The rapid expansion of AI is projected to add 5 million metric tons of e-waste by 2030, worsening the global crisis. In computing, new experiments show AI can optimize C++ code by rewriting it in assembly for massive performance gains. On the social front, growing anti-AI sentiment is being linked to the uncanny valley effect, while new research explains how birds uniquely survived the mass extinction.
🤖 AI & Machine Learning
Can your AI rewrite your code in assembly?
An experiment using AI models Grok and Claude demonstrated that iterative prompting can optimize C++ code by rewriting it in ARM64 assembly. The resulting SIMD-optimized versions outperformed the standard C++ compiler, reducing the average number of instructions per string by a factor of eight.
- Can your AI rewrite your code in assembly? — lemire.me
A lightweight way to make agents talk without paying for API usage
A new lightweight workflow enables coding agents like Claude, Codex, and Gemini to interact without the need for APIs or additional dependencies. By using CLI commands to invoke other agents and resume previous sessions, users can orchestrate cross-vendor reviews and leverage diverse model perspectives using existing subscriptions.
- A lightweight way to make agents talk without paying for API usage — juanpabloaj.com
Run TRELLIS.2 Image-to-3D generation natively on Apple Silicon
Microsoft’s TRELLIS.2, a 4-billion parameter image-to-3D model, has been ported to run natively on Apple Silicon via PyTorch MPS. By replacing CUDA-specific operations with pure-PyTorch alternatives, the model can now generate 400K vertex meshes from a single photo in approximately 3.5 minutes on M4 Pro hardware.
🏗️ Infrastructure & Systems
DIDs Are Cool. We Didn’t Need Them
The “In a Moon” project has opted for a simple, namespaced identity system instead of adopting complex Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs). By leveraging existing web identifiers like GitHub and Twitter handles, the project aims to create an attribution layer that tracks and rewards web contributions using currently legible content.
- DIDs Are Cool. We Didn’t Need Them — inamoon.com
A cache-friendly IPv6 LPM with AVX-512 (linearized B+-tree, real BGP benchmarks)
planb-lpm is a portable C++17 library that implements the PlanB algorithm for efficient IPv6 longest-prefix-match (LPM) using a linearized B+-tree. The library features AVX-512 SIMD acceleration with a scalar fallback, dynamic FIB support, and Python bindings for use in research, simulation, and production software.
Contra Benn Jordan, data center (and all) sub-audible infrasound issues are fake
An article argues that claims regarding data centers causing harm through sub-audible infrasound are pseudoscientific and lack empirical evidence. It specifically critiques a viral video by YouTuber Benn Jordan, characterizing the content as highbrow misinformation that uses professional aesthetics to promote unfounded conspiracy theories.
- Contra Benn Jordan, data center (and all) sub-audible infrasound issues are fake — blog.andymasley.com
SK hynix begins mass production of 192GB SOCAMM2 LPDDR5X DRAM for Nvidia’s Vera Rubin
SK hynix has begun mass production of its 192GB SOCAMM2 memory module, specifically designed for AI servers and Nvidia’s Vera Rubin AI platform. Utilizing sixth-generation LPDDR5X technology, the module provides more than double the bandwidth and 75 percent improved power efficiency compared to conventional RDIMMs to help resolve memory bottlenecks in large language models.
- SK hynix begins mass production of 192GB SOCAMM2 LPDDR5X DRAM for Nvidia’s Vera Rubin — koreaherald.com
💳 Fintech & Business
Stripe’s Payment APIs: the first 10 years (2020)
This article commemorates the first decade of Stripe’s Payment APIs. It provides guides and examples for developers to integrate the platform, featuring insights from Michelle Bu, Stripe’s Business Lead of Developer Experience and Product Platform.
- Stripe’s Payment APIs: the first 10 years (2020) — stripe.dev
Polymarket in talks to raise $400M at ~$15B valuation, up from $9B but below Kalshi’s $22B
Polymarket is reportedly in talks to raise $400 million at a post-money valuation of approximately $15 billion. This represents an increase from its $9 billion valuation in October 2025, though it remains below Kalshi’s $22 billion valuation.
- Polymarket in talks to raise $400M at ~$15B valuation, up from $9B but below Kalshi’s $22B — theinformation.com
Maria Davidson, head of Silicon Valley-backed California Renewal, seeks $100M by 2026
Maria Davidson, founder of the startup Kojo, is leading a new pro-business political group called California Renewal. Backed by prominent Silicon Valley figures such as Joe Lonsdale and Garry Tan, the organization aims to promote moderate policies in California and raise significant funding.
- Maria Davidson, head of Silicon Valley-backed California Renewal, seeks $100M by 2026 — sfstandard.com
Match Group CEO targets more women on Tinder to stem user decline; 75% of users are men
Match Group CEO Spencer Rascoff is prioritizing the growth of female users on Tinder to reverse recent declines in the app’s user base. According to data from Sensor Tower, men currently account for 75% of Tinder’s total users.
🌍 Society & Regulation
AI is about to make the global e-waste crisis worse
The rapid expansion of AI is projected to add up to 5 million metric tons of e-waste by 2030, driven by the frequent obsolescence of specialized hardware. This surge threatens to exacerbate the global e-waste crisis, particularly in developing nations like India that already receive significant amounts of electronic waste from developed countries.
- AI is about to make the global e-waste crisis worse — restofworld.org
Brussels pushes remote working to ease energy crisis
Brussels is promoting remote working as part of an initiative to help alleviate the energy crisis. This strategy aims to reduce energy consumption across the region.
They Went Abroad to Save Money. Moving Back Seems Unaffordable
Many Americans are living as expatriates in low-cost countries like Georgia to achieve an upper-middle-class lifestyle through remote work and tax advantages. While some desire to return to the United States to be near family, the high cost of relocation makes moving back seem financially unaffordable.
Why Birds Were the Only Dinosaurs to Survive Mass Extinction
Recent research suggests that the survival of modern bird lineages during the mass extinction 66 million years ago was due to their specific biological traits and geographic locations. While an asteroid impact caused the extinction of most dinosaur species, these particular avian groups were uniquely equipped to endure the resulting environmental collapse.
- Why Birds Were the Only Dinosaurs to Survive Mass Extinction — scientificamerican.com
The Uncanny Valley and the Rising Power of Anti-AI Sentiment
Recent surveys reveal a widening gap between optimistic AI experts and a U.S. public that increasingly views the technology as harmful to daily life and education. This rising anti-AI sentiment may be driven by the “uncanny valley” effect, where AI’s imperfect mimicry of human communication and behavior triggers instinctive feelings of distrust or disgust.
- The Uncanny Valley and the Rising Power of Anti-AI Sentiment — localscribe.co
Tariff-refund portal is about to be America’s hottest website on Monday
U.S. Customs is launching a new portal this Monday to begin processing billions in tariff refunds following a Supreme Court ruling that declared many Trump-era tariffs unconstitutional. While the initial phase targets approximately $127 billion in imports, it remains uncertain whether these refunds will ultimately reach consumers or be absorbed by importers and retailers.
Indonesia’s game rating system paused amid claims of developer and new title leaks
Indonesia has suspended its game rating system following reports of leaked developer credentials and unreleased game footage. Meanwhile, the Philippines has joined the US-led “Pax Silica” project to establish an AI-native manufacturing hub, and a humanoid robot recently outperformed human runners in a Beijing half marathon.
- Indonesia’s game rating system paused amid claims of developer and new title leaks — go.theregister.com
German Chancellor Merz seeks to ease EU AI rules and may exempt industrial AI to boost productivity
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for easing the European Union’s regulatory burden on artificial intelligence to boost productivity and competitiveness. He specifically advocates for exempting industrial AI from strict regulations to drive efficiency and help Europe compete with the United States and China.