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Archives for September 2026

Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
The White House wants you to know it was the #1 News app in the App Store.

That revamped Trump admin app (now offering access to Trump TV) apparently bounced up to the top of the News list this week.

You might think that securing access to the Strait of Hormuz or really anything else would be the federal government’s focus, but hey, it had the number one app in a category, and as David Pierce wrote in February, the very best thing about that is “being able to tell people you were number one.” The app has since slipped to #2 in news behind X, and to #96 overall.

White House App Hits No. 1 in News and Cracks App Store Top 20 as Americans Tune Out Fake News
Screenshot: The White House
Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
The Dutch government might make the leap to Linux.

It’s reportedly testing an alternative to Windows based on the Dutch Linux distro NixOS, according to Tweakers. It’s part of DAWO, a program aimed at reducing the Dutch government’s reliance on non-European tech, including things like office and collaboration apps. Earlier this year, France’s government also announced a switch to Linux.

The Netherlands joins Europe's gradual migration from Windows to Linux on government PCs

[XDA]

Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
Bill Gates says regulate AI, because it’s powerful enough to cause a billion deaths.

NBC News released this clip from a Meet the Press interview with Gates that will air on Sunday, where he said, “No one thinks self-regulation is enough” around AI.

Saying that AI is “certainly powerful enough to drive events that, you know, cause a billion deaths,” he suggested, “You need law enforcement and the politicians to get into the discussion about what safeguards and monitoring look like… And that has to be a required thing. And it will be a little bit of overhead for the industry, but not a dramatic slowing of what they’re doing.” Everyone agrees someone should do it, but who, and how?

Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
Another tech worker has resigned over concerns that “AI is already progressing too fast.”

Robert O’Callahan is quitting his work on AI chips for Google Deepmind, saying “…my team’s goal is ultimately to make AI much cheaper and lower-latency, and I don’t think that’s good for people right now.”

While he says it’s not related to recent AI warnings and resignations, he listed some concerns:

However, I am not convinced the chance of ASI doom is 100%. Rather, I think the risk is real but uncertain… I’m also very concerned about other AI-related issues: cognitive surrender, AI-induced psychosis and loneliness, power concentration, economic disruption, cybersecurity, lack of accountability, and so on

Lauren Feiner
Lauren Feiner
Another New Mexico jury finds that Meta misled consumers.

This time the finding is in connection to Meta’s claims about privacy, and enforcement of its misinformation policies. The case stems from a 2021 lawsuit brought by the state’s attorney general at the time, over claims related to the Cambridge Analytica data scandal. The judge will determine penalties next.

Meta misled consumers in case over Cambridge Analytica scandal, New Mexico jury says

[Reuters]

Roku’s first OLED TVs are up to $400 off, starting at $699Roku’s first OLED TVs are up to $400 off, starting at $699
Antonio G. Di Benedetto
Antonio G. Di Benedetto
I think Google has a bit of an SEO problem with ‘Googlebooks.’

Googling “Googlebooks” doesn’t pull up any info about Google’s upcoming laptops. It’s an entire page of links, and even an AI overview, about Google Books — a search index of actual books. Not ideal for potential customers looking for information on new products launching soon.

Google is great at names.

A search for Googlebooks resulting in Google Books.
A search for Googlebooks resulting in Google Books.
Phones don’t have lightsPhones don’t have lights
Jacob Kastrenakes
These camera apps give you more control over the iPhone 18 Pro’s apertureThese camera apps give you more control over the iPhone 18 Pro’s aperture
Tesla’s Optimus robot is going through growing painsTesla’s Optimus robot is going through growing pains
Meta makes the Muse filesystem even more accessibleMeta makes the Muse filesystem even more accessible
Leaks reveal a new Apple HomePod mini, iPad mini, and Apple TV 4KLeaks reveal a new Apple HomePod mini, iPad mini, and Apple TV 4K
Sony and UMG are suing Suno againSony and UMG are suing Suno again
Terrence O'Brien
Mia Sato
Mia Sato
Have Meta glasses changed how we think about privacy?

I chatted with Charlie Warzel over at The Atlantic to try to untangle this moment of massive outrage over smart glasses and Flock cameras. In August I reported on the service workers who encounter Meta glasses at their jobs, and the harassment — and social media clout — that sometimes follows.

One company is at the center of a wave of rogue AI attacks

Mistakes at Israeli startup Irregular sent Anthropic, OpenAI, Meta, and Google agents after real-world targets.

Robert Hart

Most Popular

Most Popular
  1. OpenAI pauses training of its ‘most capable models’
  2. Leaks reveal a new Apple HomePod mini, iPad mini, and Apple TV 4K
  3. Can Apple Home’s AI camera features outsmart Amazon’s and Google’s? I put them to the test
  4. Can ‘eSUV’ e-bikes really go from trail to town?
  5. Gemini 4 is almost ready, says new Google DeepMind chief