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It's the second tech company to agree to a payout after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol prompted Trump to be kicked off numerous social media platforms.

It's the second tech company to agree to a payout after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol prompted Trump to be kicked off numerous social media platforms. (Image credit: Jim Watson)

Asked ChatGPT anything lately? Talked with a customer service chatbot? Read the results of Google's "AI Overviews" summary feature? If you've used the Internet lately, chances are, you've consumed content created by a large language model. These models, like DeepSeek-R1 or OpenAI's ChatGPT, are kind of like the predictive text feature in your phone on steroids. In order for them to "learn" how to write, the models are trained on millions of examples of human-written text. Thanks in part to these same large language models, a lot of content on the Internet today is written by generative AI. That means that AI models trained nowadays may be consuming their own synthetic content ... and suffering the consequences.

View the AI-generated images mentioned in this episode.

Have another topic in artificial intelligence you want us to cover? Let us know my emailing shortwave@npr.org!

Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.

Asked ChatGPT anything lately? Talked with a customer service chatbot? Read the results of Google's "AI Overviews" summary feature? If you've used the Internet lately, chances are, you've consumed content created by a large language model. These models, like DeepSeek-R1 or OpenAI's ChatGPT, are kind of like the predictive text feature in your phone on steroids. In order for them to "learn" how to write, the models are trained on millions of examples of human-written text. Thanks in part to these same large language models, a lot of content on the Internet today is written by generative AI. That means that AI models trained nowadays may be consuming their own synthetic content ... and suffering the consequences. View the AI-generated images mentioned in this episode. Have another topic in artificial intelligence you want us to cover? Let us know my emailing shortwave@npr.org! Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave. (Image credit: Andriy Onufriyenko)

Earlier this month, Sheinbaum shared a letter addressed to Google with reporters, arguing that the U.S. had no authority to unilaterally rename the Gulf.

Earlier this month, Sheinbaum shared a letter addressed to Google with reporters, arguing that the U.S. had no authority to unilaterally rename the Gulf. (Image credit: Alfredo Estrella)

The website Rest of World got entries from 45 countries for a photo contest focusing on technology. Here are their top picks — from facial scans for migrants to kids in a Mongolian tent transfixed by a film.

The website Rest of World got entries from 45 countries for a photo contest focusing on technology. Here are their top picks — from facial scans for migrants to kids in a Mongolian tent transfixed by a film. (Image credit: Grace Yoon)

Twenty years ago, three former PayPal employees activated the domain name "YouTube.com." The first YouTube video followed soon after.

Twenty years ago, three former PayPal employees activated the domain name "YouTube.com." The first YouTube video followed soon after. (Image credit: Jeff J Mitchell)

Apple and Google removed the app after the Supreme Court upheld a law prohibiting firms from doing business with TikTok as long as it is controlled by China-based ByteDance.

Apple and Google removed the app after the Supreme Court upheld a law prohibiting firms from doing business with TikTok as long as it is controlled by China-based ByteDance. (Image credit: Ashley Landis)

Panama has been looking for solutions to a long-term problem. Every time a ship passes through the Panama Canal, more than 50 million gallons of fresh water from Lake Gatun pour out into the ocean.

Nobody ever thought Panama could run out of water. It is one of the rainiest countries in the world. But a couple years ago, a drought got so bad that the canal had to reduce traffic by more than a third - which had a huge impact on global shipping.

The Panama Canal needs more water. Authorities have decided to get it by building a dam in a spot that would displace more than 2,000 people along the Rio Indio.

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

Panama has been looking for solutions to a long-term problem. Every time a ship passes through the Panama Canal, more than 50 million gallons of fresh water from Lake Gatun pour out into the ocean. Nobody ever thought Panama could run out of water. It is one of the rainiest countries in the world. But a couple years ago, a drought got so bad that the canal had to reduce traffic by more than a third - which had a huge impact on global shipping. The Panama Canal needs more water. Authorities have decided to get it by building a dam in a spot that would displace more than 2,000 people along the Rio Indio. 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: Tomas Ayuso)

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Kevin De Liban, attorney and founder of TechTonic Justice, about how AI comes between Americans and their government.

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Kevin De Liban, attorney and founder of TechTonic Justice, about how AI comes between Americans and their government.

That's according to a public State Department procurement document. It comes as ethics experts raise conflict of interest questions about the chief executive of Tesla, Elon Musk, who is a close adviser to President Trump.

That's according to a public State Department procurement document. It comes as ethics experts raise conflict of interest questions about the chief executive of Tesla, Elon Musk, who is a close adviser to President Trump. (Image credit: Eric Gay)

New York Times journalist Eric Lipton outlines how Musk's companies are benefiting as he cuts federal jobs and agencies, and reporter Teddy Schleifer explains how Musk's political views turned right.

New York Times journalist Eric Lipton outlines how Musk's companies are benefiting as he cuts federal jobs and agencies, and reporter Teddy Schleifer explains how Musk's political views turned right.

Law enforcement in the country was pressuring the company to create a tool that would act like a back door into customers’ data.

The company said a Chinese operation had built the tool to identify anti-Chinese posts on social media services in Western countries.

The end of a court fight with the largest U.S. crypto company would be a big win for an industry that financially backed President Trump.

“Elon Musk is willing to spend a phenomenal amount of money and basically do everything he can to stay with the head of the pack on A.I. progress.”

Tech start-ups typically raised huge sums to hire armies of workers and grow fast. Now artificial intelligence tools are making workers more productive and spurring tales of “tiny team” success.

Mr. Musk, one of President Trump’s main advisers, has not outlined a plan to reverse falling sales at the electric car company of which he is chief executive.

The president’s company, Trump Media & Technology Group, represents a clear mingling of his official duties and his business interests.

Microsoft’s new “topological qubit” is not based on a solid, liquid or gas. It is another phase of matter that many experts did not think was possible.

The company, which once enjoyed a surging stock price, struggled to turn its plans for electric and hydrogen trucks into a viable business.

How did a successful, financially sophisticated banker gamble his community’s money away?

Humane, which marketed its Ai Pin as the next big thing after smartphones, had raised $240 million from investors, including OpenAI’s Sam Altman. The pin will be discontinued.

Mira Murati, who left OpenAI last year, has helped establish Thinking Machines Lab, a new artificial intelligence start-up.

Some tech companies are delaying or pulling their listing plans as the Trump administration’s tariff announcements and other changes cause market volatility and uncertainty.

The Finance Committee’s top Democrat sent a letter last month to Dan Morehead, the founder of Pantera Capital, about the investigation.

The Silicon Valley giant is trying to cut a deal it hopes would help it pull out of a yearslong slump.

Bret Taylor, the chairman of OpenAI’s board, said the artificial intelligence company was “not for sale.” Mr. Musk is separately raising money for his A.I. start-up, xAI.

It’s a Valentine’s Day Special!

Alessio Figalli studies optimal transport, a field of math that ranges from the movements of clouds to the workings of chatbots.

The social media company is attracting investor interest because of Elon Musk’s close ties to President Trump and a recent jump in revenue.

The popular social media app was removed to comply with a new law that banned it in the United States. President Trump has paused enforcement of the ban.