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Technology

AI is great at predicting text. How well can it guide robots?

Researchers at Stanford University are training robots to respond to simple tasks using AI. Moo Jin Kim/Stanford University hide caption

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Moo Jin Kim/Stanford University

Short Wave

AI is great at predicting text. How well can it guide robots?

It seems like artificial intelligence is everywhere in our virtual lives. It's in our search results and our phones. But what happens when AI moves out of the chat and into the real world? NPR science editor and correspondent Geoff Brumfiel took a trip to the Intelligence through Robotic Interaction at Scale Lab at Stanford University to see how scientists are using AI to power robots and the large hurdles that exist for them to perform even simple tasks.

AI is great at predicting text. How well can it guide robots?

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Am I a god?! Why "manifesting" your reality is easier than ever

Can you really manifest your own destiny? Getty Images hide caption

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Analysis

It's Been a Minute

Am I a god?! Why "manifesting" your reality is easier than ever

America is a deeply spiritual nation. Over 70% of us say that we feel spiritual in some way. But – at the same time – we're getting less religious. So for people who are spiritual-but-not-religious – what's replacing organized religion? What do they believe – and where does that show up in their day-to-day lives? In Brittany's series called Losing My Religion, It's Been a Minute is going to find out.

Am I a god?! Why "manifesting" your reality is easier than ever

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Gambling with Memes
Atsuko Sato

Up First from NPR

Gambling with Memes

What do Moo Deng the pygmy hippo, social media sensation Hawk Tuah, and the President of the United States all have in common? They've all inspired highly valuable, highly volatile memecoins. The memecoin began as a sort of joke cryptocurrency, but it soon became very real.

Gambling with Memes

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In this 2021 file photo, a worker with the Mason County Public Utility District in Washington state installs a hanger onto fiber-optic cable as it comes off of a spool.

In this 2021 file photo, a worker with the Mason County Public Utility District in Washington state installs a hanger onto fiber-optic cable as it comes off of a spool. Ted S. Warren/AP hide caption

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Ted S. Warren/AP

Business

Trump's changes to a $42 billion broadband program could be a win for Musk's Starlink

After years of planning, the Trump administration is overhauling a federal universal broadband initiative to open the door to Musk's Starlink satellite service.

MUSK'S STARLINK POISED FOR A BOOST

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Lasers shine as part of an advanced atomic clock at NIST. Precise measurements of the colors of light emitted by atoms is essential to everything from atomic clocks to medical devices.

Lasers shine as part of an advanced atomic clock at NIST. Precise measurements of the colors of light emitted by atoms are essential to everything from atomic clocks to medical devices. N. Phillips/NIST hide caption

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N. Phillips/NIST

Science

Trump cuts threaten a measurement lab critical for advanced chips and medical devices

The Atomic Spectroscopy Group provides standardized measurements used across wide swaths of science and industry. The Trump administration plans to cut it.

Atomic scientist layoffs

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In this photo, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, seated at a committee hearing, points to a large chart behind him that displays an enlarged text message from a group chat. A woman is holding up the chart, and Rep. Joaquin Castro is seated next to Krishnamoorthi.

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., (right), joined by Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, points to a chart displaying a text message by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a group chat that revealed U.S. military plans in Yemen to a journalist, at a House Intelligence Committee hearing Wednesday in Washington. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Politics

U.S. intel leaders are grilled again about the leaked Signal chat as more details emerge

The use of civilian software to discuss sensitive military and government matters came to light after a journalist from The Atlantic magazine said he was mistakenly added to a group chat on Signal.

In this photo, President Trump is seated at his desk in the Oval Office, and standing beside the desk is Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Both men are wearing suits and ties.

President Trump speaks alongside Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in the Oval Office on March 21. Days earlier, Hegseth shared details about overseas war plans in a group chat on Signal, an encrypted, open-source messaging app, according to The Atlantic. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images hide caption

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Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

National Security

'Heads are exploding': How security experts see the Signal war-plan breach

The breach left military and intelligence experts asking the same questions as the public: Why would top U.S. officials use a free messaging app to discuss classified military plans?

This 2018 image shows a 23andMe saliva collection kit used for DNA testing. The California-based company announced this week that it was going into bankruptcy.

This 2018 image shows a 23andMe saliva collection kit used for DNA testing. The California-based company announced this week that it was going into bankruptcy. Eric Baradat/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Eric Baradat/AFP/Getty Images

23andMe is filing for bankruptcy. Here's what it means for your genetic data

The California biotech firm said in a statement that it is hoping to find a buyer to address its ongoing financial struggles.

23andMe declares bankruptcy. What you need to know about your data

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Why tech bros worship psychedelics (and think you should too)

Why are tech bros and CEOs so into psychedelics? John Moore/Getty Images hide caption

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Analysis

It's Been a Minute

Why tech bros worship psychedelics (and think you should too)

America is a deeply spiritual nation. Over 70% of us say that we feel spiritual in some way. But – at the same time – we're getting less religious. So for people who are spiritual-but-not-religious – what's replacing organized religion? What do they believe – and where does that show up in their day-to-day lives? In our new series called Losing My Religion, It's Been a Minute is going to find out.

Why tech bros worship psychedelics (and think you should too)

Listen · 20:42
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Mark Graham, wearing glasses and a paisley shirt, stands in front of three large, blinking internet servers in Internet Archive.

Mark Graham stands in front of servers at the Internet Archive. Carolyn Fong for NPR hide caption

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Carolyn Fong for NPR

National

As the Trump administration purges web pages, this group is rushing to save them

The Trump administration's erasure of federal data has put the Internet Archive in the spotlight. The organization, with its small but mighty team, is working to help save the world's digital history.

Internet Archive tour

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State of the World from NPR

Building a Tech Industry in Syria From Scratch

Recently a few hundred people gathered at a Damascus hotel to discuss how to jump-start Syria's tech industry. That sector was basically non-existent during Syria's long civil war. Our correspondent attended the conference and met a young man who fled Syria during the civil war and now is a graduate student at Stanford. His journey illustrates both the possibilities and challenges that lie ahead for Syria.

Building a Tech Industry in Syria From Scratch

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'AI Valley' author worries there's 'so much power in the hands of few people'
Lionel Bonaventure/AFP via Getty Images

'AI Valley' author worries there's 'so much power in the hands of few people'

Author Gary Rivlin says regulation can help control how AI is used: "AI could be an amazing thing around health, medicine, scientific discoveries, education ... as long as we're deliberate about it."

'AI Valley' author worries there's 'so much power in the hands of few people'

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An illustration showing a person looking at themselves in a computer browser window as their reflection is becoming increasingly pixelated.

Across the federal government, agencies have been busy scrubbing photographic and written references about women, people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community from their websites. Tara Anand for NPR hide caption

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Tara Anand for NPR

Politics

Here are all the ways people are disappearing from government websites

Executive orders from President Trump have agencies across the government scrubbing websites of photos and references to transgender people, women and people of color.

Erasing Government Websites

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Moo Jin Kim sets up an AI-powered robot at Stanford University.

Moo Jin Kim sets up an AI-powered robot at Stanford University. Moo Jin Kim/Stanford University hide caption

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Moo Jin Kim/Stanford University

Science

ChatGPT can help write an essay. Scientists want it to start folding laundry

Artificial intelligence has revolutionized the virtual world. But reality bytes.

AI Robotics

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Protesters holding signs rally outside a Tesla store in Boston. One sign says "Stop Elon."

Protesters rally outside a Tesla store in Boston on March 1 against the company's CEO, Elon Musk, who is leading an effort to cut government jobs on behalf of President Trump. Rodrique Ngowi/AP hide caption

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Rodrique Ngowi/AP

A Tesla protester targeted by Elon Musk speaks out: 'I have to protect myself'

"When one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful person in the world is saying you've committed a crime, it doesn't matter what the truth is," says Valerie Costa, an anti-Tesla protester.

A Tesla protester targeted by Elon Musk speaks out: ‘I have to protect myself.’

Listen · 3:18
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Why 'Severance' is 'not that far off' from reality, according to one scientist

Adam Scott as Mark Scout in the series Severance, now streaming on Apple TV+. AppleTV+ hide caption

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AppleTV+

Short Wave

Why 'Severance' is 'not that far off' from reality, according to one scientist

What if we had the ultimate work-life balance? This fundamental question underlies the hit Apple TV+ show Severance – now in its second season. Ahead of the season 2 finale this Friday, producer Rachel Carlson sat down with the science consultant for the series, Dr. Vijay Agarwal. Vijay says the concept is "resoundingly" possible – and that scientists closer than we might think.

Why 'Severance' is 'not that far off' from reality, according to one scientist

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In this photo, cars in multiple lanes of traffic approach a toll plaza that has six lanes.

Motorists pass through a toll plaza near St. Petersburg, Florida. Bogus text messages threatening phone users with unpaid toll fees have spread rapidly — in part because scammers try to benefit from trends in travel and congestion pricing, an expert tells NPR. Sean Rayford/Getty Images hide caption

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Sean Rayford/Getty Images

National

(Don't) click here to pay your tolls: How you can stop spam texts

"Smishing" scams aim to compromise your data and pilfer money. And if you think the problem is getting worse, you're right.

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