Features
An Adrenaline Junkie Millionaire’s Quest to Become a Cocaine Kingpin
Marty Tibbitts made millions as a Detroit telecommunications executive. But he wanted more.
AI
This Web Tool Sabotages AI Chatbots By Making Them Really, Really Slow
Artist Sam Lavigne created ‘Slow LLM’ to make people question their dependence on tools like Claude and ChatGPT. Or at least, make them super annoying to use.
Podcast
Ridicule as Praxis (with Emily Bender and Alex Hanna)
Why ridicule works to keep big tech’s claims in check, and what makes us hopeful for the future.
Features
An Adrenaline Junkie Millionaire’s Quest to Become a Cocaine Kingpin
Marty Tibbitts made millions as a Detroit telecommunications executive. But he wanted more.
The Abstract
Scientists Narrow Down the Hunt for Aliens to 45 Planets
Scientists have narrowed the hunt for alien life to 45 rocky worlds where liquid water could make life possible.
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Marathon and the Metaverse
This week, we discuss unfortunately checking Twitter for news, the closure of the metaverse, and being vulnerable in Marathon.
News
Tiny Township Fears Iran Drone Strikes Because of New Nuclear Weapons Datacenter
The attorney for the township of Ypsilanti, Michigan, said the construction of the data center puts “a big bulls eye target on this entire township."
Meta
RIP Metaverse, an $80 Billion Dumpster Fire Nobody Wanted
Who could have possibly predicted this, besides everyone?
dating apps
Tinder Plans to Let AI Scan Your Camera Roll
In a feature the dating app says is set to roll out in the U.S. later this spring, Tinder plans to access users' camera rolls to pick photos and determine what they're into.
podcasts
Mapping Google's Unmappable City
How filmmaker Chris Parr put North Oaks, Minnesota on the map.
aliens
Government Registers Aliens.Gov Domain
There is no associated website yet, but the move comes after Trump ordered the release of files related to UFOs.
Podcast
Podcast: The Disappearing DOGE Depositions
This week we talk about the disappearing (and reappearing) DOGE depositions; how AI is African Intelligence; and what AI job loss reports are missing.
The Abstract
Was Life Seeded from Space? ‘Complete Set’ of DNA Ingredients Discovered on Asteroid
“Organic molecules delivered from extraterrestrial materials may have played a key role in supplying building blocks for life on Earth,” said one scientist.