🧬 AlphaFold 3: Revolutionizing Science, Chrome Wars and Robot Labor
Good morning. It’s Wednesday, November 13. Today we are covering:
Google DeepMind open-sources AlphaFold 3, ushering in a new era for drug discovery and molecular biology
Microsoft Edge is trying to forcefully get your Chrome tabs again
This time, we are the horses: the disruption of labor by humanoid robots
Apple could launch a smart home control center next year
Let’s dive in
By Michael Nuñez via VentureBeat
Google DeepMind has open-sourced AlphaFold 3, releasing its code and model weights for academic use, enabling breakthroughs in drug discovery and molecular biology by modeling complex interactions between proteins, DNA, RNA, and small molecules.
The system’s diffusion-based approach surpasses traditional physics-based methods, offering unprecedented accuracy in predicting molecular interactions, including protein-ligand and antibody-antigen dynamics.
While limitations remain, such as static structure predictions, AlphaFold 3 promises to revolutionize fields beyond medicine, from enzyme design to crop resilience, accelerating global scientific discovery.
𝕏: Excited to share that the AlphaFold 3 model code and weights are now available for academic use. Looking forward to seeing what new research this unlocks and how the research community builds on AlphaFold 3 for scientific discoveries - Max Jaderberg (@maxjaderberg)
Microsoft Edge is trying to forcefully get your Chrome tabs again
By Tom Warren via The Verge
Microsoft Edge is once again automatically starting on PCs and prompting users to import Chrome data, with a default option to regularly transfer browsing information unless manually turned off.
The new feature, targeting Chrome users, continues Microsoft's pattern of aggressive tactics, including forced browser launches, blocking tools, and pop-ups discouraging Google Chrome use.
These practices are fueling distrust in Microsoft’s ecosystem, including Windows 11 and its AI integration efforts, as users view the tactics as intrusive and manipulative.
𝕏: Microsoft Edge is trying to forcefully get your Chrome tabs again. Microsoft has a history of tricks to get you to use Edge, and the latest one automatically opens Edge on a PC to target Chrome users once again. - Tom Warren (@tomwarren)
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This time, we are the horses: the disruption of labor by humanoid robots
By Tony Seba via RethinkX
Humanoid robots are set to disrupt labor globally by offering increasingly capable and cost-effective alternatives, starting at under $10/hour and dropping to $0.10/hour by 2045, fundamentally altering tasks across all industries.
This disruption will create an entirely new labor system, reducing the marginal cost of labor to near zero, leading to cheaper, higher-quality products and skyrocketing global productivity.
Societies must prioritize protecting people, not jobs, using the brief adaptation period to prepare for the inevitable technological unemployment and transformative economic impact of superabundant robotic labor.
Apple could launch a smart home control center next year
By Anna Washenko via Engadget
Apple is reportedly developing a wall-mounted smart home display resembling a "square iPad" with a 6-inch screen, camera, speakers, and a rechargeable battery, potentially launching in March 2025.
The device will leverage Apple Intelligence and the App Intents system for AI-driven app control, aiming to differentiate itself from competitors like Google Home Hub and Echo Show.
Apple is also exploring advanced features, including a version with a robotic arm to move the display, signaling ambitions beyond a typical control panel.
How Italy became an unexpected spyware hub
By Suzanne Smalley via The Record
Italy has emerged as a global spyware hub, hosting six major vendors, including RCS Labs and Memento Labs, which provide affordable and invasive tools like the Hermit spyware used in countries such as Kazakhstan, Syria, and Italy itself.
Weak oversight and low procurement costs have led to widespread domestic spyware use by Italian law enforcement, with new reforms aiming to impose stricter judicial evaluations while potentially bolstering the legitimacy of the Italian spyware market.
Despite increasing criticism of spyware abuses across Europe, Italy's long-standing ecosystem, fueled by lax regulations and talent concentration, continues to thrive and expand internationally.
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