WSJ: ““Dots and Lines” is about modern network science. “At their most basic, networks measure whether objects interact,” writes Mr. Bonato, a professor of mathematics at Toronto Metropolitan University and the author of “Limitless Minds: Interviews With Mathematicians.” The objects here—the dots and nodes, or vertices—could represent people or pretty much any entity. Their interactions are represented by lines, edges or links. The pages of Mr. Bonato’s book connect a veritable network of facts, figures and fascinations about networks: The first English use of the word “network,” we learn, was printed in the 1560 Geneva Bible (“a grate like networke of brasse”); in the 17th century the term described vein structures in plants; in the 18th century it was applied to railways, rivers and electrical cables. And then came the World Wide Web. “The internet,” Mr. Bonato reminds us, “was originally referred to by the less catchy internetwork.””
Economist: “India’s space programme…offers a rare example of successful public-private collaboration. In 2020 the government opened the space sector to private firms. Before that, companies could act as suppliers only to the Indian Space Research Organisation. A new agency, IN–SPACe, was created to grant private firms access to state-developed technology and infrastructure. So far, it has approved over 50 firms aiming to launch satellites and offer space-based services. Mr Forbes acknowledges the success of IN–SPACe but sees it as a special case—powered by a capable public agency and with a clear mandate. If India wants to be more than the world’s next assembly line, it needs to bring the same clarity of purpose that launched satellites into orbit to the far messier business of making innovation take off on Earth.”
Sophie Bakalar: “Consumer AI isn’t about chatbots. Not the way we’ve come to know them, anyway. It’s about escaping the tired web of buttons and dropdowns we’ve been clicking through for years. The real opportunity is interface: tools that don’t just respond to commands but anticipate context. It’s not just about better UX. It’s about a new class of interaction altogether. This could mean a home-buying concierge that doesn’t just show you listings, but understands your daily commute, dog-walking routine, and what kind of light you like in the mornings. A personal finance system that syncs with your partner’s calendar and cash flow, so you plan together without talking about money every day. Or a piano coach that listens as you play and adjusts your practice routine in real time, because you finally have a teacher with infinite patience. Chatbots might have kicked off the era of conversational AI, but the revolution is in what comes after: ambient, embedded, invisible tools that behave more like teammates than software…The best consumer AI product of the next five years won’t wow you with its intelligence. It’ll earn your trust. And neveask for your attention.”
Mint: “The AI assistant isn’t your doctor, but it can make you a smarter patient.”
