Alvaro Lopez Ortega / 2026-04-27 Briefing

Created Tue, 28 Apr 2026 01:31:50 +0000 Modified Thu, 21 May 2026 01:16:58 +0000
8279 Words

Ukraine is escalating long-range drone strikes against Russian energy infrastructure and troops to disrupt war funding. In the U.S., the Trump administration is paying $885 million to cancel offshore wind farms to favor oil and gas investment. Meanwhile, California’s proposed 5% wealth tax on billionaires has qualified for the November ballot, and new studies link a common weed killer to early-onset colon cancer.

🤖 AI & Machine Learning

Claude Pro: Opus model will only be available if extra usage is enabled

Claude Code users can switch between various models, such as Opus, Sonnet, and Haiku, using three different methods. These include using the /model command for immediate changes, the --model flag for single sessions, or updating shell configuration files to set a permanent default.

Talkie: a 13B vintage language model from 1930

Researchers have introduced Talkie, a 13B parameter “vintage” language model trained solely on historical text from before 1931. This model provides a contamination-free way to study AI capabilities, such as scientific discovery and coding, without the interference of modern web data.

Decoupled DiLoCo: Resilient, Distributed AI Training at Scale

Decoupled DiLoCo is a new distributed architecture that enables large language model training across distant data centers using asynchronous data flow between decoupled compute islands. This approach enhances hardware resiliency by isolating disruptions and facilitates efficient training over wide-area networks with lower bandwidth requirements.

Rise of Usage-Based AI Billing

GitHub Copilot will transition to a usage-based billing model using AI Credits on June 1, 2026, to manage the increasing compute demands of its agentic features. This move reflects a broader industry trend where usage-based AI fees have more than doubled in 2025 as major software companies shift away from traditional per-user subscription models.

I analyzed 571M Amazon reviews to find the most profanity-filled customer rants

A Burla demo used a 1,000-CPU cluster to analyze 571 million Amazon reviews, ranking them by “unhinged” metrics such as profanity, rants, and excessive punctuation. The system utilizes a rule-based, multi-pass pipeline to identify extreme content while redacting sensitive slurs.

Canva fixes AI ‘Palestine’ design bug

Canva has apologized and resolved a bug in its Magic Layers AI feature that replaced the word “Palestine” with “Ukraine” in certain user designs. To prevent similar errors from occurring in the future, the company is implementing additional checks within its AI tools.

The “just build it with Claude” paradox

An emerging “build vs. buy” paradox shows that users are increasingly choosing to build custom solutions with AI tools like Claude rather than paying for existing software. This trend highlights a tendency for individuals to undervalue their own time, often spending significantly more in labor costs to avoid small monthly subscription fees.

Tendril – a self-extending agent that builds and registers its own tools

Tendril is a self-extending agentic sandbox built with the AWS Strands Agents SDK and Tauri that implements the “Agent Capability” pattern. Utilizing only three bootstrap tools, the agent autonomously discovers, builds, and registers new capabilities in a persistent registry. This allows the system to expand its functionality and reuse custom-built tools across different sessions without manual intervention.

Running local LLMs offline on a ten-hour flight

An engineer used a ten-hour, offline flight to test the capabilities of running local LLMs on a high-end MacBook Pro for complex engineering tasks. The experiment revealed significant hardware limitations, including rapid battery depletion, overheating, and power supply bottlenecks under sustained workloads.

OSS Agent I built topped the TerminalBench on Gemini-3-flash-preview

A new open-source CLI agent has achieved a 65.2% score on the TerminalBench benchmark using Gemini-3-flash-preview, surpassing both Google’s official agent and the closed-source Junie CLI. The developer emphasized that the results were obtained using an unmodified, open-source version of the agent in full compliance with leaderboard regulations to ensure no cheating occurred.

France’s Mistral Built a $14B AI Empire by Not Being American

French AI company Mistral is positioning itself as a secure alternative to Silicon Valley’s dominance by offering “open weight” models that prioritize technological sovereignty. While currently trailing major American and Chinese competitors in performance, the company aims to provide organizations with customizable AI that ensures greater data security and independence.

Moleskine’s AI Lord of the Rings collection can only mock

Moleskine’s new Lord of the Rings collection has faced criticism following the revelation that its promotional images were AI-generated. The use of AI-generated artwork has sparked controversy regarding the brand’s identity as a champion of human creativity and legendary artists.

Everything that went wrong with Claude

Anthropic’s Claude Code v2.1.120 recently experienced crashes when attempting to resume sessions using the –resume or –continue flags. This issue forced an automatic rollback of the software to version v2.1.119.

AI can cost more than human workers now

IT budgets are expanding as the cost of AI compute and services begins to exceed employee salaries in some organizations. As global IT spending is projected to rise, companies face increasing pressure to demonstrate a clear return on these substantial investments.

The Prompt API

The Chrome Prompt API enables natural language processing within the browser by leveraging Gemini Nano for tasks such as AI-powered search and content extraction. However, utilizing this API requires significant hardware resources, including substantial disk space and high-performance CPU or GPU capabilities.

EvanFlow – A TDD driven feedback loop for Claude Code

EvanFlow is a TDD-driven, iterative development framework for Claude Code that guides software projects from brainstorming through implementation using 16 cohesive skills and subagents. The framework emphasizes human control through mandatory checkpoints and incorporates specific safeguards to prevent common AI failure modes such as hallucinations and context drift.

The reporters at this news site are AI bots. OpenAI appears to be funding it

The news site Acutus appears to utilize AI bots as reporters and relies heavily on AI-generated content for its articles. Investigations have uncovered links between the platform and the advocacy firm Targeted Victory, with suggestions that OpenAI’s super PAC may be funding the site.

The crypto-to-AI bandwagon jumpers’ club just landed another member: Core Scientific

Core Scientific plans to convert its 300-megawatt bitcoin mining operation in Pecos, Texas, into a 1.5-gigawatt AI datacenter campus. The company intends to fund the transition through $3.3 billion in junk bond sales, with the first new data hall expected to be operational by early 2027.

AI reality check: Here’s what three companies learned building wallets, homes, and games

At Google Cloud Next, executives from Citi, Home Depot, and Capcom discussed the transition of AI agents from experimental tools to reliable, customer-facing workers. These companies are implementing specialized agents for sectors like wealth management and retail while prioritizing robust governance and security to manage real-world risks.

Watch out UK taxpayers: 28,000 HMRC staffers just got an AI copilot

HMRC is rolling out Microsoft Copilot to 28,000 staff following a trial that demonstrated an average daily time saving of 26 minutes per user. While the department aims to expand the tool’s use into “Official Sensitive” workflows, concerns remain regarding its ability to handle complex data and ensure the security of sensitive information.

Anthropic’s magic code-sniffer: More Swiss cheese than cheddar, for now

Anthropic’s Mythos AI tool automates the detection of known code vulnerabilities but currently lacks the ability to identify entirely new classes of bugs. Despite these current limitations, the author suggests that the continued evolution and widespread availability of such tools could eventually lead to significantly more secure software.

Google Cloud Next proves what we suspected: Everything is AI now

This episode of The Kettle explores the AI-centric announcements from Google Cloud Next, including new Tensor chips and the rebranding of Vertex AI to the Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform. The hosts also discuss a recent security breach involving Anthropic’s Mythos model and its performance findings from Project Glasswing.

Xiaomi open-sources MiMo-V2.5 and MiMo-V2.5-Pro for efficient agentic “claw” tasks.

Xiaomi has released MiMo-V2.5 and MiMo-V2.5-Pro, two open-source large language models available under the MIT License. These models are highly optimized for efficient agentic tasks, significantly reducing token consumption compared to closed-source competitors like OpenAI and Google. The Pro version is specifically engineered for complex, long-horizon challenges such as software engineering.

Bill Nguyen is outsourcing parts of his life to AI to create a virtual body double

Tech entrepreneur Bill Nguyen is developing a “virtual body double” by using highly customized and expensive AI systems to act as his proxy. His personalized assistant manages his daily agenda, handles communications, and processes personal data to make decisions and take actions on his behalf.

Amateur solves 60-year-old Erdős problem with a single GPT-5.4 Pro prompt; Tao: ’nice achievement’

A 23-year-old amateur used a single prompt to GPT-5.4 Pro to solve a 60-year-old Erdős problem involving primitive sets. The solution is notable because the AI employed a novel mathematical method that human researchers had previously overlooked. Mathematician Terence Tao called the achievement “nice” but suggested that human mental blocks may have made the problem seem more difficult than it actually was.

💻 Software & Development

NPM website was down

NPM reports that there have been no incidents or maintenance related to any service downtime. Currently, no incidents have been reported for the platform.

L123: A Lotus 1-2-3–style terminal spreadsheet with modern Excel compatibility

l123 is a Rust-based terminal spreadsheet application designed to recreate the classic Lotus 1-2-3 DOS experience. It features modern compatibility with .xlsx and CSV files, a keyboard-centric workflow, and integrated graphing capabilities.

Balancing Act of Reliability

To maintain software reliability in production, teams should utilize metrics like SLIs, SLOs, and SLAs to establish clear performance targets and manage customer expectations. Implementing error budgeting further enables data-driven decisions, allowing teams to determine when to prioritize system stability over new feature development.

Super ZSNES – GPU Powered SNES Emulator

The original developers of ZSNES have released SUPER ZSNES, a rewritten, GPU-powered emulator featuring improved accuracy and a “Super Enhancement Engine” for enhanced graphics and audio. While the emulator offers advanced features like high-resolution Mode 7, it is currently in an early development stage and lacks support for certain special chips.

GitHub is having issues now

Between April 20 and April 21, 2026, GitHub experienced service degradation affecting code scanning, code quality, and project boards. A serialization error prevented code analysis triggers on new pull requests and delayed the appearance of new issues on project boards. The company has since mitigated the issue by deploying fixes and re-indexing affected project items.

GitHub Down Again

GitHub is experiencing service disruptions affecting Pull Requests, Issues, Actions, and Packages. The disruption involves search failures and connectivity issues with elasticsearch, which the team is currently investigating and working to mitigate.

Networking changes coming in macOS 27

Apple has signaled significant networking changes for macOS 27, including the potential removal of AFP support and stricter TLS requirements for server connections. These updates may impact enterprise users who rely on legacy network storage or servers that do not meet new security standards.

Ubuntu Linux Will Begin Landing AI Features Throughout the Next Year

Canonical plans to integrate various AI features into Ubuntu Linux over the next year, focusing on local inferencing and enhancing existing OS functionality. The development roadmap includes creating a context-aware operating system that incorporates agentic workflows and server-side tools such as automated system log interpretation.

The Chaos of Email

Email relies on a complex infrastructure involving Mail Submission Agents, Mail Transfer Agents, and DNS MX records for message routing. Rather than being a real-time communication technology, the system functions as an eventually consistent queuing mechanism.

A terminal spreadsheet editor with Vim keybindings

A new terminal-based spreadsheet editor, cell-sheet-tui, has been introduced featuring native Vim keybindings for familiar navigation and editing. The tool supports CSV/TSV formats and includes a formula engine capable of handling functions such as SUM, AVERAGE, and IF.

I built a dual crossword puzzle where two crosswords share one grid

Forkle is a new daily word game that features two thematically linked crosswords sharing a single grid. Each tile contains two letters—one for each puzzle—creating a unique challenge where the overlapping themes can either assist or complicate the solving process.

Pgbackrest is no longer being maintained

pgBackRest is a scalable backup and restore solution for PostgreSQL that supports full, differential, and incremental backups. The tool utilizes parallel processing, efficient compression, and secure remote operations via TLS/SSH to ensure data integrity.

Notepad++ for Mac – Independent community port

A new community-driven, native port of Notepad++ is now available for both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. This open-source application eliminates the need for emulation or compatibility layers while maintaining core features such as extensive language support and a plugin ecosystem.

TurboQuant: A first-principles walkthrough

TurboQuant is a method for compressing high-dimensional AI vectors, such as KV caches and embeddings, to 2–4 bits per coordinate while maintaining near-optimal accuracy. The technique uses random rotations to transform vector coordinates into a fixed distribution, enabling a single, reusable codebook that requires no training or calibration.

The Unix Magic poster, annotated (updated)

An updated website now provides detailed annotations and historical corrections for Gary Overacre’s 1980s “UNIX Magic” poster. The revamped site features a terminal-style redesign, improved navigation, and deep-linking to individual references.

After three months on Linux, I don’t miss Windows at all

An individual using an Arch-based Linux distribution as their primary operating system for three months reports a smooth transition with minimal reliance on Windows. Although they encountered some minor hardware and software troubleshooting challenges, the overall experience was found to be robust and satisfying.

Microsoft updates the Windows Update Experience: You can hit pause now

Microsoft is updating the Windows Update experience to allow users to pause updates for up to 35 days and extend that pause indefinitely. This change aims to reduce disruptions caused by untimely updates, though Microsoft still recommends installing them promptly to ensure device security.

PowerPoint punishment sent users into an infinite loop after lunch

In the early 2000s, employees used looping PowerPoint presentations of screenshots to prank colleagues by making unlocked workstations appear frozen. The technique often incorporated fake error messages to induce confusion and panic among coworkers.

Microsoft’s ‘Windows K2’ initiative targets Windows 11 AI, bloat, and performance issues.

Microsoft is implementing an ongoing initiative codenamed “Windows K2” to address widespread user complaints regarding Windows 11, specifically focusing on AI bloat, performance issues, and reliability. Rather than a new operating system release, the project aims to strengthen core fundamentals and improve internal development processes to ensure a higher-quality user experience.

What’s new in pip 26.1 - lockfiles and dependency cooldowns

Pip 26.1 has been released, officially dropping support for Python 3.9 to focus on Python 3.10 and higher. The update also introduces experimental support for reading and installing from pylock.toml lockfiles using the -r option.

HTML written only using the C preprocessor

A developer has demonstrated a method for writing HTML using only the C preprocessor. The project’s source code is available via a GitHub Gist.

httpxyz one month in

One month after forking the httpx library to create httpxyz, developers have implemented significant performance optimizations and critical bug fixes. The update also includes the creation of a companion fork, httpcorexyz, to address underlying transport issues such as deadlocks and latency.

Running the Gauntlet: a tiny nodejs test runner

The author has introduced gauntlet, a lightweight TypeScript-compiling front-end for the Node.js built-in test runner. Designed to reduce dependency bloat, the tool ensures type safety by using a project’s existing TypeScript configuration to compile tests during the build process.

The gold standard of optimization: A look under the hood of RollerCoaster Tycoon

The article examines how RollerCoaster Tycoon (1999) achieved exceptional performance on era-appropriate hardware through the extensive use of Assembly language. It details the aggressive optimization techniques used by creator Chris Sawyer to efficiently simulate complex theme parks with thousands of individual agents.

Golden Testing a CAD Library

The author of the Haskell library Waterfall-CAD has implemented visual regression testing to address the difficulty of verifying 3D model outputs. By leveraging new SVG support and the tasty-golden library, the developer can now compare generated diagrams against stored snapshots to detect visual changes.

Wasm is not quite a stack machine

The article examines the distinction between register machines and stack machines, arguing that WebAssembly (Wasm) is not a pure stack machine. The author suggests that Wasm uses stack manipulation instructions to facilitate value reuse, effectively acting as a form of compressed register machine.

Let’s Build the Terminal Pt. 1

The first part of a three-part series provides instructions on building a terminal emulator in C using GTK4 and VTE. The article covers installing necessary dependencies and guides readers through the initial steps of setting up a basic GTK application.

🛡️ Security & Privacy

Three men are facing charges in Toronto SMS Blaster arrests

Three men face 44 charges following a major investigation into the use of mobile “SMS blasters” to conduct fraudulent text message attacks in the Greater Toronto Area. The operation impacted tens of thousands of devices and caused over 13 million network disruptions, potentially compromising access to emergency services.

U.S. companies back Sam Altman’s World ID even as much of the world pushes back

Sam Altman-backed biometric project World has formed new partnerships with Tinder, Zoom, and Docusign to utilize its digital identification technology to combat fraud. This expansion into the American corporate sector comes despite widespread regulatory bans and privacy investigations concerning its iris-scanning practices in several countries.

Don’t Stop Me from Pasting Passwords

Disabling copy/paste functionality for passwords degrades user experience and undermines security by discouraging the use of password managers. The author argues that allowing pasting is essential to support complex, unique credentials and prevents users from reverting to weaker, reused passwords.

SVG Sanitization Challenges

Scratch has faced recurring security vulnerabilities, including XSS and HTTP leaks, due to the practice of parsing user-generated SVG content into its main document. The author argues that relying on increasingly complex sanitization methods is an unstable and fundamentally flawed approach to security.

Crypto scam lures ships into Strait of Hormuz, falsely promising safe passage

Scammers posing as Iranian authorities are targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz by demanding “transit fees” paid in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Tether. Some vessels may have been deceived into making these payments for safe passage, only to encounter Iranian military fire despite receiving fraudulent permission.

Recent Cyberattacks and Data Breaches

Extortion groups Lapsus$ and ShinyHunters have orchestrated a series of major cyberattacks, compromising the personal data of millions across several organizations. Notable breaches include the theft of 4TB of voice recordings and IDs from Mercor contractors, alongside unauthorized access to the systems of ADT, Itron, and Medtronic.

Ongoing supply-chain attack ’explicitly targeting’ security, dev tools

Checkmarx has confirmed that sensitive data, including source code and credentials, was exposed following a supply-chain attack linked to the Lapsus$ extortion group. The breach originated from a compromise of the Trivy vulnerability scanner, which enabled attackers to target several developer tools and GitHub repositories.

Cybersec is a thankless job: expanding workload and shrinking pay packet

A report from Harvey Nash indicates that 71% of global cybersecurity professionals experienced wage stagnation last year despite an increasing workload and growing technological threats. This trend, attributed to boardroom complacency and an employer-controlled job market, is driving low job satisfaction and increasing the risk of professional burnout and attrition.

FTC: Americans lost $2.1B to social media scams in 2025; Facebook led with $794M.

Americans lost $2.1 billion to social media scams in 2025, marking an eightfold increase since 2020, according to a new FTC report. Facebook was the primary platform for these fraudulent activities, accounting for $794 million in losses through investment, shopping, and romance scams.

Taylor Swift files to trademark her voice and image to protect against AI threats.

Taylor Swift has filed trademark applications for her voice and specific visual imagery to combat the rise of unauthorized AI-generated content. The filings, which include “sound marks,” aim to provide an additional layer of legal protection against AI imitations that are confusingly similar to her likeness.

Ex-Tokyo Electron engineer Chen Li-ming sentenced to 10 years for stealing TSMC data

A former engineer, Chen Li-ming, has been sentenced to ten years in prison for stealing TSMC’s proprietary data. Bloomberg Businessweek also covers the impact of AI on fashion and employment, United Airlines’ potential acquisitions, and the financial struggles of a Mexican billionaire.

Hacking the last Z80 computer ever, the Cidco Mailstation

Michal Pleban’s presentation explores the Cidco Mailstation, a 1999 Z80-based computer designed for simplified email access. The talk demonstrates how the machine can be hacked to run custom software and calls for community involvement in developing new firmware and documentation.

🏢 Business & Policy

Trump Administration Will Pay More Energy Firms to Cancel Wind Farms

The Trump administration is paying energy companies $885 million to cancel plans for two offshore wind farms off the coasts of New York, New Jersey, and California. In exchange for forfeiting their federal leases, the companies have pledged to reinvest the funds into oil and gas projects, including liquefied natural gas facilities along the Gulf Coast.

California’s Billionaire Tax Has the Signatures to Make the Ballot

California’s proposed one-time 5% wealth tax on billionaires has officially qualified for the November ballot after collecting more than 1.5 million signatures. While supporters argue the revenue is necessary to offset federal healthcare cuts, opponents warn the measure could drive wealthy residents out of the state.

China car giant BYD says it can thrive without US

Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD asserts it can thrive without the US market by expanding its presence in regions such as Europe, Brazil, and the UK. The company is leveraging technological innovations like “flash charging” and its integrated technology ecosystem to meet rising global demand for EVs.

Healthcare is driving America’s economy

The provided text features a headline stating that healthcare is driving the American economy. However, the actual content is a subscription advertisement for the Financial Times, outlining various digital and print access plans.

United Wizards of the Coast

The Magic: The Gathering Arena team has announced the formation of a new union, United Wizards of the Coast - CWA. The group is calling on Wizards of the Coast leadership to voluntarily recognize the union to begin collective bargaining for improved working conditions.

Canada’s first sovereign wealth fund

Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced the creation of Canada’s first sovereign wealth fund, the “Canada Strong Fund,” with an initial $25 billion endowment. The fund will partner with the private sector to finance major national projects in sectors such as energy, agriculture, and infrastructure, while offering retail investment opportunities to individual Canadians.

Supreme Court to Hear Arguments in Landmark Roundup Weedkiller Case

The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in a case that could lead to the dismissal of tens of thousands of lawsuits claiming Bayer’s Roundup weedkiller causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Bayer argues that the EPA’s classification of glyphosate as safe should shield the company from state-level legal claims.

US Supreme Court reviews police use of cell location data

The U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing the legality of law enforcement’s use of cell location data during criminal investigations. The case examines whether accessing this information violates Fourth Amendment privacy protections.

Evaluating the Use of Lean

While Lean is a leading modern tool for mathematical formalization, the practice is part of a sixty-year evolution in computational logic. Earlier systems, such as AUTOMATH and ACL2, provided the foundational progress necessary to achieve major mathematical milestones.

Many Opioid Victims Will Be Shut Out of Purdue’s $7.4B Bankruptcy Settlement

A new $7.4 billion bankruptcy settlement for Purdue Pharma will exclude tens of thousands of original claimants due to stricter eligibility requirements and significantly reduced payouts. The plan’s removal of the option to use sworn affidavits makes it nearly impossible for many victims to prove their claims without historical medical records.

Microsoft and OpenAI amend partnership

Microsoft and OpenAI have amended their partnership from an exclusive to a non-exclusive agreement, allowing OpenAI to use alternative cloud providers if Azure capacity is insufficient. The updated terms also end Microsoft’s revenue-sharing with OpenAI and grant Microsoft a non-exclusive license to OpenAI’s intellectual property through 2032.

Tim Cook Is Leaving. Good

The author argues that Tim Cook’s departure from Apple is a positive development, claiming his focus on operational and financial success has led to a decline in product quality and user experience. The article suggests that under Cook’s leadership, Apple has lost the product-centric culture and attention to detail established by Steve Jobs.

China Blocks Meta’s Manus Acquisition

China’s National Development and Reform Commission has blocked Meta’s $2 billion acquisition of the AI startup Manus, ordering the cancellation of the deal. The decision follows regulatory concerns regarding potential violations of investment rules and the risk of technology leakage to the United States.

California’s Billionaire Tax Has the Signatures to Make the Ballot, Backers Say

Supporters of a proposed 5% wealth tax in California claim to have collected over 1.5 million signatures, surpassing the 875,000 required to reach the November ballot. The signatures must now undergo verification by county and state election officials before the measure can officially appear on the ballot.

Trump’s Final Term Ends in 999 Days (Countdown)

A countdown timer has been established to track the time remaining until January 20, 2029. The countdown measures the duration left until the end of Donald Trump’s term in the America/New_York time zone.

South Africa yanks AI policy after AI-assisted drafting invents citations

South Africa has withdrawn its draft national AI policy after discovering that the document included several fictitious citations generated by artificial intelligence. Communications Minister Solly Malatsi stated that these errors compromised the policy’s integrity and announced that consequence management would follow for those involved in the drafting process.

Trump’s Golden Dome gets $3.2BN of contractors and an AI sprinkle

The U.S. Space Force has awarded contracts worth up to $3.2 billion to 11 companies to develop prototype space-based interceptors for the “Golden Dome” program. The initiative aims to defend against ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missile threats by leveraging AI-enabled technology and a mix of traditional and non-traditional defense vendors.

ICO chief John Edwards steps back as workplace probe quietly unfolds

John Edwards, head of the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), has stepped aside from his duties pending an independent workplace investigation into unspecified HR matters. While the probe is ongoing, the ICO’s regulatory operations continue uninterrupted under its existing executive team.

Apple to allow monthly subs with 12-month commitments from May, excluding US and Singapore

Apple is introducing a new App Store subscription option that allows developers to offer monthly payments with a 12-month commitment. This feature aims to provide users with more affordable, discounted pricing but will exclude the United States and Singapore for the time being.

Study: 3% of Polymarket accounts drove most price discovery, not crowd wisdom.

A new study of Polymarket trades from 2023 to 2025 found that just 3% of traders drive most price discovery, challenging the “wisdom of the crowd” theory. The findings suggest that market accuracy is driven by a small group of informed participants, while many high-profit traders are actually beneficiaries of luck rather than skill.

EU DMA proposals to open Android to rival AI; Google calls it “unwarranted intervention”

The European Commission has unveiled new proposals under the Digital Markets Act aimed at opening the Android ecosystem to competing AI services. These measures seek to ensure that rival AI services can effectively interact with applications and execute tasks on Android devices, a move Google has labeled as “unwarranted intervention.”

Kashable raises $60M Series C for employee financial wellness programs.

Fintech company Kashable has secured $60 million in a Series C funding round led by Goldman Sachs Alternatives’ Sustainable Investing. The company provides socially responsible credit and financial wellness programs to employees through integrated employer benefits. This latest investment brings Kashable’s total capital raised to more than $450 million.

Quantum Art extends Series A to $140M for its multicore architecture

Quantum computing startup Quantum Art Ltd. has extended its Series A funding to $140 million to develop its “Perspective” multicore architecture. This technology utilizes a dynamically reconfigurable system to enhance computational throughput and facilitate scaling beyond 1,000 qubits in trapped-ion quantum computers.

Spotify partners with Peloton to offer Premium users 1,400+ ad-free fitness classes (Bloomberg)

Spotify Premium subscribers can now access over 1,400 ad-free Peloton workout classes and curated playlists. This partnership marks the music streaming service’s first major expansion into fitness content.

Vinted completes €880M secondary share sale at €8B valuation, up from €5B

Lithuania-based second-hand marketplace Vinted has completed a secondary share sale of approximately €880 million led by EQT. The transaction, which included participation from Teachers’ Venture Growth and Schroders Capital, brings the company’s valuation to €8 billion.

Salesforce and Airbnb among top SF tech spenders in 2024 10B program to hire police

Public records reveal that major tech companies, including Salesforce and Airbnb, were among the top spenders in San Francisco’s 10B program in 2024 to hire police officers for security. The use of this program follows heightened security concerns among local businesses following recent high-profile incidents in the city.

Amazon and Oprah Winfrey sign multiyear deal for new video podcasts and show repurposing

Amazon has entered into a multiyear licensing deal with Oprah Winfrey to produce twice-weekly video podcasts starting this summer. The agreement also includes the repurposing of The Oprah Winfrey Show library and the creation of new specials focused on her Book Club and Favorite Things brands.

Netflix and Peacock’s future post WBD-Paramount deal; Netflix had 6 of top 10 Q1 originals

Nielsen reports that Netflix held six of the top ten original streaming shows during the first quarter. This comes as the industry evaluates the future of Netflix and Comcast’s Peacock following the WBD-Paramount deal.

Truecaller faces pressure as India growth slows amid Apple, Google, and telco spam-blocking tools

Truecaller is facing mounting pressure as growth slows in its primary market of India, driven by increased competition from telecom networks and smartphone makers like Apple and Google. The company is now pivoting toward new AI-driven features and monetization strategies to maintain relevance amid the rise of native caller identification and spam-blocking tools.

Anthony Fujiwara: Industrializing social media ‘clipping’ and crypto casinos like Stake

Anthony Fujiwara has industrialized the “clipping” model, managing a massive network of editors to distribute short-form videos across social media platforms. This high-volume, low-cost strategy enables major brands, including Stake and Netflix, to achieve widespread organic reach at a fraction of the cost of traditional advertising.

Musk’s X Money launch delayed by US regulators amid skepticism (Bloomberg)

Elon Musk is nearing the launch of X Money, a banking and payments platform intended to transform X into an “everything app.” The service is expected to debut imminently and may offer competitive perks, including 3% cash back on purchases and a 6% interest rate on savings.

Software company loans face price pressure as investors seek defensive moats against AI disruption

An analysis of over 100 software company loans shows that while average prices have fallen sharply since late January due to fears of AI disruption, the impact is uneven across the sector. Some software companies are facing much more intense price pressure than others as investors seek defensive positions.

Jay Chen leaves Tokyo Electron China after family investments in Chinese chip rivals revealed

Tokyo Electron has parted ways with executive Jay Chen, who previously led the company’s China operations. The departure follows the discovery that Chen’s family had invested in Chinese competitors.

Cyera to acquire Israeli AI data governance startup Ryft for $100M-$130M, sources say

Data security company Cyera is acquiring Israeli startup Ryft for an estimated $100 million to $130 million. Ryft specializes in automated data access and governance tools designed to support secure enterprise AI deployment.

🔌 Hardware & Infrastructure

Open-Source KiCad PCBs for Common Arduino, ESP32, RP2040 Boards

The Easyduino project provides an open-source repository of KiCad-based PCB designs for popular microcontroller development boards, including Arduino, ESP32, and Raspberry Pi Pico. The initiative aims to unify disparate design conventions and introduces modern updates such as USB-C support.

Steam Controller: It’s almost here

The Steam Controller is reportedly nearing its release. The provided text also lists the platform’s extensive language options and includes links to install or sign into the Steam software.

Intel Ends Open Ecosystem Community/Evangelism Projects

Intel has discontinued its Intel Open Ecosystem Community and Evangelism program and archived several open-source projects on GitHub. This decision follows corporate restructuring and a realignment of the company’s open-source focus, alongside the departure of key open-source evangelists.

Dutch central bank ditches AWS and chooses Lidl for European Cloud

De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) will adopt a European cloud platform from Schwarz Digits, the IT arm of the Schwarz Group. The move aims to reduce the Dutch central bank’s dependence on American technology providers and mitigate geopolitical risks.

Utilyze – an open source GPU monitoring tool more accurate than nvtop

A new open-source tool called Utilyze has been released to address the misleading nature of standard GPU utilization metrics, which often overstate actual compute usage. By sampling hardware performance counters, Utilyze provides more accurate measurements of compute and memory throughput relative to a hardware’s theoretical limits.

Meta signs space solar energy deal

Meta has partnered with Overview Energy and Noon Energy to secure up to 1GW of solar energy beamed from space to power its expanding AI infrastructure. The agreements also involve utilizing ultra-long-duration storage capable of providing up to 100 hours of continuous electricity.

SpaceX dusts off Falcon Heavy for first flight in 18 months

SpaceX’s scheduled launch of the ViaSat-3 F3 communications satellite via Falcon Heavy was scrubbed due to unfavorable weather. This mission marks the rocket’s first flight attempt in over 18 months and precedes an expected period of high activity for the vehicle.

‘Heart of the Earth’ exhibit reveals Raspberry Pi in existential crisis

A visitor to Edinburgh’s Dynamic Earth science center discovered a Raspberry Pi computer displaying error messages inside a “Heart of the Earth” exhibit. The screen, visible through a viewport in a fake rock, showed a “removable medium is inserted” notification along with traces of CircuitPython.

Samsung smart glasses renders reveal design nearly identical to Ray-Ban Meta

Samsung is reportedly preparing to launch Galaxy Glasses running on the Android XR platform with integrated Google Gemini AI later this year. The initial “Jinju” model will lack a display, but a more advanced version featuring a micro-LED display is expected to debut in 2027.

Using Rust to Build a $1 Handheld Gaming Console

A developer has created a $1 handheld gaming console using the CH32V003 RISC-V microcontroller and the Rust programming language. To overcome the chip’s extreme memory constraints, the project utilizes efficient rendering techniques and bounding-box culling to manage game logic within just 2KiB of RAM.

I won my FOIA against Twelve South to open up the electrical information for the PlugBug 120W

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the FCC has successfully released unredacted technical documentation for the Twelve South PlugBug 120W US charger. The disclosed materials include the device’s schematic, parts list, block diagram, and operational description.

From Milliseconds to 26 Nanoseconds: How a $20 eBay SFP Module Beat My Entire NTP Setup

An enthusiast has achieved 26-nanosecond time precision using inexpensive, decommissioned telecom hardware, including a $20 eBay SFP module. By integrating this module with a Raspberry Pi 5 and a budget GPSDO, the high-accuracy PTP setup costs approximately $100.

🧬 Science & Society

To My Students

Professor Brent A. Yorgey has issued a letter to his students criticizing the software industry’s prioritization of profit, surveillance, and resource consumption over ethics and sustainability. He encourages future computer scientists to maintain their moral boundaries and focus on craftsmanship and human relationships rather than technological inevitability.

Ukraine’s drone commander has Russian oil, troops and morale in his sights

Ukrainian unmanned systems commander Robert Brovdi is escalating long-range drone strikes deep within Russian territory to target military personnel and energy infrastructure. These intensified attacks aim to disrupt Russia’s war funding and hinder their military progress along the frontline.

A common weed killer left an epigenetic footprint in early-onset colon cancer

Research has identified that a common weed killer leaves an epigenetic footprint in cases of early-onset colon cancer. This finding suggests a potential environmental link to the development of the disease.

What Will It Take to Get A.I. Out of Schools?

The author critiques the expanding use of AI technologies, such as Google’s Gemini, in K-8 classrooms, citing concerns over student privacy and deceptive educational branding. The article highlights the potential risks of exposing young children to manipulative tools and invasive surveillance within the school environment.

Does reading do us any good?

The article explores the contrasting views of John Ruskin and Marcel Proust regarding the fundamental purpose of reading. While Ruskin advocated for reading as a tool for intellectual enrichment and deep understanding, Proust argued that books serve primarily to preserve memories and make time tangible.

I did no work for a year and no one noticed

A former corporate professional describes a year-long experiment in which they ceased performing actual work while maintaining the appearance of productivity. The author concludes that modern corporate culture often rewards perceived effort over real output, characterizing much of office life as a “theatre performance.”

Silicon Valley has forgotten what normal people want

The author critiques a tendency among Silicon Valley tech enthusiasts to present well-established academic and scientific principles as groundbreaking new discoveries. This phenomenon is attributed to a lack of interdisciplinary curiosity and a tendency to remain siloed within narrow, tech-centric worldviews.

Men who stare at walls

To combat information overload and mental fatigue, the author suggests a routine of staring at a wall for several minutes when experiencing “brain fog.” By utilizing techniques such as peripheral vision and mind blanking, this practice can effectively restore focus and enhance productivity.

Who Asked for This?

Silicon Valley is being criticized for prioritizing hype-driven technologies, such as the metaverse and large language models, over addressing practical consumer needs. The author argues that tech companies must focus on developing products that tangibly improve lives rather than pursuing ventures designed primarily to enrich investors.

FDA approves first gene therapy for treatment of genetic hearing loss

The FDA has approved Otarmeni, the first dual adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector-based gene therapy, for the treatment of severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss caused by OTOF gene mutations. This one-time treatment restores auditory signaling by delivering a functional copy of the OTOF gene to the inner ear’s hair cells.

The Mushroom That Makes People Have the Exact Same Hallucination

Biologist Colin Domnauer is investigating Lanmaoa asiatica, a mushroom that causes “lilliputian hallucinations” of miniature figures across various cultures. Its unique hallucinogenic compounds produce consistent, long-lasting visions, offering researchers potential new insights into human consciousness and brain disorders.

Low-Dose Aspirin Usage for Primary Prevention Has Fallen by >50% Since 2018

The use of low-dose aspirin for primary prevention has fallen by more than 50% since 2018. This indicates a significant decline in the prevalence of this preventative medical practice.

AI used to reconstruct face of man killed in Pompeii’s AD 79 eruption

Archaeologists at Pompeii have used artificial intelligence for the first time to digitally reconstruct the face of a man killed during the AD 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The reconstruction, based on skeletal and archaeological data, aims to make historical research more accessible and engaging for the public.

600+ Google employees demand Sundar Pichai bar DOD from using Google AI for classified work

More than 600 Google employees, including many from DeepMind, have signed a letter to CEO Sundar Pichai demanding that the company bar the Pentagon from using its AI for classified work. The petitioners expressed concerns that such technology could be used in “inhumane or extremely harmful ways.”

China formalizes rules for online gig workers, seeking fair pay and labor protections (Bloomberg)

China has introduced its first comprehensive policy framework to regulate “new employment groups,” such as delivery riders and livestreamers. The mandate calls for standardized contracts, fair pay, and enhanced labor protections, with a target to achieve broad standardization by 2027.