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Technology

Uncovering and explaining how our digital world is changing — and changing us.

I pushed AI assistants to their limits. Here’s what really works.
Future Perfect

From image generation to writing, ranking the best — and worst — of AI.

By Kelsey Piper
I pushed AI assistants to their limits. Here’s what really works.
Future Perfect

From image generation to writing, ranking the best — and worst — of AI.

By Kelsey Piper
Future Perfect
Progressives should care that the global population is set to fallProgressives should care that the global population is set to fall
Future Perfect

Don’t let polarization distract you from one of the most important issues the world faces.

By Kelsey Piper
Future Perfect
Why humans are still much better than AI at forecasting the futureWhy humans are still much better than AI at forecasting the future
Future Perfect

AI is the future. It just can’t predict it.

By Dylan Matthews
Technology
The rise of artificial intelligence, explainedThe rise of artificial intelligence, explained
Technology

Understand how ChatGPT, Stable Diffusion, and DALL-E are transforming our world — from text and image generation to how we live and work.

By Shira Tarlo

The latest in Technology

Technology
Mark Zuckerberg’s surreal new AI app is the futureMark Zuckerberg’s surreal new AI app is the future
Technology

Like it or not, the billionaire gets to decide how half the world uses technology.

By Adam Clark Estes
Future Perfect
The future to fighting airborne viruses is in…lamps?The future to fighting airborne viruses is in…lamps?
Future Perfect

How to block the next Covid in mid-air.

By Dylan Matthews
Future Perfect
The life-or-death case for self-driving carsThe life-or-death case for self-driving cars
Future Perfect

Sorry, a robot is probably a safer driver than most humans.

By Bryan Walsh
Future Perfect
When AI tells you that you’re perfectWhen AI tells you that you’re perfect
Future Perfect

OpenAI released a model that tells users they’re right — no matter what. That’s more dangerous than it seems.

By Kelsey Piper
Future Perfect
OpenAI’s nonprofit structure was supposed to protect you. What went wrong?OpenAI’s nonprofit structure was supposed to protect you. What went wrong?
Future Perfect

How the company’s transition to for-profit will affect everyone.

By Kelsey Piper
Escape Velocity
The unexpected home upgrade that could save you thousandsThe unexpected home upgrade that could save you thousands
Escape Velocity

Why you need a battery-powered house.

By Adam Clark Estes
Climate
Let’s not panic about AI’s energy use just yetLet’s not panic about AI’s energy use just yet
Climate

Computing has a big energy appetite. What does that mean for our climate goals?

By Umair Irfan
Escape Velocity
The gas station of the future is not what you thinkThe gas station of the future is not what you think
Escape Velocity

America’s EV charging network is stronger than ever.

By Adam Clark Estes
Culture
Luigi Mangione and the long legacy of the Unabomber Manifesto Luigi Mangione and the long legacy of the Unabomber Manifesto 
Podcast
Culture

Ted Kaczynski’s apocalyptic vision still has a following, 30 years later.

By Hady Mawajdeh
Technology
Silicon Valley got Trump completely wrongSilicon Valley got Trump completely wrong
Technology

The tech right’s collapsing case for the Trump presidency.

By Eric Levitz
Technology
Google’s big problems, briefly explainedGoogle’s big problems, briefly explained
Technology

It looks like Big Tech’s reckoning is finally here.

By Adam Clark Estes
Technology
The everyday electronics that won’t survive Trump’s trade warThe everyday electronics that won’t survive Trump’s trade war
Technology

Say goodbye to your $30 toaster.

By Adam Clark Estes
Artificial Intelligence
The real argument artists should be making against AIThe real argument artists should be making against AI
Artificial Intelligence

AI companies are inflicting moral injury on artists.

By Sigal Samuel
Future Perfect
The Trump administration says cheap goods aren’t part of the American dream. They’re wrong.The Trump administration says cheap goods aren’t part of the American dream. They’re wrong.
Future Perfect

Everyone likes cheap consumer goods that will get more expensive under Trump’s tariffs.

By Kelsey Piper
Even Better
A surprisingly useful tool for this year’s tax seasonA surprisingly useful tool for this year’s tax season
Even Better

Doing your taxes is technical and boring. It’s perfect for AI chatbots.

By Adam Clark Estes
Future Perfect
The self-inflicted death of American science has already begunThe self-inflicted death of American science has already begun
Future Perfect

Trump’s crackdown on foreign students and scientists will do irreparable harm to the country.

By Bryan Walsh
The Gray Area
Will AI become God? That’s the wrong question.Will AI become God? That’s the wrong question.
Podcast
The Gray Area

Tech pioneer Jaron Lanier argues for a different way to think about AI.

By Sean Illing
Explain It to Me
Why are car headlights so blindingly bright now?Why are car headlights so blindingly bright now?
Podcast
Explain It to Me

Bright headlights can make it easier for drivers to see the road. But there’s a dark side.

By Hady Mawajdeh
Technology
A skeptic’s guide to quitting your smartphoneA skeptic’s guide to quitting your smartphone
Technology

I spent a week living with the new Light Phone. It wasn’t long enough.

By Adam Clark Estes
Politics
Elon Musk promised Wisconsin voters a $1 million reward. Is that legal?Elon Musk promised Wisconsin voters a $1 million reward. Is that legal?
Politics

Here’s what election law experts say.

By Nicole Narea
Technology
Your TV is watching youYour TV is watching you
Technology

Roku, Amazon, and practically every company in the streaming business are inventing new ways to make money off your data.

By Adam Clark Estes
Future Perfect
The rise of chatbot “friends”The rise of chatbot “friends”
Future Perfect

Wait, what is a friend anyway?

By Angela Chen
The rise of artificial intelligence, explained
The AI revolution is here. Can we build a Good Robot?The AI revolution is here. Can we build a Good Robot?
Podcast
The rise of artificial intelligence, explained

The battle over artificial intelligence is just beginning.

By Bryan Walsh
World Politics
Are Elon Musk’s China ties a national security risk?Are Elon Musk’s China ties a national security risk?
World Politics

His business empire needs the Chinese government — and that could warp American policy.

By Joshua Keating
Donald Trump
The case for conservatismThe case for conservatism
Donald Trump

“Move fast and break things” has no place in government.

By Ian Millhiser
Even Better
The surprising thing I learned from quitting SpotifyThe surprising thing I learned from quitting Spotify
Even Better

It took months of living without Spotify’s algorithm to realize I had trained it too well.

By Adam Clark Estes
Technology
The Elon Musk company you should be worried about right nowThe Elon Musk company you should be worried about right now
Technology

The Trump administration appears to be giving Starlink, a division of SpaceX, preferential treatment.

By Adam Clark Estes
Future Perfect
The Covid pandemic was catastrophic. But don’t overlook what went right.The Covid pandemic was catastrophic. But don’t overlook what went right.
Future Perfect

From mRNA vaccines to remote work, the technologies that blunted the worst of the pandemic.

By Bryan Walsh
Technology
The Facebook tell-all Mark Zuckerberg doesn’t want you to read, briefly explainedThe Facebook tell-all Mark Zuckerberg doesn’t want you to read, briefly explained
Technology

The Meta CEO’s commitment to free expression doesn’t apply to embarrassing memoirs.

By Adam Clark Estes
Future Perfect
China’s new AI agent Manus calls its own shotsChina’s new AI agent Manus calls its own shots
Future Perfect

But can the rest of us trust it?

By Kelsey Piper
How Donald Trump is remaking America
Trump and Musk have huge conflicts of interest. Who’s policing them?Trump and Musk have huge conflicts of interest. Who’s policing them?
How Donald Trump is remaking America

The White House shouldn’t be a place for people to go enrich themselves.

By Abdallah Fayyad
Future Perfect
AI is coming for the laptop classAI is coming for the laptop class
Future Perfect

Remote work has surged. Is it about to all be automated away?

By Dylan Matthews
Future Perfect
Humanity isn’t asteroid-proof yet. But we’re getting closer.Humanity isn’t asteroid-proof yet. But we’re getting closer.
Future Perfect

How a new asteroid showed Earth’s planetary defense system at work.

By Bryan Walsh
Future Perfect
Killing PEPFAR means killing millions of peopleKilling PEPFAR means killing millions of people
Future Perfect

All to save 0.08 percent of the budget.

By Kelsey Piper
Even Better
Screen time reports won’t help you put your phone down. Here’s what can.Screen time reports won’t help you put your phone down. Here’s what can.
Even Better

Why you should make your phone boring.

By Adam Clark Estes
Politics
Seven ways of looking at Elon MuskSeven ways of looking at Elon Musk
Politics

Vox staffers share what they’ve learned that helps them understand this chaotic, mercurial man.

By Vox Staff
Politics
Economic growth is slowing — so Trump wants to redefine “economic growth”Economic growth is slowing — so Trump wants to redefine “economic growth”
Politics

The White House is promising to manipulate economic data.

By Eric Levitz
Trump 2.0, explained
Elon Musk’s plans for mass government firings just hit a legal roadblockElon Musk’s plans for mass government firings just hit a legal roadblock
Trump 2.0, explained

Here’s what’s next for federal workers.

By Nicole Narea
Culture
The strange repulsion of Instagram ReelsThe strange repulsion of Instagram Reels
Culture

Did you just send me an Instagram Reel? Are you trying to kill me?

By Alex Abad-Santos
Future Perfect
The AI that apparently wants Elon Musk to dieThe AI that apparently wants Elon Musk to die
Future Perfect

X wanted Grok to tell it straight. They didn’t like the result.

By Kelsey Piper