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

Artificial intelligence isn’t a good argument for basic income
Future Perfect

A major study backed by OpenAI’s Sam Altman shows unconditional cash has benefits that have nothing to do with AI.

By Oshan Jarow
Artificial intelligence isn’t a good argument for basic income
Future Perfect

A major study backed by OpenAI’s Sam Altman shows unconditional cash has benefits that have nothing to do with AI.

By Oshan Jarow
Will AI ever become conscious? It depends on how you think about biology.Will AI ever become conscious? It depends on how you think about biology.
Future Perfect

The debate that will steer the future of consciousness — and us.

By Oshan Jarow
The perils of using payment apps as your bank accountThe perils of using payment apps as your bank account
Technology

Yes, you can use an app as your checking account — but there are risks.

By Adam Clark Estes
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

Elon Musk and the age of shameless oligarchyElon Musk and the age of shameless oligarchy
Money

We’ve never seen a political donor this loud, proud, and culturally influential.

By Whizy Kim
Why Elon Musk can never balance the budget, in one chartWhy Elon Musk can never balance the budget, in one chart
PolicyMember Exclusive

Elon Musk wants to slash trillions in “waste.” Good luck, buddy!

By Dylan Matthews
You deserve a better browser than Google ChromeYou deserve a better browser than Google Chrome
Technology

The government’s effort to break up Google will take years. Why not ditch Chrome now?

By Adam Clark Estes
There’s never been a better time to buy a used phoneThere’s never been a better time to buy a used phone
Technology

Buying refurbished devices saves you money — and helps the planet.

By Adam Clark Estes
Shannon Vallor says AI does present an existential risk — but not the one you think
Future Perfect

AI is not a “stochastic parrot,” It’s a mirror, says the philosopher.

By Sigal Samuel
Project 2025 is penetrating the Trump administration alreadyProject 2025 is penetrating the Trump administration already
Trump 2.0, explained

Trump shunned Project 2025. He’s picking its authors for Cabinet positions anyway.

By Nicole Narea
Bluesky brings the fun, weird vibes of old Twitter back to lifeBluesky brings the fun, weird vibes of old Twitter back to life
Technology

As more users flee X, a clearer, sunnier social media age is dawning.

By Adam Clark Estes and Aja Romano
What to buy before Trump makes everything more expensiveWhat to buy before Trump makes everything more expensive
Trump 2.0, explainedMember Exclusive

Tariffs and rebate cuts are coming for your favorite gadgets and appliances.

By Adam Clark Estes
Trump tapped Musk to co-lead the “Department of Government Efficiency.” What the heck is that?Trump tapped Musk to co-lead the “Department of Government Efficiency.” What the heck is that?
Trump 2.0, explained

The new presidential commission sounds like a joke. It isn’t.

By Abdallah Fayyad
How to bring a dead nuclear power plant back to lifeHow to bring a dead nuclear power plant back to life
ClimateMember Exclusive

Tech companies need more energy. They’re about to do something unprecedented.

By Umair Irfan
Trump’s techno-libertarian dream team goes to WashingtonTrump’s techno-libertarian dream team goes to Washington
Trump 2.0, explained

Silicon Valley didn’t shift right. It just wants to be left alone.

By Adam Clark Estes
You may never need to remember another passwordYou may never need to remember another password
TechnologyMember Exclusive

Thanks to passkeys, a world without passwords is in sight.

By Adam Clark Estes
AI is powerful, dangerous, and controversial. What will Donald Trump do with it?AI is powerful, dangerous, and controversial. What will Donald Trump do with it?
Trump 2.0, explained

Why the future of artificial intelligence shouldn’t become a partisan issue.

By Kelsey Piper
We’re all living inside Elon Musk’s misinformation machine nowWe’re all living inside Elon Musk’s misinformation machine now
Technology

As Musk gains even more power, X gains more influence.

By Adam Clark Estes
Elon Musk says he’s giving away $1 million a day to voters. Is that legal?Elon Musk says he’s giving away $1 million a day to voters. Is that legal?
Politics

Musk’s “lottery” is only available in swing states and seems meant to appeal to potential Trump voters.

By Ellen Ioanes
Why the Pentagon just can’t quit Elon MuskWhy the Pentagon just can’t quit Elon Musk
Defense & SecurityMember Exclusive

How Musk’s SpaceX became too big to fail for US national security.

By Joshua Keating
Were Bad Bunny and Ricky Martin really shadow banned by Instagram and X? Were Bad Bunny and Ricky Martin really shadow banned by Instagram and X? 
Culture

What social media shadow ban rumors tell us about election anxiety.

By Aja Romano
Elon Musk assures voters that Trump’s victory would deliver “temporary hardship”Elon Musk assures voters that Trump’s victory would deliver “temporary hardship”
Trump 2.0, explained

And he’s half right.

By Eric Levitz
Should you feel guilty about using AI?Should you feel guilty about using AI?
Technology

Your AI-powered iPhone comes with a questionable carbon footprint.

By Adam Clark Estes
Inside OpenAI’s multibillion-dollar gambit to become a for-profit companyInside OpenAI’s multibillion-dollar gambit to become a for-profit company
Future Perfect

OpenAI’s transition isn’t what you think. The stakes are tens of billions of dollars — and the future of AI.

By Kelsey Piper
Elon Musk is Trump’s biggest booster — and patron. Why?Elon Musk is Trump’s biggest booster — and patron. Why?
2024 ElectionsMember Exclusive

The tech billionaire’s political ambitions, explained

By Lavanya Ramanathan and Whizy Kim
The surprising source of kids’ stress lurking on parents’ phonesThe surprising source of kids’ stress lurking on parents’ phones
Life

Grade-tracking apps are giving kids anxiety.

By Anna North
How progress creates its own obstaclesHow progress creates its own obstacles
Future Perfect

The world really is getting better. So why don’t people believe it?

By Bryan Walsh
There’s something off about this year’s “fall vibes”There’s something off about this year’s “fall vibes”
CultureMember Exclusive

Autumn is being eaten by a deluge of AI slop.

By Rebecca Jennings
Sick of AI hype? I have some bad news.Sick of AI hype? I have some bad news.
Future Perfect

AI is here to stay and the Nobels know it.

By Kelsey Piper
Why is everyone wearing the Oura Ring?Why is everyone wearing the Oura Ring?
TechnologyMember Exclusive

The wearable device looks great but, unfortunately, it won’t solve all of your health problems.

By Adam Clark Estes
Toxic lies are surging in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and MiltonToxic lies are surging in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

Donald Trump and Elon Musk are two of the biggest misinformation superspreaders.

By Miles Bryan and Sean Rameswaram
Are humans the only ones that can be creative?Are humans the only ones that can be creative?
Audio
The Gray Area

Essayist and author Meghan O’Gieblyn on the meaning of art in the age of artificial intelligence.

By Sean Illing
The shady origins of the climate haven mythThe shady origins of the climate haven myth
Climate

How the media, city mayors, and the real estate industry filled us with false hope.

By Adam Clark Estes
Your iPhone is probably a satellite phone. Here’s how it could help you.Your iPhone is probably a satellite phone. Here’s how it could help you.
TechnologyMember Exclusive

Cell towers in space are more capable than ever of helping people on the ground.

By Adam Clark Estes
Your phones and computers rely on this remote mine in North Carolina. Helene just drowned it.Your phones and computers rely on this remote mine in North Carolina. Helene just drowned it.
ClimateMember Exclusive

Hurricane Helene exposed the vulnerable underbelly of the global chip industry.

By Adam Clark Estes
How zapping the brain can supercharge meditationHow zapping the brain can supercharge meditation
Future Perfect

New brain stimulation techniques could help scientists understand how meditation changes the mind.

By Oshan Jarow
In the new Miami, the old office culture reignsIn the new Miami, the old office culture reigns
Audio
Future of Work

How a tech and finance boom brought workers back to the office. It might just be the future of work for all of us.

By Jolie Myers
These remote workers moved to Portugal for work-life balance. Is their life as fun as it looks?These remote workers moved to Portugal for work-life balance. Is their life as fun as it looks?
Future of WorkMember Exclusive

For the Portuguese, the answer is complicated.

By Victoria Chamberlin
California’s governor has vetoed a historic AI safety billCalifornia’s governor has vetoed a historic AI safety bill
Future Perfect

SB 1047 would have been a landmark in AI safety. Gavin Newsom’s veto is a major setback in the fight against AI risk

By Sigal Samuel, Kelsey Piper and 1 more
Yuval Noah Harari on whether democracy and AI can coexistYuval Noah Harari on whether democracy and AI can coexist
Audio
The Gray Area

“If humans are so smart, why are we so stupid?”

By Sean Illing
OpenAI as we knew it is deadOpenAI as we knew it is dead
Future Perfect

The maker of ChatGPT promised to share its profits with the public. But Sam Altman just sold you out.

By Sigal Samuel
The cultural power of the anti-woke tech broThe cultural power of the anti-woke tech bro
The present — and future — of the American right

The aesthetic of Cybertrucks, energy drinks, and MMA, explained.

By Rebecca Jennings
New York’s governor wants to “liberate” kids — by taking their phonesNew York’s governor wants to “liberate” kids — by taking their phones
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul spoke to Today, Explained co-host Sean Rameswaram about her plan.

By Miles Bryan
What it means that new AIs can “reason”What it means that new AIs can “reason”
Future Perfect

OpenAI’s new ChatGPT is better than ever — and more dangerous.

By Kelsey Piper