Tech, security & AI news, curated by Viking Net.
Pope Leo XIV released an encyclical on AI with Anthropic's Christopher Olah at his side, warning that AI affecting people's lives isn't just technical but touches rights and freedom.
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A Google security engineer allegedly made over $1 million on Polymarket by using insider access to Google Search traffic data. Federal prosecutors say he traded on confidential information that gave him an edge on prediction markets.
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Dating app BLK is giving away free gas to get users to meet in person. It's part of a broader trend of companies offering essentials like gas and groceries to attract customers during economic uncertainty.
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The American Federation of Teachers wants schools to ban screens for kids in second grade and younger, and keep AI chatbots out of elementary classrooms entirely.
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Massachusetts just certified the first official union for Uber and Lyft drivers in the US. The App Drivers Union can now formally represent gig workers on these platforms, marking a major shift in how ride-share labor gets organized.
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Cognition, the AI coding startup behind Devin, just raised $1B at a $25B valuation. They're at $492M in annualized revenue after launching less than a year ago.
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Applications for TechCrunch's Startup Battlefield 200 close tonight at 11:59 PM PT. Winners get $100,000 equity-free, stage time at Disrupt, and direct investor access.
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ElevenLabs unveiled a music AI that can rewrite a specific part of a song while leaving the rest untouched, even shifting genres mid‑track. The tweak‑able approach gives creators quick, granular control over AI‑generated music.
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OpenAI and Anthropic's multi-million dollar fight over NY congressional candidate Alex Bores has backfired spectacularly, turning an obscure state assemblyman into the face of AI safety regulation through the Streisand effect.
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Robinhood now lets you create separate accounts for AI agents to trade stocks autonomously. The feature automates investment decisions but comes with warnings about significant risk and potential total loss.
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Smart bird feeders with motion-activated cameras are becoming essential tools for capturing backyard wildlife moments, especially in bird-rich areas where timing is everything.
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Jony Ive's design team created Ferrari's new Luce EV, offering a glimpse of what Apple's canceled $10 billion car project might have delivered. It's beautiful, but it stings.
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Custard apples are gaining attention for being hardy plants that produce delicate, creamy fruit. The challenge? Getting that fragile fruit to international markets without it turning to mush.
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UK regulators banned Instagram betting ads featuring Premier League stars Harry Kane and Erling Haaland, ruling they appeal too strongly to minors. A reminder that AI-powered ad targeting still has to follow old-school rules about protecting kids.
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Analysts think AI helped draft parts of Pope Leo XIV’s new encyclical on AI, with detection tools flagging up to 100% AI‑written sections and a notable rise in the word “genuinely.” The finding sparks debate over AI’s role in high‑profile writing and the reliability of detection
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Waymo is expanding its self-driving operations to Virginia, mapping Alexandria and Arlington right across from DC. This marks a strategic move closer to the nation's capital and its regulatory decision-makers.
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Corsair's new Galleon 100 SD keyboard combines Stream Deck controls with premium mechanical keyboard design. It's targeting creators and professionals who want programmable macro keys without a separate device cluttering their desk.
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UK regulator Ofcom fined porn site operator Youngtek Solutions £600,000 for failing to verify user ages for three months in 2025. The company has since implemented age checks.
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Top ethical hacker Chompie warns that AI tools like Claude Mythos are raising the bar for cybersecurity competition, making it harder for human hackers to keep pace with AI-augmented capabilities.
Read articleSpencer Pratt's mayoral campaign is using AI-generated videos that make him look like Batman, showing how political advertising is entering a new era where candidates can become anything on screen.
Read articleAI startups are producing elaborate, surreal marketing videos featuring characters like the Mad Hatter to generate buzz. It's the latest trend in Bay Area tech hype culture.
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Environmental activist Erin Brockovich launched a crowdsourced mapping project to track AI data centers and let communities voice concerns about their local impact.
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Google's AI-first search overhaul at I/O 2026 is backfiring. DuckDuckGo app installs jumped 30% as users flee AI agents for traditional blue links.
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OpenRouter just raised $113M at a $1.3B valuation, more than doubling in a year. The platform saw 5x usage growth in six months, proving developers want easy access to multiple AI models without vendor lock-in.
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