The Former Israeli Spies Building AI Systems at Global Tech Companies
(donotpanic.news)
Dozens of former members of Israel’s Unit 8200 - a secretive cyber warfare team accused of building the AI systems that helped enable the Gaza genocide - are now building AI systems for the world’s biggest tech and AI companies.
Dozens of former members of Israel’s Unit 8200 - a secretive cyber warfare team accused of building the AI systems that helped enable the Gaza genocide - are now building AI systems for the world’s biggest tech and AI companies.
TikTok could bypass US blockade by making a PWA
(lukaszolejnik.com)
The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act is a significant moment for both technology and geopolitics.
The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act is a significant moment for both technology and geopolitics.
Sweden Goes Back to Books and Handwriting
(irreal.org)
I don’t know what to make of this. The TL;DR is that after many years, Sweden is returning to more traditional methods in education, including an emphasis on physical books and handwriting.
I don’t know what to make of this. The TL;DR is that after many years, Sweden is returning to more traditional methods in education, including an emphasis on physical books and handwriting.
Apple suspends AI-generated news alert service after BBC complaint
(theguardian.com)
Apple is suspending an artificial intelligence feature that made inaccurate summaries of news headlines.
Apple is suspending an artificial intelligence feature that made inaccurate summaries of news headlines.
Canon wants us to pay for using our own camera as a webcam
(romanzipp.com)
Companies squeezing every last penny out of their customers is no news. And Canon is no stranger.
Companies squeezing every last penny out of their customers is no news. And Canon is no stranger.
iPhone drops from first to 3rd place in China, struggles to launch AI features
(9to5mac.com)
The iPhone has lost its crown as the best-selling phone in China, dropping to 3rd place in the latest market intelligence data.
The iPhone has lost its crown as the best-selling phone in China, dropping to 3rd place in the latest market intelligence data.
How Can a Major Bank Like Capital One Be Offline for 24 Hours?
(nbcnews.com)
Capital One said an unspecified technical issue was hampering customer account access Thursday, as some users reported issues with direct deposits.
Capital One said an unspecified technical issue was hampering customer account access Thursday, as some users reported issues with direct deposits.
Girl strangled by her own wheelchair as bus monitor texted, checked Instagram
(arstechnica.com)
Cell phones are magnets for our attention, but you can, of course, face significant legal jeopardy for giving them that attention. Just ask the "safety driver" of an Uber self-driving vehicle, which hit and killed a pedestrian in Arizona in 2018. According to authorities, the driver was watching The Voice on Hulu just before the crash—and was then charged with negligent homicide.
Cell phones are magnets for our attention, but you can, of course, face significant legal jeopardy for giving them that attention. Just ask the "safety driver" of an Uber self-driving vehicle, which hit and killed a pedestrian in Arizona in 2018. According to authorities, the driver was watching The Voice on Hulu just before the crash—and was then charged with negligent homicide.
Some things to expect in 2025
(lwn.net)
We are reliably informed by the calendar that yet another year has begun.
We are reliably informed by the calendar that yet another year has begun.
Mullenweg's Grip on WordPress Challenged in New Court Filing
(searchenginejournal.com)
A Motion to Intervene has been filed in the WP Engine lawsuit against Automattic and Matt Mullenweg, alleging fifteen claims and seeking monetary awards along with changes to WordPress.org’s governance structure.
A Motion to Intervene has been filed in the WP Engine lawsuit against Automattic and Matt Mullenweg, alleging fifteen claims and seeking monetary awards along with changes to WordPress.org’s governance structure.
Framework for Artificial Intelligence Diffusion
(federalregister.gov)
With this interim final rule, the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) revises the Export Administration Regulations' (EAR) controls on advanced computing integrated circuits (ICs) and adds a new control on artificial intelligence (AI) model weights for certain advanced closed-weight dual-use AI models.
With this interim final rule, the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) revises the Export Administration Regulations' (EAR) controls on advanced computing integrated circuits (ICs) and adds a new control on artificial intelligence (AI) model weights for certain advanced closed-weight dual-use AI models.
Walgreens replaced fridge doors with smart screens. It's now a $200M fiasco
(bloomberg.com)
The refrigerated section at the flagship Walgreens on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile was glowing with frozen food and bottled drinks, but not for long. Where the fridge cases were previously lined with simple glass doors, there were door-size computer screens instead. These “smart doors” obscured shoppers’ view of the fridges’ actual contents, replacing them with virtual rows of the Gatorades, Bagel Bites and other goods it promised were inside.
The refrigerated section at the flagship Walgreens on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile was glowing with frozen food and bottled drinks, but not for long. Where the fridge cases were previously lined with simple glass doors, there were door-size computer screens instead. These “smart doors” obscured shoppers’ view of the fridges’ actual contents, replacing them with virtual rows of the Gatorades, Bagel Bites and other goods it promised were inside.
No Billionares at FOSDEM
(drewdevault.com)
Jack Dorsey, former CEO of Twitter, ousted board member of BlueSky, and grifter extraordinaire to the tune of a $5.6B net worth, is giving a keynote at FOSDEM.
Jack Dorsey, former CEO of Twitter, ousted board member of BlueSky, and grifter extraordinaire to the tune of a $5.6B net worth, is giving a keynote at FOSDEM.
Coincidence between the start spacecraft scene in Prometheus and 60s phreaking
(ycombinator.com)
Is there any coincidence between the scene in "Alien Prometheus" where the engineer pilot ignites the spacecraft by a piccolo and 1960s phreaking(2600 Hz whistles)?
Is there any coincidence between the scene in "Alien Prometheus" where the engineer pilot ignites the spacecraft by a piccolo and 1960s phreaking(2600 Hz whistles)?
Biden warns of rise of tech industrial complex while outlining threats
(cbsnews.com)
President Biden, in his farewell address to the nation Wednesday, spent little time dwelling on the accomplishments of his single term in office, instead telling Americans he wanted to use his final address "to warn the country of some things that give me great concern."
President Biden, in his farewell address to the nation Wednesday, spent little time dwelling on the accomplishments of his single term in office, instead telling Americans he wanted to use his final address "to warn the country of some things that give me great concern."
Zuckerberg urges Trump to stop the EU from fining US tech companies
(politico.eu)
The U.S. government under incoming President Donald Trump should intervene to stop the EU from fining American tech companies for breaching antitrust rules and committing other violations, Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said late Friday.
The U.S. government under incoming President Donald Trump should intervene to stop the EU from fining American tech companies for breaching antitrust rules and committing other violations, Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said late Friday.
'Social media should be built on protocols, not platforms' says Mastodon CEO
(techcrunch.com)
“Social media should be built on protocols, not platforms,” Mastodon CEO Eugen Rochko said in an interview for TechCrunch’s Equity podcast. “And people should be able to choose freely between different platforms and also be able to move between them.”
“Social media should be built on protocols, not platforms,” Mastodon CEO Eugen Rochko said in an interview for TechCrunch’s Equity podcast. “And people should be able to choose freely between different platforms and also be able to move between them.”
Natrium 'advanced nuclear' power plant wins Wyoming permit
(wyofile.com)
The Wyoming Industrial Siting Council has granted a construction permit to TerraPower for its Natrium nuclear power plant near Kemmerer — a milestone achievement both in Wyoming and nationwide for commercial-scale “advanced nuclear” energy, the company says.
The Wyoming Industrial Siting Council has granted a construction permit to TerraPower for its Natrium nuclear power plant near Kemmerer — a milestone achievement both in Wyoming and nationwide for commercial-scale “advanced nuclear” energy, the company says.
Sweden brings more books and handwriting practice back to its schools (2023)
(apnews.com)
As children across Sweden have recently flocked back to school after the summer vacation, many of their teachers are putting a new emphasis on printed books, quiet reading hours, and practicing handwriting as the country’s yearslong focus on the digitalization of classrooms has come under scrutiny.
As children across Sweden have recently flocked back to school after the summer vacation, many of their teachers are putting a new emphasis on printed books, quiet reading hours, and practicing handwriting as the country’s yearslong focus on the digitalization of classrooms has come under scrutiny.
Laptop
(mijndertstuij.nl)
A laptop for just €950 is bound to be crappy, have some issues, and not last very long. Or so you’d think.
A laptop for just €950 is bound to be crappy, have some issues, and not last very long. Or so you’d think.
Replit CEO on AI breakthroughs: 'We don't care about professional coders anymore
(semafor.com)
Replit has had a turbulent year, but CEO Amjad Masad’s sonorous voice was almost zen-like as he spoke to me on Monday in an airy conference room, sipping coconut water with a view of the sun setting over Foster City, California.
Replit has had a turbulent year, but CEO Amjad Masad’s sonorous voice was almost zen-like as he spoke to me on Monday in an airy conference room, sipping coconut water with a view of the sun setting over Foster City, California.
Google's search market share drops below 90% for first time since 2015
(searchengineland.com)
Google’s share of the global search engine market fell below 90% for the first time since 2015, according to Statcounter. Google’s global search market share was under 90% during each of the final three months of 2024.
Google’s share of the global search engine market fell below 90% for the first time since 2015, according to Statcounter. Google’s global search market share was under 90% during each of the final three months of 2024.