The Download: Trump at Davos, and AI scientists | MIT Technology Review

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By Charlotte Jeearchive pageJanuary 21, 2026 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. All anyone wants to talk about at Davos is AI and Donald Trump —Mat Honan, MIT Technology Review’s editor in chief  At Davos this year Trump is dominating all the side conversations. There are lots of little jokes. Nervous laughter. Outright anger. Fear in the eyes. It’s wild. The US president is due to speak here today, amid threats of seizing Greenland and fears that he’s about to permanently fracture the NATO alliance.
But Trump isn’t the only game in town—everyone’s also talking about AI. Read Mat’s story to find out more.  This subscriber-only story appeared first in The Debrief, Mat’s weekly newsletter about the biggest stories in tech. Sign up here to get the next one in your inbox, and subscribe if you haven’t already!
The UK government is backing AI that can run its own lab experiments A number of startups and university teams that are building “AI scientists” to design and run experiments in the lab, including robot biologists and chemists, have just won extra funding from the UK government agency that funds moonshot R&D.   The competition, set up by ARIA (the Advanced Research and Invention Agency), gives a clear sense of how fast this technology is moving: The agency received 245 proposals from research teams that are already building tools capable of automating increasing amounts of lab work. Read the full story to learn more.  —Will Douglas Heaven  Everyone wants AI sovereignty. No one can truly have it. —Cathy Li is head of the Centre for AI Excellence at the World Economic Forum Governments plan to pour $1.3 trillion into AI infrastructure by 2030 to invest in “sovereign AI,” with the premise being that countries should be in control of their own AI capabilities. The funds include financing for domestic data centers, locally trained models, independent supply chains, and national talent pipelines. This is a response to real shocks: covid-era supply chain breakdowns, rising geopolitical tensions, and the war in Ukraine. But the pursuit of absolute autonomy is running into reality: AI supply chains are irreducibly global. If sovereignty is to remain meaningful, it must shift from defensive self-reliance to a vision that balances national autonomy with strategic partnership. Read the full story. Here’s how extinct DNA could help us in the present—and the future Thanks to genetic science, gene editing, and techniques like cloning, it’s now possible to move DNA through time, studying genetic information in ancient remains and then re-creating it in the bodies of modern beings. And that, scientists say, offers new ways to try to help endangered species, engineer new plants that resist climate change, or even create new human medicines.  

Read more about why genetic resurrection is one of our 10 Breakthrough Technologies this year, and check out the rest of the list. The must-reads I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 The White House wants Americans to embrace AIIt faces an uphill battle—the US public is mostly pretty gloomy about AI’s impact. (WP $) + What’s next for AI in 2026. (MIT Technology Review)2 The UN says we’re entering an “era of water bankruptcy” And it’s set to affect the vast majority of us on the planet. (Reuters $)+ Water shortages are fueling the protests in Iran. (Undark) + This Nobel Prize–winning chemist dreams of making water from thin air. (MIT Technology Review)3 How is US science faring after a year of Trump?Not that well, after proposed budget cuts amounting to $32 billion. (Nature $)+ The foundations of America’s prosperity are being dismantled. (MIT Technology Review) 4 We need to talk about the early career AI jobs crisis Young people are graduating and finding there simply aren’t any roles for them to do. (NY Mag $)+ AI companies are fighting to win over teachers. (Axios $)+ Chinese universities want students to use more AI, not less. (MIT Technology Review)5 The AI boyfriend business is booming in ChinaAnd it’s mostly geared towards Gen Z women. (Wired $)+ It’s surprisingly easy to stumble into a relationship with an AI chatbot. (MIT Technology Review)  6 Snap has settled a social media addiction lawsuit ahead of a trial However the other defendants, including Meta, TikTok and YouTube, are still fighting it. (BBC)+ A new study is going to examine the effects of restricting social media for children. (The Guardian)7 Here are some of the best ideas of this century so farFrom smartphones to HIV drugs, the pace of progress has been dizzying. (New Scientist $)8 Robots may be on the cusp of becoming very capableUntil now, their role in the world of work has been limited. AI could radically change that. (FT $)+ Why the humanoid workforce is running late. (MIT Technology Review)9 Scientists are racing to put a radio telescope on the moon If they succeed, it will be able to ‘hear’ all the way back to over 13 billion years ago, just 380,000 years after the big bang. (IEEE Spectrum)+ Inside the quest to map the universe with mysterious bursts of radio energy. (MIT Technology Review) 10 It turns out cows can use toolsWhat will we discover next? Flying pigs?! (Futurism) Quote of the day “We’re still staggering along, but I don’t know for how much longer. I don’t have the energy any more.”
—A researcher at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tells Nature they and their colleagues are exhausted by the Trump administration's attacks on science.  
One more thing Palmer Luckey on the Pentagon’s future of mixed reality Palmer Luckey has, in some ways, come full circle.   His first experience with virtual-reality headsets was as a teenage lab technician at a defense research center in Southern California, studying their potential to curb PTSD symptoms in veterans. He then built Oculus, sold it to Facebook for $2 billion, left Facebook after a highly public ousting, and founded Anduril, which focuses on drones, cruise missiles, and other AI-enhanced technologies for the US Department of Defense. The company is now valued at $14 billion. Now Luckey is redirecting his energy again, to headsets for the military. He spoke to MIT Technology Review about his plans. Read the full interview. —James O’Donnell
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.) + I want to skip around every single one of these beautiful gardens.+ Your friends help you live longer. Isn’t that nice of them?!+ Brb, just buying a pharaoh headdress for my cat.+ Consider this your annual reminder that you don’t need a gym membership or fancy equipment to get fitter. by Charlotte JeeShareShare story on linkedinShare story on facebookShare story on emailPopular10 Breakthrough Technologies 2026Amy NordrumThe great AI hype correction of 2025Will Douglas HeavenChina figured out how to sell EVs. Now it has to deal with their aging batteries.Caiwei ChenThe 8 worst technology flops of 2025Antonio RegaladoDeep DiveThe DownloadThe Download: AI’s impact on the economy, and DeepSeek strikes againPlus: OpenAI is sounding the "code red" alarm
By Rhiannon Williamsarchive pageThe Download: China’s dying EV batteries, and why AI doomers are doubling downPlus: TikTok has finally signed a deal to keep operating in the US
By Rhiannon Williamsarchive pageThe Download: sodium-ion batteries and China’s bright tech futurePlus: This company is developing gene therapies for muscle growth, erectile dysfunction, and “radical longevity”
By Charlotte Jeearchive pageThe Download: the worst technology of 2025, and Sam Altman’s AI hypePlus: China has built a major chip-making machine
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The Download, published by MIT Technology Review in January 2026, presents a snapshot of several key technological and geopolitical trends, primarily focusing on the influence of Donald Trump and the accelerating development of artificial intelligence. The newsletter’s content reveals a complex landscape marked by competing priorities—national sovereignty versus technological advancement, scientific integrity versus political expediency, and the rapid evolution of AI capabilities alongside growing concerns about their societal impact.

The core narrative revolves around the continued disruption caused by Donald Trump’s presence, particularly at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The article highlights the atmosphere of anxiety, fear, and open criticism generated by his actions and statements, suggesting a significant shift in global attitudes toward American leadership and technological innovation. The author, Mat Honan, emphasizes the intensity of the reaction, framing Trump’s influence as a central, if somewhat chaotic, element of the Davos discussions.

Simultaneously, the newsletter underscores the rapid advancement of “AI scientists”—robot biologists and chemists—driven by increased funding from the UK government’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA). This trend showcases the increasing automation of lab work and the shift towards AI-driven scientific discovery. The 245 proposals received by ARIA demonstrate the substantial investment and momentum within this sector. However, the article also cautiously notes the challenge of achieving true “AI sovereignty,” suggesting that global supply chains inherently preclude complete national control. The vision of sovereign AI, focused on domestic data centers, locally trained models, and independent supply chains, is presented as a necessary, albeit complex, response to recent global disruptions.

Beyond AI, the Download explores a range of interconnected developments. Concerns are raised about the impact of Trump’s budget cuts on US science, impacting research and the broader scientific community. The newsletter also addresses the emerging "early career AI jobs crisis," reflecting the difficulty young graduates face in finding employment as AI rapidly transforms various industries. This issue is compounded by the influence of Chinese universities, which are encouraging the use of AI tools rather than discouraging them.

Several other trends are briefly examined. The newsletter touches on the burgeoning “AI boyfriend” business in China, predominantly targeted at Gen Z women, and reflects the ease with which individuals can form relationships with AI chatbots. It also reports on Snap settling a lawsuit related to social media addiction and the ongoing efforts to understand the effects of restricting social media use for children.

Furthermore, the Download highlights scientific pursuits, including the possibility of using extinct DNA to aid current and future endeavors, such as helping endangered species or developing climate-resistant plants. It also reports on the race to establish a radio telescope on the moon, designed to detect radio signals from the early universe. Finally, the piece considers the evolving landscape of battery technology, particularly concerning China’s aging EV battery market.

Throughout the newsletter, a critical perspective is maintained. The recurring theme of “innovation doomers”—those who predict negative consequences from rapid technological advancements—is referenced, alongside the perceived “code red” alarm from OpenAI regarding AI development. The final segment features an interview with Palmer Luckey, whose career trajectory—from a defense research technician to the founder of Oculus and now a focus on military-grade mixed reality headsets—reflects the unpredictable nature of technological progress and the evolving demands of the defense industry.

The newsletter concludes with a note of weariness, reflected in the quote from a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration researcher, conveying the toll of the Trump administration's attacks on science. It also presents a reminder of the importance of human connection, advocating for “nice things” and healthy relationships.

In essence, The Download serves as a comprehensive overview of a technologically and politically turbulent period, offering multiple perspectives and highlighting the tension between ambition and caution in the face of unprecedented innovation.