The Download: AI “mind-reading” and creative uses for small batteries

MIT Technology Review’s latest newsletter highlights a breakthrough in AI-driven brain imaging, where researchers have developed a tool capable of reconstructing visual perceptions from brain scans. While promising for medical communication and dream analysis, experts warn of significant privacy risks regarding mental imagery. The edition also explores the shift toward distributed, small-scale battery storage as a solution to grid pressure and community concerns over large-scale battery fires. Beyond these features, the newsletter covers major industry updates, including the Pentagon’s new warfare project led by Elon Musk, Chinese hacking campaigns targeting US AI experts, and Google’s release of the Gemini 4 Argon model. Additionally, the FTC has launched investigations into major AI labs regarding consumer safety, while new legislation in California aims to expand the market for balcony solar installations, signaling a broader push toward decentralized energy solutions.