The Download: The Pentagon’s new AI plans, and next-gen nuclear reactors

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. The Pentagon is planning for AI companies to train on classified data, defense official says  The Pentagon plans to set up secure environments for generative AI companies to train military-specific versions of their…

18 March 2026

What do new nuclear reactors mean for waste?

MIT Technology Review Explains: Let our writers untangle the complex, messy world of technology to help you understand what’s coming next. You can read more from the series here. The way the world currently deals with nuclear waste is as creative as it is varied: Drown it in water pools, encase it in steel, bury…

18 March 2026

The Pentagon is planning for AI companies to train on classified data, defense official says

The Pentagon is discussing plans to set up secure environments for generative AI companies to train military-specific versions of their models on classified data, MIT Technology Review has learned.  AI models like Anthropic’s Claude are already used to answer questions in classified settings; applications include analyzing targets in Iran. But allowing models to train on…

17 March 2026

The Download: OpenAI’s US military deal, and Grok’s CSAM lawsuit

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. Where OpenAI’s technology could show up in Iran  OpenAI has controversially agreed to give the Pentagon access to its AI. But where exactly could its tech show up, and which applications…

17 March 2026

Where OpenAI’s technology could show up in Iran

This story originally appeared in The Algorithm, our weekly newsletter on AI. To get stories like this in your inbox first, sign up here. It’s been just over two weeks since OpenAI reached a controversial agreement to allow the Pentagon to use its AI in classified environments. There are still pressing questions about what exactly OpenAI’s…

16 March 2026

Nurturing agentic AI beyond the toddler stage

Parents of young children face a lot of fears about developmental milestones, from infancy through adulthood. The number of months it takes a baby to learn to talk or walk is often used as a benchmark for wellness, or an indicator of additional tests needed to properly diagnose a potential health condition. A parent rejoices…

16 March 2026

The Download: glass chips and “AI-free” logos

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. Future AI chips could be built on glass  Human-made glass is thousands of years old. But it’s now poised to find its way into the AI chips used in the world’s newest and…

16 March 2026

Why physical AI is becoming manufacturing’s next advantage

For decades, manufacturers have pursued automation to drive efficiency, reduce costs, and stabilize operations. That approach delivered meaningful gains, but it is no longer enough. Today’s manufacturing leaders face a different challenge: how to grow amid labor constraints, rising complexity, and increasing pressure to innovate faster without sacrificing safety, quality, or trust. The next phase…

13 March 2026

The Download: how AI is used for military targeting, and the Pentagon’s war on Claude

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. Defense official reveals how AI chatbots could be used for targeting decisions  The US military might use generative AI systems to rank targets and recommend which to strike first, according to a Defense Department…

13 March 2026