Welcome to today’s curated collection of interesting links and insights for 2025/09/02. Our Hand-picked, AI optomized system has processed and summarized 26 articles from all over the internet to bring you the key the latest technology news.
As previously aired🔴LIVE on Clubhouse, Chatter Social, and TikTok.
Also available as a #Podcast on Apple 📻, Spotify🛜, Anghami and Amazon🎧 or anywhere else you listen to podcasts.
1. Try Apple’s lightning-fast video captioning model from your browser – 9to5Mac
Apple’s FastVLM, a near-instant Visual Language Model, is now testable directly in your browser via @HuggingFace using the lighter 0.5B variant, delivering captions on-device on Apple Silicon. Built on Apple’s @MLX framework, it reportedly runs up to 85x faster and is more than 3x smaller than similar models. In the browser you can load the demo, adjust prompts, and choose options such as describe what you see, the color of your shirt, detect text, emotions, or objects, with a virtual camera option to feed video for multi-scene captions. The demonstration emphasizes that it runs locally in the browser, with no data leaving the device and even offline capability, a boon for wearables and assistive tech. The piece is by @MarcusMendes for @9to5Mac.
2. Top FDA official demands removal of YouTube videos in which he criticized Covid vaccines
Top FDA vaccine regulator @VinayPrasad demanded removal of YouTube videos of himself published by @JonathanHoward, a physician and writer who curated pandemic-era statements to preserve them. YouTube notified Howard that Prasad had demanded the removal of six videos, and Howard’s channel, which contained about 350 videos of doctors and commentators, including @RobertFKennedyJr, the secretary of health and human services, and @JayBhattacharya, the head of the National Institutes of Health, has been deleted for copyright infringement. Howard said the channel was created to preserve what these figures said during the early pandemic, including comments that exaggerated the dangers of the Covid vaccine to children and, in some cases, minimized the risk of Covid infection. Snippets of Prasad’s comments still circulated on anti-vaccine social media accounts, suggesting Prasad directed the removal at a critic rather than anti-vaccine influencers. The episode highlights tensions around censorship, platform enforcement, and the credibility of public-health voices in the digital era #copyright #YouTubePolicy #publichealth
The UK’s #OnlineSafetyAct age verification measures appear to be reshaping web traffic, rewarding sites that avoid verification and hurting those that comply. @WashingtonPost analyzed the 90 most-visited UK porn sites; 14 had not deployed face-scan #ageverification, while traffic to verified sites cratered and those without checks surged as much as 3x. VPN usage might distort location data, but the surge in noncompliant sites likely boosts UK #ad_revenue, while compliant sites face added costs for verification services. @Ofcom is investigating four companies running 34 sites to assess the effectiveness of their #agechecks, and the UK government says there are no plans to repeal the #OnlineSafetyAct despite petitions with over 500,000 signatures. The trend also echoes #Mississippi’s similar requirements to verify age and obtain parental consent for minors, illustrating how different jurisdictions weigh protection against traffic and revenue effects.
4. Chinese Cluster Now World’s Top Smartphone Maker
Chinese smartphone maker #Transsion has become the world’s top smartphone vendor by volume, surpassing #Samsung and #Apple in recent shipments. This shift highlights the growing influence of Chinese companies in global technology markets, fueled by competitive pricing and expanding sales in emerging markets like Africa and South Asia. Analysts note that Transsion’s focus on local consumer preferences and affordability has driven its rapid growth amid stiff competition. The company’s rise reflects broader trends of tech globalization and diversification away from traditional market leaders. This development underscores how innovation tailored to diverse markets can disrupt established hierarchies in the tech industry.
5. YouTube’s latest crackdown may affect your Family Plan
YouTube has introduced a new crackdown that targets its Premium Family Plan, requiring new verification measures to confirm all family members reside at the same address. This change aims to prevent account sharing beyond a single household, as users must now reconfirm their address every 30 days through Google Location History. The enforcement of location verification is designed to uphold the service’s subscription terms and reduce unauthorized access, which could affect families who previously shared plans across different residences. While this move strengthens adherence to subscription policies, it also raises privacy concerns and could inconvenience users accustomed to flexible sharing. As a result, users may need to adjust how they manage their family subscriptions under the new verification system.
6. AI’s Sky-High Costs Are Pricing Out Startups
The rising costs of training and running AI models are creating significant financial barriers for startups, making it harder for new players to compete with tech giants. Startups face expenses not only for developing large-scale AI but also for the computational power and data necessary to maintain and improve these models. This financial pressure could stifle innovation and concentrate AI advancements within established corporations that have ample resources. The trend highlights a growing divide in the AI ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of strategies to democratize access to AI technology. As costs climb, how startups adapt or collaborate will shape the future landscape of AI development.
7. Amazon disrupts Russian APT29 hackers targeting Microsoft 365
Amazon Web Services has disrupted infrastructure used by #APT29, a Russian state-sponsored hacking group, which has been conducting cyber espionage campaigns targeting Microsoft 365 users. By identifying and taking down malicious infrastructure, Amazon prevented the hackers from infiltrating high-value targets and stealing sensitive information. This intervention exemplifies Amazon’s proactive role in cloud security by actively mitigating threats beyond its own network, enhancing defense for Microsoft 365 customers. The disruption not only halts current attacks but also deters future attempts by showcasing coordinated industry response to state-sponsored cyber threats. Protecting cloud services like Microsoft 365 from advanced persistent threats is crucial to safeguarding governmental and corporate data in an era of rising cyber warfare.
When users watch political content in YouTube Shorts, the platform tends to push entertaining videos to boost engagement and revenue. Researchers analyzed 685,842 short videos across three topics, tested viewing durations of 3s, 15s, and until the end, and tracked 50 consecutive transitions, finding that political content gave way to entertainment content. The data were classified by topic, relevance, and emotional tone with GPT-4o, and the algorithm favored videos with positive or neutral emotions and high engagement. @Mert_Jan_Chakmak notes that this shift is not necessarily censorship but a design to pull viewers toward more interesting topics for ad revenue, a pattern observed across tested durations. This raises questions about how #YouTubeShorts exposure to politics is shaped by monetization-driven optimization and how #algorithm decisions influence what users see.
9. YouTube Creators Are Worried About AI Too. Here’s What They’re Doing About It
YouTube creators are increasingly concerned about the impact of #artificialintelligence on their content and revenue, especially with the rise of AI-generated videos that compete for views and ad dollars. Many creators report that AI tools can both help with content creation and pose threats by automating tasks that once required human creativity, leading to fears of devaluation. In response, creators are adapting by leveraging AI for efficiency while emphasizing authenticity and personal connection to maintain viewer trust. Platforms like YouTube are also grappling with how to balance AI integration with protecting creators’ original work and supporting creator earnings. This evolving dynamic underscores the complex relationship between #AI and digital content creation, highlighting the need for policies that support creators amid technological advances.
10. Microsoft to enforce MFA for Azure Resource Management in October
Microsoft is set to enforce mandatory multi-factor authentication (#MFA) for all Azure Resource Management (#ARM) operations starting in October. This move aims to enhance security for customers by requiring stronger authentication methods beyond just passwords. Microsoft has announced that after the enforcement date, all Azure service management requests using Azure Resource Management will require MFA, helping to prevent unauthorized access. The policy enforces protection against credential compromise, a common attack vector in cloud environments. This change reflects Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to improving cloud security and safeguarding #Azure services.
11. Trump tells drugmakers to ‘justify the success’ of Covid meds after FDA limits vaccine approval
The article reports that @DonaldTrump urged drugmakers to justify the success of their Covid drugs as the FDA restricted who can receive the updated vaccines. The FDA approved the latest vaccines only for those at higher risk of severe illness, a decision Trump framed as a test of transparency and effectiveness. The piece notes a leadership shake-up at @CDC, including the firing of Director @SusanMonarez and several top officials quitting, as @RobertFKennedyJr. pushes to overhaul federal health agencies and immunization policies. The article also mentions Trump citing information from Pfizer that has not been publicly shared, and a NYT guest essay by nine former CDC directors who warn Kennedy’s moves could jeopardize health security.
12. More states now ban cell phones in schools
Several states have enacted policies banning cell phones in schools to improve student focus and academic performance. Research indicates that cellphone restrictions can lead to better test scores and reduced distractions in classrooms. Educators and policymakers argue that limiting phone use helps create a more conducive learning environment by minimizing interruptions and promoting social interaction. However, some critics raise concerns about equity and the benefits of digital learning tools. As more states implement these bans, the debate continues over balancing technology’s role in education with the need for focused classroom settings.
The @Yves Guillemot, Ubisoft’s CEO, has been summoned to appear before the Bobigny District Court on October 1 in connection with the harassment case that led to June’s verdicts against former Ubisoft executives. The summons was issued by the Solidaires Informatiques union and four other civil parties, the same groups involved in the prior trial. Ubisoft says there were no grounds to initiate criminal proceedings against the company or its management, a decision the Public Prosecutor’s Office reaffirmed, and it will continue to cooperate with the justice system. In June, three former Ubisoft executives were sentenced for moral and sexual harassment, reflecting ongoing scrutiny of #Harassment at the company, with top management reaffirming a zero-tolerance policy toward harassment.
14. Nvidia CEO Says AI Will Actually Make Us Busier in the Future
@JensenHuang says #AI and #robotics will make people busier in the future, with robots everywhere and everything that moves will be robotic, from hospitals to factories and farms. He notes Nvidia will supply the tools to power this shift across industries, including the Jetson Thor robot brain, and he envisions robotic systems of many kinds becoming commonplace. During a Fox Business appearance with host @LizClaman, he was asked whether productivity gains might free people up; he replies that while a four-day workweek would be nice, he expects to be busier as faster work unlocks more ideas and projects, since most countries and companies have more ideas than we know how to pursue. He says GDP should grow and productivity should rise as a result of higher output, and that the more productive we are, the more opportunities we get to explore new ideas, which could eventually support shorter weeks and more time for family, reading, and travel.
15. This startup wants to sell a fully self-driving car you can own, no supervision required
The piece presents @Tensor’s Robocar as a fully self-driving car that consumers can own, with no supervision required, letting drivers sit in the back seat while the vehicle drives itself. Executives say safety and control are enforced through #geofences and #teleoperators, which monitor and potentially intervene as needed. This model combines personal ownership with autonomous mobility, underscored by boundary restrictions and remote support, per the report. The article highlights a potential shift in how autonomous vehicles might be owned and operated, though it does not include details on timing, pricing, or regulatory specifics.
16. SF Tech CEO Says AI Enabled Him To Cut 4000 Jobs
A San Francisco tech CEO revealed that the integration of #ArtificialIntelligence in his company allowed for a significant workforce reduction, eliminating around 4,000 jobs. He explained that AI-driven automation improved operational efficiency and reduced the necessity for human labor in many areas, driving cost savings and streamlining processes. This shift highlights the transformative role of advanced technology in reshaping employment landscapes within the tech sector. The CEO’s experience illustrates broader trends where AI adoption is leading companies to reconsider their staffing models. The case underscores the impact of AI not only in innovation but in organizational restructuring and labor market dynamics.
17. Meta scanning your phone camera roll: how to turn off
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has been scanning users’ phone camera rolls to help build profiles for targeted advertising. The company recently acknowledged this practice, which raises privacy concerns among users. Meta scans photos and videos on phones to improve content recommendations, but users can disable this by adjusting app permissions or settings on their devices. To protect privacy, users should review and limit Meta apps’ access to their camera rolls. This measure helps balance user privacy with Meta’s data-driven business model.
Gmail’s protections are strong and effective, and claims of a major Gmail security warning are false. Gmail blocks more than 99.9% of phishing and malware attempts from reaching users, and several inaccurate claims suggested otherwise. This emphasis on robust defenses, ongoing investment, and clear risk communication shows @Google’s commitment to security and factual discourse in the space #security #phishing #malware. For added protection, users are encouraged to use #Passkeys and follow best practices to spot and report phishing attacks.
19. Apple Reportedly Still Under Pressure to Give UK Government Backdoor iCloud Access
UK authorities remain pressuring @Apple for a backdoor into #iCloud, with a legal filing seen by #Financial_Times showing the Home Office seeks access to standard iCloud data beyond the highest encryption protections, potentially including passwords and messages and extending to all iCloud users globally. @Apple has pulled #ADP in the UK and has launched a legal challenge in March, while representatives for @Apple and the Home Office did not respond; the US government has shown particular interest, noting the request could affect data beyond British citizens, a claim linked to @Tulsi_Gabbard, who said a deal had been reached, which the filing suggests may not be the case. Enabled by the #Investigatory_Powers_Act, critics warn that forcing a backdoor could expose the entire system to exploitation, since a single key would effectively unlock many accounts, per @Oli_Buckley. The article frames a tension between security objectives like counterterrorism and child sexual abuse investigations and the privacy risks for users worldwide, underscoring potential broader implications for tech companies under government pressure.
Microsoft Edge’s Android Canary build is testing a free background video playback feature that mimics YouTube Premium and could provoke a clash with @Google #VideoBackgroundPlay #YouTubePremium. An experimental flag named ‘Video Background Play’ can be enabled in edge://flags, then a toggle in Site settings > Background video playback allows audio from sites like YouTube to continue playing after switching apps or locking the device, and Edge Canary also ships with a built-in ad blocker. The combination undercuts key incentives for a YouTube Premium subscription and signals a bold competitive move by Microsoft in the mobile browser space, even though the feature remains experimental and is not yet in stable releases. Google’s terms of service reportedly prohibit apps that separate video and audio streams or interfere with ads, and a 2013 Microsoft YouTube app for Windows Phone that blocked ads is cited as a historical precedent for potential pushback if such capabilities reach a broader audience.
21. Hackers issue ultimatum to Google after data breach warning
An online post from a hacking collective threatens to leak Google databases unless @Google fires Austin Larsen and Charles Carmakal and suspends Google Threat Intelligence Group investigations into the network. The post claims to represent a group branded as #ScatteredLapSusHunters, formed by members from #ScatteredSpider, #LapSus, and #ShinyHunters. There is no proof that they have accessed Google’s databases, and there have been no recent breaches of Google information. The alert follows Google’s note in August that #ShinyHunters gained information from Salesforce, a third party that provides services to @Google. Newsweek has asked @Google for comment, and the story is being updated as it develops.
22. Gen Z pushes back against smart glasses over privacy concerns
Generation Z is increasingly skeptical about #smartglasses due to significant privacy concerns, particularly around unauthorized recording and data collection. Evidence shows a strong online backlash, with many young users demanding stricter regulations and clearer usage policies to prevent misuse. This skepticism reflects broader mistrust toward wearable technology and its implications for personal privacy, highlighting the need for transparent device operations. Companies developing smart glasses face challenges balancing innovation with ethical considerations, as Gen Z’s attitudes could influence future adoption rates. Thus, addressing privacy fears is crucial for the sustainable growth of smart glasses in this demographic.
23. How AI Unmasked ICE Officers Online
Artificial intelligence technology has been used to reveal the identities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers who previously operated anonymously online to coordinate enforcement efforts. Researchers employed a combination of facial recognition and data analysis tools to correlate posts and images, exposing officers behind pseudonymous social media accounts. This breakthrough raises concerns about privacy, surveillance, and accountability, highlighting the growing impact of #AI on law enforcement transparency and civil rights. These findings suggest a shift in how digital technology challenges institutional secrecy and could influence public debate about immigration enforcement practices. The use of AI to unmask officers links technological advancements to policy discussions concerning #ICE and government oversight.
24. EU chief plane hit by suspected Russian GPS jamming – DW – 09/01/2025
@Ursula von der Leyen’s plane en route to Bulgaria faced deliberate GPS jamming, with the European Commission confirming the disruption but saying the aircraft landed safely in Plovdiv. Bulgarian authorities say the satellite signal used for GPS navigation was disrupted as the plane approached Plovdiv, and the pilot landed manually using analogue maps after about an hour more in the air. The EU spokesperson linked the incident to Russia, noting that threats and intimidation are regular components of Moscow’s hostile actions and that #GPS jamming may be part of broader #hybrid warfare tactics. EU officials say they will continue to invest in defense spending and readiness, a response tied to this incident and the broader security context near Russia and Belarus.
25. Science research gets more engagement on Bluesky than X, study finds
Bluesky posts that reference scholarly articles attract substantially higher engagement and stronger textual originality than on @Elon_Musk’s platform #X, reinforcing Bluesky as a credible space for science communication. A UK‑based team from Sheffield University analyzed 2.6 million Bluesky posts referencing more than 500 000 scholarly articles over two and a half years and found significantly higher interaction and greater textual originality than previously reported for #X. Almost half of Bluesky’s scientific posts drew at least 10 likes, about a third were reposted 10 or more times, and quotes and replies were higher, with only 6.3% simply naming the article and journal, indicating deeper engagement and discussion. The study notes Bluesky’s scholarly conversation has remained high since late 2024 and at times matched or exceeded X’s level of discourse; August showed twice as many daily science posts as July and more than triple those in March. Bluesky has grown to more than 38 million users, though engagement metrics have fluctuated, and the researchers caution the work has not yet been peer reviewed, but argue Bluesky’s environment—with researchers and journals prominently present—offers a clearer setting for scientific dialogue.
26. Common Pesticide Linked to Widespread Brain Abnormalities in Children
Exposure to the common pesticide chlorpyrifos is linked to significant abnormalities in the developing brains of children. Researchers used brain imaging techniques to identify widespread structural changes associated with prenatal chlorpyrifos exposure. These abnormalities include altered brain surface area and volume in regions related to cognition and behavior. The findings raise concerns about the long-term neurodevelopmental impact of chlorpyrifos, supporting calls for stricter regulations on its use. This research emphasizes the importance of protecting children from harmful environmental chemicals to safeguard brain health.
That’s all for today’s digest for 2025/09/02! We picked, and processed 26 Articles. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s collection of insights and discoveries.
Thanks Patricia Zougheib and Dr Badawi for curating the links
See you in the next one! 🚀