This is today's edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. Chinas electric vehicle giants are betting big on humanoid robots As the electric-vehicle war in China calms down, leaving a few established players to dominate the field, Chinese EV giants are expanding into humanoid robotics. The shift is driven by financial necessity, but also by the advantages these companies command in the new sector: strong existing supply chains and years of experience building cutting-edge tech. The Chinese government is starting to promote and subsidize the transition, too. Its becoming clear that China is now committed to becoming a global leader in robotics and automation, just as it did with EVs.Read the full story. Caiwei Chen A woman made her AI voice clone say arse. Then she got banned. Jessica Hamzelou Over the past couple of weeks, Ive been speaking to people whose voices have been recreated with AI. Both Joyce Esser, who lives in the UK, and Jules Rodriguez, who lives in Miami, Florida, have forms of motor neuron diseasea class of progressive disorders that result in the gradual loss of the ability to move and control muscles, and eventually even speak. Now, thanks to an AI tool built by ElevenLabs, they can speak in their old voices by typing sentences into devices, selecting letters by hand or eye gaze. Its been an amazing experience for both of them. But speaking through a device has limitations. Its slow, and it doesnt sound completely natural. And, strangely, users might be limited in what theyre allowed to say.Read the full story. This story is from The Checkup, our weekly newsletter all about health and biotech.Sign upto receive it in your inbox every Thursday. MIT Technology Review Narrated: Why AI could eat quantum computings lunch Rapid advances in applying artificial intelligence to physics and chemistry have some people questioning whether we will even need quantum computers at all. Could we, in fact, use AI to solve a substantial chunk of the most interesting problems in science before large-scale quantum computers become a reality? This is our latest story to be turned into a MIT Technology Review Narrated podcast, which we're publishing each week on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Just navigate to MIT Technology Review Narrated on either platform, and follow us to get all our new content as it's released. The must-reads Ive combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 The US Senate confirmed Robert F Kennedy JR as health secretary What happens now? (The Atlantic$)+Heres how scientists are reacting.(Scientific American$)+All the evidence suggests that bird flu is spreading undetected in the US. (Ars Technica) 2 Were trying to get AI to run before it can walk AI agents arent really ready yet. But the logic of competition means theyre being unleashed anyway. (Vox$)+A lot of people will try using AI agents for the first time this year.(IEEE Spectrum)+Anthropics chief scientist on 4 ways agents will be even better in 2025.(MIT Technology Review)3 TikTok is back on Apple and Google app stores in the USAfter a nearly month-long standoff since a law banning the app took effect. (NPR)4 Anthropic is getting ready to release a new AI model Its using a different approach to others, combining the ability to reason and execute simpler tasks in one go. (The Information$)+Why OpenAIs reasoning model is such a big deal.(MIT Technology Review)5 The DOGE website has been defacedBecause, rather than using government servers, it pulls from an insecure database that anyone can edit. (The Verge)+The DOGE team is heading to NASA next.(Business Insider$)+DOGE staffers might need a crash course in COBOL.(Fast Company)6 Its only a matter of time until theres a Starlink catastropheScientists warn were not doing enough to mitigate collisions or environmental issues. (CNET)+Bolivians are illegally smuggling in Starlink.(Rest of World)+How Antarcticas history of isolation is endingthanks to Starlink. (MIT Technology Review)7 Apple is mysteriously teasing a new productWell find out what it is next Wednesday. (Engadget)8 You can no longer review the Gulf of America on Google MapsApparently Google cant handle even a tiny bit of criticism. (BBC)9 How a computer that 'drunk dials' videos is exposing YouTube's secretsIts 20 years old, and used by over a third of the world, but we know remarkably little about it. (BBC Future)10 Generate some AI music for your lover this Valentines Day No skills needed. (The Conversation$)Quote of the day I want you to shush your mouth. One of many bonkers things Elon Musks 4-year-old child named X A-Xii seems to have said to President Trump during their appearance in the Oval Office this week,Gizmodoreports. The big story Welcome to Chula Vista, where police drones respond to 911 calls DON BARTLETTI/LOS ANGELES TIMES VIA GETTY IMAGES February 2023 In the skies above Chula Vista, California, where the police department runs a drone program, its not uncommon to see an unmanned aerial vehicle darting across the sky. Chula Vista is one of a dozen departments in the US that operate what are called drone-as-first-responder programs, where drones are dispatched by pilots, who are listening to live 911 calls, and often arrive first at the scenes of accidents, emergencies, and crimes, cameras in tow. But many argue that police forces adoption of drones is happening too quickly, without a well-informed public debate around privacy regulations, tactics, and limits. Theres also little evidence that drone policing reduces crime.Read the full story. Patrick Sisson 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 skeet 'em at me.)+ Listen up, lovebirds: the way to anyones heart isthrough their stomach. + All You Need is Love and, if youre also a big Beatles fan, you also need to watch thisfascinating lecture.+ The White Lotuss third season drops on Sunday!Read this interview with its creator.+ This beautiful freevideo gamebrings an ancient Armenian folk tale to life.