Technology

The Internet Could Be So Good. Really.

Today’s social platforms are designed for spectacle and entertainment—but it’s not too late to build a platform that improves society.

America Is About to See Way More Driverless Cars

Robotaxis are now picking up riders in L.A. and Houston—and facing a whole new set of challenges.

How Starbucks Perfected Autumn

The pumpkin spice latte has defined fall for 20 years.

Online Betting Has Gone Off the Deep End

What are the odds this story wins a Pulitzer?

Computers Are Learning to Smell

AI could revolutionize our understanding of one of the most mysterious human senses.

This War Shows Just How Broken Social Media Has Become

The global town square is in ruins.

Should You Delete Your Kid’s TikTok This Week?

Hostage videos could present a horrific new dilemma for parents.

The New AI Panic

Washington and Beijing have been locked in a conflict over AI development. Now a new battle line is being drawn.

Your Sweaters Are Garbage

The quality of knitwear has cratered. Even expensive sweaters have lost their hefty, lush glory.

We Finally Have Proof That the Internet Is Worse

High-profile lawsuits against Google and Amazon have revealed Silicon Valley’s vise grip on our lives.

How a Social Network Fails

Elon Musk and Linda Yaccarino are making the same mistake that has tanked other social networks.

A Robot’s Nightmare Is a Burrito Full of Guac

Chipotle’s new machine can make a burrito bowl—and not much else.

AI’s Present Matters More Than Its Imagined Future

Let’s not spend too much time daydreaming.

Artists Are Losing the War Against AI

OpenAI has introduced a tool for artists to keep their images from training future AI programs. It may not make a difference.

The Supreme Court Cases That Could Redefine the Internet

What does freedom of speech actually mean on social media? We’re about to find out.

A Scientific Feud Breaks Out Into the Open

I’m a pseudoscience? No, you’re a pseudoscience!

The 24-Year-Old Who Outsold Oprah This Week

The Shadow Work Journal has exploded on TikTok as an inexpensive mental-health tool, even as experts question its approach—and the author’s credentials.

The Best Thing About Amazon Was Never Going to Last

If shopping on the site feels different now, that’s because it is.

My Books Were Used to Train Meta’s Generative AI. Good.

It can have my next one too.

A New Coca-Cola Flavor at the End of the World

Y3000, the latest Coke flavor, was purportedly made with the assistance of AI. What does it taste like?