The Download: a battery pivot to AI, and rewriting math

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.

Why this battery company is pivoting to AI

Qichao Hudoesn'tmince words about the state of the battery industry. Almost everyWestern battery company has either died or is going to die.It'skind of thereality," he says.

Hu is the CEO of SES AI, a Massachusetts-based battery company. It previously developed advanced lithium batteries for majorindustries, butis now shifting to AI materials discovery.Read our story to find out why.

-Casey Crownhart

This startup wants to change how mathematicians do math

Axiom Math, a California startup, has released a free AI tool with a big ambition: discovering mathematical patterns that could unlock solutions to long-standing problems.

Most of the successes with AI tools have involved finding solutions to existing problems. Butthat'snot all they could do. There are lots of problems in math that requirenew ideasnobody has ever had, which could come from spotting patterns that have never been spotted before.

Axiom Math's new tool aims to find these hidden links.Read the full story to discover their plans-and how AI in general could change mathematics.

-Will Douglas Heaven

Arehigh gas prices good news for EVs?It'scomplicated.

As the conflict in Iran has escalated, fossil-fuel prices have been on a roller-coaster-and some EV owners are celebrating.

They believe the volatility will create an opportunity for electric vehicles to make headway. But even the carless among us should be concerned about a sustained rise in fossil-fuel prices.

To find out why,read the full story.

-Casey Crownhart

Thisarticleis from The Spark, our weekly climate newsletter.Sign upto receive it in your inbox every Wednesday.

The must-reads

I'vecombed the internet to find you today's most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.

1 Meta and YouTube have been fined for designing addictive products
They must pay damages of $6 million for harming young people. (Guardian)
+ The verdicts will reshape legal protections for Big Tech.(WSJ$)
+ They could also ripple through social media markets worldwide.(Rest of World)
+ Juries have started taking the lead in the push for child online safety.(NYT)

2 SpaceX aims to file for IPO as soon as this week
It'shoping to raise more than $75 billion. (The Information)
+ Rocket stocks soared on the report.(BBC)
+ But rivals are challenging SpaceX's dominance.(MIT Technology Review)

3 A new AI safety bill would halt datacenterconstruction
It was introduced by Bernie Sanders. (Wired)
+ Nobody wants a datacenterin their backyard. (MIT Technology Review
+ One solution: launch them into space.(MIT Technology Review)

4 Meta has laid off 700 employees
After raising compensation for top earners. (NYT$)

5 Elon Musk wants a Delaware judge to recuse herself over an emoji
She liked a LinkedIn post criticizing him. (CNBC)
+ The case had ruled Musk misled investors during the Twitter purchase.(Reuters)

6 Reddit will require fishy" accounts to verify that a human runs them
The process aims to combat the deluge of bots. (Ars Technica)

7 Uber and Pony AI aim to launch Europe's first robotaxi service in Croatia
Pony AI is also running trials in Luxembourg, while Uber is testing in London. (The Verge)

8 Google says quantum computers could break all cryptographic security by 2029
It'sset a timeline to secure the quantum era. (Gizmodo)
+ Quantum computers could soon solve health care problems.(MIT Technology Review)

9 New research shows cloningdoesn'tproduce perfect copies
Clones have lots of extra, potentially dangerous mutations. (New Scientist)

10 The landmark AI Scientist has just completed peer review
It'sbilled as the first AI tool built to fully automate the scientific process. (Nature)

Quote of the day

For years, social media companies have profited from targeting children while concealing their addictive and dangerous design features. Today's verdict is a referendum-from a jury,to an entire industry."

-Attorney Rachel Lanier offers her view on yesterday's fines for Meta and YouTube, theWashington Postreports.

One More Thing

GETTY IMAGESLongevity enthusiasts want to create their own independent state.They'reeyeing Rhode Island.

It'sincredibly difficult and expensive to study innovative ways to slow or reverse aging. In response, longevity enthusiasts have devised an ambitious plan:establishan independent state for life-extension experiments.

They envisiona jurisdictionthat slashes red tape, encourages self-experimentation with unproven treatments, andeliminateslaws that limit how companies develop drugs.

Exactly where their longevity state mightemergeis still being worked out-but one appealing location is Rhode Island.Read the full story to learn more about the plans.

-JessicaHamzelou

We can still havenice things

A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas?Drop me a line.)

+ Thesegleaming photosof ancient insects in amber are time capsules of the dinosaur age.
+ Paint with pixels across a world map at this uniquedigital canvas.
+ Hands have a new shield against hammers: anail holderthat protects your fingers.
+Thisnew audio playeruses cartridges to give digital music a soul.