This is today's edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology.

Desalination plants in the Middle East are increasingly vulnerable 

As the conflict in Iran has escalated, a crucial resource is under fire: the desalinization technology that supplies water in the region.  President Donald Trump has threatened to destroy “possibly all desalinization plants” in Iran if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened. The impact on farming, industry, and—crucially—drinking in the Middle East could be severe. Find out why. 

—Casey Crownhart 

This story is part of MIT Technology Review Explains, our series untangling the complex, messy world of technology to help you understand what’s coming next. You can read more from the series here. 

AI is changing how small online sellers decide what to make 

For small entrepreneurs, deciding what to sell and where to make it has traditionally been a slow, labor-intensive process. Now that work is increasingly being done by AI.   

Tools like Alibaba’s Accio compress weeks of product research and supplier hunting into a single chat. Business owners and e-commerce experts say they’re&n...