AI
Internet of Shit: AI Poop Analysis App Offered to Sell Me Database of Its Users' Poops
"I hoarded a large database of something valuable, just not what you expect… 150k stools images."
AI
ArXiv to Ban Researchers for a Year if They Submit AI Slop
The change comes as arXiv and others struggle to manage an influx of AI-generated materials masquerading as rigorous science.
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: New Music and a Crash Out
This week, we discuss developers' AI woes, how the magic happens, and the Beach Boys.
Privacy
Mayo Clinic is Using AI to Listen to Emergency Room Visits
Mayo Clinic's "Ambient Listening" has been around for a couple of years, but clearly not all patients know their interactions with nurses are being passively recorded and processed by AI.
The Abstract
DOGE Cuts Unleashed a Deadly Wave of Violence Across Africa, Study Finds
The dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is associated with measurable increases in Africa, especially in areas most dependent on the agency’s support.
AI
Internet of Shit: AI Poop Analysis App Offered to Sell Me Database of Its Users' Poops
"I hoarded a large database of something valuable, just not what you expect… 150k stools images."
Washington Post
At Least We Know the Washington Post Isn't Buying Views
Jeff Bezos learns being good at YouTube is not so easy.
News
War and Data Centers Are Driving Up the Cost of Fiber-Optic Cable
Spools of cable are critical for internet infrastructure and jam-proof drones but skyrocketing costs are making it hard to field them.
Podcast
Podcast: The Chinese Deepfake Software Powering Scams
We got Haotian AI, the Chinese-language deepfake software powering scams. We also talk about a man finding $1 million of Yu-Gi-Oh cards, and how the AI hard drive shortage is impacting internet archiving.
palantir
ICE Agents Have List of 20 Million People on Their iPhones Thanks to Palantir
The comments made by a senior ICE official at a trade show highlight how Palantir is increasing the speed at which ICE operates. Most people detained by ICE have no criminal conviction.
podcasts
How the World Became a Casino
The logic behind Polymarket, Kalshi and sports betting apps can be traced back to the inner workings of the slot machine.
AI
Your AI Use Is Breaking My Brain
AI writing is impossible to avoid, is making everything sound the same, and is driving us crazy.