Alvaro Lopez Ortega / 2026-05-04 Briefing

Created Tue, 05 May 2026 01:37:44 +0000 Modified Thu, 21 May 2026 01:16:58 +0000
8928 Words

Security alerts highlight vulnerabilities in uutils and buffer overflows in Nix and Lix daemons. While the Copy Fail exploit impacts Podman containers, its reach is limited in rootless setups. On the innovation front, Sectorllm enables Llama2 inference via just 1,369 bytes of x86 assembly. Meanwhile, Retro Games Ltd. announced the THEC64, a new handheld for Commodore 64 emulation.

🧠 AI & Intelligence

sectorllm: llama2 inference in < 1500 bytes of x86 assembly

Sectorllm is an extremely compact Llama2 inference engine written in only 1,369 bytes of x86 real mode assembly. It is designed to boot directly from disk to run a 260K parameter model before an operating system loads, utilizing int8 quantization and optimized matrix operations.

How LLMs Distort Our Written Language

A study has found that Large Language Models (LLMs) distort written language by altering conclusions, stances, and semantic meanings more significantly than human editors. The research highlights that while users may find LLM-generated prose satisfying, the technology causes a loss of individual voice and can even shift the scientific criteria used in academic peer reviews.

Do AI summaries hurt critical thinking?

The article warns that the convenience of AI summarization may undermine critical thinking by encouraging individuals to bypass the intellectual effort required to process complex information. This growing reliance on technological shortcuts poses a significant risk to our capacity for independent thought.

AI’s pharma gains are in back-office and manufacturing, not drug discovery.

Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly utilizing supercomputers and AI to address high failure rates in drug development. Currently, most technological gains in the industry are being realized through streamlined manufacturing and back-office efficiency rather than breakthroughs in drug discovery.

Musk v. Altman: Judge excludes AI expert Stuart Russell’s testimony on existential threats

In Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI, AI expert Stuart Russell testified about various risks associated with the development of artificial general intelligence, such as cybersecurity threats and misalignment. However, the judge limited Russell’s testimony by excluding his broader concerns regarding the potential existential threats posed by unconstrained AI.

White House Considers AI Model Vetting

The Trump administration is considering an executive order to establish an AI working group composed of government officials and tech executives to examine new oversight procedures. This group would evaluate a formal government review process for new AI models before their release, marking a significant departure from the administration’s previously noninterventionist approach.

Former Trump and Biden AI advisers urge bipartisan action on AI security risks

Former AI advisers to the Trump and Biden administrations are calling for bipartisan action to address the urgent national security risks posed by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence. They warn that AI could be used to exploit critical infrastructure or develop bioweapons, necessitating strategic safeguards such as tighter export controls and safety audits.

Anthropic co-founder: 60%+ chance AI builds successors by 2029 & consequences of automated AI R&D

Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark estimates a 60% or greater chance that AI systems will autonomously develop their own successors by the end of 2028. He argues that the necessary engineering components for automated AI research are already being established, potentially leading to a period of recursive self-improvement and rapid, unpredictable technological advancement.

Palantir and State Dept. share vision of mixing AI and state power at Yale forum

The Palantir Foundation, in collaboration with Yale’s Jackson School of Global Affairs, recently hosted its third annual Atlantic and Pacific Forum. The private event brought together State Department officials, Palantir employees, and select students to discuss the intersection of artificial intelligence and national power.

AI tools help South Korea’s elderly ease loneliness, detect emergencies and slow cognitive decline

South Korea is utilizing AI tools like “Talking Buddy” to support its rapidly aging population and address a shortage of caregivers. These technologies monitor seniors living alone to detect medical emergencies and help combat cognitive decline.

What do we lose when AI does our work?

While AI effectively reduces the friction of starting tasks, it bypasses the essential “task initiation” process that provides meaning and clarity to work. The author warns that delegating this stage to AI risks disconnecting individuals from their labor, potentially leading to a sense of dissociation and increased burnout.

Transformers Are Inherently Succinct (2025)

Researchers propose using succinctness as a measure of a transformer’s expressive power in describing formal languages. The study demonstrates that transformers can represent these languages more efficiently than finite automata or Linear Temporal Logic, making the verification of transformer properties EXPSPACE-complete.

How OpenAI delivers low-latency voice AI at scale

OpenAI has rearchitected its WebRTC stack using a split relay and transceiver architecture to achieve low-latency, natural-sounding voice AI at scale. This new infrastructure optimizes global routing and connection stability to ensure seamless, real-time interactions for its massive user base.

OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft Back Bill to Fund ‘AI Literacy’ in Schools

The bipartisan LIFT AI Act, introduced by Senator Adam Schiff, proposes integrating AI literacy into K-12 education. Supported by major tech companies including Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI, the bill would authorize National Science Foundation grants to develop AI-focused curricula and teacher professional development.

Bonsai 1.7B ternary model at 442T/s on M4 Max

Using an autonomous agentic evolution search, Metal kernels for the Bonsai 1.7B ternary model were optimized on M4 Max hardware. This optimization resulted in a 42% increase in token generation speed and an 8.8% increase in prompt processing speed compared to the unmodified llama.cpp.

Does Employment Slow Cognitive Decline? Evidence from Labor Market Shocks

A new study finds that negative labor market shocks are linked to significant declines in cognitive scores, particularly among men aged 51 to 64. The findings suggest that maintaining employment into older age may help delay age-related cognitive decline.

1966 Ford Mustang Converted into a Tesla with Working ‘Full Self-Driving’

A California auto parts shop owner has converted a 1966 Ford Mustang into an electric vehicle using Tesla Model 3 components. The $40,000 project, which took two years to complete, features a dual-motor drivetrain and is reportedly the first non-Tesla vehicle to run Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” software.

Shadow IT has given way to shadow AI. Enter AI-BOMs

To combat the security risks of “shadow AI,” organizations are increasingly adopting AI Bills of Materials (AI-BOMs) to gain visibility into complex components like models, datasets, and agents. Cisco is supporting this movement by open-sourcing an AI-BOM and a Model Provenance Kit to help companies track the lineage and authenticity of AI assets.

Five Eyes spook shops warn agentic is too wonky for rapid rollout

Five Eyes security agencies have released guidance warning that the rapid deployment of agentic AI expands attack surfaces and increases the risk of exploitable, unexpected behaviors. The document advises organizations to prioritize security and resilience over productivity by implementing robust controls and maintaining human oversight.

🛡️ Security & Privacy

Podman rootless containers and the Copy Fail exploit

The Copy Fail exploit (CVE-2026-31431) allows unprivileged users to obtain a root shell within Linux containers. In Podman’s rootless configuration, however, the impact of this vulnerability is significantly limited by the existing permissions of the host user.

Security Advisory: Local privilege escalation in Lix and Nix

Buffer overflow vulnerabilities in the Nix and Lix daemon implementations allow local attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution as the daemon user. Both projects have released software updates to address these security issues, and the Guix project remains unaffected.

uutils coreutils CVEs

An audit of the uutils implementation of GNU coreutils has identified 113 security issues, 44 of which have been assigned CVEs. Due to vulnerabilities such as TOCTOU races, Canonical will continue to use the original GNU versions of ‘cp’, ‘mv’, and ‘rm’ in Ubuntu 26.04.

Package Manager CWEs

An analysis of security advisories for package managers reveals that certain vulnerability patterns, such as path traversal and argument injection, frequently recur across various software ecosystems. The study identifies persistent failure modes in archive extraction and string handling that continue to affect both package clients and registries.

I accidentally made law enforcement shut down their stresser honeypot

An investigation into “Cyberzap,” a fake DDoS-for-hire website used by the international law enforcement initiative Operation PowerOFF, coincided with the apparent shutdown of the operation’s infrastructure. The initiative, led by the Dutch police, utilizes undercover platforms to mimic cyberattack services and gather evidence against potential attackers.

US Health Exchanges Share Data with Tech Giants

Nearly all 20 U.S. state-run health insurance exchanges have used advertising trackers to transmit sensitive personal data, such as race and citizenship status, to tech giants including Meta, Google, and TikTok. These pixel trackers facilitate targeted advertising and potentially expose the private information of millions of Americans.

The Rise of Emotion AI Surveillance

Emotion AI, which uses facial, voice, and text analysis to monitor human emotions, is expanding from blue-collar sectors into white-collar workplaces. While companies utilize these surveillance tools to track worker productivity and engagement, the technology’s rise is raising significant concerns regarding privacy and bias.

Recent Major Data Breaches

The hacking group ShinyHunters claims responsibility for a massive breach of Instructure’s Canvas platform, involving the theft of 3.65TB of data affecting millions of users across 9,000 institutions. Separately, an actor impersonating the group alleges the theft of millions of user records from Nvidia’s GeForce Now service.

Apple confirms iOS 26.5 Messages app adds RCS end-to-end encryption

Apple’s iOS 26.5 release candidate confirms that the Messages app will now support end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging. This beta feature is designed to enhance security and privacy for communications between iPhone and Android users on supported carriers.

Canadian Voter Data Security Risks

A massive leak of personal information belonging to nearly three million Alberta voters has triggered investigations into potential risks such as fraud, identity theft, and foreign interference. Using “canary traps” to identify fake entries, Elections Alberta successfully traced the breach to the Centurion Project and pressured the group to remove the unauthorized data.

FCC votes to ban all Chinese labs from certifying electronics sold in the US

The FCC voted unanimously to advance a proposal banning all testing labs in China and Hong Kong from certifying electronics for the U.S. market due to national security concerns. This decision could affect approximately 75% of U.S.-bound devices and potentially lead to higher certification costs for manufacturers. Additionally, the commission moved to ban certain Chinese telecommunications companies from operating data centers in the United States.

DHS demanded Google surrender data on a Canadian man over anti-ICE posts

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has demanded that Google provide data on a Canadian man following his social media posts criticizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The request follows the individual’s online activity targeting the agency.

Microsoft Edge stores all passwords in memory in clear text, even when unused

Microsoft Edge decrypts and stores all saved passwords in cleartext within its process memory at startup, even when they are not being used. This vulnerability allows attackers with administrative access on shared systems to scrape credentials, a behavior Microsoft claims is “by design.”

Offenders sentenced up to 10 years for spying on TSMC

A former TSMC engineer has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for leaking advanced 2-nanometer process trade secrets to Tokyo Electron Taiwan. Several other individuals also received prison terms for their roles in the unauthorized acquisition of Taiwan’s national core technologies. Additionally, Tokyo Electron Taiwan was fined NT$150 million for failing to prevent the breach.

Stop big tech from making users behave in ways they don’t want to

A Los Angeles jury has found Meta and YouTube liable for designing addictive products that manipulate the brain’s reward system. The landmark ruling follows evidence that these platforms are engineered to make it difficult for users, particularly teenagers, to disengage.

How Monero’s proof of work works

Monero utilizes the RandomX proof-of-work algorithm, which executes random programs on a virtual machine to simulate standard CPU workloads. This design leverages complex CPU features to prevent the centralization of mining power caused by specialized ASIC hardware.

Microsoft Defender wrongly flags DigiCert certs as Trojan:Win32/Cerdigent.A dha

Microsoft Defender recently issued widespread false-positive malware alerts for legitimate DigiCert root certificates, causing some to be removed from the Windows trust store. The error occurred during an attempt to block certificates compromised in a recent DigiCert breach, but Microsoft has since released an update to fix the detection logic and restore the affected certificates.

When Too Many Maps Overlap on One Person

The article examines how relying on experienced employees as unofficial gatekeepers can create a dangerous organizational dependency. This reliance undermines formal decision-making processes and prevents companies from developing scalable, independent judgment across their teams.

Trump blocks wind farms on national security grounds

Donald Trump has blocked the development of wind farms. The decision was made citing national security grounds.

Russian embassy staff kicked out of Austria over rooftop satellite spying network

Austria has expelled three Russian diplomats accused of using rooftop satellite antennas on embassy buildings to spy on NATO and Western communications. The Russian embassy dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, as European nations increase their crackdown on Russian intelligence operations.

Hackers replace top Google result for Homebrew with sponsored MacOS malware

Cybercriminals are using Google Search malvertising to impersonate the Homebrew package manager and distribute the MacSync infostealer malware to macOS users. The campaign directs victims to a deceptive website where running a hidden terminal command can lead to the theft of sensitive information, including browser credentials and cryptocurrency data.

💻 Software & Engineering

Oasis Linux

Oasis is a minimal, Linux-based operating system designed for simplicity and reproducibility, featuring a BSD-like architecture. It utilizes statically linked software and the BearSSL library, employing the samurai build system and offering extensibility via pkgsrc or nix.

Release v0.9.0 · Foxboron/ssh-tpm-agent

The ssh-tpm-agent v0.9.0 release introduces a signed tarball for more accurate version reporting and a new -c flag for ssh-tpm-add that enables process-chain-aware confirmation dialogs. Additionally, public key permissions have been updated to 644 to align with ssh-keygen behavior.

Redis Array Type Development History

A new Array data type for Redis has been developed over a four-month period, utilizing AI tools to assist with its specification, implementation, and optimization. Featuring a hierarchical memory architecture for efficient large-scale data handling, the project demonstrates how AI can serve as a productivity multiplier in complex system programming tasks.

Async Rust never left the MVP state

To address binary bloat in async Rust for microcontrollers, a proposed compiler optimization seeks to replace the Returned and Panicked states with a mechanism that simply returns Pending. Initial tests of this approach have demonstrated a 2% to 5% reduction in binary size for async embedded firmware.

How I create static websites for tiny archives (2025)

The author provides a technical guide on using static websites as a durable and flexible method for archiving small digital collections, such as bookmarks and scanned documents. The post includes implementation details and code snippets for features like JavaScript templates, filtering, and sorting.

oops, cubic macro

The author observes that rust-analyzer uses a custom, simplified macro expansion implementation rather than re-using rustc’s code. This implementation employs a parsing algorithm that evaluates multiple potential parses simultaneously, functioning similarly to a Breadth-First Search.

Is form design easy?

The author argues that form design is a complex challenge rather than an easy task, despite the common belief that simplicity makes it simple. Effective design requires mastering intricate interactions, such as date pickers, and managing user experiences through multi-step flows and error recovery.

the tragedy of gethostbyname (2022)

The article explains that the gethostbyname and getaddrinfo APIs are inherently blocking because they were originally designed for simple /etc/hosts lookups. Consequently, developers requiring reliable and advanced DNS performance are advised to use dedicated asynchronous libraries instead of the basic clients provided by libc.

Writing middlewares for Rust Lambda functions

This article explores how to implement a middleware layer for Rust AWS Lambda functions using the tower crate. It covers essential concepts such as stack ordering and short-circuiting, providing a practical example of building a DynamoDB-backed per-IP rate limiter.

Native macOS app to track YouTube channels, no Google login required

Telik is a new macOS application that allows users to track YouTube channels and playlists without requiring a Google account. The app provides a distraction-free experience by filtering out recommendations, comments, and Shorts, while enabling content organization through a custom tagging system.

Stitching HTML Pages via Navigations

This web development approach advocates for replacing complex JavaScript-driven in-page interactions with a series of small HTML pages connected via standard navigation links. By leveraging CSS view transitions and minimal JavaScript, this method ensures robust, cross-browser functionality that remains effective even when JavaScript is disabled.

Apple preparing iOS 27 ‘Create a Pass’ feature to turn QR codes into custom event passes

Apple is reportedly developing a “Create a Pass” feature for iOS 27, enabling users to generate custom digital tickets and gift cards within the Wallet app. This update will allow users to build their own passes from QR codes, addressing current compatibility gaps with third-party services.

Startups Replit and Anything slam Apple’s erratic App Store rules for vibe coding apps

Startups including Replit and Anything are challenging Apple over the inconsistent application of App Store rules for AI “vibe coding” applications. These companies allege that Apple’s regulations for such software are being applied erratically.

Suspected YouTube bug spikes RAM over 7gbs users report lag and frozen tabs

A suspected YouTube interface bug is causing extreme CPU and RAM usage, with some users reporting memory consumption exceeding 7GB and frozen browser tabs. The issue stems from an endless layout recalculation loop within the video controls section that repeatedly toggles button visibility.

Formatting a 25M-line codebase overnight

This article explores the process of formatting a 25-million-line codebase overnight. It features insights from Stripe’s Developer Productivity and technical writing teams.

This article provides a guide on implementing link cable multiplayer for Game Boy Advance games using the afska/gba-link-connection library. It details the process of integrating C/C++ library files and emphasizes the importance of using libugba’s interrupt system to prevent packet loss.

Days Without GitHub Incidents

The “Days Without GitHub Incidents” tracker monitors the number of consecutive days GitHub has operated without service disruptions. The dashboard displays historical high scores and provides access to GitHub’s full status history.

PGKeeper: Figma’s Postgres connection pooler Renaissance era

Figma has developed PGKeeper, a custom connection and load management service, to replace PgBouncer as the company’s database traffic increases. This new service addresses the scalability and load management limitations of the previous system, providing a more reliable and extensible infrastructure for Figma’s expanding workloads.

I am worried about Bun

Following Anthropic’s acquisition of the JavaScript runtime Bun, the author expresses concern that the tool’s development may decline. Although the acquisition initially seemed to ensure stability through Anthropic’s reliance on Bun for Claude Code, recent quality issues within Anthropic’s product layer have raised fears for Bun’s future.

GitHub Is Down

On May 4, 2026, GitHub experienced performance degradation and increased latency across several services, including Git Operations, Actions, and Codespaces. The incident has since been resolved, and a detailed root cause analysis will be shared once it is available.

I tracked 7,700 UK petrol stations every 10 minutes for 3 months

An analysis tracked the prices of 7,700 UK petrol stations every ten minutes over a three-month period. The study utilized price data reported by station operators to the UK Fuel Finder scheme.

Pomiferous: The most extensive apples (pommes) database

Pomiferous is a comprehensive database featuring detailed information on over 7,000 apple varieties. The resource provides insights into each apple’s origin, flavor, and texture, as well as its suitability for culinary uses like cider making or desserts.

Let – Offline-first life events tracker (React Native, SQLite)

LET (Life Events Tracker) is an open-source, cross-platform mobile application built with React Native and Expo for tracking habits, health metrics, and significant life events. The app features offline functionality via a local SQLite database and provides pattern analysis through visual charts. Notably, the entire project was developed using AI-assisted coding.

PyInfra 3.8.0 Is Out

PyInfra 3.8.0 has been released, introducing full semantic versioning and extensive improvements to the core API and operations. Key updates include enhanced security measures to prevent command injection, expanded support for various system components, and improved stability for connectors.

DAG Workflow Engine

The DAG Workflow Engine is a production-ready engine that utilizes a YAML-based DSL to manage complex workflows. It provides capabilities for validating, executing, and visualizing Directed Acyclic Graphs, featuring support for parallel execution, retries, and conditional branching.

Generate SKILL.md files from URLs, in the browser

A new browser-based tool has been developed to automate the creation of SKILL.md files from documentation URLs. The tool processes page content entirely client-side using a user-provided API key, ensuring security by avoiding any backend or proxy.

StartupLaunchPage – One Page 1500 Fixed Boxes Checkbox Puzzle Game

StartupLaunchPage is a new checkbox puzzle game featuring 1,500 fixed boxes. The objective is to discover hidden letters within the canvas.

Moving to mainframe can be cheaper than sticking with VMware: Gartner

Gartner analyst Alessandro Galimberti suggests that transitioning mission-critical workloads to IBM mainframes may be more cost-effective than adopting Broadcom’s new VMware licensing model. However, he cautions that such a move involves significant risks, including increased vendor lock-in and a scarcity of specialized technical skills.

⚙️ Hardware & Infrastructure

THEC64 Handheld

Retro Games Ltd. has announced the THEC64 handheld, a clamshell-style portable device designed for Commodore 64 emulation via the VICE emulator. The device features a 4.3-inch screen, 25 preloaded games, and a microSD slot for side-loading additional titles. Pre-orders are currently available, with shipping expected to begin in October 2026.

Intel names ex-Qualcomm’s Alex Katouzian to lead Client Computing & Physical AI; Ranade named CTO

Intel has appointed former Qualcomm executive Alex Katouzian as Executive Vice President and General Manager of its Client Computing Group to align its PC business with emerging physical AI technologies. Additionally, the company named Pushkar Ranade as its permanent Chief Technology Officer.

Ex-iRobot CEO Colin Angle unveils Familiar, an emotionally intelligent, dog-like robot.

Former iRobot CEO Colin Angle has launched a new startup, Familiar Machines & Magic, featuring a dog-like, four-legged robot called “Familiar.” The “emotionally intelligent” robot is designed to react to its owner’s feelings and actions to form an emotional bond.

Panthalassa raises $140M at $1B valuation for wave-powered floating data centers, led by Peter Thiel

Panthalassa, a startup aiming to power floating data centers using ocean wave energy, has raised $140 million in a funding round led by Peter Thiel. The investment reportedly brings the company’s valuation to $1 billion.

EU’s €20B sovereign compute plan criticized over Nvidia reliance and uncertain demand

The European Union’s €20 billion plan to establish massive AI computing hubs is facing widespread criticism from legislators and experts. Skeptics question whether there is sufficient demand for the generated computing power and warn that the initiative may fail to help Europe compete with the U.S. and China.

Developments in Battery and Charging Technology

New EU regulations will mandate user-replaceable smartphone batteries by 2027 and standardized USB-C charging for laptops by 2026 to reduce electronic waste. Meanwhile, SoftBank aims to manufacture lithium- and cobalt-free batteries in Japan by fiscal 2027 to decrease reliance on Chinese-sourced metals.

New Zealand passes solar tipping point

New Zealand has reached a tipping point where solar panels and battery storage systems generally offer more annual savings than their installation costs. Although limited access to green financing currently hinders widespread adoption, upcoming regulatory changes are expected to further improve financial returns for households.

Pentagon Delays Put 150 Wind Projects on Ice as Trump Targets Wind Power

Over 150 onshore wind projects in the United States have stalled due to Pentagon delays in reviewing potential interference with military radar and flight paths. While industry groups claim these delays are part of an effort by the Trump administration to block wind power, the Pentagon maintains that the assessments are necessary for national security.

Germany’s far-left war on infrastructure

An attack on Berlin’s electricity supply left hundreds of thousands of residents in the city’s southwest without power. The outage endangered vulnerable individuals, including an ALS patient who was forced to rely on limited battery power for his life-sustaining ventilator.

CATL says sodium batteries are mainstream-ready, signs 60 GWh deal

CATL has signed a 60 GWh sodium-ion battery agreement with HyperStrong, marking the largest order ever placed for this technology. The three-year deal demonstrates CATL’s capability to mass-produce sodium-ion cells, which serve as a cost-effective and abundant alternative to lithium for grid-scale energy storage.

Heat pump sales rise 17% across Europe in Q1 as energy prices surge

Residential heat pump sales across 11 European countries rose 17% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, reaching approximately 575,000 units. This growth was primarily driven by surging gas and oil prices following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with particularly strong demand seen in France, Germany, and Poland.

Homebridge 2.0 is here, and it speaks Matter

Homebridge 2.0 has officially launched, introducing the initial groundwork for Matter support to the open-source HomeKit bridge. This update allows Homebridge to function as a Matter bridge, enabling device integration across Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, and other major smart home platforms.

An Update on ERSC Availability

East River Source Control is developing a high-performance code hosting platform based on the Jujutsu version control model with Git compatibility. Currently trialing with early partners, the company plans to expand team onboarding and introduce code review capabilities in the near future.

Trump administration cites national security in stalling 165 wind farms

The Trump administration is stalling approximately 165 onshore wind projects on private lands, citing national security concerns regarding radar interference. The Department of Defense has halted the approval process for various projects, including those awaiting final sign-off and those previously considered risk-free.

ASML’s Best Selling Product Isn’t What You Think It Is

While ASML is renowned for its $400 million EUV lithography machines, a custom 1,000-piece Lego replica has become a highly sought-after internal product. Sold exclusively to employees, these limited-edition sets have gained significant value on the secondary market.

Code Orange: Fail Small is complete. The result is a stronger Cloudflare network

Cloudflare has completed its “Code Orange: Fail Small” engineering initiative, aimed at enhancing infrastructure resilience and preventing future global outages. The project introduced the Snapstone system, which enables safer, progressive configuration rollouts with real-time health monitoring and automated rollbacks.

Humanoid Robot Actuators

Humanoid robots face significant actuator failure due to the intense, repetitive shocks generated by thousands of steps per hour. To prevent mechanical damage, engineers must design back-drivable actuators capable of absorbing impact energy faster than electronic sensor loops can react.

Amazon takes $45M hit, abandons planned West Auckland data centre

Amazon Data Services New Zealand Ltd has recorded a $44.9 million impairment after cancelling a planned data centre development in West Auckland. This write-down contributed to a $36 million pre-tax loss for the 2025 fiscal year as the company shifts its strategy from constructing new sites to a “lease-and-equip” model.

I would recommend the Samsung Galaxy A37 to my grandma, but would she approve?

The article examines the Samsung Galaxy A37’s potential for elderly users by highlighting “Easy Mode,” which simplifies the interface with larger text and icons. It also discusses how notification management and security-focused settings can help protect seniors from the rising threat of scam calls.

Hobbyist xenomorphs Raspberry Pi into Alien-themed DIY laptop

Hobbyist Jeff Merrick has developed the PS-85, a portable “cyberdeck” computer inspired by the Alien film franchise. The project, which utilizes a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W, features open-source 3D print files and instructions to allow others to build their own retro-themed devices.

Inside Amazon Web Services’ plan to make networking disappear

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is developing proprietary hardware and software to create a highly scalable and simplified networking infrastructure. This initiative aims to reduce complexity and improve reliability by moving away from traditional, vertically integrated networking models.

📈 Business & Finance

Grab Q1 revenue up 24% to $955M, beating estimates; EBITDA hits $154M on strong demand

Grab Holdings Ltd. reported a 24% year-over-year increase in first-quarter revenue to $955 million, surpassing analyst expectations. The company also posted an adjusted EBITDA of $154 million, driven by resilient demand for its ride-hailing and delivery services.

Crypto stocks jump as CLARITY Act compromise preserves stablecoin rewards; Circle up ~20%

Crypto stocks, including Circle and Coinbase, surged following a legislative compromise on the CLARITY Act regarding stablecoin rewards. The updated language restricts interest on passive stablecoin deposits but allows for usage-based incentives, a move analysts believe reduces regulatory uncertainty for both the crypto and banking sectors.

Musk v. Altman: Brockman’s $30B OpenAI stake cited; lawyer asks why $29B isn’t donated to nonprofit

During legal testimony, OpenAI President Greg Brockman revealed that his stake in the company is valued at approximately $30 billion. Elon Musk’s attorney questioned why Brockman has not donated the majority of this wealth to OpenAI’s nonprofit foundation.

Elon Musk to pay $1.5M to settle SEC allegations over Twitter stake disclosure.

Elon Musk has agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle SEC allegations that he failed to disclose his growing stake in Twitter in 2022. The settlement, which involves a payment from a revocable trust, does not include an admission of wrongdoing and remains subject to court approval.

Pinterest Q1 revenue up 18% to $1B, beats estimates; PINS jumps 17%+ after hours

Pinterest reported first-quarter revenue of $1.01 billion, an 18% year-over-year increase that beat analyst estimates. The company also noted that monthly active users rose 11% to 631 million and provided second-quarter revenue guidance that surpassed Wall Street projections.

SAP to acquire Dremio and invest €1B in Prior Labs to create a frontier AI lab

SAP is acquiring Dremio, an open data lakehouse provider, to expand its Business Data Cloud by integrating SAP and non-SAP data. The company also acquired Prior Labs and plans to invest €1B over four years to establish a flagship European frontier AI lab.

Major AI and Fintech Funding

Significant funding is moving into the AI sector, with startup JuliaHub raising $65 million to compete with Simulink. Additionally, Katie Haun has secured $1 billion for new venture funds targeting AI, fintech, and alternative assets.

OpenAI Launches $10B AI Deployment Venture

OpenAI has launched a $10 billion joint venture, The Deployment Company, which has already raised over $4 billion from investors like TPG and Bain Capital to help businesses adopt AI software. Concurrently, Anthropic is forming similar partnerships with major financial institutions, including Blackstone and Goldman Sachs, to accelerate AI integration across the business sector.

Enzo Health raises $20M Series A led by N47 for home health AI automation

Enzo Health, an AI workflow company for post-acute care, has raised $20 million in a Series A funding round led by N47. The company’s AI tools are designed to help home health and hospice agencies automate tasks such as patient intake and documentation review.

Polymarket: 0.1% of users capture 67% of profits, led by high-frequency traders (WSJ)

A Wall Street Journal analysis of 1.6 million Polymarket accounts reveals that just 0.1% of users capture 67% of all profits. While professional traders using algorithmic strategies often find success, many individual bettors face devastating losses on high-stakes predictions.

Lenders explore private deals to sell data center debt and offload Oracle loans at a discount

Some lenders are exploring private deals to sell their data center debt to mitigate risk. Additionally, certain banks are seeking to offload Oracle-linked loans at a discount to avoid being overwhelmed by rising debt levels.

Warren Buffett Warns That Prediction Markets Are ‘Gambling,’ Not Investing

Warren Buffett criticized prediction markets and short-term options trading during Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholder meeting, characterizing them as “gambling” rather than investing. He compared these volatile platforms to a casino and warned that their nature makes them susceptible to risks such as insider trading and cheating.

Wizards of the Coast declines to voluntarily recognize Magic Arena union

Wizards of the Coast has declined to voluntarily recognize a new union formed by Magic: The Gathering Arena developers seeking protections against layoffs, AI usage, and crunch time. As a result, the group is now moving toward an election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board to determine the union’s formation.

Flock Group Inc.’s “Flock Forward” conference excludes the press and public, requiring law enforcement attendees to sign a mandatory marketing consent form as a condition of registration. The article criticizes this practice, arguing that the private surveillance company uses the closed-door event to extract marketing material from public officials without public oversight.

Trillions in Retirement Dollars Flow into Opaque Trusts

Collective Investment Trusts (CITs) have grown into a multi-trillion dollar segment of the U.S. retirement industry, rivaling the scale of mutual funds and ETFs. Despite a lack of transparency and centralized regulatory oversight, these trusts are increasingly being used to introduce private market assets into 401(k) plans.

Why Almost Everyone Loses–Except a Few Sharks–On Prediction Markets

After using AI-driven strategies to turn $2,000 into $41,000 on the Kalshi prediction market, John Pederson lost his entire fortune on a single bet. The massive gamble involved predicting whether a celebrity would use a specific word during a televised speech.

McDonald’s is quietly ending the era of self-serve soda fountains nationwide

McDonald’s is gradually removing self-serve soda fountains from its U.S. restaurants, with the transition expected to be complete by 2032. The move aims to reduce maintenance costs and adapt to growing consumer preferences for takeout, delivery, and drive-thru services.

Tesla is facing up to $14.5B in lawsuits and it’s only getting worse

Tesla is facing over 20 active legal battles, with potential financial exposure estimated between $2.7 billion and $14.5 billion. These legal challenges encompass a wide range of issues, including Autopilot-related crashes, securities fraud, and allegations of racial discrimination.

Amazon just became a direct competitor to UPS and FedEx

Amazon has launched “Amazon Supply Chain Services,” opening its extensive logistics, warehousing, and freight network to external businesses across various industries. This strategic move positions the tech giant as a direct competitor to established shipping leaders like UPS and FedEx by offering integrated end-to-end delivery solutions.

Are you among the PlayStation owners eligible for an $8 million payout from Sony?

US PlayStation owners may be eligible for a $7.85 million class action settlement following allegations that Sony monopolized the digital game market to inflate prices. The settlement applies to users who purchased certain games via retail vouchers between April 2019 and December 2023.

🌐 Tech News & Culture

What are you doing this week?

The article invites readers to share their plans for the upcoming week. It also notes that it is perfectly acceptable to have no plans at all.

William Savitt: Sam Altman’s lawyer against Elon Musk and key to OpenAI’s transition

William Savitt, a prominent litigator at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, is representing Sam Altman in Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI. Having previously led the legal charge for Twitter against Musk in 2022, Savitt is now defending OpenAI against allegations regarding the company’s transition to a for-profit model.

AI-generated Chinese microdramas to hit $3B by 2026 in $14B market, per Chinese state media

AI-generated microdramas are rapidly expanding in China, with the market expected to exceed $3 billion this year as tools like Seedance 2.0 enable low-cost production without human actors or crews. This surge in content, particularly on platforms like Douyin, is significantly impacting the broader $14 billion microdrama industry.

How streaming services adapt to AI music: labeling, deranking, and demonetizing tracks

To address the surge of AI-generated music from tools like Suno and Udio, streaming platforms are implementing various countermeasures to protect royalty distributions and playlist integrity. While services like Deezer and Qobuz are adopting detection and labeling systems, others like Apple Music are currently relying on voluntary, creator-led identification.

‘Point of no return’: New Orleans relocation must start now due to sea level

A new study warns that New Orleans has reached a “point of no return” and could be surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico within decades due to rising sea levels and coastal erosion. Researchers are calling for immediate, coordinated planning to relocate the region’s population to safer ground.

Welcome to Gas City

Gas City has released version 1.0.0, a new SDK designed for building and managing customizable agentic “factories” through programmable “packs.” The platform serves as a supervisor plane for scalable agent orchestration, leveraging the MEOW stack and Dolt database to provide agent identity, messaging, and git-versioned work tracking.

Pulitzer Prize Winners 2026

The 2026 Pulitzer Prize citations recognize excellence across journalism, literature, and photography. The awarded works cover diverse topics, ranging from investigations into political corruption and corporate misconduct to poignant personal narratives and historical accounts.

The saddest irony of my/our craft

A software developer expresses frustration over losing their job, citing the use of unpaid open-source contributions and community efforts to train large language models. They warn that the continued advancement of AI could lead to widespread job reductions within the tech industry.

‘Staggering’ number of people believe unproven health claims

A survey by the Edelman Trust Institute reveals that more than two-thirds of people across 16 countries believe at least one unproven or false health claim. The findings suggest that widespread skepticism of scientific evidence is not limited to a small, uninformed fringe but is a growing global phenomenon.

Rumor: Disney to Remove Star Wars Sequel Trilogy from Timeline

Disney is reportedly considering separating the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy into an isolated timeline to allow the main continuity to refocus on legacy characters. This potential shift follows reports of growing indifference among younger audiences and observed changes in theme park lore.

‘Kitten Space Agency’ Is the Spiritual Successor to ‘Kerbal Space Program’

RocketWerkz is developing Kitten Space Agency, a spaceflight simulator and spiritual successor to Kerbal Space Program. The project features a development team including the creators of DayZ and KSP, as well as a former SpaceX engineer, all aiming to prioritize a robust technical foundation to avoid the mistakes of previous titles.

The Visible Zorker: Zork 3

The webpage for “Zork 3” features a commentary track for players. To play the game, users must have Javascript enabled in their web browsers.

How Many Children Learned Mathematics from Kiselev’s Textbooks?

An analysis estimates that between 60 and 100 million students in Russia and the Soviet Union used A.P. Kiselev’s mathematics textbooks during their period of widespread use. The study examines the books’ enduring influence by dividing their history into four distinct phases, spanning from the late Russian Empire to the mid-20th century.

Someone allegedly used a hairdryer to rig Polymarket weather bets

An individual allegedly used a hairdryer to manipulate a temperature sensor at Charles de Gaulle airport, rigging weather bets on the prediction market Polymarket. The incident reportedly allowed an unknown user to win approximately $34,000 and has prompted an investigation by French authorities. The affected sensor has since been relocated to prevent further tampering.

Newton’s law of gravity passes its biggest test

Using data from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope, cosmologists have confirmed Newton’s inverse square law of gravity on the largest possible scales by analyzing massive galaxy clusters. The study demonstrates that the law holds across hundreds of millions of light-years, challenging alternative theories like modified Newtonian dynamics.

Never Skipping This Habit Again

ChessUnlock is a macOS application that displays a chess tactic fullscreen every time the computer wakes up. By leveraging the habit-stacking technique, the app helps users improve their chess rating through brief, integrated daily practice.

Mommy, Are the Inspirational Stories on LinkedIn Real?

This satirical article critiques the transformation of LinkedIn from a professional networking tool into an “attention economy” driven by engagement farming. It argues that the rise of manufactured narratives and AI-generated content is undermining the platform’s utility by prioritizing fake, attention-seeking interactions.

New Orleans relocation must start now due to sea level

A new study warns that New Orleans may be surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico by the end of the century due to rising sea levels and coastal erosion. Researchers are calling for the immediate, coordinated planning of a population relocation to prevent a chaotic and unmanaged exodus from the region.

Talking to 35 Strangers at the Gym

To combat post-college loneliness and social anxiety, an individual undertook a month-long experiment of approaching one stranger at the gym every day. Using customized opening lines, the author attempted to sustain brief interactions to practice social skills and foster new connections.

All German left of center parties are leaving X

The German political parties SPD, Greens, and Die Linke have announced they will cease using X, citing concerns over the platform’s role in spreading disinformation and fostering an aggressive debate culture. Along with closing official party and parliamentary accounts, several high-profile members are also migrating to alternative services such as Bluesky.

Advice I WISH I’D BEEN Told (1999)

Walt McDonald advises writers to avoid vague abstractions in favor of vivid, specific, and sensuous imagery. He argues that while generalizations are easy to draft, detailed descriptions are more effective at engaging the reader’s senses and creating impactful poetry.

United flight collides with truck and pole as it lands at Newark

A United Airlines flight landing at Newark Liberty International Airport struck a streetlight and a tractor-trailer on the nearby New Jersey Turnpike. While the truck driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries, no passengers or crew members on the Boeing 767 were harmed. The NTSB is currently investigating the incident.

Over 8M Thermos jars and bottles recalled after 3 people lost vision

Thermos is voluntarily recalling over 8 million Stainless King food jars and Sportsman bottles due to a defect that can cause the stopper to eject forcefully. The malfunction has caused several injuries, including three reports of permanent vision loss. Consumers should stop using the affected products and contact the company for a replacement.

Pilots Shut Off Both Engines Before China Eastern 737 Crash

Investigation data from the 2022 China Eastern Flight MU5735 crash suggests that both engines were manually shut off, pointing to potential intentional sabotage. Flight records show that the fuel switches were moved from “run” to “cutoff” simultaneously with the autopilot disengaging.

Billions of people might not be able to watch the World Cup starting next month

Millions of soccer fans in India and China may miss the 2026 World Cup due to unresolved broadcast rights negotiations. A deadlock between FIFA and a Reliance-Disney joint venture over valuation has stalled talks in India, while no official agreement has yet been announced for China.

TikTok yanks Charlie Kirk assassination audio as viral outfit trend sparks backlash

TikTok has removed a viral trend that used audio from Charlie Kirk’s assassination for outfit transition videos. The platform took down the content following condemnation from Turning Point USA, which accused the trend of trivializing political violence. TikTok stated the removal was due to policies against glorifying violence.

Hope your holiday was horrid: You botched the last thing you did before leaving

An IT professional at a UK local council caused a widespread network outage by leaving an unauthorized ISDN router with DHCP enabled before going on holiday. The device assigned incorrect IP addresses to thousands of employees, resulting in several days of significant service disruption.