Tech Gumbo

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%. ...

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 ...

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 T...

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 teen...

News and Updates:

• Apple is rebranding Apple TV Plus as simply “Apple TV,” a move causing confusion with its existing app and hardware lineup. Branding updates are still pending.
• TP-Link achieved the first prototype Wi-Fi 8 connection, validating the 802.11bn standard focused on reliability and stability over speed, with full ratification expected by 2028.
• Researchers intercepted unencrypted satellite data—including calls, text...

News and Updates:

• An AI actress named Tilly Norwood, created by Dutch producer Eline Van der Velden, ignited outrage in Hollywood. SAG-AFTRA condemned her as a threat to human performers, calling her “a computer-generated character” built on unpaid human work. Stars including Whoopi Goldberg and Emily Blunt slammed the concept as unethical and dehumanizing.
• OpenAI’s Sora 2 marks a major leap in AI video generation, producing r...

News and Updates:

• Asahi Beer Shortage Looms: A ransomware attack crippled Asahi’s IT systems, halting operations at most of its 30 Japanese factories. The brewer warns of beer shortages with no recovery timeline.
• Instagram Chief Denies Eavesdropping: Adam Mosseri insists Instagram doesn’t use your microphone for ads. He blames ad coincidences on algorithms, web tracking, and user interactions—though few users believe him.
• Bezo...

News and Updates:

• AI “Workslop” at Work – A Stanford/BetterUp survey finds over 40% of U.S. employees encounter AI-generated “workslop”—content that looks polished but adds no real value. On average, 15% of workplace output now qualifies, with tech and professional services hit hardest. Colleagues who submit workslop are seen as less capable, trustworthy, and creative.
• Fauxductivity: Busy, Not Productive – Experts warn of “fau...

News and Updates:

• Microsoft backtracks in Europe — Windows 10’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) will be free for an extra year in the European Economic Area (EEA), lasting until October 14, 2026. After pushback from Euroconsumers under the Digital Markets Act, Microsoft dropped its requirement to enable Windows Backup (and OneDrive) for access. Users in the EEA still need to log in with a Microsoft account every 60 days, but n...

News and Updates:

• Pope Leo XIV rejected a proposal to create an AI-powered “virtual pope,” calling the idea of a digital clone horrifying. He warned that deepfakes, automation, and artificial substitutes erode trust, strip dignity from work, and risk turning life into “an empty, cold shell.” His stance echoes concerns as layoffs at Microsoft and Salesforce mount amid AI adoption.
• OpenAI released its first major study on ChatGP...

News and Updates:

• Apple iOS 26 delivers one of the biggest iPhone upgrades in years. The new Liquid Glass interface adds a translucent, holographic look, while Spatial Scenes uses AI to turn photos into dynamic 3D wallpapers. Major app redesigns include a cleaner Camera for one-handed use, a simplified Photos layout, customizable Messages with polls and chat backgrounds, and an upgraded Lock Screen. New Battery Settings now es...

News and Updates:

• A Boston medical study found smartphone use on the toilet raises hemorrhoid risk by 46%. Phone users stayed seated far longer — often 6–15 minutes — amplifying pressure that leads to painful swelling. While causation wasn’t proven, doctors warn the habit may be fueling the condition.
• Taco Bell is rethinking AI drive-thrus after viral failures, like glitchy bots repeating orders or a prank request for 18,000 c...

News and Updates:

• In 2025, “computer literacy” means more than navigating systems — it’s about collaborating with AI, exercising critical thinking, and adapting to rapid change. While most job postings still only ask for basic skills, AI fluency is emerging as the new digital divide. Experts warn that overreliance on tools like ChatGPT risks eroding foundational skills, but argue AI can strengthen capability when paired with j...

News and Updates:

• Waymo begins robotaxi testing in New York City, deploying up to eight vehicles in Manhattan and Brooklyn with safety drivers until Sept. 2025. While Alphabet hails it as a milestone, critics like former mayor Bill de Blasio and union leaders slam the move as unsafe and job-killing. DOT insists safety rules will keep pedestrians protected. Waymo is eyeing Dallas, DC, and Miami for 2026 after logging 10M+ rides...

News and Updates:

• Microsoft’s Windows chief Pavan Davuluri says the next version of Windows—possibly Windows 12—will be an “ambient, multi-modal” OS powered by AI. Voice will become a primary input alongside keyboard and mouse, with context-aware features that understand what’s on your screen. Microsoft calls it an “agentic AI” future, blending local and cloud compute, though privacy concerns loom.
• Excel is testing a new =COPI...

News and Updates:

• Digital publishers are losing traffic as Google’s AI Summaries siphon clicks. A survey from Digital Content Next found median referral traffic from Google Search down 10% year-over-year in May and June, with some outlets seeing drops of 25%. Pew data shows only 8% of users click links when AI Overviews appear vs. 15% with standard results. Publishers are calling for transparency, licensing, and regulation, wa...

News and Updates:

• Australia will ban social media accounts for anyone under 16 starting December 10, making it the first country to enact such a rule. The law, passed with 77% public support, puts enforcement on tech companies and aims to boost youth mental health, though teens and advocates argue it removes spaces for connection rather than fixing harmful features.
• The U.S. autonomous vehicle industry is stuck in limbo after ...

News and Updates:

• Disney will fully integrate Hulu into Disney+ in 2026, creating a single streaming app while still offering standalone subscriptions. Internationally, Hulu will replace the Star brand in fall 2025. Disney expects the merger to cut costs, lower churn, and boost ad sales. Hulu + Live TV will merge with Fubo under a JV but remain separate until its own Disney+ integration in 2026. The move follows Disney’s $9B b...

News and Updates:

• Delta defends AI pricing system after lawmakers accused it of “surveillance pricing” to inflate fares. Delta says it does not use personal data for individualized prices—AI only analyzes aggregated demand, competitor offers, and route performance. About 3% of domestic flights now use AI pricing, with plans for 20% by year’s end. Critics say vague early explanations fueled public mistrust.
• FBI warns of QR code...