Microsoft will release its Recall search feature for Windows users to test beginning in October. Recall takes screenshots of screen activity so people can search for information they saw earlier. Security researchers are concerned about the risks associated with the feature as it may make personal information easily accessible to attackers. Microsoft says it is committed to security enhancements for the feature.
The new generation of heavy lift rockets is rising to challenge SpaceX (14 minute read)
While SpaceX is the undisputed leader in launch, with a record 96 launches last year, it has a growing number of competitors that say they can bring much-needed supply and competitive pressure to the market. This article looks at the current medium-, heavy, and super-heavy lift rocket landscape. While some are yet to be operational, if any of these projects succeed, it will change everything in the industry.
Microplastics have been found accumulating in critical human organs, leading researchers to call for more urgent actions to deal with plastic pollution.
Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman said in a June fireside chat that AI will replace coding in a few years, which means developers will have to think more about the end product.
The Top 100 Gen AI Consumer Apps (8 minute read)
This post looks at which generative AI apps people are actually using. Creative tools are still drawing in consumers. ChatGPT is still the number one product on web and mobile by a large margin, but the competition is starting to heat up. New use cases are emerging, with some apps giving users beauty tips and others helping users uplevel their dating messages. Discord traffic is a leading indicator for apps that will climb the web and mobile ranks.
The Top Programming Languages 2024 (3 minute read)
Python ranks as the most popular language, and it's pretty popular with employers too.
Shocker: French make surprise arrest of Telegram founder at Paris airport (2 minute read)
French authorities have detained Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram messaging app. They plan to hit him with charges related to abetting terrorism, fraud, money laundering, and crimes against children. There is a near-total lack of moderation on the platform, making it a top tool for organized crime. Durov's arrest has led to widespread panic in Russia - Telegram is used by Russian forces to communicate, and Western intelligence services may be able to obtain sensitive information about the Russian military if they gain access to it.
Why does getting a job in tech suck right now? (Is it AI?!?) (29 minute read)
A lot of new CS graduates are finding it really hard to get a job. There is a massive confluence of factors, both on the demand and supply side of the market, that are contributing to it being harder to land a job in tech. There are more CS graduates than ever and employers are hiring fewer software engineers. AI is not replacing engineers' jobs yet and it probably won't happen for an incredibly long time. This article looks at all these factors in detail.
CORS is Stupid (10 minute read)
CORS is a giant hack to mitigate legacy mistakes, but none of its protections are actually sufficient to solve the intended problem.
Apple working on next-gen humanlike AI ‘personality' that's not Siri (2 minute read)
Apple is reportedly developing an AI personality entirely separate from Siri for future Apple robotics devices. The company's first robotics projects are not expected to debut until 2026 or 2027. Apple will ship a brand new Apple Intelligence-fused Siri in iOS 18.1 later this fall. However, many of Siri's most powerful new capa
AI to go nuclear? Data center deals say it's inevitable (9 minute read)
Current electric grids are struggling to keep up with demand, so Big Tech is now looking at nuclear power to meet the incredibly hefty demands of generative AI.
ChatGPT and GPT-4 could get a sweet upgrade this fall (4 minute read)
OpenAI is reportedly planning to launch a new AI as part of a chatbot this fall. Codenamed Strawberry, the AI has advanced mathematical reasoning, programming, and other skills that allow it to answer questions on more subjective topics, like marketing strategies. It can be used to generate high-quality synthetic training data for training large language models. The model could help OpenAI obtain the data it needs to train the GPT-4's successor.