This is todays edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of whats going on in the world of technology.There are more than 120 AI bills in Congress right nowMore than 120 bills related to regulating artificial intelligence are currently floating around the US Congress. This flood of bills is indicative of the desperation Congress feels to keep up with the rapid pace of technological improvements.Because of the way Congress works, the majority of these bills will never make it into law. But simply taking a look at them all can give us insight into policymakers current preoccupations: where they think the dangers are, what each party is focusing on, and more broadly, what vision the US is pursuing when it comes to AI and how it should be regulated.Thats why, with help from the Brennan Center for Justice, weve created a tracker with all the AI bills circulating in various committees in Congress right now, to see if theres anything we can learn from this legislative smorgasbord. Read the full story.Scott J MulliganHeres what I made of Snaps new augmented-reality SpectaclesSnap has announced a new version of its Spectacles: AR glasses that could finally deliver on the promises that devices like Magic Leap, or HoloLens, or even Google Glass, made many years ago.Our editor-in-chief Mat Honan got to try them out a couple of weeks ago. He found they packed a pretty impressive punch layering visual information and applications directly on their see-through lenses, making objects appear as if they are in the real worldif you dont mind looking a little goofy, that is. Read Mats full thoughts here.Google is funding an AI-powered satellite constellation that will spot wildfires fasterWhats happening: Early next year, Google and its partners plan to launch the first in a series of satellites that together would provide close-up, frequently refreshed images of wildfires around the world, offering data that could help firefighters battle blazes more rapidly, effectively, and safely.Why it matters: The images and analysis will be provided free to fire agencies around the world, helping to improve understanding of where fires are, where theyre moving, and how hot theyre burning. The information could help agencies stamp out small fires before they turn into raging infernos, place limited firefighting resources where theyll do the most good, and evacuate people along the safest paths. Read the full story.James TempleThe must-readsIve combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.1 California has passed three election deepfake lawsBut only one will take effect in time for the presidential election in November. (NYT $)+ The bills also protect actors from AI impersonation without their consent. (WP $)2 How did thousands of Hezbollah pagers explode simultaneously?The devices were probably intercepted by hackers during shipment. (WSJ $)+ Heres everything we know about the attack so far. (Vox)+ Small lithium batteries alone dont tend to cause this much damage. (404 Media)+ Exploding comms devices are nothing new. (FT $)3 Instagram has introduced new accounts specifically for teensIn response to increasing pressure over Metas minor protection policies. (BBC)+ Parents will be given greater control over their activities. (The Guardian)+ Heres how to set up the new restricted accounts. (WP $)4 Google has won its bid to overturn a 1.5 billion fine from the EUBut the court said it stands by the majority of the previous findings. (CNBC)+ But the ruling can still be appealed in the Court of Justice. (Bloomberg $)+ Meanwhile, Metas antitrust woes are escalating. (FT $)5 SpaceX has been accused of breaking launch rulesAnd the US Federal Aviation Administration wants to slap it with a hefty fine. (WP $)6 Electric cars now outnumber petrol cars in NorwayIts particularly impressive given the countrys history as an oil producer. (The Guardian)+ Why full EVs, not hybrids, are the future. (Economist $)+ Three frequently asked questions about EVs, answered. (MIT Technology Review)7 Our understanding of the universe is still up in the airWhat looked like a breakthrough in physics actually might not be at all. (New Scientist $)+ Why is the universe so complex and beautiful? (MIT Technology Review)8 Techs middle managers are having a tough timeTheyre losing their jobs left, right and center. (Insider $)9 YouTube astrology is booming in PakistanAmid economic and political turmoil, Pakistanis are seeking answers in the stars. (Rest of World)10 Not everything bad is AI-generatedBut whats AI-generated is often bad. (NY Mag $)Quote of the dayId rather go back to school than work in an office again.CJ Felli, a system development engineer for Amazon Web Services, is not happy about the companys back-to-the-office directive, Quartz reports.The big storyWhats next for the worlds fastest supercomputersSeptember 2023When the Frontier supercomputer came online last year, it marked the dawn of so-called exascale computing, with machines that can execute an exaflopor a quintillion (1018) floating point operations a second.Since then, scientists have geared up to make more of these blazingly fast computers: several exascale machines are due to come online in the US and Europe in 2024.But speed itself isnt the endgame. Researchers hope to pursue previously unanswerable questions about natureand to design new technologies in areas from transportation to medicine. Read the full story.Sophia ChenWe can still have nice thingsA place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or tweet em at me.)+ These Ocean Photographer of the Year winning images are simply stunning ($)+ Heres where youll have the best chance of finding a fossilized shark tooth in the US.+ Vans are back in style, as if they ever went out of it.+ Potatoes are great every which way, but heres how long to boil them for that perfect al dente bite.