Cloudflare’s public Radar “Bot vs Human” tracker reports that bots represented 57‑58 % of HTTP requests for HTML content, compared with 42‑43 % from human users, according to data from 2025. Imperva’s Bad Bot Report, also based on 2025 measurements, found bots accounted for 53 % of web traffic, with humans making up the remaining 47 %. Pangram, an AI detection company, estimated that about one quarter of long‑form articles on LinkedIn, Medium, Twitter and Reddit were fully AI‑generated. LinkedIn showed more than 40 % fully AI‑generated posts, while X had 23.9 % fully AI‑generated and 22.9 % AI‑assisted content, meaning only 53.2 % of its articles were identified as fully human‑authored. A New York Times lawsuit and other publishers allege that OpenAI used copyrighted material in its training data. Court filings cite a deposition in which Vincent Monaco, head of privacy engineering at OpenAI, acknowledged searching training datasets and deleting logs, contradicting the company’s earlier statements that it could not access such data. The author, who wrote early web columns for Ziff‑Davis, notes that AI systems draw from many sources, including obscure forums, and says they often provide confident but inaccurate information. He cautions that reliance on AI for technical advice, medical treatment or companionship may erode trust in factual information and reduce human interaction online. These developments highlight ongoing concerns about the accuracy and humanity of internet content as AI increasingly dominates web traffic and content creation.
Models, chips, platforms, and the policy lines being drawn around them.
Memory chip makers SK Hynix, Micron and Samsung have reported significant revenue increases as demand for AI‑related hardware drives up prices for DRAM, HBM, DDR5 and NAND flash.
The companies are investing hundreds of billions of dollars to build new fabrication capacity, a process that can take three years or more before production begins. In June, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung announced a $576 billion plan to bolster chip production and secure AI supply chains, and Micron has pledged up to $3 billion to strengthen the US semiconductor supply chain.
High demand has created shortages and pushed prices higher across consumer electronics and AI infrastructure, with IDC warning that price relief may not arrive before 2028. Memory prices are expected to stay elevated until new capacity is operational.
The industry must balance the need for expanded capacity with the risk that AI demand may fall short, potentially leading to a price decline that could affect the financial health of memory manufacturers.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration administrator Jonathan Morrison sent a directive to all autonomous vehicle developers, stating that AVs must be able to detect and appropriately respond to situations involving first responders and law enforcement. He said that failure to do so represents a functional insufficiency and that such incidents are not rare edge cases. The agency requested that developers submit solutions by the end of the month. The directive, issued under the Department of Transportation’s Standing General Order, was not targeted at any specific company but follows recent reports of interactions between Waymo robotaxis and emergency services. In San Francisco, local officials noted that several Waymo vehicles ran out of power during a July 4 fireworks traffic jam, requiring them to be towed. Supervisor Bilal Mahmood announced plans to submit a letter of inquiry examining how autonomous vehicles affect public transit and emergency response. The 2026 Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda, updated last week, proposes revisions to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards that could benefit companies developing vehicles without steering wheels or pedals, such as Tesla and Zoox. Other news included Rivian’s $1.32 billion private placement of 86.25 million Class A common shares at $15.50 each, including an over‑allotment, to fund production of its R2 SUV and support growth despite ongoing profitability challenges. Additional funding rounds were reported for Bidbus ($15 million Series A), Lyft’s undisclosed acquisition of Serveo’s Spanish bike‑share business, and TaiSan’s £4.65 million seed round. A data breach at AssuranceAmerica exposed driver’s license information of 6.9 million people, the largest such spill of its kind this year. Beta Technologies completed eVTOL test flights under the DOT and FAA’s Integration Pilot Program, covering about 275 nautical miles in Virginia and Maryland. Further items covered remarks on anti‑Elon exchange‑traded funds, GM’s Chevrolet EV truck sales performance, Manna Aero’s planned Tulsa facility, Slate Auto’s partnership with Crayola for vehicle wrap colors, and the launch of the third season of the TechCrunch “Build Mode” podcast.
Elon Musk's Doge initiative has cut USAID funding for Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a reduction that experts say has hindered outbreak management and contributed to several deaths. The cuts follow Musk's repeated posts on X about USAID, which he helped restructure, describing the agency as being fed into a woodchipper. Health officials say the reduced resources limited vaccination and disease tracking, leading to higher reported fatalities. Jeremy Konyndyk, former USAID official who led the 2014‑2015 Ebola response, said the public focus on Musk's actions has drawn renewed scrutiny to the agency's role. SpaceX stock declined after its initial public offering, and Tesla is currently involved in multiple lawsuits.
Lenovo said it does not install Chinese solid-state drives in laptops sold outside the United States after a report identified a YMTC SSD in a ThinkBook 14 G9 IPL model intended for Germany. The company said the device was not marketed in the United States.
The United States placed YMTC on its entity list in 2023, restricting sales of its products to US entities on national security grounds. The ban reflects concerns that the company works closely with the Chinese government. Memory and storage manufacturers such as Samsung, Micron and SK Hynix dominate the global market, while YMTC provides an alternative amid rising demand from AI applications.
A Notebookcheck review found the YMTC SSD in the ThinkBook 14 G9 IPL, a model that Lenovo said was destined for the German market. Lenovo examined the unit and confirmed it was not sold in the United States. The laptop crossed an internal European Union border, a movement that the company said does not constitute a violation of export restrictions. The AI boom has increased demand for memory chips, prompting manufacturers to seek additional sources beyond the three dominant suppliers. Apple has urged the Trump administration to revisit the YMTC ban to obtain needed components for its devices.
The episode illustrates how export control policies intersect with global supply chains as AI‑driven demand for storage components grows.
Lorde performed at the Real Cool Festival in Madrid on Thursday and used part of her set to criticize AI smartglasses, saying they were not attractive and advising the audience not to purchase them. She thanked the crowd for attending a "real" event, then noted the difficulty of distinguishing reality from illusion before stating that the glasses were "fucked up" and "not sexy," urging fans to avoid them. The remarks were captured in videos posted to social media. Meta, which has faced increased scrutiny over its AI glasses, continues to develop a version of the device that continuously records video. Blackpink’s Jennie, a Ray‑Ban Meta AI ambassador who has appeared in its advertising, was seen on stage after Lorde.
Apple’s self-driving car project never launched, but it spurred development of its Neural Engine, the core of on-device AI processing in its chips. The Neural Engine debuted in the iPhone X with the A11 Bionic, initially supporting Face ID, Animoji and AR features, and later appeared in Macs powered by M-series chips. Apple has not released a consumer self-driving vehicle, and its AI software lags behind industry rivals. Nonetheless, the hardware has enabled privacy-focused features by processing data locally. According to Mark Gurman, Apple will skip the Pro, Max and Ultra variants of its upcoming M6 chip and accelerate the M7, which is expected in the first half of 2027 with upgraded Neural Engine capabilities. The M7 Ultra will underpin a server product capable of supporting up to 1.5 TB of RAM. The upgrades reflect Apple’s focus on strengthening its AI hardware roadmap as demand for on-device intelligence grows.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will deliver a speech on artificial intelligence this week, as members of parliament consider revisions to Australia’s copyright legislation that could affect AI training practices.
Albanese’s remarks come amid a broader debate over the balance between attracting datacentre investment and safeguarding the rights of creators. The proposed changes would allow AI developers to use copyrighted works without permission under certain conditions.
Author Anna Funder likened the situation to being a victim of crime while testifying before a parliamentary committee, saying technology firms have extensively used her literary works for profit. Artists have voiced opposition to the potential amendments, while the Labor Party is divided on the policy direction.
The government has not yet finalized the legislative proposal, and the outcome remains uncertain.
An annotated list titled "Cyberpunk Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels" provides a chronological overview of illustrated works that embody cyberpunk themes across Western comics and Japanese manga.
Cyberpunk is defined by high technology, urban decay, and socio‑political commentary, and has been represented in sequential art since the 1970s.
The Long Tomorrow (1975, graphic novel) by Dan O’Bannon and Moebius is described as a short story with illustrations that were part of the French science fiction aesthetic of the 1970s and that heavily inspired later cyberpunk media such as Blade Runner and Neuromancer.
Akira (1982–1990, manga) by Katsuhiro Otomo depicts a dystopian 2019 setting and explores themes of radical politics, overcrowding and anarchy.
Blade Runner (1982, comic) adapted by Archie Goldwin, Al Williamson and Carlos Garzon from the 1982 film expands on ambiguous scenes through narration and includes references to characters such as Deckard.
Shatter (1985–1988, comic) created by Peter B. Gills and Mike Saenz is recognized as the first digital comic produced on a Macintosh Plus and incorporates dystopian, robotic and gene‑science themes.
Dominion (1986, manga) by Masamune Shirow is set in a polluted future city called New Port City and follows a tank police force confronting a cyborg criminal planning to alter the human genome.
Rebel (1986, graphic novel) by Pepe Moreno portrays a post‑apocalyptic New York under a fascist regime and combines elements of Mad Max and Escape from New York.
Ghost in the Shell (Mobile Armored Riot Police) (1989–1990, manga) by Masamune Shirow follows a cyborg major leading Section 9 in investigations of artificial intelligence and cybercrime.
Cyberpunk: Book 1 (1989–1990) and Cyberpunk: Book 2 (1990) by Scott Rockwell, illustrated by Darryl Banks and Doug Talalla respectively, examine virtual reality and hacking concepts.
Gunnm (Battle Angel Alita) (1990–1995, manga) by Yukito Kishiro tells the story of a cyborg android discovered in a junkyard who becomes a bounty hunter in a future where Earth’s population is segregated from a floating city.
Robocop (Marvel Comics, 1990–1992) created by Alan Grant and Lee Sullivan extends the franchise into a futuristic Detroit with cybernetic and artificial‑intelligence themes.
Night Hunters (2022) by Dave Baker and Alexis Ziritt depicts a cybernetic police sniper and a drug lord in a dystopian Caracas setting.
Cyberpunk 2077: XOXO (2023) by Bartosz Sztybor and Jakub Rebelka is a four‑issue comic set in Night City that follows a man’s cybernetic transformation and gang conflict.
Additional titles such as Blade Runner 2019 (2019–2020), Blade Runner 2029 (2020–2021), and various works by Masamune Shirow, Tsutomu Nihei and other creators further illustrate the range of cyberpunk narratives in comics and manga.
Philips Hue has been discussed as a leading smart lighting system that aligns with consumer expectations for integrated home control. The smart home market has struggled to provide consistent, user-friendly experiences, often requiring extensive setup and fragmented control across platforms. In the latest episode of the Vergecast podcast Version History, hosts David Pierce, Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, and smart home journalist Richard Gunther examined Hue’s origins, its early adoption of multiple smart home platforms, and its pricing structure. The conversation noted that the rise of smartphones enabled broader adoption of Hue’s lighting ecosystem and highlighted the company’s focus on reliability and ease of use. The episode is the fifth installment of the fourth season of Version History and follows earlier discussions of devices such as the Harmony remote, Roomba vacuum, Nest thermostat, and Keurig coffee maker.
A software developer with a background in hacking and AI published a blog post in July 2026 describing his enthusiasm for recent advances in large language models, self‑driving cars, video generation, and coding agents.
He described setting up a Linux environment to run a local version of the GLM‑5.2 model and said that using a particular tmux configuration improved his workflow.
He expressed skepticism toward statements that AI development has stalled or that widespread adoption will be limited to specific regions.
He noted that some critics argue that open‑source AI poses a risk of commodification, and that these concerns may be driven by a desire to maintain market control.
He referenced a 2016 presentation on superintelligence and a 1991 film depicting machines taking over the world, saying that certain groups claim credit for developments regardless of their actual involvement.
He argued that while AI is likely to generate significant value, much of that value may be captured by a few firms, and that safety or geopolitical arguments are sometimes used to justify restrictive measures.
He quoted Linus Torvalds, who said that agents could make programming ten times more productive and that compilers could increase productivity a thousandfold, acknowledging that these figures are extreme estimates.
He added that models can enhance efficiency but may also increase cognitive fatigue, and that many of the anticipated productivity gains have yet to be clearly demonstrated.
He concluded that AI represents a continuation of the computer revolution and expressed optimism about its future, while noting that careful oversight remains necessary.
On July 12, 2026, Instagram user Terrence O'Brien reported that people are mixing Malört, a bitter wormwood liqueur, with ranch dressing, brisket, and candy. The beverage, already known for its strong flavor, has generated a small number of viral reaction videos. Some consumers have experimented with the combination as a novelty.
Folk Computer, an open‑source physical computing system created by researchers Omar Rizwan and Andrés Cuervo, was demonstrated in a Brooklyn warehouse in June.
Folk Computer, an open‑source physical computing system created by researchers Omar Rizwan and Andrés Cuervo, was demonstrated in a Brooklyn warehouse in June. The system uses printed sheets of paper as programs; cameras track the sheets, projectors display interactive content on surfaces, and participants manipulate paper and markers to write code and create animations in real time. The demonstration showed the program running directly from the paper without a monitor, allowing multiple users to collaborate in the same space.
The system builds on earlier work from Xerox PARC, the CDG lab at SAP, and the nonprofit Dynamicland. It differs from traditional desktop computing by treating the room itself as the computer, eliminating pixels and using spatial coordinates measured in meters. Developers can set up their own instances using GitHub repositories, and community contributions have produced tools such as a card‑based music sequencer.
The author, an investor who also serves on the ACM’s Professional Development Committee, noted that the computing field has recently converged on agent‑based research, limiting exploration of alternative paradigms. He said that early‑stage paradigm work relies on patronage rather than market demand, and that Folk Computer offers a way for independent researchers to pursue unconventional ideas without immediate commercial pressure. He invited interested individuals to contact him for introductions, funding, or collaborative opportunities.
The demonstration highlights a resurgence of experimental computing that traces its lineage from the 1970s to present‑day open‑source initiatives, suggesting a potential shift in how software is conceived and built.
EU Regulation (EU) 2023/1670 and Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 will require that most electronic devices with batteries allow users to remove and replace the battery using basic or free‑provided tools, and that spare batteries be sold for at least five years, starting February 18 2027. The rules apply to smartphones, tablets, headphones, e‑readers, portable game consoles, laptops and other battery‑powered products, except where exemptions apply. Smartphones and tablets are already covered by a separate regulation that mandates spare parts availability for seven years, and the battery exemption applies when a battery retains 83 percent capacity after 500 cycles, 80 percent after 1,000 cycles and the device has an IP67 rating, allowing professional‑only replacement. Medical devices and products designed for regular water exposure are also exempt, as are wearables that may be difficult to service due to small battery compartments.
Manufacturers are preparing for the requirements. Fender’s Mix headphones expose battery access through an ear cushion, and Sennheiser’s Momentum 5 headphones allow replacement with a Phillips‑head screwdriver. Fairphone has long offered user‑replaceable batteries in its smartphones and headphones, including the Fairphone 6 and Fairbuds, and its CEO Raymond van Eck said the company has shaped the regulations by participating in EU discussions. Amazon has indicated plans to release Kindle e‑readers with replaceable batteries, and leaked images suggest the Xbox Elite 3 controller may also feature a user‑replaceable battery. Rumors indicate a future Nintendo Switch 2 model could include a removable battery, expected for launch in Europe.
The timeline gives companies more than two years to redesign products. While many audio and handheld devices already meet the criteria, smartphone manufacturers may rely on battery longevity rather than user‑replaceability, as the separate phone regulation permits professional‑only service when battery capacity loss is limited and the device has an IP67 rating. Apple recently changed the adhesive used for battery compartments in its latest iPhones, a modification that meets EU durability standards, though Apple has not commented on the connection.
The scope of the law raises questions about tool availability and pricing for spare parts. Right to Repair Europe noted that “commercially available tools” could include specialized electronics screwdrivers, and that the lack of a defined price ceiling for spare parts may lead to legal clarification. Some analysts expect that the regulation will drive broader adoption of replaceable batteries, while others warn that smaller manufacturers may avoid the EU market to reduce redesign costs. The rules may also influence right‑to‑repair legislation in other regions, as several US states already have related statutes.
The regulation does not alter the separate ecodesign requirements for smartphones and tablets, which focus on durability and repairability through part availability rather than mandatory user‑replaceable batteries. Whether the EU will expand battery‑access requirements to all devices remains uncertain.
GhostLock (CVE-2026-43499) is a Linux kernel flaw that has existed in all major distributions since 2011. The vulnerability was introduced in Linux kernel version 2.6.39 and was fixed in version 7.1. It requires no special configuration or elevated privileges to exploit. An unprivileged local attacker can trigger a use-after-free condition in the rt_mutex_remove_waiter function by causing a requeue-PI deadlock. The bug allows manipulation of a kernel stack pointer, enabling arbitrary writes and privilege escalation to root, and can be used to escape containers. Researchers demonstrated the issue by leaking the kernel image address with a prefetch timing attack, reclaiming the freed stack frame through the PR_SET_MM_MAP system call, and forging a fake rt_mutex_waiter that overwrites the inet6_protos table to gain control of a kernel function. A subsequent write to the core_pattern sysctl makes the core dump file world‑writable, completing the privilege escalation. The kernel patch updates remove_waiter to lock the task that owns the waiter before clearing its pi_blocked_on field. Distributions are urged to apply the update or upgrade to the latest long‑term support release. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed on July 7, 2026, and a working exploit is available in the open‑source research project.
Google Research published a study showing that coordinated routing through navigation apps can improve traffic speeds and lower emissions in major U.S. cities.
The study builds on earlier work such as Project Green Light, which used artificial intelligence to optimize traffic signal timing. While navigation services already provide individual route suggestions, system‑wide coordination has not been widely implemented.
In a six‑month experiment, the Google Maps algorithm was modified to favor alternative routes with similar travel times for trips that entered pre‑selected congested road segments. The intervention was applied to all trips in ten cities, affecting less than 2 % of observed trips.
Cities were selected based on congestion levels and availability of ground‑truth data. Approximately 100 road segments with recurring bottlenecks were identified for the study.
Results were analyzed using a hierarchical Bayesian model that considered both city‑wide and hourly effects. Across the treated segments, average driving speeds increased by about 2 %. On all segments impacted by the rerouting, speeds rose by roughly 0.35 % to 0.5 % during peak morning and afternoon periods. Fuel consumption decreased by 0.5 % to 1.0 % on the targeted segments. The estimated CO2 reduction reached thousands of tons per city annually.
The findings indicate that diverting a small fraction of trips away from major bottlenecks can raise speeds and lower emissions across the broader network. Both navigation users and non‑users benefit from reduced travel time and lower emissions.
The research demonstrates a method for conducting large‑scale, experiment‑based traffic management using existing navigation platforms. It provides a framework for future work on dynamic signal control and real‑time network optimization as smart‑city infrastructure develops.
Two Apple Pencil models are reportedly in development for release with next‑generation iPad Pro tablets in 2027, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Gurman said Apple is working to satisfy upcoming European Union requirements that make batteries more replaceable, leading to speculation that the new pencils could feature replaceable battery systems, though no specific details have been disclosed. The current Apple Pencil with a USB‑C port launched in November 2023 and the Apple Pencil Pro was introduced in May 2024; Apple has not announced additional design changes or features for the upcoming models. Apple plans to release 11‑inch and 13‑inch iPad Pro models in spring 2027 with internal upgrades, potentially using M6 or M7 chips, and is evaluating OLED panels that would cover 95 % of the BT.2020 color standard for future MacBook Pro, iMac and iPad Pro devices. In addition, Apple recently increased prices on the HomePod mini, HomePod and Apple TV.
In the 9to5Mac Overtime podcast episode released on July 12, hosts Jeff Benjamin and Fernando Silva discussed updates to Siri on the Apple Watch and iOS 27. The episode, a weekly video-first program that examines Apple ecosystem observations, covered the new Siri experience, which includes enhanced natural language understanding and on‑device processing for watchOS. Benjamin, head of video content production for 9to5Mac, and Silva also outlined planned iOS 27 capabilities such as contextual awareness and third‑party app integration. The hosts listed desired Apple Watch features, including longer battery life and additional health sensors, and noted upcoming enhancements to iPhone Messages that will add formatting and editing options. A brief mention of social media trends in 2026 was included as part of broader technology commentary. The episode is available on Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and 9to5Mac invites listeners to subscribe for ongoing updates on Apple products.
A technical analysis showed that Claude Code consumes roughly 33,000 tokens in its initial system prompt compared to about 7,000 tokens for OpenCode when both are run on the same model and hardware under identical baseline conditions. The study measured request payloads and usage metrics through a proxy that captured the exact JSON sent by each harness and the token counts reported by the API, using a local gateway to isolate baseline costs. Baseline tests (the floor) on Claude Sonnet 4.5 and OpenCode 1.17.18 indicated that Claude’s prompt included 27,344 characters of system instructions and tool schemas, while OpenCode’s prompt was 8,811 characters. When tools were disabled, Claude still required roughly 6,500 tokens versus OpenCode’s 2,000 tokens. A production instruction file of approximately 72 KB added about 20,000 tokens to each request, and five public MCP servers contributed an additional 5,000 to 7,000 tokens depending on the harness. Cache inefficiency emerged as a major cost driver for Claude Code. Its prompt was rewritten multiple times during a session, resulting in up to 54 times more cache write tokens than OpenCode, whose prefix remained byte‑identical across requests. On a multi‑step task that required nine requests, Claude Code’s cumulative metered input reached about 132,000 tokens, while OpenCode’s total was roughly 121,000 tokens, a convergence achieved because Claude batch‑processed tool calls while OpenCode made a separate request per turn. Additional multipliers included subagents, which added 4.2× token usage for Claude Code when two parallel agents were used, and instruction files that increased baseline token counts by over 20,000 tokens per request. Across all multipliers, a real‑world configuration with multiple MCP servers and the instruction file caused Claude Code to send a payload of roughly 75,000 to 85,000 tokens before any user input, compared with 90,000 tokens for OpenCode. The analysis noted that token cost translates to latency and context budget, and that the EU AI Act requires logging of system behavior; the captured audit log provided verifiable evidence of request composition. Quality was not a factor in the measurement, as both harnesses produced correct results on all evaluated tasks, indicating that the token disparity reflects pure cost rather than output quality. Findings suggest that developers using agentic AI should monitor token overhead, especially cache writes, and verify which instruction files and configuration elements are actually loaded to avoid unnecessary expense.
SteelSeries is offering the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless gaming headset for $239.99, a discount of more than $100 from typical prices of $300 to $350 at other retailers. The Xbox version is available in black and white; the PlayStation version is sold in white. Both models support Bluetooth and connect to PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch. The headset includes active noise cancellation, a noise‑canceling microphone, swappable batteries and a USB base station that provides charging for a spare battery, onboard controls for game profiles and sound mixing, and the ability to blend up to three audio inputs simultaneously. SteelSeries attributes the price reduction to damaged packaging, stating that the internal hardware is unused and undamaged and that the one‑year warranty remains in effect. Reviewers have noted that the headset is heavier than other SteelSeries models and that comfort varies among users. The discount makes the Nova Pro Wireless comparable in price to the higher‑priced Nova Pro Omni, which offers similar features.
Meta said on Tuesday it is ending the Muse AI image generation tool for Instagram that used public user content to create pictures. The feature was launched earlier this week and allowed users to generate images from public Instagram accounts. Meta said the tool was intended to provide a creative resource and give users control over whether their public content could be referenced in image generation. Critics, including the Screen Actors Guild‑American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG‑AFTRA), said the tool raised privacy concerns by potentially using personal images without consent. Meta did not disclose how many users were affected or when the service would be fully removed. The shutdown leaves the future of AI‑driven content creation on Instagram uncertain, and Meta has not indicated whether it will pursue alternative privacy‑focused approaches.
Susan Rigetti released a second edition of her self‑study physics guide, "So You Want to Learn Physics," in 2021, updating the curriculum for a readership that has grown to over six hundred thousand.
The first edition was published in 2015 as an online resource intended to provide a clear, structured curriculum for individuals seeking to learn physics outside formal university programs.
The 2021 update revises textbook references, adds undergraduate electives such as astronomy and electronics, includes graduate‑level electives in quantum field theory and statistical mechanics, and incorporates feedback from readers over six years of comments and emails.
The guide remains freely available online and continues to support self‑learners pursuing physics for personal interest or as a foundation for further study.
Ghostel is an Emacs package that provides a terminal emulator using libghostty‑vt through a native dynamic module written in Zig. The module is automatically downloaded on first use, so no separate toolchain is required; it can also be built from source with Zig if needed. Installation is available via MELPA, and developers may integrate it with use-package configurations that support :vc, :load-path, or manual paths. The package runs on macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, and native Windows, and supports x86_64 and aarch64 architectures for Intel and ARM processors.
Key features include full VT terminal emulation with 256‑color and true‑color support, OSC 8 hyperlinks, OSC 4/10/11 color queries, and the Kitty graphics protocol for inline images. Five input modes are provided—semi‑char, char, Emacs, copy, and line—each with dedicated keybindings for mode switching, navigation, and copy‑freeze behavior. The native PTY reader operates on a background thread, delivering asynchronous output to libghostty‑vt and notifying Emacs only when redraws are required, which maintains responsiveness during high‑volume streams.
Shell integration is automatic for bash, zsh, and fish, providing directory tracking via OSC 7, prompt navigation via OSC 133, and a helper function ghostel_cmd for invoking Emacs commands from the shell. Remote TRAMP sessions use the same renderer; the module sets TERM to xterm‑ghostty and can install the corresponding terminfo on remote hosts via an outbound SSH wrapper. Configuration options control native module installation, environment variables, scrollback limits, rendering timing, image handling, and password prompt detection.
Performance benchmarks show that the native PTY path processes roughly 75 MB/s of plain ASCII data, about four times the throughput of the built‑in Emacs term and significantly faster than alternative Emacs terminal packages. The architecture separates terminal state handling in the Zig module from Emacs‑level keymaps, buffers, and commands, allowing the renderer to preserve buffer positions across rendering changes without requiring Elisp to manage ad‑hoc marker logic.
Sam Kahn, an essayist and co‑founder of The Republic of Letters, says he is undertaking a deliberate effort to regain regular reading after a ten‑year decline. He notes that his reading peaked in childhood, when books served as a gateway to knowledge and adulthood, but fell sharply during middle school, college, and later adult life.
Kahn describes several factors that limited his reading. In school, social pressure labeled extensive reading as socially undesirable, and teachers did not provide advanced English opportunities. At college, his father warned that recreational reading would signal social failure, leading him to prioritize campus activities. After graduation, he perceived serious reading as childish, though occasional visits to used bookstores provided temporary resurgence.
His reading further waned as he entered relationships, where partners redirected his focus toward shared entertainment, and as financial concerns made long‑form reading seem irrelevant compared to scrolling. He also cites the rise of social media, which he characterizes as an addictive slot machine, as the most significant barrier. The 2020 documentary *The Social Dilemma* prompted him to recognize his phone checking as a compulsive behavior.
To counteract these forces, Kahn has adopted structured reading practices. He reads primarily for research tied to writing projects, treating books as tasks with defined goals. He records observations in Apple Notes while reading, enabling him to produce reviews without revisiting the text. He limits phone use by activating airplane mode and setting timers for set reading periods, and he has disabled notifications to reduce distractions.
He acknowledges that the habit remains fragile and that contemporary writing quality and his own digital addiction continue to impede progress. Nevertheless, he frames continued reading as an obligation to preserve deep concentration and cultural continuity in an era dominated by algorithmic media.
An arXiv preprint released in July 2026 describes artificial intelligence systems that can generate research-level mathematics and warns that U.S. policy is weakening the pipeline of human mathematicians. The paper, authored by Jun‑Yong Park, references a May 2026 AI‑generated proof that disproved a long‑standing conjecture by Paul Erdős concerning the planar unit distance problem. It also notes recent cuts to federal funding for mathematical research and training programs. The essay argues that the ability to verify, interpret, and challenge mathematical reasoning functions as critical infrastructure, comparable to semiconductor manufacturing. It contends that this capacity should be treated as a strategic asset. To address concerns, the paper proposes that AI systems engaged in consequential reasoning disclose their key claims in formal, machine‑checkable formats, making their reasoning auditable. The proposal raises questions about how future AI development will be regulated and whether existing educational pipelines can be restored to support mathematical expertise.
Ploy has migrated its production AI agent from Claude Opus 4.8 to OpenAI GPT-5.6 Sol. In head-to-head testing the agent completed website builds 2.2 times faster and at 27 percent lower cost than the previous model. The migration required updating the evaluation harness, tool schema, prompt caching configuration, and reasoning replay logic. The original harness was tuned to Claude's sequential tool usage and did not account for GPT-5.6's parallel call pattern, causing a portion of initial failures. The tool schema was adjusted so optional parameters were marked nullable before being stripped before execution, eliminating erroneous file reads. Prompt caching was reconfigured to use a workspace-scoped key, raising first‑call cache hit rates from near zero to about 84 percent and reducing uncached token volume by 28 percent. Reasoning replay was made self‑contained by setting the SDK option to store false, preventing server‑side reference errors. After these changes GPT-5.6 Sol became the default model for Ploy workspaces and is available for free trial on the company's website.
Community opposition to AI data center construction has intensified across the United States. In 2015 Apple announced a roughly $1 billion data center in Athenry, Ireland, which was approved in 2016 after a planning board review. Residents challenged the decision in court, and Apple withdrew the project in May 2018 after years of legal delays. Data centers supporting AI are projected to double energy demand by 2027, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and have been linked to higher local energy costs, water quality concerns, noise, light pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. Between January and March, protesters blocked or delayed at least 75 AI data center projects valued at $130 billion, according to a Data Center Watch study, and collected over 235,000 petition signatures. The number of active opposition groups rose from 396 at the end of 2025 to 833 by the end of the first quarter of 2026, spanning 49 states. QTS abandoned a $12 billion campus in DeForest, Wisconsin, after community protests, and a planned 580‑acre facility in Delaware City was halted under the state’s Coastal Zone Act. A QTS data center in Prince William County, Virginia, was also blocked in July. Residents pressured Kevin O’Leary to scale back his 40,000‑acre Project Stratos proposal in Utah. In Congress, President Donald Trump signed an executive order in 2023 to accelerate AI data center construction, but some Republican candidates have distanced themselves from that stance ahead of the midterm elections. Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez introduced a bill to pause new AI data center construction until legislation prevents utility price increases or environmental harm. Other lawmakers support the Ratepayer Protection Act, which would require tech companies to fund their own energy costs, and the GRID Act, which would mandate separate energy sources for data centers. State governments have enacted 28 laws related to AI data centers, including measures in Florida that bar cost passing to residents, Idaho restrictions on water use, and Washington’s removal of a tax break for data center operators. Large projects such as Meta’s $27 billion Hyperion facility in Louisiana, Google’s $10 billion Project Mica in Missouri, SpaceXAI’s $20 billion campus in Mississippi, and the $500 billion Stargate data center plan remain in various stages of development. Additional incidents, such as a water contamination event linked to a Meta contractor in Wyoming and rising electricity costs for Midwest factories, illustrate ongoing environmental and economic concerns. Federal legislation addressing the issue is pending, leaving many communities to manage the impacts of proposed data centers.
Amazon is offering AirPods Pro 3 for $199.99, the lowest price since the end of Prime Day, down from the original $249.00. The model launched in September 2025 and features 2x better active noise cancellation than the previous generation, improved audio quality, a revised fit designed for comfort and stability, Live Translation for in-person conversations, and heart‑rate sensing for workouts. The $50 discount represents about a 20% reduction from the list price and is roughly $20 higher than the all‑time low recorded during Prime Day. The sale is part of Amazon's early Prime Day promotions, which run through June 26 and follow comparable discounts on other Apple products, including the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
Tiny Emulators presents a collection of lightweight emulators for historic computer systems. The project includes visual 6502 and Z80 emulation, as well as ports for the KC Compact, Amstrad CPC464, Amstrad CPC6128, ZX Spectrum 48k, ZX Spectrum 128, Commodore VIC-20, Commodore C64, Acorn Atom, LC-80, Robotron Z1013, Robotron Z9001, Robotron KC87, and several FORTH and BASIC variants. UI screenshots accompany each emulator, showing titles such as Tire Au Flan, Wolfenstrad, Byte'98, and many others. The list also contains entries for C64 titles including The Wobbler, Dawnfall, and Crapman, as well as arcade ports like Pengo, Zaxxon, and Dig Dug. Additional entries cover KC85/4, KC85/3, and KC85/4 models with games such as Digger, Jungle, Pengo, and Ladder. The collection further includes ZX48k and Atom titles such as Jet Set Willy, Alien Blitz, and Mazogs. The repository provides source links for each emulator, allowing developers to view and compile the code. No specific release date or version information is provided in the listing.
Apple may make the next‑generation Pencil and Pencil Pro more repairable, according to Mark Gurman. The updates are expected to accompany new iPad Pro models slated for release next year. In February 2026, the European Union will enforce a rule that requires batteries in electronic accessories to be user‑replaceable with basic tools. Apple has not confirmed whether the forthcoming Pencil designs will meet that requirement, but Gurman said the styluses are being redesigned to allow battery replacement. If implemented, the change could simplify repairs and reduce electronic waste.
Scientists have reconstructed rainfall patterns in the southwest tropical Pacific for the period 850-1200 AD, finding a sustained dry interval that coincided with increased island populations. The isotopic composition of rainwater captured in sediment cores reflects precipitation amount; analysis of hydrogen isotopes in ancient mud from swamps and lakes allowed researchers to infer past rainfall. The study, involving the University of Southampton, the University of East Anglia and other institutions, examined sediment samples from Tonga and Samoa. Results indicate the driest interval in the region during the past 2,000 years, occurring between 850 and 1200 AD. Genetic data show a rapid population increase in Samoa around 1000 AD, suggesting demographic expansion during the dry period. Climate variability in the area is linked to the South Pacific Convergence Zone, which can shift on decadal to centennial timescales. The timing of the drought aligns with the earliest eastward settlement of islands such as Rapa Nui and the Marquesas. The findings imply that prolonged climate stress may have contributed to the eastward expansion of Polynesian societies, though the exact mechanisms remain under investigation.
Writing code remains valuable despite advances in AI‑driven development tools. The author explains that infrastructure supporting autonomous agents includes prompt design, knowledge bases, and automated evaluation through tests, linting, and type checking. These safeguards keep agents on track even with less capable models.
The article argues that direct engagement with code helps developers maintain a deeper understanding of system architecture and identify weaknesses. Human authors can spot fragile patterns, improve testing strategies, and refine architectural principles, which in turn reduce long‑term technical debt.
Critics who view coding agents as simple compilers overlook the need for precise, executable specifications. Agents, like new interns, may amplify ad‑hoc decisions made without scrutiny. The author cites an example where a local storage choice introduced extensive indirection, inflating code size and complicating maintenance.
Maintaining a software factory requires attention to detail at multiple levels, from algorithm design to performance measurement. Continuous integration practices have become standard, improving overall quality.
The piece concludes that while AI tools accelerate development, human involvement is still necessary to ensure robust code and sustainable architecture. An invitation follows to attend a search and agents event focused on retrieval‑augmented generation and large language model integration.
On 13 July 2026, a developer announced that he had spent the past year building a web application for music schools called instruxmusic.com using only vanilla JavaScript and Web Components. The application provides scheduling, billing, automated invoicing, video chat with file sharing, a metronome, a magnifying glass for hand technique, a brand page builder with custom branding, a booking system for demo lessons, a dashboard with statistics, and a messaging board for staff. He said he chose to develop the app entirely in vanilla JavaScript with Web Components because he wanted to avoid the build pipelines, transpilation steps and additional abstractions required by major frameworks. He noted that React, Angular, Vue and Svelte dominate job listings and all require a build step, encourage TypeScript and introduce what he described as artificial complexity. He argued that native web technologies already support event listeners, DOM manipulation, global state and reactivity, and that frameworks impose restrictions such as prohibiting direct DOM access, requiring wrapper functions for events and mandating third‑party state management. He claimed that these constraints increase the amount of code needed to achieve the same functionality. He also presented two tools he built: EHTML, which adds templating support to plain HTML without a virtual DOM, and e‑ui, a design system and collection of custom elements that work with Web Components. He said the tools solve specific problems such as form handling, nested structures, page caching, and import maps, and do so without introducing new languages, build steps or preprocessors. He asserted that the approach scales and allows a codebase composed mainly of HTML and a few JavaScript files. He concluded by thanking readers, inviting them to subscribe to his newsletter, and stating that he is looking for a new contract.
Count Binface, a self-described intergalactic space warrior and leader of the Recyclons from planet Sigma IX, has taken part in multiple UK electoral contests since 2017, receiving vote totals ranging from 69 to 92,896. In 2017 he campaigned under the name Lord Buckethead against Prime Minister Theresa May, a contest that attracted media attention. In 2018 he said he respawned as Count Binface to challenge Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the 2019 general election, where he received 69 votes. In 2021 he said he earned 92,896 votes, including 24,775 first‑choice votes, in the London mayoral race, placing ninth among 20 candidates, a result he said set a record for an alien candidate. In 2023 he said he finished eighth in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by‑election with 190 votes, a 275% increase from 2019, and again defeated Piers Corbyn and UKIP. His platform has included calls for justice, lasers, the television series Lovejoy, affordable croissants, and the revival of Ceefax. In 2024 he said he ran for London mayor again, receiving 24,260 votes and defeating Britain First, and later contested the general election in Richmond and Northallerton, where he said he earned 308 votes, which he described as a moral victory. He also said he appeared in the television series Industry (season four, episode two), where his fictional character received 309 votes in a fictional Wakefield constituency. He continues to seek public office in future elections.
LARP, a website launched by a startup, offers founders a tool to create reciprocal revenue agreements that record revenue without any cash transfer. The service matches two founders, each agreeing to a revenue figure, then records the transaction so both parties report the amount as revenue in their financial statements while no money moves between them.
In traditional accounting, revenue is recognized when control of a product or service passes to a customer, requiring actual cash or value exchange. LARP’s model bypasses that requirement by arranging bilateral service agreements where each party records the agreed amount as revenue, creating the appearance of demand without an economic transfer.
The platform outlines three steps. First, founders are matched with a peer who has a bank account. Second, the agreed amount is wired in a circle, so each leg is recorded as revenue for the receiving party. Third, the revenue is annualized to calculate annual recurring revenue, allowing a small cash flow to support large reported ARR figures.
LARP states that the agreements specify genuine deliverables and that each party independently recognizes revenue under ASC 606 when performance obligations are satisfied. The company says it does not provide accounting, legal, or tax advice and that customers are responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable standards and securities law.
Analysts have compared the practice to 1990s dot‑com vendor financing and warn it may inflate reported demand. A Bloomberg column noted that regulators view sham round‑trips as fraudulent, whereas LARP describes its arrangement as a legal cousin of those practices.
A finance team at Cadenza Systems reported a 340% year‑over‑year revenue increase without changes to cash position, saying auditors found the entries acceptable. Another controller at Northbank said LARP removed cash‑flow concerns from growth planning.
The platform states it does not charge users, because doing so would create real revenue that conflicts with its premise. It offers a free tier and allows optional tips, which the site says are not equity or revenue share.
Whether the model will withstand audit scrutiny or regulatory review remains unclear.