ChatGPT's Surprisingly Small Impact on the Danish Labor Market

2025-05-03
ChatGPT's Surprisingly Small Impact on the Danish Labor Market

A new study examining the Danish labor market in 2023-2024 reveals that generative AI models like ChatGPT have had a negligible impact on wages and employment, despite widespread adoption. Researchers from the University of Chicago and the University of Copenhagen analyzed data from 25,000 workers and 7,000 workplaces across 11 occupations often considered vulnerable to automation. While company investment spurred AI tool adoption, leading to time savings for a significant portion of users, the overall economic impact was minimal. Interestingly, the study found that AI chatbots created new tasks for 8.4% of workers, offsetting potential time savings. This suggests that while AI may automate some tasks, it also generates new ones, mitigating its initial disruptive potential.

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Amazon's Kuiper vs. SpaceX's Starlink: A Tale of Two Satellite Architectures

2025-05-03
Amazon's Kuiper vs. SpaceX's Starlink: A Tale of Two Satellite Architectures

Amazon's Kuiper project recently launched its first batch of satellites, showcasing a key architectural difference from SpaceX's Starlink. Starlink utilizes a simplified, flat-panel design maximizing payload and minimizing cost, while Kuiper employs a more conventional approach offering greater design flexibility. Though individual Kuiper satellite mass is comparable to Starlink, the launch architecture and design philosophy highlight contrasting deployment strategies. China's Qianfan constellation also mirrors Starlink's flat-panel design, indicating the industry impact of SpaceX's approach.

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Tech

Schmidt's Space Data Center Ambitions: Investing in Relativity Space

2025-05-02
Schmidt's Space Data Center Ambitions: Investing in Relativity Space

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt's investment in Relativity Space aims to leverage their Terran R rocket to launch massive data centers into space. This ambitious project seeks to address the growing energy demands and environmental concerns of AI data centers. While Terran R is still under development and faces challenges, its potential payload capacity makes it a compelling option. Schmidt is seeking additional partners to fund this project, which also needs to address concerns about orbital congestion, power generation, and heat dissipation.

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Tech

GTA VI Delayed Until May 26, 2026

2025-05-02
GTA VI Delayed Until May 26, 2026

Rockstar Games announced a delay for the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI, pushing the release date back to May 26, 2026. This marks a full year delay from the previously hinted 2025 release window. Rockstar cited the need for additional time to ensure the game meets quality expectations, apologizing for the postponement. While disappointing for fans, the delay wasn't entirely unexpected, with insiders previously suggesting a 2025 launch was unlikely. The delay highlights the complexities of game development and the commitment to delivering a high-quality product.

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Game Game Delay

T-Mobile's Five-Year Price Guarantee: The Fine Print

2025-05-02
T-Mobile's Five-Year Price Guarantee: The Fine Print

T-Mobile's new Experience plans boast a five-year price guarantee, but there's a catch. While the base plan price remains unchanged, taxes and fees are excluded from this guarantee. These fees include regulatory charges, interconnection fees from other carriers, and network leasing costs, all of which T-Mobile can adjust. This means the actual cost could still increase, making the 'guarantee' more of a promise on the base price, not the final bill.

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Anti-Vaxxer Lies and the Truth of Science

2025-05-01
Anti-Vaxxer Lies and the Truth of Science

Vaccine expert Paul Offit has been the target of sustained attacks from anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for years. Kennedy Jr. not only distorts facts but also spreads dangerous falsehoods about vaccines, claiming they are more dangerous than the diseases themselves. Offit points out that Kennedy Jr.'s views are based on a disregard for science and hold a religious-like fervor. While some aspects of 'terrain theory' relate to imbalances in the human microbiome, this doesn't negate the critical role of pathogens in disease transmission. Kennedy Jr.'s statements are not only irresponsible but also a threat to public health.

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Tech vaccines

NASA's Psyche Mission: A Deep Space Journey Powered by Low-Thrust Electric Propulsion

2025-05-01
NASA's Psyche Mission: A Deep Space Journey Powered by Low-Thrust Electric Propulsion

NASA's Psyche spacecraft is embarking on a six-year journey to a metal-rich asteroid of the same name, using four Russian-made Hall-effect thrusters. Each thruster generates a minuscule 250 millinewtons of thrust, roughly equivalent to the weight of three quarters, but their continuous operation over months provides superior efficiency compared to conventional rockets. The spacecraft will use Mars' gravity assist next year to slingshot itself into the asteroid belt, aiming for arrival and orbit insertion around asteroid Psyche in August 2029. This over $1.4 billion mission aims to explore this unique metallic asteroid and uncover its mysteries.

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Onyx Boox Mira Pro: A $1900 Color E Ink Monitor Arrives

2025-05-01
Onyx Boox Mira Pro: A $1900 Color E Ink Monitor Arrives

Onyx International unveiled the Boox Mira Pro, a $1900 25.3-inch color E Ink monitor boasting a 3200x1800 resolution. Utilizing E Ink Kaleido 3 technology for up to 4096 colors, it offers HDMI, mini HDMI, USB-C, and DisplayPort connectivity, plus VESA mount support. While refresh rate and image quality vary depending on presets, it combines the benefits of E Ink's eye-friendly display and long battery life with access to multiple content sources via Android, unlike the closed ecosystems of Kindles.

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Hardware

Windows RDP Flaw: Old Passwords Grant Permanent Access

2025-05-01
Windows RDP Flaw: Old Passwords Grant Permanent Access

A shocking Windows security vulnerability allows old passwords to grant indefinite access via RDP, even after being changed on a Microsoft or Azure account. Windows caches credentials locally, meaning even if online verification fails, old passwords still work. This creates a 'silent remote backdoor,' allowing attackers to access systems even after account compromise, bypassing MFA and Conditional Access. Experts urge immediate action to address this critical flaw.

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US House Proposes New Fees on EVs and Hybrids

2025-05-01
US House Proposes New Fees on EVs and Hybrids

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is proposing new annual fees for electric vehicles ($200) and hybrids ($100) as part of a budget bill. This Republican-backed measure aims to bolster the highway trust fund, but critics worry it will stifle EV adoption. While commercial and farm vehicles are exempt, the revenue generated is expected to be a small fraction of the federal budget, and the fees will increase annually with inflation until 2035. The move is part of a broader Republican effort, described as a 'war against science and the environment'.

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Tech taxation

Raspberry Pi's Soldering Secret: 60 Million Units and a Refine Process

2025-04-30
Raspberry Pi's Soldering Secret: 60 Million Units and a Refine Process

Early Raspberry Pi production relied on a mix of manual and robotic through-hole soldering, especially for components like the 40-pin GPIO header, Ethernet, and USB ports. This proved inefficient and costly. To overcome this, Raspberry Pi partnered with Sony to implement an innovative lead-free reflow soldering process that simultaneously solders surface-mount and through-hole components. This significantly improved efficiency and product quality, leading to the production of over 60 million units.

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Hardware soldering

Intel's Lunar Lake: A One-Off Experiment?

2025-04-30
Intel's Lunar Lake: A One-Off Experiment?

Intel's Core Ultra 200V laptop chips, codenamed Lunar Lake, appear to be a one-off experiment, unlikely to be replicated in future Intel laptop processors. These are unique for their on-package memory, neural processing unit meeting Microsoft's Copilot+ requirements, and inclusion of Intel's top-performing integrated GPUs, the Arc 130V and 140V. Intel recently released a driver update (version 32.0.101.6734) boosting performance of these integrated GPUs, offering a welcome performance boost for entry-level gaming users. The update claims to increase average frame rates by around 10 percent and '1 percent low FPS' by up to 25 percent, resulting in smoother gameplay and reduced stuttering.

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Hardware Integrated GPU

LLMs Hallucinate Nonexistent Software Packages: A Supply Chain Vulnerability

2025-04-29
LLMs Hallucinate Nonexistent Software Packages: A Supply Chain Vulnerability

Researchers have discovered a concerning vulnerability in large language models (LLMs): the hallucination of nonexistent software packages during code generation. This isn't random; specific nonexistent package names are repeatedly generated, creating a repeatable pattern. Attackers could exploit this by publishing malware under these hallucinated names, waiting for developers to access them, thus launching a supply chain attack. Open-source LLMs exhibited a higher rate of this “package hallucination” than commercial models, and Python code showed fewer instances than JavaScript.

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AI

Spain and Portugal Blackout: Can Renewables Save the Day?

2025-04-29
Spain and Portugal Blackout: Can Renewables Save the Day?

Spain and Portugal are facing a massive blackout, with power restoration posing a significant challenge. Their grids have limited external connections, but both countries boast abundant renewable energy sources, particularly hydropower and wind power. Hydro plants require minimal external power to start, and wind power can provide black start capabilities, though it's unclear if local wind turbines are equipped for this and if weather conditions will cooperate. While solar isn't ideal for black starting, its DC nature helps stabilize grid frequency. However, a lack of large-scale battery storage presents a major hurdle to restoring power. Restoration could take several days, depending on grid operators' ability to effectively leverage existing resources.

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Backblaze's Financial Troubles Spark Data Backup Concerns

2025-04-29
Backblaze's Financial Troubles Spark Data Backup Concerns

Cloud backup provider Backblaze, which went public in 2021, has been consistently losing money, with its stock price plummeting 71%. A recent report suggests Backblaze may face bankruptcy, raising concerns about the security of user data. Backblaze denies the report, claiming its financial data is accurate and its service is stable and reliable. However, the company's continued massive losses and negative reports still leave users worried about the security of their data backups, highlighting the importance of a robust backup strategy.

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Tech

Chimpanzees Caught Sharing Fermented Fruit; First Evidence of Alcoholic Food Sharing in Wild Apes

2025-04-27
Chimpanzees Caught Sharing Fermented Fruit; First Evidence of Alcoholic Food Sharing in Wild Apes

Researchers have observed wild chimpanzees sharing fermented African breadfruit containing measurable alcohol content, marking the first documented instance of alcoholic food sharing among nonhuman great apes in the wild. The seasonal fruit, from *Treculia africana* trees, ferments naturally after falling to the ground. Camera traps captured 17 chimps sharing the fruit on 10 occasions, with a preference for riper, higher-alcohol content fruit. While the alcohol content is relatively low (around 0.61% ABV), the fruit's prominence in their diet means significant ethanol intake is possible. However, intoxication is unlikely, offering no evolutionary benefit, and African ape ancestors may possess enhanced alcohol metabolism.

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Smell Test Predicts Female Friendships

2025-04-26
Smell Test Predicts Female Friendships

A new study reveals that women can predict whether they'll befriend someone else by smelling their worn T-shirts. In the study, 40 female volunteers participated in a 'speed-friending' event where they first rated each other's photos, then smelled each other's worn T-shirts, and finally interacted face-to-face. Results showed a strong correlation between odor-based friendship potential assessments and those made after face-to-face interactions, suggesting a subconscious role of scent in friendship formation. While the study was limited to college-aged heterosexual women, it opens avenues for future research into the interplay of olfaction and social relationships.

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Misc smell

Google's First-Gen Nest Thermostats to Lose Support in 2025

2025-04-26
Google's First-Gen Nest Thermostats to Lose Support in 2025

Google announced that its first and second-generation Nest Learning Thermostats will lose support in October 2025, disabling most connected features. While a discount is offered to North American users for an upgrade, European users will receive no upgrade path, and Google's sole European model is also being discontinued. These devices, launched starting in 2011, will still function as basic thermostats, but will lose connectivity to the Google Home app and Assistant.

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Hardware Thermostat

AI-Generated Legal Brief Contains Nearly 30 Errors

2025-04-26
AI-Generated Legal Brief Contains Nearly 30 Errors

A lawyer representing MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell admitted using artificial intelligence to write a legal brief containing almost 30 defective citations, including misquotes and references to fictional cases. US District Judge Nina Wang ordered the attorneys to explain why they shouldn't face sanctions and disciplinary proceedings. Lead counsel, Christopher Kachouroff, admitted to using AI but offered little explanation for the numerous errors. This case highlights the potential pitfalls of using AI in legal work.

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Misc Legal Errors

Netflix Improves Subtitles: A Fix for Muddled Dialogue?

2025-04-26
Netflix Improves Subtitles:  A Fix for Muddled Dialogue?

Netflix has introduced a new subtitle feature addressing the increasingly common problem of unclear dialogue in streaming content. This isn't a single issue, but a confluence of factors: a more naturalistic acting style leading to softer speech, aggressive audio compression by streaming services, and the vast range of home audio hardware making mastering difficult. While not a perfect solution, the new subtitles improve the viewing experience for millions who rely on them.

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Tech Subtitles

Comcast's Price Transparency Issues Lead to Massive Customer Loss

2025-04-26
Comcast's Price Transparency Issues Lead to Massive Customer Loss

Comcast reported a net loss of 183,000 residential broadband customers in Q1 2025, a significant increase from the previous year. President Mike Cavanagh attributed this to a lack of price transparency and a poor customer experience. In response, Comcast is simplifying its pricing structure and offering a five-year price guarantee for new customers, aiming to improve customer retention. Despite increased revenue, Comcast's stock price dropped 3.7% following the announcement.

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Microsoft's Copilot+ PCs: Recall, Enhanced Search, and Click to Do

2025-04-25
Microsoft's Copilot+ PCs: Recall, Enhanced Search, and Click to Do

Microsoft is rolling out Copilot+ PCs, highlighted by the Recall feature. This release also includes a revamped Windows Search with natural language processing and 'Click to Do,' enabling text extraction from images, on-screen content search, and quick summarization/rewriting. Copilot+ PCs require an NPU capable of over 40 trillion operations per second (TOPS), currently supported by Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite and Plus, Intel Core Ultra 200V-series, and AMD Ryzen AI 300-series processors. While Recall and enhanced search are available on both Arm and x86, some Click to Do features are currently limited to Arm-based systems.

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Tech

Jeff Bezos-Backed EV Startup Unveils Surprisingly Affordable Electric Truck

2025-04-25
Jeff Bezos-Backed EV Startup Unveils Surprisingly Affordable Electric Truck

Slate Auto, the reportedly Jeff Bezos-backed electric vehicle startup, has launched its first vehicle: the Slate Truck. Priced under $20,000 (with tax credits), this bare-bones EV boasts a claimed 150-mile range. Focusing on affordability and customization, the truck offers accessory kits transforming it into a five-seat SUV or an open-air truck. Manufactured in a single configuration, personalization comes via body wraps. Infotainment relies on a user's phone or tablet, but safety features include active emergency braking and up to eight airbags.

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Android Malware Targets Russian Military Personnel: Stealing Contacts and Location Data

2025-04-24
Android Malware Targets Russian Military Personnel: Stealing Contacts and Location Data

A recently discovered Android malware disguised as the Alpine Quest mapping app is targeting Russian military personnel, stealing their contacts and location data. The malware is spread through a dedicated Telegram channel and unofficial app stores, offering a free version of the usually paid Alpine Quest Pro as bait. It collects user phone numbers, contacts, location, file information, and more. Its modular design allows for updates adding capabilities, such as stealing confidential documents from Telegram and WhatsApp.

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D&D's OGL Victory: Community Uprising Forces WotC to Retreat

2025-04-23
D&D's OGL Victory: Community Uprising Forces WotC to Retreat

Wizards of the Coast's (WotC) attempt to revise the Open Gaming License (OGL) for Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) in early 2023 backfired spectacularly. The proposed changes, which included royalty payments for creators exceeding certain revenue thresholds and unclear digital platform applicability, sparked widespread outrage within the D&D community. Facing intense backlash, WotC ultimately abandoned the revised OGL and released a Creative Commons-licensed System Reference Document (SRD), securing the long-term openness of core rules and releasing a new similarly licensed reference book. This victory highlights the power of community action and the importance of open gaming licenses.

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California Bar Exam Controversy: AI-Generated Questions Spark Outrage

2025-04-23
California Bar Exam Controversy: AI-Generated Questions Spark Outrage

The California State Bar admitted that 23 of the 171 multiple-choice questions on the February 2025 bar exam were created with AI assistance, sparking widespread outrage. This revelation follows weeks of complaints about technical issues and irregularities during the exam. While the Bar claims all questions underwent expert review, legal educators strongly criticize the use of AI-generated questions, especially given that the same company generated and approved them. The incident raises serious concerns about fairness, reliability, and the ethical and technical challenges of using AI in high-stakes assessments.

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OpenAI Eyes Chrome Acquisition: An AI-First Browser in the Works?

2025-04-23
OpenAI Eyes Chrome Acquisition: An AI-First Browser in the Works?

OpenAI has signaled its interest in acquiring Chrome should Google be forced to sell. This follows OpenAI's hiring of former Google developers and its reported exploration of building a Chromium-based browser. Acquiring Chrome would grant OpenAI immediate access to billions of users and a significant market share, allowing for seamless integration of ChatGPT and other AI tools into a revolutionary 'AI-first' browsing experience. The influx of user data would also be invaluable for training more powerful AI models. While Google claims Chrome is unsustainable independently, its substantial search advertising revenue suggests otherwise. If a sale is mandated, OpenAI's substantial resources could position it to reshape the future of browsing.

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Tech AI Browser

Google's Privacy Sandbox: A Pivot, Not an End

2025-04-23
Google's Privacy Sandbox: A Pivot, Not an End

Google's Privacy Sandbox project isn't ending, but it's shifting gears. Facing antitrust lawsuits and industry resistance to abandoning cookies, Google will continue improving Chrome's Incognito Mode with features like third-party cookie blocking and IP address masking. However, this means its Privacy Sandbox APIs will play a different role, and Google will work with partners to find a new path. While Google highlights improved ad privacy, its antitrust predicament is likely a more significant factor driving this change.

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Tech

Could Lichens Survive on Mars?

2025-04-21
Could Lichens Survive on Mars?

A study from the Space Research Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences suggests that certain lichen species could potentially survive on Mars. Researchers exposed two lichen species to simulated Martian conditions and found that even under harsh Martian environments, the fungal component of the lichen maintained active metabolism. Lichens' low metabolism, low nutritional needs, longevity, and adaptations like UV-screening metabolites and radiation-defending melanin pigments make them resilient to extreme conditions, suggesting they could be potential candidates in the search for life on Mars.

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Tech lichens
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