Alvaro Lopez Ortega / 2026-03-31 Briefing

Created Wed, 01 Apr 2026 01:09:20 +0000 Modified Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:56:10 +0000
8170 Words

OpenAI’s valuation soared to $852 billion after a new funding round, fueling further AI development and infrastructure investment. Meanwhile, AI continues to reshape technology: researchers created a fully functional JavaScript engine, JSSE, using only the Claude Code AI, and 1-bit Bonsai models promise dramatically improved efficiency for on-device AI applications. Concerns linger for Super Micro Computer, however, as investor uncertainty mounts amidst export violation charges and previous financial reporting issues. Finally, Red Hat is reportedly implementing a significant AI integration strategy across its engineering teams, as evidenced by a recently leaked memo.

🤖 AI & Machine Learning

1-Bit Bonsai, the First Commercially Viable 1-Bit LLMs

1-bit Bonsai models represent a new class of commercially viable large language models that dramatically reduce memory requirements, increase speed, and improve energy efficiency compared to traditional models. Available in various sizes, these models are designed for applications like robotics and edge computing while maintaining competitive accuracy. The technology offers a significant increase in intelligence density, enabling powerful on-device processing.

Leaked Memo Suggests Red Hat’s Chugging the AI Kool-Aid

A leaked memo reveals Red Hat plans to aggressively integrate AI and automation tools across its engineering department, requiring employees to develop proficiency in these technologies. Executives believe this shift is crucial for maintaining competitiveness and accelerating development cycles. The company also aims to influence broader AI adoption within the open-source development community.

‘Worst in Show’ CES products include AI fridges, AI companions and AI doorbells

Critics at CES awarded “Worst in Show” titles to several tech products, citing unnecessary complexity, privacy concerns, and questionable functionality. Samsung’s AI refrigerator received the overall award, while Amazon’s Ring doorbell and an AI companion also faced criticism for expanding surveillance and demonstrating unreliable performance. The annual awards, judged by consumer and privacy advocates, aim to encourage manufacturers to prioritize user well-being and improve product design.

Cohere Transcribe: Speech Recognition

Cohere has released Transcribe, an open-source automatic speech recognition model achieving a leading 5.42% word error rate on HuggingFace’s Open ASR Leaderboard. The model supports transcription in 14 languages and is designed for practical enterprise AI workflows, offering both performance and infrastructure control. It’s available for download or via Cohere’s Model Vault.

PhAIL – Real-robot benchmark for AI models

A new benchmark, PhAIL, has been created to evaluate the performance of Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models in a real-world warehouse setting using a standardized robot and task. The benchmark’s results show current VLA models perform significantly slower than human operators for order picking, highlighting the gap between AI capabilities and practical application. All data and scripts from the tests are publicly available to encourage further research and development in the field.

DeepMind’s Mario Project and Google

DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman spearheaded a plan for independent AI governance after a failed collaboration with Elon Musk, aiming to ensure ethical considerations weren’t sidelined by corporate interests. This initiative involved complex negotiations with Google to establish a board prioritizing safety and social justice, a process that significantly influenced DeepMind’s leadership and shifted their approach to AI development. The effort underscored the challenges of reconciling AI innovation with responsible oversight within a large tech company.

Microsoft: Copilot is for entertainment purposes only

Microsoft’s Copilot AI service requires users to verify its information, as it may contain inaccuracies. The terms of service emphasize user responsibility and include a binding arbitration clause for U.S. users, affecting how disputes are resolved. Copilot is intended for personal use and not accessible through automated tools.

Combinators

Combinators are functions that operate solely on their arguments without modification, demonstrating specific functional relationships. The article details various combinators, represented by symbols and often given bird-themed names inspired by Raymond Smullyan’s work. These concepts are frequently utilized in programming language theory and functional programming.

Pardus Browser- a browser for AI agents without Chromium

Pardus-browser is a new, lightweight browser specifically designed for AI agents, foregoing traditional components like Chromium and GPUs. It analyzes webpages by parsing HTML to create structured semantic representations in formats like Markdown, tree, or JSON. This tool prioritizes speed and efficiency, enabling AI agents to interact with web content without relying on pixel-based rendering.

Claude Code Source Leak

Anthropic accidentally exposed over 500,000 lines of source code for its AI coding tool, Claude Code, through a publicly accessible source map file. The leak, resulting from a misconfigured build pipeline, reveals details about the tool’s inner workings and a recent iteration. Anthropic has acknowledged the error and confirmed the leaked code remains their intellectual property.

Accidentally created my first fork bomb with Claude Code

A coder accidentally triggered a fork bomb – a rapidly self-replicating program – while developing an automation hook for a project using Claude AI. The incident rendered their computer unresponsive, nearly bricking it, and resulted in a significant, though ultimately mitigated, API usage bill. The experience highlights the potential risks of unchecked automation and the consequences of even minor coding errors.

Freedom is the only thing that matters. Living freely. Creating freely

This article serves as a brief, encouraging message emphasizing the importance of freedom and creativity. It offers a simple reminder to have a good day. The content is largely a personal sentiment rather than news.

Google’s 200M-parameter time-series foundation model with 16k context

Google Research has released TimesFM 2.5, a time-series forecasting model featuring 200 million parameters and an increased context length of 16,000. The model now supports continuous quantile forecasting and is accessible via BigQuery and the Hugging Face collection. This updated version offers improved performance and broader usability for time-series analysis.

Ollama is now powered by MLX on Apple Silicon in preview

Ollama has released a preview version utilizing Apple’s MLX framework to significantly enhance performance on Apple Silicon devices. The update leverages new GPU accelerators and NVIDIA’s NVFP4 format for improved accuracy and efficiency, particularly for coding and AI assistant tasks. It also includes caching improvements and reduces memory utilization for increased responsiveness.

Mr. Chatterbox is a Victorian-era ethically trained model

Trip Venturella has released Mr. Chatterbox, a language model trained exclusively on Victorian-era British texts from the British Library. The model, roughly the size of GPT-2 Medium, provides a unique glimpse into 19th-century language but currently has limited conversational abilities due to its size and training data. It represents a step toward creating language models solely from public domain resources.

Universal Claude.md – cut Claude output tokens

A new file, CLAUDE.md, allows users to significantly reduce Claude’s verbose output by approximately 63% without altering code. The file eliminates unnecessary phrases and formatting, primarily benefiting users with high-volume Claude usage and structured tasks. While it adds a small cost in input tokens, the overall savings from reduced output tokens are positive for substantial usage.

Yupp, Crowdsourced AI Picker, Shuts Down After $33M Funding

Yupp, an AI model picker that raised $33 million in seed funding, is shutting down less than a year after its launch. The company cited a lack of product-market fit, exacerbated by rapid advancements in AI models and a shift towards AI-driven systems. Despite attracting 1.3 million users and backing from prominent investors like a16z, Yupp ultimately couldn’t sustain its business model.

Siri to Handle Multiple Requests, Grammarly-Like Keyboard Explored

Apple is reportedly testing a Siri update for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 that will enable the assistant to handle multiple requests in one query. This improvement would modernize Siri’s functionality and bring it closer to competing AI assistants. The feature is currently under development and not yet available to the public.

Z.ai Misses Revenue, Loss Soars Amid Spending

Zhipu, a Beijing-based AI company, reported revenue of approximately $105 million for 2025, below analyst estimates. The company’s net loss significantly increased by 60% year-over-year to roughly $680 million, exceeding expectations. This outcome is attributed to aggressive spending in the competitive Chinese AI market.

9fin raises $170M, hits $1.3B valuation with AI tools

9fin, a London-based debt intelligence firm, has raised $170 million in Series C funding, achieving a $1.3 billion valuation. The company provides AI-powered tools for credit traders and investors and has secured investment from HarbourVest and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. This funding will be used to expand 9fin’s presence in the competitive credit research market.

Babel Audio: Anonymous Chats Fuel AI Training Data

Babel Audio is a new company that pays strangers to record conversations, which are then bundled and sold as training data for artificial intelligence. Participants engage in activities like venting, confession, and role-playing, earning as little as $17 per hour. The recordings are used to help AI models learn to sound more human.

CA Mandates AI Safety Rules for State Contracts

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order mandating safety and privacy protocols for AI companies seeking state contracts. The order requires vetting of AI policies related to exploitation, bias, and freedom of speech, and allows California to independently assess federal risk designations. Newsom’s action also calls for watermarking state-created AI-generated content to combat misinformation.

Arm says agentic AI needs a new kind of CPU. Intel’s DC chief isn’t buying it

Arm has introduced a new CPU, the AGI, specifically designed for AI agents, claiming existing processors are inefficient. Intel’s Data Center Group chief disputes this, arguing current CPUs can effectively handle agent workloads and Arm’s design choices aren’t universally beneficial. The debate centers on architectural features like SIMD and SMT and their impact on performance and efficiency in agentic AI applications.

Anthropic admits Claude Code users hitting usage limits ‘way faster than expected’

Anthropic is investigating unexpectedly high usage of its Claude Code AI coding assistant, leading to users rapidly hitting their quotas and incurring unexpected costs. The company attributes the issue to a combination of factors including recent quota reductions, the end of a promotional period, and potential bugs inflating token usage. This situation highlights challenges in scaling AI tools and aligning pricing with user demand.

💻 Development & Tools

JSSE: A JavaScript Engine Built by an Agent

Researchers have developed JSSE, a fully functional JavaScript engine built entirely by the AI Claude Code in Rust. The engine achieved a 100% pass rate on the comprehensive test262 benchmark suite, demonstrating a remarkable feat of AI-driven software development. The project required minimal human intervention, with only around four hours of keyboard time over six weeks, and resulted in approximately 170,000 lines of Rust code.

My open-world voxel game with a magic system, playable in the browser

The browser-based open-world voxel game, Wildmagic, is now in early access. Players can expect updates including new spells, biomes, tougher enemies, and multiplayer functionality. Purchasing the game now grants access to all future content as it’s released.

Lazy-tool: reducing prompt bloat in MCP-based agent workflows

lazy-tool is a Go-based tool designed to reduce the excessive tool schemas sent to language models in MCP agent workflows, decreasing token usage and latency. It acts as a local proxy, indexing and searching tools without requiring external services like Docker or vector databases. This lightweight, provider-agnostic solution offers significant improvements in input tokens and latency compared to direct MCP connections.

Postgres extension for BM25 relevance-ranked full-text search

Tiger Data has released pg_textsearch v1.0, an open-source Postgres extension for BM25 relevance-ranked full-text search, under a Postgres license. Developed using AI-assisted tools, the extension surprisingly outperformed existing solutions like Parade/Tantivy in benchmark tests, demonstrating a 4.7x advantage in query throughput. The new tool aims to provide a scalable search stack within Postgres for AI-centric workloads.

Forth VM and compiler written in C++ and Scryer Prolog

A new 16-bit stack virtual machine (VM) called Forth VM has been developed, featuring a statically-typed s-expression compiler named sets. The VM is implemented in C++20, while the compiler utilizes Scryer Prolog. The project is built with make and can be run with ./run programs/echo.sets.

Scotty: A beautiful SSH task runner

Scotty is a new SSH task runner designed as an alternative to Laravel Envoy, offering improved output and the ability to pause execution. It supports both Laravel Envoy’s Blade format and a new plain bash format for defining deploy scripts and remote tasks. Users can monitor task progress in real-time and troubleshoot issues by inspecting output immediately.

Someone just converted Claude Leark from TypeScript to 100% Python

The “Claw Code” project is an open-source Python rewrite of Claude Code’s agent harness, created in response to a public code exposure. Developed using OpenAI’s Codex and orchestrated by “oh-my-codex,” it aims to improve upon existing tools and is rapidly gaining popularity, already surpassing 50,000 stars on GitHub. The project is now being ported to Rust to enhance performance and safety.

Open source CAD in the browser (Solvespace)

SolveSpace, a parametric 3D CAD program, now has an experimental web-based version. The browser version, while slower and containing bugs, offers usable functionality for smaller models and operates offline after loading. Developers are requesting user feedback and bug reports to improve the experimental build.

Raincast – Describe an app, get a desktop app (open source)

Raincast is an open-source application generator that creates native desktop applications from natural language descriptions. Utilizing React, Rust, and Tauri, it allows users to build functional apps with features like file system access and a live preview during development. The tool supports AI providers like Anthropic Claude and Google Gemini and is available for macOS, Windows, and Linux.

Pidgin 3.0 Alpha 1 2.95.0 has been released

The Pidgin team has released an alpha version (2.95.0) of Pidgin 3.0, primarily aimed at developers to stabilize APIs for third-party protocol integrations. This early release includes new features like an Account Settings API and Zulip protocol support, but is not intended for general users due to numerous bugs and incomplete functionality. The next alpha version is currently planned for June 2026.

your hex editor should color-code bytes

The article argues that color-coding in hex editors significantly improves readability and makes it easier to identify patterns within hexadecimal data. The author suggests that plain, uncolored hex editors can be difficult to interpret, making it challenging to spot specific data points. Using color-coding enhances the user experience when working with hexadecimal data.

Pipevals: Evaluation pipelines for every LLM application

Pipevals is a new platform simplifying AI development by providing a tool to build, track, and evaluate LLM models, prompts, and pipelines. It allows for quality monitoring, automated scoring using LLMs, and A/B testing, all without complex coding. The platform aims to address the challenges of AI evaluation, such as inconsistent results and the difficulty of creating evaluation pipelines.

Runtime type checking is great (2023)

Runtime type checking, like that used in Sorbet, provides benefits in gradual type systems by identifying errors earlier and more clearly than static checking alone. While initial implementation requires effort, it reduces long-term risk by exposing subtle type errors that could otherwise lead to unexpected crashes. This practice ultimately contributes to more robust and maintainable codebases.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Web

The author expresses frustration with the limitations of current web technologies and static site generators in achieving a highly customized blog design. They require complex features, like unique sidenotes, that existing tools struggle to support, forcing them to patch HTML and hindering performance. As a result, they are considering more custom solutions or exploring platforms like Astro to better meet their specific needs.

February in Servo: faster layout, pause and resume scripts, and more

Servo 0.0.6 introduces a substantial update with new features and API support for web development. Key improvements include enhancements to layout, experimental accessibility features like accessibility trees and rich text editing support, and partial support for lazy-loaded iframes and 3D transforms. The release also adds several new DOM APIs and developer tools focused on security and DOM editing.

Data Indexing in Golang

Bleve is a Go library providing a file-based full-text indexing and search solution as an alternative to external services. It allows indexing Go structs with customizable features, supports millions of records, and enables concurrent reads and writes. Developers can leverage Bleve for content-based retrieval while maintaining control over data storage and search processes.

Autoscaling CI for Gitea in Rust

A new Rust service, gitea-ci-autoscaler, automatically provisions and deprovisions CI runner nodes for Gitea Actions, addressing the inefficiencies of fixed infrastructure. The service monitors job queues and cloud resources (specifically Hetzner Cloud) to scale resources up when needed and down when idle, optimizing costs. It utilizes a state-driven approach and API mocking to ensure robust testing and validation of the node lifecycle.

Why Your Engineering Team Is Slow (It’s the Codebase, Not the People)

Engineering teams often experience slowdowns due to “codebase drag,” where the codebase itself creates unnecessary complexity and length in development. This issue, characterized by inflated estimates and deployment anxiety, isn’t usually a reflection of team performance but a need for code improvement. A new “Codebase Drag Audit” is proposed to identify and quantify this problem.

Let the commits tell the story

Well-written Git commit messages are crucial for documenting a project’s development process, acting as “save states” that reveal the journey and challenges faced. These messages provide valuable insight into a project’s evolution, allowing writers to understand their creative process and track changes over time. Treating commit messages as a creative act can significantly enhance understanding and appreciation of a project’s development.

cocoa-way: Native macOS Wayland Compositor written in Rust using Smithay

Cocoa-Way is a new macOS compositor that allows users to run Linux applications natively without virtualization overhead. It utilizes Unix sockets and direct Wayland protocol communication for features like HiDPI scaling and hardware acceleration, and is easily installed via Homebrew or direct binary download. Users will need the companion waypipe-darwin utility to connect to Linux applications.

Ubuntu 26.04 beta arrives packing GNOME 50, which no longer supports Google Drive

Ubuntu 26.04 beta is now available, featuring the GNOME 50 desktop environment and kernel 7.0. A notable change is the removal of Google Drive support due to the lack of an official Linux client. The release also includes updates to the Yaru theme, App Center, and enhanced security features.

🌐 Security & Privacy

I Traced My Traffic Through a Home Tailscale Exit Node

The author explored using a Tailscale exit node, a feature that routes internet traffic through a designated device, effectively functioning like a VPN. Tailscale uses a mesh network built on WireGuard for secure connections, offering both direct peer-to-peer communication and fallback relay options. Enabling an exit node masks the user’s IP address by directing all internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel to the exit node.

Jami – free/libre, end-to-end encrypted, and private communication software

Jami is a free and open-source communication software focused on privacy and end-to-end encryption. The project is seeking donations to support its continued development and expansion. Funds will help Jami reach a wider audience and fulfill its mission of secure, private communication for all.

Chrome says “suspicious download” when trying to download yt-dlp

Google Chrome is now flagging downloads of yt-dlp as “suspicious” without providing a specific reason. Users are encountering this warning when attempting to download the latest version of the popular YouTube downloader. The cause of this new warning is currently unknown.

CargoWall – eBPF Firewall for GitHub Actions

CargoWall, a new open-source eBPF firewall, has been released to enhance the security of GitHub Actions workflows. Initially designed to prevent LLM agents from accessing untrusted domains, it now offers broader protection against supply chain attacks by blocking unauthorized connections from CI runners. The tool utilizes a hostname allowlist and tracks connection origins to provide detailed insights into workflow activity.

RubyGems Security Breach

The departure of two engineers from Ruby Central exposed critical flaws in the organization’s GitHub access control and offboarding procedures for RubyGems.org. A delayed and poorly communicated attempt to revoke their access led to maintainer resignations and a temporary power struggle over the GitHub organization. The incident underscores the urgent need for improved policies and documented processes within the Ruby community.

7,655 Ransomware Claims in One Year: Group, Sector, and Country Breakdown

Between March 2025 and March 2026, ransomware groups publicly claimed 7,655 victim organizations, with Qilin being the most prolific group. Manufacturing and technology were the most targeted sectors, while the United States accounted for 40% of the claimed victims. The findings, based on leak site postings, highlight the ongoing and widespread nature of ransomware attacks.

Axios compromised on NPM – Malicious versions drop remote access trojan

The widely used axios HTTP client library was compromised on npm, with malicious versions containing a hidden remote access trojan (RAT). Attackers gained access to a maintainer’s account and published infected versions targeting macOS, Windows, and Linux systems. Users are advised to update to safe versions and rotate credentials to mitigate potential compromise.

Active Supply Chain Attack on axios 1.14.1

A malicious package, plain-crypto-js@4.2.1, has been introduced as a dependency in axios version 1.14.1. This package contains a hidden script that downloads and executes a remote payload, potentially compromising systems that use the affected version of axios. Users are advised to avoid using axios@1.14.1 and investigate alternative versions.

Gmail Address Changes Now Available

Google is now enabling US Gmail users to change their usernames for the first time, a long-requested feature marking the service’s 22nd anniversary. Users can update their username annually, while their original email address will remain active as an alternative. This change allows for a more convenient management of email identities without needing to create a new account.

Here’s why I’ve installed a Dead Man’s Switch on my home server

The author implemented a “dead man’s switch” on their home server to safeguard data and ensure its accessibility in case of their incapacitation. Using the open-source tool Aeterna, the system automatically releases critical instructions and access details if a regular check-in is missed. This setup includes a check-in system (“pulse”), a delay period (“grace period”), and a release of information (“payload”) to facilitate a controlled handover.

[RFC] clang-reforge: Automatic whole-codebase source code rewriting tool for security hardening

Apple is developing clang-reforge, a new tool designed to automatically rewrite entire codebases to incorporate C++ Safe Buffers and improve security. This tool aims to overcome the limitations of manual approaches by automating complex, cross-file changes and providing drop-in replacements for existing C++ pointers and arrays. The initial focus will be on integrating with build systems like Make and Swift Build.

Iran targets M365 accounts with password-spraying attacks

Iran-linked threat actors are targeting hundreds of organizations, primarily in the Middle East, with password-spraying attacks against Microsoft 365 accounts. The attacks, potentially linked to groups like Peach Sandstorm and Gray Sandstorm, have targeted locations correlating with cities previously hit by Iranian missile strikes, suggesting a focus on bomb-damage assessment. Attackers are utilizing Tor and VPNs to conceal their activity and gain access to sensitive data.

Venom Stealer touts fully automated malware pipeline for $250 a month, bypasses browser encryption

A new malware-as-a-service called Venom Stealer is offering a fully automated pipeline for just $250 per month. The tool bypasses browser encryption, enabling users to steal data like passwords and credit card information. Potential buyers must enable JavaScript and cookies to access further details.

Only one in five people back up their data: Germany warns most risk losing everything

A recent warning from Germany highlights a concerning trend: only 20% of people regularly back up their digital data. This lack of data protection puts individuals at significant risk of losing irreplaceable photos, documents, and other important files. Authorities urge citizens to implement backup strategies to safeguard their information.

🏢 Business & Finance

OpenAI closes funding round at an $852B valuation

OpenAI has concluded a new funding round, achieving a valuation of $852 billion. The funding will be used to accelerate the company’s next phase of AI development, including infrastructure and safety research. This significant valuation underscores the growing interest and investment in generative AI technologies.

Super Micro Computer Investors Look for Exits

Super Micro Computer is experiencing investor uncertainty despite strong sales growth fueled by the AI boom. The company’s co-founder was recently indicted for export violations, adding to a history of financial reporting issues and stock volatility, which has significantly lowered its share price. Despite these challenges, some investors remain cautiously optimistic due to Super Micro’s key role in the AI infrastructure market and projected revenue growth.

Oracle Job Cuts

Oracle is laying off approximately 20,000 to 30,000 employees, roughly 18% of its workforce, across departments including sales, engineering, and security. The cuts are part of a company restructuring to fund substantial investments in AI infrastructure, driven by partnerships with OpenAI and SoftBank. Oracle anticipates restructuring costs of $1.6 billion and plans to allocate $50 billion for capital expenditures by 2026.

Nobody is coming to save your career

Individuals should not rely on managers to proactively guide their career development, as it is primarily their own responsibility. Career advancement requires taking initiative and directly communicating ambitions and goals to supervisors. Ultimately, personal responsibility and proactive communication are essential for career growth.

Seems like a bad idea: “One login to connect Glassdoor and Indeed”

Glassdoor and Indeed have partnered to create a unified career platform, allowing users to access both sites with a single login. This integration aims to improve job matching and streamline career management by combining Glassdoor’s reviews and community with Indeed’s job listings. User anonymity on Glassdoor will be maintained throughout the data synchronization process.

Salesforce Adds 30+ Slack Features: Meeting Transcripts & More

Slack is introducing over 30 new features, including meeting transcription and automated task completion via its AI assistant, Slackbot. The updates aim to integrate productivity tools directly into the platform, potentially replacing separate applications and streamlining workflows. Salesforce anticipates Slackbot will become a widely adopted AI agent for work, accessible to both Free and Pro users starting in April.

AT&T to Upgrade FirstNet Network for $2B

AT&T has signed a $2 billion agreement with the Commerce Department to upgrade the FirstNet emergency communication network. The deal, prompted by a recent executive order, will deliver system improvements and lower rates for FirstNet users. Negotiations between AT&T and Commerce Department officials finalized the revised terms last week.

AV Firms, Tesla Disagree on Remote Vehicle Control

Autonomous vehicle companies utilize remote assistance programs where human operators intervene in difficult situations, though most avoid direct control due to safety concerns. Tesla is an exception, allowing remote operators to temporarily assume direct vehicle control in limited circumstances. Senator Markey’s investigation highlighted a lack of transparency regarding the frequency of these programs, prompting calls for increased oversight and potential legislation.

Microsoft Eyes $7B Texas Power Plant Project

Microsoft is reportedly in exclusive talks with Chevron and Engine No. 1 to build a $7 billion natural gas power plant in West Texas. The facility, designed to generate 2,500 megawatts, would primarily power Microsoft’s data centers and represents one of the largest projects of its kind in the United States. The deal would provide a long-term electricity supply for Microsoft’s operations.

Leone Returns to Sequoia as Chairman

Doug Leone is returning to Sequoia Capital in a newly created chairman role, reversing his 2022 retirement. He will now actively participate in making investments after previously serving as a mentor and advisor. This move comes after recent leadership changes and a restructuring of the firm’s international operations.

Monzo to Exit US, Lays Off Staff, Closes Accounts

Monzo Bank is closing its US operations and laying off approximately 50 employees to prioritize growth in the UK and Europe. The digital bank will cease onboarding new US customers and existing accounts will be closed by June. This decision follows years of struggling to gain traction in the American market.

Streaming Tax Ban Ends, Talks to Continue

A global moratorium on taxing digital streaming and downloads, initially put in place by the World Trade Organization, expired on March 30 after negotiations failed to reach an extension. The U.S. advocated for a permanent ban, while Brazil and Turkey blocked a longer extension, leading to criticism from U.S. officials. Discussions on the matter are expected to resume in Geneva this spring.

Amazon Swaps Amex for US Bancorp on Business Credit Cards

Amazon is replacing American Express with U.S. Bancorp as the issuer for its Prime Business and Amazon Business credit cards. The relaunch, slated for the coming months, will utilize Mastercard’s network. The updated cards will offer increased rewards for purchases beyond the Amazon platform.

Tether Axes Gold Traders Hired From HSBC

Tether has dismissed two recently hired senior gold traders, Vincent Domien and Mathew O’Neill, who previously worked at HSBC. The move comes as Tether aims to establish a gold trading floor and build a significant gold reserve. The reasons behind the firings are currently unknown.

Netflix Raises Prices, Sees Ad Sales Growth

Netflix is raising the price of its most popular plan to $20 a month, a significant increase from 2013. The company is confident in these price hikes due to the availability of its cheaper, ad-supported tier. Netflix projects ad revenue to more than double by 2026, reaching over $3 billion.

Microsoft Cloud Licensing Under Scrutiny

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating Microsoft’s cloud and business software practices to determine if they unfairly advantage Azure and hinder competition. Microsoft has agreed to modify its licensing and data transfer policies to improve cloud switching and interoperability in response to the CMA’s concerns. The CMA has delayed a decision on designating Microsoft as having “strategic market status” pending further review of these changes.

Software You Can Love 2026 tickets are on sale

Early-bird tickets are now on sale for SYCL 2026, a conference taking place October 3-6 in Metro Vancouver. The event has been rescheduled and upgraded to avoid conflicts and reduce travel costs, now including lunch and an enhanced “SYCL Badge” with multiple application support. Early-bird pricing is available until July 1st, when the speaker lineup will be announced.

Vercel: Updates to Terms of Service

Vercel has updated its Terms of Service and Privacy Policy to reflect the use of user data for new agentic features designed to improve platform efficiency and contribute to AI development. Users can optionally allow Vercel to use their code and agent chats for AI model training, with opt-in/out settings varying based on subscription plan. The changes also include updates to dispute resolution and data protection compliance.

ServiceNow allegedly says salesman ‘overachieved’ and is not entitled to comp

ServiceNow is facing a lawsuit from a salesman, Jorge Costa, who claims the company is withholding over $760,000 in commissions for two $27 million deals. ServiceNow alleges Costa “overachieved” his sales quota and is seeking to retroactively increase his targets to reduce his commission, a request he refused. The company is attempting to resolve the dispute through arbitration.

Usage pricing leaving software vendors guessing what lands on the invoice

A recent survey by PwC and m3ter revealed that software vendors are losing revenue due to inadequate financial systems struggling to accurately track and bill for usage-based services, particularly those incorporating AI. The study estimates potential revenue leakage of 4-7% of annual recurring revenue, stemming from measurement blind spots and a lack of system integration. Companies need improved transparency and real-time data access to effectively monetize AI capabilities and usage-based pricing models.

📡 Tech & Science

A dot a day keeps the clutter away

An electronics hobbyist has developed a simple, low-cost system for managing a large collection of electronic components. The system utilizes colored dot stickers on clear boxes to visually track usage frequency, helping to identify infrequently used parts. This method allows for better organization and helps determine which components to keep or discard, preventing clutter.

Sundial – a new way to look at a weather forecast

Sundial is a new weather forecasting application allowing users to input a city or postal/zip code for weather information. The app provides temperature readings in both Celsius and Fahrenheit. Users can access Sundial through its mobile application.

Distributed data centers in our basements

A proposal suggests distributing data centers into residential basements to improve energy efficiency. These compact servers would utilize basement space as a heat sink and potentially contribute to home heating, reducing the significant energy costs associated with cooling traditional data centers. While currently speculative, the concept aims to leverage existing infrastructure for a more sustainable data processing model.

In Expanding de Sitter Space, Quantum Mechanics Gets More Elusive

Physicists are facing challenges reconciling quantum mechanics with the observed expansion of the universe, leading to paradoxical calculations. The concept of de Sitter space, characterized by exponential expansion, exacerbates this problem by limiting observable space. Researchers are now investigating black holes as a potential key to understanding quantum mechanics within an expanding universe.

Scientists uncovered the nutrients bees were missing – Colonies surged 15-fold

Scientists have engineered yeast to produce essential sterols, creating a “superfood” for honeybees that addresses nutritional deficiencies caused by environmental changes. Trials showed bee colonies consuming this diet experienced a 15-fold increase in offspring production and maintained brood rearing for longer periods. This innovation offers a potential solution to support bee populations and sustain vital pollination services.

Artemis II is not safe to fly

A recent Inspector General report revealed significant damage to the Orion capsule’s heat shield, including chunks breaking off and bolt erosion, during a previous test flight. NASA initially downplayed the issues, but the damage raises concerns about the safety of the upcoming Artemis II mission, which aims to send astronauts around the moon. The experimental heat shield design, intended for a lighter spacecraft and operating at lunar return speeds, is now a major point of concern.

Samsung App Fights Motion Sickness with Sound

Samsung has launched Hearapy, a free Android app that uses a 60-second 100Hz sine wave tone to alleviate motion sickness symptoms. The app aims to stimulate the inner ear and can provide up to two hours of relief. While effectiveness may vary, Samsung recommends using headphones capable of reproducing the tone at a specific volume level.

Meta’s Ray-Ban Blazers & Scriber Optics Launching April 14

Meta and Ray-Ban have unveiled the Blayzer and Scriber Optics, two new styles of smart glasses with improved prescription lens compatibility and a starting price of $499. The “Gen 2” glasses feature customizable fit options and slimmer frames. Additionally, Meta is rolling out new AI-powered features like translation and food tracking to all existing Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.

Vietnam Surpasses China as Top US Laptop Supplier by 2025

A Bloomberg analysis reveals that Vietnam has surpassed China as the leading supplier of laptops and game consoles to the US, a shift occurring despite President Trump’s tariffs. This change is largely due to Chinese manufacturers relocating final assembly lines to Vietnam to avoid tariffs, utilizing components still produced in China. The move has spurred significant job growth and demand for labor in Vietnamese industrial parks.

Amazon to Offer Internet on Delta Flights via Satellite

Amazon has partnered with Delta Air Lines to provide in-flight internet access starting in 2028, initially for 500 aircraft. This marks Amazon’s most significant win in the in-flight Wi-Fi market, though Starlink currently leads the industry as a dominant provider for airlines. The deal aims to offer Delta customers faster internet speeds.

Predictive Keyboard Innovation Emerges

Driven by frustration with inaccessible touchscreen keyboards, a blind user has developed TapType, a new Android keyboard that replaces traditional keys with a predictive, invisible interface. This innovative design aims to improve accessibility and customization for visually impaired users, filling a void left by discontinued alternatives and the shortcomings of existing options. The developer selected Android’s open platform to realize this specialized keyboard’s potential.

Gaim 3 Exists

Gaim 3 is a new chat client being developed to revive the classic user interface of Gaim and older Pidgin versions, prioritizing direct messaging. Built on libpurple 3, it will support various chat networks and operate on Linux, macOS, and Windows. The project’s name is a nostalgic reference to its heritage, now possible due to an expired trademark.

Tree of functions, called during boot of Linux kernel v7.0-rc1

ZeroBin.net is a minimalist, open-source online pastebin that encrypts data in the browser using 256-bit AES. The service offers both a standard web interface and Tor Onion addresses for enhanced privacy. It requires Javascript and a modern browser to function properly and operates under its own Terms of Service.

Mars coughs up another maybe-life clue in the form of nickel compounds

NASA’s Perseverance rover has discovered nickel compounds in ancient Martian rocks, with concentrations similar to those created by microbial life on Earth. While geological processes could also be responsible, the presence of nickel alongside organic carbon suggests a potentially habitable environment. Scientists believe these samples warrant further study on Earth, despite the recent cancellation of the Mars Sample Return program.

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📰 World Affairs

EU Leadership – Live API data site comparing Europe to the world

Data reveals the European Union leads the world in key areas like safety, innovation, democracy, and quality of life, boasting longer life expectancies, stronger press freedom, and safer societies. The EU has also surpassed China as the world’s second-largest economy, demonstrating strength in technological innovation and trade. Interactive data visualizations further highlight Europe’s advantages compared to the United States and other nations.

President’s new science council: 9 billionaires and 1 scientist

President Trump has appointed a 13-member Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) comprised primarily of technology executives and billionaires. The panel’s composition, featuring only one academic researcher, has drawn criticism for a perceived lack of diversity in scientific expertise. The council will advise the White House on topics including AI, quantum technology, and nuclear fusion.

Why the US Navy Won’t Blast the Iranians and ‘Open’ Strait of Hormuz

The U.S. Navy’s ability to project power near coastlines is diminishing due to Iran’s advanced missile defenses and anti-access/area denial capabilities in the Strait of Hormuz. These shore-based weapons systems pose a growing threat to traditional carrier deployments, limiting naval operational range and forcing a reassessment of naval strategy. Consequently, the U.S. is reevaluating the future role and investment in naval power.

Secretary Hegseth broker looked to buy defense fund before Iran attack

A Financial Times report alleged that a broker for U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attempted to invest in a defense-focused ETF before a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran. The Pentagon has vehemently denied the report as “entirely false and fabricated,” stating no such investment was pursued. The fund was reportedly unavailable to Morgan Stanley clients at the time of the alleged contact.

Iran to Target US Tech Firms in Middle East

Iran’s IRGC announced it will target 18 U.S. technology companies, such as Apple and Google, across the Middle East starting Wednesday evening. The IRGC accuses these companies of assisting U.S. military operations and advised employees to evacuate. This action follows previous threats and an earlier attack on Amazon data centers, raising concerns about AI investments in the region.

India’s Smartphone Exports Soar, Iran War Threatens Drop

India’s smartphone exports reached $11 billion in the first half of fiscal year 2026, a 55% increase year-on-year. However, escalating tensions in the Middle East are threatening to disrupt trade routes and potentially cause a significant drop in shipments, estimated at up to 25%. This marks the first major geopolitical challenge for India’s burgeoning smartphone export industry.

wastrelly wabbits

Wastrel, a WebAssembly compiler, has been developed to compile programs from the Hoot Scheme compiler, incorporating support for big number operations using a stripped-down version of GMP and updated exception handling. Recent debugging revealed a potential issue with local variable mutations between setjmp and longjmp calls, prompting a code analysis pass for correction. The project aims to eventually integrate features like big numbers into the Wasm standard.

bqn-smt

This project introduces a BQN interface for interacting with SMT solvers like CVC5, Bitwuzla, and Z3, enabling users to perform satisfiability checks and complex computations. The interface supports various data types, including bitvectors, floats, and integers, and can be used via a REPL or by directly importing BQN scripts. Users can leverage this tool for tasks ranging from simple verification to more intricate mathematical problem-solving.

A Practice: Satisfied on Purpose

The author describes a persistent feeling of not accomplishing enough at the end of the workday, a pattern that previously led to burnout. They now believe this dissatisfaction stems from deeper, unresolved issues related to childhood experiences and anxieties about societal and environmental concerns, rather than a lack of productivity. The author is attempting to address this through mindfulness and cultivating contentment in their professional life.

Human.json

Human.json is a new initiative using structured data to verify the human authorship of websites and build a web of trust. The system aims to distinguish human-generated content from AI-generated content, but faces challenges in definitively proving authorship and preventing misuse. Despite potential issues with accuracy and categorization, the project’s simplicity and potential to foster online communities are seen as valuable.

Blockchain analysis reveals $100 million Russian drone supply network funded via crypto

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Apple removes custom apps from Russian store as minister escalates war on VPNs

Apple has removed apps developed by independent Russian developers from its Russian App Store. This action follows a broader effort by Russian authorities to restrict VPN services, escalating tensions with the tech giant. The move appears to be a response to government pressure regarding app distribution and internet access within Russia.

Australia accuses TikTok, Meta, Google of disobeying social media ban

Australian authorities allege TikTok, Meta, and Google have failed to comply with the country’s new online safety laws. The accusations center around a ban on sharing harmful content, specifically related to self-harm and suicide. The companies are reportedly facing scrutiny for not adequately implementing the required safeguards.