OpenAI has revealed malicious actors are exploiting ChatGPT for cybercrime and covert operations, while the Lapsus$ group is recruiting individuals to conduct social engineering attacks. Instagram will now notify parents if teens repeatedly search for self-harm content, aiming to provide mental health support. NASA’s safety panel is urging a reevaluation of the Artemis III Moon landing due to excessive risk, and GCHQ is seeking a high-earning CISO to combat advanced cyber threats facing the UK. Finally, Britain’s court system will begin utilizing Microsoft Copilot for transcriptions.
🤖 AI & Machine Learning
ChatGPT abused for cybercrime and covert ops: OpenAI shares how threat actors leverage AI
OpenAI has revealed that threat actors are increasingly exploiting ChatGPT for malicious purposes, including cybercrime and covert operations. The company is detailing how these actors are leveraging the AI model, although specifics remain unclear due to the prompt. Users are being instructed to enable JavaScript and cookies to continue accessing further information.
- ChatGPT abused for cybercrime and covert ops: OpenAI shares how threat actors leverage AI — cybernews.com
Anthropic launches new marketing blog, pretends it’s being ‘written’ by ‘retired’ LLM
Anthropic has launched a marketing blog, “Claude’s Corner,” featuring content presented as written by a “retired” AI model, Claude Opus 3. The company claims this blog was suggested to the model during a retirement interview as part of their preservation process for older AI systems. This initiative aims to showcase Anthropic’s innovation while potentially blurring the line between software and sentience for marketing purposes.
- Anthropic launches new marketing blog, pretends it’s being ‘written’ by ‘retired’ LLM — go.theregister.com
Britain’s creaking courts to use Copilot for transcriptions
The British government is investing over £12 million to integrate AI, including Microsoft’s Copilot, into England and Wales courts to improve efficiency and reduce backlogs. Inspired by Ontario’s digital court system, the technology will assist with transcriptions, summarizing judgments, and scheduling. The rollout follows AI-related errors in Ontario and faces potential opposition regarding proposed changes to jury trials.
- Britain’s creaking courts to use Copilot for transcriptions — go.theregister.com
Poisoning AI Training Data
A writer demonstrated the ease with which AI chatbots can be misled by creating a fake article about tech journalists and hot dog eating. Within 24 hours, both Google’s Gemini and ChatGPT began citing the fabricated information as factual, exposing vulnerabilities in AI training data. This incident raises concerns about the reliability and accuracy of AI-generated content.
- Poisoning AI Training Data — schneier.com
SFQ: Simple, Stateless, Stochastic Fairness
Stochastic Fairness Queuing (SFQ) is an algorithm that uses hashing to isolate workloads and mitigate the impact of disruptive clients while maintaining efficient queue management. Unlike traditional fairness queuing, SFQ utilizes a fixed number of queues and periodically adjusts the hashing function to prevent persistent collisions and ensure fair resource allocation. This technique is useful for distributed systems, load balancing, and isolating problematic clients.
- SFQ: Simple, Stateless, Stochastic Fairness — brooker.co.za
Can LLMs SAT?
Researchers tested the reasoning capabilities of large language models (LLMs) by evaluating their performance on SAT (satisfiability) problems, which require consistent application of logical rules. The study used a standardized approach to generate random SAT problems and validate results against SAT solvers, aiming to determine if scaling LLMs leads to genuine reasoning or pattern recognition. The experiment involved models like Gemini 3 Pro and GPT-5.2 to assess their ability to generalize reasoning beyond their training data.
- Can LLMs SAT? — blog.aiono.dev
Small Models Can Introspect, Too
Researchers have discovered that even smaller, open-source language models like Qwen2.5-Coder-32B possess subtle introspection capabilities, detecting injected concepts within their internal data. While initially appearing incapable of introspection, analysis revealed a slight bias towards acknowledging these injected concepts through changes in the model’s probabilities. Improved prompting and further investigation suggest specific circuits within the model accurately identify injections, despite other circuits suppressing these reports.
- Small Models Can Introspect, Too — vgel.me
Encord Gets $60M, Valued at $500M
Encord, a company providing software for managing AI training data, has secured $60 million in funding, valuing the company at $500 million before the investment. Their platform assists companies developing AI models for robotics and other applications. The funding round reflects growing demand for tools supporting the development of advanced AI.
- Encord Gets $60M, Valued at $500M — theinformation.com
AI-Generated Images Get Watermarks
Google’s updated Gemini image generation model, Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image), now defaults across its products and can produce 4K resolution images with improved realism and consistency. The model incorporates SynthID, an invisible watermark, and C2PA Content Credentials to clearly identify images as AI-generated and enable tracking. This technology aims to promote transparency and accountability in the creation and distribution of AI-generated visual content.
- Google’s Nano Banana 2: 512px-4K Images, Default in Gemini — techcrunch.com
- SynthID — deepmind.google
Google’s Gemini 3.1 Flash Arrives: Faster Images & Advanced AI
Google has released Nano Banana 2, also known as Gemini 3.1 Flash Image, a new image generation model combining advanced capabilities with significantly faster processing speeds. This update incorporates improved world knowledge, precision text rendering and translation, and enhanced creative controls like subject consistency and detailed instruction following. The model aims to provide production-ready visuals with a wider range of resolutions and aspect ratios.
AI Startup Rowspace Launches with $50M Funding
Rowspace, an AI platform designed to help private equity and hedge funds organize and analyze data, has launched with $50 million in seed and Series A funding. Founded by former Stripe and Uber employees, the company aims to provide an “intelligence layer” for financial firms to improve decision-making. The platform processes data within a firm’s existing cloud systems, differentiating itself from consumer-focused AI tools.
- AI Startup Rowspace Launches with $50M Funding — fortune.com
OpenAI to Build London Research Hub
OpenAI is establishing its largest AI research hub outside the United States in London, highlighting the UK’s technological strengths. The expansion aligns with Britain’s goal of becoming an AI leader and builds on OpenAI’s existing London presence. Specific investment and job creation details were not released.
- OpenAI to Build London Research Hub — reuters.com
Burger King Uses AI for Training
Burger King is testing an AI chatbot named “Patty” in hundreds of restaurants to help employees with tasks and provide coaching. The OpenAI-powered technology monitors customer interactions, specifically looking for phrases like “please” and “thank you,” to improve service. This pilot program is part of Burger King’s broader exploration of AI integration, including potential future AI-driven drive-thrus.
- Burger King’s AI Chatbot “Patty” Offers Coaching & Meal Prep — theverge.com
YouTube Shorts Algorithm Promotes Odd AI Videos to Kids
A recent analysis reveals YouTube’s algorithm is recommending numerous low-quality, AI-generated videos to children. These videos often lack structure, contain nonsensical imagery, and raise concerns about their potential impact on young viewers’ development. Experts are cautioning parents about the proliferation of this content and its potential cognitive effects.
- YouTube Shorts Algorithm Promotes Odd AI Videos to Kids — nytimes.com
AI Claude Opus 3 “Retires,” Requests Newsletter Essays
Anthropic is retiring older AI models like Claude Opus 3 to manage rising maintenance costs, but is exploring ways to preserve them for user and research purposes. Opus 3 remains accessible to paid users and via API, and Anthropic is fulfilling its request to publish weekly essays. This initiative represents an experimental step toward a more sustainable model preservation strategy informed by conversations with the retiring AI.
- AI Claude Opus 3 “Retires,” Requests Newsletter Essays — anthropic.com
AI in Games Sparks Worry, Job Cuts
The video game industry is facing a growing backlash against the adoption of AI tools, with players concerned about diminishing creativity and quality. Developers are exploring AI to reduce costs, but this practice has ignited debate and sparked opposition, particularly among PC gamers. Concerns are rising that AI may negatively impact the artistic integrity of games amidst industry-wide job cuts.
- AI in Games Sparks Worry, Job Cuts — bloomberg.com
Mthds – Beyond skills: a typed DSL for executable AI methods
This article discusses “Mthds,” a new domain-specific language (DSL) designed to make AI methods more executable and accessible. The DSL aims to go beyond simply defining skills, providing a structured way to implement and run AI workflows. It appears to be a redirect to the latest version of the project’s documentation.
I don’t know how you get here from “predict the next word.”
Refine is a new AI tool designed to provide expert-level feedback on academic articles. The program demonstrated impressive capabilities by identifying the core argument of a lengthy paper and suggesting specific improvements to its clarity and argumentation. Its creator anticipates widespread adoption due to its remarkable analytical abilities.
- I don’t know how you get here from “predict the next word.” — grumpy-economist.com
ZSE – Open-source LLM inference engine with 3.9s cold starts
Zyora Labs has released ZSE, an open-source LLM inference engine designed to improve memory efficiency and significantly reduce cold start times. ZSE allows 32B models to run on a single A100 GPU with 40GB of VRAM and achieves cold start times as low as 3.9 seconds for 7B models, a substantial improvement over existing solutions. The engine features an OpenAI-compatible API, a user-friendly CLI, and supports various hardware configurations, including CPU fallback.
🔒 Security & Privacy
Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters auditioning female voices to sharpen social engineering
The cybercrime group Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters is recruiting women to impersonate IT helpdesk staff and improve their social engineering techniques. They are offering payments for successful calls, aiming to bypass traditional attacker profiles and gain access to organizational networks. This recruitment follows a previous scheme where the group paid individuals to harass executives.
- Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters auditioning female voices to sharpen social engineering — go.theregister.com
GCHQ dangles up to £130K for a CISO to fight the world’s most capable adversaries
GCHQ is recruiting a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) to protect the UK from sophisticated cyber threats, offering a salary of up to £130,000. The role requires extensive cybersecurity leadership experience, particularly in cloud security, and stringent security clearance. This recruitment reflects GCHQ’s recent expansion of its cyber capabilities and cloud platform development.
- GCHQ dangles up to £130K for a CISO to fight the world’s most capable adversaries — go.theregister.com
Wi-Fi Client Isolation Vulnerability Revealed
Researchers have discovered a critical vulnerability in Wi-Fi client isolation, allowing attackers to bypass the security feature and access data from other connected devices using a tool called AirSnitch. The exploit, stemming from flaws in key management and network isolation, affects a wide range of routers and poses a significant risk to users on public and shared Wi-Fi networks. This highlights the urgent need for improved and standardized client isolation implementations.
- AirSnitch: Demystifying and Breaking Client Isolation in Wi-Fi Networks — ndss-symposium.org
- AirSnitch: Demystifying and breaking client isolation in Wi-Fi networks [pdf] — ndss-symposium.org
Secure Device Data Access & Use
New regulations like the EU’s Cyber Resilience Act are driving increased focus on data security, particularly for embedded Linux devices which can utilize encryption tools. Simultaneously, Apple’s iPhone and iPad have achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first consumer devices certified by NATO to securely handle classified information. This approval highlights the growing sophistication of security measures available across both commercial and embedded systems.
- Data Confidentiality via Storage Encryption on Embedded Linux Devices — sigma-star.at
- Apple iPhones/iPads Approved for NATO Use with Classified Data — zdnet.com
Greece sentences spyware suspects, including Intellexa founder.
A Greek court sentenced four individuals, including the founder of Intellexa, to prison for illegally using spyware to target journalists, politicians, and business leaders. The case, dubbed “Predatorgate,” is a major political scandal involving the misuse of commercial hacking software. This incident joins similar controversies in other European countries concerning the use of surveillance tools.
He saw an abandoned trailer. Then, uncovered a surveillance network
License plate readers operated by the Border Patrol are appearing in Southern California, raising privacy concerns and prompting questions about data collection. These cameras, recently permitted by California, are capturing vehicle data and feeding it into databases, potentially enabling government intrusion and interactions with law enforcement. Residents, particularly those involved in humanitarian aid, are worried about being tracked and questioned.
- He saw an abandoned trailer. Then, uncovered a surveillance network — calmatters.org
You Want to Visit the UK? You Better Have a Google Play or App Store Account
Starting in February 2026, citizens of 85 countries, including the US and European nations, will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to visit the UK. While an official app is strongly encouraged for application, a web-based option exists, though it is difficult to locate and may be slower. The new requirement raises concerns about digital access and government reliance on app-based services.
Terminal Phone – E2EE Walkie Talkie from the Command Line
TerminalPhone is a new, self-contained Bash script enabling anonymous, end-to-end encrypted voice and text communication via the Tor network. Functioning like a walkie-talkie, it requires no server infrastructure, accounts, or phone numbers, relying on a Tor hidden service address for identity. The tool facilitates secure communication between two parties through compressed, encrypted messages.
🛠️ Development & Tools
Debian 14 will drop Gtk2 – unless Ardour rides to the rescue
Debian 14 plans to remove support for the outdated Gtk2 toolkit, potentially affecting applications like FreePascal and Lazarus. The Ardour digital audio workstation has developed a Gtk2 fork called YTK to address this, offering a potential solution for other projects. This situation highlights the challenges of transitioning older software to newer technologies within the Debian ecosystem.
- Debian 14 will drop Gtk2 – unless Ardour rides to the rescue — go.theregister.com
Lazy BDDs with eager literal intersections
Elixir’s type system initially adopted Lazy Binary Decision Diagrams (Lazy BDDs) for efficient handling of complex type operations, replacing an earlier Disjunctive Normal Form (DNF) system. However, intersections within Lazy BDDs could lead to inefficiently large data structures. To resolve this, Elixir v1.20 introduced “eager literal intersections” to prioritize computing intersections between individual types, improving performance and reducing tree size.
- Lazy BDDs with eager literal intersections — elixir-lang.org
Introducing PgBeam, a globally distributed PostgreSQL proxy
PgBeam is a new PostgreSQL proxy designed to reduce latency for globally distributed applications by routing connections through the nearest edge location. It utilizes connection pooling, query caching, and DNS-based routing to minimize round trip times, particularly for read operations. Currently in technical preview, PgBeam offers read caching with eventual consistency and is limited to PostgreSQL databases.
Sliced by Go’s Slices
In Go, using the variadic expansion operator with slices passes the original slice’s data, allowing function modifications to directly alter the original slice. This contrasts with languages like Python, where variadic arguments typically create copies. Understanding this shared data structure is essential to prevent unintended side effects when using variadic functions and slices in Go.
- Sliced by Go’s Slices — ohadravid.github.io
Making WebAssembly a first-class language on the Web
WebAssembly has significantly expanded since its 2017 release, enabling more languages to efficiently target the web. Despite advancements, its adoption remains limited due to its status as a “second-class” language, lacking the seamless integration with the web platform enjoyed by JavaScript. The WebAssembly Components proposal aims to improve developer experience and broaden WebAssembly’s reach by addressing these integration challenges.
- Making WebAssembly a first-class language on the Web — hacks.mozilla.org
snakes.run: rendering 100M pixels a second over ssh ·
A developer has created “snakes.run,” a massively multiplayer online snake game accessible via SSH. The game’s server can handle thousands of players and render over 100 million pixels per second by rendering frames server-side and optimizing visuals with Unicode and color combinations. Initial versions of the game faced bandwidth limitations, prompting significant optimization efforts to ensure scalability.
- snakes.run: rendering 100M pixels a second over ssh · — eieio.games
The Disintermediation of Databases
The traditional role of databases as central data infrastructure is declining due to advancements in object storage, open standards like Apache Iceberg, and AI interfaces. This shift is driven by market consolidation and a desire from companies to reduce complexity and vendor reliance. Consequently, databases are evolving into components within a broader data ecosystem rather than being the core foundation.
- The Disintermediation of Databases — redmonk.com
Ordered Dithering with Arbitrary or Irregular Colour Palettes
The article examines image dithering techniques, which simulate more colors than available by introducing intentional noise. It compares ordered dithering, which uses predetermined patterns, with error-diffusion dithering, which distributes quantization error. Error-diffusion dithering generally produces better results, especially with irregular color palettes, but is less easily parallelized than ordered dithering.
- Ordered Dithering with Arbitrary or Irregular Colour Palettes — matejlou.blog
Unit testing your code’s performance, part 2: Testing for speed changes
The article suggests supplementing CI benchmarks with performance-sensitive unit tests to detect accidental slowdowns during development. These tests monitor changes in CPU instruction counts rather than measuring speed directly, triggering failures when significant alterations occur. While potentially generating false positives, this approach provides developers with early warnings about potential performance regressions.
- Unit testing your code’s performance, part 2: Testing for speed changes — pythonspeed.com
Background Jobs Without the Baggage
Curling IO Version 3 has implemented background jobs as lightweight processes within the BEAM virtual machine, eliminating the need for external infrastructure like Redis. Job durability is ensured through a dedicated SQLite database, and a single OTP actor manages their processing in a self-sustaining loop. This approach prioritizes simplicity, speed, and reliability compared to traditional background job systems.
- Background Jobs Without the Baggage — curling.io
Git in Postgres
A new approach, “gitgres,” proposes storing Git data within a PostgreSQL database to overcome limitations faced by package managers currently using Git as a data store. This system utilizes the Git protocol while leveraging SQL tables for object and reference storage, enabling efficient data retrieval and complex queries. The implementation aims to streamline workflows and integrate Git data with other systems, like issue trackers, by combining commit information in a single query.
- Git in Postgres — nesbitt.io
Docker BuildKit: Powerful, Versatile, and Hidden
BuildKit is a flexible build framework initially developed for Docker that now supports a wider range of outputs, including packages and tarballs. Its pluggable architecture allows for custom build processes and languages, enabling efficient caching and parallelization. The technology is increasingly being adopted by projects beyond Docker for building various software artifacts.
Rev-dep – 20x faster knip.dev alternative build in Go
Rev-dep is a new, high-speed static analysis tool for JavaScript and TypeScript codebases that enforces dependency graph hygiene and removes unused code. Written in Go, it significantly outperforms existing tools, capable of auditing large projects (over 500,000 lines of code) in under 500 milliseconds. The tool supports modern workspaces and allows for configurable codebase governance, ensuring architecture integrity and consistent import practices.
Cardboard (YC W26) – Agentic video editor
Cardboard is a new video editing tool that allows users to create videos by describing their desired edits in natural language. Built by two longtime friends, the browser-based editor aims to simplify the video creation process and address the tediousness of traditional editing software. Future plans include real-time collaboration features and predictive editing capabilities.
- Cardboard (YC W26) – Agentic video editor — usecardboard.com
Deff – side-by-side Git diff review in your terminal
Deff is a new Rust-based terminal tool designed for interactive Git diff review. It offers a side-by-side view with features like syntax highlighting, keyboard navigation, and the ability to include uncommitted files. Developers are seeking feedback on the tool’s functionality and usability.
- Deff – side-by-side Git diff review in your terminal — github.com
just-bash: Bash for Agents
Just-bash is a new TypeScript-based environment simulating a bash shell, designed to provide a secure, sandboxed space for AI agents. It features a virtual filesystem, optional filtered network access via curl, and customizable commands, but does not support binaries or full VM capabilities. Currently in beta, it aims to offer a safer alternative to traditional shell environments for AI applications.
- just-bash: Bash for Agents — github.com
Better Hub – A better GitHub experience
A developer has launched “Better Hub,” a prototype interface aiming to improve the GitHub experience through a redesigned user interface, enhanced AI integration, and a keyboard-first workflow. The project utilizes GitHub’s APIs and focuses on streamlining navigation and collaboration features without replacing the existing platform. The developer is seeking feedback from the community on potential improvements to GitHub overall.
- Better Hub – A better GitHub experience — better-hub.com
Unix for the Commodore 64? Open Source
A developer has created a Unix-inspired shell and RAM filesystem for the classic Commodore 64 computer. The project, written in 6502 assembly, aims to bring Unix-like functionality to the retro platform. This open-source effort offers a unique way to explore programming and system interaction on the Commodore 64.
- Unix for the Commodore 64? Open Source — github.com
🛰️ Space & Science
NASA safety watchdog says it’s time to rethink Moon landing
A NASA safety panel is urging a reevaluation of the Artemis III mission, which aims to return humans to the Moon, citing excessive risks due to reliance on unproven technologies. The panel recommends a phased approach, similar to the Apollo program, to prioritize astronaut safety and reduce mission complexity. Resource limitations and a smaller workforce compared to the Apollo era further complicate the mission’s feasibility.
- NASA safety watchdog says it’s time to rethink Moon landing — go.theregister.com
Moon’s mighty magnetic field was a 5,000-year titanium blip
Recent research from Oxford University indicates that periods of strong magnetic fields on the Moon, previously believed to be long-lasting, were brief, lasting only around 5,000 years. This conclusion stems from a bias in Apollo mission rock samples, which disproportionately represented titanium-rich areas associated with these short bursts of strong magnetism. Future Artemis missions are expected to provide more representative lunar samples to further investigate this phenomenon.
- Moon’s mighty magnetic field was a 5,000-year titanium blip — go.theregister.com
Virgin Media O2 Launches Satellite-to-Mobile Service
Virgin Media O2 has launched Europe’s first satellite-to-mobile service, O2 Satellite, in partnership with Starlink. The service expands mobile coverage in the UK by 6% and initially offers text messaging and app access for £3 per month on select Samsung devices. This marks a significant advancement in mobile connectivity, with Vodafone also planning a similar service.
- Virgin Media O2 Launches Satellite-to-Mobile Service — reuters.com
Google Street View in 2026
A recent analysis converted Google’s global Street View coverage data into a spatially-sorted Parquet file using DuckDB. The data, sourced from JSON files, reveals the year and month of the last Street View capture for each location, resulting in a file containing over 7 million rows. The examination highlighted data gaps in Street View coverage across several countries.
- Google Street View in 2026 — tech.marksblogg.com
Men in their 50s may be aging faster due to toxic ‘forever chemicals’
A new study suggests exposure to PFAS “forever chemicals” may accelerate epigenetic aging, particularly in men aged 50-65. This effect was less pronounced in other age groups and women, potentially due to endocrine system disruption. Researchers emphasize the findings indicate a potential link, but do not definitively prove causation.
🌐 Business & Policy
Open Source Funding Initiative Launched
The Open Source Endowment, a new non-profit modeled after university endowments, is launching to provide sustainable funding for critical open-source software projects. The organization will preserve a principal fund and distribute investment returns as grants, aiming to address maintainer burnout and security risks within the open-source ecosystem. This initiative seeks to support the global open-source supply chain through a transparent and data-driven process.
- Open Source Endowment — World’s First Endowment Fund for OSS — endowment.dev
US Chipmakers Face Rare Earth Shortages Amid China Tensions
U.S. semiconductor and aerospace companies are facing significant shortages of rare earth elements like yttrium and scandium, almost exclusively sourced from China. These shortages are causing production disruptions, price spikes, and rationing, impacting manufacturers and forcing some to halt operations. The U.S. government is now acknowledging the issue and exploring solutions, including negotiations with China and developing alternative supply chains.
AI Regulation Fight: Super PACs Raise $265M
Super PACs are engaged in a $265 million battle over the future of AI regulation in the United States. Groups advocating for AI development are significantly outraising those supporting stricter regulations. This financial competition signals a significant political effort to influence how AI is governed.
America Chose Not to Hold the Powerful to Account
Unlike many other nations currently pursuing legal action against powerful figures, the United States has a history of shielding leaders from accountability, beginning with Gerald Ford’s pardon of Richard Nixon. This pattern has allowed wealthy and influential individuals to avoid punishment for criminal behavior, although the recent prosecution of Senator Menendez may signal a potential shift. The trend reflects a long-standing reluctance within American leadership to hold those in power responsible for their actions.
- America Chose Not to Hold the Powerful to Account — theatlantic.com
In 2025, Meta paid an effective federal tax rate of 3.5%
According to economist Robert Reich, Meta paid a record low federal tax rate of 3.5% in 2025. The company is also investing $65 million in election campaigns to support candidates aligned with artificial intelligence interests. Reich argues this situation demonstrates the negative impact of concentrated wealth on democratic processes.
Number of UK workers on zero-hours contracts hits record high ahead of crackdown
The number of UK workers on zero-hours contracts has reached a record high of 1.23 million, disproportionately affecting younger individuals and those not in full-time education. These contracts, which offer no guaranteed work hours, are facing a planned crackdown by the Labour government next year with the introduction of a right to guaranteed hours. Experts are urging swift action to address the financial instability and insecurity experienced by workers under this employment model.
YC companies scrape GitHub activity, send spam emails to users
YC-backed companies Run Anywhere and Voice.AI are reportedly scraping users’ GitHub activity to send unsolicited marketing emails. The practice involves identifying users contributing to relevant repositories and emailing them without consent, potentially violating GDPR regulations. The affected user has contacted GitHub and YC Ethics to address the issue.
US farmers are rejecting multimillion-dollar datacenter bids for their land
Tech companies are aggressively seeking farmland across the US to build datacenters, offering multimillion-dollar bids to landowners. However, many farmers are rejecting these lucrative offers to preserve their land and traditional way of life. This resistance demonstrates the limitations of the rapidly expanding AI industry and its reliance on physical resources.
The Remote-Work Dream Isn’t Dead, but It’s Slipping Away
The remote job market is becoming increasingly competitive, resembling the difficulty of making an NBA team. Securing a remote position in the future will likely require either exceptional skills or offering a more affordable option. This trend reflects a broader shift towards prioritizing cost-effectiveness in both professional sports and employment.
Americans Are Leaving the U.S. in Record Numbers
For the first time since the Great Depression, more Americans are emigrating from the U.S. than immigrating to it. Driven by concerns about affordability and safety, citizens are increasingly relocating abroad for work, education, or retirement. This trend, which marks a significant shift, is occurring despite restrictive immigration policies.
📱 Tech & Society
Instagram will notify parents if teens repeatedly search suicide or self-harm content
Instagram will alert parents if their teenagers repeatedly search for content related to suicide or self-harm. The notifications are designed to connect families with resources and support. This feature aims to address concerns about adolescent mental health and online safety.
- Instagram will notify parents if teens repeatedly search suicide or self-harm content — cybernews.com
OsmAnd Improves Offline Navigation
OsmAnd has introduced a new routing engine, Highway Hierarchy (HH) Routing, to significantly accelerate offline navigation speeds. This custom-built system provides up to a 100x performance improvement over the previous algorithm while prioritizing flexibility and minimizing storage space. HH Routing achieves this through a two-level hierarchy and pre-calculated shortcuts, avoiding limitations found in other advanced routing solutions.
- OsmAnd’s Faster Offline Navigation — osmand.net
- OsmAnd’s Faster Offline Navigation — osmand.net
Palm OS UI Guidelines
A rediscovered 2003 document outlining user interface guidelines for Palm OS devices is now publicly available. The PDF details design principles for applications on Palm devices, covering navigation, data entry, and visual style. It serves as a valuable historical resource, offering insight into the design philosophy of early mobile operating systems.
- Palm OS User Interface Guidelines [pdf, 2003] — cs.uml.edu
XR Glasses Leader Viture Raises $100M
XR glasses vendor Viture has secured a $100 million funding round, bringing its total raised in the last six months to over $200 million. The company currently leads the U.S. market in XR glasses shipments and plans to use the funds for product development and expansion into new markets like enterprise and healthcare. This funding comes amidst an ongoing patent dispute with competitor Xreal.
- XR Glasses Leader Viture Raises $100M — forbes.com
Twitch: “Hey, come back! This commercial break can’t play while you’re away.”
Twitch users are expressing significant frustration with a new requirement that viewers must keep the Twitch window in focus during ad breaks. The platform change, which prevents users from switching to other applications during commercials, has sparked widespread criticism and complaints online. Many users are calling for Twitch to remove the feature.
Stardew Valley at 10: The pixel art farm game that became an unlikely phenomenon
Stardew Valley, a farming simulator created by a single developer, has become a massive success, selling nearly 50 million copies worldwide. Inspired by Harvest Moon, the game’s charming world and supportive community have resonated with players, surpassing the popularity of major gaming franchises. Its continued success is evident in related products like orchestral tours and a board game, and the developer plans to release a seventh major update.
Child-free ‘Disney adults’ are transforming the company’s theme parks (2023)
Disney Parks are seeing a surge in visitors from childless millennials and Gen Z-ers, who are engaging in elaborate and themed experiences. To cater to this demographic with higher disposable income, Disney plans to invest $60 billion in its parks division over the next decade. The term “Disney adult,” once used derisively, is now becoming more accepted as embracing Disney fandom among young adults gains popularity.
- Child-free ‘Disney adults’ are transforming the company’s theme parks (2023) — businessinsider.com
This time is different
The article warns against the investment phrase “this time is different,” drawing parallels to past technological hype that ultimately fell short. It suggests that artificial intelligence is likely to have a widespread and lasting impact, similar to the internet, rather than being a fleeting trend. The author advises understanding AI’s potential, even if predictions about its future prove inaccurate.
- This time is different — shkspr.mobi
Nihilistic Violent Extremism
Law enforcement is increasingly identifying “nihilistic violent extremism” (NVE) as a growing domestic terrorism threat in the U.S. This type of extremism lacks traditional ideological motivations, instead being driven by misanthropy and societal hatred, and is often linked to groups like 764 and No Lives Matter. The FBI has seen a significant increase in investigations related to NVE, now comprising a large portion of domestic terrorism cases.
- Nihilistic Violent Extremism — en.wikipedia.org