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.
“Dr. Google” had its issues. Can ChatGPT Health do better?
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For the past two decades, ther’s been a clear first step for anyone who starts experiencing new medical symptoms: Look them up online. the practice was so common that it gained the pejorative moniker “Dr. Google.” But times are changing, and many medical-details seekers are now using LLMs. According to OpenAI, 230 million people ask ChatGPT health-related queries each week.
That’s the context around the launch of OpenAI’s new ChatGPT Health product, which debuted earlier this month.The big question is: can the obvious risks of using AI for health-related queries be mitigated enough for them to be a net benefit? Read the full story.
-Grace Huckins
America’s coming war over AI regulation
In the final weeks of 2025, the battle over regulating artificial intelligence in the US reached boiling point. On December 11,after Congress failed twice to pass a law banning state AI laws,President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order seeking to handcuff states from regulating the booming industry.
Instead, he vowed to work with Congress to establish a “minimally burdensome” national AI policy. The move marked a victory for tech titans,who have been marshaling multimillion-dollar war chests to oppose AI regulations,arguing that a patchwork of state laws would stifle innovation.
In 2026, the battleground will shift to the courts. While some states might back down from passing AI laws, others will charge ahead. Read our story about what’s on the horizon.
-Michelle Kim
This story is from MIT Technology Review’s what’s Next serie
1 Hectocorns are coming
Forget unicorns. 2026 is shaping up to be the year of the “hectocorn.” (The Guardian)
Everyone in tech agrees we’re in a bubble. They just can’t agree on what happens when it pops. (MIT Technology Review)
3 DOGE accessed even more personal data than we thought
Even now, the Trump administration still can’t say how much data is at risk, or what it was used for.(NPR)
4 TikTok has finalized a deal to create a new US entity
Ending years of uncertainty about its fate in America. (CNN)
Why China is the big winner out of all of this. (FT $)
5 The US is now officially out of the World health Organization
And it’s leaving behind nearly $300 million in bills unpaid. (Ars Technica)
The US withdrawal from the WHO will hurt us all. (MIT Technology review)
6 AI-powered disinformation swarms pose a threat to democracy
A would-be autocrat could use them to persuade populati
Elon Musk’s Prediction of AI Surpassing Human Intelligence
Elon musk stated in January 2024 that artificial intelligence has likely already surpassed human intelligence, and will definitively do so no later than 2025. This claim, made during a discussion at the World Governments Summit, represents a significant acceleration of his previously stated timelines for achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI).
The Timeline of Musk’s Predictions
Musk has consistently warned about the potential risks of AI, while concurrently acknowledging its rapid progress. He initially predicted AGI by 2029, but has repeatedly moved that date forward. This latest statement suggests he believes that milestone has already been reached or is imminent. Musk’s perspective is particularly noteworthy given his involvement with AI companies like xAI, founded in July 2023 to compete with OpenAI and Google’s DeepMind. xAI Official Website
Defining “Smarter” and the Concept of AGI
The definition of “smarter” in this context refers to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), which is the hypothetical ability of an AI agent to understand, learn, adapt, and implement knowledge across a wide range of intellectual domains, much like a human being. Currently, most AI systems excel at narrow tasks – such as image recognition or language translation – but lack the general cognitive abilities of humans. Musk’s claim implies that AI has now achieved or is on the verge of achieving this broader intelligence. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on AGI
Context: The world Governments summit and Musk’s Concerns
Musk made thes remarks during a session at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on January 15, 2024. World governments Summit Official Website He expressed concerns about the potential for AI to become a force for disruption and even pose an existential risk to humanity, advocating for regulatory oversight and safety measures.He specifically highlighted the need for a regulatory body to oversee AI development.
xAI’s role and Competition in the AI Landscape
Musk’s company, xAI, is actively developing its own large language model (LLM) named Grok. Grok is designed to have a more rebellious and humorous personality than other AI chatbots, and is intended to answer questions with a bit of wit and sarcasm. xAI aims to understand the “true nature of the universe” and is competing directly with OpenAI’s GPT models and Google’s Gemini. The Verge: Elon Musk launches xAI to take on OpenAI
Expert Reactions and Counterarguments
Musk’s claim has been met with skepticism from some AI researchers. While acknowledging the rapid progress in AI,many argue that current systems still fall short of true general intelligence. They point to limitations in areas such as common sense reasoning, creativity, and emotional understanding. However, the pace of development remains extremely fast, and the debate over when AGI will be achieved continues. Reuters: Elon Musk says AI smarter than humans already
