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2026-08-23

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2026-08-23 05:47:56 +0000

2026-08-23

100 items
Simon Willison's Weblog Aug 22 Score 0.8854589277777777

Quoting Linus Torvalds

And this was a debug session from hell, enormously helped by an AI doing much of the grunt-work. I'd like to call it my tireless helper, but the AI several times stated flat out that this was impossible and unsolvable and that we should just write a report abo

AI aillmsengineeringanalysis
Simon Willison's Weblog Aug 22 Score 0.8787042981481481

llm 0.33

Release: llm 0.33 My highlights from this release: Upgraded to the OpenAI Python library 3.x and switched the HTTP client dependency from httpx to httpx2 . #1608 , #1631 I shipped a quick 0.32.1 fix for this yesterday, but this is the more comprehensive fix. l

AI aillmsengineeringanalysis
Simon Willison's Weblog Aug 22 Score 0.8769163351851851

More than just code review

The key skill required to make productive use of coding agents is being able to confidently instruct them on how to make changes and then confidently verify that those changes have been applied in the correct way. Sometimes this involves reviewing every line o

AI aillmsengineeringanalysis
OpenAI News Aug 19 Score 0.8370025393518519

Offering Zero Data Retention for frontier models

OpenAI reaffirms Zero Data Retention for eligible API customers and previews Private Safety Processing for advanced AI safety without compromising data privacy.

AI aiopenaimodels
The Verge Aug 22 Score 0.8036690004629631

Doodle generative compositions in your browser with Musical Spirograph

I remember having a Spirograph as a kid and being obsessed with it. Its geometric patterns are hypnotic and gorgeous. I also love generative music composition. So bringing those two things together in a browser tab, I'm hooked. Musical Spirograph is a relative

Technology technologygadgetsconsumer
OpenAI News Aug 18 Score 0.802002539351852

ChatGPT Ads expands across Europe

ChatGPT Ads is expanding to 31 European markets. Learn how advertisers can reach people as they explore, compare options, and make decisions.

AI aiopenaimodels
The Verge Aug 22 Score 0.8003356671296297

W. Kamau Bell has the most practical ‘most indispensable tool’

W. Kamau Bell is one of those people who has always just seemed to be there. From Totally Biased, to Politically Re-Active, United Shades of America, and We Need to Talk About Cosby, his blend of comedy, social commentary, and political activism has helped him

Technology technologygadgetsconsumer
BleepingComputer Aug 22 Score 0.7990695337962963

Hackers infect Android car head units with proxy botnet malware

A supply-chain attack targeting Android-based car head units is using a legitimate device-update app to spread malware that enlists compromised devices in a proxy botnet or uses them for ad fraud. [...]

Security securitymalwarevulnerabilities
BleepingComputer Aug 22 Score 0.7970070337962963

Named Pipes Under Attack: Securing Windows Interprocess Communication

Windows named pipes provide fast interprocess communication, but weak access controls can expose privileged services to untrusted processes. ThreatLocker explains how endpoint verification, command authorization, strict input validation, and narrowly scoped pr

Security securitymalwarevulnerabilities
The Verge Aug 22 Score 0.7953356671296297

Two great new repairable gadgets

Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 141, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you're new here, welcome, I'm newish here too, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I've been getting back int

Technology technologygadgetsconsumer
Wired Aug 22 Score 0.7936690449074075

Set Up a Separate Work Profile on Your Android Phone

It is possible to achieve your desired work-life balance on your smartphone. Just set up separate accounts using this built-in Android feature.

Technology technologyculturesociety
NBER New Working Papers Aug 23 Score 0.7875000000000001

Dynamic Effects of Trade -- by Benny Kleinman, Ernest Liu, Stephen J. Redding

The existence of aggregate welfare gains from trade is one of the classic insights from international economics. However, these conventional welfare gains are static, in the sense that they take existing factor supplies and production technologies at a point i

Economy economyresearchworking-papersnber
NBER New Working Papers Aug 23 Score 0.7875000000000001

Idea Rents and Firm Growth -- by Timo Boppart, Peter J. Klenow, Reiko Laski, Huiyu Li

Which firms drive aggregate productivity growth? We document that firms with high price-earnings ratios tend to see increases in their subsequent earnings relative to sales, which we interpret as rents from ideas (innovation). We construct an endogenous growth

Economy economyresearchworking-papersnber
The Guardian — World Aug 21 Score 0.760969776388889

JD Vance reportedly mocks Carney for trying to ‘out-tough’ Trump on trade

Audio recording of US vice-president apparently made at New York fundraiser and shared with Canadian Press Leaked audio from a private event has reportedly captured the US vice-president, JD Vance, mocking Canada for apparently capitulating in a trade deal and

Geopolitics geopoliticsworld-newsinvestigative
Quanta Magazine Aug 19 Score 0.7541152347222222

Building a Quantum Computer, One Fragile Qubit at a Time

No one yet knows which technology will power the quantum computers of the future, but the race to create them has already produced some of science’s most intricate machinery. The post Building a Quantum Computer, One Fragile Qubit at a Time first appeared on Q

Science sciencemathematicsphysicsbiology
MIT Technology Review Aug 21 Score 0.7503356069444445

This company’s plans to deploy space mirrors could jeopardize the night sky for many

A company that plans to beam sunlight from space to Earth on demand might unintentionally brighten the night sky for many more people than intended, according to a new study. Later this year, the US company Reflect Orbital plans to launch a test satellite call

Technology technologyresearchsociety
War on the Rocks Aug 21 Score 0.7478595199074075

A Rock and China’s Three-Sea Problem

Two rocks surrounded by coral, with a total land size of less than 10 square meters (approximately 108 square feet) at high tide, are the entire basis on which Japan claims a 150,000-square-mile exclusive economic zone, an area nearly the size of Japan itself.

Geopolitics geopoliticsmilitarystrategy
ScienceDaily — Top Science Aug 23 Score 0.7472493041666667

Black holes keep tearing these stars apart, but they survive

Astronomers have found stars that repeatedly skim past supermassive black holes, surviving each encounter while producing a new burst of light. In some systems, those flares mysteriously fade with every return. Researchers now think the key may be stars that w

Science scienceresearchdiscoveries
InfoQ Aug 23 Score 0.7471136768518518

DRAM Controller Register Manipulation Breaks CPU Memory Isolation

Security researcher Christopher Domas developed skitter-creek-bath-salts, an open-source hardware security tool that disrupts CPU privilege boundaries by manipulating memory controller translation registers. This allows unprivileged software to access protecte

IT itengineeringarchitecture
War on the Rocks Aug 21 Score 0.7470095199074075

Mental Health Is a Warfighting Readiness Problem for the U.S. Navy

"You cannot be at mental peace always. You will be worried. So even my family — they are scared all the time, and they were anxiously praying [for] the vessel [to] come out of this area safely." While Captain Chirag operates a commercial cargo vessel in

Geopolitics geopoliticsmilitarystrategy
ScienceDaily — Top Science Aug 23 Score 0.7457372671296296

This shark can live 400 years. Its eyes barely seem to age

Greenland sharks may live for 400 years without suffering the kind of retinal decline normally associated with aging. Researchers found healthy eye tissue and active proteins specially adapted for seeing blue light in the dim Arctic depths. DNA repair mechanis

Science scienceresearchdiscoveries
Econbrowser Aug 22 Score 0.7327136402777777

Trade War with Canada: Wisconsin Awaits Retaliation

Anybody familiar with the gravity model of trade would be unsurprised that Wisconsin (exports) a lot to Canada. Figure 1: Wisconsin goods exports to world (black, right scale), Canada (blue, left scale), Mexico (red scale), mn.2017$. Nominal data deflated by B

Economy economymacroeconomicsenergyresearch
Econbrowser Aug 22 Score 0.731211325462963

Waiting for the Troika Mid-Session Review Forecast

July 15 is the due date, but is often missed. So looking back in May, NEC Chair Hassett forecast 5% growth in 2027, on top of rapid 2026 growth forecasted by the Administration. How are things looking with two more quarters of reported growth? Figure 1: Report

Economy economymacroeconomicsenergyresearch
Econbrowser Aug 22 Score 0.7297446587962962

Monthly GDP Flat Since March

SPGMI's estimate as of 8/3: Figure 1: NFP employment (bold blue), civilian employment with smoothed population controls (bold orange), industrial production (red), personal income excluding current transfers in Ch.2017$ (bold light green), manufacturing and tr

Economy economymacroeconomicsenergyresearch
CyberScoop Aug 22 Score 0.7287023273148148

Postal Service moves to finalize mail ballot regs before SCOTUS ruling

The rules have already been rejected by multiple state courts, but the Trump administration said it’s preparing in case of a favorable Supreme Court decision. The post Postal Service moves to finalize mail ballot regs before SCOTUS ruling appeared first on Cyb

Security securitypolicygovernment
InfoQ Aug 22 Score 0.7253636768518519

Cloudflare Announces Kitesurf, a Browser Engine for Agents

Cloudflare recently introduced Kitesurf, a lightweight browser built for automated workloads. Kitesurf runs browser components in isolated WebAssembly/Rust environments on Cloudflare Workers and supports the Chrome DevTools Protocol, allowing tools such as Pla

IT itengineeringarchitecture
The Hacker News Aug 22 Score 0.7245773231481482

TikTok Agrees to $400 Million Settlement in U.S. Child Privacy Lawsuit

The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) announced on Friday that ByteDance-owned TikTok will pay $400 million to settle a 2024 lawsuit accusing the company of violating child privacy laws in the country. As part of the settlement, the social media platform will p

Security securityhackingvulnerabilities
ScienceDaily — Top Science Aug 22 Score 0.7223469893518518

Multilingual people may have brains up to 13 years younger

People who speak several languages may have brains that age more slowly, with four-language speakers showing brains that appeared about 13 years younger than those of monolinguals. Starting earlier and becoming highly fluent were also linked to a stronger effe

Science scienceresearchdiscoveries
ScienceDaily — Top Science Aug 22 Score 0.7213469893518518

JWST finds early galaxies may be 4 times more massive than thought

Astronomers using JWST have discovered that massive early galaxies contain far more small, faint stars than expected. That hidden population could make some of these galaxies three to four times more massive than previous estimates. The finding makes it even h

Science scienceresearchdiscoveries
Ahead of AI Aug 22 Score 0.718992650462963

How Claude Watermarks AI-Generated Text

A 48-minute video walkthrough of token sampling, watermark detection, and removal

AI aimachine-learningtutorialsresearch
ScienceDaily — Top Science Aug 22 Score 0.7179576375

This yeast supplement may boost cancer-fighting immunity

A simple yeast-based food supplement may help restore the immune system’s ability to fight cancer, according to new research in mice. Scientists found that yeast beta-glucan reprogrammed early immune cells in the bone marrow, leading to stronger, longer-lastin

Science scienceresearchdiscoveries
InfoQ Aug 22 Score 0.7153358990740741

AI Code Review at Scale: LinkedIn's Multi-Agent Approach

At LinkedIn's scale, relying solely on human reviewers or simply putting an off-the-shelf AI reviewer in front of GitHub is not an effective way to manage PRs. To address this, LinkedIn engineers built a multi-agent AI code review platform that understands the

IT itengineeringarchitecture
InfoQ Aug 22 Score 0.7136692324074074

AWS Releases Aws-Bench to Evaluate Agents on Cloud Tasks

AWS has released aws-bench, an open-source benchmark for evaluating AI agents on real AWS tasks such as misconfigurations and infrastructure provisioning. Unlike traditional benchmarks, it uses real resources in disposable AWS accounts, scoring agent performan

IT itengineeringarchitecture
Latent Space Aug 22 Score 0.712859825

The Evolution of the Agent Harness

Models keep absorbing the harness into their weights — soon, it will be a harness for human attention rather than for the model.

AI aiengineeringagentsnewsletter
Marginal Revolution Aug 23 Score 0.7110584999999999

The new agentic O-ring world

But because agents often require guidance or additional context as they move through their tasks, Sharma, 27, finds himself wanting to be available to them around the clock and forgoing a regular sleep schedule as a result. Until recently, he couldn’t monitor

Economy economyeconomicscommentaryblog
The Hacker News Aug 21 Score 0.6867851935185185

Microsoft Defender's Own Driver Can Be Weaponized to Delete Security Software at Boot

Check Point Research has disclosed a technique that uses Microsoft Defender's own legitimately signed boot-time remediation driver to perform arbitrary kernel-level file and registry operations on Windows systems ranging from Windows 7 through Windows 11 25H2,

Security securityhackingvulnerabilities
The Hacker News Aug 21 Score 0.6864953787037037

Android Car Malware Spreads Through Built-In Updaters for Ad Fraud, Proxy Botnet

Cybersecurity researchers have flagged a new malware family that's specifically designed to infect Android-based vehicle head unit firmware developed by DoFun. Kaspersky, which discovered the threat in June 2026, said the end goal of the malware is to serve a

Security securityhackingvulnerabilities
CyberScoop Aug 21 Score 0.6854902902777777

Lawmakers seek watchdog review of federal hacking of Americans

Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Greg Casar want a GAO probe on the government’s use of spyware and other sophisticated hacking tools and authorities. The post Lawmakers seek watchdog review of federal hacking of Americans appeared first on CyberScoop .

Security securitypolicygovernment
Dark Reading Aug 21 Score 0.6828360111111111

OpenAI Adds Controls That Should've Been There Already

The new AI security controls follow the Hugging Face incident last month, though many of these additions perhaps should have been in place prior to the frontier models escaping.

Security securityenterprisethreats
The Hacker News Aug 21 Score 0.6792708416666666

Wazuh and AI For Enhanced SOC Workflows

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become one of this decade's defining technologies. From healthcare and finance to manufacturing and education, organizations increasingly rely on AI to automate repetitive tasks, uncover patterns hidden within large datasets, a

Security securityhackingvulnerabilities
SecurityWeek Aug 22 Score 0.6770026319444443

Banking Trojans Manic, Grandoreiro, ToxicPanda 2.0 in the Spotlight

The spyware-equipped Manic, a persistent Grandoreiro campaign in Latin America and Europe, and an expanded ToxicPanda 2.0 malware. The post Banking Trojans Manic, Grandoreiro, ToxicPanda 2.0 in the Spotlight appeared first on SecurityWeek .

Security securityindustryvulnerabilities
CISA Cybersecurity Advisories Aug 19 Score 0.6753360481481482

CISA Adds One Known Exploited Vulnerability to Catalog

CISA has added one new vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog , based on evidence of active exploitation.   CVE-2026-64849 MLflow Server-Side Request Forgery Vulnerability This type of vulnerability is a frequent attack vector

Security securitycisaadvisoriesvulnerabilities
Phys.org Aug 22 Score 0.6636700277777778

How we found Haida Gwaii's first marbled murrelet nest in more than 30 years

Scrambling through dense salal in the dark, weaving between the majestic western red cedars of northern Haida Gwaii, I could barely imagine where we were just days before—crossing Dixon Entrance off the coast in an open skiff, pushing head-on through ocean swe

Science sciencephysicstechnology
Phys.org Aug 22 Score 0.6603380833333333

Computer models pinpoint catalysts for replacing fossil-fueled ammonia production

Ammonia is one of the most important chemicals produced in the world, ranking second only to sulfuric acid in the total volume produced each year. It is used mostly to make fertilizer, which is essential to feeding the world's population. Yet its producti

Science sciencephysicstechnology
Nautilus Aug 21 Score 0.6595029157407406

The Remarkable Lives of 5-Year-Old Brain Organoids

The mini-brains are full of surprises The post The Remarkable Lives of 5-Year-Old Brain Organoids appeared first on Nautilus .

Science scienceessaysculturephilosophy