The North Pole’s Ice-Free Past and the Rise of Humanoid Data

I’ve been following the MIT Technology Review’s Download newsletter for years, and two stories from the latest edition really stuck with me. They’re not directly related, but together they paint a picture of where we’re headed.

First up: the North Pole. Last year, a research vessel sailed into open water and thin ice where there used to be meters-thick ice. That’s not a good sign. The Arctic is changing faster than most models predicted, and now scientists are drilling deep below the seabed to find out if the Arctic Ocean was ever completely ice-free. They’re digging for clues about the past to understand what the future might look like for Earth’s northernmost waters. It’s a sobering reminder that we’re living through a transformation that’s rewriting the planet’s history.

The other story is about something completely different but equally fascinating: humanoid data. I was recently invited to join an app that pays people to film themselves doing mundane tasks like putting food in a bowl and microwaving it. Another site asked if I’d like to remotely control a robotic arm to help improve its dexterity. This is part of a growing push by robotics companies to collect data on our movements for training humanoids. As the race for real-world data heats up, our everyday movements are being turned into training data. It’s a bit creepy, but also a smart move. Robots need to learn how to do stuff we take for granted, and the best way is to watch us do it.

This is one of the 10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now, a new feature from MIT Tech Review that highlights the big ideas, trends, and technologies worth paying attention to in the buzzy world of AI.

Meanwhile, the tech giants are spending like crazy on AI. Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta collectively set AI spending records, up 71% on the same quarter last year. Microsoft, Google, and Amazon reported big payoffs from the splurge, but Meta’s shares slid after its plans spooked investors. The AI bubble debate is real, and it’s not going away anytime soon.

On the policy front, the White House opposes Anthropic’s plan to expand access to its Mythos model, citing cyber risks. There’s also concern that the government might lose compute access. And Anthropic is seeking funding at a valuation over $900 billion. That’s a lot of money for a company that’s still figuring out how to make its models safe.

Elon Musk testified that OpenAI’s leaders “looted the nonprofit,” claiming he was “a fool” for trusting them. But he also raised his own concerns about OpenAI’s direction. The drama never ends.

These stories might seem disconnected, but they reflect a broader trend: we’re pushing boundaries in both climate science and AI, and the consequences are unfolding in real time. The Arctic is melting, and robots are learning to make microwave dinners. Welcome to the future.