The Download: carbon removal factories’ funding cuts, and AI toys

The Trump administration is considering cutting funding for two carbon removal plants, potentially impacting projects in Texas and Louisiana. Meanwhile, AI toys with chatbot capabilities are gaining popularity in China and are starting to appear in the US market. Additionally, Pairwise, a startup using CRISPR gene editing to develop climate-adapted crops, is highlighted as a key player in addressing the challenges of growing crops in a changing climate. The article also touches on the importance of R&D spending and its long-term value, as well as other tech news including concerns about AI market inflation and the impact of quantum mechanics on technology.