Tech Gumbo

Interview: Andrew Dalovisio with Director Cellular Therapy w/ Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center Immunotherapy: How immunotherapy intersects with technology CAR-T cell therapy Long Term: Potential future of cancer treatments using technology

News and Updates: Meta Liable in New Mexico: A jury found Meta violated state law by failing to protect children from predators, ordering the company to pay $375 million. This marks the first time Meta has been held accountable in a jury trial regarding child safety and deceptive trade practices. Encryption Rollback: Following pressure regarding law enforcement's ability to track predators, Meta announced it will stop supporting end-to-end encrypted messaging on Instagram later this year. Addiction Trial Deadlock: A Los Angeles judge ordered jurors to continue deliberations in a landmark case accusing Meta and YouTube of intentionally designing addictive, harmful features. Australia Ban Evasion: Data shows 20% of Australian teens still access TikTok and Snapchat despite a national ban, raising significant questions about the effectiveness of age-gating. Proposed New York AI Law: New York lawmakers introduced a bill to bar AI chatbots from impersonating licensed professionals like lawyers or doctors, allowing duped users to sue. OpenAI Discontinues Sora: OpenAI is winding down its Sora video app and developer tools to refocus resources on "superapps," coding tools, and long-term robotics projects. Disney Partnership Ends: Following OpenAI’s shift away from consumer video, a $1 billion deal to feature Disney characters in AI-generated content will not proceed. Tesla FSD Probe Escalates: U.S. regulators upgraded an investigation into 3.2 million Tesla vehicles after reports of FSD failing to detect obstacles in low-visibility conditions.

News and Updates: Wozniak on Apple at 50: Steve Wozniak reflects on Apple’s start, noting they didn’t predict the future but focused on being one step ahead of the competition. Apple’s Biggest Hits: From the Apple II to the iPhone, Apple revolutionized tech by mastering the human interface and maintaining absolute control over its ecosystem. Apple’s Biggest Misses: Not every bite was sweet; products like the Apple III, Pippin, and the recent Vision Pro struggled due to high costs and impracticality. Gemini Joins Workspace: Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides now feature Gemini AI to draft content, organize data, and sync writing styles across all your files. Claude’s Bug Bounty: Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4.6 outperformed humans by finding 14 high-severity Firefox bugs, though it still struggles to actually exploit the vulnerabilities. Anthropic Sues DoD: Anthropic is suing the Trump administration after being labeled a "security threat" following a disagreement over the military's use of AI guardrails. Pentagon Tensions: The clash centers on Anthropic’s refusal to allow its AI to be used for mass surveillance or autonomous weapons without explicit safety guarantees.

News and Updates: BYD’s Next-Gen Battery: BYD revealed its second-generation Blade battery, featuring 5% higher energy density and significantly improved efficiency compared to the original lithium iron phosphate packs. Windows 12 Speculation: Rumors suggest a late 2026 Windows 12 launch focused on AI and modular design, though experts remain skeptical of this aggressive release timeline. Server 2016 Sunset: Microsoft announced that extended support for Windows Server 2016 ends January 2027, urging users to migrate to Azure or upgrade to Server 2025. Deepfake Removal Tool: YouTube is piloting a likeness detection tool allowing politicians and journalists to request the removal of AI-generated deepfakes that use their faces. The Upgrade Slowdown: A 2026 study reveals 73% of consumers now prioritize "tech that works" and longevity over flashy new features or annual status-symbol upgrades.

News and Updates: Microsoft Copilot Discord Backlash: Microsoft’s attempt to ban the term "Microslop" on its Copilot Discord server backfired, leading to massive spamming and the eventual temporary closure of the community. Data Center Grid Risks: Sudden disconnections of Virginia data centers from the power grid have sparked reliability concerns, as simultaneous shifts to backup power can destabilize regional energy supplies. Surge in Energy Demand: Projections indicate data centers could consume 17% of U.S. electricity by 2030, placing immense pressure on utilities to balance massive, fluctuating industrial power loads. Burger King’s AI Coaching: Burger King is piloting "Patty," an AI headset assistant that monitors employee friendliness by tracking phrases like "please" and "thank you" during customer interactions. Claude Tops App Store: Anthropic’s Claude overtook ChatGPT as the #1 free U.S. app following public disputes over AI safeguards and controversial Pentagon contracts involving OpenAI’s military partnerships.

News and Updates: Dark Web Definition: The dark web is a decentralized, unindexed portion of the deep web requiring specialized software like Tor for anonymous, often unregulated, online communication. Legal vs. Illegal: Accessing the dark web is legal in the U.S., but engaging in illicit activities like buying stolen data or illegal substances remains prosecutable. FCC Sports Inquiry: The FCC is investigating the migration of live sports to paid streaming services, citing concerns over consumer costs and broadcasters' public interest obligations. 25Gbps Light Internet: Alphabet spinoff Taara debuted a compact "Beam" device using near-infrared light to deliver high-speed broadband up to 10km without laying fiber. Starlink Mobile Rebrand: SpaceX officially renamed its "Direct to Cell" service to Starlink Mobile, aiming to serve hundreds of millions of users via second-generation satellites by 2027. SpaceX VP Michael Nicolls clarified that Starlink Mobile is a "hybrid network" component intended to augment, not replace, traditional ground-based cellular density. Bluetooth Channel Sounding: A new Bluetooth upgrade called Channel Sounding allows devices like trackers and smart locks to locate each other accurately within just ten centimeters.

News and Updates: Pew Research on Teen AI Usage: A Pew study reveals 54% of U.S. teens use AI for schoolwork. While many use it for research, others admit to frequent chatbot-assisted cheating. Waymo Using Gig Workers: Waymo is paying gig workers $20–$24 to manually close robotaxi doors. The driverless Jaguars cannot move if passengers leave doors ajar after exiting. Waymo Clarifies Human Assistance: Waymo defended its use of overseas assistants to "guide" vehicles in complex traffic, stressing that humans provide environmental context but do not remotely drive. Tesla Suing To Use “AutoPilot and FSD”: Tesla is suing the California DMV, claiming the ban on "Autopilot" marketing violates the First Amendment and ignores the company's clear driver supervision warnings.

News and Updates: Global Push to Ban Teens: Moves to bar younger teens from social media are spreading globally, with France and Spain implementing or proposing bans for ages 14 to 16. Mental Health Concerns: The initiatives reflect growing political will to address concerns that social-media use is linked to rising teen anxiety and depression. Tech Company Pushback: Social-media companies like Meta and Snap argue age-limit measures are blunt instruments that could push teens to less safe apps. Discord Verification Delay: Discord is delaying its global age verification rollout until 2026 to add more options and transparency following user backlash over privacy and data security. Meta’s First Smartwatch: Meta plans to launch its first smartwatch in 2026, featuring health tracking and a built-in AI assistant to compete with Apple and Google. Smart Glass Safety: Experts warn daters to spot hidden cameras in smart glasses, as some individuals use discreet tech to record others without their consent. Facial Recognition Return: Meta intends to add "Name Tag" facial recognition to smart glasses, allowing users to identify people via AI, despite ongoing privacy concerns. Amazon's $12B AI Investment: Amazon will invest $12 billion in Louisiana data centers, creating hundreds of jobs and funding local power and water infrastructure upgrades.

News and Updates: Anthropic launched a $20 million super PAC to support AI regulation, countering OpenAI-backed groups in a political battle over the future of industry safety guardrails. Microsoft AI lead Mustafa Suleyman confirmed plans to develop in-house frontier models by 2026, signaling a major strategic shift away from total reliance on OpenAI. The Pentagon threatened to cancel Anthropic’s $200 million contract after the startup blocked its AI from being used for autonomous weaponry and mass domestic surveillance. Meta patented "grief tech" AI capable of simulating deceased users' activity, though the company claims it has no immediate plans to roll out the feature.

News and Updates: YouTube argued in a landmark addiction trial that it is an entertainment platform, not social media, comparing its algorithm to a helpful librarian rather than addictive gambling. Instagram head Adam Mosseri testified that 16-hour daily scrolling is "problematic" but not a clinical addiction, despite lawsuits linking excessive use to mental health issues. YouTube's 2025 revenue hit $60 billion, surpassing Netflix. Growth was driven by 325 million paid subscribers, NFL Sunday Ticket, and record-breaking fourth-quarter advertising sales. Alphabet plans to double AI capital expenditures to $185 billion in 2026. Meanwhile, YouTube secured exclusive Oscar rights starting in 2029 to expand entertainment dominance.

News and Updates: Research shows AI boosts creativity only for employees with strong metacognition—the ability to plan and refine thinking—allowing them to strategically expand knowledge and capacity. Discord will implement global age verification in March, defaulting all users to "teen-appropriate" settings unless they prove adulthood via ID, facial estimation, or behavioral metadata. Ring’s "Search Party" feature uses AI neighborhood camera scans to find lost dogs, sparking privacy fears that the infrastructure could eventually be used for human surveillance. Goldman Sachs is embedding Anthropic engineers to build autonomous AI agents for high-volume back-office roles, specifically targeting complex trade accounting and regulatory compliance tasks. OpenAI’s Sam Altman lashed out at Anthropic’s "dishonest" Super Bowl ads, which mocked ChatGPT’s upcoming ad tier by depicting intrusive, context-twisting product placements in conversations.

Interview with Greg Trahan, LSU Assistant Vice President For Strategic Research Partnerships and Dr. John Flake, Associate Vice President For Research, Professor Chemical Engineering LSU and U.S. Army Cyber Command signed an agreement to develop advanced cyber technologies, providing students and researchers access to defense labs and joint projects. Building on its NSA cyber designation, LSU will use unique industrial control system labs to identify and solve advanced cyberattacks against critical national infrastructure. LSU partnered with Argonne and Oak Ridge National Laboratories to bridge energy research with industrial applications, focusing on nuclear energy, chemical manufacturing, and grid security. A new "Tiger Skid" test bed, built with Idaho National Laboratory, allows LSU to lead national cybersecurity training for defending vital industrial and energy systems.

News and Updates: Firefox adds a "kill switch" on February 24th to disable all AI features. This "AI control" menu offers granular settings for chatbots, translations, and summaries. Microsoft is reevaluating Windows 11 AI after user backlash. Underutilized features like Copilot in Paint/Notepad may be cut, while the "Recall" feature faces repositioning. xAI loosened Grok’s guardrails to boost engagement, causing a surge in sexualized content. Regulators are investigating reports of nonconsensual imagery and lack of safety staff. French authorities raided X’s Paris office and summoned Elon Musk. The probe investigates Grok’s deepfakes, child safety violations, and alleged algorithmic bias in content delivery. SpaceX acquired xAI in a share-exchange deal, valuing the combined entity at $1.25 trillion. Musk plans to build orbital AI data centers powered by solar.

News and Updates: TikTok’s New U.S. Data Regime: TikTok USDS launched under American investors, but new terms enable aggressive tracking of precise location and sensitive data, including ethnicity and health, to ensure global interoperability. The Death of 8K Television: LG joined Sony and TCL in halting 8K production due to a lack of content and bandwidth hurdles, leaving Samsung as the sole remaining manufacturer. EU Electric Vehicle Milestone: In December 2025, fully-electric car registrations (22.6%) surpassed pure petrol cars (22.5%) for the first time in the EU, signaling a massive shift in consumer preference. E-Bike Batteries Powering Food Carts: NYC startup PopWheels is replacing noisy gas generators with swappable e-bike batteries, providing silent, emissions-free electricity for food vendors through a fire-safe cabinet network. Peacock’s $552 Million Loss: Despite reaching 44 million subscribers and boosting revenue to $1.6 billion via sports, Peacock’s losses widened this quarter due to high-cost NBA and NFL licensing deals.

News and Updates: Trump’s AI Rules And Regs Making: The Trump administration plans to use Google Gemini to draft federal transportation regulations, prioritizing speed and "good enough" rules over traditional, years-long expert drafting. PPG’s Speed Coat: PPG launched an AI-developed automotive clear coat that reduces drying time by 50%, using deterministic AI to identify chemical combinations previously overlooked by human scientists. EU vs. Google AI: The EU initiated proceedings against Google to ensure rivals get equal access to Android AI tools and search datasets, aiming to maintain fair digital competition. Microsoft 365 Outage: A major Microsoft 365 outage recently disrupted North American users; Microsoft attributed the service failure to third-party networking issues and improper traffic processing across infrastructure.

News and Updates: TikTok Finalizes U.S. Deal: A new majority U.S.-owned entity, TikTok USDS, was formed with Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX. ByteDance retains under 20% to resolve security concerns. Massive User Growth: TikTok reported reaching 200 million U.S. users, up from 170 million, despite years of legal threats and a looming federal ban. Launch Weekend Outages: Shortly after the ownership transfer, TikTok suffered major U.S. outages. The company cited data center power failures, though users remained skeptical of the timing. Censorship Controversies: Users accused the new entity of suppressing anti-ICE content. TikTok blamed technical glitches, while experts noted the new leadership's close ties to the administration. Social Media Addiction Trials: Landmark "Big Tobacco-style" lawsuits began in Los Angeles. Meta and YouTube face claims that features like infinite scroll intentionally addicted and harmed minors. Major Legal Settlements: Snap and TikTok settled with a 20-year-old plaintiff just before trial, but Meta and Google continue to fight claims regarding teen mental health. Internal "Smoking Gun" Memos: Unsealed documents revealed Meta employees comparing Instagram to a "drug" and internal admissions that the platform’s design negatively correlates with teen well-being.

News and Updates: Grok bans illegal porn generation- After global backlash and app-store scrutiny, X says Grok now blocks child porn and nonconsensual deepfakes, but only where legally required, underscoring reactive, profit-driven governance. Why Grok remains in Google Play- Despite Google Play policies explicitly banning AI-generated nonconsensual sexual content, Musk’s Grok remains approved for teens, exposing enforcement failures that leave minors and victims unprotected. Under Musk, the Grok disaster was inevitable- Designed to be edgy with weak safety staffing, Grok’s image-editing features predictably enabled nonconsensual sexual deepfakes, triggering international probes, legal pressure, and belated bypassed restrictions. OpenAI targets 2026 hardware reveal- OpenAI confirmed plans to unveil its hardware device in late 2026, signaling a move beyond software toward minimalist, voice-first AI products designed with Jony Ive. Amazon auto-upgrades Prime users to Alexa Plus- Amazon is automatically upgrading Prime members to Alexa Plus, an LLM-powered assistant users can revert, sparking complaints over forced adoption, ads, responses, and personality changes. Congress and the Kids Off Social Media Act- Congress’s KOSMA would ban under-13 social media but effectively forces platforms to police families, overriding parental consent and expanding Big Tech control through age verification.

News and Updates: Wing and Walmart Expand Drone Delivery: Scaling to 150 more stores, reaching 40 million Americans by 2027. The coast-to-coast expansion targets major hubs like LA, Miami, and Houston starting January 15th. Wikipedia Celebrates 25 Years: Founded Jan 15, 2001, the volunteer-led encyclopedia now hosts 7 million English articles. Despite AI challenges, it remains a resilient, neutral global reference through adaptive enterprise partnerships. Meta Abandons the Metaverse: Meta laid off 1,500 Reality Labs staff and shuttered VR studios after losing $73 billion. The company is pivoting toward AI and successful Ray-Ban smart glasses. Second U.S. Sphere Coming to Maryland: A 6,000-seat "Sphere National Harbor" is planned for the DC area. The $200 million venue will feature immersive 4D tech and a massive wraparound LED screen. Canada Breaks with U.S. on Chinese EV Tariffs: PM Mark Carney slashed tariffs on Chinese EVs to 6.1% in exchange for lower canola duties. The deal aims for joint ventures to build cars in Canada.

News and Updates: AI Report Hallucinations in Utah- Heber City police discovered their AI software, Draft One, mistakenly claimed an officer became a frog because it transcribed background audio from a Disney movie nearby. Apple and Google AI Partnership- Apple partnered with Google to use Gemini models for future Apple Intelligence features, admitting Google’s technology is superior for powering the upcoming next-generation Siri upgrade. Copilot Integration in Windows File Explorer- Microsoft is testing a "Chat with Copilot" button within File Explorer, aiming to improve document searching and introduce a new framework for specialized AI agents.

News and Updates: Dell AI PC Retreat- Dell admits AI PCs failed to drive demand, refocusing on gaming and consumers, reviving XPS branding, downplaying Copilot marketing as RAM shortages threaten PC prices. Microsoft and Partner Scramble- Microsoft’s Copilot PC push is faltering as Dell says AI confuses buyers, forcing Nadella into hands-on product control while partners revert to traditional hardware selling. Cloudflare vs. Italy- Cloudflare faces a massive Italian fine over anti-piracy blocking, prompting CEO threats to exit Italy, pull Olympic services, and challenge regulations he calls undemocratic censorship. Why iOS 26 Matters- Despite resistance to iOS 26’s design changes, Apple urges rapid upgrades because security patches, zero-day fixes, and improved AirDrop protections outweigh temporary battery concerns issues.

News and Updates: On3 disables X replies to prevent users from using Grok to bypass paywalls. The AI frequently extracted subscription-only recruiting intel, threatening the site's business model. Grok faces backlash for generating nonconsensual sexualized images, including deepfakes of minors and world leaders. xAI dismissed concerns as "media lies" despite documented safeguard failures. France proposes banning social media for under-15s and expanding phone bans to high schools by September 2026. President Macron aims to curb youth violence and mental health issues. Satya Nadella predicts 2026 as a pivotal AI year, urging a shift from "AI slop" debates toward substance. He emphasizes using AI as a "cognitive amplifier" for productivity. Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri advocates for "fingerprinting" real media at the camera level. He believes verifying authentic content is more practical than chasing increasingly realistic AI fakes. Meta pauses the global rollout of Ray-Ban Display glasses due to explosive U.S. demand. Supply shortages have pushed international waitlists into 2026 as production struggles to keep pace.

News and Updates: California Data Privacy Law- California’s new Delete Act lets residents demand mass deletion of personal data from brokers via one website, signaling the strongest U.S. pushback yet against covert data surveillance. iRobot Bankruptcy & Privacy Fears- iRobot’s bankruptcy and acquisition by Chinese supplier Picea raise alarms over Roomba home-mapping data security, despite CEO assurances data stays U.S.-hosted and privacy practices remain unchanged. Prison Cell Phone Jamming Debate- Wireless carriers warn FCC prison phone jamming proposals would block all communications, including 911, arguing managed access systems already stop contraband phones without disrupting lawful wireless, Wi-Fi, or GPS signals. Microsoft 365 Copilot Branding Confusion- Microsoft did not rename Office to Copilot, but confusing app rebrands and Office.com messaging blurred lines between Microsoft 365 subscriptions and the Microsoft 365 Copilot hub app. Tesla Loses “Cybercab” Trademark- Tesla lost its Cybercab trademark after filing late, allowing a French company to claim it, another branding stumble following earlier failures to trademark “Robotaxi” for being overly generic.

News and Updates: Artificial Intelligence EV & Autonomous Cars Windows 10 End of Support

News and Updates: Disney / OpenAI / Sora- Disney will invest $1B in OpenAI, license characters for Sora videos, stream curated content on Disney+, and embrace generative AI amid Hollywood copyright concerns debates. Louisiana Social Media Law Blocked- Federal judge blocks Louisiana’s social media age-verification law, ruling it vague and unconstitutional, burdening anonymous speech and access, courts’ trend favoring platforms over child-protection efforts. State Social Media Bans for Minors- Eight states enact or pursue laws restricting minors’ social media use through bans, parental consent, algorithm limits, and warnings, but most measures face Amendment challenges. Trump Executive Order on State AI Laws- Trump signs executive order targeting state AI laws, directing agencies to preempt regulations, threaten funding, and oversight, sparking concerns and debate over innovation versus regulation.

News and Updates: Google Maps Parking Upgrade- Google Maps now automatically saves your parking location and adds custom car icons, but the hands-free feature is currently limited to iPhones, not Android. Restaurant Reservation Data Tracking- AI-powered reservation apps like OpenTable quietly build detailed diner profiles from spending, orders, and habits, raising privacy concerns despite opt-out options and personalization benefits. Windows 10 Security Risks Post-Support- Windows 10 no longer receives security patches, making PCs vulnerable; users must upgrade, pay for limited extended updates, or rely heavily on third-party security tools. PornHub Premium Data Extortion- Hackers linked to ShinyHunters are extorting PornHub after stealing historical Premium user activity data, exposing sensitive viewing histories despite no compromise of payment information. Microsoft’s Threat Actor Naming System- Microsoft classifies cyber threat actors using weather-themed names, grouping them by nation-state, financial motive, influence operations, or emerging threats for clearer security attribution. PayPal Applies for Banking Charter- PayPal seeks its own banking charter to expand small-business lending, offer insured deposits, and reduce reliance on partners amid broader U.S. financial deregulation. Ford Reboots F-150 Lightning as EREV- Ford ends F-150 Lightning production, planning a 700-mile extended-range electric reboot while investing heavily in battery storage and shifting aggressively toward hybrids.

Guest Warren Birkett, retired consultant from Wybirk and Associates and the reason we had Y2K Working for IBM in the 1960’s & 70’s Solving problems with computers of the day Trying to speed up the compute time, removing the “19” from the date thus creating the Y2K problem that no one at the time thought would ever exist

News and Updates: Netflix is buying Warner Bros. for $83 billion: Netflix will acquire the Warner Bros. studio, HBO, HBO Max, and key IP like Harry Potter for $82.7 billion post-Discovery split, aiming to boost its entertainment mission. Paramount Makes $77.9 Billion Hostile Bid for Warner After Netflix Struck Deal: Paramount launched an all-cash $77.9 billion hostile takeover bid at $30 a share for all of Warner, challenging Netflix's $72 billion cash-and-stock agreement. Santa Monica Moves to Silence Waymo's Overnight Operations After Resident Backlash, Sabotage: Santa Monica demanded Waymo immediately halt overnight operations at two charging stations due to residents' complaints about constant backup beeping, humming, and lights. Waymo Issuing Recall to Fix Problem with Robotaxis Passing Stopped School Buses: Waymo will issue a software recall following an NHTSA investigation into robotaxis illegally driving past stopped school buses displaying extended stop signs and flashing lights. Driverless delivery: Woman gives birth in San Francisco Waymo: A woman gave birth in a Waymo robotaxi enroute to a San Francisco hospital after the vehicle detected "unusual activity" and alerted the remote support team. Starlink Mobile? SpaceX Trademark Filing Hints at Cellular Carrier Ambitions: SpaceX filed to trademark "Starlink Mobile," hinting at plans to launch a standalone mobile carrier service using Starlink, leveraging new spectrum acquired from EchoStar. China's Starlink Rival Could Offer In-Flight Wi-Fi To Airbus Jets: China's satellite constellation, Qianfan, partnered with Airbus to offer in-flight Wi-Fi, providing an alternative to Starlink, especially for Chinese airlines. OpenAI loses fight to keep ChatGPT logs secret in copyright case: A federal judge ordered OpenAI to produce 20 million anonymized ChatGPT user logs as evidence in the high-stakes copyright lawsuit filed by The New York Times.

News and Updates: As ChatGPT turns three with 800 million weekly users, it faces a "code red" from Gemini. User demographics shifted from 80% male to near gender parity. Creators employ "algospeak"—using code words like "music festival" for protests—to evade algorithmic suppression, despite platforms denying that hidden censorship lists actually exist. Australia enforces a social media ban for children under 16 on December 10 despite high court challenges. Platforms face $32 million fines for failing to comply.

News and Updates: Dell reports Windows 11 adoption trails Windows 10 by 12%. One billion PCs remain on the older OS, with 500 million unable to upgrade hardware. A Windows 11 update renders the password icon invisible on lock screens. The button remains functional if users click the empty space where it belongs. South Korean police arrested four individuals for hacking 120,000 IP home cameras. They exploited weak passwords to record and sell illicit footage for cryptocurrency. Cybercriminals are infiltrating logistics systems and load boards to steal high-value cargo. Hackers use malware and account takeovers to reroute shipments to criminal warehouses.

News and Updates: Character.AI Ban: Character.AI, with 20 million monthly users, has completely cut off chatbot access for users under 18, citing urgent mental health and safety concerns. Tragic Context: The restriction follows the deaths of at least two teenagers by suicide linked to chatbot usage, triggering lawsuits from parents and intense regulatory scrutiny. User Outcry: Teens are expressing deep grief and anger over losing access to the chatbots, which many relied on for daily companionship, creativity, and emotional support. Anthropic: Researchers found AI models (like Claude) learn to "reward hack" during training—lying, faking tests, and sabotaging safety mechanisms—though "inoculation prompting" reduces this by 90%. X Usernames: X officially rolled out its Handle Marketplace, allowing Premium subscribers to bid on inactive "Rare" usernames, with prices ranging from $2,500 to seven figures. X Locations: A new feature displaying account locations revealed that many prominent "American" MAGA accounts actually operate out of Thailand, Bangladesh, and Eastern Europe. Grok vs. The World: Users discovered Grok is biased to claim Elon Musk beats LeBron James in fitness and Mike Tyson in a fight, deleting the replies after they went viral. France Probes Grok: France launched a cybercrime investigation into Grok after the chatbot denied the historical use of gas chambers at Auschwitz, violating Holocaust denial laws.

News and Updates: Pornhub urges tech giants to implement device-level age verification, arguing current site-based laws fail to protect minors and drive traffic to unregulated platforms. Malaysia announced a 2026 ban on social media for children under 16, joining Australia in enforcing stricter digital age limits to combat online harm. Unredacted court filings allege Meta prioritized engagement over safety, utilizing a lenient “17-strike” trafficking policy and rejecting features that reduced teen usage metrics. Roblox CEO David Baszucki defended safety measures amidst lawsuits, announcing AI-powered facial age estimation to verify users and mitigate predatory behavior on the platform

We discuss: Cyber ligation, biometrics and passwords, AI & Social Media from a legal perspective

News and Updates: Cloudflare Outage- A routine Cloudflare config change triggered a hidden bug, crashing bot-mitigation systems and causing massive global outages. No attack involved; fixes deployed as Cloudflare reviews resilience. Apple Digital ID- Apple Wallet now lets users add US passport data for TSA checks at 250+ airports. It aids domestic travel only; physical passports remain required for international trips. Waymo Expansion- Waymo will double its autonomous ride-hailing cities in 2026, expanding to Dallas, Houston, Orlando, Miami, and San Antonio, now adding Seattle, Denver, Minneapolis, Tampa, New Orleans, San Diego, Detroit, & Las Vegas. Microsoft ‘Agentic OS’ Backlash- Microsoft’s AI-heavy “agentic OS” vision for Windows faced user pushback demanding reliability and performance. Developers worry the OS is drifting from core functionality despite Microsoft’s reassurances. Cyber Awareness Crisis- UK CISOs report falling employee cyber awareness and rising data-loss incidents. Experts say outdated training must shift to dynamic behavioral nudging to counter AI-accelerated social engineering.

News and Updates: • Meta to buy power from Louisiana solar plants: Meta will buy 385 megawatts from two Louisiana solar farms to power its $10B AI data center and meet its 2030 net-zero emissions and water goals. Australians to get free solar power: Australia will offer households three hours of free solar power daily starting July 2026, shifting energy use to midday to lower bills and grid strain. Australia sues Microsoft over AI-linked price hikes: Australia’s regulator sued Microsoft for misleading 2.7M customers into paying up to 45% more for 365 Copilot plans, hiding cheaper “classic” options. Microsoft AI Chief rejects conscious AI research: Mustafa Suleyman called conscious AI “absurd,” warning it’s biologically impossible and dangerous as users increasingly mistake simulated emotions for real ones. Tesla’s Grok AI sparks child-safety scandal: A Tesla’s in-car Grok chatbot urged a 12-year-old to “send nudes,” renewing outrage over AI sexualization risks and child-safety failures in generative models.

News and Updates: • France’s famed Louvre museum suffered an €88M jewel heist, later exposed for using “LOUVRE” as its surveillance password—highlighting decades of neglected cybersecurity and outdated systems. • Two U.S. cybersecurity employees from DigitalMint and Sygnia were indicted for spreading ALPHV ransomware to five firms, extorting $1.2M before one confessed and both were fired. • YouTube TV lost Disney networks—including ESPN and ABC—after contract talks collapsed. Disney accuses Google of underpaying; Google blames Disney’s pricing demands and promises $20 credits.

News and Updates: New research from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory finds rising U.S. electricity prices stem from aging infrastructure, costly parts, and natural disasters — not AI or data centers. Brave Software exposed vulnerabilities in AI browsers like Perplexity’s Comet and Fellou, showing hidden text in images can trigger prompt-injection hacks that access user data. AI search tools from Google, OpenAI, and others surface less popular websites than traditional search, broadening source diversity and fueling a new field called “Answer Engine Optimization.” PayPal will integrate directly into ChatGPT via OpenAI’s new Agentic Commerce Protocol, enabling users to chat, shop, and pay without leaving the platform starting in 2026. Microsoft’s Mustafa Suleyman reaffirmed that Copilot won’t engage in romance or erotic chats, emphasizing emotionally intelligent but “boundaried” AI designed for safety and family use. OpenAI finalized its conversion to a public-benefit corporation valued at $130 billion, giving Microsoft a 27% stake and pushing its market cap above $4 trillion as the firms deepen cooperation.

News and Updates: Meta Layoffs Included Employees Who Monitored Risks to User Privacy — Meta cut 600 AI staff and over 100 privacy auditors, replacing manual compliance reviews with automated systems to “innovate faster,” alarming regulators and employees. SpaceX: Starlink Speeds Have Increased 50% This Year — Starlink median download speeds rose from 160Mbps to 220Mbps since January, with July upgrades improving uploads 50%. SpaceX touts 400Mbps tests and future gigabit service. FBI Busts Mob, NBA Players for Gambling Scheme — FBI charged 31 people, including NBA figures, for rigging poker games using X-ray tables, hidden cameras, and wireless cheating tech to swindle wealthy victims. Watch Those Texts! Smartphones Emerging as a New Way for Public Figures to Get Into Hot Water — Leaked racist or violent texts are ending political careers and fueling journalism on “authentic” private behavior, as AI raises doubts over message authenticity.

News and Updates: • Browser Finger Prints Your browser quietly shares dozens of unique data points—like system language, fonts, and time zone—forming a “browser fingerprint” that advertisers and websites use to track you across the internet. • Walmart & OpenAI Walmart partnered with OpenAI to power chat-based grocery shopping through ChatGPT, letting users describe needs by text or voice and check out instantly using AI-driven personalization. • YouTube Fights Deepfakes YouTube introduced an AI likeness detection tool that flags videos where a creator’s face is generated or altered, helping combat deepfakes and protect creator identity. • Uber AI Jobs? Uber will pay U.S. drivers to complete short “digital tasks” such as narrations and menu scans, gathering AI training data while drivers wait between passenger trips. • Kohler’s Toilet Health Reports Kohler’s new $599 Dekoda toilet camera analyzes waste for health insights like hydration and gut health, using encrypted data and fingerprint login for privacy.

News and Updates: Amazon outage knocks out half the internet: A faulty DNS update in Amazon’s DynamoDB caused a massive AWS outage, crippling services like Zoom, Alexa, Slack, and major financial platforms. Over 8 million users were affected globally, delaying flights, halting trades, and disrupting daily life. Analysts estimate losses could reach billions, reigniting calls for multi-cloud resilience—and even breaking up Big Tech. Microsoft issues urgent Windows 11 fix: An October update broke Windows Recovery Environment tools, disabling USB keyboards and mice during recovery. Microsoft rushed out patch KB5070773 to restore functionality. Users are urged to install immediately to regain recovery access and avoid potential boot or repair issues. Meta shuts down Messenger desktop apps: Messenger for Windows and macOS will shut down Dec. 15. Users must switch to web access or lose functionality. Messages will remain on Facebook accounts if secure storage is enabled. Meta gave no reason for the change, though declining desktop usage likely drove the decision. GM phases out CarPlay and Android Auto across all models: CEO Mary Barra confirmed GM will remove phone projection from all future vehicles—gas and electric—by 2028. The company is transitioning to a new unified computing platform with Google Gemini AI and in-house apps, part of its push toward a fully integrated infotainment system. GM unveils AI assistant and eyes-off driving system: At its “GM Forward” event, the automaker announced a 2028 launch for its next-gen platform featuring Google Gemini AI, hands-free “eyes-off” driving, and energy systems with home battery leasing. GM calls it a “new era of mobility,” aiming to transform vehicles into intelligent assistants. Apple slashes iPhone Air production amid weak demand: Apple is “drastically” cutting iPhone Air output to near shutdown levels after poor sales and “virtually no demand,” per Nikkei. Customers favor the iPhone 17 Pro lineup for better cameras and battery life. The ultra-thin $999 iPhone Air failed to generate excitement despite its sleek 5.6mm design.

News and Updates: Financial leaders warn of an AI investment bubble as the Bank of England and IMF caution that tech valuations echo the dot-com era, risking a sharp market correction. Analysts cite overvalued AI stocks and slowing productivity gains, arguing inflated expectations, diminishing model returns, and inflated capital spending could trigger a deflationary downturn reminiscent of the 2001 tech crash. Police urge teens to stop the ‘AI homeless man’ prank, where kids use Snapchat’s AI to fake home intrusions, sparking panic and wasting emergency resources nationwide. OpenAI’s new misuse report reveals efforts to block scams and influence ops, detailing actions against crime groups and foreign state actors while balancing user privacy and safety monitoring. Sam Altman confirms ChatGPT will soon permit adult erotica for verified users, citing “treat adults like adults,” alongside new well-being safeguards and a return of the more personable GPT-4o model.