The Down load: Synthetic surf swimming pools, and unfunny AI

For nearly as prolonged as surfing has existed, surfers have been obsessed with the research for the excellent wave. 

Even though this hunt has taken surfers from tropical coastlines to icebergs, these times that lookup could take position nearer to property. That is, at least, the vision introduced by builders and boosters in the growing business of surf swimming pools, spurred by developments in wave-­generating technology that have at last established synthetic waves surfers really want to ride.

But there’s a issue: some of these swimming pools are in drought-ridden spots, and deal with fierce nearby opposition. At the main of these fights is a issue that’s also at the heart of the activity: What is the price of obtaining, or now creating, the excellent wave—and who will have to bear it? Read through the total story.

—Eileen Guo

This story is from the forthcoming print difficulty of MIT Technological innovation Evaluation, which explores the theme of Perform. It’s established to go dwell on Wednesday June 26, so if you don’t previously, subscribe now to get a copy when it lands.

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