16z's website. The firm said he began his career at Microsoft as a founding member of Windows Azure. Krishnan was a16z's main contact with Twitter after Musk bought it in 2022, and he interviewed the Tesla CEO on a pandemic-era audio show.Trump wrote on X that Krishnan would work closely with David Sacks to focus on "ensuring continued American leadership" in AI and help coordinate government policy about the technology. Ken HoweryKen Howery (left) co-founded PayPal. Jemal Countess/Getty Images Trump's pick for: US ambassador to the Kingdom of DenmarkBackground: A cofounder of PayPal and Founders Fund, Ken Howery was the US ambassador to Sweden under the first Trump administration. In announcing Howery's appointment, Trump wrote on Truth Social that for "purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity."Trump proposed the same idea in 2019 which the island and Denmark rejected. Greenland is an autonomous dependent territory of Denmark, a member of NATO, and a US ally. Jacob HelbergJacob Helberg is a senior advisor to Palantir's CEO. Christian Oth Trump's pick for: Undersecretary forBackground: Jacob Helberg is a senior advisor to Palantir CEO Alex Karp. Palantir, a data mining company co-founded by Thiel, has several government contracts and counts the US federal government as one of its biggest clients. Helberg is a member of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. He has propelled the effort toban TikTokin the US and is also the author of "The Wires of War: Technology and the Global Struggle for Power." Michael KratsiosThe managing director at a tech startup, Kratsios also served as Trump's Chief Technology Officer. Web Summit/YouTube Trump's pick for: Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology PolicyBackground: Michael Kratsios is a managing director at Scale AI.Politico.Trump wrote on X that Kratsios will work closely with Sacks and also serve as an assistant to the president for science and technology. He also said that Kratsios had received a Distinguished Public Service Medal from the Defense Department. Emil MichaelEmil Michael has invested in or advised multiple startups. Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers/YouTube Trump's pick for: Undersecretary of Defense for research and engineeringBackground: Emil Michael was the chief business officer at Uber and COO of Klout, a now-defunct social media company that ranked users' online social influence. Previously he served as special assistant to the Secretary of Defense. He built several companies during his career, the first being Tellme Networks in 1999, according to his website. Microsoft acquired Tellme Networks in 2007. Michael has invested in or advised various companies, including Stripe.While at Uber, Michael led the company's work in China and built its Uber for Business unit, according to his bio. Lynne ParkerLynne Parker previously served as Trump's deputy Chief Technology Officer. Keegan Barber/The White House via Associated Press Trump's pick for: Executive director of the Presidential Council of Advisors for Science and TechnologyBackground: Parker previously served as Trump's deputy Chief Technology Officer and was the founding director of the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Office. She has served as associate vice chancellor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and as director of the AI Tennessee Initiative, according to the university's website. UT credited her with leading development of several "landmark" national AI polices, including some concerning federal use of the technology. Paul AtkinsTrump tapped Paul Atkins to lead the SEC. AP Photo/ Evan Vucci, File Trump's pick for: Chairman of the Securities and Exchange CommissionBackground: Paul Atkins, a vocal crypto supporter, is the founder and CEO of risk management consultancy Patomak Global Partners and has been the co-chair of the Digital Chamber's Token Alliance, an industry group, since 2017. He served as an SEC commissioner under President George W. Bush.Trump wrote on Truth Social that Atkins "recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before." If confirmed, Atkins will replace the current chair of SEC, Gary Gensler, who has drawn the ire of much of the crypto industry over his regulatory efforts. Jared IsaacmanJared Isaacman has commanded space missions for Musk's company SpaceX. Eugene Gologursky/Getty Trump's pick for: Administrator of NASABackground: The billionaire SpaceX astronaut founded Shift4 Payments, a payment processing firm. His nomination comes only months after he completed the first commercial spacewalk. Isaacman, who dropped out of high school and started two companies, has commanded several space missions for Musk's SpaceX.He flew twice to space in SpaceX's Crew Dragon for flights he commissioned, funded, and commanded, as BI previously reported. Jim O'NeillJim O'Neill is the former CEO of the Thiel Foundation. Drew Angerer/Getty Images Trump's pick for: Deputy Secretary for the Department of Health and Human ServicesBackground: Jim O'Neill is a Silicon Valley investor who served as acting CEO of the Thiel Foundation, helping to found the organization's fellowship. In 2012, he worked with Thiel to launch Mithril Capital Management, the VC fund that eventually hired Vance, and worked there until 2019. He was briefly the CEO of the health organization SENS Research Foundation and sits on the board of ADvantage Therapeutics, which focuses on therapies for neurodegenerative conditions. Gail SlaterGail Slater has worked for various tech companies. MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images Trump's pick for: Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division at the Department of JusticeBackground: A known tech advisor, Slater has worked for various tech companies, including as a lawyer at the Internet Association, a defunct lobbying group representing companies including Google, Facebook, and Amazon. She also worked at the streaming platform Roku.

Stella Shon experienced burn-like wounds all over her body from an allergic reaction to medication.One insurance provider paid almost $900K for the ICU. Her follow-up claims have been rejected.Shon has paid over $20,000 out of pocket for related medical expenses since her hospitalization.Editor's note: Business Insider has verified all medical expenses and payments mentioned in this article.I'll never forget the day I opened my UnitedHealthcare app and saw nearly $900,000 in hospital charges.In August 2022, what started as flu-like symptoms rapidly escalated into a life-threatening emergency, and I was diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), a rare and severe allergic reaction to medication.After taking over-the-counter pain relievers and antibiotics, a rash spread across my body, and I was rushed to the ER with burn-like wounds, requiring immediate intubation in the burn ICU.Discharge day nearly a month later was a turning point in my life not because I'd survived the ICU, but because the battle was far from over.Longterm complications come with a costOver 26 harrowing days in the hospital, I suffered blindness and developed raw wounds from my head to my torso. Just as my condition began to improve, I developed sepsis. Ironically, the treatment included a monthlong course of IV antibiotics the same type of medication that likely triggered this nightmare.In the first year of my illness, I attended over 50 follow-up appointments with specialists in ophthalmology, dermatology, gynecology, and infectious diseases and received a deluge of medical bills.Overall, I was extremely fortunate that UHC fully covered the $885,855 cost of my hospital stay, except for my $5,100 out-of-pocket maximum. However, my ICU stay was only the beginning of the costs I would face in managing the long-term complications of the disease.Prior to this incident, I had a flawless medical record. In the two years since I left the ICU, I've spent an average of $8,500 each year on health insurance, $11,000 on lenses to protect my damaged corneas, around $1,400 on prescription eye drops, $3,000 on glaucoma surgery, and more than $5,000 on follow-up appointments with various specialists.$17,000$11,000$1,400$3,000$5,000I've realized the cost of ongoing medical appointments and necessary treatments will become a lifelong financial burden.My eyes were permanently damagedTwo weeks into my ICU stay, which happened to be my 24th birthday, I was taken off of a ventilator. I vividly recall the first time I tried to open my eyes and had to shut them immediately due to unbearable, searing pain. The condition left permanent scars on my corneas and meibomian glands, which are responsible for tear production. As my vision gradually returned a miracle in itself, given that many SJS survivors lose their sight permanently my doctor delivered a sobering prognosis: the damage to my eyes was permanent, with little hope for improvement. Shon's SJS diagnosis led to permanent scars on her face and upper torso and damage to her corneas. Courtesy of Stella Shon I refused to give up on my eyesight. Fortunately, my cornea specialist referred me to an optometrist who offered a glimmer of hope: scleral lenses. Unlike regular contact lenses, these dome-shaped lenses are filled with saline, creating a protective fluid layer over the eye. This design helps treat corneal and ocular surface conditions like SJS and costs $11,000 for both eyes.In addition to the initial cost for the lenses, there were ongoing expenses to consider. Supplies, such as preservative-free saline and cleaning solutions, became a monthly cost of around $100 in my budget.Insurance providers denied coverage for my treatmentThe next hurdle? UnitedHealthcare did not consider these lenses to be a medically necessary emergency and denied coverage. If I wanted a chance at reclaiming my life, I had to shoulder the entire cost upfront.I called customer service many times to appeal my claim, with documented proof from my optometrist and the cornea specialists who treated me, saying I needed these scleral lenses. Weeks passed, and I remained in pain. I felt my only choice was to pay for the full cost of the lenses while continuing to fight my insurance ultimately without success.It's not just a UnitedHealthcare issue, though.DeniedDeniedDeniedDeniedDeniedMy friends created a GoFundMe to help me cover living and medical expensesI'm deeply grateful for the support of my best friends, who stood by my side every day in the ICU and started a GoFundMe while I was intubated. This fund became a crucial lifeline, covering my out-of-pocket maximum and the cost of the life-altering scleral lenses that now allow me to live a relatively normal life.The financial strain was unimaginable and extended far beyond medical bills rent payments, along with other living expenses, continued to pile upI spent a few months on long-term disability leave before leaving my corporate job by the end of the year. At the beginning of 2023, I shifted to a freelance writing and editing career instead, which afforded me greater flexibility to attend follow-up appointments and address my long-term needs. The main drawback, however, was losing employer-sponsored health insurance.I'm self-employed now, and it's clear the healthcare system needs to changeMy experience raised the question of whether coverage denials are specific toI'm now a self-employed writer and no longer have employer-sponsored insurance through UnitedHealthcare. Over the past few years, I've been covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and now the University of Utah Health Plans through the Affordable Care Act, which comes with substantial out-of-pocket costs. And I've continued to face coverage denials for a variety of reasons. For example, my autologous serum eye drops derived from my own blood and providing significant relief for my dry eyes aren't covered by insurance because they lack FDA approval and are labeled "experimental." I pay $660 for a three-month supply. Shon has lasting scars all over her torso from SJS. Courtesy of Stells Shon While most of the scars have faded with time, many are still visible on my face and upper body. Earlier this year, I underwent a series of laser treatments at the dermatologist, each costing me $250. These claims were denied by my new plan highlighting that this issue isn't unique to one insurer.After my experience, I understand why so much anger and frustration toward healthcare companies has bubbled up online since the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. It was a shocking crime, but the conversations it has raised have helped me process the desperation and powerlessness I've felt in my two-year struggle to appeal my claims.I recognize how fortunate I am to have regained my vision and avoided financial debt from my ICU stay. However, one thing is abundantly clear: meaningful changes to the healthcare system are long overdue.Business Insider reached out to UnitedHealthcare for comment and did not receive a response at the time of publishing.

Cross Works Unveils Masterplan for New Tashkent Expansion in UzbekistanSave this picture! Cross WorksCross Works just unveiled the plans for New Tashkent, a large-scale expansion of Uzbekistan's capital, Tashkent. The project covers 25,000 hectares to the east of the existing city, located between the Chirchiq and Karasu Rivers. Designed to accommodate an estimated 2.5 million people in the coming decades, the development aims to address population growth in a sustainable manner. The initiative follows an international design competition held in early 2023, which was won by London-based design and technology firm Cross Works. Following their selection, the firm has taken the lead on masterplanning, digital twin development, and coordination of a multidisciplinary team.Save this picture!The first phase of the project, covering about 6,000 hectares, focuses on District 1, which constitutes the majority of the initial development. Preliminary site work has started, and design processes are advancing toward construction documentation. The concept of New Tashkent involves developing neighborhoods or "mahallas" to establish mixed-use communities. The plan includes local community facilities within walking distances of homes, aiming to reduce reliance on private vehicles and encourage more sustainable transport modes. Additionally, 20% of the city's area is allocated to green spaces, and a network of canals fed by nearby mountain ranges will contribute to the city's water system and public spaces.Cross Works has also developed a digital twin for the project: a data-driven, dynamic replica of the masterplan hosted on an online platform. This tool allows real-time updates, aiding in project management and collaboration among designers, stakeholders, and eventually the public. In fact, the digital twin includes urban analyses, design guidelines, virtual walk-throughs, and geolocated 3D renderings. Related Article Zaha Hadid Architects Reveals Design for New Scientific Research Centre in Tashkent, Uzbekistan Save this picture!Alongside masterplanning, Cross Works is involved in designing specific plots within the project. This work is carried out in collaboration with local and international architecture firms to establish a unified architectural identity that supports diverse functions and designs. The New Tashkent project aims to balance population growth with environmental and urban sustainability. Furthermore, it focuses on accessible community resources, open spaces, and integrated infrastructure to meet the needs of residents and visitors while supporting a reduced environmental footprint. Save this picture!In other similar news, Dubai has just unveiled an ambitious initiative aimed at enhancing pedestrian mobility in the city and promoting sustainable urban development. Additionally, Foster + Partners have revealed their proposal for the Bilaj Al Jazayer Beach master plan, a new development aiming to introduce a new touristic destination along Bahrain's southwest coast. Finally, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and GAD have been chosen to design the Hangzhou Science and Technology Innovation Central Business District (CBD) in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, China. Image gallerySee allShow lessAbout this authorNour FakharanyAuthorCite: Nour Fakharany. "Cross Works Unveils Masterplan for New Tashkent Expansion in Uzbekistan" 07 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025409/cross-works-unveils-masterplan-for-new-tashkent-expansion-in-uzbekistan&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Heritage in Syria: Independent Groups Documenting the Countrys Historic ArchitectureSave this picture!Deir Ez-Zor Heritage Library team on site. Image Courtesy of Deir Ez-Zor Heritage LibraryIt is common for states to have legislation and institutions that protect their built heritage. It is also common for there to be gaps in the laws themselves or their implementation while certain circumstances may place a country's heritage under specific vulnerabilities. Thus, alongside state institutions, there are locally based architects and researchers establishing independent initiatives to document and conserve aspects of their built heritage. Syria is one example of a place with an extensive history of monuments and buildings of interest as well as active groups of independent conservators.Deir Ez-Zor Heritage Library (DZHL) is a voluntary initiative focused on the built cultural heritage of the city and province of Deir Ez-Zor in eastern Syria. The project was founded by Lamis Bakjaji, a native of Deir Ez-Zor, in collaboration with Bahaa Abdallah. Both founders are architects and conservators who volunteer their expertise to safeguard heritage damaged during the armed conflict in the region. The primary goal of DZHL is to establish an accessible digital heritage library, comprising an archive of architectural data to support potential rebuilding efforts in the city. The initiative began in 2018, operating initially through social media platforms and without external funding.Save this picture!Deir Ez-Zor is a historic city whose cultural importance is less widely recognized compared to other Syrian cities in the west. According to Bahaa Abdallah, the city boasts numerous Ottoman-era buildings and architectural landmarks from the French Mandate period in the early twentieth century. However, extensive destruction during the war displaced most of its residents, leaving historic structures increasingly susceptible to neglect and environmental damage. The 2023 earthquake that struck northern Syria and southern Turkey exacerbated the deterioration of these buildings. Related Article Somali Architecture Students Digitally Preserve Their Country's HeritageBefore It's Too Late Specializing in heritage documentation and photogrammetry, Bahaa Abdallah joined DZHL after meeting Lamis Bakjaji in Damascus. Another architect, Hazem al-Khleaf, also works with them on 3D documentation. Following the partial stabilization of the situation in Deir Ez-Zor, the team secured permits to conduct fieldwork in the city. However, the fragile security conditions and limited access to specialized equipment necessitated the use of mobile phones and laptops for documentation. Advances in software and proficiency in photography and videography allowed the team to achieve detailed results. Some structures documented during these surveys sustained further damage afterward, underscoring the critical importance of these records.Save this picture!Save this picture!The team's work encompassed surveys of various building types, including residential structures, religious monuments, and the woodworking market, as well as an extensive study of the Main Street. In addition to architectural documentation, the initiative engaged with the local community to research intangible heritage, collecting oral histories and other cultural narratives from city residents.Another independently initiated group is the Archive of Modern Architecture in Syria (AMASyria). Whilst DZHL focuses on a specific location heavily affected by conflict, AMASyria's area of study is modern architecture, which sits outside of governmental heritage protection processes. According to its website, it "is an initiative to research, document, and share the Syrian architectural experience of the 20th century and discuss it within its historical context as part of the broader cultural landscape in the region and the world while highlighting its intersection with political, economic, and artistic spheres." Part of the initiative's goal is also to contextualize modern Syrian architecture within global discourse.Save this picture!Save this picture!AMASyria was founded by architects Ahmad Salah and Mirma Alwareh as a personal initiative. Its presence was originally on social media, where positive feedback encouraged the founders to continue developing their research. In 2020, the founders had access to the drawings archive of acclaimed architect Nizar Al-Farra as well as the archives of the magazine of the Engineers Association, which triggered their work in digitization. Grants were obtained to help with this and the team expanded to digitize the work of multiple architects as well as public competition entries. The founders noted that some documentation was found in archives abroad, hence the importance of a digital repository that makes these documents available in one place.Save this picture!The archive, which is an ongoing project, includes notable Modernist projects such as the Center for Marine Research in Latakia by architect Bourhan Tayara of the firm Arab Engineers and Architects. It includes architectural documents and drawings, old and recent photographs, competition booklets, sketches, official project descriptions, and oral histories as told by architects or their families and acquaintances.Save this picture!Other groups undertaking conservation and documentation work in Syria include Turathuna Foundation, based in the city of Homs. Established by architect Lama Abboud, it works within disaster risk management where it aims to raise awareness, preserve, rescue, and revive Syrian Cultural Heritage. Its teams have helped restore and preserve several historic buildings in the city, known for its distinctive dark stone. Another is Rafekatuna, based in the city of Raqqa. Like Deir Ez-Zor, the city suffered considerable damage during ISIL/Daesh rule and the battles that ensued. Projects under Rafekatuna included the protection and restoration of several buildings, documentation, and a digital museum. All these initiatives illustrate the resilience of individuals. With their architecture and built heritage facing vulnerabilities due to war, natural disasters, or neglect, they have organized voluntarily and with limited resources.Image gallerySee allShow lessAbout this authorCite: Mohieldin Gamal. "Heritage in Syria: Independent Groups Documenting the Countrys Historic Architecture" 07 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025348/heritage-in-syria-independent-groups-documenting-the-countrys-historic-architecture&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Discussing adaptive reuse involves exploring multiple fields of action and disciplines, interpreting opposing perspectives and opinions from various stakeholders, and even sparking the reactivation or revitalization of certain spaces in favor of communities. In recent years, notable projects have emerged, such as the conversion of factories and industrial warehouses, as well as the transformation of industrial structures into modern offices. Adaptive reuse of existing buildings has continued to evolve and expand globally throughout 2024, aiming to improve the quality of life for residents while also contributing to environmental sustainability.

NewsHealth & MedicineAI boosts breast cancer detection in nationwide screening study in GermanyThe results show AI could streamline the screening process AI rivals doctors ability to interpret mammograms, a real-world study with nearly 500,000 participants in Germany suggests.Tom Werner/Getty ImagesBy McKenzie Prillaman17 seconds agoBreast cancer detection could get a boost from artificial intelligence.When AI helped examine mammograms, doctors caught one more cancer case per 1,000 screened individuals compared with when they didnt use the technology, researchers report January 7 in Nature Medicine. The largest real-world study on AIs potential for breast cancer screening, which included nearly 500,000 women in Germany, suggests that the software could streamline the screening process without affecting the rate of false alarms.AI in mammography screening is at least as good as a human reader, and our study shows its even better, says cancer epidemiologist Alexander Katalinic of the University of Lbeck in Germany.

Nature, Published online: 07 January 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00018-1Researchers: concentrate on bread-and-butter issues to get political buy-in