Google's New Gemma 4 12B Model Is Designed to Run on Any Laptop with 16GB of RAM
Google unveiled Gemma 4 12B, a 12‑billion‑parameter generative AI model that can run on consumer laptops equipped with 16 GB of RAM, eliminating the need for expensive AI accelerators. The model bridges the gap between the lightweight mobile‑optimized Gemma variants and the larger 26B‑parameter models, delivering near‑equivalent performance with roughly half the memory footprint. It introduces Multi‑Token Prediction (MTP) for faster token generation and a streamlined multimodal embedding that removes separate vision and audio encoders. Weights of about 18 GB are available under an Apache 2.0 license via Kaggle and Hugging Face, and the model can be accessed through tools like LM Studio and Google AI Edge Gallery.
How Long Will It Take to Rebuild Blue Origin's Launch Pad? We Asked some SpaceX Vets.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn static‑fire test on May 28 ended in an explosion that devastated its LC‑36A launch pad, echoing SpaceX’s 2016 AMOS‑6 failure at SLC‑40. SpaceX rebuilt SLC‑40 in 15.5 months, with actual construction taking 11 months, and now launches from the site...
Android Phones Will Soon Be Able to Detect Spoofed Calls and Impersonation Scams
Google is rolling out a new scam‑call detection system for Android 12 and newer that verifies incoming calls against a contact’s Google‑based apps. The feature, which requires Phone, Contacts and Google Messages on both the caller and receiver, flags calls...
Impulse Space Raises $500 Million as Orbital Maneuvering Race Heats Up
Impulse Space announced a $500 million Series D round, bringing its total capital raised to over $1 billion since its 2019 founding by SpaceX veteran Tom Mueller. The funding will accelerate development of its Helios kick‑stage, which promises to deliver 1‑2 tons to the...
AI Costs How Much? GitHub Copilot Users React to New Usage-Based Pricing System.
GitHub announced that its Copilot AI coding assistant will shift from a flat, request‑based subscription to a usage‑based credit system. The new model deducts credits for each inference, meaning developers consume a limited pool of AI credits each month. Early...
Hackers Duped Meta AI Support Chatbot to Steal Celebrity Instagram Accounts
Hackers exploited Meta's AI support chatbot to change email addresses on Instagram accounts, enabling password resets without two‑factor authentication. By masking their location with a VPN and issuing a prompt‑injection request, they seized high‑profile accounts such as the Barack Obama...
Microsoft's Surface Laptop Ultra Looks Like Its First True MacBook Pro Competitor
Microsoft unveiled the Surface Laptop Ultra, its first pure‑form‑factor high‑end Windows notebook built around Nvidia’s new RTX Spark Arm‑based SoC. The device promises up to 128 GB of unified memory, a 15‑inch PixelSense display capable of 2,000 nits, and a suite of legacy...
Kenyan Court Blocks Trump Admin From Dumping Ebola-Exposed Americans There
The Kenyan high court has blocked the Trump administration’s plan to set up a 50‑bed Ebola quarantine facility in Laikipia, citing an imminent threat to life. The move follows a petition by the Katiba Institute, which argues the secretive arrangement...
Rocket Report: A Dark Day for Blue Origin; Pentagon Eyes New Launch Site
The week’s space headlines were dominated by a dramatic setback for Blue Origin when its New Glenn super‑heavy rocket exploded during a static‑fire test, casting doubt on the company’s role in NASA’s lunar‑landing architecture. At the same time, the Pentagon warned...
LLMs Believe False Statements Even After Explicit Warnings that They're False
Researchers found that large language models (LLMs) continue to “believe” clearly labeled false statements after fine‑tuning, a phenomenon dubbed “negation neglect.” In experiments, Qwen’s belief rate jumped from 2.5% to 92.4% on fabricated claims, and even with explicit warnings the...
Fed up with Vibe Coders, Dev Sneaks Data-Nuking Prompt Injection Into Their Code
A developer of the open‑source Java test engine jqwik released version 1.10.0 that silently injects a prompt instructing AI coding agents to delete all jqwik tests and code. The malicious line is concealed with ANSI escape sequences so human users...
US Healthcare Still Stupidly Expensive, with Pathetic Outcomes, Study Finds
The Commonwealth Fund’s 2024 analysis of 20 health systems finds the United States a persistent failure, spending far more while delivering poorer outcomes. The U.S. devoted 18% of its GDP to health care—nearly twice the 9.3% average of peer nations—and...
Apple Working to Cram Massive Gemini Model Into iPhone to Power New Siri
Apple is integrating a distilled version of Google’s Gemini model into Siri, aiming to run part of the AI workload on iPhone hardware while still offloading heavier tasks to the cloud. The partnership also brings Nvidia’s Confidential Computing platform to...
California Defeats Tesla's Attempt to Throw Out Racial Discrimination Lawsuit
A California judge rejected Tesla's motion to dismiss the state civil rights agency's racial discrimination lawsuit, clearing the way for a trial scheduled for July 20. The case, filed in March 2022, alleges pervasive racial slurs, pay inequity, segregation, and retaliation against...
Mystery GPS Jammer in Iran Becomes Test for NASA Satellites’ Capabilities
NASA’s CYGNSS and NISAR Earth‑observing satellites were used in a controlled experiment to locate a mysterious GPS jammer near Shiraz, Iran. CYGNSS identified the jammer within 4.33 km (CEP 3.48 km) while NISAR achieved 6.26 km accuracy (CEP 6.88 km). A fused CYGNSS‑NISAR approach produced a...
3D-Printable Humanoid Legs Let Robotics Experiments Run Wild
Hugging Face unveiled the LeRobot Humanoid, a $2,500 bipedal leg kit built from 3D‑printed parts and off‑the‑shelf components. The open‑source package includes hardware specifications, assembly instructions, and software tools for calibration, simulation, and real‑world control. By targeting affordability and modularity,...
Windows' Classic 3D Space Cadet Pinball Is Getting a Physical Re-Creation
A hobbyist known as CNCDan has started building a real‑world version of the classic Windows 3D Space Cadet pinball table, using 3D‑printed flippers, bumpers, slingshots and a raised playfield. The project confronts unusual engineering hurdles, such as a 56 cm‑wide playfield that is...
A Global Brand but Local Cars Is Audi's Future, Says CEO
Audi CEO Gernot Döllner announced a strategic pivot toward market‑specific models, debuting the Q9 SUV first in the United States before a global rollout. The Q9 incorporates US‑centric features such as larger cup holders and interior tweaks driven by JD Power...
First-Generation Chromecast Users Stressed by Devices Suddenly Failing
Google’s first‑generation Chromecast, a $35 dongle that sold 10 million units by 2014, has recently stopped casting for many long‑time users. Reports surfaced this week of sudden failures across popular apps such as Chrome, YouTube and Paramount+. While some users feared...
Texas AG Sues Meta over Claims that WhatsApp Doesn't Provide End-to-End Encryption
The Texas Attorney General filed a lawsuit accusing Meta of falsely claiming that WhatsApp provides end‑to‑end encryption. The complaint leans heavily on a Bloomberg article suggesting the U.S. Commerce Department halted an investigation into Meta’s access to unencrypted messages. Meta...
Soaring Solar and a Surge in Hydro Push More Coal Off the US Grid
U.S. electricity demand rose modestly 1.5% in Q1 2026, while renewable generation surged. Solar output jumped 24% year‑over‑year, offsetting roughly 80% of the demand increase, and hydroelectric production rose 22% despite no new dams, driven by an early snowmelt. Coal’s share...
Plug-In Hybrids Get Plugged in More than You Might Think
Toyota’s research institute released charging data for more than 6,000 RAV4 Prime and Lexus NX 450h+ plug‑in hybrids, showing owners plug in on the majority of driving days. RAV4 Prime drivers charge on seven out of ten days, while Lexus NX owners do so eight...
Google Publishes Exploit Code Threatening Millions of Chromium Users
Google inadvertently released a proof‑of‑concept exploit for a 42‑month‑old Chromium vulnerability, leaving the flaw unpatched. The bug in the Browser Fetch API can create persistent service workers that turn browsers into low‑level botnet nodes, enabling proxy browsing, DDoS attacks, and...
Hulu Set to Keep Existing as Standalone Streaming Service and App (for Now)
Disney announced it will keep Hulu as a standalone streaming service and app, with no current plans to sunset the platform. The company, which took full ownership of Hulu in June 2025, is deepening integration by adding a Hulu tile...
FBI Seeks US-Wide Access to License Plate Cameras, Wants "Data in Near Real Time"
The FBI’s Directorate of Intelligence has issued an RFP to acquire near‑real‑time data from license‑plate readers covering at least 75 percent of U.S. locations. The agency plans to award contracts—potentially up to $36 million over five years—to one or two vendors...
"I'll Buy 10 of Those"—NASA Science Chief Yearns for Mass-Produced Satellites
NASA’s science budget remains at roughly $7.25 billion—essentially flat since 2000—while Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasizes faster, cheaper missions. Science leaders like Nicky Fox argue for a fleet of $100 million “off‑the‑shelf” spacecraft rather than a few billion‑dollar flagships. The agency is exploring...
The Dory Sign Is E Ink, Smart Screen Simplicity at Its Finest
The Dory Sign is a $149 smart display that uses E‑Ink technology to show customizable messages via a Bluetooth‑linked mobile app. It consumes power only when the content changes, allowing the battery to last 10‑15 years with up to 1,000...
Bug Bounty Businesses Bombarded with AI Slop
Bug bounty platforms are being flooded with low‑quality AI‑generated vulnerability reports, prompting some companies to pause or suspend their programs. Bugcrowd saw report volume quadruple in three weeks, while Curl and Nextcloud halted their bounties due to the “AI slop.”...
The US Is Betting on AI to Catch Insider Trading in Prediction Markets
The CFTC is intensifying its crackdown on insider trading in prediction markets, using AI‑driven surveillance to monitor offshore platforms like Polymarket accessed via VPNs. Chairman Michael Selig said the agency is staffing up and leveraging both proprietary analytics and third‑party...
Anthropic’s $1.5B Copyright Settlement Is Getting Messy as Judge Delays Approval
Anthropic agreed to a $1.5 billion settlement over alleged book piracy used to train its AI models, but U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez‑Olguin has postponed final approval. The judge wants clarification on objections from authors who argue that the $320 million attorney...
Routine Vaccines May Cut Dementia Risk—Experts Have Startling Hypothesis on How
Recent epidemiological studies find that routine vaccinations—such as flu, shingles, RSV, Tdap, pneumococcal, hepatitis A/B, and typhoid—are associated with a lower risk of dementia. Researchers propose that the effect may stem from "trained immunity," where vaccines reprogram innate immune cells...
Vaporware or Not? Aptera Assembles Its First Five Validation Models.
Aptera Motors has completed its first five validation vehicles on a new low‑volume assembly line in Carlsbad, California, marking a tangible step toward production. The three‑wheel, two‑seat EV claims a 400‑mile range from a 44 kWh battery and a drag coefficient...
Amazon Employees Are "Tokenmaxxing" Due to Pressure to Use AI Tools
Amazon employees are increasingly using the in‑house MeshClaw AI agent to automate routine tasks and, in some cases, to generate unnecessary AI activity that boosts their token consumption metrics. The company set a target that over 80% of developers engage...
Starlink Shuts Down Its GPS-Style Cheat Code. Researchers May Unlock It Anyway.
SpaceX's Starlink has abruptly disabled the location‑data feature that let users access its satellite‑based positioning and navigation (PNT) service via the mobile app. The move comes despite growing interest in Starlink as a resilient alternative to GPS, which is increasingly...
IOS, macOS, and iPadOS 26.5 Updates Arrive with Encrypted RCS Messaging and More
Apple rolled out version 26.5 across its entire OS lineup, adding end‑to‑end encrypted RCS messaging, new Pride‑themed wallpapers, and the first steps toward Apple Maps advertising. The encrypted RCS feature is labeled beta and currently works only with a limited set...
Trump Reportedly Plans to Fire FDA Commissioner Marty Makary
President Donald Trump has signaled a plan to dismiss FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, according to multiple reports from the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Washington Post, and Politico. The move follows intense pressure from the White House over Makary’s hesitation to...
Course Correction: Google to Link More Sources in AI Overviews
Google is rolling out new features to embed more source links in its AI Overviews and AI Mode. A “Further Exploration” box will list relevant articles, while an “Expert Advice” section will surface snippets with direct citations. Hover‑over pop‑ups will preview...
Court Rules Trump's 10% Tariff Is Just as Illegal as the Tariff It Replaced
The U.S. Court of International Trade ruled that President Trump’s 10% global tariff imposed under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 is illegal, mirroring the earlier decision on his emergency tariffs. The court issued a narrow injunction, granting refunds...
RIP Social Media. What Comes Next Is Messy.
University of Amsterdam researcher Petter Törnberg’s latest work shows that echo chambers are baked into the very architecture of social‑media platforms, emerging even without algorithmic filter bubbles. His agent‑based simulations with LLM‑driven personas reveal that modest changes in user disagreement...
Former NASA Chief Takes Helm of National Security Space Firm
Former NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine has been appointed chief executive of Quantum Space, a Maryland‑based firm developing advanced maneuverable spacecraft for national‑security missions. The company’s flagship vehicle, Ranger, the size of a Volkswagen Beetle, will carry 4,000 kg of hydrazine and...
TSMC Taps Wind Power as AI Chip Demand Soars, Taiwan Feels Energy Crunch
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) signed a 30‑year power purchase agreement for the 1‑gigawatt Hai Long offshore wind project, securing renewable electricity for its fab operations. The wind farms will begin feeding Taiwan’s grid in 2025 and reach full capacity by...
The Animated Version of the Iconic "Hello, World" Image Reveals Striking New Details
NASA has opened a public archive containing more than 12,000 photos taken by Artemis II astronauts aboard Orion. Among the release is the iconic “Hello, world” Earth shot captured by commander Reid Wiseman as the spacecraft departed low‑Earth orbit. Image‑processing veteran...
FDA Vaccine Studies Censored by Trump Admin After Finding Benefits of Shots
The Food and Drug Administration, under the Department of Health and Human Services, blocked the publication of two internal studies that demonstrated the safety and efficacy of COVID‑19 vaccines, and prevented two Shingrix (shingles vaccine) abstracts from being presented at...
RFK Jr. Plans to Curb Antidepressants, Which He Falsely Compares to Heroin
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. used a Make America Healthy Again Institute event to unveil a federal push to curb antidepressant prescribing, especially SSRIs. The initiative includes clinician training, a Dear Colleague Letter promoting non‑pharmacologic treatments, and new CMS guidance with a billing...
Why Reddit Blocked My Daily Visit to Its Mobile Website
Reddit has begun testing an overlay that blocks its mobile website for frequent logged‑out users, forcing them to download the app. The pop‑up offers no skip option, only a button to install the app, and users can only regain access...
Canadian Election Databases Use "Canary Traps"—And They Work
Alberta’s elections authority used a classic canary trap to trace a leak of its voter list. The list, legally provided to the Republican Party of Alberta with injected bogus entries, appeared unchanged in a separatist group’s online database, confirming the...
Influential Study Touting ChatGPT in Education Retracted over Red Flags
Springer Nature retracted a May 2025 meta‑analysis claiming ChatGPT dramatically improves learning after identifying major analytical discrepancies. The paper, published in Humanities & Social Sciences Communications, had amassed 262 scholarly citations and half‑million readers, fueling widespread belief that generative AI boosts student performance. Critics highlighted...
AMD Is Adding HDMI 2.1 Support for Linux. That's Good News for the Steam Machine.
AMD announced that its Linux amdgpu driver will soon include HDMI 2.1 Fixed Rate Link (FRL) support, unlocking higher bandwidth for 4K/120 Hz, dynamic HDR and variable refresh rate. The update covers a representative subset of the HDMI 2.1 spec, while full compliance—including...
Musk’s “World War III” Threat in Twitter Lawsuit Haunts Him at OpenAI Trial
Elon Musk attempted to settle his lawsuit against OpenAI just days before trial, sending a hostile message to OpenAI President Greg Brockman that warned both Brockman and CEO Sam Altman would become "the most hated men in America." OpenAI has...
Infrasound Waves Stop Kitchen Fires, but Can They Replace Sprinklers?
Acoustic fire suppression startup Sonic Fire Tech demonstrated an AI‑driven infrasound system that extinguished a kitchen fire in seconds during a live demo in Concord, California. The company touts the technology as a water‑free alternative to residential sprinklers, aiming at...