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NPR's Ayesha Rascoe asks Chris Miller of Tufts University why semiconductors have become a political issue. He is author of "Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology."

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe asks Chris Miller of Tufts University why semiconductors have become a political issue. He is author of "Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology."

An upcoming Apple software update will allow some AirPods to double as over-the-counter hearing aids. Only 1 in 6 American adults with hearing loss wears hearing aids.

An upcoming Apple software update will allow some AirPods to double as over-the-counter hearing aids. Only 1 in 6 American adults with hearing loss wears hearing aids. (Image credit: Juliana Yamada)

This time next year, if everything stays on schedule, NASA will send its first crewed mission to the moon, since the end of the Apollo program. Artemis II will be the first flight around the moon in more than 50 years.

Its goal will be to test out the Orion capsule and all the other equipment, so that by 2026, Artemis III can put astronauts back ON the moon.

The Artemis program is aimed to kickstart a new, more enduring era of space travel that leads to Mars.It's also intentionally more representative than Apollo was. The Artemis program will eventually put the first woman on the moon, as well as the first person of color.

It's all as historic and high stakes as it gets, and also pretty daunting.

NPR's Scott Detrow goes behind the scenes at the Johnson Space Center in Houston to see how the team is preparing.

For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

This time next year, if everything stays on schedule, NASA will send its first crewed mission to the moon, since the end of the Apollo program. Artemis II will be the first flight around the moon in more than 50 years. Its goal will be to test out the Orion capsule and all the other equipment, so that by 2026, Artemis III can put astronauts back ON the moon. The Artemis program is aimed to kickstart a new, more enduring era of space travel that leads to Mars.It's also intentionally more representative than Apollo was. The Artemis program will eventually put the first woman on the moon, as well as the first person of color. It's all as historic and high stakes as it gets, and also pretty daunting. NPR's Scott Detrow goes behind the scenes at the Johnson Space Center in Houston to see how the team is preparing. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org. (Image credit: NASA)

Ten nations are exposing Russian hacking tactics against Ukraine and its allies. For Estonia, one of those nations, it's a major milestone.

Ten nations are exposing Russian hacking tactics against Ukraine and its allies. For Estonia, one of those nations, it's a major milestone.

Are the promises made by AI boosters all hype, or are we actually under-appreciating the transformative potential of AI?

Can artificial intelligence make humans more productive, unlock hidden potential and remake work as we know it? Or, should it not even be called intelligence at all, artificial or otherwise.

On today's episode, we take sides. Two reporters flip a coin to see who argues which point: is AI overrated or underrated? They bring research, real world examples, expert opinions and warm blooded human insight. You decide who makes the best case.

If you're interested in learning more, check out Greg's article 10 reasons why AI is overrated. It includes all sorts of reporting we couldn't fit into the episode. And while you're there, subscribe to the Planet Money newsletter.

Today's episode was hosted by Darian Woods and Greg Rosalsky. These episodes of the Indicator were originally produced by Corey Bridges and they were edited by Paddy Hirsch. They were engineered by Valentina Rodríguez Sánchez and Neal Rauch and they were fact checked by Sierra Juarez. Kate Concannan is the Indicator's editor.

Help support Planet Money and hear our bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.

Are the promises made by AI boosters all hype, or are we actually under-appreciating the transformative potential of AI? Can artificial intelligence make humans more productive, unlock hidden potential and remake work as we know it? Or, should it not even be called intelligence at all, artificial or otherwise. On today's episode, we take sides. Two reporters flip a coin to see who argues which point: is AI overrated or underrated? They bring research, real world examples, expert opinions and warm blooded human insight. You decide who makes the best case. If you're interested in learning more, check out Greg's article 10 reasons why AI is overrated. It includes all sorts of reporting we couldn't fit into the episode. And while you're there, subscribe to the Planet Money newsletter. Today's episode was hosted by Darian Woods and Greg Rosalsky. These episodes of the Indicator were originally produced by Corey Bridges and they were edited by Paddy Hirsch. They were engineered by Valentina Rodríguez Sánchez and Neal Rauch and they were fact checked by Sierra Juarez. Kate Concannan is the Indicator's editor. Help support Planet Money and hear our bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.

After buying Twitter in 2022, Elon Musk instituted sweeping changes — including rebranding the social media platform as "X." Authors Kate Conger and Ryan Mac recount the takeover in Character Limit.

After buying Twitter in 2022, Elon Musk instituted sweeping changes — including rebranding the social media platform as "X." Authors Kate Conger and Ryan Mac recount the takeover in Character Limit. (Image credit: Alain Jocard)

A massive project headed by Elon Musk in Memphis, Tenn., to power AI has moved at breakneck speed. But it's stirring controversy around pollution emissions. The EPA says it’s looking into it.

A massive project headed by Elon Musk in Memphis, Tenn., to power AI has moved at breakneck speed. But it's stirring controversy around pollution emissions. The EPA says it’s looking into it. (Image credit: Houston Cofield)

Vice President Harris and former President Donald Trump face off tonight in their one-and-only scheduled debate. And, police bodycam video of NFL star Tyreek Hill's shows escalated traffic stop.

Vice President Harris and former President Donald Trump face off tonight in their one-and-only scheduled debate. And, police bodycam video of NFL star Tyreek Hill's shows escalated traffic stop. (Image credit: Grace Widyatmadja/NPR; Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

New spacesuits, untested astronauts, and a lot that can go wrong make this five-day mission unusually complex, but with a potentially great reward.

New spacesuits, untested astronauts, and a lot that can go wrong make this five-day mission unusually complex, but with a potentially great reward. (Image credit: Chandan Khanna)

Weeks into a new school year, students miss being able to listen to music, but teachers say the cellphone ban is making their jobs easier.

Weeks into a new school year, students miss being able to listen to music, but teachers say the cellphone ban is making their jobs easier.

Efforts by the Beijing-backed Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, or SMIC, to break through innovation barriers have landed it in a geopolitical tech battle.

TikTok will be in federal court on Monday, aiming to block a new law that will ban the popular video app in the United States early next year.

Scientists from the United States, China and other nations called for an international authority to oversee artificial intelligence.

As threats to his personal safety have become graver, the world’s richest man has barricaded himself behind a phalanx of bodyguards that operates like a mini-Secret Service.

Mr. Bankman-Fried, the founder of the collapsed FTX cryptocurrency exchange, was convicted last fall and is serving a 25-year sentence in prison.

Mr. Trump said he would introduce the project on Monday, continuing his embrace of the crypto industry, a major source of political donations.

Welcome to our 100th episode!

Driven by new technology called OpenAI o1, the chatbot can test various strategies and try to identify mistakes as it tackles complex tasks.

Diplomats are calling for the release of Tigran Gambaryan, an employee of the crypto exchange who was arrested in February.

General Motors and the South Korean automaker say they will collaborate on new vehicles, buying parts and clean energy technologies.

Accidents involving blades made by GE Vernova have delayed projects off the coasts of Massachusetts and England and could imperil climate goals.

Jared Isaacman, the billionaire leading the Polaris Dawn mission, and Sarah Gillis, a SpaceX engineer, exited and re-entered their spacecraft in a test of commercial space technologies.

The San Francisco start-up hopes to raise $6.5 billion as part of an aggressive push for more investment.

Mr. Zuckerberg talked to a packed house Tuesday night for the “Acquired” podcast. It’s a sign of how tech titans reach the public now.

An immersive article shows readers what a New York Times reporter has tracked for nearly a decade: Robot taxis still need human help.

After launching early on Tuesday, the billionaire Jared Isaacman and his crew traveled to altitudes not visited by any astronaut since the Apollo moon missions of the 1960s and ’70s.

Falsehoods claiming migrants in Ohio are killing cats and decapitating ducks went viral this week. The Trump campaign embraced them.

The algorithm of entertainment was not built for ancient knowledge extracted from sacred spaces.

The cases had established the European Union as the world’s leading tech watchdog, but have since raised questions about its protracted appeals process.

The tech giant went to court on Monday in a second antitrust trial, this one focused on its dominance in advertising technology software. The case could reshape its business.

Apple is using Apple Intelligence, a suite of tools for generating images and text, to upsell the iPhone 16. But you can get similar features elsewhere.

The company also showcased a new Apple Watch and AirPods that can reduce noise at concerts or near construction sites.