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Sun, Aug 9, 2026, 4:20 AM EDT

Tech

AI Summary

  • Amazon's proposed data center faces scrutiny over its potential environmental impact, raising concerns about it becoming a major climate polluter in the U.S.
  • OpenAI is expanding its influence by acquiring presentation startup NextSlide and reportedly developing a new AI smart speaker, while also slowing development of its Astra model due to security worries.
  • X (formerly Twitter) has revamped its creator monetization strategy, replacing its previous revenue-sharing program with an 'Original Content Rewards' system, signaling a shift in how it compensates content creators.
  • Security researchers have uncovered significant vulnerabilities across various Polish online infrastructures, including courts, hospitals, and airports, highlighting widespread risks of cyberattacks.
  • The tech industry continues to grapple with AI integration and its consequences, from Google's focus on AI security to Airbnb's use of AI for faster feature development, and concerns over escaped Chinese AI models and the potential misuse of AI technology.

Sources

TechCrunch

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Hacker News

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Engadget

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The Verge

  • X replaces its revenue-sharing program with ‘Original Content Rewards’ 11 hours ago by Terrence O’Brien
    Creators, News, Social Media, Tech, Twitter - X

    X wants to make money on previously used handles. | Image: The Verge X is ending its controversial revenue-sharing program for content creators, which has seen numerous revisions under Elon Musk's reign. In its place, it's launching a new Original Content Rewards program on September 8th. To be eligible, creators must have at least 500 verified followers and at least 500,000 Home Timeline impressions from verified users in the last 90 days, among other requirements. Creators will then earn revenue based on "qualified impressions" on "original content."Qualified impressions are unique impressions from Premium subscribers "on the Home Timeline feed, where

  • An Amazon data center could have the worst polluting power plant in the country 15 hours ago by Terrence O’Brien
    AI, Amazon, Environment, News, Science, Tech

    To power its new West Texas data center, Amazon is investing in the construction of a new power plant that could be one of the largest single producers of greenhouse gases in the US, according to the New York Times . The new gas-burning plant in Pecos County, Texas has received significant investment from Amazon and, at least initially, would not be connected to the state's power grid. Instead, its 35 natural-gas turbines would primarily deliver its 7.65 gigawatts of electricity to the new data center. According to Cleanview , which tracks data centers and their associated power projects, GW

  • Buc-ee’s dodges John Oliver to sue another small business 17 hours ago by Terrence O’Brien
    Business, Culture, Entertainment, Internet Culture, Law, News, Policy, TV Shows

    Buc-ee’s mega-convenience store and 120-pump gas station in Mount Crawford, Virginia. | Image: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images Buc-ee's became something of a viral sensation during the World Cup , but it has a troubling history of suing small gas stations and convenience stores. On a recent episode of Last Week Tonight , John Oliver literally begged the company to sue him for selling merch featuring his squirrel mascot, Mr. Nutterbutter, with branding that reads "Buc-Off." But Buc-ee's has so far declined to take the bait , instead targeting yet another small business that lacks the deep pockets and legal

  • Musician and entrepreneur Tom Vek is building a digital music player, but don’t call it retro 18 hours ago by Terrence O’Brien
    Entertainment, Gadgets, Interview, Music, Report, Tech

    Tom, we can’t see your face. | Image: Tom Vek Tom Vek burst onto the scene in 2005 with his album We Have Sound , which garnered a solid 7.6 from the tastemakers of the day over at Pitchfork . His undeniably catchy brand of dancy indietronica landed him an appearance on The OC and placement on the Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack. His follow-up, Leisure Seizure , had a lengthy gestation period, but arrived in 2011 to similar success, reaching No. 79 on the UK charts. View Link Vek has continued to release music at regular intervals over the

  • Is this $450 laptop from an unknown brand too good to be true? 21 hours ago by Antonio G. Di Benedetto
    Gadgets, Laptop Reviews, Laptops, Microsoft, Reviews, Tech, Windows

    Cute name, especially if it were a wookiee. | Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge Finding a good laptop under $500 was hard enough before RAMageddon . They nearly always had cheap hardware and underpowered, often outdated chips. That's what made the MacBook Neo so disruptive: It offered great build quality and good-enough performance starting at $599. Windows laptops couldn't touch it. Even though it's gone up to $699 , it's still the laptop to beat. So when little-known Chinese brand Chuwi announced a $450 Windows laptop with an aluminum build and a brand-new Intel Wildcat Lake processor,

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Wired

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