The Download: Yann LeCun's new venture, and lithium's on the rise | MIT Technology Review

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Skip to ContentMIT Technology ReviewFeaturedTopicsNewslettersEventsAudioMIT Technology ReviewFeaturedTopicsNewslettersEventsAudioThe DownloadThe Download: Yann LeCun’s new venture, and lithium’s on the risePlus: Trump has climbed down from his plan for the US to take Greenland.
By Charlotte Jeearchive pageJanuary 22, 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. Yann LeCun’s new venture is a contrarian bet against large language models     Yann LeCun is a Turing Award recipient and a top AI researcher, but he has long been a contrarian figure in the tech world. He believes that the industry’s current obsession with large language models is wrong-headed and will ultimately fail to solve many pressing problems.   Instead, he thinks we should be betting on world models—a different type of AI that accurately reflects the dynamics of the real world. Perhaps it’s no surprise, then, that he recently left Meta, where he had served as chief scientist for FAIR (Fundamental AI Research), the company's influential research lab that he founded. 
LeCun sat down with MIT Technology Review in an exclusive online interview from his Paris apartment to discuss his new venture, life after Meta, the future of artificial intelligence, and why he thinks the industry is chasing the wrong ideas. Read the full interview.  —Caiwei Chen
Why 2026 is a hot year for lithium —Casey Crownhart In 2026, I’m going to be closely watching the price of lithium. If you’re not in the habit of obsessively tracking commodity markets, I certainly don’t blame you. (Though the news lately definitely makes the case that minerals can have major implications for global politics and the economy.) But lithium is worthy of a close look right now. The metal is crucial for lithium-ion batteries used in phones and laptops, electric vehicles, and large-scale energy storage arrays on the grid.  Prices have been on quite the roller coaster over the last few years, and they’re ticking up again. What happens next could have big implications for mining and battery technology. Read the full story. This story first appeared in The Spark, our newsletter all about the tech we can use to combat the climate crisis. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Wednesday.   The must-reads

I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Trump has climbed down from his plan for the US to take Greenland To the relief of many across Europe. (BBC)+ Trump says he’s agreed a deal to access Greenland’s rare earths. Experts say that’s ‘bonkers.’ (CNN)+ European leaders are feeling flummoxed about what’s going on. (FT $)2 Apple is reportedly developing a wearable AI pinIt’s still in the very early stages—but this could be a huge deal if it makes it to launch. (The Information $)+ It’s also planning to revamp Siri and turn it into an AI chatbot. (Bloomberg $)+ Are we ready to trust AI with our bodies? (MIT Technology Review)3 CEOs say AI saves people time. Their employees disagree.Many even say that it’s currently dragging down their productivity. (WSJ $)+ The AI boom will increase US carbon emissions—but it doesn’t have to. (Wired $)+ Let’s also not forget that large language models remain a security nightmare. (IEEE Spectrum)4 This chart shows how measles cases are exploding in AmericaThey’ve hit a 30-year high, with the US on track to lose its ‘elimination status.’ (Axios $)+ Things are poised to get even worse this year. (Wired $)5 Your first humanoid robot coworker will almost definitely be ChineseBut will it be truly useful? That’s the even bigger question. (Wired $)+ Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says Europe could do more to compete in robotics and AI. (CNBC)6 Bezos’ Blue Origin is about to compete with StarlinkIt plans to send the first ‘TeraWave’ satellites into space next year. (Reuters $)+ On the ground in Ukraine’s largest Starlink repair shop. (MIT Technology Review)7 Trump’s family made $1.4 billion off crypto last year Move along, no conflicts of interest to see here. (Bloomberg $)8 Comic-Con has banned AI artAfter an artist-led backlash last week. (404 Media)+ Hundreds of creatives are warning against an AI future built on ‘theft on a grand scale’. (The Verge $)9 What it’s like living without a smartphone for a monthPotentially blissful for you, but probably a bit annoying for everyone else. (The Guardian)+ Why teens with ADHD are particularly vulnerable to the perils of social media. (Nature)  10 Elon Musk is feuding with a budget airline The airline is winning, in case you wondered. (WP $) Quote of the day “I wouldn't edit anything about Donald Trump, because the man makes me insane.” —Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales tells Wired why he’s steering clear of the US President's page.   
One more thing BOB O'CONNOR How electricity could help tackle a surprising climate villain Cement hides in plain sight—it’s used to build everything from roads and buildings to dams and basement floors. But it’s also a climate threat. Cement production accounts for more than 7% of global carbon dioxide emissions—more than sectors like aviation, shipping, or landfills.
One solution to this climate catastrophe might be coursing through the pipes at Sublime Systems. The startup is developing an entirely new way to make cement. Instead of heating crushed-up rocks in lava-hot kilns, Sublime’s technology zaps them in water with electricity, kicking off chemical reactions that form the main ingredients in its cement. But it faces huge challenges: competing with established industry players, and persuading builders to use its materials in the first place. Read the full story. —Casey Crownhart We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet 'em at me.) + Earth may be a garbage fire, but space is beautiful. + Do you know how to tie your shoelaces up properly? Are you sure?!+ I defy British readers not to feel a pang of nostalgia at these crisp packets.+ Going to bed around the same time every night seems to be a habit worth adopting. ($) 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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Yann LeCun’s new venture, dubbed a contrarian bet against large language models (LLMs), is spearheaded by Turing Award recipient Yann LeCun. LeCun, a long-standing figure in the AI research community known for his dissenting views, believes the industry’s current obsession with LLMs is misguided and ultimately unsustainable. Instead of focusing on these models, LeCun advocates for “world models”—a novel approach that aims to create AI systems that accurately mirror the dynamics of the real world. This shift in focus represents a significant departure from the prevailing trend in the AI landscape.

LeCun’s decision to leave Meta, where he served as chief scientist for FAIR (Fundamental AI Research), reflects his growing concerns about the direction of AI development. He recognized within Meta that the company's research was heavily invested in LLMs, and felt compelled to pursue a more foundational and potentially more impactful research path. LeCun has articulated previously that LLMs, despite their impressive capabilities, are largely based on statistical pattern matching rather than genuine understanding, and lack the ability to reason or adapt to unexpected situations.

The core of LeCun’s new venture centers around the development of world models, which he describes as systems capable of simulating and predicting real-world phenomena. These models would represent a more robust and reliable approach to AI, one that avoids the limitations of current LLMs. LeCun’s focus is driven by the understanding that simply scaling up language models does not solve complex real-world problems.

Simultaneously, the publication highlights a critical economic development: the rising importance of lithium. The price volatility of this key battery material is noted, and its impact on global mining and battery technology is emphasized. The rise in lithium prices suggests a significant shift in market dynamics, directly impacting industries heavily reliant on lithium-ion batteries, including electric vehicles and large-scale energy storage.

Beyond the lithium narrative, the article also addresses several other pressing technological developments. It briefly touches upon Trump’s attempted access to Greenland’s rare earth minerals, highlighting the geopolitical implications surrounding strategic resources. Further, the piece reports on Apple’s plans to develop a wearable AI pin, and further developments related to Siri. The article also examines the prevalent negative sentiment surrounding AI among employees, noting a growing disillusionment with the technology's impact on productivity.

Finally, the piece spotlights innovative solutions to mitigate environmental challenges. It focuses on Sublime Systems, a startup that is pioneering a new method for cement production—a profoundly carbon-intensive industry. Sublime’s technology, utilizing electricity instead of traditional, fuel-based heating, offers a significant reduction in carbon emissions. However, the company faces considerable hurdles including competition from established players and convincing builders to adopt its materials. The article suggests how electricity might help tackle a surprising issue.