The Download: South Korea’s hottest bachelors, and advancing eye transplants

<p><em>This is today&#8217;s edition of </em><a href="https://forms.technologyreview.com/newsletters/briefing-the-download/?_ga=2.179569122.736533416.1649661040-405833893.1649413289"><em>The Download</em></a>,<em> our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what&#8217;s going on in the world of technology.</em></p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>South Korea’s hottest new bachelors are chip workers</strong></h3> <p>Baek, a 35-year-old manager at the South Korean semiconductor titan SK Hynix, was enrolled in a matchmaking company a year ago. In a move typical of anxious South Korean parents, his mother signed him up, hoping to find a good wife for her son.</p> <p>Lately, says Baek, he and his coworkers are having better luck finding dates—perhaps because of the dazzling bonuses they just got. Flush with eye-popping profits from the AI chip boom, SK Hynix agreed to pay 10% of operating profits to employees, which translates to an extra $476,000 per employee this year. Samsung workers received a similar deal this May.</p> <p>With their newfound wealth, chip workers like Baek have become the most sought-after bachelors and bachelorettes in South Korea.&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/07/06/1140000/south-korea-bachelors-samsung-skhynix-chip-workers/?utm_source=the_download&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=the_download.unpaid.engagement&amp;utm_term=*%7CSUBCLASS%7C*&amp;utm_content=*%7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C*">Discover how AI chip profits are transforming South Korea&#8217;s dating market—and stoking anxieties</a>.</p> <p><em>—Michelle Kim</em></p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>A device that revives eyeballs from dead donors could make eye transplants possible</strong></h3> <p>It’s not easy to transplant a whole human eye. The surgery is difficult, and eyes start to degenerate as soon as they’ve left the body. When surgeons attempted it a few years ago, the newly transplanted eye couldn’t see.</p> <p>But researchers believe they might have a solution: a device that maintains and revives freshly removed eyeballs using a technique called perfusion. Treated eyes don’t degrade as quickly and appear to retain the ability to transmit electrical signals—and potentially see.&nbsp;</p> <p>The device could one day make whole-eye transplants a viable possibility. <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/07/03/1140148/a-device-that-revives-eyeballs-from-dead-donors-could-make-eye-transplants-possible/?utm_source=the_download&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=the_download.unpaid.engagement&amp;utm_term=*%7CSUBCLASS%7C*&amp;utm_content=*%7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C*">Here’s how it works</a>.</p> <p><em>—Jessica Hamzelou</em></p> <p><strong>The must-reads</strong></p> <p><em>I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.</em></p> <p><strong>1 The UN’s chief has warned that AI is outpacing global rules</strong><br>He’s called for globally harmonised guardrails. (<a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/un-chief-warns-ai-is-developing-faster-than-rules-can-keep-up-2026-07-06/">Reuters</a> $)<br><em>+ The UN also said AI could worsen global inequality.</em> (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jul/01/un-report-ai-inequality">Guardian</a>)</p> <p><strong>2 An Israeli battlefield system identified 850,000 targets in Gaza and Lebanon</strong><br>Elbit Systems says it detected targets in real time. (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/06/israel-command-system-identified-850000-targets-gaza-lebanon-war-supplier-elbit-systems">Guardian</a>)<br><em>+ Congress wants to permanently integrate US and Israeli defence tech. </em>(<a href="https://theintercept.com/2026/06/08/us-israel-224-ai-defense-budget/">Intercept</a>) <br><em>+  How AI turned the Iran conflict into theater. </em>(<a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/03/09/1134063/how-ai-is-turning-the-iran-conflict-into-theater/?utm_source=the_download&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=the_download.unpaid.engagement&amp;utm_term=*%7CSUBCLASS%7C*&amp;utm_content=*%7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C*">MIT Technology Review</a>) </p> <p><strong>3 EU transparency rules have exposed Microsoft’s tax haven tactics</strong><br>A new report shows how it shifts profits around to reduce tax bills. (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/03/technology/microsoft-europe-disclosure-tax-havens.html">NYT</a> $)<br><em>+ Other US companies will soon need to provide similar reports.</em> (<a href="https://www.engadget.com/2207542/microsoft-eu-tax-disclosure-report/">Engadget</a>)</p> <p><strong>4 A spacecraft has launched an audacious mission to rescue a NASA telescope<br></strong>LINK will try to tug the SWIFT observatory to a higher orbit. (<a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2532627-audacious-mission-to-rescue-nasas-falling-telescope-has-launched/">New Scientist</a> $)<br><em>+ It will attempt to grab the telescope with three robotic arms.</em> (<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0ry4xx7rk8o">BBC</a>)<br><em>+ The observatory studies gamma-ray bursts. </em>(<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/nasa-swift-boost-mission-save-sinking-space-telescope-rcna351996">NBC News</a>)<br><em>+ We’re putting more stuff into space than ever.</em> (<a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/02/24/1132755/anthroposphere-putting-more-stuff-into-space-than-ever/?utm_source=the_download&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=the_download.unpaid.engagement&amp;utm_term=*%7CSUBCLASS%7C*&amp;utm_content=*%7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C*">MIT Technology Review</a>)</p> <p><strong>5 Chinese tech giants are disabling humanlike AI due to new regulations</strong><br>ByteDance and Alibaba have shut down the features. (<a href="https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3359482/bytedance-and-alibaba-disable-humanlike-ai-custom-agents-new-rules-loom?utm_source=feedly_feed">SCMP</a>)<br><em>+ Beijing is tightening its AI regulations.</em> (<a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/business/technology/artificial-intelligence/china-s-leading-chatbots-to-ditch-ai-personas-as-beijing-tightens-rules">Nikkei Asia</a>)</p> <p><strong>6 Anthropic wants to develop its own drugs<br></strong>The company says it will pursue treatments for “neglected” diseases. (<a href="https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/961311/anthropic-claude-science-ai-drug-development">Verge</a>)<br><em>+ It’s also got a new AI for science product. </em>(<a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/06/30/1139987/claude-science-is-anthropics-newest-flagship-product/?utm_source=the_download&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=the_download.unpaid.engagement&amp;utm_term=*%7CSUBCLASS%7C*&amp;utm_content=*%7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C*">MIT Technology Review</a>)</p> <p><strong>7 India is testing an alternative to Silicon Valley’s AI playbook</strong><br>It’s based on small, offline, multilingual, open-source AI. (<a href="https://restofworld.org/2026/india-bhashini-open-source-offline-ai-hackathon/">Rest of World</a>)<br><em>+ India’s AI infrastructure is also attracting investors. (</em><a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2026/07/06/ai-investing-in-india-the-real-opportunity-is-infrastructure.html">CNBC</a>)</p> <p><strong>8 Big Tech has suddenly flipped on the AI jobs wipeout scenario</strong><br>Negative public opinion has sparked a more optimistic public stance. (<a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-workers-tech-ceos-job-losses-afc71e15?mod=rss_Technology">WSJ</a> $)<br><em>+ The AI jobs hysteria needs a reality check. </em>(<a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/05/26/1137855/a-reality-check-on-the-ai-jobs-hysteria/?utm_source=the_download&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=the_download.unpaid.engagement&amp;utm_term=*%7CSUBCLASS%7C*&amp;utm_content=*%7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C*">MIT Technology Review</a>)</p> <p><strong>9 Midjourney has accused Hollywood studios of covertly using AI</strong><br>It’s escalated its legal fight with Disney, Universal, and Warner. (<a href="https://gizmodo.com/midjourney-thinks-hollywood-should-fess-up-about-using-ai-2000781426">Gizmodo</a>)</p> <p><strong>10 A martian rock has lots of carbon on it, and it’s not clear why</strong><br>Scientists cannot yet tell whether biology played a role. (<a href="https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/07/a-martian-rock-has-lots-of-carbon-on-it-and-its-not-clear-why/">Ars Technica</a>)</p> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Quote of the day</strong></p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>“It’s just his AI and my AI going back and forth.”&nbsp;</strong></h2> <p>—An anonymous employee explains why she’s struggling to develop a good working relationship with her boss, <a href="https://fortune.com/article/ai-communication-undermining-human-relationships-middle-management/">Fortune reports</a>.</p> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>One More Thing</strong></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://wp.technologyreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MIT_EmotionalSupportAI_FINAL_01.jpg?fit=2128,1196" alt=""/></figure> <h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><br>The AI relationship revolution is already here</strong></h4> <p>AI is everywhere, and it’s starting to alter our relationships with our spouses, kids, colleagues, friends—and even ourselves. </p> <p>Although the technology remains unpredictable and sometimes baffling, individuals from all across the world and from all walks of life are finding it useful, supportive, and comforting too.&nbsp;</p> <p>People are using large language models to seek validation, mediate marital arguments, and help navigate interactions with their community. They’re using it for parenting support, self-care, and even to fall in love.</p> <p><a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/02/13/1111366/ai-relationships-chatbots-parenting-self-care-dating-marriage-mental-health/?utm_source=the_download&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=the_download.unpaid.engagement&amp;utm_term=*%7CSUBCLASS%7C*&amp;utm_content=*%7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C">Explore how AI is changing our relationships</a>.</p> <p><em>—Rhiannon Williams</em></p> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>We can still have nice things</strong></p> <p><em>A place for comfort, fun, and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? </em><a href="mailto:[email protected]"><em>Drop me a line</em></a><em>.)</em></p> <p>+ Radiohead&#8217;s seminal album “OK Computer” has been reimagined as a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1I0_bsjEsY">Nintendo 64 soundtrack</a>.<br>+ Graphic design history meets stamp collecting in this <a href="https://www.instagram.com/filatelia_grafica/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">beautifully curated archive of postage stamp design</a>.<br>+ As Lionel Messi lights up another World Cup, his former coach breaks down his style of play in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWIyEyzumN0">this fascinating analysis</a>.<br>+ Armchair engineers will enjoy the brilliant product teardowns of everyday items like clicky pens and lighters on <a href="https://mechanical-pencil.com/">Mechanical Pencil</a>.</p>