Revisiting a year of Roundtables, MIT Technology Review’s subscriber-only events

The rise of artificial intelligence is accompanied by an increasing carbon footprint and increasing electricity demand. Analyst Projects Artificial intelligence may increase data center energy consumption by 160% within this decade. So how worried should we be? Contributing editor David Rotman, senior AI reporter Melissa Heikkilä and senior energy editor James Temple explore the energy tradeoffs involved in artificial intelligence.

CRISPR babies: Six years later

Gene editing can correct or improve the DNA of human embryos, potentially opening the door to the “technological evolution” of our species. But in 2018, a premature attempt to use the technology in this way resulted in research participant He Jiankui being jailed. Editor-in-chief Mat Honan and senior biomedicine editor Antonio Regalado speak with He, a biophysicist and creator of the first gene-edited human, to revisit this controversial technology and the future of editing in IVF clinics.

Why are hot batteries so hot right now?

Thermal batteries could be a key part of cleaning up heavy industry. Executive editor Amy Nordrum and senior climate reporter Casey Crownhart tell us what we can expect next from the emerging technology, which was also voted into action The 11th breakthrough technology in 2024 By our readers.