Internet Issues

Technology News

  • Open Letter Urges Ban on Superintelligent AI Development
    October 22, 2025, 4:08 AM EDT. An open letter coordinated by the Future of Life Institute calls for banning the development of superintelligent AI until it can be proven safe and controllable with broad public buy-in. More than 700 signatories- Nobel laureates, tech icons, faith leaders, and policymakers-argue superintelligence could arrive in 1-2 years. Notables include five Nobelists, Steve Wozniak, Prince Harry, Yuval Noah Harari, Susan Rice, and others. The petition emphasizes public awareness and societal safeguards, noting that few firms drive progress while many people favor caution. It builds on a 2023 campaign for a pause. Polls cited alongside the letter show roughly 64% of Americans want a debated, safety-first path, with only 5% urging rapid development. The authors urge that the future of AI serve humanity, not replace it.
  • Online and Smartphone Scams: AI Threat, Public Awareness, and Prevention
    October 22, 2025, 4:06 AM EDT. Public safety alert: the FTC estimates about 57,000 Americans fall victim to scams daily, equaling roughly 21 million per year. Scammers exploit tech and untraceable accounts, often impersonating law enforcement to pressure payments. In one example, a jury-duty scam claims a warrant, demanding payment to avoid arrest. The message is designed to provoke fear and the lure of a quick fix, a pattern seen across many schemes. Even vigilant people can be fooled, and experts warn AI tools could make scams more convincing. The Bay County Sheriff's Office emphasizes public information as a primary defense, including a forthcoming text-alert campaign and a centralized Scam Alert Page. If scammed, report it; stay informed via official channels to protect yourself and loved ones from these pervasive threats.
  • BYD: Vertical Integration and the Blade Battery Lead Global EV Battery Leadership
    October 22, 2025, 4:04 AM EDT. BYD's ascent in the EV battery landscape stems from deep vertical integration, enabling greater efficiency, scalability, and cost control across its operations. Its diverse vehicle lineup reinforces strength in the global EV market. Central to BYD's push is the Blade Battery-launched in 2020 and built on lithium iron-phosphate (LFP) chemistry for enhanced safety, thermal stability, and durability, while maximizing space with a flat-cell design that boosts energy density and reduces reliance on cobalt. With over two decades of battery development and more than three million EVs built, BYD is a recognized global force in new energy mobility, dominating China's EV sales from 2014-2019 and now operating in 300+ cities across 50+ countries. Its recent models fuse technical sophistication with distinctive Chinese design, signaling a growing global innovator.
  • Tesla Slashes Lease Prices Across Most Models-Deals End This Month
    October 22, 2025, 4:02 AM EDT. Tesla has cut lease prices on most of its lineup, valid only until the end of October. A top banner warns that prices will rise in November after the $7,500 federal tax credit expired. Highlights include: Model 3 from $329/mo (36 months, $3,000 down, 10k miles/yr), Model 3 AWD from $429/mo, and Model 3 Performance $699/mo. For Model Y, leases start at $449/mo (RWD) and $519/mo (AWD); the Standard and Performance trims aren't available to lease. The Cybertruck drops to $699/mo (down $5,000). The tri-motor Cyberbeast is $1,730/mo. If you're price shopping, cheaper options like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 exist, per our Best EV Lease and Finance Deals guide.
  • No AI Data Centers in My Backyard? Communities Push Back on AI Infrastructure
    October 22, 2025, 3:48 AM EDT. In this episode of The Indicator from Planet Money, a Michigan community fights a proposed AI data center, spotlighting how AI infrastructure sprawl raises concerns about energy prices and water use. The show explains why data centers are popping up in small towns, how developers clash with residents, and what the showdown could mean for Big Tech and local policy. It weighs the economic promises against resource pressures and asks what this means for the future of AI power and the communities hosting it.