Alvaro Lopez Ortega / 2026-05-25 Briefing

Created Mon, 25 May 2026 13:36:41 +0000 Modified Mon, 25 May 2026 13:38:48 +0000
3123 Words

Google’s shift toward an AI-driven search model is driving users to alternatives like DuckDuckGo to avoid ecosystem isolation. In AI news, Anthropic is expanding access to its Mythos-class models, while Pope Leo XIV has issued an encyclical calling for ethical AI regulation. Meanwhile, IBM and the U.S. Department of Commerce are launching a $2 billion initiative for a new quantum chip foundry.

🤖 AI & Machine Learning

Google is cannibalizing the web to feed AI

Google’s new AI Mode in Search aims to keep users within its own ecosystem rather than directing them to external websites. This shift marks a departure from the traditional search model of driving traffic to the wider web.

Anthropic to release Mythos-class models to the public

Anthropic plans to release its Mythos-class models to the public and is extending access to a broader range of users, including governments. However, certain AI flaw-finding capabilities will remain restricted while the company works to establish necessary safety guardrails.

Search engines alternatives now that Google isn’t Google anymore

Google is overhauling its search engine to transition toward a conversational, AI-driven model, a move that has sparked significant user backlash. Consequently, many users are exploring alternative search engines like Kagi and DuckDuckGo to avoid intrusive AI features and advertisements.

GPT Guesses Between 1 and 100

An experiment involving 10,000 independent requests to GPT-4.1 has revealed that the model does not function as a uniform random number generator. When asked to pick a number between 1 and 100, the model’s outputs demonstrated significant statistical deviation from a fair distribution.

Writing in the Age of AI

The widespread adoption of large language models for writing is criticized for replacing authentic human communication with hollow, homogenized content. This trend is viewed as violating the traditional “social contract” between authors and readers by reducing the intellectual effort required and undermining the perceived value of written works.

Execs use AI digital twins for tasks; Reid Hoffman’s ‘Reid AI’ has done 75+ talks since 2024

An increasing number of executives are creating AI digital twins trained on their unique communication styles to handle tasks such as answering inquiries and delivering presentations. For instance, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman’s AI replica has already completed more than 75 addresses and presentations since its launch in 2024.

Meta CTO Andrew “Boz” Bosworth: Leading Meta’s transformation into an AI-first company

Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth is leading the company’s transition to an AI-first model, which includes using employee keystroke and mouse click data to train AI agents. This initiative has sparked internal backlash and privacy concerns among the workforce. Bosworth has remained firm, refusing opt-out requests and advising employees to avoid using personal email on company devices.

UK turns to neuromorphic computing for sovereignty, trailing US and China in AI

The UK is turning to experimental technologies, such as neuromorphic computing, to achieve computing sovereignty after being outpaced by the US and China in AI. This shift responds to the growing importance of data centers and computing power in maintaining military capability.

💻 Software Engineering

OpenBSD 7.9 arrives, a diamond in the rough proud of every sharp edge

OpenBSD 7.9, the 60th release of the operating system, has been launched. The update introduces support for additional CPU cores, delayed hibernation, and basic Wi-Fi 6 while maintaining the project’s characteristic minimalist design.

Geomatic – a command-driven geometry studio enabled with autodiff

Geomatic is a command-driven geometry studio that integrates automatic differentiation and broadcasting semantics similar to NumPy and PyTorch. The tool features reactive geometry updates and supports advanced capabilities such as backpropagation, gradient descent, and custom differentiable visualizations.

A deep dive into Kubernetes internals

This article provides an in-depth look at the fundamental mechanics of Kubernetes, focusing on its declarative, control-loop-driven architecture for container orchestration. It introduces twelve essential mental models for mastering the platform and offers guidance on when its operational complexity may not be necessary.

Splinter Cell veteran says realistic modern lighting has screwed up stealth game

Renowned game designer Clint Hocking argues that modern, realistic lighting techniques make stealth games more difficult to play by obscuring the distinction between shadows and light. He suggests that developers must learn to utilize advanced rendering technologies without sacrificing the gameplay clarity essential to the genre.

Host-Tuned GCC for Faster Compilation

This article outlines methods for reducing GCC compilation times by using specific configuration options during the build process. It demonstrates how applying profile-guided optimization (PGO), link-time optimization (LTO), and native-tuned bootstrap stages can create a more efficient compiler binary.

Fully in-browser container builds

A new research prototype enables users to build container images entirely within a web browser using client-side code. The application allows users to select base images, run shell scripts, and export the resulting images as tar files for use in Docker. This project demonstrates the potential for creating custom container tools that can outperform standard industry software.

Nix’s Substituter List Is Not a Routing Table

Nix’s substituter model causes high latency by performing sequential, non-concurrent lookups across a static list of binary caches. To address this, the article introduces ncro, a lightweight Rust-based HTTP proxy that optimizes routing by racing upstream caches in parallel and streaming data without local storage.

Scoped Error in Rust

The new Rust crate scoped_error aims to address the ergonomic and verbosity issues found in existing error-handling libraries like anyhow and exn. It allows developers to attach error context once using the expect_error function, reducing the need for repetitive manual context attachment at every call site.

Lambda on Lambda: Serverless Haskell on AWS

Following a presentation at the Melbourne Compose Group, the author has released an end-to-end example for implementing AWS Lambda functions using Haskell. The guide provides detailed deployment instructions utilizing OCI-format containers and OpenTofu configuration.

Announcing feed-repeat v1.0

Feed-repeat v1.0 is a new Haskell-based tool that creates an Atom feed by periodically re-publishing selected posts from existing RSS, Atom, or RDF feeds. It enables users to implement spaced repetition by customizing the frequency and selection of older posts to revisit. The tool is available as a standalone binary, a Docker image, and a NixOS module.

Scaling Akvorado BMP RIB with sharding

To resolve scalability bottlenecks caused by a global read/write lock in Akvorado’s BGP Routing Information Base, the author proposes implementing RIB sharding. This approach splits the routing database into multiple segments to enable concurrent updates and improve performance when processing tens of millions of routes.

🛡️ Security & Hardware

OnlyFans mega leak reveals 340M user records, hackers claim

Hackers claim to be selling 340 million OnlyFans user records, potentially exposing the identities of anonymous creators and subscribers. However, OnlyFans has officially denied the reports of a data leak.

GitHub bans researcher for Windows zero-days and threats: “I will shatter your bones”

GitHub has banned security researcher “Nightmare-Eclipse” following the release of several unpatched Windows zero-day vulnerabilities. The researcher has since moved their repository to GitLab and continues to release exploits while issuing further threats against Microsoft.

Huawei proposes new chip scaling law, aiming for 1.4nm density by 2031

At an IEEE conference, Huawei proposed a new chip scaling law aimed at achieving transistor densities equivalent to 1.4nm by 2031. This new design approach is intended to help the company overcome U.S. sanctions and close the technological gap with global leaders such as TSMC and Intel.

💼 Business & Industry

IBM Spins Off the First Pure-Play Quantum Chip Foundry

IBM and the U.S. Department of Commerce have announced a $2 billion CHIPS quantum package to establish Anderon, America’s first pure-play quantum chip foundry, in Albany, New York. The initiative focuses on large-scale manufacturing of superconducting silicon while distributing smaller investments across various other quantum technologies to mitigate technological risk.

Samsung: It’s Time for Floating Data Centers

Samsung Heavy Industries is partnering with U.S. developer Mousterian to launch a floating data center initiative, starting with a multi-vessel deployment in Houston. The project aims to meet AI infrastructure demands by utilizing local water for cooling and leveraging existing power sources to minimize land and resource impacts.

The Morale of Tech Workers Is Plunging as Layoffs Mount

Widespread layoffs across major tech companies since 2022 have severely eroded worker morale and the perceived stability of the industry. This decline in optimism is particularly visible on the anonymous platform Blind, where professional discussions have shifted from career advancement to economic anxiety and survival strategies.

Wingtech files lawsuit in Chinese court, seeks $1.1 billion in damages and full control of Nexperia

Wingtech Technology has filed a lawsuit in China against Nexperia, seeking $1.1 billion in damages and the restoration of its full control over the company. The Chinese owner alleges that Nexperia’s cooperation with Dutch government interventions constitutes illegal and discriminatory measures under China’s Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law.

Tether to launch GELT, a Georgian lari stablecoin, with government support (Reuters)

Tether plans to launch GELT, a new stablecoin representing the Georgian lari, through an unusual partnership with the Georgian government. The initiative aims to promote digital payments, fintech development, and cross-border commerce within the country.

Wix to cut ~1,000 jobs (20%) after weak Q1 earnings and 50% stock collapse in 2026

Wix is expected to cut approximately 1,000 jobs, representing about 20% of its workforce, in the largest layoff round in the company’s history. The reduction follows weak first-quarter earnings, a significant decline in its stock price, and rising costs associated with AI-driven development.

Xiaomi’s $8.8B AI investment over 3 years aims to future-proof its hardware and EV ecosystem

Xiaomi is investing approximately $8.8 billion in AI development over the next three years to advance its frontier models and secure its hardware ecosystem. This strategic push also aims to enhance the company’s capabilities in chip design and electric vehicles to capitalize on emerging technological trends.

Plenary Americas to take Canadian database firm ISC private for $872M, expected in Q3

Plenary Americas LP, the infrastructure arm of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, has agreed to acquire Canadian database company Information Services Corp. (ISC) for $872 million (C$1.2 billion). The deal will take the Saskatchewan-based firm private at C$51 per share in cash and is expected to close in the third quarter.

⚖️ Policy & Society

Digital sovereignty, the musical: One engineer’s bizarre crusade against hyperscalers

A French engineer has launched a creative protest campaign against major cloud providers AWS, Google, and Microsoft to advocate for digital sovereignty. The unconventional campaign utilizes AI-generated sea shanties, satirical poetry, and multilingual messages to critique the dominance of hyperscalers.

Poverty Changes Your Mind-Set (2018)

While global poverty has declined, US poverty rates remain stagnant, sparking debates over whether welfare programs promote dependency. However, research suggests that the cognitive strain of managing financial scarcity impairs decision-making, indicating that effective poverty reduction strategies must account for these psychological impacts.

Pope’s New AI Encyclical

In his new encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV calls for the ethical regulation of artificial intelligence to protect human dignity, safeguard children, and prevent risks such as misinformation and autonomous weapons. The document further urges governments to address worker displacement and global inequality while criticizing the influence of the arms industry and the potential for exploitation in tech supply chains.

Rising seas will swallow New Orleans. People need to start relocating now

New Orleans faces the potential of being surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico by the end of the century due to significant sea-level rise and the loss of coastal wetlands. Experts urge the city to begin implementing managed relocation strategies immediately to avoid a chaotic and inequitable retreat.

D. Trump Jr. and Eric Trump Running Felony Fraud Scheme Prosecutable in New York

An article alleges that Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump are conducting a $1.2 billion fraud scheme through their cryptocurrency venture, World Liberty Financial. The piece compares their alleged deceptive practices to those of convicted crypto founders who received prison sentences for similar conduct.

Hong Kong police, railway, and power companies ditch US tech as China offers alternatives

Hong Kong’s major institutions, including the police and utility providers, are replacing US technology with Chinese alternatives to mitigate the risks of American export controls and sanctions. This trend parallels Europe’s pursuit of digital sovereignty, as European governments seek to reduce their dependency on American cloud and communication platforms.

British police support mandatory age verification on social media: “The longer we wait, the more …

The National Crime Agency (NCA) and the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) are calling for stricter regulations on social media, gaming, and AI platforms to protect children under 16 from online predators and harmful content. They recommend implementing robust age verification and child-appropriate settings, suggesting the government should ban certain features for minors if tech companies fail to ensure safety.

Trump admin gutted CFTC as Trump family entered crypto and prediction markets

An investigation reveals that during the Trump administration, officials at the CFTC allegedly intervened to favor prediction market and crypto firms with ties to the Trump family’s business empire. Senior career officials who raised concerns regarding fraud and fairness in these industries were subsequently placed on leave or investigated, undermining the agency’s regulatory oversight.

🍃 Miscellaneous & Life

Under-trained techie didn’t claim overtime for mistakenly failing to phone it in

An undertrained technician caused significant disruptions to a medical clinic’s network and worked extensively to resolve the issue. Despite the extra effort required to fix the system, she did not claim any overtime for her work.

Leave Me Behind

Reflecting on a decade as an Android developer, the author describes the profound satisfaction of creating tangible software with real-world impacts. They emphasize that the true value of their career lies not just in the applications themselves, but in the community, mentorship, and shared experience of building alongside others.

Why Do We Sleep Under Blankets, Even on the Hottest Nights? (2017)

While bed coverings were historically a luxury reserved for the wealthy, most human populations use some form of padding or covering to sleep. Anthropological studies indicate that even in tropical climates, the use of bedding is widespread, with the notable exception of nomadic foragers.

Fatherhood Dramatically Rewires Your Brain

A new study of 25 fathers reveals that the male brain undergoes significant structural changes during the first 24 weeks postpartum to adapt to caregiving demands. This process involves a dynamic pattern of gray matter shrinkage and swelling in various brain regions to help refine essential parental skills.

Ross Coulthart: Trump poised to reveal “we are not alone” on non-human intelligence

Journalist Ross Coulthart anticipates an upcoming White House announcement that may confirm the existence of non-human intelligence following recent UFO evidence releases by President Trump. He suggests the administration may be consulting religious leaders to help prepare the public for the potential implications of such a revelation.

Switching to Colemak

To prevent repetitive strain injury (RSI) caused by poor typing habits, the author is transitioning from the QWERTY keyboard layout to Colemak-DH. After practicing with the training tool keybr.com, they have begun implementing the new layout on their MacBook Pro.

What are you doing this week?

The text invites readers to share their plans for the upcoming week. It also notes that it is perfectly acceptable to have no activities scheduled.