Ubisoft co-founder Claude Guillemot has died at 69 in a French plane crash. In tech, the ‘Europe 2031’ study warns of EU instability if it loses the AI race to China and the US. Meanwhile, literary magazine Granta is suspending certain partnerships due to AI allegations, even as new ‘humanizer’ apps emerge to help students bypass AI detection by mimicking natural writing patterns.
🤖 AI & Machine Learning
Apps “humanize” AI text and auto-type essays to help students evade AI detection.
New “humanizer” and “autotyper” applications are being promoted on social media to help students evade AI-detection software. These tools work by rewriting AI-generated text to sound more natural or by simulating human typing patterns, such as irregular speeds and intentional typos.
Lighthouse agentic browsing scoring
Lighthouse has introduced the Agentic Browsing category to assess a website’s compatibility with AI agents through audits of WebMCP integration, accessibility tree integrity, and layout stability. Rather than using a standard 0-100 score, this category provides fractional scores and pass/fail statuses to offer actionable signals regarding machine interaction readiness.
- Lighthouse agentic browsing scoring — developer.chrome.com
Meet Alice. Alice is impatient
The article explains how the inspection paradox creates a discrepancy between service provider metrics and actual user experience regarding latency and outage durations. Because users measure time continuously rather than per event, long-duration tail events disproportionately inflate their perceived averages compared to reported means.
- Meet Alice. Alice is impatient — brooker.co.za
LLMs Are Complicated Now
Modern LLM architectures are becoming increasingly complex as researchers strive to balance expanded capabilities with inference efficiency. To support rapid research iteration, the author argues that model designs must prioritize upfront composability rather than relying on manual optimizations or AI-generated kernels.
- LLMs Are Complicated Now — ianbarber.blog
We built a lab to evaluate data agents – Hex
Hex has developed “The Shoebox,” a custom infrastructure designed to evaluate the performance of data agents within the complex domain of data analytics. The platform facilitates pairwise experiments by comparing new candidate runs against established production baselines to ensure consistent results across different models and prompts.
- We built a lab to evaluate data agents – Hex — hex.tech
Speculation Is All You Need
New state-of-the-art DFlash speculators have been released for various Qwen models, delivering an additional 5–20% speedup across diverse workloads. The authors argue that speculative decoding offers more impactful and scalable performance gains than traditional kernel optimization by leveraging machine learning rather than manual engineering.
- Speculation Is All You Need — modal.com
Hey, N00B, We Didn’t Hire You to Complete Tasks
Junior engineers are advised to prioritize long-term professional growth and potential over the sheer quantity of tasks completed. To succeed, new hires should focus on delivering functional code and clear communication while avoiding behaviors that create additional workload for senior colleagues.
- Hey, N00B, We Didn’t Hire You to Complete Tasks — newsletter.kentbeck.com
💻 Software & Development
VLC developer’s Kyber raises $5M led by Lightspeed for low-latency remote device control SDK
Paris-based startup Kyber, founded by VLC lead developer Jean-Baptiste Kempf, has raised $5 million in a funding round led by Lightspeed. The company provides a low-latency SDK designed for the real-time remote control of devices such as robots and drones, aiming to support the growing infrastructure needs of physical AI.
- VLC developer’s Kyber raises $5M led by Lightspeed for low-latency remote device control SDK — techcrunch.com
Is anyone still using Emacs?
After decades of transitioning between Vim, Emacs, and modern IDEs like VSCode for better language integration, the author has recently returned to using Emacs. This resurgence is driven by the need for efficient work via SSH on remote Linux virtual machines.
- Is anyone still using Emacs? — jmmv.dev
OCaml 5.5.0 released
OCaml 5.5.0 has been released, introducing new features such as module-dependent functions and the ability to use polymorphic functions as function arguments. The update also includes a relocatable compiler and enhanced substring search and replace capabilities within the String module.
- OCaml 5.5.0 released — discuss.ocaml.org
Announcing the next generation of Distrobox
Distrobox has announced the release candidate for version 2, which features a complete rewrite of the project in Go to improve maintainability and extensibility. While the update offers potential performance gains and a simplified single-binary interface, developers recommend using v1 for production until v2 achieves feature parity and stability.
- Announcing the next generation of Distrobox — distrobox.it
Reverse Engineering the Qualcomm NPU Compiler
By reverse-engineering the Qualcomm QNPU SDK, researchers uncovered undocumented details regarding how its compiler manages VTCM memory placement and optimizes model weight precision. The study also identified a hidden analytical simulator called Hextimate, which can help developers predict and prevent costly data spills between on-chip and DDR memory during edge deployment.
- Reverse Engineering the Qualcomm NPU Compiler — datavorous.github.io
Managing types across Dropshot API versions (Oxide RFD 619)
Oxide RFD 619 provides prescriptive guidance for organizing published types within Dropshot HTTP APIs to streamline server-side versioning updates. The proposal aims to minimize developer burden by establishing principles for intuitive code organization and self-contained type conversions.
- Managing types across Dropshot API versions (Oxide RFD 619) — rfd.shared.oxide.computer
XLibre XServer 25.2 Released
XLibre XServer version 25.2.0 has been released, featuring a significant refactor of the glamor_egl architecture to enhance support for proprietary Nvidia drivers. The update also introduces substantial improvements to the kdrive and Xfbdev subsystems alongside nearly 1,000 bug fixes.
- XLibre XServer 25.2 released — github.com
The cube, the epicycles and the human face
This project utilizes epicycle constructions on the three faces of a cube to reconstruct a human face in three-dimensional space. The method works by calculating Fourier coefficients for various 2D surface projections and combining their endpoints to determine precise 3D coordinates.
- The cube, the epicycles and the human face — andreinc.net
Cirrus: ATProto Personal Data Server That Runs on Cloudflare Workers
Cirrus is an experimental, single-user Personal Data Server (PDS) for the AT Protocol that utilizes Cloudflare Workers, Durable Objects, and R2 to provide data sovereignty. The implementation allows users to maintain independence from platform changes by hosting their own Bluesky data with support for repository operations, federation, and account migration.
🛡️ Security & Privacy
Signal’s Meredith Whittaker: Child safety efforts risk mass surveillance and weak encryption
Meredith Whittaker, president of the Signal Foundation, warns that initiatives aimed at improving online child safety risk enabling mass surveillance and undermining private communication. She emphasizes that Signal would rather exit specific markets than compromise its commitment to end-to-end encryption.
- Signal’s Meredith Whittaker: Child safety efforts risk mass surveillance and weak encryption — bloomberg.com
What has (can) the EU Cyber Resilience Act done (do) for you?
The EU Cyber Resilience Act is set to fully enter into force by December 2027, requiring suppliers of digital products to provide transparency regarding all components and dependencies to obtain a CE mark. This legislation forms part of a broader regulatory framework, including GDPR and NIS2, aimed at enhancing cybersecurity and digital resilience within the European Union.
Suspected hackers send cryptic “misantropi4” alert to phones across Brazil
An unauthorized “Extreme Alert” containing the cryptic word “misantropi4” was sent to mobile phones across several Brazilian states, likely due to a suspected hacker attack. Consequently, authorities have taken the national emergency alert system offline while investigating a remote breach of the warning platform.
Satellite reveals immense scale of GPS signal tampering
The experimental Pulsar-0 satellite has revealed widespread and unexpectedly large-scale GPS signal jamming across Europe and the Middle East. The findings indicate that even low Earth orbit satellites are vulnerable to such signal degradation, which could compromise critical global positioning and navigation operations.
⚙️ Hardware & Infrastructure
Allbirds CEO Nadia Carlsten on pivoting from shoes to AI infrastructure and compute clusters
Allbirds has rebranded as Smartbird after selling its footwear business and raising $100 million to pivot into an AI infrastructure provider. Under new CEO Nadia Carlsten, the company aims to offer managed compute deployments focused on data sovereignty for sectors such as finance and pharmaceuticals.
- Allbirds CEO Nadia Carlsten on pivoting from shoes to AI infrastructure and compute clusters — techcrunch.com
PC makers, including HP, eye CXMT memory chips for Asia amid soaring DRAM prices
PC manufacturers, including HP, are exploring the use of CXMT’s memory chips for products bound for Asia as DRAM prices continue to soar. The price surge is driven by major suppliers prioritizing capacity for the fast-growing artificial intelligence industry, which has tightened the supply available for consumer electronics.
Lithuanian startup launches open-source network to detect Shahed-type drones
The Lithuanian startup Mainline has launched “Drone Rada,” an open-source acoustic system that uses unused Android smartphones to detect Shahed-type drones. By aggregating audio data from volunteer devices, the initiative aims to establish a large-scale monitoring network across the Baltic states and Poland to enhance regional security.
16-year-old SATA II SSD survives 1 petabyte of writes, 25x the drive’s rating
A 16-year-old SanDisk P4 SSD successfully survived an experiment involving one petabyte of data writes, exceeding its original 40 TBW endurance rating by 25 times. The test demonstrates that manufacturer-specified TBW limits are conservative warranty guidelines rather than definitive indicators of hardware failure.
Designing a backyard deck for my house
After being unable to find an affordable contractor to address a hazardous back door, the author decided to design their own backyard deck. The article details the process of creating technical drawings for building permits using drafting skills learned in high school.
- Designing a backyard deck for my house — blog.cosmin.cloud
Where to Find the Colors Your Screen Can’t Show You
Digital screens are unable to reproduce certain real-world colors, such as intense cyans, because they cannot replicate the full range of human color perception. This limitation exists because digital displays use primary colors that only cover a small portion of the visible spectrum’s gamut.
- Where to Find the Colors Your Screen Can’t Show You — moultano.wordpress.com
Britain sending Ukraine an extra 30,000 drones – now 150,000 all up
Britain has announced a £752M aid package for Ukraine, which includes 30,000 additional drones alongside missiles and radars. The news also highlights various recent developments and security concerns within the AI, cybersecurity, and open-source software sectors.
- Britain sending Ukraine an extra 30,000 drones – now 150,000 all up — theregister.com
🌐 Web & Gaming
Ubisoft co-founder Claude Guillemot dies at 69 in France plane crash
Claude Guillemot, co-founder of the French video game publisher Ubisoft and chairman of Guillemot Corporation, has died at age 69 following a plane crash in France. The company released an official statement expressing deep sadness over his passing.
Roblox CEO Dave Baszucki on ad revenue and “everything apps” | Conversations with Tyler
In an interview with Tyler Cowen, Roblox CEO Dave Baszucki discusses the platform’s focus on user-generated content and its early decision to avoid prioritizing advertising revenue. The conversation also explores competition within the gaming industry, the evolution of digital economies, and the potential for large platforms to become “everything apps.”
- Roblox CEO Dave Baszucki on ad revenue and “everything apps” | Conversations with Tyler — conversationswithtyler.com
Storing a Website in a Favicon
An author has demonstrated a method to embed HTML content within a website’s favicon by encoding data into the RGB color channels of its pixels. Using JavaScript and the Canvas API, the experiment successfully reconstructed a small website from a 9x9 pixel image, though the technique remains impractical for real-world use due to extremely limited storage capacity.
- I Stored a Website in a Favicon — timwehrle.de
Play Quake via CSS in Your Browser
cssQuake allows players to experience the classic game Quake directly within their web browsers. The platform features extensive customization options for multiplayer configurations, visual displays, and gameplay controls, including movement and combat mechanics.
- cssQuake - Play Quake in Your Browser — cssquake.com
UHF X11: X11 built for VisionOS and Apple Vision Pro
UHF X11 is an X11 display server for Apple Vision Pro that transforms X11 top-level windows into individual spatial windows within visionOS. The software supports remote connections via standard X11 TCP and features retro visual presets, such as CRT scanlines, to emulate classic displays.
Stocks Porfolio in a URL and Favicon
This web-based stock portfolio tracker allows users to manage holdings via a shareable URL without requiring any logins or downloads. Utilizing Yahoo Finance data, the tool provides real-time updates and features an updating browser favicon that visually displays performance through mini bar charts.
- Stocks Porfolio in a URL and Favicon — stocksreader.com
EU won’t force publishers to grant dead video games an afterlife
The European Commission has declined to mandate that video game publishers provide ways to keep games playable after official support ends. Instead, the commission is favoring an industry code of conduct over legal obligations, representing a setback for the “Stop Killing Games” campaign.
- EU won’t force publishers to grant dead video games an afterlife — theregister.com
🏛️ Policy & Society
‘Europe 2031’ warns of EU instability if it loses the AI race to US and China
A speculative thought experiment titled “Europe 2031” warns that the European Union faces potential economic and political collapse if it fails to compete with the US and China in the AI race. The scenario, which has gained traction among policymakers, envisions a future of instability driven by a lack of investment in critical technologies like data centers and robotics.
Granta to stop publishing certain contest winners or partnerships following AI use allegations.
The literary magazine Granta has decided to stop publishing winners of the Commonwealth short story prize and will no longer engage in external publishing partnerships that lack its editorial control. This decision follows widespread allegations that one of this year’s winning entries was partially generated by AI, a controversy the magazine aims to avoid to protect its editorial integrity.
- Granta to stop publishing certain contest winners or partnerships following AI use allegations. — theguardian.com
Russia seeks homegrown AI talent amid hardware shortages and brain drain
Russia is launching large-scale initiatives, including new university faculties and national commissions, to develop domestic AI talent and mitigate the brain drain caused by the invasion of Ukraine. However, these efforts face significant obstacles from limited access to essential hardware due to international sanctions and low domestic production capacity.
UK govt to consult on making public service news more prominent on social media and video platforms
The UK government is expected to begin consultations this month on new regulations aimed at increasing the prominence of public service news on social media and video platforms. The proposed move could spark further conflict with major tech companies, such as Meta and YouTube, regarding online content visibility and misinformation.
- UK govt to consult on making public service news more prominent on social media and video platforms — ft.com
Volunteer Responsibility Amnesty Day
The article proposes “Volunteer Responsibility Amnesty Day,” an initiative where individuals audit their volunteer commitments every solstice to prevent burnout. It suggests using a responsibility inventory to decide which projects to continue, delegate, or discontinue.
- Volunteer Responsibility Amnesty Day — volunteeramnestyday.net
The Wholesale Plagiarism of Obscure Sorrows
A new website featuring the complete text of The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows has appeared, replacing original human-made illustrations with AI-generated images. The site also utilizes GPT-4 to generate new “sorrows” from user input, raising significant concerns regarding its authenticity and whether it is an unauthorized reproduction of John Koenig’s work.
- The Wholesale Plagiarism of Obscure Sorrows — waxy.org
Town Square, the community deserves connection
Town Square has introduced several updates, including enhanced customization options, an improved mobile experience, and a dedicated landing page. The most significant addition is a live map that displays connections between verified cities, message density, and real-time visitors, accompanied by a new terrain editor.
- Town Square, the community deserves connection — cauenapier.com
How to lose a war in three easy steps
The provided text outlines various subscription and membership options for accessing Financial Times digital and print content. It features promotional offers and trial periods specifically tied to an article titled “How to lose a war in three easy steps.”
How to feed a dictator
The documentary How to Feed a Dictator follows five private chefs as they recount their experiences preparing meals for notorious historical figures, including Pol Pot, Kim Jong-il, and Idi Amin. The film explores the intense moral dilemmas and personal dangers faced by those navigating the line between professional luxury and complicity in tyranny.
- How to feed a dictator — theguardian.com
A record 242 US cities now have starter homes that cost $1M
The number of U.S. cities with starter homes valued at $1 million or more has reached a record 242, nearly tripling since early 2020. Driven by pandemic-era housing shortages, this trend is expanding beyond coastal regions into the Northeast, with New York and New Jersey seeing the fastest growth.
- A record 242 US cities now have starter homes that cost $1M — investors.zillowgroup.com
Why Amazon hates ‘human-in-the-loop’ AI governance
Amazon Security VP Eric Brandwine argues that “human-in-the-loop” AI governance is unreliable due to human inconsistency and the risk of “normalization of deviance.” He warns that repetitive oversight tasks can cause humans to become desensitized to errors, eventually undermining the security of automated AI systems.
- Why Amazon hates ‘human-in-the-loop’ AI governance — theregister.com