Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

UK Council's Oracle Project Costs Balloon to £40M

2025-01-28

West Sussex County Council in the UK is undertaking a £40 million ($50 million) Oracle-based transformation project, a massive escalation from the initial £2.6 million estimate. To fund this, the council is selling off assets like property, including a former fire station. The project, initially slated for 2021, has faced repeated delays, a system integrator change, and a new contract with Oracle extending it to 2030. This highlights the risks of runaway costs in large IT projects and the financial challenges faced by local governments.

(www.theregister.com)

Tech IT project cost overruns

CDC Halts Collaboration with WHO, Immediately

2025-01-27

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has abruptly ordered an immediate end to all collaborations with the World Health Organization (WHO), sending shockwaves through the global public health community. This isn't a phased withdrawal; it's an immediate and complete cessation of all interactions, including work with technical working groups, coordinating centers, and advisory boards. Experts express deep concern, warning that this will severely hamper efforts to investigate and control outbreaks like the Marburg virus and mpox, potentially jeopardizing global health security. While President Trump had previously issued an executive order to begin the U.S. withdrawal from WHO, this sudden action is far more drastic and unexpected, sparking widespread worry and criticism.

(apnews.com)

Tech Global Public Health

Big Tech's New Power: US Intel Agencies Embrace Corporate Partnerships

2025-01-27

A new directive from US intelligence agencies reveals a deepening partnership with major tech corporations, even at the risk of compromising security. This underscores the immense power wielded by tech giants, whose influence now surpasses many nation-states, forcing intelligence agencies to rely on them for information. The directive authorizes the sharing of classified information and streamlines cooperation, raising concerns about power imbalances and potential misuse of information by corporations. The article argues this marks a significant shift of power towards Big Tech.

(www.kenklippenstein.com)

Tech Intelligence Cooperation

Facebook's Linux Ban: A Case of Mistaken Identity?

2025-01-27

Facebook is blocking posts mentioning Linux, even targeting prominent sites like DistroWatch, labeling them as 'cybersecurity threats'. Users report account limitations and post removals. The irony is palpable: Facebook relies heavily on Linux infrastructure and frequently advertises for Linux developers. DistroWatch's appeal to Facebook was rejected, highlighting the potential for AI-driven content moderation to misidentify legitimate content. The incident underscores the challenges of large tech companies in balancing security and freedom of expression, raising questions about the accuracy and fairness of automated systems.

(www.tomshardware.com)

Tech

Token Security Raises $20M to Secure the Booming World of Machine Identities

2025-01-27

The rise of cloud computing and AI has led to a surge in machine identities, creating more entry points for hackers. Token Security, a startup tackling this growing security risk, just secured $20 million in Series A funding. Their platform automatically identifies and manages machine identities, helping companies prevent breaches before they occur. Founded by veterans of Israel's Unit 8200, the company counts HPE among its clients and plans to use the funding to expand its AI capabilities and US presence. The funding highlights the increasing importance of securing machine identities, often overlooked in traditional cybersecurity strategies.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech machine identity

Google Open Sources PebbleOS: Rebble's Rebirth and Community Ownership

2025-01-27

Rebble announced exciting news: Google has open-sourced PebbleOS! This significantly accelerates Rebble's efforts to produce new hardware and transitions Rebble into a non-profit community-owned organization. Rebble remains committed to preserving this classic smartwatch, using it as an embedded systems education platform, and keeping it alive through open-source software. A hackathon is planned to develop RebbleOS and other apps, and upgrade the classic Pebble assistant, Snowy. The future will see Rebble continue its user-respectful approach, creating an open, community-driven smartwatch ecosystem.

(rebble.io)

Tech

Pebble Smartwatch Source Code Now Open Source

2025-01-27

Google has open-sourced the source code for the once-popular Pebble smartwatch. Pebble achieved massive success through Kickstarter, selling over two million units. Acquired by Fitbit in 2016, Fitbit was later acquired by Google. Despite hardware and software support ceasing eight years ago, Pebble maintains a dedicated fanbase. This release includes most of the Pebble OS source code, encompassing features like notifications, media controls, fitness tracking, and a framework for developing apps in C and JavaScript. While some proprietary code was removed, it provides a significant boost for volunteers in the Rebble project to continue supporting Pebble watches.

(opensource.googleblog.com)

Tech Smartwatch

A Faster Quantum Fourier Transform Algorithm

2025-01-27

Ronit Shah presents an improved algorithm for the Quantum Fourier Transform (QFT). Traditionally, approximate QFT requires Θ(n log n) gates, and exact QFT requires Θ(n²) gates. The new algorithm, leveraging a novel recursive partitioning of qubits, reduces the cost of approximate QFT to Θ(n(log log n)²) gates and exact QFT to Θ(n(log n)²) gates. This breakthrough promises significant efficiency gains in quantum computation.

(arxiv.org)

Tech quantum fourier transform algorithm optimization

Ocean Bacteria's Nanotube Networks: A Revolutionary Discovery of Microbial Interconnectivity

2025-01-27

A groundbreaking discovery reveals complex networks of bacterial nanotubes connecting the most abundant photosynthetic bacteria in the ocean, Prochlorococcus. These nanotubes act as tiny bridges, linking the inner spaces of bacterial cells and facilitating the exchange of nutrients and information. This challenges the traditional view of bacteria as isolated individuals, demonstrating a far more interconnected microbial world than previously imagined. This interconnectivity may have profound implications for Earth's oxygen and carbon cycles.

(www.quantamagazine.org)

Tech bacterial nanotubes marine microbes intercellular communication

Taylorator: Flooding the FM Band with Taylor Swift (and Some Legal Concerns)

2025-01-27

The Taylorator is a project that uses Software Defined Radio (SDR) to broadcast Taylor Swift's music across the FM radio band. The creator wrote software to simultaneously transmit 100 songs to different FM frequencies, effectively 'flooding' the airwaves. The project faced significant performance challenges, requiring powerful CPUs for real-time audio processing of multiple channels. While legal ramifications exist regarding unlicensed broadcasting, the Taylorator is an impressive feat of engineering with its source code publicly available.

(www.scd31.com)

Tech Taylor Swift

Meta's War Rooms: Dissecting DeepSeek's Low-Cost AI Threat

2025-01-27

Meta has established four war rooms to analyze the technology behind DeepSeek, a Chinese open-source large language model. DeepSeek's ability to compete with OpenAI's ChatGPT and Meta's own offerings, using significantly lower costs and less powerful chips, has sparked concern. The analysis focuses on DeepSeek's cost reduction techniques and the data it utilizes. DeepSeek's emergence is causing significant ripples in the AI infrastructure investment landscape and impacting tech stocks.

(markets.businessinsider.com)

Tech AI Competition

AI-Generated Fake Bio: A Web Sleuth's Tale

2025-01-27

Blogger Martijn Faassen uncovered a fabricated biography of a scientific illustrator named Quentell on Mastodon, widely spread across multiple e-commerce websites. His investigation revealed the artist wasn't real; the biography was AI-generated, used for SEO purposes by various sites. The article highlights the risks of AI-generated content and the severity of information pollution, raising concerns about truth and credibility online.

(blog.startifact.com)

Tech Information Pollution Web Sleuth

NIST's Standard Reference Peanut Butter: It's Not What You Think

2025-01-27

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) doesn't just develop high-tech products; it also creates standard reference materials, like peanut butter. Sounds odd, but NIST's peanut butter isn't for eating. It helps food manufacturers accurately label nutritional information, ensuring food safety and consistency. By testing NIST's peanut butter, manufacturers can calibrate their testing methods and equipment, guaranteeing accuracy on product labels. NIST offers many standard reference materials across various fields, from food to pharmaceuticals, contributing to safer and more reliable products for consumers.

(www.nist.gov)

Tech Standard Reference Material Food Safety

Oliver Heaviside and the Untold Story of Transmission Lines

2025-01-27

This article unveils the groundbreaking contributions of Oliver Heaviside to transmission line theory. Starting as a humble telegraph operator, Heaviside, through self-study and a deep understanding of Maxwell's equations, solved the signal distortion problems plaguing telegraph technology. He corrected Thomson's model, incorporating inductance, and derived formulas for transmission line impedance and signal propagation speed. Heaviside's invention of Pupin coils, used to compensate for transmission line losses and improve signal quality, continues to impact modern communication technology.

(www.pa3fwm.nl)

Tech electromagnetism transmission lines

DeepSeek's AI Model Triggers Tech Stock Selloff, Nvidia and ASML Plunge

2025-01-27

Nvidia and ASML Holding NV shares plummeted on Monday after Chinese AI startup DeepSeek released a new AI model offering comparable performance to Western counterparts at a fraction of the cost. Nvidia shares fell about 9% in premarket trading, while ASML dropped as much as 11%. The Nasdaq 100 futures also slumped. DeepSeek's success raises concerns about the disruption to the current AI business model, which relies heavily on high-end chips and significant computing power. The situation highlights China's potential to circumvent US export restrictions and underscores the geopolitical implications for the tech sector.

(finance.yahoo.com)

Tech Tech Stocks

Sweden Seizes Ship Suspected of Baltic Sea Cable Sabotage

2025-01-27

Swedish authorities seized a ship on Sunday suspected of sabotaging a fiber-optic cable in the Baltic Sea. Prosecutors have opened an investigation into "aggravated sabotage" following damage to an undersea cable connecting Sweden and Latvia. The incident highlights the vulnerability of undersea infrastructure.

(www.barrons.com)

Tech Undersea cable Sabotage

Tim Cook's Faustian Bargain: Apple CEO's Dealings with Trump

2025-01-27

This article critically examines Apple CEO Tim Cook's relationship with the Trump administration. The author argues that Cook, in pursuit of tax and tariff advantages for Apple, repeatedly ingratiated himself with Trump, including donating to his inauguration and meeting with other CEOs. This, the author contends, directly contradicts Cook's public image as a supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, especially given the Trump administration's anti-LGBTQ+ policies. The author calls for critical reflection on Cook's actions and urges Cook to leverage his influence to protect the rights of his employees and customers, rather than solely pursuing corporate gain.

(joe-steel.com)

Tech Business Ethics Social Responsibility

Shocking: 23% Failure Rate for 2020 Tesla Model 3 Inspections

2025-01-27

A new report from the Danish automotive association FDM reveals a shocking 23% failure rate for 2020 Tesla Model 3 vehicles during their periodic inspections, significantly higher than the 9% average for other electric cars. The main issues were found in brakes, lights, wheels, and steering. FDM suggests this indicates quality and durability concerns with early Model 3s, recommending thorough pre-inspection checks. Tesla responded that significant improvements were made to the 2021 and later models.

(fdm.dk)

Tech Inspection

Pwn2Own Automotive 2025: Hackers Awarded $886,250 for 49 Zero-Days

2025-01-27

The Pwn2Own Automotive 2025 hacking contest concluded with security researchers earning a total of $886,250 for discovering 49 zero-day vulnerabilities. Targets included EV chargers, car operating systems (Android Automotive OS, Automotive Grade Linux, BlackBerry QNX), and in-vehicle infotainment systems. Summoning Team's Sina Kheirkhah took home the top prize, earning $222,250 and 30.5 Master of Pwn points. The event highlighted significant security flaws in automotive software, emphasizing the ongoing need for improved security in the industry.

(www.bleepingcomputer.com)

Tech zero-day vulnerabilities

US Restricts Swiss Access to AI Chips: A Tech Cold War?

2025-01-27

The US has excluded Switzerland from unrestricted access to AI computer chips, prompting criticism from Swiss Economics Minister Guy Parmelin. This move limits Swiss academic and corporate access to these vital components, placing Switzerland in a category with restricted imports. Parmelin stated this is incomprehensible, as the ETH Zurich utilizes these chips for innovation crucial to the US, making this a potential “own goal” for America. Negotiations are underway to secure unrestricted access. The US aims to prevent rivals, particularly China, from obtaining this technology and circumventing export restrictions. Separately, President Trump's announcement to forgo the global minimum tax will have consequences for Switzerland, impacting the federal government, cantons, and businesses. The Swiss government will consider reciprocal measures.

(www.bluewin.ch)

Tech tech cold war trade restrictions

Big Tech Bypasses the Grid: A Fair Fight?

2025-01-27

Facing soaring energy demands, tech giants are increasingly seeking direct power deals with power plants, bypassing the congested public grid. Amazon Web Services' (AWS) deal with the Susquehanna nuclear plant exemplifies this trend, prompting a regulatory pause by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Concerns center around potential price hikes for other consumers and fairness. While plant operators argue this improves efficiency and lowers costs, critics fear exacerbating energy shortages and allowing Big Tech to free-ride on grid infrastructure. FERC's decision will set a precedent for future energy market dynamics.

(apnews.com)

Tech energy tech

Wikenigma: An Encyclopedia of the Unknown

2025-01-27

Wikenigma is a unique wiki dedicated to documenting fundamental gaps in human knowledge. It lists scientific and academic questions with no definitive answers—the 'known unknowns.' Users can contribute and edit articles, fostering interest in research by highlighting unsolved problems across various fields like chemistry, computer science, and history. The site offers easy search and random article browsing.

(wikenigma.org.uk)

Tech knowledge gaps wiki

Hyperspectral Images: Cubes or Spectra Groups?

2025-01-27

While interning at Carnegie Mellon's Vision Science Labs, the author encountered challenges processing hyperspectral images. A graduate student described them as 'cubes' due to their structure: hundreds or thousands of matrices stacked together, resembling a 3D cube. However, at Specere Labs, researchers viewed them as groups of spectra from nearby regions. This highlights the differing perspectives across disciplines and the value of cross-disciplinary work.

(mirawelner.com)

Tech hyperspectral images cross-disciplinary research

What if OpenSSL Had a GUI?

2025-01-27

This article explores what a graphical user interface for OpenSSL's complex functionality might look like. From the perspective of Smallstep, the article highlights how their products simplify certificate management and secure access control, noting the magical complexity of OpenSSL. It also includes introductions to other Smallstep products and links to blog posts.

(smallstep.com)

Tech

Proton VPN: The Digital Resistance Against Censorship

2025-01-27

In the face of escalating internet censorship, Proton VPN has become a crucial tool for millions seeking freedom of information under authoritarian regimes. This article details Proton VPN's battle against internet firewalls in Russia, Venezuela, and China, and how they navigate government crackdowns and blockades. Proton CEO Andy Yen points out that Big Tech companies contribute to autocratic control of the internet by removing VPN services from app stores. With its technological prowess and unwavering commitment to internet freedom, Proton VPN stands as a vanguard in the defense of online liberty, engaged in a continuous 'arms race' against censorship.

(www.compiler.news)

Tech Internet Censorship Digital Freedom

US Restricts Swiss Access to AI Chips

2025-01-27

The US has tightened export controls on AI-related products, granting unrestricted access to crucial AI chips only to a select group of 'allies,' excluding Switzerland. This move has sparked concerns in Switzerland, as these chips are essential for academic research and commercial applications. The Swiss government is engaging with US authorities to ensure that Swiss research and industry are not unduly hampered, highlighting Switzerland's credentials as a reliable partner.

(www.swissinfo.ch)

Tech

Marginalia Search: A Privacy-Focused Search Engine, Rejecting AI and Cloud Services

2025-01-27

Marginalia Search has unveiled a redesigned website, emphasizing its commitment to user privacy. Prioritizing non-commercial content, it offers tools for both search and discovery, aiming to unearth lost websites. Built with simple technology, it eschews AI and cloud services, operating under an AGPL open-source license. Privacy is paramount, filtering tracking and adtech, with no user or search data shared. Logs are retained for a maximum of 24 hours and anonymized.

(marginalia-search.com)

Tech

Non-invasive Analysis Unveils Secrets of the Alexander Mosaic

2025-01-27

This PLOS ONE study employed non-invasive analytical techniques to thoroughly investigate the world-renowned Alexander Mosaic. Researchers used portable microscopy, infrared thermography, multispectral imaging, portable X-ray fluorescence, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy to characterize the mosaic's constituent materials, mineral components, and old protective materials. Findings revealed the geological origins of ten colors used in the mosaic and provided crucial scientific insights for its restoration. The research highlights the immense potential of non-destructive analysis in cultural heritage preservation.

(journals.plos.org)

Tech non-destructive analysis Alexander Mosaic

Perplexity AI's TikTok Bid: US Government Could Get 50% Stake

2025-01-27

AI startup Perplexity AI has proposed a new deal to merge with TikTok's US operations, giving the US government up to a 50% stake in the resulting entity. This revised proposal, submitted after a previous offer was ignored, aims to circumvent the impending TikTok ban. The US government's stake, acquired after an IPO exceeding $300 billion, would be non-voting, with no board representation. ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, wouldn't need to fully divest but would cede “full US board control” and relinquish TikTok's proprietary algorithm. The plan echoes former Treasury Secretary Mnuchin's suggestion of diluting Chinese ownership to comply with US law. Several investors are reportedly interested in TikTok, and President Trump anticipates a deal within 30 days.

(apnews.com)

Tech US Government

Kansas TB Outbreak: Largest in US History

2025-01-27

Kansas is experiencing the largest tuberculosis (TB) outbreak in US history. As of January 17th, 66 active cases and 79 latent infections have been reported, primarily in the Kansas City metro area. While the outbreak is ongoing, health officials stress the risk to the general public is low. Active measures are underway to control the spread, including collaboration with the CDC and treatment for patients. After 10 days of medication and three negative sputum tests, active cases are generally no longer contagious.

(www.cjonline.com)

Tech Tuberculosis Outbreak Kansas

Category: Tech