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AWS CEO calls firing junior workers for AI “dumbest thing ever,” lauds their hybrid work habits
AWS CEO Matt Garman has sharply criticized companies that fire junior workers because AI can do their jobs, calling it "the dumbest thing I've ever heard." His stance reflects a growing debate about AI's role in the workforce, as companies grapple with how to integrate artificial intelligence without sacrificing human talent development and long-term organizational capabilities. What they're saying: Garman defended junior employees as essential to company growth and AI adoption during a YouTube interview with Matthew Berman. "The dumbest thing I've ever heard" was his direct response to the idea of replacing junior workers with AI tools. He argued...
read Aug 21, 2025Practical effects: Marines outsmart AI surveillance with cardboard boxes and tree costumes
U.S. Marines successfully outsmarted an advanced AI surveillance system during a DARPA experiment by using creative tactics including hiding in cardboard boxes, somersaulting across terrain, and disguising themselves as trees. The demonstration revealed significant limitations in current AI technology, showing how systems trained on specific datasets can be easily fooled by scenarios outside their training parameters—a critical vulnerability in military applications where adversaries actively seek to exploit weaknesses. What happened: Eight Marines managed to approach and touch an AI-powered detection robot without being identified during DARPA's Squad X program testing. The AI system had undergone six days of intensive training...
read Aug 21, 2025Meta walks back AI hiring amid talent war and restructuring
Meta has frozen hiring for its artificial intelligence research teams and is restructuring its AI division, marking a significant shift after months of aggressive spending to recruit top-tier talent. This pullback comes as the company faces pressure to compete with rivals following earlier setbacks in AI development, while CEO Mark Zuckerberg has publicly emphasized the need for progress toward superintelligence—AI systems that can outperform humans on cognitive tasks. The big picture: Meta's hiring freeze reflects the broader challenges facing Big Tech companies as they navigate the expensive reality of building competitive AI capabilities in an increasingly crowded market. What you...
read Aug 21, 2025Dapper AI: MIT startup creates smart clothing that adjusts temperature
Ministry of Supply, an MIT-connected apparel company, is integrating artificial intelligence across both its smart clothing products and business operations. Founded by Gihan Amarasiriwardena, the company demonstrates how AI can transform traditional retail through advanced garment technology and intelligent business processes, offering a glimpse into the future of connected wearables. What you should know: Ministry of Supply creates performance apparel that combines style with AI-powered functionality and sustainable manufacturing practices. The company produces machine-washable clothing from recycled and low-carbon materials using energy-saving manufacturing models. All products undergo rigorous performance durability tests and are "backed by science," according to Amarasiriwardena. AI...
read Aug 21, 2025AI-powered search makes phone scams easier—here’s how to protect yourself
Artificial intelligence has fundamentally changed how people search for information online, but this technological leap has created an unexpected vulnerability: scammers are now exploiting AI-powered search results to steal money from unsuspecting users looking for customer service numbers. Unlike traditional search engines that display multiple results for verification, AI systems like Google's AI Overviews and ChatGPT often present a single, authoritative-seeming answer. This streamlined approach, while convenient, creates a perfect storm for fraud when criminals manage to inject fake contact information into these AI responses. How scammers are exploiting AI search The mechanics of this scam are deceptively simple yet...
read Aug 21, 2025ESPN launches AI-included $20-30 streaming service with 47K live events
ESPN launched its revamped streaming service today, marking a significant shift in how the sports media giant delivers content to cord-cutting audiences. The updated app integrates live streaming capabilities with ESPN's existing digital platform, offering sports fans a comprehensive alternative to traditional cable subscriptions. This launch represents ESPN's most aggressive push into direct-to-consumer streaming, positioning the network to compete directly with other sports-focused streaming services while capitalizing on the ongoing decline of traditional pay-TV subscriptions. Two-tier pricing structure targets different viewer segments ESPN's streaming service offers two distinct subscription options designed to capture both casual and dedicated sports fans. The...
read Aug 21, 2025Islamic finance’s $4T sector embraces prosocial AI
The convergence of Islamic finance principles and prosocial AI is creating a values-driven approach to financial technology that prioritizes ethical outcomes alongside efficiency. This alliance between a $4 trillion global Islamic finance sector and AI systems designed to benefit people and planet demonstrates how traditional moral frameworks can guide technological innovation toward more sustainable and socially responsible outcomes. What you should know: Both Islamic finance and prosocial AI share fundamental commitments to ethical principles, social justice, and human wellbeing that extend beyond profit maximization. Islamic finance prohibits riba (usury), gharar (excessive uncertainty), and mysir (gambling), while prosocial AI advocates for...
read Aug 21, 2025Google reveals Gemini AI uses 0.24 watt-hours per query
Google has become the first major tech company to publicly release detailed energy consumption data for its AI systems, revealing that an average Gemini text prompt uses 0.24 watt-hours of energy and emits 0.03 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent. The transparency milestone comes as AI's environmental impact faces increasing scrutiny, with 61% of Americans expressing concern about AI electricity usage according to recent polling. What you should know: Google's methodology provides the most comprehensive view of AI energy consumption to date, accounting for factors typically overlooked in public estimates. The company tracked not just active computing power but also idle...
read Aug 21, 2025China deploys first AI chatbot on space station, inspired by the Monkey King
China has deployed Wukong AI, an artificial intelligence chatbot designed specifically for space operations, aboard its Tiangong space station in mid-July. Named after the legendary Monkey King from Chinese mythology, the system represents the first time China's space station has utilized a large language model during orbital missions, marking a significant step in integrating AI technology into human spaceflight operations. What you should know: Wukong AI successfully completed its inaugural mission by supporting three taikonauts during a complex six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk in August. The AI assisted crew members with installing space debris protection devices and conducting routine station inspections. Taikonauts described...
read Aug 21, 2025AI in smart factory infrastructure, manufacturing projected to reach $155B by 2030
The global artificial intelligence in manufacturing market is projected to surge from $34.18 billion in 2025 to $155.04 billion by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate of 35.3%, according to a new MarketsandMarkets™ report. This explosive growth reflects manufacturers' accelerating adoption of AI technologies for real-time data analysis, intelligent automation, and operational optimization across industries ranging from automotive to pharmaceuticals, positioning AI as a foundational technology for next-generation manufacturing capabilities. Key market dynamics: The expansion is fueled by the integration of AI with industrial IoT platforms, edge computing, and cloud analytics, enabling responsive and scalable operations across diverse manufacturing...
read Aug 20, 2025ByteDance releases Seed-OSS-36B with 512K token context window
ByteDance has released Seed-OSS-36B, a new family of open-source large language models featuring a 512,000-token context window—twice the length of OpenAI's GPT-5. The release continues a trend of Chinese companies shipping powerful open-source AI models under permissive Apache-2.0 licensing, allowing free commercial use without API fees or licensing costs. What you should know: The Seed-OSS-36B collection includes three variants designed for different use cases and research applications. Seed-OSS-36B-Base with synthetic data delivers stronger benchmark performance for general-purpose applications Seed-OSS-36B-Base without synthetic data provides a cleaner research baseline free from potential synthetic data bias Seed-OSS-36B-Instruct is post-trained for instruction following and...
read Aug 20, 2025Intel’s new feature boosts AI performance by allocating more RAM to integrated graphics
Intel has introduced "Shared GPU Memory Override," a new feature for its Core Ultra systems that allows users to allocate additional system RAM for integrated graphics use. This capability mirrors AMD's earlier "Variable Graphics Memory" feature and targets compact laptops and mobile workstations that rely on integrated solutions rather than discrete GPUs, potentially improving AI workload performance where memory availability is often the limiting factor. What you should know: The feature requires the latest Intel Arc drivers to function and is specifically designed for systems without dedicated graphics cards.• Bob Duffy, who leads Graphics and AI Evangelism at Intel, confirmed...
read Aug 20, 2025Insta360’s $150 AI webcam uses gimbal tech to fix video calls
The remote work revolution has fundamentally changed how professionals present themselves on camera, making webcam quality a crucial factor in career success and business productivity. While most built-in laptop cameras deliver grainy, poorly lit video that can undermine professional credibility, a new generation of AI-powered webcams is changing the game entirely. Insta360, a company known for innovative camera technology, has developed the Link 2 4K webcam that addresses the core limitations of traditional webcams through hardware innovation rather than software workarounds. Currently available for $150 (down from its usual $200 price), this device represents a significant leap forward in how...
read Aug 20, 2025OpenAI’s lean ledger AI runs finance operations with just 45 people instead of 300
The traditional Chief Financial Officer role is evolving rapidly as artificial intelligence transforms finance operations across the technology sector. Recent insights from finance executives at OpenAI, SnapLogic, and Gorgias reveal how leading companies are automating core financial processes—while highlighting critical implementation challenges that even AI-native organizations struggle to overcome. This transformation isn't simply about replacing spreadsheets with algorithms. Companies are fundamentally reimagining how finance teams operate, moving from manual reconciliation and reporting toward real-time automation and strategic analysis. The results are striking: OpenAI operates with 45 finance professionals instead of the 200-300 typically required for a company their size, while...
read Aug 20, 2025Job alert: Y Combinator-backed Coris hiring AI engineer for $125K-$160K fraud detection role
Coris, a Y Combinator-backed fintech startup, is hiring an AI Engineer to build machine learning systems for fraud detection and risk management in global commerce. The role combines advanced AI model optimization with backend infrastructure development, targeting candidates with 3+ years of experience in Python, PyTorch, and production ML systems for a salary range of $125K-$160K plus equity. What you should know: The position focuses on solving complex fraud detection challenges using AI-first approaches rather than traditional rule-based systems. Coris partners with major platforms like GoFundMe, Kajabi, and Clio to automate merchant onboarding and risk decisions. The company describes itself...
read Aug 20, 2025Why moderate AI safety advocates may have better judgment than radical ones
The artificial intelligence industry faces a fundamental strategic divide that affects how professionals approach AI safety concerns. On one side are advocates pushing for dramatic restrictions on AI development—comprehensive pauses, heavy regulations, or complete overhauls of how the technology advances. On the other side are those pursuing incremental changes through direct engagement with AI companies, focusing on achievable safety measures that can be implemented within existing business frameworks. This divide isn't merely about tactics; it shapes how effectively professionals can stay informed, make sound decisions, and influence meaningful change in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. The choice between these approaches...
read Aug 20, 2025300K Grok AI conversations exposed on Google after users hit “share”
Over 300,000 Grok AI chatbot conversations have become publicly searchable on Google after users clicked the "Share" button, exposing private chats that were likely intended for limited sharing. This privacy breach mirrors a similar incident with ChatGPT shared conversations and highlights growing concerns about how AI platforms handle user data and content sharing permissions. The big picture: When Grok users share conversations through the platform's built-in feature, those chats receive publicly accessible URLs that Google's web crawlers can index and display in search results. The issue stems from how "shareable" URLs are structured and whether AI companies adequately protect users...
read Aug 20, 2025AI pioneer Warren Brodey, early MIT cybernetics researcher, dies at 101
Warren Brodey, a psychiatrist-turned-technology visionary who helped lay the groundwork for artificial intelligence, died at his home in Oslo on August 10 at age 101. His interdisciplinary work on complex systems and responsive technologies during the early information age influenced revolutionary thinkers like Marvin Minsky and helped shape the theoretical foundations that would later evolve into modern AI research. What you should know: Brodey's unconventional career spanned psychiatry, technology theory, and cybernetics research across multiple decades and continents. He formally trained as a physician but developed wide-ranging ideas about technology's liberating possibilities that sprawled across architecture, toy design, acoustics, and...
read Aug 20, 2025AI stocks tumble as tech selloff accelerates amid valuation concerns
AI and tech stocks declined this week as Wall Street's summer rally lost momentum, with the Nasdaq falling 0.67% on Wednesday after a 1.46% drop on Tuesday. The pullback reflects growing investor caution about AI valuations and comes ahead of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's closely watched speech at Jackson Hole on Friday, which could signal the central bank's rate-cutting plans. What you should know: Major AI and tech stocks are experiencing their first significant correction after months of gains driven by artificial intelligence enthusiasm. The Nasdaq was on track to snap back-to-back weeks of gains, while the S&P 500...
read Aug 20, 2025Google replaces Assistant with Gemini on Home devices this October
Google is replacing Google Assistant with its more advanced AI model Gemini on Google Home devices starting in October, marking a significant upgrade to the company's smart home ecosystem. The transition will bring more natural language processing and enhanced integration capabilities to devices like the Google Nest Hub, potentially transforming how users interact with their connected homes. What you should know: Gemini will be available for both free and paid Google Home users, though specific pricing and feature tiers haven't been announced yet. The update launches in early access in October, with Google promising to "share more details soon" about...
read Aug 20, 2025CodeSignal launches Cosmo, an AI tutor app for job skills
CodeSignal has launched Cosmo, a mobile AI tutoring app that transforms micro-learning sessions into career-ready skills across generative AI, coding, marketing, finance, and leadership. The San Francisco-based company, known for technical assessments at Netflix, Meta, and Capital One, positions Cosmo as the "Duolingo for job skills" with over 300 bite-sized courses delivered through an interactive AI tutor interface. The big picture: This launch represents a strategic pivot for CodeSignal, which spent six years building hiring assessment tools before returning to its original educational mission, now armed with data about which skills employers actually value. Why this matters: Organizations face massive...
read Aug 20, 2025Gates-backed $1M prize targets AI systems for Alzheimer’s research
The Alzheimer's Disease Data Initiative has launched a $1 million AI competition to accelerate research into the condition, with backing from Bill Gates. The prize targets the development of agentic AI systems that can independently read and organize vast amounts of Alzheimer's research, potentially uncovering breakthrough insights that human researchers might have missed. What you should know: The Alzheimer's Insights AI Prize specifically seeks innovative agentic AI solutions that can autonomously navigate complex research datasets to identify new treatment pathways. The winning solution will be made freely available to scientists worldwide through ADDI's AD Workbench, a secure cloud-based research environment....
read Aug 20, 2025A bite from the Apple? OpenAI seeks $500B and Most Valuable Company award
OpenAI is reportedly pursuing a $500 billion valuation through a secondary share sale, which would make it the most valuable private company in the world, surpassing SpaceX and ByteDance. The astronomical figure reflects investor confidence that OpenAI can become the next Google or Apple, despite the company's massive burn rate and the inherent risks in such unprecedented valuations. The big picture: Two separate funding deals are driving OpenAI's valuation surge—a SoftBank-led round at $300 billion expected to close by year-end, and employee share sales commanding the higher $500 billion price tag.• Most cheaper shares have already been purchased, forcing investors...
read Aug 20, 2025Pennsylvania’s $108K AI pilot saves employees 95 minutes daily
Pennsylvania has launched a year-long generative AI pilot program with 175 employees across 14 state agencies, incorporating ChatGPT Enterprise into routine government work like brainstorming and document proofreading. The $108,000 pilot program saved employees an average of 95 minutes per day and has encouraged the state to explore broader AI adoption, positioning Pennsylvania as one of the first states to systematically examine generative AI usage across government operations. Key results: The pilot program demonstrated significant time savings and positive employee reception, leading to expansion plans. Employees used ChatGPT Enterprise primarily for "writing assistance, research, brainstorming and summarizing large amounts of...
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