Digest for 1/31/2026

As we expect more from technology, do we expect less from each other? Sherry Turkle studies how our devices and online personas are redefining human connection and communication -- and asks us to think deeply about the new kinds of connection we want to have.

Adam Alter shares his research on how time spent looking at screens is increasing -- and how it's affecting our well-being and happiness.

A handful of people working at a handful of tech companies steer the thoughts of billions of people every day, from running elections to what we see and think. Tristan Harris argues that technology is hijacking our attention and what we can do about it.

Sustainability provocateur Leyla Acaroglu shares surprising facts about the environmental impact of some common items and encourages rethinking our daily choices for a more sustainable future.

Tristram Stuart reveals the shocking extent of global food waste and suggests small changes individuals can make to reduce it significantly.

Ron Finley plants vegetable gardens in South Central LA — in abandoned lots, traffic medians, along the curbs — to offer a healthy, accessible alternative to fast food and rethink urban living.

Kevin Kelly talks about the history of AI and where it's headed, touching on the idea of machines becoming conscious or superintelligent.

Artificial intelligence is getting smarter by leaps and bounds -- within this century, research suggests, a computer AI could be as 'smart' as a human being. And then, says Nick Bostrom, it will overtake us: 'Machine intelligence is the last invention that humanity will ever need to make.'

Jeremy Howard shares some surprising new developments in the fast-moving field of deep learning, a technique that enables computers to recognize objects and translate speech in real time, and discusses its potential impact on everyday life.