December 11, 2025, 12:24 PM EST. Finnish startup Jolla debuts the Jolla Phone, a SailfishOS-powered device that still supports Android apps. SailfishOS 5 brings Android app compatibility without requiring a Google account, and it advertises no background data collection and no hidden analytics. The phone features a 6.36-inch FHD+ OLED panel, 12GB RAM, 256GB storage, and a 5,500mAh removable battery, plus a rare microSD slot, a privacy switch to kill cameras and mics, a notification LED, and a side fingerprint scanner. Cameras include a 50MP main sensor and 13MP ultrawide. Pre-orders surpassed targets with a €99 deposit and a final price of €549. Ship date is expected in H1 2026, as the market remains led by Android and iOS.
December 11, 2025, 12:22 PM EST. In this personal reflection, the author chronicles being among the first to lose work to AI in 2023 after running social accounts for a small animation startup backed by VC funds. As the company pivots to an AI studio, half the staff are fired overnight. Now job hunting amid a year of rampant layoffs, the writer details attempts that go nowhere-from a creative agency stringing along for seven interviews to an overnight magazine role that vanished after a single conversation-while facing automated recruiters and trick questions from LinkedIn EasyApply. The piece offers a candid look at the unemployment surge, the long job-search, and the uneasy reality of interviewing in a world where AI is both the rival and the recruiter.
December 11, 2025, 12:18 PM EST. US lawmakers tied DJI to a security review under the National Defense Authorization Act. If DJI fails the review, it could be placed on the FCC's Covered List, preventing new products from entering the US. Existing drones and accessories would not be automatically banned, but the FCC could revoke certifications later after a formal process. As of December 10, the security review had not started and the December 23 deadline loomed. DJI has argued that user flight logs aren't synced to its servers and highlighted measures like Local Data Mode and third-party reviews to address data security. For pilots, key questions remain about firmware updates and repairs options for current drones if the ban tightens.
December 11, 2025, 12:16 PM EST. Ford Motor Co. and SK On said they will dissolve their electric-vehicle (EV) battery joint venture, exiting the BlueOval plants in Kentucky and Tennessee. The move, tied to softer EV demand in the U.S., relocates ownership of two plants and hands SK On a path to realign assets and improve efficiency. Ford will keep a Kentucky plant under its own control, licensing technology from CATL to manufacture lower-cost lithium-iron-phosphate batteries at the Michigan facility. The deal is expected to close in Q1 2026; production timelines at the Tennessee plant remain unclear as the ownership transition proceeds. Labor considerations, including potential effects on UAW organizing efforts, are being monitored, while SK On continues to supply Ford and pursue energy-storage opportunities to bolster profitability amid reduced EV volumes.
December 11, 2025, 12:12 PM EST. AI in manufacturing market set for rapid growth, rising from $7B in 2025 to $35.8B by 2030 at a CAGR of 38.7%, per BCC Research. The study analyzes market segments by component, technology, application, and end-use industry, with regional coverage across North America, Europe, APAC, and beyond. Key drivers include production optimization, IIoT and automation, smart manufacturing, and smarter supply chains. The report highlights regulatory influences, competitive dynamics, and a detailed patent analysis to gauge innovation. Manufacturers are leveraging AI for predictive analytics, quality control, and workforce transformation, while partnerships accelerate deployment. The study positions AI as a strategic necessity for efficiency, security, and competitive advantage in modern manufacturing.