Welcome to today’s curated collection of interesting links and insights for 2025/11/20. Our Hand-picked, AI-optimized system has processed and summarized 28 articles from all over the internet to bring you the latest technology news.
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1. AI Slop Has Turned Social Media Into an Antisocial Wasteland
The article argues that social media, once a space to stay connected with real people, has become fractured and impersonal due to an onslaught of AI-generated content and deepfakes. Generative tools like @OpenAI’s Sora, #Veo, and #Midjourney let anyone conjure highly convincing but deceptive videos, while deepfakes of public figures and AI-generated vacation photos flood feeds, contributing to #AI_slop—the low-quality digital content the piece defines. The piece notes that this flood of fabrications makes filtering truth exhausting and blurs lines between real moments and fabricated ones. A critique from @Alexios Mantzarlis argues platforms chase AI-driven features to boost stock value, often at the expense of genuine human connection on #TikTok and #Instagram. As a result, the article suggests the core purpose of social media—staying in touch with people you know—has been undermined, inviting readers to reconsider how AI content shapes their online experience.
2. Nvidia chip shift to smartphone-style memory to double server memory prices by end-2025
Nvidia plans to transition its server chips to use smartphone-style LPDDR5X memory, which will effectively double server memory prices by the end of 2025. This shift, part of Nvidia’s strategy to improve performance and efficiency, marks a significant change from traditional server memory technologies. Industry sources indicate that this move will impact memory demand and supply chains, causing cost increases for server manufacturers. The adoption of LPDDR5X aligns with Nvidia’s push for more power-efficient and high-bandwidth solutions in data centers, reflecting broader trends in memory technology innovation. This development is expected to trigger notable shifts in the server market and memory pricing dynamics as the transition progresses.
Mustafa @MustafaSuleyman, Microsoft’s #AI chief, pushes back against critics who deem AI capabilities underwhelming amid backlash over #Copilot and Windows moving toward an agentic OS. In a post on X, he says he is mind blown that people are unimpressed by fluent AI conversation and the ability to generate images/videos. This comes after Windows president Pavan Davuluri faced strong backlash for proposing an agentic OS, with replies turned off briefly. The Verge’s reporting on Copilot’s capabilities vs advertising underscores timing and credibility challenges for Microsoft’s AI push, suggesting a gap between marketing and user experience. Ultimately, the article frames a tension between an AI forward vision and user demand for stability and practical improvements in Windows, leaving the future direction uncertain.
4. YouTube tests bringing back direct messages, a ‘top feature request’
@YouTube is testing a built-in #DirectMessages feature that lets users share videos and have conversations about them inside the mobile app. The test is rolling out to adults 18+ in Ireland and Poland and supports sharing long-form videos, Shorts, and live streams. Users may need to receive invites to start chats, can decline invites, block or report conversations, and YouTube will review messages to ensure they follow the same #CommunityGuidelines as videos and comments. This marks a revival of messaging after YouTube removed a messaging feature in 2019, signaling the platform’s ongoing experimentation with social features.
5. AOC warns we may be in a ‘massive’ AI bubble with ‘2008-style threats to economic stability’
AOC warns of a massive AI-driven economic bubble that could trigger 2008-style threats to stability. At a House hearing on AI chatbots, she pointed to the outsized growth driven by #AI from the heavyweights @Microsoft, @Google, @Amazon, and @Meta, warning that exposure to the industry may be broad across the U.S. economy. She argued that if a bubble bursts, there should be no federal bailout, linking this stance to concerns that everyday Americans face healthcare and SNAP cuts and mental-health crises that some people seek to address with AI chatbots. Her remarks place her among the first lawmakers to publicly question whether an AI bubble exists, amid a broader debate about a possible government backstop and the profit-driven push behind AI development.
6. U.S. Approves Deal to Sell AI Chips to Middle East
The U.S. government has authorized the sale of advanced AI chips to Middle Eastern nations, marking a strategic move in the regulation of technology exports. This decision reflects Washington’s attempt to balance national security concerns with economic interests in the rapidly evolving #artificialintelligence sector. By permitting these sales, the U.S. aims to strengthen alliances in the Middle East while maintaining control over the proliferation of sensitive technologies. The approval indicates a nuanced approach to #techpolicy, emphasizing both innovation and security in geopolitical contexts. This development highlights ongoing adjustments in U.S. export controls as AI becomes pivotal in global technological competition.
7. South Korea’s InnoSpace and the UAE’s Madari Space to collaborate on space data centers
South Korea’s InnoSpace and the UAE’s Madari Space have announced a collaboration to develop #space-based data centers, aiming to enhance data storage and processing capabilities beyond Earth. This partnership leverages the technological expertise of both entities to address growing global data demands with innovative infrastructure in orbit. The collaboration reflects a strategic move toward integrating space technologies with data center operations, potentially transforming how data centers function by utilizing the unique conditions of space. These efforts are expected to advance the development of next-generation #space data centers that could offer benefits such as reduced latency and enhanced security. The partnership highlights a growing trend of international cooperation in the #space industry focusing on expanding data management capabilities.
@SundarPichai says #AI could eventually take on CEO duties and even run the company, noting the CEO role may be one of the easier tasks for AI to handle. In a BBC interview, he argues AI could perform complex tasks and act as an agent on a user’s behalf within 12 months. He adds that AI could extend beyond leadership to help people decide whether to invest in a stock or evaluate a medical treatment. Pichai cautions that some jobs may be eliminated while others will evolve, and there is more work to unlock these capabilities. The discussion reflects a broader tech leadership debate about automation, including voices like @SamAltman who are optimistic, and @JensenHuang who remains skeptical about AI replacing humans anytime soon.
America’s labor market is cooling, and workers are increasingly turning to gig platforms like @Uber, @DoorDash, and @Instacart to replace lost pay and hours. A @GoldmanSachs analysis finds about 20% of people who lost pay or hours turned to gig work, and gig hours rise most in cities where payroll growth slows. Meanwhile, broader data show layoffs rising (more than 1.1 million so far this year, including 153,000 in October) and ADP data showing private employers shed an average of 11,250 jobs per week for the four weeks ended Oct. 25, underscoring the strain on traditional employment. The gig economy cushions some of the blow but pays far less than traditional jobs, with gig earnings at roughly 50-65% of prior hourly wages, and many workers stitch together income from multiple unstable sources; declines in immigration have modestly pushed some metro gig wages up. Thus, while gig work provides a backstop, it does not fully offset the squeeze on workers, and broader economic pressures continue to weigh on household finances.
10. OpenAI Introduces ‘ChatGPT for Teachers’ to Further Destroy the Minds of Our Youth
OpenAI’s @OpenAI ChatGPT for Teachers aims to help K-12 educators prepare materials and securely manage student data under #FERPA, with free access through June 2027. The move fits a broader push to embed AI in education, alongside @Google’s #Gemini and @ElonMusk’s @xAI offering free AI tools to students and similar efforts like #ChatGPT Edu for colleges. There is mounting evidence that relying on AI can erode critical thinking and lead students to #offload difficult cognitive work, raising questions about the real learning value of these tools. The article notes ongoing gaps in math achievement, such as UC San Diego launching a remedial course for entrants who lacked middle school skills, underscoring concerns about whether AI aids or hinders learning. Whether widespread classroom AI will help or harm remains to be seen as stakeholders assess who really benefits from these tools, given the potential for data use and educational impact to diverge from objectives.
11. New Windows 11 AI agents can work in the background but create new security risks
Windows 11 introduces new AI agents that can operate in the background to assist users seamlessly, enhancing productivity by automating tasks without direct input. These AI agents integrate deeply within the operating system, enabling continuous support across applications, which signifies Microsoft’s commitment to embedding artificial intelligence in everyday computing. However, this advancement raises significant security concerns, as persistent background AI processes could be exploited, increasing the attack surface for malware and other cyber threats. Experts warn that without robust safeguards, these background AI agents might lead to unauthorized data access or manipulation, challenging traditional endpoint security models. This development illustrates the balance Microsoft must strike between innovation with AI and maintaining stringent security measures for its users.
12. Florida nonprofit news reporters ask board to investigate their editor’s AI use
Suncoast Searchlight confronts a governance issue after four reporters accuse their editor-in-chief @Emily_Le_Coz of using #generativeAI tools such as #ChatGPT to edit stories without disclosure. They say AI edits introduced hallucinated quotes, a nonexistent state law, and other inaccuracies, and that Le Coz did not disclose the tool use, instead claiming she had made the errors herself. The next day, McKenna Oxenden was fired for performance issues tied to story output and sourcing, a move the reporters say followed their letter to the board and raised questions about trust and newsroom accountability. The incident has spurred calls for an #AI policy, thorough #factchecking, an internal audit, and assurances that AI will not be used for editing going forward. It underscores the broader tension in journalism between adopting AI tools and maintaining transparency and reader trust, highlighting the need for clear disclosure and governance.
13. Quantum teleportation of photons from distant sources achieved
Researchers have successfully demonstrated #quantumteleportation by teleporting photons originating from two separate distant sources for the first time. Using advanced techniques in quantum optics, they managed to entangle photons emitted from distinct laser setups, overcoming challenges involved in synchronizing independent light sources. This breakthrough paves the way for integrating quantum networks across larger scales and enhances the feasibility of building reliable quantum internet infrastructure. The experiment confirms that quantum states can be transferred without physical transmission of the particle itself, proving a critical step towards practical quantum communication. These findings reinforce the potential of quantum technologies to revolutionize secure data transmission globally.
14. A Tesla Robotaxi Safety Driver Fell Asleep on the Job
A Tesla robotaxi safety driver was filmed asleep at the wheel while the car was moving, fueling concerns about Tesla’s self-driving program. The footage, shared in a Reddit post cited by Ars Technica, shows the driver nodding off multiple times on a San Francisco ride, with a rider reporting Tesla did not respond when alerted and another user claiming the same driver slept through traffic. The episode comes amid at least seven crashes since Tesla’s Austin robotaxi trial and follows concerns that Tesla has provided regulators heavily redacted data and has not secured the proper permits to operate autonomous ride-hailing in California. This underscores serious questions about relying on human monitors for robotaxis and highlights regulatory and safety oversight challenges, especially when compared to the stricter training and permitting seen at @Waymo. The incident feeds into the broader debate over whether @ElonMusk’s #robotaxi #self-driving effort can be scaled safely and responsibly.
15. Amazon’s Prime Video is getting AI-generated Video Recaps for some TV shows | TechCrunch
Amazon’s Prime Video is adding AI-generated video recaps to help viewers catch up between seasons, using generative AI to create theatrical-quality recaps with synchronized narration, dialogue, and music. The feature will roll out in beta for Prime Originals like Fallout, Jack Ryan, and Upload, and it builds on last year’s #X-RayRecaps, which had guardrails to prevent spoilers. Competitors are also exploring AI in the space, with YouTube TV’s #KeyPlays feature helping viewers catch up on games and Netflix using generative AI in production for projects like The Eternaut, Happy Gilmore 2, and Billionaires’ Bunker, raising ongoing debates about artists’ livelihoods and the ethics of training on their work. This move highlights the broader trend of AI-powered features reshaping how we revisit shows on streaming platforms, balancing convenience with concerns about content creation, and by introducing video recaps, @PrimeVideo continues to experiment with AI to reshape the viewing experience.
16. Linus Torvalds is surprisingly optimistic about vibe coding – except for this one ‘horrible’ use
At the Linux Foundation Open Source Summit Korea 2025, @Linus Torvalds and @Dirk Hohndel discuss #Linux, #Rust, and #AI, highlighting how the project evolves through collaboration. Torvalds notes that even after 35 years the kernel still needs maintenance, with each release drawing more than 1,000 contributors as hardware changes keep the work going. He defends #Rust’s integration into the kernel despite internal debate and some maintainers stepping down, saying it’s worth encouraging openness to new ideas while balancing stability. On #AI, he says it has helped Nvidia become a meaningful Linux kernel contributor, even as AI crawlers disrupt patch workflows and pose new challenges, while AI can also attract young developers. The exchange frames Linux as resilient through a community effort that maintains core quality while embracing innovation, balancing stability with evolution.
17. Unregulated and unsafe: expert warns of risks in substance use reduction apps
Many substance use reduction apps are unregulated and may pose safety risks due to lack of evidence-based content and proper oversight. An expert from Rutgers University highlights that these apps often fail to meet clinical standards and can deliver inaccurate or harmful guidance to users seeking help. This situation arises from the rapid growth of digital health tools outpacing regulatory bodies’ ability to monitor them effectively. The expert emphasizes the importance of integrating validated behavior change techniques and involving healthcare professionals in app development. Ensuring reliability and safety in these tools is crucial as they become more prevalent in supporting individuals with substance use challenges.
18. As Lawmakers Take Aim at VPNs, the Privacy of Millions Could Be in Jeopardy
Proposed age-verification laws in WI and MI aim to curb access to adult content but could erode online privacy by forcing VPN restrictions and ISP monitoring. In Wisconsin, Senate Bill 130 would require sites to use reasonable age verification methods and block access from known VPN IP addresses, with civil penalties for violators. In Michigan, House Bill 4938 would ban VPNs and access to online adult content entirely, requiring internet service providers to actively monitor and block circumvention tools, with penalties of up to 25 years in prison and fines up to $500,000. The push to enforce content rules through providers risks broader data exposure, since age-verification services collect extensive personal information such as full name, birthdate, address, nationality, ID number and likeness, creating targets for breaches, as highlighted by reports of AU10TIX breaches via 404 Media. The combination of bans and verification could drive users toward risky, free VPN apps, which can be used by cybercriminals; Google has warned about malicious VPN apps that inject malware, log activity, or misuse data, underscoring privacy risks. This debate touches on #privacy, #VPNs, #ageverification, #WI, #MI, and the challenges of enforcing content rules across providers like @Starlink, illustrating how privacy protections must be balanced with technical enforcement.
19. AI porn: Secret desires, chatbot, face swap
AI technologies have revolutionized adult content by enabling realistic face swaps, chatbots, and personalized experiences. The article discusses how tools like deepfake face swaps allow users to insert faces onto pornographic videos, while AI chatbots simulate intimate conversations that fulfill secret desires. These innovations raise ethical concerns about consent and privacy, as well as potential misuse for harassment or deception. Despite controversies, AI-enhanced adult content attracts many users due to its customization and immersive nature, reflecting broader trends in AI integration into entertainment. This highlights the complex balance between technological advances, user demand, and societal implications in digital intimacy.
20. Your Smartphone, Their Rules: How App Stores Enable Corporate-Government Censorship | ACLU
Smartphones are shaped by the gatekeeping power of the dominant app stores, with @Apple and @Google controlling which apps can run, effectively shaping what people can do, say, and experience #AppStore #PlayStore. The article cites concrete actions by the @DOJ pressuring Apple to remove ICEBlock and Google to pull Red Dot, illustrating how government requests can drive app censorship. It also notes that centralized control enables broader abuse, such as @Apple’s influence in #China over available apps, censorship of a game critiquing labor practices, and the removal of Fortnite from the App Store over revenue disputes. This infrastructure—iOS requiring apps from official stores—creates a systemic risk that corporate gatekeepers and government actors can limit political speech and information. The piece calls for rethinking how mobile software is distributed and governed to protect #free_speech and democratic participation.
21. Vaping Surveillance in School Bathrooms Raises Privacy Concerns
Schools across the US are increasingly turning to surveillance technologies such as #smoke detectors, video cameras, and AI to combat #vaping in bathrooms. These measures aim to deter students from vaping, which has been linked to health risks and disciplinary issues. However, the deployment of these tools has sparked privacy concerns among students, parents, and privacy advocates who argue that constant monitoring erodes trust and may infringe on students’ rights. The debate highlights the tension between schools’ responsibility to maintain safe environments and the protection of individual privacy. As vaping continues to be a challenge, balancing effective prevention with ethical surveillance remains critical.
TikTok is testing a new feature that allows users to request seeing less AI-generated content in their feeds, addressing concerns over the platform’s increasing amount of AI videos. This initiative comes as users express frustration about the quality and quantity of AI-generated content, which is often seen as low-effort or repetitive. TikTok’s move reflects a response to user feedback and aims to improve content personalization and user experience. The feature could help users curate their feeds more effectively by filtering AI material, potentially enhancing engagement and satisfaction. This development highlights TikTok’s ongoing effort to balance algorithmic content with user preferences in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
23. Some of the largest online propaganda campaigns are using ‘AI slop,’ researchers say
Large online propaganda campaigns have increasingly adopted #generativeAI to automate content creation and influencer personas, yet the material they produce is often low quality. Graphika analyzed nine ongoing operations linked to #China and #Russia and found AI is used for images, videos, text, and translations to streamline campaigns. The results describe the output as #AIslop: unconvincing fake news sites, clunky translations, and deepfake audio that fail to gain traction. As @DinaSadek of Graphika notes, the technology makes content at scale, sometimes with a single operator, but the engagement remains limited. The pattern suggests that AI offers automation rather than quality, and even high-profile propaganda efforts struggle to persuade on Western platforms, highlighting a persistence of online influence risks.
A collaboration between Caltech’s Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies (#CAST) and the Technology Innovation Institute (#TII) has produced a multimodal humanoid capable of deploying a shapeshifting drone from its back, merging walking, rolling, and aerial modes. The drone, called M4, sits on a Unitree G1 humanoid and can transform between wheel-driven driving and rotor-driven flight, even using two wheels to help traverse slopes. When needed, all four wheels fold away, and the propellers lift M4 off the ground, allowing it to launch from the humanoid and reconfigure mid-mission, showing a single platform with multiple locomotion modalities. The team aims to improve safety, reliability, and trust in autonomous systems, with safety-critical control, security, and broader autonomy research guiding future work, per @AaronAmes.
25. Volvo Has Dropped Luminar and Lidar for 2026 Models
Volvo Cars is removing the lidar sensor from its #EX90 and #ES90 for the 2026 model year and has ended its relationship with @Luminar. A Volvo Cars USA spokesperson said the decision aims to limit supply chain risk exposure and follows @Luminar’s alleged failure to meet contractual obligations, with #lidar no longer offered on any EX90 or ES90 from model year 2026 onward. Volvo had previously made #lidar optional on these vehicles starting in 2026, but the new move formalizes its removal from the lineup. The decision comes amid Luminar’s reported cash struggles, workforce cuts, a management shakeup, and an ethics probe, which appears to have undermined Volvo’s confidence in the supplier. Volvo asserts its cars can deliver high safety and driver support with or without #lidar and says it has no replacement supplier announced, suggesting this may mark the end of lidar use in its vehicles for now, though it is contacting affected customers.
26. Thieves are hilariously turning down Android devices
In the UK, thieves appear to prefer @Apple devices over Android models because of the higher resale value of iPhones. The Metropolitan Police reported that 117,211 mobile devices were stolen in 2024, almost 2,000 more than in 2023. Anecdotes from @LondonCentric recount a thief returning a Samsung after saying, “Don’t want no Samsung,” and another incident where a thief looked at a Samsung Galaxy and tossed it onto the street. Analysts from @ESET, cited by @LondonCentric, argue the preference is driven by the #secondhand-market premium for Apple devices. Android also offers security features to mitigate losses, including Google’s #TheftDetectionLock that locks the device when the accelerometer detects theft and #RemoteLock to lock remotely.
27. Sony Is Knocking $100 Off PS5 Consoles for Black Friday 2025 – IGN
@Sony is cutting $100 off all PS5 consoles for Black Friday 2025, with the sale kicking off November 21. The PS5 Pro drops to $649.99 in the US, and the Fortnite bundles lead the way with the 825GB Digital Edition Flowering Chaos bundle at $399.99 and the 1TB PS5 Fortnite bundle at $449.99, both including exclusive cosmetics and 1,000 V Bucks. Sony’s price cut also applies to all other PS5 configurations and to UK pricing at £609.99, signaling a broader reset after a recent $50 PS5 price increase. Beyond consoles, Sony is discounting accessories like the #PSVR2 and other headsets and controllers, with some digital games discounted up to 60% as part of the broader #BlackFriday push. The deals run through December 1, and IGN notes this is a moment for potential upgrades as Sony positions the offers to spur holiday purchases.
28. NASA releases close-up images of interstellar comet making a rare flyby
NASA has released close-up images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it makes a rare pass through the solar system. The images show the comet about 190 million miles from Earth, captured from Manciano, Italy, confirming 3I/ATLAS as one of only a few interstellar visitors to reach our neighborhood. Scientists note the object is moving rapidly and likely originated in an older star system, offering a window into a deep past that predates Earth and the Sun. Tracking continues with the @NASA Lucy mission and @HiRISE observations, while ESA’s Juice spacecraft has been training its cameras and will return data after February when its main antenna resumes science after serving as a heat shield near the Sun. The comet will reach its closest approach to Earth on Dec. 19, about 170 million miles away, and is visible to stargazers with binoculars or a telescope, inviting ongoing study of this #interstellar object #ATLAS.
That’s all for today’s digest for 2025/11/20! We picked, and processed 28 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! 🚀