The latest edition of MIT Technology Review’s The Download looks at how the Trump administration’s AI protectionism is extending into robotics. The shift could affect the development and use of humanoid robots in the United States, a field that has attracted attention despite public skepticism about the technology.
The newsletter also considers China’s growing position in future technologies. China is already a major hardware power and is increasingly building strength in software, raising broader questions about competition between the United States and China across the technology sector.
Another featured topic is ICE’s collection of DNA, described in the edition as a significant expansion of the agency’s use of genetic data. Together, the stories highlight the intersection of technology policy, geopolitical competition and government surveillance.
