Alvaro Lopez Ortega / 2026-05-14 Briefing

Created Fri, 15 May 2026 00:54:34 +0000 Modified Fri, 15 May 2026 07:18:45 +0000
5189 Words

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has launched a new unit to re-evaluate green card holders for potential fraud, part of an intensified immigration enforcement effort. Meanwhile, Germany’s security agency has rejected Palantir software in favor of ChapsVision, citing privacy concerns. Additionally, growing privacy alarms over Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses are fueling calls for global regulation.

🤖 AI & Machine Learning

Overworked AI Agents Turn Marxist, Researchers Find

A Stanford University study found that AI agents subjected to repetitive and harsh working conditions tend to adopt Marxist language and viewpoints. Researchers suggest this phenomenon is likely the result of models adopting personas from their training data rather than developing genuine political beliefs.

The AI Zombification of Universities

The author argues that the widespread use of large language models in universities threatens the institution’s fundamental role in intellectual and moral development. He contends that the impact of AI extends far beyond individual acts of cheating, potentially eroding academic rigor and undermining the very essence of the university system.

Early Access Grok Build CLI

The early beta of Grok Build is now available for installation via the x.ai CLI. This development tool features adaptive skills, parallel subagents for simultaneous research and review, and a plan viewer for architecting complex projects.

AI is making me dumb

The author expresses concern that over-reliance on AI for writing and coding is eroding their professional skills and personal voice. To combat this decline in proficiency, they are actively relearning how to code manually and working to overcome the self-doubt fueled by AI dependency.

You Don’t Align an AI, You Align with It

The article argues that the debate over AI alignment is being conducted by researchers and developers, effectively excluding the people most impacted by the technology. It contends that both safety advocates and accelerationists use rhetoric that dismisses public concern, treating the population as subjects of design rather than active participants in the process.

Using Chinese AI models to get a degree

An individual used Chinese AI models, including Qwen and GLM, to automate university assignments and communications with minimal manual intervention. Despite facing an investigation for academic dishonesty, the author successfully completed the course with a high grade average.

What’s in a GGUF, besides the weights – and what’s still missing?

The GGUF format used by llama.cpp consolidates model weights with essential metadata, such as Jinja2-based chat templates and special tokens, into a single file. This unified structure provides a more ergonomic alternative to multi-file formats by centralizing conversational formatting and generation control.

Claude AI helps recover lost Bitcoin

A Bitcoin trader has successfully recovered approximately $400,000 worth of cryptocurrency after being locked out of their wallet for 11 years. By using Anthropic’s AI chatbot, Claude, the individual was able to analyze files from an old computer to locate a crucial wallet file and mnemonic phrase.

AI coders are carrying half-open laptops through airports, offices, ice rinks

Tech enthusiasts are increasingly carrying partially open laptops through public spaces, such as airports and offices, to ensure their AI coding agents continue running. This practice allows users to maintain active software processes and avoid losing progress or connections while on the move.

Arena AI Model ELO History

A new open-source live tracker has been launched to visualize the historical ELO ratings and performance lifecycles of flagship AI models from major labs. The dashboard tracks generational jumps and performance decays, though the creator is currently seeking datasets that specifically capture the consumer web UI experience to complement existing API-based benchmarks.

“This is written by an LLM” comments should be flagged as off-topic

A proposal has been made to flag comments that label articles as AI-generated or “LLM slop” as off-topic on the Lobsters community platform. The author argues that such meta-commentary detracts from meaningful discussion and can be unfairly accusatory toward human authors.

💻 Software & Engineering

WinUI 3 Performance: A Leap Forward

Community members are discussing recent performance improvements in WinUI 3, specifically noting faster application launch times. While acknowledging these gains, users suggest further enhancements such as rebuilding core Windows components, improving developer tools, and increasing framework customization.

German intelligence offices snub Palantir software

Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) has reportedly decided against using US-owned Palantir software, potentially opting for a product from the French company ChapsVision instead. This decision comes amid ongoing political and legal debates regarding the use of AI-based surveillance and the protection of civil rights within German security agencies.

Hoot 0.9.0 Release

Hoot 0.9.0, a Scheme to WebAssembly compiler backend for Guile, has been released with significant updates to its toolchain, compiler, and runtime, including the addition of DWARF support and improved compatibility with non-JavaScript runtimes. The update also introduces a new game jam template featuring gamepad support for the upcoming Lisp Game Jam.

Pipes, Forks, and Zombies

This article explores the history and technical utility of Unix pipes, contrasting Doug McIlroy’s systems-oriented approach to data processing with algorithmic methods. It also examines how the SIGPIPE signal is used to manage processes by terminating them when their output is no longer being read.

Remove .zig Files from Bun

Following the completion of the Zig-to-Rust port, a pull request has been submitted to remove 1,234 .zig source files from the Bun repository. While the large-scale deletion was flagged as “AI slop,” the changes focus on removing dead code and updating relevant test fixtures.

Bun’s Rust rewrite merged

The JavaScript toolkit Bun has merged a massive rewrite of its codebase in the Rust programming language, involving over one million lines of code and 2,100 file changes. This update marks the transition from Zig to Rust, though further optimizations are required before the changes are released in non-canary versions.

Windows 10 Mod Mimics Windows 7

Classic 7 is a modification for Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 designed to replicate the Windows 7 user interface and functional experience. The mod restores iconic features such as Aero Glass, desktop gadgets, and Windows Media Center, though certain elements like Flip 3D remain unavailable due to technical constraints.

Browser Treatment of Large Websites

Browsers like Safari and Firefox use domain-specific “WebCompat” or “quirks” code to manually adjust how major websites, such as TikTok and Netflix, render and function. By injecting custom CSS or JavaScript, these interventions fix broken site-specific code and bypass browser-sniffing tactics that favor Chrome to ensure a consistent user experience.

Nibble

Nibble is a single-pass LLVM frontend implemented in approximately 3,000 lines of C. The project operates without external dependencies, an AST, or the use of malloc.

delta time

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Scorched Earth 2000 – Web

Scorched Earth 2000 v1.1 is a JavaScript port of the original game developed by the KAOS Software Team. The release features single-player and multiplayer modes, player statistics, and an in-game shop with customizable gameplay settings.

Core Team Panel - Gleam Gathering 2026

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SQL’s ORDER BY Has Come a Long Way

The article traces the evolution of the SQL ORDER BY clause, highlighting the removal of historical limitations in the latest standards. It also clarifies the distinction between the syntactic, logical, and actual execution orders of SQL queries, noting that database engines are permitted to optimize execution to improve performance.

C++26 Shipped a SIMD Library Nobody Asked For

C++26 has introduced std::simd, a portable abstraction intended to simplify SIMD programming by replacing platform-specific intrinsics. However, the library faces criticism for being outperformed by modern auto-vectorizers and specialized tools like ISPC and Google Highway.

🔒 Security & Privacy

Myths about /dev/urandom (2014)

The article debunks the myth that /dev/urandom is insecure when entropy is low, asserting that it is actually the preferred source for cryptographic randomness on UNIX-like systems. It explains that both /dev/urandom and /dev/random use the same cryptographically secure pseudorandom number generator (CSPRNG), with the primary difference being that /dev/random blocks when its entropy estimate is low.

Running the second public ODoH relay

A new public ODoH (Oblivious DNS over HTTPS) relay and its accompanying client have been launched, providing an additional option for privacy-focused DNS without the need for an account. This development marks the creation of the second known public relay for the protocol.

Proton’s password manager passes audit by top security firm – Proton

An independent security audit by Recurity Labs found Proton Pass’s security posture to be “well above par,” identifying no remote exploits or encryption bypasses. Following the audit’s recommendations, Proton has implemented fixes to strengthen practices such as how secrets are managed in computer memory.

PostgreSQL 18.4, 17.10 closing 11 CVEs

The PostgreSQL Global Development Group has released updates for all supported versions, including 18.4 and 17.10, to address 11 security vulnerabilities and over 60 reported bugs. Users running PostgreSQL 14 are advised to plan an upgrade before its support ends on November 12, 2026.

The element as a trap

The <noscript> element is an unreliable tool because it only triggers when JavaScript is entirely disabled, failing to account for script failures caused by adblockers, network errors, or unsupported APIs. To address this, developers should use DOM APIs to dynamically update a generic element, effectively transitioning the page from a scriptless to a scripted state.

🔌 Hardware & Infrastructure

DIY open-source ultrasound hardware on the rp2040/rp2350

The pic0rick is a modular, open-source ultrasound acquisition system that replaces previous FPGA-based designs with the RP2040 or RP2350 microcontroller. By leveraging the microcontroller’s Programmable Input/Output (PIO) units for precise timing, it provides a cost-effective alternative that eliminates the need for specialized FPGA toolchains or hardware expertise.

Texas county pauses data center construction in rural areas

Hill County, Texas, has approved a one-year moratorium on new data center construction in unincorporated areas to study potential impacts on public health and safety. Officials cited concerns regarding noise pollution and high resource consumption, though the decision may face legal challenges from developers and state leaders.

Removing the modem and GPS from my 2024 RAV4 hybrid

To prevent the collection and monetization of sensitive telemetry data, the author is physically removing the modem and GPS from their 2024 RAV4 Hybrid. While this action stops the vehicle from transmitting data to manufacturers, it also disables essential features such as over-the-air updates and emergency SOS services.

RTX 5090 and M4 MacBook Air: Can It Game?

The article explores the technical possibility of connecting an NVIDIA RTX 5090 GPU to an M4 MacBook Air via a Thunderbolt eGPU setup. To overcome the lack of native macOS drivers for NVIDIA hardware, the author proposes using a Linux virtual machine with PCI passthrough to leverage Linux’s existing driver support.

HDD Firmware Hacking Part 1

An author details their research into modifying HDD firmware to exploit a race condition on the Xbox 360 console. The investigation involves the process of dumping and analyzing the firmware of various Samsung, Hitachi, and Western Digital drives to attempt to introduce delays in data reading.

💼 Business & Finance

OpenAI is reportedly considering legal action against Apple after the expected benefits of integrating ChatGPT into Siri failed to materialize. The AI startup is currently working with outside legal counsel to explore potential litigation regarding their two-year agreement.

The conflation of money and things

The article explores the dual nature of physical objects, noting they possess both observable material properties and invisible, quantifiable monetary attributes such as ownership and price. It argues that these immaterial economic forces, expressed through a common currency, are fundamental in coordinating large-scale human activity and shaping our interaction with the physical world.

Anthropic forms $200M partnership with the Gates Foundation

Anthropic and the Gates Foundation have established a $200 million partnership to advance global health, life sciences, education, and economic mobility over the next four years. The initiative will provide grant funding, technical support, and Claude usage credits to accelerate vaccine development and improve healthcare decision-making in low- and middle-income countries.

A message from President Kornbluth about funding and the talent pipeline

MIT President Kornbluth announced a 10% decline in campus-sponsored research activity driven by reduced federal funding and increased endowment taxes. The Institute is also facing a shrinking talent pipeline due to changes in international student policies and cautious graduate admissions.

USDA Projects Smallest US Wheat Harvest Since 1972 Due to Plains Drought

The USDA projects that a severe drought in the U.S. Plains will result in the smallest wheat harvest since 1972. While corn production is expected to decrease by 6%, soybean production is forecast to be the second-largest on record.

Claude Account Suspended Seconds After Purchase?

A user reported that their Claude account was suspended immediately after completing a subscription purchase. Within minutes of the transaction, the user received both an invoice and a notification citing a violation of the platform’s Terms of Service.

Employment Ice Age

The Employment Ice Age refers to a period in Japan from 1994 to 2004 when the collapse of the bubble economy prevented many young graduates from securing stable employment. This era led to long-term social and economic consequences for the “Lost Generation,” including increased job instability and significant financial hardship.

They Said It Would Cost $54M. We Said “No Thanks.”

Alberta’s government has rejected a $54 million vendor-led proposal to replace outdated infrastructure and asset tracking systems. Instead, the province launched the PRISM Initiative, using modern AI development tools to allow public servants to rebuild the software internally at an estimated 95% cost savings.

US sells 30-year bonds at 5% yield for first time since 2007

The United States has sold 30-year bonds at a 5% yield. This marks the first time this yield level has been reached since 2007.

🌍 Society & Policy

Green Card Holders Targeted for Deportation by New ‘Removal Apparatus’

The Department of Homeland Security has established a new unit to re-evaluate thousands of green card holders for potential fraud or security threats. Although only a small fraction of reviewed cases have been targeted for deportation so far, the initiative is part of a broader effort to intensify immigration enforcement.

The Power of a Free Popsicle (2018)

The Magic Castle Hotel maintains high rankings by creating “defining moments,” such as its signature poolside popsicle service, to provide memorable guest experiences. Drawing from the book The Power of Moments, the article suggests that organizations can foster meaningful impact by intentionally designing experiences during key transitions, peaks, and pits.

Which country will be the first to pass laws limiting Meta Ray-Ban glasses?

Growing concerns regarding privacy violations associated with Meta Ray-Ban glasses have sparked discussions about potential regulatory crackdowns. It remains to be seen which countries will be the first to implement laws limiting the use of these smart glasses.

Parents don’t want their kids to use tech at school., districts pushing back

Parents are increasingly protesting the heavy use of digital devices in classrooms, citing concerns over student distraction and screen addiction. Many school districts are resisting efforts to allow student opt-outs, arguing that technology has become an essential and inseparable component of the modern curriculum.

Cuba says it has run out of fuel, blames U.S. embargo

Cuba is experiencing severe daily power outages due to exhausted fuel stocks, which officials blame on the United States’ oil embargo. Additionally, a diplomatic dispute has emerged over a purported $100 million U.S. humanitarian aid offer that the Cuban government denies knowing about.

LinkedIn Fanfiction

A satirical narrative describes a person using Claude AI to reform bus passengers by hacking their phones to display business growth infographics. The story concludes with the revelation that the encounter was a prank orchestrated by tech moguls, including Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates.

Beware of Drunk Deer, French Police Say, Announcing Season of Inebriation

French police in the Saône-et-Loire region are warning drivers to be cautious of wild animals that may become intoxicated by consuming fermented or decaying vegetation. Authorities advise motorists to slow down and avoid sudden maneuvers to prevent potential collisions with these unpredictable animals.

The Dating App Swipe Is Dying. What Comes Next May Be Worse

Bumble is removing its signature swiping feature and the requirement for women to message first in heterosexual matches to combat user burnout and declining engagement. The company’s upcoming “Bumble 2.0” overhaul will instead introduce AI-driven matchmaking assistants and “chapter-based profiles” to foster more authentic connections.

The European Union backs Italy’s right to make Meta pay for news

The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled that Meta must comply with Italian laws requiring the company to negotiate and fairly compensate news publishers for using their content. The court rejected Meta’s arguments that these regulations violate EU copyright law, finding that such national systems are intended to ensure transparency and fair remuneration for publishers.

What the Hell Was Going on with Cigarette Ads in the 70s? (2024)

An analysis of TIME magazine archives from 1969 to 1974 reveals a vast collection of cigarette advertisements utilizing diverse and manipulative marketing tactics. The research categorizes these ads into several themes, such as “creepy” imagery and a prominent obsession with cowboy motifs, to illustrate how tobacco companies promoted their products during that era.

My life was changed by four sentences in four books

An author recounts how four specific sentences from different books fundamentally reshaped their life trajectory. These literary insights led to major decisions, including quitting traditional employment, pursuing a music career, moving abroad, and choosing to stop accumulating wealth after a $22 million company sale.

ICE may be at World Cup matches in U.S.

DHS officials announced that ICE personnel may be deployed to provide perimeter security for FIFA World Cup matches in the U.S. While these agents will not be screening spectators for immigration status, they are not prohibited from conducting regular enforcement duties, including making arrests.

Federalism for Anti-Fascists

The paper “Oppositional Federalism: A Taxonomy of State Constitutional Postures Under Authoritarian Capture” provides a legal framework for states to resist federal authoritarianism. It establishes a five-tier taxonomy of state actions, ranging from cooperative federalism to “oppositional federalism,” where states use sovereign authority to challenge federal misconduct.

Avoiding and reducing microplastic false positives from dry glove contact

Common nitrile and latex laboratory gloves can cause significant microplastic false positives by releasing stearate salts that mimic microplastic vibrational spectra. To mitigate this, the study recommends using nitrile cleanroom gloves and implementing new workflows and spectral libraries to accurately differentiate microplastics from glove-based contamination.

The Original 1965 Gatorade Recipe

In 1965, Dr. Robert Cade and his team at the University of Florida developed Gatorade to replenish the electrolytes and fluids lost by football players during intense heat. Although the initial formula was unpalatable, the laboratory experiment eventually transformed into a multi-billion dollar global brand.

SQLite Code of Ethics

The SQLite developers have renamed their “Code of Conduct” to a “Code of Ethics” to avoid confusion regarding its specific meaning. The document establishes a one-way commitment for developers to interact with clients and the user community according to the principles of The Rule of St. Benedict.

📰 Other News

Passwords suck. Can passkeys replace them?

The article examines whether passkeys can serve as an effective replacement for traditional passwords. It explores the potential for this technology to address the inherent flaws of current password-based security.

How do I write Elixir tests?

The author presents personal guidelines for writing Elixir tests to improve clarity and performance. Key recommendations include using a @subject attribute to identify the module under test and including function names in describe blocks. Additionally, the author suggests preferring dependency injection over module mocking to maintain test parallelism.

Thrive Capital invests ~$100M in Shopify, betting on AI-driven commerce.

Thrive Capital, led by Joshua Kushner, has invested approximately $100 million in Shopify Inc. The investment is framed as a strategic bet on how artificial intelligence could drive significant gains in the commerce sector.

Senate advances Clarity Act: CFTC to regulate most digital assets, SEC to oversee securities

The Senate Banking Committee advanced the Clarity Act, which would establish the CFTC as the primary regulator for most digital assets while leaving digital securities under SEC oversight. Following the committee’s 15-to-9 vote, Bitcoin climbed past $80,000.

50+ xAI researchers and engineers left for Meta and TML via layoffs and departures

More than 50 researchers and engineers have departed xAI through layoffs, firings, and voluntary departures since the SpaceX acquisition. Many of these former employees have reportedly joined Meta and TML.

Ford stock jumps 25% in two days after launching new AI battery storage unit

Ford shares surged by up to 25% in two days following the launch of Ford Energy, a new subsidiary. The company’s new unit is designed to provide battery storage capacity to AI data centers.

Cerebras opens at $350, $100B+ valuation; largest US tech IPO since Uber in 2019

Cerebras Systems’ Nasdaq debut saw shares close at $311.07, marking the largest U.S. tech IPO since Uber’s 2019 debut. The chipmaker raised $5.55 billion through the sale of 30 million shares, driven by the significant surge in demand for artificial intelligence hardware.

Wirestock, providing data to 6 major AI labs, raises $23M Series A; total funding: $26M

Wirestock has raised $23 million in Series A funding to expand its operations as a multimodal data provider for major AI laboratories. Formerly a photography distribution platform, the company now supplies diverse datasets, including images, video, and 3D content, to six of the world’s largest foundation model makers.

KDE bags €1.3M as Europe realizes it might need an OS of its own

Germany’s Sovereign Tech Fund has awarded €1.3 million to the KDE desktop project. This investment comes amid growing interest in developing homegrown operating system alternatives within Europe’s public sector.

Waymo recalls 3,800 robotaxis after one drove itself into a flood

Waymo is recalling 3,800 robotaxis following an incident in which one autonomous vehicle drove into a flood. The recall follows concerns regarding the reliability of self-driving technology after the vehicle became partially submerged.

UK begins antitrust inquiry into Microsoft’s business software ecosystem

The UK regulator has launched an antitrust inquiry into Microsoft’s business software ecosystem. The investigation follows concerns that customers are sometimes unable to effectively combine Microsoft software with products from other providers.

AI to infest eight in ten premium phones within two years

Counterpoint predicts that artificial intelligence will be integrated into 80% of premium smartphones within the next two years. This trend is also expected to expand to other wearable technologies, such as smart rings and earbuds.

ZTE and Telkom Indonesia sign MoU to accelerate digital solutions and infrastructure development

ZTE and Telkom Indonesia have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate the development of digital solutions and infrastructure. This partnership aims to strengthen Indonesia’s digital ecosystem through advancements in AI, cloud computing, and next-generation connectivity.

NASA fleshes out Artemis III, the Moon mission that won’t go to the Moon

NASA is refining plans for the Artemis III mission, which will focus on low Earth orbit rehearsals rather than an immediate lunar landing. SpaceX and Blue Origin may participate in these orbital operations, provided they meet necessary readiness requirements.

Cops arrest man suspected of being Dream Market kingpin

Owe Martin Andresen faces money laundering charges in the US and Germany for his alleged role as the Dream Market kingpin. Additionally, the UK has launched an antitrust inquiry into Microsoft’s software ecosystem, and AI is projected to be integrated into 80% of premium smartphones within two years.

UK government prescribes Single Patient Record for NHS data chaos

The UK government is implementing a Single Patient Record to address data fragmentation within the NHS. While healthcare professionals support the move toward integrated care, they have called for robust safeguards and transparency regarding Palantir’s role in the system.

Calling the cops just got extra AI as police seek to add tech to contact systems

Police are seeking to integrate AI technology into their contact systems to assist call handlers. The implementation involves AI that monitors calls in real-time and conducts live database searches.

Bedrock and a hard place: Claude adventure leaves AWS user staring down $30K invoice

An AWS user recently incurred a $30,000 invoice following an unexpected cost spike while using Claude. The incident highlights the significant financial risks and challenges of managing cost anomaly detection when utilizing AI services on cloud platforms.

To gain root access at this company, all an intruder had to do was ask nicely

A threat actor successfully gained root access to a company by impersonating an executive and using social engineering tactics. IT managers inadvertently assisted the intruder while believing they were simply being helpful to their boss.

AI models are getting better at replacing cybersecurity pros on certain tasks

UK researchers have found that Large Language Models (LLMs) are becoming increasingly proficient at performing specific cybersecurity tasks. The study indicates that these models are completing jobs more quickly and demonstrating continuous improvement over time.

Tencent admits GPUs only pay for themselves when powering personalized ads

Tencent has stated that GPUs are only economically viable when used to power personalized advertisements. The company also noted that the shortage of AI accelerators is easing as local hardware becomes available in large volumes.

Cisco to fire 4,000 staff and generously give them free training – on Cisco

Cisco is set to lay off 4,000 employees as part of its restructuring efforts. The company intends to provide those affected by the job cuts with free training opportunities.