🧠 Neuralink’s brain-computer demo

Good morning. This is Shades of the Day, the daily newsletter that summarizes and organizes the different shades of perspective in news and culture so that you can see the big picture quickly.

Here at Shades we believe that seeing multiple points of view is the best way to stay informed. The easiest (and most fun!) way to do that is with the Shades mobile app, where this newsletter’s content is pulled from.

It’s Friday, March 22 — here’s what you’ll find in today’s newsletter:

• The latest Neuralink brain-computer demo

• The pros and cons of facial balancing

• 4 quick hits of news from the last 24 hours

- Jeff (co-founder of Shades)

P.S. You may notice that we’ve updated our branding. We’re preparing to release the biggest-ever update to the Shades mobile app, which includes a new look and feel, plus social community features. If you want to be a beta tester for the new app, email me at [email protected] and I’ll get you access.

🧠 Neuralink’s brain-computer demo

Neuralink's latest demo of mind-controlled tech has some cheering, with others wary of ethical risks.

🧠 Wired: Broadcast via livestream, Neuralink's brain-computer tech allowed a paralyzed man to play chess with his mind.

🧠 You can watch the full livestream here.

🧠 A Redditor on r/Technology was horrified: Neuralink could be misused. Demo aside, Elon Musk (co-founder of the company) shouldn't have this kind of power.

🧠 Barstool Sports was blown away, though: Neuralink looks amazing. The future is here — who cares if Elon's talking like Dr. Evil??

🧠 For what it's worth, @alexia on X was optimistic: Neuralink's potential for helping quadriplegics is huge. But it's still spooky tech.

💉 Facial balancing

Filler-fueled facial symmetry is all the rage, but is it self-care or just succumbing to beauty pressures?

💉 Considering a selfie upgrade without surgery? Elle says facial balancing with fillers is your go-to for that dreamy, symmetrical look.

💉 The Cut loves it. Facial balancing is the new go-to for subtle aesthetic tweaks.

💉 But blavity.com thinks that facial balancing may just be another fleeting beauty trend — it's unconvincing.

💉 And Lionnewspaper.com says it'll only worsen your insecurities. True empowerment comes from embracing your natural beauty!

Quick hits

🇺🇳 Russia and China veto a US-backed UN resolution for an immediate Israel-Hamas cease-fire in Gaza.

🐸 Scientists named a prehistoric amphibian ancestor “Kermitops gratus” due to its resemblance to Kermit the Frog.

🚨 Alabama woman who falsely claimed kidnapping must pay nearly $18K and received probation.

⚾️ Shohei Ohtani's MLB debut overshadowed by his interpreter's “massive theft” scandal linked to sports gambling.

Thanks for reading. If you have any feedback about our newsletter and what changes you’d like to see, please share it here — or you can email me at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you!