Microsoft says AI can create “zero day” threats in biology

A team at Microsoft says it used artificial intelligence to discover a “zero day” vulnerability in the biosecurity systems used to prevent the misuse of DNA. These screening systems are designed to stop people from purchasing genetic sequences that could be used to create deadly toxins or pathogens. But now researchers led by Microsoft’s chief…

2 October 2025

The Download: RIP EV tax credits, and OpenAI’s new valuation

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. EV tax credits are dead in the US. Now what? Federal EV tax credits in the US officially came to an end yesterday. Those credits, expanded and extended in the 2022 Inflation Reduction…

2 October 2025

EV tax credits are dead in the US. Now what?

On Wednesday, federal EV tax credits in the US officially came to an end. Those credits, expanded and extended in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, gave drivers up to $7,500 in credits toward the purchase of a new electric vehicle. They’ve been a major force in cutting the up-front costs of EVs, pushing more people…

2 October 2025

Turning migration into modernization

In late 2023, a long-trusted virtualization staple became the biggest open question on the enterprise IT roadmap. Amid concerns of VMware licensing changes and steeper support costs, analysts noticed an exodus mentality. Forrester predicted that one in five large VMware customers would begin moving away from the platform in 2024. A subsequent Gartner community poll…

2 October 2025

Roundtables: Trump’s Impact on the Next Generation of Innovators

Every year, MIT Technology Review recognizes dozens of young researchers on our Innovators Under 35 list. We checked back in with recent honorees to see how they’re faring amid sweeping changes to science and technology policy within the US. Learn about the complex realities of what life has been like for those aiming to build their labs…

1 October 2025

Unlocking AI’s full potential requires operational excellence

Talk of AI is inescapable. It’s often the main topic of discussion at board and executive meetings, at corporate retreats, and in the media. A record 58% of S&P 500 companies mentioned AI in their second-quarter earnings calls, according to Goldman Sachs. But it’s difficult to walk the talk. Just 5% of generative AI pilots…

1 October 2025

The Download: OpenAI’s caste bias problem, and how AI videos are made

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. OpenAI is huge in India. Its models are steeped in caste bias. Caste bias is rampant in OpenAI’s products, including ChatGPT, according to an MIT Technology Review investigation. Though CEO Sam Altman boasted…

1 October 2025

OpenAI is huge in India. Its models are steeped in caste bias.

When Dhiraj Singha began applying for postdoctoral sociology fellowships in Bengaluru, India, in March, he wanted to make sure the English in his application was pitch-perfect. So he turned to ChatGPT. He was surprised to see that in addition to smoothing out his language, it changed his identity—swapping out his surname for “Sharma,” which is…

1 October 2025

Designing CPUs for next-generation supercomputing

In Seattle, a meteorologist analyzes dynamic atmospheric models to predict the next major storm system. In Stuttgart, an automotive engineer examines crash-test simulations for vehicle safety certification. And in Singapore, a financial analyst simulates portfolio stress tests to hedge against global economic shocks.  Each of these professionals—and the consumers, commuters, and investors who depend on their insights— relies on a…

30 September 2025

Powering HPC with next-generation CPUs

For all the excitement around GPUs—the workhorses of today’s AI revolution—the central processing unit (CPU) remains the backbone of high-performance computing (HPC). CPUs still handle 80% to 90% of HPC workloads globally, powering everything from climate modeling to semiconductor design. Far from being eclipsed, they’re evolving in ways that make them more competitive, flexible, and…

30 September 2025