—Jessica Hamzelou
Earlier this month, I traveled to Montenegro for a meeting of longevity enthusiasts, people interested in extending human life through various approaches to biotechnology. Everyone in attendance was super friendly, and the sense of optimism was palpable. They are all confident that we can find a way to slow or reverse aging, and have a bold plan to accelerate progress.
About 780 of these people have created a “pop-up city” that hopes to bypass the traditional clinical trial process. They want to create an independent state where like-minded innovators can work together in an entirely new jurisdiction that gives them free rein to experiment with unproven drugs. Welcome to Zuzalu. Read the whole story.
China does not expect to set rules on generative AI
In April, China’s internet regulator released a draft regulation on generative AI. The document doesn’t name any specific company, but the way it’s worded makes it clear that it was inspired by the incessant launch of big-box chatbots in China and the US.
The draft regulation is a mix of restrictions sensitive to AI risks and a continuation of China’s strong government tradition of aggressive intervention in the technology industry. But while many of the clauses in the draft regulation are principles that AI critics defend in the West, it also contains rules that other countries would likely balk at. Read the whole story.
— Zeyi Yang
