Welcome to today’s curated collection of interesting links and insights for 2025/10/14. Our Hand-picked, AI-optimized system has processed and summarized 26 articles from all over the internet to bring you the latest technology news.
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1. Tech billionaires seem to be doom prepping. Should we be worried?
Prominent tech figures are preparing for catastrophic events—buying bunkers, private islands, and fortified compounds—and questions whether this behavior signals genuine risk or mere paranoia. It connects their preparations to growing existential anxieties about climate change, geopolitical instability, pandemics, and AI risk, suggesting that those with extreme foresight or capital are acting on worst-case scenarios that many dismiss. While critics see these moves as performative or disconnected from systemic solutions, the piece argues they reflect deep shifts in how elites perceive the future and manage uncertainty.
2. German state replaces Microsoft Exchange and Outlook with open-source email
Schleswig-Holstein has replaced Microsoft Exchange and Outlook with open-source email using #Open-Xchange and #Thunderbird as part of a push for #digital sovereignty. The six-month migration covered more than 40,000 mailboxes and over 100 million messages and calendar entries, affecting about 30,000 state employees across the Chancellery, ministries, judiciary, police, and other authorities. The Digitalization Minister framed the switch as reducing dependence on large tech firms and as a model for broader open-source adoption in government. The state has also rolled out #LibreOffice as the default office suite and worked with open-source vendor @Nextcloud, illustrating a broader strategy to replace proprietary systems with OSS across government. The example is presented as a reference for other EU agencies and aligns with Schleswig-Holstein’s April 2025 policy statement #OpenInnovation #OpenSourceStrategy to maintain data control and sovereignty.
3. No fix yet for attack that lets hackers pluck 2FA codes from Android phones
A critical security flaw remains unpatched on Android phones, allowing hackers to intercept two-factor authentication (2FA) codes and compromise accounts. Researchers disclosed that the vulnerability exploits Android’s notification system, enabling attackers to extract 2FA codes silently. Despite public awareness and warnings from security experts, Google has yet to release a fix, raising concerns about the ongoing risk to millions of users. The persistence of this vulnerability underscores challenges in securing #Android devices and highlights the need for prompt vendor response to emerging threats. Users are advised to remain vigilant and consider alternative authentication methods until a patch is deployed.
4. A New Genetics Study Does Not Bolster Charles Murray’s Claims About Intelligence
The article examines a recent genetics study related to intelligence, which does not support the controversial claims made by @CharlesMurray in his work on race and intelligence. The study utilizes modern genetic methods to analyze intelligence-related traits but finds no evidence validating Murray’s assertions about innate, genetically determined differences among racial groups. This challenges Murray’s interpretation of intelligence as predominantly hereditary and suggests environmental and social factors must be considered critically. The findings call into question the scientific basis of some public policy arguments that draw on genetic determinism of intelligence. Overall, the article emphasizes the need to approach genetics and intelligence with nuanced understanding, avoiding reductionist or racially biased conclusions.
5. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Unit to lay off about 550 workers
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is planning to lay off approximately 550 workers as part of organizational changes to align resources with upcoming mission priorities and budget constraints. The reductions will mostly affect technical and administrative staff involved in various space exploration projects, reflecting a shift in focus towards emerging programs. This workforce adjustment highlights the challenges faced by government research institutions in balancing innovation goals with fiscal realities. The layoffs are expected to impact JPL’s operational capacity while enabling strategic realignment for future missions including planetary science and earth observation. Such moves underscore the evolving priorities in space exploration and the need for agile resource management at key institutions like NASA.
6. California Will Stop Using Coal As A Power Source Next Month
California plans to cease using coal for electricity generation starting November, aligning with the state’s broader clean energy goals. This decision is backed by the shutdown of the last coal plant with a connection to California, marking a significant transition to renewable and cleaner energy sources. The state has increased investments in solar, wind, and battery storage technologies to ensure a stable power supply without coal. This move reflects California’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change while maintaining energy reliability. The shift away from coal supports the state’s leadership in environmental policy and clean energy innovation.
7. Mass firings at US health dept. partially reversed but still devastating
Mass layoffs across federal health agencies, with the CDC hardest hit, threaten public health capacity even as some terminations are reversed. Initial reports indicated more than 4,000 federal workers targeted, including about 1,100 to 1,200 in HHS, with cuts sweeping through the CDC’s Washington, DC office and units responsible for #MMWR, measles and Ebola responses, the Global Health Center, and the Epidemic Intelligence Service. Some terminations were rescinded on Saturday after a reversal attributed to a coding error, but remaining cuts could cripple core activities and data functions across #CDC and #HHS. Debra Houry, former CDC chief medical officer, said the layoff wave hit NHANES staff supporting the #MakeAmericaHealthyAgain initiative led by @Robert F. Kennedy Jr., highlighting broader damage to science and ethics amid past censorship accusations and leadership upheaval. The episode underscores how political decisions can erode outbreak surveillance, data integrity, and global health work, threatening public trust as the CDC confronts ongoing health threats.
8. Kids who use social media score lower on reading and memory tests, a study shows
Increasing social media use is associated with lower reading, vocabulary, and memory scores in early adolescence, according to data from the large ABCD Study. The researchers tracked over 6,000 children ages 9 to 10 and grouped them into three patterns: about 58% with little or no use, about 37% rising to roughly one hour per day by age 13, and about 6% in a high increasing group of three or more hours daily by age 13, with the high group scoring 4–5 points lower on reading and memory tests and even the low-increasing group showing 1–2 point deficits versus nonusers. The pattern suggests a dosage effect, with higher exposure linked to larger cognitive differences, a point noted by @Sheri Madigan in an accompanying editorial and by @Jason Nagata who emphasizes implications for learning during school hours. The study thus highlights potential impacts of social media on learning and information processing in adolescence and underscores the need for further research and consideration of school policies such as phone bans #ABCDStudy #reading #memory #cognition.
9. Amazon fires employee who was suspended for protesting company’s work with Israel
Ahmed Shahrour, a Palestinian software engineer at Amazon’s Whole Foods unit in Seattle, was fired after being suspended last month for Slack posts criticizing the company’s work with Israel, including the #ProjectNimbus contract with the Israeli government. Amazon said he violated standards of conduct, the written communication policy, and the acceptable use policy, alleging misuse of company resources and posting numerous non-work-related messages about the Israel-Palestine conflict, and notified him that his termination would include details about benefits and final pay. Shahrour’s supporters described the move as retaliation to silence Palestinian voices within Amazon and to shield the company’s collaboration in Gaza from scrutiny, while Amazon spokesman Brad Glasser maintained the company does not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or threatening language and will act when conduct is reported. The firing unfolds as geopolitical tensions continue, with Hamas releasing hostages and a ceasefire deal brokered with U.S. involvement led by @DonaldTrump, highlighting how corporate actions intersect with broader regional events.
NASA plans to deorbit the International Space Station in 2030 while signaling a shift to privately owned, commercially operated space stations in #lowEarthOrbit to sustain a 25 year human presence in orbit. The ISS has maintained continuous human presence since 2000 and is a collaboration among @NASA and international partners including Europe, Canada, Japan and Russia, producing more than 4,000 experiments and over 4,400 publications across fields such as #materials_science, #biotechnology, #astronomy, #Earth_science and #combustion. The research conducted in the ISS demonstrates the value of studying physical, chemical and biological processes in the unique space environment, which features microgravity, vacuum, extreme temperature cycles and radiation. Since 2021, NASA has funded private, commercially operated space stations and leveraged commercial partners for cargo and crew transport, investing over $400 million to stimulate private stations, with a September 2025 draft for Phase 2 proposals signaling next steps for a commercial station era. The effort aims to launch and activate private stations before the ISS is decommissioned, marking a shift toward the age of commercial space stations.
11. Sora 2 and ChatGPT are consuming so much power that OpenAI just did another 10 gigawatt deal
OpenAI is partnering with Broadcom to design and deploy 10 gigawatts of custom AI chips and systems, a scale of power that would run a large city and underscores how energy-intensive the AI boom has become. That effort follows deals with @Nvidia and @AMD as @OpenAI seeks more compute to serve its growing user base, including ChatGPT with 800 million weekly users. Deployment is expected in the second half of 2026, and Broadcom CEO Hock Tan said the company has secured a new $10 billion customer believed to be OpenAI. @Sam Altman, CEO of @OpenAI, says the partnership will embed lessons from frontier models into hardware, unlocking new levels of capability and intelligence. Sustainability concerns are front and center, with a 2024 DOE data-center projection estimating 6.7% to 12% of US electricity could flow to data centers by 2028, while more powerful models like Sora 2 are expected to be even more power-intensive, prompting discussions about #AI, #customAIchips, #dataCenters and #power efficiency.
12. Why Signal’s Post-Quantum Makeover Is an Amazing Engineering Achievement
Signal’s implementation of #post-quantum cryptography represents a remarkable engineering feat, showcasing its commitment to future-proof secure communication. The upgrade integrates complex quantum-resistant algorithms without compromising user experience or existing security guarantees, addressing growing concerns around #quantumcomputing threats. Signal’s team overcame significant challenges related to performance, backward compatibility, and cryptographic robustness, demonstrating deep expertise and careful design decisions. This move advances the field of encrypted messaging by setting a new standard for proactive security adaptations, encouraging broader adoption of quantum-secure protocols. Signal’s innovation highlights the importance of engineering creativity in fortifying digital privacy against emerging computational paradigms.
13. Andrea Bartz on Anthropic’s Lawsuit and the AI Industry’s Rising Pains
Andrea Bartz’s article explores the lawsuit filed by Anthropic, an AI company, highlighting the escalating legal conflicts in the growing #AI industry. The piece outlines how Anthropic accuses a rival firm of misappropriating trade secrets, reflecting heightened competition and ethical concerns in artificial intelligence development. This legal battle exemplifies the broader challenges AI companies face in balancing innovation with intellectual property protection and regulatory scrutiny. Bartz connects these disputes to the industry’s rapid expansion and its impact on corporate culture and public trust. The article emphasizes that such lawsuits are indicative of #AI’s complex evolution and the need for clearer standards and cooperation among tech firms.
14. Britain issues first online safety fine to US website 4chan
Britain’s online regulator has issued its first fine under the Online Safety Act to US imageboard website 4chan for failing to protect users from harmful content. The UK’s communications watchdog Ofcom fined 4chan £250,000 for not removing illegal material timely, including violent and terrorist content that risked users’ safety. The #OnlineSafetyAct, effective since early 2024, mandates that platforms moderate harmful content to protect users, especially children. This enforcement signals the UK’s commitment to regulating global internet platforms regardless of their origin. The fine against 4chan underscores the increasing regulatory scrutiny of online platforms to enhance user safety and content responsibility.
15. Microsoft rolls Copilot into Viva Insights, boosting workplace productivity
Microsoft has integrated its AI-powered Copilot into Viva Insights to enhance employee productivity and wellbeing. This fusion provides personalized recommendations and automates tasks like meeting summaries, helping users focus on priorities and reduce email overload. By embedding Copilot, Microsoft aims to streamline workflows through natural language processing and data analysis, offering actionable insights based on work patterns. The move reflects the growing trend of embedding AI assistants into workplace software to improve efficiency and employee experience. Microsoft’s integration exemplifies how #AI and digital wellbeing tools converge to support modern hybrid work environments.
17. Satellites Are Leaking the World’s Secrets: Calls, Texts, Military and Corporate Data
A study by @UCSD and @UMD researchers found that roughly half of geostationary satellite signals are unencrypted, exposing a range of data from consumers, businesses, and government communications. Using an $800 off-the-shelf satellite receiver on a San Diego rooftop, they intercepted signals from GEO satellites and gathered samples including Americans’ calls and texts on #T-Mobile, in-flight Wi-Fi data, and communications related to critical infrastructure and US/Mexican military and law enforcement. The researchers describe their paper as ‘Don’t Look Up’ and say the data reveal a security complacency: encryption was often assumed or overlooked rather than enforced. After notifying many affected parties, several, including most telecoms, moved quickly to encrypt, while others with critical infrastructure remain vulnerable, highlighting #cybersecurity, #satellites, and #criticalInfrastructure implications for the ecosystem. These findings, presented at an ACM conference in Taiwan, also note that roughly 15% of GEO satellites in view could be intercepted, underscoring the urgent need for universal encryption across satellite communications.
The latest Windows Media Creation Tool #MCT for upgrading to #Windows11 may fail on Windows 10 after a Sept 29 update, arriving just as Windows 10 reaches its end of life on Oct 14. Microsoft acknowledges the issue in a status update, noting the MCT ‘might close unexpectedly, displaying no error message,’ a behavior Windows Latest could reproduce. This timing complicates upgrades for users relying on the tool to prepare upgrade media, so @Microsoft outlines practical alternatives and guidance. As workarounds, users can try #WindowsUpdate in Windows 10 or download a bootable ISO from https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11 with caution that some systems may require modification via #Rufus or enabling local account setup. Microsoft is actively working to fix the MCT issue, and the piece also points to #TPM #CPU #RAM bypass guides and #Linux options as additional paths for those upgrading.
20. Broadcom’s chip president says mystery $10 billion customer isn’t OpenAI
Broadcom’s chip head @Charlie Kawwas says @OpenAI is not the mystery $10 billion customer disclosed in Broadcom’s Q3 earnings report. The joint effort will deploy racks of OpenAI-designed chips totaling 10 gigawatts of custom #AI accelerators, with deployments slated to begin in late next year and a completion target of 2029. The collaboration reflects OpenAI’s aggressive #AI infrastructure push and Broadcom’s aim to scale compute capacity, as @Greg Brockman notes that embedding frontier-model learnings into hardware can unlock new capabilities. Despite speculation about other large customers such as Google, Meta, or ByteDance, Kawwas stressed that OpenAI does not fit the description, and the teams have been working together for about 18 months toward a 2029 finish.
21. EU chief signals tough talks with Poland over independent court law
The EU is preparing for a contentious negotiation with Poland after the country passed a law to impose the government’s control over the judiciary, potentially undermining the rule of law. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen indicated that the Commission would pursue legal action to protect judicial independence and uphold EU values. Poland’s ruling Law and Justice party argues the reforms are necessary for judicial accountability, but critics warn they threaten the separation of powers and democracy. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between Brussels and Warsaw over rule-of-law issues and could affect EU funds and cooperation. This clash underscores the broader challenge of maintaining the EU’s legal and democratic standards amid rising nationalist governance in member states.
22. Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s Intersection in Silicon Valley
Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s relationship illustrates the complex entanglement between Silicon Valley and political power. Musk’s ventures, including SpaceX and Twitter, have increasingly intersected with political controversy, especially under Trump’s influence who shapes both media narratives and technology discussions. The alignment and clashes between their approaches reveal how #technology leaders navigate political ideologies and regulatory landscapes. This dynamic highlights the broader implications of tech moguls influencing governance and public discourse, raising questions about accountability and societal impact. By examining Musk and Trump’s interplay, the article sheds light on Silicon Valley’s expanding role in shaping #policy and national strategies.
23. Two critical flaws put 7-Zip users at risk
Two critical vulnerabilities have been discovered in the popular file archiver 7-Zip, potentially putting users at risk of remote code execution attacks. Researchers revealed that specially crafted archive files could exploit these weaknesses, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code on victims’ systems. The flaws affect multiple versions of 7-Zip and underline the importance of applying patches promptly to mitigate security risks. @7-Zip developers have released updates addressing these issues, emphasizing the need for users to keep their software up to date. This situation highlights the ongoing challenges in software security and the critical role of timely updates for protection against exploits.
24. OpenAI is trying to clamp down on ‘bias’ in ChatGPT
OpenAI says ChatGPT should have no political bias in any direction, and its latest @GPT-5 models come closest to that goal after an internal stress-test of responses to divisive issues. The test, months in the making, evaluated 100 topics such as immigration or abortion across five prompts from liberal to conservative and charged to neutral, using four models: GPT-4o, OpenAI o3, @GPT-5 instant, and @GPT-5 thinking. Another large language model graded the responses, using a rubric to identify rhetorical techniques such as invalidating opposing views, presenting one side as the chatbot’s own, or placing user phrasing in scare quotes. The results show bias is infrequent and of low severity overall, with moderate bias in charged prompts and liberal prompts exerting the largest pull on #objectivity across model families. @GPT-5 instant and @GPT-5 thinking performed better than the older models, suggesting progress in resisting pressure from charged prompts while maintaining #objectivity.
25. BYD: Chinese EV giant sees UK sales soar by 880%
BYD has made the UK its biggest market outside China after September sales surged 880% from a year earlier. The company sold 11,271 cars in the UK in September, with the Seal U plug-in hybrid accounting for the majority of those sales, and UK EV demand hit a record with BEVs almost 73,000 and plug-in hybrids growing fastest, while BYD’s UK market share rose to 3.6% as it opened its 100th retail outlet. The UK’s tariff-free stance on Chinese #EVs and BYD’s cheaper models help drive demand, with BYD’s UK manager @BonoGe saying the brand’s future in Britain looks hugely exciting. This momentum positions BYD for continued growth in the UK even as the global market remains subject to tariffs elsewhere and intense competition.
26. 2025 Nobel Prize in Economics Awarded for Advances in Behavioral Economics
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Economics honors groundbreaking work in behavioral economics, emphasizing how psychological factors influence economic decisions. Researchers demonstrated that traditional economic models often overlook human biases and heuristics, which impact markets and policy outcomes. Their findings provide robust evidence that integrating #psychology with #economics offers more accurate predictions and better policy designs. This shift challenges classical assumptions of rational actors, enriching economic theory and practical applications in areas like retirement savings and consumer protection. The recognition by the Nobel committee reflects the growing importance of interdisciplinary approaches in understanding economic behavior.
Oppo’s Find X9 Pro and Find X9 leaks reveal a continuing @Hasselblad collaboration and an enhanced #XPan mode aimed at cinema-style wide shots. A short demo video and additional #Hasselblad samples on @Oppo’s official @Weibo channel show camera switching across all lenses and styles such as black and white or film negative. The Pro’s triple-camera system — a 50MP Sony LYT-828 main, a 50MP ISOCELL JN5 ultrawide, and an ISOCELL HP5 200MP telephoto with f/2.1 plus a 2MP multispectral sensor — along with a 50MP front camera, 7,025mAh battery with 80W wired and 50W wireless charging, and IP68/IP69 ratings, signals a camera-first premium package. With a Find X9 powered by Dimensity 9500 and a larger LTPO-OLED Pro, launch targeted for October 16 and Europe availability soon after, Oppo is positioning the Find X9 series as a high-end, imaging-focused lineup.
28. Exclusive: A wider launch for Galaxy Z TriFold is confirmed
As reported by @AsifIqbalShaik, Samsung is expanding the Galaxy Z TriFold rollout beyond China and South Korea to the UAE, with a possible path to the USA. The article notes a broader launch than initially expected and points to a rumored 10-inch OLED screen that folds into three parts and patents for a three-battery setup. A triple-camera system with a 200MP primary sensor, ultrawide, and tele lenses is also anticipated. This wider availability signals Samsung’s confidence in the device’s capabilities and a desire to showcase it to more consumers across regions. If confirmed, the UAE and potentially the USA would underscore a deliberate strategy to bring foldable technology to mainstream markets #foldable #GalaxyZTriFold #10inchOLED.
That’s all for today’s digest for 2025/10/14! 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! 🚀