The Download: AI puzzles and a path to our nearest star system

《下载》：人工智能谜题与通往最近恒星系的路径

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. 这是今日份的《下载》，我们平日更新的简报，为您提供每日科技世界的动态。

AI models flub these intelligence tests. Can you fare any better? Puzzles and games have always been central to AI development. The term “machine learning” was popularized in a 1959 article about an algorithm that learned to play checkers. Chess and Go are famous AI test beds too. Judged purely on its puzzling skills, AI is improving a lot—and quickly. In late 2024, even the best models could figure out only 18% of the infamous New York Times Connections puzzles; by early 2025, some could solve them nearly perfectly every time. But puzzles do more than highlight AI’s progress. Seeing where models succeed and fail, and where humans still beat them, offers a window into the technology’s strengths and weaknesses. We’ve gathered seven puzzles that have stumped models at one time or another—now it’s your turn to see how you fare. Take our test to find out whether you can outsmart AI. —Grace Huckins 人工智能模型在这些智力测试中频频出错。你能表现得更好吗？谜题和游戏一直是人工智能发展的核心。1959 年一篇关于学习下跳棋算法的文章让“机器学习”一词广为人知。国际象棋和围棋也是著名的人工智能测试平台。单从解谜能力来看，人工智能正在迅速进步。2024 年底，即使是最顶尖的模型也只能解出《纽约时报》著名的“Connections”谜题中 18% 的题目；而到了 2025 年初，一些模型几乎每次都能完美解答。但谜题的作用不仅仅是突显人工智能的进步。观察模型在哪些地方成功、哪些地方失败，以及人类在哪些方面仍能胜过它们，为我们了解这项技术的优势和劣势提供了一个窗口。我们收集了七个曾让模型难倒的谜题——现在轮到你来试试身手了。参加我们的测试，看看你是否能胜过人工智能。——Grace Huckins

This article is from our latest print magazine, which is all about kids. Subscribe now to get all our future issues. 本文摘自我们最新的纸质杂志，本期主题是关于儿童。立即订阅以获取我们未来的所有期刊。

How AI plotted an interstellar journey to Alpha Centauri 人工智能如何规划前往半人马座阿尔法星的星际之旅

A nonprofit organization called the Fermi Explorer Mission announced yesterday that it intends to launch a spacecraft to our nearest star system by the end of 2029. It’s a hugely ambitious mission—if all goes well, the spacecraft could take up to 80,000 years to arrive at Alpha Centauri, which is 4.4 light-years away. To get there, it will follow a novel trajectory discovered by an AI system developed by PSI, a physics research lab. Explore how AI found a new route to Alpha Centauri—and what the mission could tell us about alien life. —Michelle Kim 一个名为“费米探索任务”（Fermi Explorer Mission）的非营利组织昨日宣布，计划在 2029 年底前向我们最近的恒星系发射一艘航天器。这是一项极其宏大的任务——如果一切顺利，航天器可能需要长达 8 万年的时间才能抵达 4.4 光年外的半人马座阿尔法星。为了到达那里，它将遵循由物理研究实验室 PSI 开发的人工智能系统所发现的一条新颖轨道。探索人工智能如何找到前往半人马座阿尔法星的新路线，以及这项任务能告诉我们关于外星生命的哪些信息。——Michelle Kim

MIT Technology Review Narrated: the role of the astronaut is in flux 《麻省理工科技评论》播客：宇航员的角色正在发生变化

We go to space for geopolitical prestige, manifest destiny, spiritual fulfillment, scientific curiosity, and, increasingly, business opportunities. In the wake of Artemis II, a slew of new books suggest that these justifications are subsumed by one unifying fact: humans have itchy feet, and we are simply wired to roam. In The Ultraview Effect, space anthropologist Deana L. Weibel frames human space exploration as part of our need to embark on pilgrimages. In A Heart for Space, civilian astronaut Eiman Jahangir recounts one such voyage with Blue Origin. And in Dinner with an Astronaut, former NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao argues that people simply “need to know what’s on the other side.” “We go into space because we want to explore,” he says. “We want to see what it’s like to walk on another world.” But as our presence in space expands, we are bound to bring along the same human foibles that have stymied us on Earth. 我们进入太空是为了地缘政治声望、天命论、精神满足、科学好奇心，以及日益增长的商业机会。在“阿尔忒弥斯 2 号”任务之后，一系列新书表明，这些理由都被一个统一的事实所涵盖：人类天生好动，我们注定要流浪。在《超视效应》（The Ultraview Effect）一书中，太空人类学家 Deana L. Weibel 将人类太空探索视为我们进行朝圣需求的一部分。在《太空之心》（A Heart for Space）中，平民宇航员 Eiman Jahangir 讲述了与蓝色起源公司的一次此类航行。而在《与宇航员共进晚餐》（Dinner with an Astronaut）中，前 NASA 宇航员焦立中（Leroy Chiao）认为，人们只是“需要知道另一边有什么”。他说：“我们进入太空是因为我们想要探索。我们想看看在另一个世界行走是什么感觉。”但随着我们在太空中的存在不断扩大，我们必然会带去那些曾在地球上阻碍我们的同样的人性弱点。

This is our latest article to become an MIT Technology Review Narrated podcast, which we publish each week on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Just navigate to MIT Technology Review Narrated on either platform, and follow us to get all our new content as it’s released. 这是我们最新一期《麻省理工科技评论》播客文章，我们每周在 Spotify 和 Apple Podcasts 上发布。只需在任一平台上搜索“MIT Technology Review Narrated”并关注我们，即可在第一时间获取我们的所有新内容。

The must-reads 必读内容

I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 我已梳理了互联网，为您找出今天关于科技最有趣、最重要、最可怕和最引人入胜的故事。

OpenAI is restricting its next model after rating it a “critical” cyber risk
OpenAI 将其下一代模型评为“关键”网络风险后对其进行限制 Testing showed Astra can automate cyberattacks. (WSJ $) 测试显示 Astra 可以自动化执行网络攻击。（《华尔街日报》付费） OpenAI says it’s the first model to cross its “critical” threshold. (CNBC) OpenAI 表示这是第一个跨越其“关键”阈值的模型。（CNBC） The company plans to give it extra security measures. (Reuters $) 该公司计划为其增加额外的安全措施。（路透社付费） Its safety issues could indicate cultural problems. (MIT Technology Review) 其安全问题可能预示着文化层面的问题。（《麻省理工科技评论》）
The Pentagon official overseeing military AI just sold millions in AI stock
负责监督军事人工智能的五角大楼官员刚刚抛售了数百万美元的人工智能股票 Emil Michael sold his Perplexity shares for up to $25 million. (Guardian) Emil Michael 出售了其持有的 Perplexity 股份，套现高达 2500 万美元。（《卫报》） Pundits say he’s turning the Pentagon into a VC firm. (WP $) 评论人士称他正在将五角大楼变成一家风险投资公司。（《华盛顿邮报》付费） He previously sold xAI stock after the Pentagon adopted Grok. (Guardian) 此前在五角大楼采用 Grok 后，他曾出售过 xAI 的股票。（《卫报》）
A data center backlash appears to have cost a Missouri councilman his seat
数据中心引发的强烈反对似乎让密苏里州的一位议员丢掉了席位 Voters opposed the billions in tax breaks he helped approve. (NYT $) 选民反对他协助批准的数十亿美元税收减免。（《纽约时报》付费） Data center construction spending surged in July. (Axios) 7 月份数据中心建设支出激增。（Axios） But they face bipartisan public opposition. (MIT Technology Review) 但它们面临着两党公众的反对。（《麻省理工科技评论》）
The first signs of dark matter particles may finally have been spotted
暗物质粒子的首个迹象可能终于被发现了 The finding could be monumental, but more evidence is needed. (New Scientist $) 这一发现可能具有里程碑意义，但仍需更多证据。（《新科学家》付费） The search for dark matter has been blown wide open. (MIT Technology Review) 暗物质的探索领域已被彻底打开。（《麻省理工科技评论》）
Google is reportedly set to release a model that closes the coding gap
据报道，谷歌准备发布一款缩小编程差距的模型 Tests suggest it could rival OpenAI and Anthropic on coding. (WSJ $) 测试表明它在编程方面可以与 OpenAI 和 Anthropic 相媲美。（《华尔街日报》付费） Named Gemini 3.8 Flash, it may be released today. (Gizmodo) 该模型名为 Gemini 3.8 Flash，可能于今日发布。（Gizmodo） But not everyone is convinced about AI coding. (MIT Technology Review) 但并非所有人都对人工智能编程感到信服。（《麻省理工科技评论》）
The US Army used a laser to shoot down three drones near the Mexico border
美国陆军在墨西哥边境附近使用激光击落了三架无人机 The weapon can detect, track and destroy drones with light. (Wired $) 该武器可以通过光线探测、追踪并摧毁无人机。（《连线》付费） Palantir’s CEO is backing the former Ukrainian defense minister’s startup. (WP $) Palantir 的首席执行官正在支持前乌克兰国防部长的初创公司。（《华盛顿邮报》付费）
Map apps are handling Trump’s “Lake America” order differently
地图应用对特朗普“美国湖”（Lake America）指令的处理方式各不相同 Google and Apple made the change, while MapQuest refused. (Axios) 谷歌和苹果做出了更改，而 MapQuest 拒绝了。（Axios） MapQuest downloads subsequently surged more than tenfold. (TechCrunch) 随后 MapQuest 的下载量激增了十倍以上。（TechCrunch）
AI groups are racing to limit bioweapon risks
人工智能组织竞相限制生物武器风险 The industry sees biology as the next major AI safety challenge. (FT $) 该行业将生物学视为下一个重大人工智能安全挑战。（《金融时报》付费） Microsoft says AI can create “zero day” threats in biology. (MIT Technology Review) 微软表示人工智能可以在生物学领域制造“零日”威胁。（《麻省理工科技评论》）
GoPro just pivoted into AI data centers, sending shares up 40%
GoPro 刚刚转型进入人工智能数据中心领域，股价上涨 40% The camera maker is also merging with photonics firm Starman Optical. (CNBC) 这家相机制造商还将与光子学公司 Starman Optical 合并。（CNBC）
Dyson’s new camera-equipped toothbrush flosses for you
戴森新款配备摄像头的牙刷可以为你自动剔牙 The $499 electric toothbrush is the first with a camera in the brush head. (Verge) 这款售价 499 美元的电动牙刷是首款在刷头中内置摄像头的牙刷。（The Verge）

Quote of the day 今日名言

“If you build an entity that is vastly smarter than you, it better be on your side.” “如果你创造了一个远比你聪明的实体，它最好站在你这一边。”

—Marius Hobbhahn, CEO of AI safety research group Apollo Research, tells the Guardian that companies building superintelligent systems urgently need to keep their creations under control. ——人工智能安全研究小组 Apollo Research 的首席执行官 Marius Hobbhahn 告诉《卫报》，开发超智能系统的公司迫切需要对其创造物保持控制。

One more thing 还有一件事

COURTESY OF HYIRON 图片来源：HYIRON

Namibia wants to build the world’s first hydrogen economy 纳米比亚希望建立世界上第一个氢能经济体

Namibia has immense untapped potential for wind and solar power, which could make it possible to produce hydrogen and its derivatives. 纳米比亚拥有巨大的风能和太阳能潜力，这使其生产氢气及其衍生物成为可能。