Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

Trellis: AI-Powered Healthcare Acceleration

2025-08-11

Trellis, a Stanford AI Lab spin-off, uses AI to automate document intake, prior authorizations, and appeals in healthcare, enabling providers to treat more patients faster. Working directly with healthcare providers, pharma companies, and labs, Trellis tackles challenges like reducing prior authorization denials and streamlining drug enrollment. They've helped clients reduce treatment time by over 90% and improve approval and reimbursement rates. Backed by leading investors including YC and General Catalyst, Trellis is at the forefront of AI in healthcare.

(www.ycombinator.com)

Tech Healthcare Automation

Ford Unveils Ambitious EV Plans: Affordable Pickup, Universal Platform, and Production System

2025-08-11

Ford introduced three significant concepts: a budget-friendly, crew-cab electric pickup truck arriving in 2027, a universal EV platform, and a revolutionary production system. The truck, while described as 'mid-sized,' aims for the interior space of a Toyota RAV4, boasting a 0-60 mph time comparable to an EcoBoost Mustang (4.5 seconds). Built on a 400-volt architecture with a LFP battery from Ford's BlueOval Battery Park, it will feature over-the-air updates. More importantly, Ford's universal platform and production system promise cost savings and efficiency gains through modular design, paving the way for affordable EVs.

(www.thedrive.com)

Tech

GitHub Joins Microsoft's CoreAI Team After CEO's Departure

2025-08-11

Following the resignation of CEO Thomas Dohmke, Microsoft is integrating GitHub into its newly formed CoreAI team. This means GitHub will no longer operate as a separate entity but will become fully integrated into Microsoft, becoming a key part of its AI platform strategy. This move signals a strategic shift in Microsoft's AI ambitions, aiming to leverage GitHub's resources and expertise to accelerate the development and deployment of its AI platform. Led by former Meta executive Jay Parikh, the CoreAI team envisions building an 'AI agent factory' to provide AI platforms and tools for Microsoft and its customers.

(www.theverge.com)

Tech

The Rise of Modern Mercantilism: Reshaping the Global Economic Order

2025-08-11

Bridgewater's co-CIO, Greg Jensen, argues in a new research paper that the global economy is shifting from free trade towards a new system of "modern mercantilism." Driven by the rise of China and policy shifts in the US and elsewhere, this system prioritizes state control over the economy, emphasizes trade balances, utilizes industrial policy, and protects national champion companies. This shift will reshape the global economic order, posing risks to countries reliant on trade surpluses and potentially leading to various forms of trade conflict.

(www.bridgewater.com)

Tech modern mercantilism trade conflict

Apple's iOS 26 to Feature GPT-5

2025-08-11

According to 9to5Mac, Apple will integrate OpenAI's latest GPT-5 model into iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe 26. GPT-5 boasts an 80% reduction in hallucinations and features a significant rework of OpenAI's model positioning; it automatically selects whether to use a reasoning-optimized model based on the prompt. Free users will accept the model choice, while paid ChatGPT users can manually select. The specifics of GPT-5's implementation in iOS remain unclear, particularly regarding paid users' ability to manually choose models. These OS updates are expected in September.

(arstechnica.com)

Tech

GitHub CEO Steps Down, Embracing the AI Revolution

2025-08-11

GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke announced his departure to return to the startup world. Over the past decade, he oversaw GitHub's remarkable growth, including its acquisition, the launch of Copilot, and its leadership in the AI developer tools space. He'll remain until the end of 2025 to ensure a smooth transition, expressing strong confidence in GitHub's future under Microsoft's CoreAI organization and highlighting Copilot's transformative impact on software development, empowering developers globally.

(github.blog)

Tech

Dating App TeaOnHer Leaks User Data, Including IDs and Selfies

2025-08-11

TeaOnHer, a dating app for men to share information about women they've dated, has suffered a major security breach, exposing user data including government IDs and selfies. Mirroring the controversial app Tea, TeaOnHer has critical vulnerabilities allowing anyone to access usernames, emails, driver's licenses, and selfies. TechCrunch uncovered the exposure of at least 53,000 users' private information, even impacting the app's creator, Xavier Lampkin, whose credentials and admin access were exposed. The app also contains disturbing content, including explicit images and defamatory comments. This highlights significant security risks and the importance of user caution when using such apps.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech

Teletext: The Surprisingly Persistent Archaic Tech

2025-08-11

Often dismissed as outdated, teletext surprisingly remains popular in many countries. This article explores its global history, from the UK's Ceefax and France's Antiope to the emergence of North American Presentation Level Protocol Syntax (NAPLPS) and unique Asian developments (Japan and Korea). It traces teletext's divergent paths in East and West during the Cold War, and its adaptation across languages and cultures. Despite competition from the internet and PCs, teletext persists in some nations; the article investigates this longevity and its unexpected uses, including adult content.

(text-mode.org)

Tech Teletext

Greystar, Largest US Landlord, Settles Antitrust Case Over Algorithmic Price-Fixing

2025-08-11

The US Department of Justice accused Greystar, the largest landlord in the US, of using RealPage's algorithm to collude with other landlords on rental pricing. The algorithm allegedly contained anti-competitive features that facilitated price coordination. Greystar shared sensitive data with competitors, violating antitrust laws. To settle the lawsuit, Greystar agreed to stop using the algorithm, refrain from sharing sensitive information, and potentially accept a court monitor. This case highlights the risks of algorithmic price-fixing and the importance of antitrust enforcement in the digital age.

(www.justice.gov)

Tech

Drone Delivery: Revolutionizing Logistics with Amazon Prime Air?

2025-08-11

This article reviews research on drone delivery, focusing on Amazon Prime Air, encompassing technological feasibility, cost-benefit analyses, regulatory frameworks, and environmental impact. Studies suggest drone delivery has the potential to improve efficiency and reduce costs, but challenges remain, including technological limitations, safety concerns, and regulatory hurdles. The article also explores related issues such as urban logistics planning, warehouse location optimization, and the broader societal and environmental implications of drone delivery.

(etrr.springeropen.com)

Tech

Wikimedia Foundation Partially Wins UK Online Safety Act Challenge

2025-08-11

The Wikimedia Foundation's legal challenge to the UK's Online Safety Act (OSA) Categorisation Regulations saw a partial victory. While the High Court dismissed the challenge, the judge emphasized Ofcom's and the UK government's responsibility to protect Wikipedia. The court recognized Wikipedia's significant value and the potential harm to volunteer contributors from miscategorization. This doesn't fully resolve the issue; Ofcom may need flexible interpretation of the rules or parliamentary amendment. The case highlights the importance of protecting online public interest projects like Wikipedia, a non-profit global knowledge resource.

(wikimediafoundation.org)

Tech Legal Challenge

OpenSSH Embraces Post-Quantum Cryptography: Future-Proofing SSH Security

2025-08-11

OpenSSH 10.0 now defaults to post-quantum key exchange algorithms (mlkem768x25519-sha256) to protect against future attacks from quantum computers. The article explains the potential risk quantum computing poses to existing cryptography, particularly the "store now, decrypt later" attack. OpenSSH mitigates this risk by using hybrid algorithms combining post-quantum and classical methods, ensuring security even if future cryptanalysis breaks the post-quantum component. OpenSSH 10.1 will warn users about non-post-quantum key exchange schemes, encouraging upgrades to stronger algorithms.

(www.openssh.com)

Tech

AI Copyright Wars: A Nightmare for News Orgs?

2025-08-11

The copyright lawsuits between Getty Images and Stability AI have sparked concerns within the news industry. The author discovered their colleague's photos were used without permission to train an AI model, highlighting the potential exploitation of news organizations' content by AI companies. While some news outlets have licensing deals with AI firms, these deals may undervalue the content, leaving news organizations vulnerable to being 'drained' by AI companies. The author calls for fair compensation for news organizations and copyright holders and urges AI companies to respect intellectual property.

(jskfellows.stanford.edu)

Tech Copyright Protection

Raised by Wolves: Ambitious Sci-Fi, Cold Emotion

2025-08-11

HBO Max's "Raised by Wolves" is a wildly ambitious sci-fi series tackling themes of faith and parenting on a biblical scale. Set in a war-torn future, android parents attempt to raise human children on a distant planet, with only one surviving after 12 years. Meanwhile, human parents bond with a child during a long space voyage, only to discover it taken by the android mother upon arrival. The series unfolds with complex plotlines, initially focused on world-building, with a somewhat cold emotional tone. However, later episodes reveal more compelling storytelling. While emotionally distant, its original premise and exploration of faith make it a worthwhile watch for sci-fi fans.

(www.rogerebert.com)

Tech androids faith

Massive Solar + Storage Project Powers Up in California, Boosting LA's Clean Energy Goals

2025-08-11

Arevon Energy's Eland Solar-plus-Storage Project in Mojave, California, is now fully operational. This massive project boasts 758 MWdc of solar capacity and 300 MW/1200 MWh of battery storage, comprising 1.36 million solar panels and 172 lithium iron phosphate batteries. Eland will power over 266,000 homes annually and provide 7% of Los Angeles's electricity needs, significantly advancing the city's goal of 100% clean energy by 2035. The project created roughly 1,000 jobs and is expected to contribute over $36 million in local government payments over its lifetime.

(electrek.co)

Tech

Lightsail Nanocraft to Probe Black Hole: A Century-Long Mission

2025-08-11

A groundbreaking proposal envisions launching a nanocraft, lighter than a paperclip, towards a nearby black hole using a powerful laser beam. This ambitious project, while currently technologically infeasible, aims to probe the fabric of spacetime and test the limits of physics. Scientists predict that within 20-30 years, advancements in technology and the discovery of a suitable nearby black hole could make this century-long mission possible, revolutionizing our understanding of general relativity and the universe's fundamental laws. Just as the detection of gravitational waves and the imaging of black hole shadows once seemed impossible, this audacious plan suggests that even the most far-fetched scientific goals may eventually be within reach.

(www.sciencedaily.com)

Tech nanocraft laser propulsion

AI-Powered Firefighting: Autonomous Helicopters Take on California Wildfires

2025-08-11

California's escalating wildfire crisis is driving innovation in firefighting technology. This article details a system using AI, autonomous helicopters, and satellite technology to detect, locate, and extinguish fires quickly and efficiently, minimizing damage and loss of life. Future advancements include augmented reality helmets, smart fire trucks, and intelligent firefighting suits, but require significant investment and comprehensive reform of infrastructure, budgets, and training. The ambitious goal is to contain 95% of wildfires to 10 square feet or less, a collaborative effort demanding government, corporate, and public engagement.

(tech.yahoo.com)

Tech Autonomous Helicopters

Speed, Anxiety, and the Echoes of 1910 in the 21st Century

2025-08-11

This article explores the unsettling parallels between the anxieties of the early 20th century, marked by rapid technological advancements (automobiles, airplanes, bicycles), and the challenges facing our own time. Drawing from Philipp Blom's 'The Vertigo Years,' it recounts the pervasive anxiety and mental strain resulting from the accelerated pace of life, and how artists responded through their work. From the widespread prevalence of neurasthenia to the birth of abstract art, the author argues that modernism wasn't simply a reflection of modernity, but a reaction to it. The piece delves into the contrasting yet complementary theories of Max Weber and Sigmund Freud, offering sociological and psychological perspectives on the roots of this anxiety. It ultimately prompts reflection on the relationship between technological progress and human nature: is technological advancement the ultimate expression of our humanity, or its ultimate threat?

(www.derekthompson.org)

Tech Modern Art

EU-Wide Mass Surveillance: Your Privacy is Under Attack

2025-08-11

The EU is planning mass surveillance of all 450 million citizens' communications, including photos, messages, and files, even encrypted ones. This violates fundamental privacy and data protection rights, leading to numerous false positives and putting ordinary people at risk. Weakening end-to-end encryption also makes sensitive data vulnerable to hackers and malicious actors. This sets a dangerous global precedent, enabling authoritarian regimes to justify their own intrusive surveillance and undermining privacy and free speech worldwide.

(fightchatcontrol.eu)

Tech

Big Tech's Data Centers: Who's Paying the Price?

2025-08-10

Soaring electricity bills are prompting states to grapple with the costs of powering Big Tech's energy-hungry data centers. While the precise impact is debated, growing evidence suggests that residential and commercial ratepayers are subsidizing these massive energy demands, particularly as the AI boom fuels data center expansion. States are exploring various solutions, from pressuring grid operators to developing specialized rates for data centers, but challenges remain in ensuring fair cost allocation and transparency, especially given the influence of tech giants. The question remains: will states have the political will to make Big Tech pay its fair share, or will ordinary citizens continue to bear the burden?

(apnews.com)

Tech electricity costs

Curiosity Rover Spots Coral-Like Rock Formation on Mars

2025-08-10

NASA's Curiosity rover has discovered a fascinating rock formation within Gale Crater on Mars that strikingly resembles coral. The approximately 1-inch-wide rock, shaped by ancient water and billions of years of wind erosion, adds to the growing evidence suggesting Mars may have once been habitable.

(www.livescience.com)

Tech Rock Formation

Porn Sites Use SVG Files to Spread Malicious Script, Hijacking Facebook Likes

2025-08-10

Security researchers have discovered multiple pornographic websites built on WordPress that use SVG files to spread malicious JavaScript code. This obfuscated code ultimately downloads a malicious script called Trojan.JS.Likejack, which silently likes specified Facebook posts if the user is logged in. This isn't a new tactic; previous incidents involved SVGs in cross-site scripting attacks and phishing scams. Researchers have identified dozens of affected websites. While Facebook shuts down accounts involved, these offenders consistently return with new profiles.

(arstechnica.com)

Tech

California's Record-Breaking VPP Test: 100,000 Homes Power the Grid

2025-08-10

California's largest electric utilities, in partnership with Tesla and a leading solar installer, conducted a groundbreaking test of virtual power plant (VPP) technology. Over 100,000 homes contributed power from their residential batteries, delivering 535 megawatts to the state grid during peak demand—equivalent to a large hydroelectric dam. This success demonstrates the potential of VPPs to address the challenges of data center growth, heatwave blackouts, and reliance on fossil fuels. While enrollment complexities remain, VPPs are poised for rapid expansion, offering a cost-effective and cleaner energy solution for California and beyond.

(www.yahoo.com)

Tech virtual power plant home batteries

Chevy Silverado EV Shatters Single-Charge Range Record

2025-08-10

A Chevy Silverado EV has achieved a new world record for EV driving on a single charge, traveling 1,059.2 miles without recharging. GM engineers employed various techniques, including speed limitations, drag reduction, weight reduction, and tire pressure/alignment optimization. While GM isn't seeking Guinness World Record recognition, the feat showcases significant advancements in electric vehicle technology. This surpasses the previous record held by Lucid Motors.

(www.theverge.com)

Tech Chevy Silverado

Chrysalis: A Multigenerational Starship Bound for Alpha Centauri

2025-08-10

Engineers have designed a spacecraft, named Chrysalis, capable of carrying up to 2,400 people on a one-way journey to Alpha Centauri. This ambitious project, winner of the Project Hyperion Design Competition, envisions a 400-year voyage, necessitating a multigenerational crew living and working within the vessel's self-contained ecosystem. Chrysalis features a layered design, incorporating farms, living quarters, and industrial facilities, powered by nuclear fusion. AI will play a crucial role in governance, ensuring societal stability. While some technologies remain hypothetical, this concept offers valuable insights into the challenges and possibilities of interstellar travel.

(www.livescience.com)

Tech spaceship design

Blue Pig Meat: A Warning of Rodenticide Contamination in California

2025-08-10

A trapper in Salinas, California, discovered blue-tinged meat in wild pigs he'd caught, raising concerns about rodenticide contamination. Investigation revealed the pigs had ingested diphacinone, an anticoagulant rodenticide often dyed blue. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife warns against consuming meat from animals exhibiting blue discoloration, as the poison can cause secondary poisoning, even after cooking. This incident highlights the dangers of rodenticide to wildlife and underscores the need for stricter regulations.

(www.yahoo.com)

Tech Rodenticide Contamination Wildlife Poisoning

Google's AI Bug Hunter, Big Sleep, Unearths 20 Vulnerabilities

2025-08-10

Google's AI-powered vulnerability researcher, Big Sleep, a collaboration between DeepMind and Project Zero, has reported its first batch of vulnerabilities – 20 flaws in popular open-source software like FFmpeg and ImageMagick. While details remain undisclosed pending fixes, the achievement showcases the potential of AI in automated vulnerability discovery. Although human experts reviewed the findings, Big Sleep independently identified and reproduced the vulnerabilities. This breakthrough, however, highlights concerns about AI-generated false positives, emphasizing the need for careful evaluation of AI-driven bug reports.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech vulnerability discovery

SpaceX Crew-10 Splashes Down in Pacific After Successful ISS Mission

2025-08-10

SpaceX's Crew-10 mission returned to Earth on August 9th after a nearly five-month stay at the International Space Station. The Crew Dragon capsule, Endurance, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast. The crew consisted of NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA's Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos' Kirill Peskov. This was SpaceX's 10th operational astronaut mission to the ISS for NASA under the Commercial Crew Program, marking SpaceX's first Pacific Ocean splashdown for a crewed mission—a shift aimed at minimizing the risk of falling debris. The crew conducted various scientific experiments during their time aboard the ISS, studying the effects of space on the human body and mind, and researching future lunar navigation techniques.

(www.space.com)

Tech

Bust of XSS Admin Sends Shocks Through Russian Cybercrime Underground

2025-08-10

Europol announced the arrest of a 38-year-old administrator of XSS, a Russian-language cybercrime forum with over 50,000 members. The arrest, stemming from a French police investigation, has sparked intense speculation about the identity of the suspect, widely believed to be the notorious figure known as “Toha.” The article delves into Toha’s history, tracing his activities across various forums and online platforms. Evidence points towards Anton Medvedovskiy, though a slight age discrepancy raises questions. The seizure of XSS and its associated Jabber server has exposed years of user data, highlighting the vulnerability of even the most secure-seeming underground communities. The event has sent ripples of fear and uncertainty through the Russian cybercrime world.

(krebsonsecurity.com)

Tech

Potato's Evolutionary Mystery Solved: A 9-Million-Year-Old Hybrid

2025-08-10

A new study has solved the mystery of the potato's origin. Researchers discovered that potatoes are the result of a hybridization event approximately nine million years ago between ancestors of modern tomato plants and another group of relatives called Etuberosum. This hybrid possessed the ability to form underground tubers, leading to rapid diversification and the over 100 potato species we know today. Crucially, the study found that tuber formation required specific genetic information from both parent species. Published in Cell, this research sheds light on plant evolution and how we might leverage the genetic diversity of wild potatoes to address climate change challenges.

(www.nhm.ac.uk)

Tech potato origin genetic hybrid

Category: Tech