Looking for something truly engrossing to read this weekend? We've curated six of the most compelling long-form stories from the past seven days, covering everything from the existential risks of artificial intelligence to the surprising presence of wild wallabies in the English countryside.
The Trillion-Dollar AI Revolution: All Gas, No Brakes
In the heart of Silicon Valley, a staggering financial and technological race is underway. Rival companies are investing trillions of dollars in pursuit of creating the ultimate artificial intelligence, a goal with the power to redefine humanity or, some fear, destroy it. Journalist Robert Booth journeyed on a morning train through San Francisco's outskirts to meet the minds at the cutting edge. He found a community where the breakneck pace of development is causing concern, with some insiders warning the push is characterised by being 'all gas, no brakes'.
Confronting Digital Deception and Historical Legacy
In a powerful personal account, Irish politician Cara Hunter reveals how a malicious deepfake video nearly ended her political career in 2022 during her final campaign weeks. She has never discovered the perpetrator but knew she had to fight to protect other women from similar digital attacks. Her story forms the first part of a crucial series on the damaging rise of deepfake technology.
Meanwhile, author Glenn Kurtz is on a mission to put names to the famous faces in the iconic photographs of the Empire State Building's construction. He seeks to identify the daring 'sky boys' captured by photographer Lewis W. Hine, who worked at dizzying heights where a fall would mean an '11-second drop to the ground'. In stark contrast to this beloved landmark, architecture critic Oliver Wainwright condemns JP Morgan's new Park Avenue HQ as an 'eco obscenity', complete with interior wind machines to flutter its lobby flag.
From NHS Struggles to Australian Marsupials in the UK
Author Paul Sagar provides a harrowing follow-up to his account of becoming paralysed, detailing his maddening struggle with England's wheelchair services. He describes a postcode lottery where the most vulnerable rely on the state while private companies profit, leaving many without essential mobility aids.
In a lighter but no less fascinating pursuit, reporter Sam Wollaston headed to Warwickshire to investigate rising reports of escaped wallabies in Britain. Donning his binoculars, he explored whether these charismatic Australian marsupials could truly be thriving in the English countryside, with surprising results.
Finally, in Miami, realtors are observing the first signs of the so-called 'Mamdani effect'. Following the election of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani as New York's mayor, wealthy New Yorkers are showing renewed interest in Miami's Billionaire's Beach, a prime stretch of waterfront real estate, prompting developers to prepare for a potential exodus.
