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. How this grassroots effort could make AI voices more diverse We are on the cusp of a voice AI boom, as tech companies roll out the next generation of artificial-intelligence-powered assistants. But the default voices for these assistants are often white AmericanBritish, if youre luckyand most definitely speak English. And if youre one of the billions of people who dont speak English, bad luck: These tools dont sound nearly as good in other languages. This is because the data that has gone into training these models is limited. In AI research, most data used to train models is extracted from the English-language internet, which reflects Anglo-American culture. But there is a massive grassroots effort underway to change this status quo and bring more transparency and diversity to what AI sounds like. Read the full story. Melissa Heikkil Azalea: a science-fiction story Fancy something fiction to read this weekend? If you enjoy Sci-Fi, check out this story written by Paolo Bacigalupi, featured in the latest edition of our print magazine. It imagines a future shaped by climate changeread it for yourself here. The must-reads Ive combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Cruise has admitted to falsifying a crash report The report failed to mention that its robotaxi dragged a pedestrian after striking her. (San Francisco Chronicle)+ The firm has been fined $500,000 to resolve the criminal charges. (WP $)2 The US plans to investigate Microsofts cloud business As the Biden administration prepares to hand over power to Donald Trumps team. (FT $)3 Silicon Valley hates regulation. So does Trump. AI and energy ventures could be the first to prosper under lighter-touch governance. (WP $)+ Peter Thiel claims the tech industry is fed up with wokeness. (Insider $)4 Elon Musks cost-cutting team will be working 80+ hours a week And youll need to subscribe to X to apply. (WSJ $)+ As if that wasnt appealing enough, the positions are also unpaid. (NBC News)+ The lucky workers can expect a whole lot of meetings. (Bloomberg $)5 The trolls are in charge now And its increasingly unclear whats a joke and whats an actual threat. (The Atlantic $)+ Its possible, but not guaranteed, that Trumps more controversial cabinet picks will be defeated in the Senate. (New Yorker $)6 How to keep abortion plans private in the age of TrumpReproductive rights are under threat. Heres how to protect them. (The Markup) 7 The first mechanical Qubit is here And mechanical quantum computers could be the first to benefit. (IEEE Spectrum)+ Quantum computing is taking on its biggest challenge: noise. (MIT Technology Review) 8 Can Bluesky recapture the old Twitters magic?No algorithms, no interfering billionaires. (Vox) + More than one million new users joined the platform earlier this week. (TechCrunch)9 Weight-loss drugs could help to treat chronic pain And could present a safer alternative to opioids. (New Scientist $)+ Weight-loss injections have taken over the internet. But what does this mean for people IRL? (MIT Technology Review)10 These are the most expensive photographs ever taken The first human-taken pictures from space are truly awe-inspiring. (The Guardian)Quote of the day It feels like its a platform for and by real people. US politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tells the Washington Post about the appeal of Bluesky as users join the social network after abandoning X. The big story How environmental DNA is giving scientists a new way to understand our world February 2024 Environmental DNA is a relatively inexpensive, widespread, potentially automated way to observe the diversity and distribution of life.Unlike previous techniques, which could identify DNA from, say, a single organism, the method also collects the swirling cloud of other genetic material that surrounds it. It can serve as a surveillance tool, offering researchers a means of detecting the seemingly undetectable.By sampling eDNA, or mixtures of genetic material in water, soil, ice cores, cotton swabs, or practically any environment imaginable, even thin air, it is now possible to search for a specific organism or assemble a snapshot of all the organisms in a given place.It offers a thrilling and potentially chilling way to collect information about organisms, including humans, as they go about their everyday business. Read the full story.Peter Andrey Smith 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 tweet 'em at me.) + Smells like punk spirit. + If youve been feeling creaky lately (and who hasnt), give these mobility exercises a go.+ Talk about a glow upthese beautiful locations really do emanate light.+ Its the truly chilling collab we never knew we needed: Bon Jovi has joined forces with Mr Worldwide himself, Pitbull.