#BrainUp Daily Tech News – (Tuesday, January 20ᵗʰ)
Welcome to today’s curated collection of interesting links and insights for 2026/01/20. Our Hand-picked, AI-optimized system has processed and summarized 23 articles from all over the internet to bring you the latest technology news.
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1. Akamai CEO Tom Leighton on piracy and the web’s future
Akamai CEO Tom Leighton emphasizes the ongoing challenge of #piracy in the digital world, highlighting the importance of innovative security solutions to protect content creators. He explains that while piracy remains a persistent issue, leveraging advanced #contentdelivery networks and real-time data analytics can help mitigate unauthorized distribution. Leighton points out that cooperation between tech companies, governments, and rights holders is crucial for creating effective anti-piracy frameworks. This approach not only safeguards creators’ revenues but also supports the healthy growth of online content ecosystems. The discussion underscores Akamai’s commitment to evolving technologies that balance accessibility with security.
3. GootLoader now uses 1,000-part ZIP archives for stealthy delivery
GootLoader has evolved by leveraging 1,000-part ZIP archives to deliver malware more stealthily, enhancing its evasion capabilities against detection systems. Security researchers observed this tactic where attackers split payloads into numerous ZIP parts to bypass security tools that typically scan smaller, singular files. This method complicates analysis and delays detection, as antivirus and sandbox environments struggle to reconstruct and analyze such large fragmented archives efficiently. The modifications demonstrate #GootLoader’s adaptability in maintaining persistence and effectiveness in cybercrime operations. This escalation in complexity poses increased challenges for defenders aiming to detect and neutralize these threats.
4. Nvidia Contacted Anna’s Archive to Secure Access to Millions of Pirated Books
Nvidia approached Anna’s Archive to gain access to its vast repository of millions of pirated books, aiming to support its AI training datasets. Anna’s Archive, a shadow library site, hosts a wide array of eBooks and academic papers, often uploaded without authorization, sparking debates about intellectual property and digital access. Nvidia’s interest highlights the reliance of AI companies on large-scale text datasets, regardless of traditional copyright boundaries, to improve their machine learning models. This interaction underscores the tension between the AI industry’s data needs and the legal frameworks governing digital content. The case exemplifies the ongoing challenges in balancing innovation with respect for copyright in the evolving digital and AI landscape.
5. Wine 11 arrives faster and with new features enhancing usability
Wine 11 introduces significant improvements delivering faster performance and enhanced compatibility with Windows applications on Linux and other platforms. The update includes better support for Direct3D 12, reduced memory usage, and improved audio handling, enabling smoother gaming and software experience. These enhancements reflect Wine’s ongoing commitment to bridging the gap between Windows and open-source environments, helping users run Windows programs more efficiently without a virtual machine. By addressing common performance bottlenecks and adding modern features, Wine 11 boosts usability for developers and everyday users relying on #open-source solutions. This release strengthens Wine’s position as a critical tool for cross-platform compatibility and software accessibility.
Tesla’s move to end outright purchases of FSD and offer it only as a monthly subscription signals a broader shift toward #software-as-a-service in the auto industry, aligning with @Tesla and @ElonMusk’s stance on evolving ownership models. At present, FSD can be bought for $8,000 or rented for $99 a month, with price history climbing from $5,000 to $15,000 before reductions, and it will no longer be available as a one-time purchase after February 14. For those who already purchased FSD, ownership remains uncertain regarding transferability to new vehicles. Public replies criticize the idea of paying indefinitely for a feature that enables the car to drive itself, reflecting concerns about a loss of true ownership and citing examples from VW and GM, which have introduced monthly features like VW’s $22.50/mo option and GM’s Super Cruise. The move underscores a trend toward ongoing payments for software-driven capabilities in cars, suggesting that owning an EV may increasingly mean sustaining service subscriptions rather than a single purchase.
7. Broker who sold malware to the FBI set for sentencing
A Jordanian national, Feras Khalil Ahmad Albashiti, pleaded guilty to acting as an initial access broker (#IAB) for a series of cyberattacks and faces sentencing in the United States. He admitted facilitating access to at least 50 U.S. companies in 2023, including selling access to an undercover FBI agent for $5,000, then another $15,000 for #EDR-disabling malware and a separate privilege-escalation tool. During a demonstration for the agent, he connected to an FBI-controlled server, exposing his IP address and tying him to a ransomware attack that cost a US manufacturer about $50 million. The case underscores how underground markets and #IAB activity enable breaches, with sentencing set for May 11, 2026, and a potential ten-year prison term plus fines up to $250,000.
8. Modder Builds All-in-One Console With PS5, Xbox Series X, and Switch 2 in a Single System
A modder created an innovative all-in-one gaming console named the Ningtendo Pxbox 5 that combines a #PlayStation5, #XboxSeriesX, and #Switch2 into a single system. The setup is powered by a shared 250W power supply housed within a custom lost wax chassis, showcasing impressive engineering and design skills. The modder’s solution allows gamers to access multiple current-generation consoles without needing separate hardware units, reflecting a significant feat of hardware integration. This project highlights the growing community interest in console modding and the desire for versatile gaming setups. It demonstrates how combining advanced #gamingtechnology can offer convenience and novelty for enthusiasts.
Washington state proposes that 3D printer manufacturers must equip devices with blocking features, specifically a firearms blueprint detection algorithm, to prevent printing firearms or related parts after July 1, 2027. The bill HB 2321 allows three compliant approaches: firmware-level integration of the algorithm, integrated preprint software design, or handshake authentication to enforce the controls, with the goal of reliably rejecting firearm prints and preventing bypass. Violations would be a class C felony, carrying up to five years in prison and a $15,000 fine. The measure positions Washington alongside other states, such as New York, in pursuing regulation of #3D-printed_guns through manufacturer- and software-level safeguards, under #HB2321. This reflects a broader policy trend to curb the proliferation of 3D-printed firearms by regulating the tools used to produce them and signaling potential penalties for noncompliance.
10. Microsoft begins blocking work email access for unprepared Intune users
Microsoft has started restricting work email access for users who have not fully set up their #Intune device compliance. This action requires users to comply with organizational policies to secure their devices before accessing corporate emails, enhancing data protection amid rising cybersecurity threats. The enforcement indicates Microsoft’s commitment to tightening security protocols for enterprise environments and ensuring only compliant devices connect to corporate resources. This move pushes organizations and users to adopt recommended security configurations and stay current with policy updates. It aligns with broader industry efforts to secure remote work and mobile device management.
11. Linus may vibe code, but that doesn’t make it best practice
Linus @LinusTorvalds may vibe code, but for serious software projects it isn’t best practice. The article notes he used Google’s Antigravity LLM on AudioNoise to generate random digital audio effects, and explains vibe coding as describing requirements in natural language while accepting the AI output largely as-is, a view echoed by @AndrejKarpathy who coined the term, a concept some see as #vibeCoding or #LLM-driven. Yet such code is fragile and hard to maintain when production stacks involve many frameworks and evolving LLMs, since prompts can yield different results across versions. Ruth Suehle, President of the Apache Software Foundation, cautions that naive vibe coders only know whether the output works, not why, and incidents with platforms like Replit show the approach can fail in production, so vibe coding remains suitable mainly for small, throwaway tasks rather than production software.
12. ICE’s Facial Recognition App Misidentified a Woman. Twice
Two different and incorrect names were returned by ICE’s facial recognition app, #MobileFortify, after scanning a detained woman, signaling a troubling accuracy problem. The description comes from testimony from a CBP official obtained by 404 Media, noting the incident happened last year in Oregon. ICE has said the app provides a ‘definitive’ determination of someone’s immigration status and should be trusted over a birth certificate. This incident undermines that claim and raises serious questions about relying on #facialrecognition for immigration decisions, highlighting the need for independent verification and oversight.
13. Asus confirms its smartphone business is on indefinite hiatus
Asus has confirmed its smartphone business is entering an indefinite hiatus as the company pivots toward AI-focused products such as robotics and smart glasses. At a 2026 kick-off event in Taiwan, @JonneyShih said Asus will no longer add new mobile phone models in the future, with an ‘indefinite wait-and-see’ approach and no plans for new Zenfone or ROG Phone appearances in 2026, citing a shift toward #AI devices. Existing devices will continue to receive updates, but update policies are modest: the ROG Phone Pro is guaranteed two OS updates and five years of security patches, while recent Zenfones offer two Android version updates and four years of security support. The move reflects a mature, price-pressured smartphone market where demand is shrinking and Chinese OEMs like Vivo, Xiaomi, and Huawei make competition tougher for niche players, a trend exemplified by LG’s prolonged break from mobile hardware. By stepping away from annual phone launches, Asus signals a broader strategy to invest in AI-enabled products rather than competing in a saturated smartphone market.
15. 10 things I learned from burning myself out with AI coding agents
AI coding agents enable rapid prototyping and creative exploration, but producing durable production code still requires human judgment and long term architecture. The author documents using @Claude Code, @Claude Opus 4.5, and @Codex to craft over 50 demo projects, including a Katamari Damacy clone called Christmas Roll-Up, demonstrating how these tools can generate flashy prototypes by borrowing patterns from their training data. However, production level software demands experience, patience, and skills beyond what current AI agents provide, suggesting that veteran developers should not fear losing their jobs and may even become busier as they integrate these tools. The experience feels empowering and creative yet remains bounded, reinforcing that these tools are hobbyist aids rather than end to end solutions. In the end, people remain essential to software development, bringing architecture, judgment, and domain knowledge that AI cannot replicate at scale, even as #AI tools broaden what developers can try.
16. New class of strong magnets from earth-abundant elements
A new class of strong permanent magnets has been developed using earth-abundant elements, offering a sustainable alternative to rare-earth magnets. Researchers have created magnets based on a #hexagonal Fe-doped manganese bismuth (MnBi) compound that exhibits competitive energy density and coercivity. The study reveals that doping MnBi with iron atoms and employing a unique synthetic route stabilizes a hard magnetic phase at room temperature, overcoming previous limitations of MnBi magnets. This advancement not only reduces reliance on scarce and expensive rare-earth materials but also points toward scalable production methods for future industrial applications. Consequently, this innovation has potential to impact multiple sectors, including electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies, by providing a more sustainable and cost-effective magnet solution.
17. OpenAI CFO says annualized revenue crosses $20 billion for 2025-2026
OpenAI’s CFO announced that the company’s annualized revenue will exceed $20 billion for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, reflecting rapid growth driven by demand for AI technologies. This projection is based on current contract commitments and sales momentum for generative AI models, demonstrating strong market confidence. The revenue surge highlights OpenAI’s expanding role in the AI industry, fueled by partnerships and integrations with major tech firms. The financial outlook emphasizes OpenAI’s competitive positioning and sustained innovation in #generativeAI. As OpenAI scales its offerings, the company is expected to influence the broader AI ecosystem significantly.
18. Efficient cooling method could enable chip-based trapped-ion quantum computers
The study demonstrates a faster, energy-efficient method to cool trapped ions on a photonic-chip, a development that could make chip-based trapped-ion #quantumcomputing and sensors more scalable and stable. The approach uses a photonic chip with precisely designed antennas to steer tightly focused, intersecting light beams, achieving cooling to about 10 times below the standard laser cooling limit. This #polarization-diversity integrated-photonics design expands the toolkit for trapped ions and could enable advanced operations beyond cooling while reducing reliance on bulky optical setups, as highlighted by @Jelena Notaros. The work, led by MIT and MIT Lincoln Laboratory researchers, marks a key step toward scalable chip-based architectures that integrate cooling within compact photonic platforms, potentially boosting efficiency and stability of #quantumcomputing systems. By opening new operational possibilities that were previously unattainable, the research lays groundwork for practical chip-based quantum computers and more capable quantum sensors in the future.
19. Just the Browser claims to tame the bloat without forking
Just the Browser by @CorbinDavenport aims to tame browser bloat without forking by turning off telemetry, AI features, and sponsored content via policy settings in Chrome-based and Firefox browsers #telemetry #GenerativeAI #SponsoredContent. For Firefox, the changes are encapsulated in a policy JSON that disables telemetry, Firefox Studies, DontCheckDefaultBrowser, and hides sponsored content via FirefoxHome (SponsoredStories, SponsoredTopSites, Stories) while turning off #GenerativeAI and removing Perplexity from SearchEngines. In Chrome-based browsers, policies can be viewed at chrome://policy/ and the approach relies on enterprise-management features to apply these settings; the Just the Browser site notes installation on Windows, macOS, and Linux via terminal commands and also offers settings files and GitHub code. This policy-driven method is a non-fork alternative that remains readable and manageable, relying on existing admin controls rather than maintaining separate codebases, though its success depends on whether organizations or users actually enforce the policies. Overall, the article presents the idea as appealing as long as policy controls are honored, positioning it as a practical option among forks to peel away unwanted features.
20. How online abuse became the norm for Europe’s climate scientists
Online abuse toward Europe’s climate scientists is intensifying and becoming the norm, prompting Spain to push for tougher action against online hate and the wider fight against #disinformation. Studies show an alarming rise in the intensity, frequency and violence of attacks against meteorologists, communicators and climate reporters, with 17.6% of hostile messages on X containing hate speech, personal attacks or denigration. A 2025 study of half a million X messages mentioning Spain’s AEMET found that a quarter displayed some hostility toward the agency and its staff, underscoring a wider pattern of anti-intellectualism and disinformation campaigns that erode credibility. The impact on well-being is evident, with more than a fifth of respondents reporting depression and 8% receiving death threats, and researchers such as @Shouro Dasgupta noting harassment around media appearances, highlighting the risk to public understanding of the climate crisis. #climate_science #online_abuse #disinformation
21. Nintendo’s Japan dominance continues as Switch 2 fuels 40% market growth in 2025 | VGC
@Nintendo’s dominance in Japan continues into 2025 as #hardware-led growth is driven by the Switch 2, which sold 3.78 million units and accounted for more than half of all home consoles that year. The Switch 2’s Mario Kart World moved 2.66 million physical copies, making it the annual best-selling console game in Japan since Pokémon Scarlet & Violet and Splatoon 3. Japan’s domestic games market rose from 301.32 billion yen in 2024 to 418.13 billion yen in 2025, with hardware sales climbing from 189.4 billion to 282.6 billion yen, highlighting hardware-driven growth. Nintendo again led Japan’s best-selling hardware chart in 2025, with Switch 2 at 3,784,067 units, followed by Switch, @PlayStation5, Xbox Series X|S, and PS4, confirming two decades of hardware leadership across Nintendo platforms. The data also shows @PlayStation5 sales down roughly 60% in 2025, despite a cheaper model and a price increase, underscoring persistent competition but not eroding Nintendo’s market lead.
22. Doge Cuts Pentagon IT Military
The Pentagon is significantly reducing its IT workforce as part of a broader effort to modernize and streamline military information technology systems. Reports indicate that this cutback aims to eliminate redundancies and improve efficiency by focusing on cloud computing and artificial intelligence. The reduction reflects a shift in military IT strategy, emphasizing innovative technologies and centralized management over traditional, large-scale personnel structures. This approach aligns with #DefenseDigitalTransformation initiatives to enhance cybersecurity and operational readiness. These changes could reshape how the military supports its technological infrastructure, impacting future defense capabilities.
The price hike by @Samsung on its Panther Lake-equipped Galaxy Book 6 Pro laptops is about $477, a roughly 25% rise over the previous-gen #Lunar Lake Galaxy Book 5 Pro. Samsung lists the Book 6 Pro at 3,510,000 Won (~$2,381) versus 2,808,000 Won (~$1,904) for the Book 5 Pro. The article attributes the jump to higher #DRAM and #NAND costs and a CPU upgrade from an 8-core to a 16-core chip, suggesting increased component costs are being passed to customers. Memory remains 32 GB LPDDR5X and storage stays at 1 TB across models, while some variants offer RTX 50-series GPUs or Xe3-based Arc graphics. Overall, the piece frames the rise as a deliberate margin-protection move rather than a pure performance upgrade, noting the comparatively smaller hike between the Galaxy Book 4 Pro and Book 5 Pro.
24. The iPhone 18 Pro’s biggest change may be its selfie camera
The @Apple iPhone 18 Pro is rumored to shift the front-facing camera from a centered cutout to a small punch-hole in the top-left corner, signaling a quieter but significant redesign. Leaks from @TheInformation and claims from Digital Chat Station suggest under-display Face ID would place the TrueDepth sensors beneath the screen, leaving only the selfie camera visible. The change could also move the Dynamic Island if the selfie camera relocates, with videos from @JonProsser showing the Island shifting to the top-left and expanding for Live Activities, calls, or navigation. If true, the redesign would favor a cleaner front face by reducing visible sensors and keeping the new layout limited to Pro models, #DynamicIsland and #underDisplay tech. Apple’s official unveiling later this year will confirm which rumors hold and shape expectations for the iPhone’s front-camera and display strategy.
25. China previews how powerful its new Xuntian space telescope will be ahead of 2027 launch (video)
The @Xuntian space telescope, also known as #CSST (surveying the heavens), is nearing an early-2027 launch to orbit with China’s Tiangong space station. It carries a 2-meter primary mirror, a bus-sized platform, and a 2.5-billion-pixel camera with a field of view about 300 times that of @Hubble, enabling sky surveys from near-UV to near-IR with high spatial resolution. An end-to-end simulation suite has been built to produce mock observations of the telescope’s optical and other systems to test performance, with results published in Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics in January. After launch on a Long March 5B rocket, Xuntian will operate in low Earth orbit and co-orbit with Tiangong, with CCTV visuals showing docking and astronauts potentially conducting spacewalks to maintain or upgrade the observatory. The mission is expected to contribute to cosmology, galaxy evolution, the Milky Way, and the study of stars and planets, and may offer insights into dark matter and dark energy.
That’s all for today’s digest for 2026/01/20! We picked, and processed 23 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! 🚀
