The Download: Spotting crimes in prisoners' phone calls, and nominate an Innovator Under 35 | MIT Technology Review
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By Rhiannon Williamsarchive pageDecember 1, 2025 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. An AI model trained on prison phone calls now looks for planned crimes in those calls A US telecom company trained an AI model on years of inmates’ phone and video calls and is now piloting that model to scan their calls, texts, and emails in the hope of predicting and preventing crimes.Securus Technologies president Kevin Elder told MIT Technology Review that the company began building its AI tools in 2023, using its massive database of recorded calls to train AI models to detect criminal activity. It created one model, for example, using seven years of calls made by inmates in the Texas prison system, but it has been working on models for other states and counties.However, prisoner rights advocates say that the new AI system enables a system of invasive surveillance, and courts have specified few limits to this power. Read the full story. —James O’Donnell
Nominations are now open for our global 2026 Innovators Under 35 competition
We have some exciting news: Nominations are now open for MIT Technology Review’s 2026 Innovators Under 35 competition. This annual list recognizes 35 of the world’s best young scientists and inventors, and our newsroom has produced it for more than two decades. It’s free to nominate yourself or someone you know, and it only takes a few moments. Here’s how to submit your nomination. The must-reads I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 New York is cracking down on personalized pricing algorithmsA new law forces retailers to declare if their pricing is informed by users’ data. (NYT $)+ The US National Retail Federation tried to block it from passing. (TechCrunch) 2 The White House has launched a media bias trackerComplete with a “media offender of the week” section and a Hall of Shame. (WP $)+ The Washington Post is currently listed as the site’s top offender. (The Guardian)+ Donald Trump has lashed out at several reporters in the past few weeks. (The Hill)3 American startups are hooked on open-source Chinese AI modelsThey’re cheap and customizable—what’s not to like? (NBC News)+ Americans also love China’s cheap goods, regardless of tariffs. (WP $)+ The State of AI: Is China about to win the race? (MIT Technology Review) 4 How police body cam footage became viral YouTube contentRecent arrestees live in fear of ending up on popular channels. (Vox)+ AI was supposed to make police bodycams better. What happened? (MIT Technology Review)5 Construction workers are cashing in on the data center boomMight as well enjoy it while it lasts. (WSJ $)+ The data center boom in the desert. (MIT Technology Review)
6 China isn’t convinced by cryptoEven though bitcoin mining is quietly making a (banned) comeback. (Reuters)+ The country’s central bank is no fan of stablecoins. (CoinDesk) 7 A startup is treating its AI companions like characters in a novelCould that approach make for better AI companions? (Fast Company $)+ Gemini is the most empathetic model, apparently. (Semafor)+ The looming crackdown on AI companionship. (MIT Technology Review)8 Ozempic is so yesterday 💉New weight-loss drugs are tailored to individual patients. (The Atlantic $)+ What we still don’t know about weight-loss drugs. (MIT Technology Review) 9 AI is upending how consultants workFor the third year in a row, big firms are freezing junior workers’ salaries. (FT $)10 Behind the scenes of Disney’s AI animation acceleratorWhat took five months to create has been whittled down to under five weeks. (CNET)+ Director supremo James Cameron appears to have changed his mind about AI. (TechCrunch)+ Why are people scrolling through weirdly-formatted TV clips? (WP $) Quote of the day “[I hope AI] comes to a point where it becomes sort of mental junk food and we feel sick and we don’t know why.” —Actor Jenna Ortega outlines her hopes for AI’s future role in filmmaking, Variety reports.
One more thing The weeds are winningSince the 1980s, more and more plants have evolved to become immune to the biochemical mechanisms that herbicides leverage to kill them. This herbicidal resistance threatens to decrease yields—out-of-control weeds can reduce them by 50% or more, and extreme cases can wipe out whole fields.
At worst, it can even drive farmers out of business. It’s the agricultural equivalent of antibiotic resistance, and it keeps getting worse. Weeds have evolved resistance to 168 different herbicides and 21 of the 31 known “modes of action,” which means the specific biochemical target or pathway a chemical is designed to disrupt. Agriculture needs to embrace a diversity of weed control practices. But that’s much easier said than done. Read the full story. —Douglas Main We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet 'em at me.) + Now we’re finally in December, don’t let Iceland’s gigantic child-eating Yule Cat give you nightmares 😺+ These breathtaking sculpture parks are serious must-sees ($)+ 1985 sure was a vintage year for films.+ Is nothing sacred?! Now Ozempic has come for our Christmas trees! by Rhiannon WilliamsShareShare story on linkedinShare story on facebookShare story on emailPopularWe’re learning more about what vitamin D does to our bodiesJessica HamzelouHow AGI became the most consequential conspiracy theory of our timeWill Douglas HeavenOpenAI’s new LLM exposes the secrets of how AI really worksWill Douglas HeavenMeet the man building a starter kit for civilizationTiffany NgDeep DiveThe DownloadThe Download: the AGI myth, and US/China AI competitionPlus: China is considering cutting its native data centers a deal
By Rhiannon Williamsarchive pageThe Download: Big Tech’s carbon removals plans, and the next wave of nuclear reactorsPlus: ChatGPT is getting erotic
By Rhiannon Williamsarchive pageThe Download: how to fix a tractor, and living among conspiracy theoristsPlus: DOGE is no more
By Rhiannon Williamsarchive page Introducing: the body issuePlus: OpenAI's AI-powered web browser is coming
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The Download, published by MIT Technology Review, presents a collection of articles and news pieces focusing on a variety of technological developments and their societal impacts. A central piece details the development of an AI model, trained by Securus Technologies, designed to identify criminal activity within the phone calls of incarcerated individuals. This model, built on seven years of calls from Texas prison inmates, is being piloted across multiple states and aimed at predicting and preventing crime. However, the project has sparked considerable controversy due to concerns regarding invasive surveillance and the limited legal oversight surrounding its use.
Alongside this, the publication highlights several other significant developments. Firstly, the launch of a nomination process for MIT Technology Review’s 2026 Innovators Under 35 competition, recognizing young scientists and inventors. Secondly, the ongoing debate surrounding personalized algorithmic pricing, particularly the New York law restricting retailers’ use of customer data for pricing decisions. The article notes the resistance from the National Retail Federation.
Further articles explore a range of technological trends, including the increasing use of open-source Chinese AI models by American startups, the growing resistance of China to cryptocurrencies, and the rise of AI companions. Additionally, the Download addresses pressing challenges like herbicide resistance in agriculture – a significant threat to food production – and the evolving landscape of AI animation with Disney’s increasing use of AI-driven tools. Finally, the publication references a concerning trend: the increasing use of AI for filmmaking, citing actor Jenna Ortega’s apprehension about the technology.
The overall tone of The Download suggests a critical, inquisitive approach to technology’s rapid advancement. It doesn't shy away from highlighting the ethical dilemmas and potential downsides of these innovations. The inclusion of a short piece on the potential for an AI “mental junk food” experience emphasizes a cautious perspective regarding the future of human interaction with advanced technologies. These insights reflect a thoughtful and nuanced approach, likely valued by a college graduate seeking a comprehensive understanding of contemporary technological developments. |