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Startup Set To Brick $800 Kids Robot Is Trying To Open Source It First
Last week, startup Embodied announced it was closing down, and its product, an $800 robot for kids ages 5 to 10, would soon be bricked. Now, in a blog post published on Friday, CEO Paolo Pirjanian shared that Embodied’s technical team is working on a way to open-source the robot, ensuring it can continue operating indefinitely. Ars … ⌘ Read more
Axiom’s Private Space Station Could Arrive As Early As 2028
Axiom Space has revised its plan for assembling its commercial space station by launching the Payload, Power, and Thermal module first, enabling it to operate as a free-flying platform as early as 2028 – two years ahead of the original timeline. Space.com reports: NASA awarded Axiom Space a contract in 2020 to attach one or more modules to the Internati … ⌘ Read more
10 Years Later: Malaysia To Resume Hunt For Flight MH370
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Reuters: Malaysia has agreed to resume the search for the wreckage of missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, its transport minister said on Friday, more than 10 years after it disappeared in one of the world’s greatest aviation mysteries. Flight MH370, a Boeing 777 carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew, vanished en route fr … ⌘ Read more
Cory Doctorow’s Prescient Novella About Health Insurance and Murder
Five years ago, journalist and sci-fi author Cory Doctorow published a short story that explored the radicalization of individuals denied healthcare coverage. As The Guardian notes in a recent article, the story “might seem eerily similar” to the recent shooting of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO. While it appears that the alleged shooter never read … ⌘ Read more
‘Yes, I am a Human’: Bot Detection Is No Longer Working
The rise of AI has rendered traditional CAPTCHA tests increasingly ineffective, as bots can now “[solve] these puzzles in milliseconds using artificial intelligence (AI),” reports The Conversation. “How ironic. The tools designed to prove we’re human are now obstructing us more than the machines they’re supposed to be keeping at bay.” The report warns that the imminen … ⌘ Read more
EU Wants Apple To Open AirDrop and AirPlay To Android
The EU is pushing Apple to make iOS more interoperable with other platforms, requiring features like AirDrop and AirPlay to work seamlessly with Android and third-party devices, while also enabling background app functionality and cross-platform notifications. 9to5Google reports: A new document released (PDF) by the European Commission this week reveals a number of w … ⌘ Read more
10,000 Amazon Workers Go On Strike Ahead of Holiday Rush
An anonymous reader quotes a report from PCMag: Amazon employees are striking after the online retail giant missed a deadline to begin negotiations for a union contract. Roughly 10,000 employees have gone on strike as of Dec. 19. Workers are forming picket lines in New York City, Atlanta, Southern California, San Francisco, and Skokie, IL. Per a press release fro … ⌘ Read more
Justice Department Unveils Charges Against Alleged LockBit Developer
The U.S. Department of Justice has charged Russian-Israeli national, Rostislav Panev, for his alleged role as a developer in the LockBit ransomware group, accused of designing malware and maintaining infrastructure for attacks that extorted over $500 million and caused billions in global damages. CyberScoop reports: The arrest is part of a … ⌘ Read more
Qualcomm Processors Properly Licensed From Arm, US Jury Finds
Jurors delivered a mixed verdict on Friday, ruling that Qualcomm had properly licensed its central processor chips from Arm. This decision effectively concludes Arm’s lawsuit against Qualcomm, which had the potential to disrupt the global smartphone and PC chip markets.
The dispute stemmed from Qualcomm’s $1.4 billion acquisition of chip startup Nuvia i … ⌘ Read more
Arizona’s Getting an Online Charter School Taught Entirely By AI
An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: The newest online-only school greenlighted (PDF) by the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools comes with a twist: The academic curriculum will be taught entirely by AI. Charter schools – independently operated but publicly funded – typically get greater autonomy compared to traditional publi … ⌘ Read more
CFPB Sues America’s Largest Banks For ‘Allowing Fraud To Fester’ on Zelle
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is suing America’s three largest banks, accusing the institutions of failing to protect customers from fraud on Zelle, the payment platform they co-own. From a report: According to the suit, which also targets Early Warning Services LLC, Zelle’s official operator, Zelle users have lost more than … ⌘ Read more
Apple Pulls Lightning-Equipped iPhones From Swiss Stores Ahead of EU USB-C Mandate
Apple has started pulling its iPhone SE and iPhone 14 models from sale in Switzerland, signaling broader discontinuation across the European Union ahead of new USB-C charging requirements taking effect December 28.
The devices, which use Apple’s proprietary Lightning port, disappeared from Swiss online stores … ⌘ Read more
Michael Dell Says Adoption of AI PCs is ‘Definitely Delayed’
Dell CEO Michael Dell has acknowledged delays in corporate adoption of AI-enabled PCs but remains confident in their eventual widespread uptake, citing his four decades of industry experience with technology transitions.
The PC maker’s chief executive told Fortune that while the current refresh cycle is “definitely delayed,” adoption is inevitable once suf … ⌘ Read more
We’re About To Fly a Spacecraft Into the Sun For the First Time
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe will make its closest approach yet to the Sun on Christmas Eve, flying within 3.8 million miles of the solar surface and entering its atmosphere for the first time.
The spacecraft, which travels at speeds up to 430,000 miles per hour, aims to study the origins of solar wind – the stream of charged particles emanating f … ⌘ Read more
Why Online Returns Are a Hassle Now
U.S. retailers are cracking down on free returns as costs spiral out of control, The Atlantic reports. Return rates have more than doubled since 2019, with shoppers expected to send back nearly $900 billion in merchandise this year.
Major chains like REI and JCPenney are now charging fees or requiring in-store drop-offs, abandoning years of customer-friendly policies. With each $100 return costing stores up … ⌘ Read more
OpenAI Unveils o3, a Smarter AI Model With Improved Reasoning Skills
OpenAI has unveiled a new AI model that it says takes longer to solve problems but gets better results, following Google’s similar announcement a day earlier. The model, called o3, replaces o1 from September and spends extra time working through questions that need step-by-step reasoning.
It scores three times higher than o1 on ARC-AGI, a test … ⌘ Read more
US Data-Center Power Use Could Nearly Triple By 2028, DOE-Backed Report Says
U.S. data center power demand could nearly triple in the next three years, and consume as much as 12% of the country’s electricity, as the industry undergoes an AI transformation, according to an unpublished Department of Energy-backed report seen by Reuters. The publication adds: The Lawrence Berkeley National Laborato … ⌘ Read more
FDA Sets Stricter Rules for ‘Healthy’ Food Labels
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has unveiled stricter criteria for food manufacturers to label their products as “healthy,” marking the first major update to the definition in 30 years.
The new rule requires products to meet specific thresholds for nutrients while limiting sodium, saturated fat and added sugars. Under the guidelines, foods must contain minimum amounts of … ⌘ Read more
Academic Writing is Getting Harder To Read
Academic writing has become significantly less readable over the past 80 years, particularly in humanities and social sciences, according to an analysis of 347,000 PhD abstracts by The Economist. Using the Flesch reading-ease test, researchers found that readability scores in humanities and social sciences plunged from 37 in the 1940s to 18 in the 2020s. The decline was observed across all … ⌘ Read more
Japanese Firm’s USB-C Cable Rotates 360 Degrees
Japanese electronics manufacturer Sanwa Supply has launched a rotating USB-C cable capable of 240W power delivery but sadly USB 2.0 transfer speeds, Tom’sHardware reports. The $16 cable features a 360-degree rotating connector and is available in 1-meter and 1.8-meter lengths, with both USB-C to USB-C and USB-A to USB-C options, the report adds.
[, Prof Nick Loman (University of Birmingham), Prof Alan Walker (University of Aberdeen): Contrary to what is implied in [this article], the weight of expert opinion in medical microbiology rejects the existence of a “brain microbiome” in the sense of a resident microbial communi … ⌘ Read more
Waymo’s Driverless Cars Are Apparently an Insurance Company’s Dream
A study by reinsurer Swiss Re found that Waymo’s autonomous vehicles have demonstrated significantly fewer property damage and bodily injury claims compared to human-driven cars, with reductions of up to 92% in some metrics. Engadget reports: Swiss Re analyzed liability claims from collisions covering 25.3 million miles driven by Waymo’s auto … ⌘ Read more
Home Assistant’s New Voice Assistant Answers To ‘Hey Jarvis’
Home Assistant (not to be confused with the Google Assistant on Google Home) has launched the Voice Preview Edition (Voice PE), its first dedicated voice assistant hardware for $59. The device offers a privacy-focused, locally controlled solution that supports over 50 languages and integrates seamlessly with the open-source smart home platform. As The Verge n … ⌘ Read more
Google Releases Its Own ‘Reasoning’ AI Model
An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: Google has released what it’s calling a new “reasoning” AI model – but it’s in the experimental stages, and from our brief testing, there’s certainly room for improvement. The new model, called Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental (a mouthful, to be sure), is available in AI Studio, Google’s AI prototyping platform. A model card des … ⌘ Read more
Craig Wright Convicted For Repeatedly Lying About Inventing Bitcoin
Craig Wright, an Australian computer scientist living in the UK, has been found guilty of contempt of court for persistently and falsely claiming to be Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, despite a High Court ruling against his claim. He has been sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, and faces jail if he continues his a … ⌘ Read more
Starlink’s First Nationwide Satellite Texting Service Goes Live In New Zealand
SpaceX has partnered with telecommunications company One NZ to offer satellite-to-cell Starlink texting service to customers in New Zealand. It marks the first time a nationwide satellite text messaging service has been powered by Starlink. Engadget reports: Now onto the caveats, and there are a couple of big ones. Star … ⌘ Read more
Feds Warn SMS Authentication Is Unsafe
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Gizmodo: Hackers aligned with the Chinese government have infiltrated U.S. telecommunications infrastructure so deeply that it allowed the interception of unencrypted communications on a number of people, according to reports that first emerged in October. The operation, dubbed Salt Typhoon, apparently allowed hackers to listen to phone calls and nab text m … ⌘ Read more
Journal That Published Faulty Black Plastic Study Removed From Science Index
The publisher of a high-profile, now-corrected study on black plastics has been removed from a critical index of academic journals amid questions about quality criteria, according to a report by Retraction Watch. From a report: On December 16, Clarivate – a scholarly publication analytics company – removed the journal … ⌘ Read more
Microsoft Won’t Let Customers Opt Out of Passkey Push
Microsoft has lauded the success of its efforts to convince customers to use passkeys instead of passwords, without actually quantifying that success. From a report: The software megalith credits passkey adoption to its enrolment user experience, or UX, which owes its unspecified uptake to unavoidable passkey solicitations – sometimes referred to as “nudges.”
“We’re im … ⌘ Read more
FAA Bans Drone Flights Near ‘Critical Infrastructure’ in New Jersey
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a monthlong ban on drone flights over a large swath of New Jersey, the first broad prohibition of its kind since the authorities began investigating a spate of sightings last month that set off fear and speculation. From a report:
The ban began late on Wednesday and will continue through Jan. 17 … ⌘ Read more
Biden Declares Tougher 2035 Emissions Targets Weeks Before Trump Return
Joe Biden has announced tougher targets on the US’s carbon dioxide emissions for the next decade, in a defiant final gesture intended as a “capstone” on his legacy on the climate. From a report: With just weeks to go before Donald Trump enters the White House, the Biden administration is formally filing new plans under the Paris agr … ⌘ Read more
UK Arts and Media Reject Plan To Let AI Firms Use Copyrighted Material
Writers, publishers, musicians, photographers, movie producers and newspapers have rejected the Labour government’s plan to create a copyright exemption to help AI companies train their algorithms. From a report: In a joint statement, bodies representing thousands of creatives dismissed the proposal made by ministers on Tuesday that wo … ⌘ Read more
EU Pushes Apple To Make iPhones More Compatible With Rival Devices
The European Union has issued draft recommendations requiring Apple to make its iOS and iPadOS operating systems more compatible with competitors’ devices, setting up a clash over privacy concerns. The proposals would allow third-party smartwatches and headsets to interact more seamlessly with iPhones.
Apple has responded [PDF] with warning … ⌘ Read more
Japan Sees Nuclear as Cheapest Baseload Power Source in 2040
Nuclear power is forecast to be the cheapest baseload electricity source in Japan in 2040, highlighting the government’s desire to restart the nation’s idled reactors. From a report: The cost of constructing and operating a new nuclear power plant for 2040 is estimated at 12.5 yen ($0.08) per kilowatt-hour, according to documents released from a trade ministr … ⌘ Read more
Congress Funds Removal of Chinese Telecom Gear as Feds Probe Home Router Risks
Congress approved $3 billion Wednesday for a long-languishing project to cull Chinese equipment from networks nationwide over fears they are vulnerable to cyberattacks, underscoring the risk Beijing-sponsored hackers pose to phone and internet networks. From a report: The new funding comes as the Commerce Department rev … ⌘ Read more
NHTSA Will Require Audible Seatbelt Reminders For Everyone In the Car
Longtime Slashdot reader sinij shares a report from Car and Driver with the caption: “As someone that uses back seats to carry some luggage, I am not a fan of this requirement.” From the report: Previously, federal standards governing seatbelt warnings only required manufacturers to monitor the driver’s seat, issuing a chime if its seat … ⌘ Read more
Astronauts Who Flew To Space Aboard Starliner Face Additional Delay
NASA has delayed the launch of SpaceX Crew-10 to late March 2025 to allow time for processing a new Dragon spacecraft, extending the stay of astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on the ISS to about nine months. CNN reports: Williams and Wilmore launched to space in June, piloting the first crewed test flight of Boeing’s Starliner s … ⌘ Read more
Montana Supreme Court Upholds Right To ‘Stable Climate System’ For Youngsters
An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Guardian: Montana’s top court on Wednesday held that the state’s constitution guaranteed a right to a stable climate system and invalidated a law barring regulators from considering the effects of greenhouse gas emissions when permitting new fossil fuel projects. The Montana supr … ⌘ Read more
‘World’s First’ Grid-Scale Nuclear Fusion Power Plant Announced In the US
Longtime Slashdot reader timeOday shares a report from CNN: If all goes to plan, Virginia will be the site of the world’s first grid-scale nuclear fusion power plant, able to harness this futuristic clean power and generate electricity from it by the early 2030s, according to an announcement Tuesday by the startup Commonwealth … ⌘ Read more
Murder Mystery Solved By Google Street View
Spanish police have uncovered a major clue in the year-long investigation of a missing Cuban man, JLPO, after Google Street View images showed a man loading a body-shaped package into a car and pushing a wheelbarrow with a large white package. These images led to the discovery of the victim’s dismembered remains in a cemetery and the arrest of two suspects, including the victim’s wife and … ⌘ Read more
Hackers Can Jailbreak Digital License Plates To Make Others Pay Their Tolls, Tickets
Longtime Slashdot reader sinij shares a report from Wired with the caption: “This story will be an on-going payday for traffic ticket lawyers. I am ordering one now.” From the report: Digital license plates, already legal to buy in a growing number of states and to drive with nationwide, offer a few perks over … ⌘ Read more
New Shelly Smart Devices Have One-Mile Range, Thanks To Z-Wave
An anonymous reader quotes a report from PCWorld: Smart home devices compatible with the Matter standard have garnered most of our attention lately, but the compelling features in the latest generation of Z-Wave chips convinced the IoT developer Shelly Group to build no fewer than 11 new products powered by Z-Wave technology. The new collection incl … ⌘ Read more
CDC Confirms First Human Case of Severe Bird Flu In US
The CDC has confirmed the first case of severe bird flu in the United States. NPR reports: Louisiana health officials initially reported the infection last week, saying a person was hospitalized after being exposed to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks. On Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shared their findings that indicate the H5N1 v … ⌘ Read more
Apple Reportedly Won’t Launch an iPhone Subscription Service
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is no longer developing a hardware subscription service for iPhones that would let subscribers upgrade devices every year. Gurman first reported Apple’s work on the service in 2022, noting it was delayed due to “software bugs and regulatory concerns.” The Verge reports: While the hardware subscription service a … ⌘ Read more