The Download: Anthropic's IPO, smarter power grids, and exercise pills (www.technologyreview.com)

Anthropic has officially filed for its IPO, releasing a comprehensive prospectus that outlines its vision for revolutionizing technology while addressing the risks associated with artificial intelligence. The document highlights the company's dual identity as both a profit-seeking enterprise and a proponent of AI safety. This distinction raises significant questions about the company's actual intentions and may impact investor confidence in the fast-evolving AI landscape, where Anthropic seeks to position itself at the forefront. In another development pertinent to the AI community, researchers are exploring the potential of solid-state transformers to modernize the U.S. power grid, which is increasingly strained by rising energy demands from electric vehicles and data centers. These advanced transformers aim to enhance efficiency and reliability, potentially laying the groundwork for a more robust infrastructure that can support the growing energy requirements of AI technologies. As the field continues to converge towards smarter solutions, breakthroughs like these could play a vital role in sustaining both AI advancements and their energy demands.