The Download: US robot restrictions, and ICE’s DNA grab
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. Trump’s AI protectionism has come for robotics —James O’Donnell Humanoid robots usually elicit more cringe than awe: They stumble, kick children, and despite advances are still worse at using their hands than my toddler. It’s…
This is the latest edition of The Download, providing a daily snapshot of the tech world. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission issued a broad restriction on foreign imports of advanced robots, including humanoid, quadruped, and wheeled models. The decision may seem like a continuation of the previous China trade policies, but it demonstrates the Trump administration's growing protection of the AI sector beyond the leading research centers.
The ban's potential impact is detailed in our analysis. Additionally, a separate report reveals that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) collected DNA samples from nearly one million individuals last year, many of whom were not convicted of any crime. Meanwhile, China is expanding its influence into both hardware and software technologies.
In the United States, some regions are seeking to establish data centers as part of local economic priorities. Lastly, a drone explosion in Russia claimed seven lives, allegedly resulting from Russian forces shooting down a Ukrainian drone.
Written by urgent.news from MIT Technology Review's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
