Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

SF and Oakland Police Caught Illegally Sharing ALPR Data with Feds

2025-07-14

Records obtained by The Standard reveal that San Francisco and Oakland police departments appear to have repeatedly violated state law by sharing data from automated license plate readers (ALPRs) with federal agencies. Despite a 2015 state law prohibiting this, logs show data sharing with seven federal agencies, including the FBI, since installing hundreds of Flock Safety ALPRs last year. At least one instance involved an ICE investigation. This has drawn sharp criticism from privacy advocates and officials, who highlight the violation of individual privacy. Investigations are underway, with promises of accountability.

(sfstandard.com)

Tech ALPR

No-Code Hackathon Win: The AI Prodigy

2025-07-06

Collin Turcios, a former professional Yu-Gi-Oh! player with an unconventional background, stunned the tech world by winning second place in a hackathon without writing a single line of code. Using ChatGPT and simple English prompts, he created a program to convert songs into lo-fi versions. His win highlights the transformative power of AI in development and challenges traditional notions of coding expertise.

(sfstandard.com)

Development

Caltrain Exec Sentenced for Secret Apartment Built with Public Funds

2025-06-14

Former Caltrain deputy director Joseph Navarro illegally built a secret apartment within the Burlingame Caltrain station using $42,000 in public funds. He lived there for years before being sentenced this week to four months in jail for felony theft and embezzlement. The 66-year-old will also serve two years of probation and pay restitution.

(sfstandard.com)

Misc corruption embezzlement Caltrain

Silicon Valley Elites Bet Big on Embryo Genetic Testing: Predicting Disease Risk Sparks Controversy

2025-06-02

Over the last five years, tech giants like Anne Wojcicki, Sam Altman, and others have invested millions in direct-to-consumer polygenic testing startups such as Orchid, Nucleus, and Genomic Prediction, sparking controversy. For a few thousand dollars, these companies screen embryos, analyze DNA, and estimate the risk of developing conditions like addiction and obesity, even predicting IQ. Unlike tests for single-gene diseases, these services focus on polygenic diseases like type 2 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease, providing parents with online reports assessing each embryo's genetic risk. This practice, while popular among Silicon Valley elites, faces widespread scientific skepticism.

(sfstandard.com)

Tech genetic testing embryo screening ethical concerns tech investment

AI Winter Bites: Silicon Valley Layoffs and a Tough Job Market

2025-05-22

Early in the pandemic, the tech job market boomed. But 2023 brought massive layoffs, fueled by economic uncertainty and the rapid advancement of AI, which is automating entry-level roles. Even graduates from prestigious universities like Berkeley and Stanford are struggling to find jobs, highlighting the need for strong, specialized skills in today's challenging market.

(sfstandard.com)

Tech Silicon Valley layoffs AI impact on jobs

Crypto Dev's Fake Suicide Video Exposed

2025-05-12

Jeffy Yu, a 23-year-old cryptocurrency developer, seemingly took his own life in a video released days before his birthday. A flattering obituary followed, hailing him as a tech prodigy, and a memecoin was even created in his honor. However, online sleuths quickly uncovered inconsistencies, debunking the video's authenticity and leading to the obituary's disappearance. The Standard ultimately located Yu at his parents' home, where he confessed to orchestrating the hoax due to online harassment. Yu is the creator of Zerebro, a cryptocurrency with a $44 million market cap, a fraction of Bitcoin's $2 trillion. This incident highlights the speculation and misinformation prevalent in the crypto space.

(sfstandard.com)

Tech hoax online sleuths

Venture Capitalist's Son Pens Book on Nepotism

2025-04-08

Daniel Breyer, son of a highly successful venture capitalist, shares his story of entrepreneurship and his perspective on wealth and nepotism. Acknowledging the privileged world he inhabits, Breyer's book tackles the realities of nepotism within the startup world, though he assures us his characters are less virtuous than his father.

(sfstandard.com)

Startup Nepotism

Stanford Students Dive Headfirst into Defense Tech

2025-03-14

A surge in defense tech startups is emerging from Stanford University. Max Susman, a former Navy SEAL, leverages Stanford's resources to secure government contracts. Andrew Fang, after an internship at Anduril and a subsequent startup's closure, sparked renewed interest in the field. Now, more Stanford students are entering the defense tech space, driven by shifts in government policy and Silicon Valley's influence.

(sfstandard.com)

Startup defense tech Stanford University

Salesforce Aims to Dominate the Digital Labor Market with AI Agents

2025-03-01

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff declared their ambition to become the world's leading provider of digital labor, leveraging AI agents to handle tasks like scheduling meetings, executing trades, and even coding. Unlike chatbots, these proactive AI agents require minimal human oversight. Salesforce's Agentforce, launched last year, allows companies to delegate responsibilities such as customer case handling and marketing campaigns to these AI agents. Benioff highlighted that nearly half of Fortune 100 companies utilize Salesforce's AI and Data Cloud products.

(sfstandard.com)

AI digital labor

The Relentless Cycle of Homelessness: A Two-Year Struggle

2025-02-17

Morrisette, a homeless individual, repeatedly experienced a cycle of setting up camp, having it cleared by authorities, and then rebuilding. For two years, despite the kind assistance of Barrows in applying for housing, he felt despair at failing to qualify for priority placement. This article recounts a poignant story of struggle within the system, highlighting the challenges and intertwined hopes of a homeless person seeking help.

(sfstandard.com)

Misc

SF's New Health Director: McKinsey Background Sparks Debate

2025-02-15

San Francisco's newly appointed Health Director, Mr. Tsai, a McKinsey alum, has sparked debate. Concerns have arisen regarding his past involvement in drug distribution systems, given the city's opioid crisis. While Tsai expressed commitment to data-driven solutions and collaboration to address opioid and homelessness issues, his appointment raises questions about potential conflicts of interest and his ability to effectively tackle these challenges. Some see a potential irony in his past work potentially contributing to the current crisis and now tasked with resolving it.

(sfstandard.com)

Misc San Francisco Health Director

Aaron Swartz Statue Unveiled in San Francisco: A Tribute to the Internet's Own Boy

2025-02-10

A bronze statue honoring Aaron Swartz, a prominent figure in the fight for internet freedom, was unveiled in San Francisco. Crafted from Carrara marble using a blend of AI-driven robotic milling and traditional hand carving, the statue is the culmination of a project spearheaded by artist Ricardo Peniche. Funding came from various donors, including prominent tech CEOs, with Swartz's mother providing photos and approval. The event celebrated Swartz's advocacy for net neutrality, free speech, access to information, and privacy, inspiring attendees to continue fighting for these ideals.

(sfstandard.com)

Tech Internet Freedom Statue Unveiling

Chatham House Rule: The Bay Area's Embrace of Silence

2025-01-11

From healthcare conferences to AI salons and even dinner parties, the archaic Chatham House Rule—prohibiting attribution of information to speakers or disclosure of attendees' identities—is surging in popularity across the San Francisco Bay Area. Fueled by the tech industry's obsession with secrecy, its widespread use is sparking debate. Proponents argue it fosters candid discussion, particularly on sensitive topics. Critics, however, contend it obscures accountability and weakens the impact and authenticity of speech. The article explores the phenomenon of the Chatham House Rule's prevalence in the Bay Area and its complex implications.

(sfstandard.com)

Tech Chatham House Rule Tech Secrecy Bay Area Culture