The Download: US robot restrictions, and ICE’s DNA grab

This is today's edition of The Download, our weekday that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. Trump’s AI protectionism has come for robotics   —James O’Donnell  Humanoid robots usually elicit more cringe than awe: They stumble, kick children, and despite advances are still worse at using their hands than my toddler. It’s a nascent industry, and such robots are more commonly seen in viral videos than real workplaces or homes.  It was a surprise, then, when last week the Federal Trade Commission issued a sweeping ban on foreign imports of advanced robots, including humanoids, quadrupeds, and wheeled robots.  The decision should be understood not as another chapter in the old China trade playbook, but as evidence that the Trump administration is expanding its protection of the AI industry beyond today’s leading labs. It is now willing to step in on behalf of an emerging robotics sector that is still barely finding its footing. Read our analysis to understand the ban’s potential impact. This story is from The Algorithm, our weekly all about the latest goings-on in the world of AI.  to receive it in your inbox every Monday. That could change soon though, thanks to new tech. (Ars Technica) 9 A $2 million crime novel deal collapsed over AI use concerns And the agent and the writer involved have, erm... rather differing accounts of what happened. (Guardian) 10 AI matchmaking services are on the rise 💑🤖 Online daters hope it might prove better at finding them love than fruitless swiping. (WSJ $) Quote of the day “Just a little too pleasant to be human.” —North Carolina resident Kristen Charpentier tells Wired how she could tell she was talking to AI when ordering at a Dairy Queen drive-thru. One More Thing How to have a child in the digital age  Before journalist and culture critic Amanda Hess even got pregnant with her first child, in 2020, the internet knew she was trying. She saw pregnancy ads way before a doctor.    Hess’s experience is pretty typical these days, but still raises some big questions. How do we retain control over our bodies when corporations have access to our most personal information? What happens when people stop relying on friends and family for advice on having a kid and instead go online?  Read our interview with Hess to learn what she has to say.  —Alison Arieff We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun, and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas?