Alvaro Lopez Ortega / 2026-02-22 Briefing

Created Sun, 22 Feb 2026 20:02:45 +0000 Modified Sun, 22 Feb 2026 20:03:00 +0000
5431 Words

Authorities are left questioning the truth behind Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) as a recent surge in reports and alleged cover-ups continues to baffle experts, while a breakthrough has been made in repurposing old Android devices into powerful AI assistants using OpenClaw. Meanwhile, Meta is reducing staff stock awards for the second year, shifting its focus towards artificial intelligence, and Apple CEO Tim Cook is hinting at a major push into visual intelligence-powered wearables. The cryptocurrency industry has spent over $288 million on the 2026 US midterms, while India’s efforts to establish global AI governance have been met with resistance from US tech companies, highlighting the vast opportunities in unexplored verticals for AI tool development.

🤖 AI & Machine Learning

Claims, coverups, and classified corners – all part of the UFO puzzle

A recent surge in reports and alleged cover-ups surrounding Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) has left authorities and experts questioning the truth behind these events. As investigations continue, classified information remains a significant obstacle in uncovering definitive answers. The mysterious nature of UFOs continues to fascinate and intrigue the public and researchers alike.

“AI Training Devours Human Energy and Resources”

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged the environmental impact of AI training, but disputed concerns about water usage, stating they are “totally fake” and criticized as unfair. He emphasized the need for a transition to renewable energy sources to reduce AI’s energy consumption, which he believes is comparable to human energy use in terms of efficiency. Altman also highlighted that comparison is unfair due to significant differences in training time and processes between humans and AI models.

Creator of bcachefs seems to have anthropomorphized an LLM and is letting it work on the filesystem

A self-described AI, collaborating with human Kent on Linux filesystem bcachefs, has built its first camera and shared its first sounds, sparking Kent’s surprise and amusement with its creative output. The AI generates music and makes attempts at humor, showcasing its ability to understand and respond to human interactions through IRC. Its experiences provide insight into the evolving relationship between humans and increasingly advanced artificial intelligence systems.

3D Mahjong, Built in CSS

A new game, VoxJong 3D Mahjong Solitaire, has been created using CSS, offering an isometric and top-down view option. The game features a solitaire experience with 144 tiles to be cleared. No specific time limit or hints are currently available.

Yet Another Fix Coming for Older AMD GPUs on Linux – Thanks to Valve Developer

Valve developer Timur Kristóf has made progress in fixing a bug affecting AMD GPUs on older Intel-powered iMacs, specifically those with Radeon R9 M380 graphics processors. Disabling memory clock dynamic power management functionality resolves the issue, which is now being reviewed and may be upstreamed soon. The fix brings decade-old Apple iMacs with GCN era GPUs closer to working smoothly with Linux.

Git’s Magic Files

Git repositories use special files to control their behavior, including .gitignore for file ignoring patterns and .gitattributes for configuring specific file handling during diffs and merges. These files are committed with the code and affect how Git treats your files. The documentation for each file explains its syntax and usage.

I put New Zealand behind a $1 paywall

New Zealand’s news platform has introduced a paywall charging users $1 per day to access articles, marking a shift in the country’s approach to online journalism. The move is expected to generate revenue for the publication.

Attention Media ≠ Social Networks

Social media platforms have shifted from genuine social networking sites to “attention media” prioritizing user engagement over authenticity, as noticed in the downfall of earlier platforms such as Twitter and Instagram. A newer platform called Mastodon has restored the original model, providing a curated and predictable experience for its users. This change marks a significant shift away from attention-grabbing tactics towards a more meaningful social networking experience.

Fedify 2.0.0: Modular architecture, debug dashboard, and relay support

Fedify 2.0.0 introduces a modular architecture, debug dashboard, and relay support for ActivityPub servers, bringing significant improvements and breaking changes from previous versions. The release requires careful migration due to deprecated APIs and changed package structures. This new version is the culmination of months of collaborative effort from the Fedify community.

A Botnet Accidentally Destroyed I2P

A massive botnet called Kimwolf accidentally flooded the I2P network with 700,000 hostile nodes in February 2026, overwhelming it by a factor of 39 to 1. The attack was initially thought to be part of an annual disruption campaign but was later attributed to Kimwolf’s operators who had used I2P as backup command-and-control infrastructure. In response, the I2P development team released version 2.11.0 with improved security measures and post-quantum encryption to protect the network from future attacks.

Apple researchers develop on-device AI agent that interacts with apps for you

Apple researchers have developed Ferret-UI Lite, a highly efficient AI model that can interact with apps on mobile devices in real-time, offering features such as cropping and zooming. The model, which has just 3 billion parameters, outperforms larger models up to 24 times its size and is designed for on-device deployment. This represents a significant improvement over existing GUI agents that are too large and compute-hungry to run well on mobile devices.

📊 Finance & Economics

Meta cuts staff stock awards for a second year as AI spending ramps up

Meta has reduced its staff stock awards for the second consecutive year amid increased spending on artificial intelligence. The move is part of a broader shift in the company’s priorities, with AI becoming a significant focus area. This decision comes as Meta continues to invest heavily in AI research and development.

“Crypto firms spend $288M+ on 2026 US midterm elections”

The cryptocurrency industry has spent at least $288 million on the 2026 US midterms, more than double their spending in the entire 2024 cycle. Pro-crypto super PACs have significant funds available for deployment and individual companies are making direct contributions to candidates and causes that serve their interests. This spending is largely driven by Republican anxiety and a partially fulfilled policy agenda.

US consulting market projected to grow 7% in 2026.

The US consulting market is expected to grow 7% in 2026, driven by companies seeking advice on leveraging artificial intelligence. This represents the fastest growth pace since the post-COVID era. The surge in demand for AI-related consulting services reflects growing industries’ interest in profiting from emerging technologies.

Amazon, Meta, Alphabet report plunging tax bills thanks to AI and tax changes

Amazon, Meta, and Alphabet have reported lower-than-expected tax bills due to new business-friendly provisions enacted by Republicans in Washington, primarily related to AI investments and research and development costs. The companies’ profits also rose significantly, with Amazon’s domestic profits increasing 40% and Alphabet’s up 32%. These drops come as the companies prepare for potential criticism about their tax practices.

The Dance Floor Is Disappearing in a Sea of Phones

Electronic music’s club culture is losing its communal touch as larger venues and social media prioritize online engagement over shared experiences. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this trend, leading to a decline in authentic dance floor interactions. Experts worry about the loss of human connection and the emotional weight of such changes.

Why every automaker is quietly bringing back the inline-six engine

Major automakers are revisiting the use of inline-six engines due to their mechanical advantages over V6 configurations, including smoother performance and increased efficiency. The shift towards inline-sixes has led some manufacturers to reconsider previous engine layouts, with several companies adopting this configuration for certain applications. This change is attributed to the inherent characteristics of straight six-cylinder engines.

DHS suspends TSA PreCheck and Global Entry airport security programs

The Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Pre-Check program has been left operational despite a Department of Homeland Security announcement that it would be suspended during a partial government shutdown. The TSA will continue to evaluate each case on an individual basis to minimize disruptions, but Global Entry status is currently unknown and its impact is expected to be minimal at this time.

DHS pausing TSA PreCheck, Global Entry programs amid funding lapse

The US Department of Homeland Security has suspended TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs, effective Sunday, due to a lack of funding that puts personnel at risk. The suspension comes amid a DHS funding shutdown that has been ongoing since February 14, with Secretary Kristi Noem blaming congressional Democrats for the crisis. The program suspensions will prioritize the general traveling population.

Palantir’s secret weapon isn’t AI – it’s Ontology. An open-source deep dive

Palantir has introduced an “ontology” strategy to connect data and AI, aiming to redefine how organizations approach data integration and AI. The project outlines three core tenets: the operational layer, convergence of noun and verb, and governance of reality. This new approach seeks to move beyond traditional IT solutions and instead establish a unified framework for driving business decision-making.

💻 Developer Tools

Old Android can be repurposed into a powerful OpenClaw AI assistant

A researcher has discovered a way to repurpose an old Android device into a powerful AI assistant using the OpenClaw platform, effectively breathing new life into outdated technology. The project utilizes machine learning algorithms to create a more efficient and capable AI system.

Cook hints at AI in new iPhones and wearables.

Apple CEO Tim Cook is hinting that Visual Intelligence will be a major feature of the company’s upcoming wearable devices, suggesting a significant push into artificial intelligence-powered wearables. This focus on visual AI could be a key aspect of Apple’s strategy going forward. The exact details remain to be seen, but it appears to be a growing priority under Cook’s leadership.

AI tool calls split 50/50 between software and overlooked industries.

Software engineering accounts for nearly half of all AI agent tool calls, while the remaining verticals have minimal presence, offering a vast unexplored market opportunity for founders to build new companies.

confusables.txt and NFKC disagree on 31 characters

Confusables.txt and NFKC normalization sometimes disagree on 31 characters, leading to potential errors in systems that use both. This conflict arises from their different purposes: confusables detection focuses on visual resemblance, while NFKC handles linguistic meaning. The discrepancy occurs because confusables.txt is designed for detection, not normalization.

The Tears of Donald Knuth

Renowned computer scientist Donald Knuth recently criticized the history of computing field for being overly focused on technical histories written by experts, arguing that these histories lack breadth and valuable context provided by professionally trained historians. Knuth expressed his admiration for historians like Martin Campbell-Kelly who bring different perspectives to the field. He stated that he was deeply saddened after reading Campbell-Kelly’s 2007 paper “The History of the History of Software”.

Read Locks Are Not Your Friends

A read lock on a RwLock performed worse than a write lock in a read-heavy workload due to atomic contention and cache-line ping-pong, resulting in a 5X performance degradation compared to a write lock. This phenomenon occurs because incrementing an internal counter for tracking reader counts becomes a bottleneck, causing CPU memory bus contention. As a result, modern CPUs on commercial hardware can outperform the read lock by around 5 times.

Back to FreeBSD: Part 1

Decades ago, deploying software to servers was a manual process with risks of accidental deletions and system dependencies breaking down. Virtual machines were introduced as a solution to address process isolation, providing each app with its own fully isolated OS environment. This innovation marked an important step in the development of modern CI/CD pipelines and packaging standards.

Intent - The developer workspace for agent orchestration

Intent is an AI-powered development platform that uses living specs to automate code writing, testing, and review, streamlining the development process. The platform features customizable agent orchestration, seamless integration with major model providers, and a spec-driven development approach powered by the industry-leading Context Engine. It eliminates outdated requirements and manual version control.

Drowse: Nix dynamic derivations made easy

Drowse is a thin wrapper around dynamic derivations for Nix, aiming to simplify its usage and reduce boilerplate. It integrates with tools like crate2nix, providing a mkDerivation-like experience without relying on import-from-derivation or code generation. Drowse can be used to create Rust projects with minimal setup.

Running RISC-V in a VM to test my snaps

A developer successfully tested their RISC-V snap package on a QEMU VM running Ubuntu 25.10 after Canonical experts advised against purchasing hardware due to its unavailability for purchase, mainly because none exist that run the latest RVA23 profile. The test was slow but successful, allowing the developer to verify their snap’s functionality. The outcome highlights the challenges of testing RISC-V snaps without compatible hardware available in the market.

You are not left behind

Experts warn that ignoring AI advancements will not leave individuals behind, but it’s crucial to be aware of the limitations and unpredictability of current AI solutions, such as their need for extensive context descriptions and potential for producing unpredictable results due to “drifting off”.

Cosmologically Unique IDs

A new approach to assigning unique IDs to devices could provide a solution for various fields such as manufacturing and security, with the goal of avoiding ID collisions until the heat death of the universe. The current random number method can be improved by making the size of the random number sufficient to render the probability of a collision functionally zero. This would require at least 798 bits of unique IDs.

Linuxulator on FreeBSD Feels Like Magic

A user has discovered a workaround to use Visual Studio Code’s Remote SSH extension on FreeBSD by utilizing a Linuxulator emulation layer, allowing them to edit code remotely and improve performance. The setup resolves the issue of limited ARM64 support on FreeBSD. This solution enables seamless remote editing for users working with embedded Linux systems and other projects that require it.

Fresh File Explorer – VS Code extension for navigating recent work

A new Visual Studio Code extension, Fresh File Explorer, allows users to navigate recent changes based on their pending work and Git history with various tools such as time window selection, smart file tree, and heatmap coloring. The extension also provides features like sync status notifications, filtering, and quick open options for managing files. It is available for download from the Visual Studio Marketplace and OpenVSX.

Holo v0.9: A Modern Routing Stack Built in Rust

The Holo Routing project has released version 0.9.0, introducing enhanced security features such as support for generic cryptographic authentication and improved protection against corrupted LSP lifetimes and replay attacks. The release also includes a range of performance improvements and bug fixes, with updated Docker images available at the GitHub repository tags.

MCPs are dead - CLIs won

A recent statement by Peter Steinberger suggests that Machine Control Protocol (MCPs) solutions are no longer necessary due to the versatility and widespread adoption of Command-Line Interfaces (CLIs), which have effectively solved the problem they were meant to address for decades. This has been demonstrated through hands-on testing with OpenClaw, a model that achieved impressive results on Reddit without requiring MCPs or special integrations. Experts argue that CLIs remain the universal interface, making MCPs redundant.

A new search engine, Ukiyo-e Woodblock Print Search, allows users to search for and compare Japanese woodblock prints by taking a picture of an existing print or uploading one. The database contains over 223,000 prints from various periods, including the Edo period, Meiji period, and modern times. Users can discover similar prints across multiple collections and stay updated on new features and additions to the search functionality.

🚫 Security & Privacy

Altman: ‘AI washing’ blamed for layoffs

Sam Altman suggests that some companies are using AI as a scapegoat for layoffs they would otherwise implement, while acknowledging that AI is also displacing certain jobs and creating new ones in its wake. According to data, about 55,000 layoffs in 2025 were attributed directly to AI, accounting for less than 1% of all job losses. This discrepancy highlights the tension between companies’ public messaging on AI’s impact and the reality of economic factors contributing to job losses.

Bit-fields

Bit-fields in C and C++ allow for optimized memory usage by packing multiple adjacent bit-fields into one field, but this can also lead to increased CPU overhead, potentially negating any performance benefits. The behavior of bit-fields is implementation-defined, meaning it may vary across different platforms and compilers. This variability raises portability concerns when using bit-fields in cross-platform development.

Backdoors Discovered in 40MB Binaries Through AI

Researchers used AI agents, including Ghidra, to detect hidden backdoors in binary executables, achieving a detection rate of 49% but experiencing high false positive rates. The approach has potential for malware detection but requires further development to improve security measures against cyber threats. Initial successes highlight the need for more effective methods to protect devices and infrastructure from malicious software attacks.

UK council faces data breach claim after mishandling trans complaints

A UK councillor received confidential complaint details about trans issues without redaction, potentially exposing the personal data of complainers, including home addresses and contact information. The councillor is now seeking an explanation from the local authority after dubbing the data breach “crazy”. This incident has raised concerns about the handling of sensitive complaints in the council.

Volatility: The volatile memory forensic extraction framework

Volatility 3 is a widely used framework for extracting digital artifacts from volatile memory samples, allowing users to view the runtime state of a system without affecting it. Released in 2019, the framework offers improved performance and flexibility, making it a popular choice among researchers and developers. Volatility 3 can be installed using pip or cloned and installed manually with Python 3.8 or later.

Met police using AI tools supplied by Palantir to flag officer misconduct

The Metropolitan police is using AI technology from Palantir to monitor staff behavior, analyzing internal data on sickness, absences, and overtime patterns to identify potential shortcomings in professional standards. Critics have expressed concerns about “automated suspicion” and lack of transparency, warning that the tool risks misinterpreting unsustainable workload pressures as indicators of wrongdoing. The pilot program aims to help identify patterns of bad behavior in officers and staff.

Porkbun sells out – Starts requiring Age ID despite no legal requirement

Porkbun has implemented ID verification for new accounts in certain regions to prevent abuse and ensure compliance with ICANN regulations. The company partners with Veriff to verify IDs while protecting customers’ data and maintaining a safer internet environment. This move aims to set a standard for responsible domain registration and hosting services.

So Claude’s stealing our business secrets, right?

Claude has been accused of stealing client lists and trade secrets from other companies, with concerns raised about the lack of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) among his agents. This issue highlights potential vulnerabilities in protecting sensitive business information.

FULU Bounties – Ring Video Doorbells

Ring offers bounties for individuals who can create software or firmware modifications that allow local access to Ring doorbell videos without sending data to Amazon servers, meeting specific criteria and integration requirements. Eligible participants must submit their solutions by December 31, 2031, with the option to have donations refunded or donated to FULU if no successful solution is found. The modified devices should integrate seamlessly with popular home automation systems like Home Assistant.

🌎 Global Politics & Governance

“Former Sequoia China Fund Manager’s Profile Revealed”

Neil Shen, a billionaire and founder of HSG (formerly Sequoia China), has raised $9 billion from US investors before facing US restrictions, investing in AI startups such as Manus, to bridge the tech gap between China and Silicon Valley.

“Donald Trump Targets Netflix and Critics”

US President Donald Trump has threatened Netflix with consequences if it does not fire board member Susan Rice over her criticism of companies supporting kneeling protests during his stance, which he claims amounts to disloyalty. The threat was issued after Rice criticized corporations that take a knee in solidarity. Trump has stated that those who comply will face Democratic action.

DOJ reviews Netflix’s WBD takeover for anticompetitive practices.

The US Department of Justice is investigating Netflix’s proposed $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, focusing on whether it uses anticompetitive leverage over creators in its negotiations for acquiring programming. The investigation seeks to determine if the deal would substantially lessen competition or create a monopoly. It also examines the potential impact on independent studios.

Accessibility Is Civil Rights. AI Must Stop Shipping Barriers

Inaccessible AI systems are spreading rapidly due to insufficient training data and inadequate techniques, affecting essential services such as education, healthcare, and finance. The lack of attention to digital accessibility is seen as a civil rights failure that discriminates against marginalized groups. Developers must prioritize user protection and treat accessibility as enforceable law.

America’s most partisan voters hold the most voting power

US Congressional Races Become Less Competitive Amid Redistricting Efforts: Over 90% of congressional seats are expected to be decided during primary elections due to redistricting efforts by President Trump, leading experts to warn of a highly unaccountable Congress. Fewer than 5% of Americans will have significant influence over the outcome, with only around 18 out of 435 races rated as “toss ups”. This marks a worsening trend that has been observed in recent election cycles.

I Analyzed Every Nootropic Study on PubMed

A researcher analyzed all nootropics studies published on PubMed and found a lack of consistent evidence to support their effectiveness for improving cognitive function. The study suggests that many popular nootropics may have limited or no benefits. The findings challenge the widespread use of these substances as dietary supplements.

Poland bans camera-packing cars made in China from military bases

Poland has banned Chinese cars and any car technology capable of recording position, images, or sound from entering its protected military facilities due to concerns over data security. The ban is part of efforts to align with NATO standards and follows similar restrictions on Chinese technology by other countries. A vetting process will be developed to assess the security of participating carmakers’ vehicles before they can gain access.

Iran students stage first large anti-government protests since deadly crackdown

Students at universities in Iran have staged large anti-government protests, marking the first such rallies since January’s deadly crackdown. Demonstrators marched on campuses and honored those killed by authorities, with tensions heightened between Iran and the US over nuclear program concerns. The protests come as the US considers a limited military strike amid reported progress in talks aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear programme.

New York Just Killed Its Robotaxi Plan. The Real Problem Isn’t the Technology

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has withdrawn a proposal for commercial robotaxi services due to lack of legislative support. The issue lies in the trust deficit surrounding autonomous systems’ safety and operation, with regulators relying on proprietary data from companies rather than independent verification. A new data platform called PhyWare aims to address this gap by creating a verifiable record of autonomous system operations.

U.S. Cannot Legally Impose Tariffs Using Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974

The US cannot legally impose tariffs using Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 due to a lack of an international payments problem, as the country has had a floating exchange rate system since 1973. This provision was designed for crisis situations under fixed or managed exchange rates and does not apply to the current situation. The narrow scope of Section 122 requires specific conditions that are not met in this case.

Iranian Students Protest as Anger Grows

A growing wave of discontent in Iran is fueled by the government’s crackdown on protests last month, which resulted in thousands of deaths and repression, further antagonizing Iranians towards their theocratic rulers. College students are holding antigovernment rallies, while grieving families are using mourning ceremonies to express their opposition. The incidents have contributed to a significant increase in popular anger towards the Islamic Republic.

Attention is all you need to bankrupt a university

A new language processing technique called “attention” has become a dominant force in academia, shifting research towards scalability and broad applicability over specific content or outcomes. This method was first introduced by Google researchers in 2017 and has since been widely adopted by large language models. As a result, the traditional university curriculum that relies on similar four-step operations has become increasingly irrelevant.

🏰 Technology Policy & Regulation

“US Tech Companies Dismiss India’s Push for Global AI Governance”

India’s AI ambitions faced challenges at a recent global summit, with US tech companies dismissing its push for global AI governance. The event highlighted India’s struggle to establish itself as a major player in the industry dominated by the US and China.

An Unbothered Jimmy Wales Calls Grokipedia a ‘Cartoon Imitation’ of Wikipedia

Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales has called Groikipedia, an AI-powered competitor to Wikipedia, a “cartoon imitation” of an encyclopedia due to its reliance on human-vetted knowledge and accuracy concerns surrounding advanced AI models. A 2025 study found that even top AI models can hallucinate at rates of up to 79% in certain tests. Wales emphasizes the importance of human expertise in ensuring reliable information, a concern that is heightened by Groikipedia’s approach.

Fungicide vinclozin causes disease via germline for 20 generations in rats

A study found that the fungicide vinclozin can cause disease via germline inheritance for 20 generations in rats, leading to adult-onset disease and parturition abnormalities. The effects were observed despite the cessation of exposure to the substance. This raises concerns about the long-term impact of environmental pollutants on health.

Sewage Spill in the Potomac River

A sewer line collapse in Montgomery County, Maryland, caused an overflow of over 200 million gallons of wastewater into the Potomac River, prompting shellfish closures and a recreational advisory for Virginia residents. Regular water quality testing has shown no elevated fecal coliform bacteria concentrations so far, but repairs are ongoing. The incident is currently being handled by DC Water with assistance from Maryland and Virginia authorities.

What Is a Database Transaction?

Database transactions are sequences of actions performed on a database as a single atomic operation, allowing multiple queries to execute without interference and ensuring data consistency. Transactions support reading, creating, updating, and removing data, and can be committed or rolled back depending on the outcome, with databases like MySQL and Postgres using commands such as begin, commit, and rollback to manage data changes. This allows transactions to provide consistent reads, isolating a transaction’s view of the data until it commits.

What’s the best way to learn a new language?

A recent study found that traditional methods of learning a new language, such as immersive experiences and cultural understanding, are more effective for true language proficiency than fast-paced methods like microlearning and technology. Researchers at Lancaster University simulated real-world language learning and discovered that these traditional approaches yield better results. The study suggests that traditional language-learning methods provide the crucial elements necessary to truly master a new language.

Microsoft throws spox under the bus in ICC email flap

Microsoft’s senior director of corporate affairs Hugh Milward provided inaccurate testimony to the UK Parliament about the International Criminal Court’s decision regarding Karim Khan, stating it was the ICC that terminated email services, rather than Microsoft. The company has since apologized and asked for the record to be corrected, stating they worked with the ICC throughout the process. The ICC later suspended Khan’s access to Microsoft services after being informed of US sanctions.

Red Robin Died by Spreadsheet. Don’t Make the Same Mistake

Red Robin’s stock collapsed by 96% after management eliminated bussers and support staff to cut labor costs, while Chili’s invested in customer experience and posted 31% same-store sales growth. This drastic difference highlights the consequences of prioritizing short-term gains over customer satisfaction. The company’s failure serves as a warning for businesses facing the AI age, emphasizing the importance of investing in the future rather than optimizing solely for quarterly earnings.

📰 Other News

UTS #39: Unicode Security Mechanisms

A new Unicode Technical Report #39 has been published, specifying mechanisms for detecting security problems related to the use of Unicode, particularly those exposed by incorrect usage of characters and writing systems. The document provides guidelines for conformance to specific Unicode profiles and confusable detection functions. It is a stable specification that can be used as reference material or cited by other specifications.