AI
OpenAI’s Strawberries Sour: “Reasoning” Ban Hampers Transparency, Fuels Fears of Opaque AI (~3 min.) : OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is restricting access to its latest AI model, GPT-4o, for users who try to understand how it thinks. The clampdown comes after users were flagged for attempting to circumvent safeguards and access the “reasoning” behind the AI’s responses. OpenAI claims this measure helps maintain a competitive advantage and ensures compliance with safety policies, but critics argue that it concentrates responsibility in the company’s hands and undermines transparency and interpretability. The move has sparked concerns among AI researchers and developers who rely on open-source language models to build their own projects.
Meta’s AI Training Secrets Exposed: Your Public Posts Have Been Feeding Its Models Since 2007! (~3 min.) : Meta has acknowledged that it has been using artificial intelligence models trained on all publicly published text and photos from adult users on Facebook and Instagram since 2007. This means that unless users specifically set their posts to private, Meta has been collecting and using this data for AI training, without explicit consent or opt-out options. The company’s global privacy director, Melinda Claybaugh, confirmed that Meta doesn’t scrape data from users under the age of 18, but it is unclear if adult accounts created when the user was a minor are also affected. European users have been given an option to opt out due to local privacy regulations, while users in other regions, including Australia, do not have this choice.
Cybersecurity
Router Roulette: D-Link Cracks Code, Fixes Flawful Firmware Frenzy! (~1 min.) : D-Link has issued patches to fix critical vulnerabilities in its DIR-815, DIR-825, and DIR-836L wireless routers, which could allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or gain unauthorized access using hardcoded credentials. The flaws, found in the devices’ web-based management interfaces, leave users vulnerable to potential attacks until the firmware is updated. It’s recommended that D-Link router owners apply the patches as soon as possible to ensure the security and integrity of their networks.
Explosive Confrontation: Dozens of Hezbollah Members Hurt in Alleged Israeli Operation in Beirut (~1 min.) : Dozens of Hezbollah members were reported seriously injured in Beirut when devices allegedly planted by Israeli forces exploded. The incident is believed to be part of an alleged Israeli operation aimed at disrupting Hezbollah’s military capabilities. The explosion occurred without warning, causing widespread destruction and chaos in the area. The exact number of casualties is still unclear, but initial reports suggest multiple injuries among Hezbollah members.
GitLab Secures the Code: Critical SAML Bypass Fix Released! (~1 min.) : GitLab has issued security patches for self-managed instances of its Community Edition (CE) and Enterprise Edition (EE) to fix a critical SAML authentication bypass vulnerability. This flaw affects both CE and EE versions, but the patch only applies to self-managed installations, not cloud-hosted ones. Users are advised to update their GitLab software as soon as possible to mitigate potential attacks exploiting this issue.
Busting Ghosts: Law Enforcement Cracks Secretive Criminal Network (~1 min.) : In a major victory for global law enforcement, Europol and authorities from nine countries have taken down an encrypted communications platform called “Ghost” that was widely used by organized criminals to facilitate illegal activities such as drug trafficking and money laundering. The Ghost platform allowed users to send secure messages, making it difficult for investigators to intercept and decipher their communications. With the platform now dismantled, law enforcement agencies can more effectively target these criminal networks and disrupt their operations.
Privacy
Surveillance Nation: Social Media & Video Streaming Exposed! (~1 min.) : A recent Federal Trade Commission staff report reveals that social media and video streaming platforms are engaging in extensive user surveillance, disproportionately affecting children and teenagers. The report highlights insufficient privacy protections and the exploitation of users’ personal data for billions of dollars annually. This widespread practice raises concerns about the impact on young people’s online experiences and their long-term digital well-being.
Tools
Voiding the Script: Open-Source Editor Forks VSCode, Embracing Customization and Transparency (~2 min.) : The creator of Void, an open-source, customizable IDE, announces its development as a fork of VSCode. The team aims to build upon Cursor’s core features while adding new UI elements and AI capabilities, such as editing multiple files at once and improving file system understanding. By making Void open-source, the developers hope to foster community involvement and create a more transparent workflow, allowing users to host models on-premise and keep their data private.
Entertainment
Zelda’s Wisdom Leaks Online: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Spoiled Ahead of September 26 Release? (~2 min.) : The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom has allegedly leaked online, with new images and clips circulating on social media platforms. The leak is believed to have occurred due to review copies being sent out ahead of the game’s September 26 release date. As a result, some fans may already be playing the game via emulators, while others may have accessed pirated ROM files. It’s worth exercising caution to avoid spoilers, as this could potentially impact Nintendo’s approach to providing review copies for future games.
“The Sims” to Life: Amazon MGM Studios Adapts Beloved Game into Big Screen Movie (~2 min.) : Electronic Arts (EA) has announced that Amazon MGM Studios is working on a movie adaptation of their popular game series, The Sims. The film will be directed by Kate Herron (Loki, The Last of Us) and co-written with Briony Redman (Doctor Who). The movie aims to be an authentic experience for fans, featuring Easter eggs and Sims lore, and is expected to be a big-screen equivalent of the game’s 500 million players.
Get Ready for ‘Mickey’s’ Killer Job: Sci-Fi Thriller Trailer Drops! (~1 min.) : The sci-fi film “Mickey 7” has released its debut trailer, directed by Bong Joon-ho (“Parasite”) and starring Robert Pattinson as Mickey Barnes. The movie is based on Edward Ashton’s novel about a disposable employee sent to colonize an ice world, where he repeatedly dies and reincarnates. The film also features a talented ensemble cast, including Steven Yeun, Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette, Mark Ruffalo, and Thomas Turgoose. “Mickey 17” is set to hit theaters on January 31st, 2025.
Retro Revival: PS1 Turns 30 with Nostalgic PS5 & PS5 Pro Console Redesigns! (~3 min.) : To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original PlayStation console, Sony has revealed nostalgic redesigns of the PS5 and upcoming PS5 Pro consoles. The retro-themed designs feature the classic gray colorway and old-school logo, along with additional accessories like a retro-look cable connector housing and PlayStation-shaped cable ties. The bundles come in two options: one with a digital PS5 console and standard DualSense controller, and another with both controllers, including the premium DualSense Edge, as well as other goodies. Preorders start on September 26 for a November 21 release, but details on pricing are still unknown.
Black Mirror Season 7 Cast Unveiled: Capaldi, Giamatti, Rae & More Join the Dark Anthology’s 2025 Return! (~2 min.) : Netflix has announced the cast for the upcoming seventh season of Black Mirror, which is set to premiere in 2025. The new season will feature a star-studded lineup, including Peter Capaldi, Issa Rae, Paul Giamatti, Rashida Jones, and many others. While details about the storylines are scarce, fans can expect at least one sequel episode to the “USS Callister” episode from season 4, starring Cristin Milioti. The full cast list includes over 20 actors, although it remains unclear how they will figure into the new season’s six episodes.
Get Ready to Go Dark: Netflix’s Animated Splinter Cell: Deathwatch Teaser Trailer Revealed! (~2 min.) : Netflix has released a brief teaser trailer for its upcoming animated series, “Splinter Cell: Deathwatch”, based on the popular video game franchise. The show is being written by Derek Kolstad, creator of the John Wick franchise, and is part of an ongoing collaboration between Netflix and Ubisoft, the developer of Splinter Cell. The series doesn’t have a premiere date yet, but the teaser promises it will be “coming soon”. Liev Schreiber will voice the lead character Sam Fisher in the show.
Gadgets
Matter Unlocks: Eufy’s Smart Lock E30 Brings Biometric Access to Your Doorstep (~3 min.) : Eufy has released its first smart lock that supports Matter, the Eufy Smart Lock E30 ($169.99). This lock works over Thread, which provides faster responsiveness, longer battery life, and better connectivity compared to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth locks. The E30 features a fingerprint reader, keypad, and traditional key entry, and can be controlled through the Eufy app or with any Matter-compatible app via Thread. It’s one of the first fully featured smart locks with Matter and Thread support, offering up to eight months of battery life using eight AA batteries.
Matter Made Easy: Add Smart Home Devices to Apple Home without the Hub (~5 min.) : The release of iOS 18 makes it easier to set up and control smart home devices with Apple Home, allowing users to add Wi-Fi devices directly without a hub or border router. For Thread devices, an iPhone 15 Pro or newer is required, but only compatible devices will work initially, with battery-powered accessories requiring firmware updates from manufacturers. Eve Systems has announced compatibility for its mains-powered devices, bringing Matter closer to its promise of seamless integration. The update brings feature parity between Matter and HomeKit, making it easier for users to adopt the new smart home standard.
Stay Connected, Stay Safe: Garmin’s inReach Messenger Plus Puts Satellite Communication in High Gear with Photos & Audio! (~2 min.) : Garmin has launched the inReach Messenger Plus, an upgraded version of their satellite communicator that allows users to send photos and audio clips through the Iridium network, in addition to text messages. The device, priced at $499.99 without service, is designed for outdoor enthusiasts who need a reliable means of communication while off the grid. With features like constant GPS location updates, weather forecasting, and an SOS button that contacts Garmin’s emergency coordination center, the inReach Messenger Plus prioritizes safety over multimedia capabilities. It can run for up to 600 hours on a single charge, making it a robust tool for staying connected while away from cell service.
Battery Power: iPhone 16 Lineup Packs Significant Gains in Battery Life, Boosting Video Streaming and Audio Playback! (~5 min.) : Apple’s new iPhone 16 lineup has seen significant gains in battery life, with the biggest increase found in the iPhone 16 Pro (9.4% increase). Regulatory information from Brazil reveals that the iPhone 16 models have increased battery capacity compared to their iPhone 15 counterparts. The A18 and A18 Pro chips, as well as thermal improvements, have contributed to these gains. Additionally, all iPhone 16 models support faster MagSafe charging, but require a new MagSafe charger and 30W power adapter for the fastest wireless charging speeds.
Unmatched Quality in Half the Size: iPhone 16’s Revolutionary JPEG XL Upgrade (~7 min.) : The iPhone 16 family has introduced JPEG XL file types, which promise improved image quality and smaller file sizes compared to standard JPEG files. JPEG XL is a next-generation image encoding standard that has been adopted by Apple and Adobe, but still lacks widespread support from other operating systems and applications. The format offers superior quality-per-byte, with files up to 55% smaller than JPEG files while maintaining unmatched quality. With its ability to reduce file size and environmental impact, JPEG XL is an excellent image format for photographers.
Science
Harvesting Heat: New Organic Thermoelectric Device Converts Room Temperature Energy into Electricity (~4 min.) : Researchers at Kyushu University have developed an organic thermoelectric device that can harvest energy from ambient temperature, without requiring a temperature gradient. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient and compact devices that convert heat into electricity, with potential applications in various fields, including space exploration. The team used organic compounds with unique properties to create a charge transfer interface that enables energy harvesting at room temperature. The device demonstrated an open-circuit voltage of 384 mV, short-circuit current density of 1.1 μA/cm², and maximum output of 94 nW/cm², paving the way for further optimization and development.
Genome Goals: Scientists Store Human DNA on ‘Everlasting’ Memory Crystal! (~1 min.) : Scientists at the University of Southampton have successfully stored a human genome on an “everlasting memory crystal”, marking a significant breakthrough in data storage technology. The crystal, made of a special type of glass, can store and retain genetic information for thousands of years without degradation. This innovative approach could revolutionize the way we preserve and transmit genetic data, with potential applications in fields such as medicine, archaeology, and conservation biology.
Thank you for joining me in this week’s exploration of the tech universe. Amidst the endless stream of information, I strive to bring you news that is not only relevant but also thought-provoking. Your thoughts and feedback are always welcome. Don’t forget to spread the word about the Friday Tech Focus Newsletter and stay tuned for more curated insights next week!