The Download: A Motivating Toy Robot Arm and the Importance of AM Radio

Here’s a rewritten version with the requested changes:

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“Every tech company is doing similar things, but we were open about it.” —Luis von Ahn, chief executive of the language-learning app Duolingo, shares insights with the Financial Times, noting that his company is not alone in adopting an AI-first strategy.

One more thing
How to break free of Spotify’s algorithm
Since the heyday of radio, the branding of sound has evolved from broad genres like rock and hip-hop to niche categories like “paranormal dark cabaret afternoon” and “synth space,” with streaming now becoming the default. Meanwhile, the ritual of discovering something new is conveniently packaged in 30-song playlists. The only rule in music streaming is personalization.

What we’ve gained in convenience, we’ve lost in curiosity. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Learn more about how to navigate this landscape.

We can still have nice things
A place for comfort, fun, and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or share them with me.)

+ Happy birthday to Michael J. Fox, who turns 64 today!
+ Whenever you need to play the world’s smallest violin, these scientists can help you out
+ An early JMW Turner oil painting has been rediscovered.
+ Watching robots attempt to kickbox is pretty amusing.

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