Activism

Technology News

  • Tesla Pledges Yearly AI Chip Designs to Outpace Rivals
    November 25, 2025, 11:24 AM EST. Tesla is pushing to outpace AI chip giants by promising a new chip design in volume production every 12 months, Elon Musk disclosed on X. The plan envisions designs that can scale to higher volumes than other AI chipmakers combined and follows millions of previously deployed chips across vehicles and data centers. Current lineup includes AI4 in cars, AI5 nearing deployment, and AI6 in early work. The chips are intended to support Optimus, advanced vehicle safety, and potential medical/robotics applications. Rivalries with Nvidia, AMD, Intel, and Broadcom could intensify, though sustaining annual launches and integrated ecosystems presents a sizable operational challenge. Market observers will watch ramp, customer traction, and real-world deployment as Tesla accelerates its hardware strategy.
  • More Than Half of Web Articles Are AI-Written: Is Human Writing on the Brink?
    November 25, 2025, 11:22 AM EST. Recent findings from Graphite suggest that AI is now generating more than 50% of online articles, fueling questions about whether human writing could be headed for obsolescence. The piece reflects on how we judge authorship when language is produced by machines, and how society should respond without falling into apocalyptic or integrated extremes-a tension echoed in Umberto Eco's critique of new media. The author recalls debates around deepfakes during the 2024 election, noting that people struggle to detect them and often overestimate their skills, while acknowledging they can amplify trends like distrust and polarization. Crucially, while deepfakes influenced discourse, there is no evidence they swung the election outcome. The essay invites careful scrutiny of risks, opportunities, and the power structures reshaped by AI.
  • Windows 11 preloads File Explorer in the background, nudging a look at better file managers
    November 25, 2025, 11:20 AM EST. Microsoft is testing a background preload for File Explorer in Windows 11 via the latest Windows Insider beta to speed up launches, with an option to disable it. The move mirrors Office Startup Boost and comes as Microsoft trims the File Explorer context menu. The change has the author considering ditching Explorer for an alternative file manager due to slow thumbnail loads and bloat. They plan to try popular options, starting with Files, an open-source manager with tabs, tags, dual-pane views, and GitHub integration. While some report speed concerns, Files is actively developed. Expect ongoing updates as the author weighs performance, features, and the best fit for a modern workflow.
  • Rivals challenge SpaceX Starship Florida plans over blast radius and TNT equivalency
    November 25, 2025, 11:18 AM EST. Rivals, including the Commercial Space Federation, push back on SpaceX's Florida Starship plans as regulators weigh how to define a safe blast radius. Officials say negotiations with SpaceX and Blue Origin on a LOX/methane combination and its equivalency aim to shrink the keep-out zone, but for now the public-safety stance remains a 100% TNT blast equivalency. Data from ongoing testing is expected to drive future BDA (Blast Damage Assessments) results, potentially allowing denser launch ops at Cape Canaveral. The federation argues government data should reflect industry tests and suggests a cap of about 25% TNT equivalency, which would dramatically shrink keep-out zones. Members include SpaceX, Blue Origin, Relativity Space and Stoke Space. Methalox testing costs could top $80 million; the risk of a condensed phase detonation in LOX/methane is a concern.
  • Hikawa iPhone Grip Sells Out, New Colors Headed for December Preorder
    November 25, 2025, 11:04 AM EST. The limited-edition Hikawa Phone Grip and Stand, designed with accessibility in mind, sold out on Apple's online store last week. Two new MagSafe-compatible colors, Cobalt and Blurple Swirl, are in production and set for early December preorders via Hikawa's website. Priced at £55 (~$72), international shipping is available but stock is extremely limited. The grip magnetically attaches to iPhones with MagSafe and doubles as a stand with two viewing angles. The design drew on input from people with disabilities and nods to Apple's 40th accessibility anniversary. Hikawa also markets other bold iPhone cases and unconventional products on its site.