Meta's Reality Labs cuts spark fears of a 'VR winter'

Meta's recent cuts in its Reality Labs division, which focuses on virtual reality (VR), have raised concerns about a potential 'VR winter'. The company laid off 10% of its Reality Labs employees, primarily affecting VR-related projects such as the Quest VR headsets and Horizon Worlds. Meta is shifting its focus from VR to artificial intelligence (AI) and smart glasses, leading to a significant reduction in VR investments. Industry experts suggest that the VR market may be niche, with limited appeal to the general consumer, and that the industry is undergoing a major transition. Despite these changes, Meta maintains that it is still heavily investing in VR, although the pace of growth is slower than anticipated.

Science Is Drowning In AI Slop

Scientific publishing is facing a crisis as generative AI makes it easier to create and pass off fraudulent research papers. This article explores how AI is being used to generate fake citations, images, and entire papers, overwhelming the peer review process and polluting scientific discourse. It highlights the challenges faced by journals and preprint servers in detecting and filtering out AI-generated content, and warns of a potential future where most scientific papers are AI-generated and reviewed by AI, leading to a permanent epistemological pollution.

Science Is Drowning In AI Slop

Scientific publishing is facing a crisis as generative AI makes it easier to create and pass off fraudulent research papers. This article explores how AI is being used to generate fake citations, images, and entire papers, overwhelming the peer review process and polluting scientific discourse. It highlights the challenges faced by journals and preprint servers in detecting and filtering out AI-generated content, and warns of a potential future where most scientific papers are AI-generated and reviewed by AI, leading to a permanent epistemological pollution.

US military moves Navy, Air Force assets to the Middle East: What to know

The US military is moving Navy and Air Force assets to the Middle East, raising concerns of a potential military escalation with Iran. An aircraft carrier strike group is heading towards the Gulf, equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles and the Aegis combat system. US President Donald Trump has stated that a US 'armada' is heading towards the Gulf, with Iran being its focus. The US has operated military bases in the Middle East for decades and has 40,000 to 50,000 soldiers stationed there. Iran has warned that any military strike on Iran would turn all US bases in the region into 'legitimate targets'.

Tests show GPT-5.2 on ChatGPT citing Grokipedia as a source on a wide range of queries, including on Iranian conglomerates and Holocaust deniers

The Guardian found that the latest model of ChatGPT has begun to cite Elon Musk’s Grokipedia, an AI-generated online encyclopedia, on a range of topics, raising concerns about the spread of misinformation.

Inside Sandisk’s transformation from thumb drive dinosaur to the hottest trade in AI

Sandisk, a memory chip company, has seen its stock surge by nearly 1,000% due to soaring chip prices driven by AI-related demand. The unexpected rise has caught industry insiders and investors off guard, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the AI boom. Analysts predict further growth for Sandisk as it benefits from its cost advantage and high demand for its products.

The FBI Says Illegal Chinese Airbags Have Been Killing Even More Americans Than Initially Thought

The FBI and NHTSA are investigating illegally imported Chinese airbags linked to eight incidents in the US since 2017, resulting in six fatalities and two severe injuries. The airbags, manufactured by Jilin Province Deiannua Automobile Safety System Company, were found to malfunction, such as failing to deploy or expelling metal shrapnel. The NHTSA estimates that fewer than 10,000 vehicles may be affected, but the exact number is unknown.

TikTok users freak out over app's 'immigration status' collection -- here's what it means

TikTok users are alarmed by the mention of 'immigration status' data collection in the app's updated privacy policy, but legal experts clarify that this disclosure is a compliance measure under state privacy laws like California's Consumer Privacy Act. The policy lists various types of sensitive information that may be collected, including immigration status, to inform users about data practices and to mitigate litigation risks.

The Trump Administration Pushes Out Key Officials Focused on the China Tech Threat

OpenAI and longtime US government contractor Leidos announce a partnership to roll out generative and agentic AI tools for specific missions at federal agencies

OpenAI partners with Leidos to deploy AI for federal agency missions, aiming to tailor technology for specific government tasks. The collaboration will integrate OpenAI’s models with Leidos’s data and expertise, focusing on advanced mission areas such as supply chain monitoring and analytics.

OpenAI and longtime US government contractor Leidos announce a partnership to roll out generative and agentic AI tools for specific missions at federal agencies

OpenAI partners with Leidos to deploy AI for federal agency missions, aiming to tailor technology for specific government tasks. The collaboration will integrate OpenAI’s models with Leidos’s data and expertise, focusing on advanced mission areas such as supply chain monitoring and analytics.

Google Photos’ latest feature lets you meme yourself

This article from TechCrunch discusses Google Photos' latest feature, 'Me Meme,' which allows users to insert themselves into meme templates using generative AI. The feature, initially available to U.S.-based users, enables users to combine a photo template with an image of themselves to create a meme. Google emphasizes that the feature is experimental and may not perfectly match the original photo, suggesting users upload well-lit, focused, and front-facing photos for the best results. The feature aims to provide a fun way to explore photos and experiment with Google’s AI technology, potentially encouraging users to return to the Photos app for AI tools.

Meta pauses teen access to AI characters as it develops a specially tailored version

Meta has paused teen access to its AI characters globally across all its apps to develop a specially tailored version for teens. The new AI characters will give age-appropriate responses and stick to topics like education, sport, and hobbies. The move comes amid heavy scrutiny from regulators and lawsuits alleging social media platforms, including Meta, contribute to social media addiction and self-harm among teens.

Cyberattack Targeting Poland’s Energy Grid Used a Wiper

A cyberattack targeting Poland's energy grid in December used a wiper malware, potentially capable of causing a power outage for 500,000 people, according to European security firm ESET. The malware, named DynoWiper, was attributed with medium confidence to Sandworm, a hacking group linked to Russia's GRU. The attack, thwarted by Polish authorities, was unprecedented in Poland and similar to previous attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Apple invites creators to multi-day ‘Apple Experience’ next week

Apple is inviting select creators to a multi-day 'Apple Experience' in Los Angeles next week. The event is likely to focus on the launch of Apple Creator Studio, a new subscription bundle for creative apps. There is also speculation that new MacBook Pros may be announced and showcased at the event.

San Francisco tech giant Autodesk announces 1,000 layoffs

SSDs now cost 16x more than HDDs due to AI supply chain crisis — hybrid SSD + HDD datacenter deployments are now significantly cheaper to deploy than SSD-only equivalents

Due to the AI supply chain crisis, SSD prices have surged to 16 times the cost of HDDs, making hybrid storage deployments with a mix of SSDs and HDDs significantly more cost-effective for datacenters.

Anthropic details how it had to redesign its take-home test for hiring performance engineers as Claude kept defeating it, and releases the original test

Anthropic has been using a take-home test to evaluate performance engineers as AI capabilities improve. The test, which involves optimizing code for a simulated accelerator, has been redesigned three times as AI models like Claude have increasingly outperformed human candidates. The latest iteration involves puzzles using a tiny, heavily constrained instruction set to test unconventional programming skills. Anthropic is releasing the original take-home as an open challenge, as human experts still outperform current models at sufficiently long time horizons.

TikTok Strikes Deal for New US Entity, Ending Long Legal Saga

White House posts digitally altered image of woman arrested after ICE protest

The Guardian reports that the White House posted a digitally altered image of Nekima Levy Armstrong, a woman arrested after an ICE protest, to make it appear as if she was dramatically crying. The original image showed Armstrong composed, but the altered version showed her sobbing. The White House responded to inquiries about the image alteration by posting a message on X about the enforcement of the law and the continuation of memes.

Comic-Con Bans AI Art After Artist Pushback

San Diego Comic-Con has banned AI-generated art from its art show following a backlash from artists concerned about the impact of AI on their livelihoods. The convention had previously allowed AI art under certain conditions, but after artists protested, Comic-Con updated its rules to prohibit AI art entirely. Artists argue that AI is encroaching on their work and replacing human creativity, and they are relieved that Comic-Con has taken a stand against the technology.

Scarlett Johansson, Cate Blanchett, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt Among 700 Industry Backers of New Anti-AI Campaign: ‘Stealing Our Work Is Not Innovation’

More than 700 artists, writers, and creators, including Scarlett Johansson, Cate Blanchett, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, have united in an anti-AI campaign, arguing that tech companies exploiting copyrighted work without permission is theft, not innovation. The campaign urges companies to respect creators' rights through licensing deals and partnerships.

Epic and Google have a secret $800M Unreal Engine and services deal

Epic Games and Google have reached a secret $800 million deal involving the Unreal Engine and unspecified services, which has come to light during antitrust settlement talks. The deal, which includes joint product development, joint marketing, and joint partnerships, could influence the outcome of the antitrust case. Judge James Donato expressed concerns that the partnership might lead Epic to moderate its demands for changes to the Android ecosystem. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney clarified that the deal involves separate product lines and does not constitute a single new product. The settlement arrangement is tied to the business deal, with Epic suggesting that the deal would only proceed if the settlement goes through.

Google now offers free SAT practice exams, powered by Gemini

Google has introduced free SAT practice exams powered by its AI, Gemini, aiming to ease the stress of SAT preparation for students. By offering a free AI-driven service, Google is making SAT prep accessible to a broader audience, potentially leveling the playing field for students who may not have access to personalized tutoring. However, this move has sparked debates about the over-reliance on AI in education and its impact on students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Additionally, the introduction of free AI-powered SAT prep poses challenges to the traditional tutoring industry, potentially affecting the job security of private SAT tutors.

Tesla launches robotaxi rides in Austin with no human safety driver

Tesla has launched robotaxi rides in Austin without a human safety driver in the vehicle, marking a significant step towards fully autonomous driving. CEO Elon Musk announced the initiative on X, highlighting the progress of Tesla's AI team. The company is starting with a mix of supervised and unsupervised vehicles, with plans to increase the ratio of driverless cars over time.

Introducing the Substack TV app, now in beta

Substack has launched a TV app for Apple TV and Google TV, enabling subscribers to watch longform video content on a larger screen. The app is currently in beta and offers features such as watching video posts and livestreams from subscribed creators, browsing a 'For You' row with recommended videos, and exploring videos from specific publications. Both free and paid subscribers can use the app, with viewing access based on their subscription level. Substack plans to add more features in future updates, including audio posts, search and discovery improvements, and previews of paid content for free subscribers.

President Trump sues JPMorgan Chase and its CEO, Jamie Dimon, for $5B+ over alleged debanking

President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its CEO, Jamie Dimon, seeking at least $5 billion in damages. The lawsuit, filed in Miami-Dade County state court, accuses the bank of trade libel and breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, as well as alleging that Dimon violated Florida’s Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The complaint stems from allegations that the bank stopped offering Trump banking services for political reasons.