This is today’s edition of The Download , our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. How “reverse game theory” could keep AI agents in check
A new approach known as “reverse game theory” aims to control powerful AI models by designing systems that incentivize them to stick to the rules. While game theory predicts how rational actors behave under particular rules, reverse game theory designs rules to elicit the behavior we want. Think of splitting a cake: if one person cuts it and the other gets first choice, the cutter has an incentive to make the portions equal. Researchers believe the approach could align AI more closely with our rules and instructions. But big questions remain about whether these mechanisms will work in practice. Here’s how reverse game theory could help make AI agents behave . —Amit Katwala
Here’s who is falling in line for Trump’s “Super Intelligence” loyalty test
At the end of September, President Trump signed an executive order with just one directive: government agencies must rebrand artificial intelligence as “Super Intelligence.” One month on, the rebrand is slowly appearing across government websites and documents, but it hasn’t caught on with everyone. Even some of the biggest names in tech still use “AI.” But the bigger concern is the new term becoming a political loyalty test: Those who use it signal allegiance to the administration. Those who don’t become targets for attacks. So one month in, who’s on board? —James O’Donnell
This story is from The Algorithm, our weekly AI newsletter. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Monday. The must-reads
I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Today’s midterms will test AI’s influence on US politics
Candidates are betting that AI regulation will sway voters to their side. ( Axios )
+ Angry constituents could derail Elon Musk’s Republican bets. ( BI )
+ Tech investors are on edge about the results. ( Reuters $)
+ America is divided over AI regulation. ( MIT Technology Review )
2 Nvidia is ordering data centre clients to limit their business with China
It told providers that the majority of their sales must be non-Chinese. ( FT $)
+ The move follows pressure from Washington. ( Bloomberg $)
+ Chinese AI has ruptured the White House. ( MIT Technology Review )
3 Hackers have turned supermarket fridges into a food security risk
Attacks in Europe have put US supermarket systems on alert. ( CNBC )
+ They’ve also sparked concerns over other domestic appliances…
