Alvaro Lopez Ortega / 2026-06-05 Briefing

Created Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:18:43 +0000 Modified Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:19:37 +0000
2836 Words

US tobacco firms leveraged global marketing strategies to expand ultra-processed food markets, raising public health concerns. In physics, the discovery of quantum “magic” offers a new bridge between gravity and space-time structure. Meanwhile, researchers traced widespread GNSS signal disruptions across Europe back to Russian satellites, while Microsoft faces scrutiny over antitrust issues and leaked internal documents regarding potentially addictive AI.

🤖 AI & Software Engineering

Lowfat – pluggable CLI filter that saved 91.8% of my LLM tokens

Lowfat is a pluggable CLI filter designed to reduce LLM token consumption by stripping unnecessary noise from verbose command outputs like kubectl, git, and docker. The lightweight tool uses a customizable plugin system to act as a shell wrapper or agent hook, providing a local-first approach with no telemetry.

New Ladybird Development Approaches

The Ladybird project is transitioning to a development model where only maintainers can introduce code changes, effectively ending its acceptance of public pull requests. This shift aims to enhance security and oversight ahead of the browser’s upcoming alpha release, specifically addressing risks posed by AI-generated contributions.

Fine-tuning an LLM to write docs like it’s 1995

The author experimented with fine-tuning an instruction model to replicate the technical writing style of the 1980s and 1990s. Using historical Microsoft manuals from Bitsavers as a source, they processed the text into nearly 200,000 training examples for the fine-tuning process.

The IsUpMap lets you check the status of over 100 major sites at once

isUpMap provides a real-time status heatmap to monitor the availability of over 80 major internet services, including platforms for AI, cloud computing, and payments. The dashboard tracks whether these services are currently up, degraded, or down, while also offering incident history and per-service uptime data.

Magenta RealTime 2: Open and Local Live Music Models

Magenta RealTime 2 (MRT2) is an open-weights model and inference engine designed for low-latency, real-time AI music generation on Apple Silicon MacBooks. It enables the creation of interactive musical instruments controllable via MIDI, audio, and text that can be integrated into DAWs or used as standalone applications. This version significantly reduces latency compared to its predecessor, making it a practical tool for responsive live musical performance.

Linear Cosine Palettes(2025)

The author introduces an R function for generating continuous color palettes using linear cosine waves, inspired by techniques developed by Mike Cheng and Inigo Quilez. The implementation utilizes randomly selected base colors to create smooth, procedurally generated color transitions.

Azure Linux 4.0 is Microsoft’s first general-purpose Linux

Microsoft has released Azure Linux 4.0 in public preview, transitioning the distribution from a specialized host OS to a general-purpose version available on any Azure virtual machine and coming soon to WSL. Derived from Fedora, this new release features an updated component stack including Kernel 6.18 LTS and the dnf5 package manager.

Meta enables ADB on deprecated Portal devices [video]

Meta has enabled Android Debug Bridge (ADB) support on its deprecated Portal devices. This update allows developers to continue interacting with and building applications for these discontinued smart displays.

Semantic Reification: A new paradigm for random program generation

Researchers have introduced Semantic Reification, a new paradigm designed for random program generation. This novel approach proposes a new methodology for the automated creation of programs.

🛡️ Security & Privacy

Tracing a powerful GNSS interference source over Europe

Researchers have identified a space-based GNSS interference source responsible for widespread signal disruptions across Europe, Greenland, and Canada since 2019. By analyzing data from terrestrial stations, the study determined that the interference originates from a constellation of Russian early warning satellites in Molniya orbits.

Marks & Spencer CEO loses annual bonus after $175M cyberattack

Marks & Spencer CEO Stuart Machin will not receive an annual bonus for the 2025/26 fiscal year following a major ransomware attack in April 2025. The cybersecurity incident cost the retailer £131.3 million and contributed to a significant decline in annual profits.

Norwegian publisher faces complaint over choice between tracking and subscription fees

The Norwegian Consumer Council and noyb have filed a complaint against news publisher Schibsted over its “Pay or Okay” model, which requires users to either pay a subscription fee or consent to personal data tracking. The advocacy groups argue that this system turns privacy into a luxury rather than a fundamental right and are seeking to have the model declared illegal.

Hackers getting an easy ride: misconfigured cloud settings behind growing number of data breaches

The Dutch National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) warns that cloud misconfigurations are driving an increase in data breaches as cybercriminals use automated tools to exploit incorrect permissions. Because these attacks utilize legitimate requests rather than software vulnerabilities, making them difficult to detect, the agency recommends continuous monitoring and strict access controls such as the “least privilege” principle.

Council in UK’s City of York outs hundreds of disabled residents with a single email blunder

An email error by the City of York Council has inadvertently exposed the personal details of hundreds of disabled residents. The blunder occurred when Blue Badge holders’ information became visible to one another due to a complex administrative function.

🚀 Science, Space & Health

Entanglement Builds Space-Time. Now “Magic” Gives It Gravity

Physicists have identified a quantum property known as “magic” that allows particles to induce curvature in space-time. This discovery complements the established role of entanglement in providing space-time’s structure, offering a potential bridge between quantum mechanics and general relativity by explaining how matter can bend geometry.

NASA announces 3 uncrewed missions to moon this year to prepare to build a base

NASA has announced three uncrewed missions launching later this year to begin preparations for establishing a permanent lunar base at the moon’s south pole. These robotic flights will utilize private industry partners to scout locations, test technologies, and gather scientific data in support of future human habitation and Mars exploration.

The Causes of Long Covid

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Smart drug strips cancer cells of ‘invisibility cloak’ can shrink tumours 30%

An experimental drug called GRWD5769 has shown promise in a phase 1 trial by inhibiting an enzyme that allows cancer cells to hide from the immune system. When used alongside immunotherapy, the drug helped shrink tumors by at least 30% in several patients across six common cancer types who had previously failed other treatments.

US adult cigarette smoking rate hits another all-time low

The cigarette smoking rate among U.S. adults dropped to an all-time low of 9% last year, according to preliminary CDC survey data. While e-cigarette use remains steady at approximately 7%, health advocates warn that recent funding cuts to prevention programs could threaten further progress in reducing smoking-related diseases.

🔌 Hardware & Infrastructure

Huawei uses Ascend 910C chips for DeepSeek V4 Pro post-training amid US sanctions

A research team including Huawei has successfully utilized Ascend 910C chips to perform full-parameter post-training for the DeepSeek V4 Pro model. This achievement marks a significant step toward China’s AI self-reliance, demonstrating that domestic hardware can handle complex model training tasks beyond simple inference.

Data center developer Switch in talks for billions from Brookfield and KKR at $50B+ valuation

Data center developer Switch is reportedly in talks to raise billions of dollars from private equity firms including Brookfield and KKR. The negotiations are aiming for a company valuation exceeding $50 billion.

Gigabyte packs 40 Intel Lunar Lake PCs in a pizza box

Gigabyte has developed a system that packs 40 Intel Lunar Lake-powered PCs into a footprint as small as a pizza box. This configuration offers an alternative to traditional single-CPU architectures by utilizing dozens of smaller processors in a compact space.

UK’s top crime agency hamstrung by legacy IT, watchdog warns

A regulator has warned that the UK’s National Crime Agency is being hampered by outdated IT infrastructure. This legacy technology reportedly reduces productivity and forces officers to rely on manual workarounds and cumbersome hardware.

Brit regulator finds mobile network service on trains is far from first class

A UK communications watchdog has found that mobile network service on trains is significantly below standard. The regulator reported that up to 83% of tests failed to meet a “good performance” threshold.

⚖️ Business & Policy

Do We Need Billionaires?

The article uses various analogies to illustrate the vast difference in scale between millions and billions of dollars. It further questions the “rising tide lifts all boats” theory of Reaganomics, weighing the economic benefits of large-scale corporations against the decline of small businesses and domestic manufacturing.

Satya Nadella ‘Not Sure’ Who Said Microsoft Wanted to Make Addictive AI

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella dismissed a leaked internal strategy document for the AI assistant Scout as “nonsense,” claiming he was unaware of its origin or authorship. However, reports indicate the document was co-authored by high-level Microsoft executives, including the project’s leader, Omar Shahine.

Dear Microsoft, enough is enough

The Browser Choice Alliance has issued an open letter to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, accusing the company of leveraging its Windows dominance to unfairly promote the Edge browser through manipulative tactics. The group alleges that these practices restrict user choice and calls for immediate global reforms to ensure fair competition among browser developers.

The Pentagon is running an AI propaganda mill targeting Latin America

An investigation by The Intercept has revealed that the Pentagon is using an AI-driven content mill called La Tilde to spread propaganda throughout Latin America. The platform, which presents itself as a modern media brand, is reportedly operated for U.S. Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH) to promote pro-U.S. military narratives.

CEO to staff: You’re not getting a raise. We’re spending on AI instead

Companies like Teradata and TTEC are reallocating budgets from employee salary increases and benefits to fund large-scale AI transformations. This trend reflects a growing corporate shift toward prioritizing investments in AI talent and infrastructure over workforce compensation.

IL Gov. Pritzker to pause data center tax breaks July 1, seeking new development framework

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker plans to temporarily pause the processing of tax incentive applications for data centers in the state starting July 1. He is calling on lawmakers and various stakeholders to establish a new development framework that addresses concerns regarding energy usage, water consumption, and community impact.

Apple-funded study: App Store hit $1.4T in 2025; AI apps saw 4x more growth than others.

A new study by Analysis Group reveals that the App Store ecosystem generated $1.4 trillion in developer billings and sales in 2025, representing nearly threefold growth since 2019. The report highlights that apps utilizing consumer AI features experienced four times more billing growth than other apps, with developers paying no commission to Apple on over 90% of this revenue.

Elon Musk petitions FTC to end Twitter data order, claiming X merged with xAI and SpaceX

Elon Musk has petitioned the FTC to end a 2022 order restricting X’s data use, arguing that the company no longer exists in its original form due to recent corporate mergers. The FTC is resisting the move, citing concerns over the platform’s ability to maintain privacy protections following significant layoffs and structural changes.

California tech CEO busted for selling forbidden US technology to Iran’s nuclear agency

Jamshid Ghomi, a California tech CEO with dual US-Iranian citizenship, has been arrested for allegedly orchestrating a decade-long scheme to smuggle sensitive U.S. networking and encryption technology to Iran’s nuclear and defense sectors. The operation used UAE-based front companies to bypass U.S. sanctions, generating more than $15 million in illegal profits.

Raspberry Pi’s profits are up. So is its DRAM bill

Raspberry Pi has reported higher profits and earnings forecasts that significantly exceed expectations. However, the company is also facing rising DRAM costs and is utilizing credit facilities to secure its memory supply.

Capita’s £370M Oracle bid was 40% under UK gov estimate, court reveals

Court proceedings have revealed that Capita’s £370 million bid for an Oracle HR and finance system project was 40% lower than the UK government’s estimate. A rival company claims a cost model is necessary to protect against potential bias toward low-cost bids.

🌍 Society & Culture

US tobacco firms applied tobacco strategies to globalize ultra-processed foods

Between the 1980s and mid-2000s, US tobacco companies leveraged their international expansion and marketing expertise to establish billion-dollar businesses focused on ultra-processed and hyper-palatable foods. Researchers suggest that regulating these addictive products may be necessary for public health protection due to the global distribution strategies employed by these firms.

Lee Kuan Yew’s Singapore Story

Lee Kuan Yew, widely regarded as Singapore’s founding father, led the nation’s transformation from a “Third World” to a “First World” state following its 1965 separation from Malaysia. The article explores his visionary leadership and how historical events shaped his lifelong commitment to building the country.

Delacroix’s Entry of the Crusaders into Constantinople Restored

Eugène Delacroix’s masterpiece, Entry of the Crusaders into Constantinople, has undergone an extensive conservation treatment to restore its original brilliance and structural integrity. The process involved removing aged, yellowed varnish and reinforcing the canvas, revealing the artist’s vibrant colors and intricate technical details.

What happens if Japan takes in zero immigrants?

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has secured a political supermajority in Japan by campaigning on “Sakoku 2.0,” a policy centered on strict immigration limits and economic revitalization. While supporters believe automation can mitigate projected labor shortages, critics warn that this approach could destabilize the nation’s pension system and worsen its demographic decline.

What are you doing this weekend?

The post invites readers to share their upcoming weekend plans and request feedback or assistance if needed. It also emphasizes that taking time to do nothing is perfectly acceptable.

Tech support chap hauled out to help SWAT team saw his life flash before his eyes

A tech support worker experienced a life-threatening situation after being called to assist a SWAT team during a tactical operation. The unexpected encounter involving armored vehicles and bulletproof vests proved to be far outside his typical job responsibilities.