Welcome to today’s curated collection of interesting links and insights for 2025/11/16. Our Hand-picked, AI-optimized system has processed and summarized 20 articles from all over the internet to bring you the latest technology news.
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1. Jury says Apple owes Masimo $634M for patent infringement | TechCrunch
A federal jury in California ruled that @Apple must pay @Masimo $634 million for infringing a patent on #pulse oximetry and #blood oxygen monitoring technology. The verdict found that the Apple Watch’s workout mode and heart-rate notifications violated Masimo’s patent, part of a wider dispute Masimo says includes alleged employee poaching and IP theft. Apple plans to appeal and notes the single patent expired in 2022; the ITC previously banned imports of Apple Watches with the blood-oxygen feature. The ruling underscores ongoing IP battles in health tech and could influence how wearables approach biosensors and data-sharing moving forward.
2. Apple’s 15% mini-app move gets Tencent to cut it in
Apple cuts its take to 15% on purchases inside mini apps running within iOS apps and secures a deal with @Tencent to bring @WeChat’s mini-program ecosystem into its revenue net. Under the #MiniAppsPartnerProgram, Apple will take 15% of in-app sales in qualifying mini apps, with Tencent’s @WeChat mini games and apps generating 32.3 billion yuan ($4.5 billion) in the quarter ended 30 September. This move builds on Apple’s 2020 30% App Store rate and its later loosening of anti-steering rules amid regulatory scrutiny, signaling a continued push to widen the mini-app model even as regulators in multiple regions press for more competition. The program requires partners to support age declaration, commerce APIs, and use web technologies such as #HTML5 and #JavaScript, positioning mini apps as platforms that can be embedded in existing apps and potentially expanding the West’s adoption of the ecosystem, including endorsements from high-profile figures like @ElonMusk who has floated a super-app idea. In doing so, Apple ties the mini-app vision to its broader platform economics, potentially accelerating uptake of mini apps across the wider app economy.
3. New pressure method captures 99% of CO2 for just $26 per ton
A new #PICC technology uses water and pressure, reminiscent of soda fizz, to capture CO2. It claims to capture 99% of CO2 at a cost far lower than chemical systems. If scalable, this approach could dramatically reduce the expense of carbon capture and lessen reliance on traditional #carboncapture methods. This development highlights the potential of water-based, pressure-driven processes to address climate challenges #CO2.
4. Former Disney star sparks controversy for his AI app that lets you talk to dead relatives
@Calum Worthy’s AI app #2wai lets users create digital clones of deceased loved ones, presenting itself as a ‘living archive of humanity’ and sparking controversy over digital necromancy. A promotional video shows a pregnant woman speaking with her late mother’s younger self, then reveals the grandmother is an AI avatar created from a three-minute video, with the caption ‘With 2wai, three minutes can last forever.’ The platform also promotes AI avatars of historical figures such as William Shakespeare, Florence Nightingale, King Henry VIII, and Friday Kahlo as real-time teaching assistants for immersive learning, plus specialized avatars for cooking, astrology, and travel, and a digitized version of Worthy himself. Critics on X described the project as disturbing and compared it to a #BlackMirror storyline, with some calling for punishment or exile over its necromantic premise. The piece frames the venture as building a ‘living archive’ while raising ethical questions about consent, memory, and safety in AI.
5. Tim Cook could step down as Apple CEO next year
Tim Cook could step down as Apple CEO next year, marking a potential leadership transition after 14 years at the helm. According to the Financial Times, @John_Ternus is the frontrunner for the post as the board advances a formal succession plan, and Cook’s retirement would follow COO @Jeff_Williams’s departure, with expanded responsibilities for @Eddy_Cue, @Craig_Federighi, and Ternus. The report indicates Apple will likely promote an internal successor, aligning with Cook’s stated preference for internal candidates and detailed succession plans #succession #internal. Regardless of who takes over, the move reflects Apple’s ongoing evolution under Cook, including its shift to outsourcing manufacturing that has enabled scale #Apple.
The Windows president discussed the current state of #Windows11 following public backlash related to its integration of #AI features, emphasizing that Microsoft acknowledges challenges and is committed to improvement. He highlighted feedback from users regarding the new AI-powered elements and admitted that the initial rollout did not meet all expectations. Microsoft plans to refine the user experience by addressing performance and usability issues while continuing to innovate. This approach reflects a broader trend in tech companies balancing AI advancements with user satisfaction. The commitment to adapt Windows 11 shows Microsoft’s recognition of the complexity in merging AI with everyday software and its dedication to delivering a better product.
7. Tech Capitalists Don’t Care About Humans. Literally.
The article centers on a TESCREAL vision shaping Silicon Valley’s AI discourse, a techno-utopian future in which biological humans are to be replaced by digital beings endowed with superintelligence, framed as progress by @ElonMusk, @PeterThiel, and @SamAltman. It defines TESCREAL as Transhumanism, Extropianism, Singularitarianism, Cosmism, Rationalism, Effective Altruism, Longtermism, and notes its growing influence in Silicon Valley. This worldview leans on totalist utilitarianism, which treats value as an impersonal quantity that the cosmos experiences as it increases, making human beings mere substrates of value rather than ends in themselves. This vantage point is linked to #eugenics and #IQrealism and helps explain the obsession with #AGI and the push to maximize value through post-human futures rather than human welfare. By presenting these ideas through Émile Torres’s critique in a Doug Henwood interview for Jacobin, the piece asks readers to consider how these beliefs might shape AI policy, corporate strategy, and the fate of humanity, urging caution about prioritizing value expansion over human flourishing.
8. Oura Ring 4 Ceramic review: A colorful glow up
The Oura Ring 4 Ceramic is an upgraded version of the popular health tracking device, featuring new color options and enhanced materials including a ceramic finish. It continues to provide accurate sleep, activity, and readiness monitoring through advanced sensors and refined algorithms. The improvements offer users a more stylish and comfortable wearable without sacrificing tracking precision. This refresh aligns with the growing trend of integrating health tech with everyday fashion and personalization. As a result, the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic maintains its position as a leading device in the #wearabletech space for health-conscious users seeking both function and form.
9. When Will the US Finally Get $15K EVs?
The US is unlikely to see $15K EVs soon, as automakers like @JimFarley of Ford push for profitability while rethinking the design and build process to cut costs, signaling that mass market affordability remains a longer term goal. The end of the $7,500 federal EV incentive and persistently high new car prices mean price parity with gas cars did not arrive in 2025, despite early predictions. Industry observers describe three cost cutting routes: radically simplify vehicles and the production process, use cheaper batteries, and make smaller cars, with Ford pursuing a clean sheet approach led by @DougField to rethink architecture and assembly. Ford plans its first new vehicle around 2028, a pickup roughly the size of the Maverick, from a retooled Louisville plant, with a platform that will spawn two more EVs including replacements for the F-150 Lightning and the Ford e-Transit. The global competition from #BYD and other Chinese makers, plus tariff dynamics, pressure incumbents to move faster, but affordable EVs in large volumes will depend on achieving scale and further cost reductions #tariffs
Integrating skin images with patient metadata, a deep learning model from Incheon National University achieves 94.5% accuracy in melanoma detection, highlighting a potential boost to early screening in smart healthcare @Gwangill Jeon. Trained on the SIIM-ISIC melanoma dataset with over 33,000 dermoscopic images and clinical metadata, the model outperforms image-only approaches such as #ResNet-50 and #EfficientNet, achieving an F1-score of 0.94. Feature importance analysis identifies lesion size, patient age, and anatomical site as strong contributors, increasing transparency and helping clinicians trust AI-assisted decisions #multimodalfusion #transparency. The work suggests a practical AI tool that could transform real-world melanoma screening and integrate into #smarthealthcare systems #melanoma #earlydetection.
Disney CEO @BobIger revealed plans for Disney+ to allow users to create AI-generated short-form content, triggering a fierce backlash. Animator @DanaTerrace, creator of The Owl House, responded publicly by calling on fans to cancel their subscriptions and “pirate” her show in protest, condemning the move as a threat to creative integrity and artist livelihoods. Critics warn this plan could devalue Disney’s intellectual property, replacing human creativity with algorithmic slop.
Definition: Generative AI content
Generative AI content refers to media created by machine-learning models (like large language models or image/video generators) that is produced in response to user prompts rather than handcrafted by humans. In entertainment, this content can range from text to visuals or even full scenes, raising debates about copyright, ownership, and the role of human artists.
12. Samsung hikes memory chip prices by up to 60% as shortage worsens, sources say
Samsung has increased its memory chip prices by up to 60% due to a worsening global shortage, driven by rising demand for components used in smartphones, data centers, and artificial intelligence applications. Sources indicate that this price hike is part of a broader pattern across the semiconductor industry, as supply constraints tighten amid strong consumption trends. The increase reflects Samsung’s strategic adjustment to balance supply and demand dynamics while optimizing revenue during shortages. This move also signals the ongoing challenges that technology manufacturers face in managing production capacity and raw material availability. Samsung’s pricing adjustments highlight the critical role of #semiconductors and memory chips in powering next-generation technologies and the evolving market pressures companies are navigating.
13. Twitch’s new face-scan policy sparks fierce backlash
@Twitch’s new facial recognition age verification policy for UK users, intended to comply with the #OnlineSafetyAct, has sparked fierce backlash. The policy makes facial recognition mandatory for age checks, prompting concerns about privacy and security. The debate underscores tensions between regulatory safety aims and user data protection, potentially affecting trust in live-streaming platforms. The outcome could influence how #facial-recognition tech is used in online services and how platforms balance safety with #privacy concerns.
14. Samsung fans won’t like this: OnePlus just topped the S25 Ultra in more ways than one
OnePlus has introduced a new flagship that surpasses Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra in several aspects, igniting competition among top smartphone brands. The device excels in performance, camera capabilities, and design, offering features that appeal to tech enthusiasts seeking cutting-edge innovation. This development underscores OnePlus’s growing influence in the premium smartphone market, challenging established leaders like Samsung. The enhanced specifications and user experience demonstrate an evolving landscape where OnePlus is positioning itself as a formidable competitor. These advancements suggest buyers now have more compelling choices beyond traditional market leaders, reshaping consumer expectations and options.
15. Galaxy Z TriFold hits a key milestone ahead of US release
@Samsung has started firmware testing for the unlocked Galaxy Z TriFold for the US market. The device is described as Samsung’s first tri-folding smartphone, capable of folding and unfolding twice, with a 10-inch main display and a 6.5-inch cover screen. A limited initial launch is planned, with the US as the only Western market slated to get it, and it will be sold through carriers as well as an unlocked model in the USA. Until now firmware testing existed mainly for the carrier-locked variant SM-F968U, but the unlocked variant SM-F968U1 is now underway, per @SamMobile. Rumors point to a December 5 unveiling, continuing Samsung’s trend of dual-path releases for flagship Galaxy devices #unveiling #TriFold
16. Counting Renaissance butts in Rome with the Meta Ray-Ban Display
The author @Victoria Song tests traveling with the #Ray-Ban #Display in Rome and finds that these glasses can enrich art viewing while feeling less intrusive when not worn as a 24/7 device. In a solo late-day visit to the Sistine Chapel, #live-translation largely failed due to crosstalk and garbled announcements, and the embedded audio guide died within about 10 minutes, limiting real-time use. The episode highlights both the potential of #AI glasses to contextualize art in the wild and the stubborn limits of live translation under public-tourist conditions, especially when LTE is weak. Yet the experience remains promising: the device offers moments of real context, and the author notes privacy and cultural questions are real but navigable; traveling with them was more engaging than daily use. Overall, the test suggests that the best smart glasses are the ones you can take off when needed, with real value emerging from selective, real-world use rather than constant wear.
17. Tesla is looking to phase out China-made parts at US factories: report
Tesla is directing suppliers to remove China-made components from vehicles built in the United States, aiming to complete the transition within about two years and making US-made cars even more American-made. The move follows @WSJ reporting that Tesla has already swapped out several China-made parts and has reduced reliance on China-based suppliers as the pandemic disrupted supply chains, expanding North American sourcing over the past two years amid tariff uncertainties. If the shift is fully realized, vehicles could become more locally sourced than today, though it remains unclear whether changes in suppliers would affect prices for models such as #Model3 and #ModelY. The move mirrors actions across the auto industry, with @GM issuing directives to remove China-origin components and @Stellantis pursuing strategies to avoid tariffs. This trend signals a broader push toward regionalizing supply chains amid trade frictions and supply-chain concerns.
18. Earth Has Tilted 31.5 Inches. That Shouldn’t Happen.
Groundwater pumping has a substantial impact on Earth’s tilt and rotation, with a Geophysical Research Letters study showing that moving about 2,150 gigatons of groundwater between 1993 and 2010 altered the planet’s tilt by roughly 31.5 inches and contributed about 0.24 inches to sea level rise. The authors note that groundwater redistribution is among climate-related causes with the largest influence on the drift of Earth’s rotational pole, a point echoed by @Ki-Weon Seo and other researchers. As water is moved from midlatitude regions—especially western North America and northwestern India—to the oceans, the mass redistribution changes how the planet spins, similar to adding a tiny weight to a spinning top #polar_motion #groundwater #sea_level_rise #climate_change. Understanding this movement and its historical patterns may deepen insights into sea-level rise and climate dynamics, guiding future research into groundwater’s role in Earth’s rotation and climate system. The study also points to the value of examining historical data to reveal trends in groundwater movement and its broader planetary effects #rotation #climate_change.
19. Sun fires off 2nd-strongest flare of 2025, sparking radio blackouts across Africa
An #X4-class-flare erupted on Nov. 14 from sunspot AR4274, the second-strongest flare of 2025, and was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (#CME) that is under analysis for any Earth-directed component; the event produced strong (R3) radio blackouts on the sunlit side of Earth, with the worst disruptions over central and eastern Africa. The flare peaked at 3:30 a.m. EST, and AR4274’s near-limb position means any associated CME is less likely to strike Earth, though forecasters are reviewing coronagraph data for possible clipping in the coming days. X-class flares are among the most powerful solar eruptions, and while the radiation reaches Earth in about 8 minutes and rapidly ionizes the upper atmosphere, causing radio outages, the CME’s trajectory adds uncertainty about longer-term impacts. This eruption follows the region’s recent X5 blast earlier in Solar Cycle 25, underscoring the sun’s volatile activity and the need for ongoing monitoring by @NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center and other space-weather observers. Updates will be issued as new data arrive.
20. ‘Godfather of AI’ Breaks Major Science Research Record
Bengio has become the first person to surpass one million Google Scholar citations, underscoring his central role in #neural_networks and AI alongside @Geoffrey_Hinton and @Yann_LeCun, who shared the 2019 #A.M.Turing_Award for work on neural networks. His influential papers include the 2014 Generative Adversarial Nets with more than 105,000 citations, a Nature review co-authored with @Yann_LeCun and @Geoffrey_Hinton, and research on #attention that helped drive the chatbot revolution led by #ChatGPT. Experts say that raw citation counts are crude metrics that can be manipulated, and different bibliometric platforms — Web of Science, Scopus, and OpenAlex — yield different totals, reminding us that citations are only part of scientific impact. Bengio says he is an avid user of Google Scholar and that it revolutionized science, but he also notes that he pays as little attention to his own counts as possible, arguing that pursuing citations should not drive good science. The milestone, and the fact that eight of this century’s top ten cited papers are about ML, underscores the rapid growth of #ML and #AI, a trend noted by MIT’s @Kaiming_He who calls the development remarkable and highlights its broad societal influence.
That’s all for today’s digest for 2025/11/16! We picked, and processed 20 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! 🚀