AI
AI Generated 'Boring History' Videos Are Flooding YouTube and Drowning Out Real History
"These AI videos are just repeating things that are on the internet, so you end up with a very simplified version of the past."
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Dogfooding and Datasets
This week, we discuss our top games, “dense street imagery," and first-person experiences with apps.
Tariffs
Trump Tariffs Cause Chaos on Ebay as Every Hobby Becomes Logistical Minefield
Buying cameras, retro games, board games, skincare, flashlights, sex toys, watches, and anything else from overseas just became far more complicated, slow, and expensive.
Echelon
Developer Unlocks Newly Enshittified Echelon Exercise Bikes But Can't Legally Release His Software
A firmware update broke a series of popular third-party exercise apps. A developer fixed it, winning a $20,000 bounty from Louis Rossmann.
News
4chan and Kiwi Farms Sue the UK Over its Age Verification Law
The notorious troll sites filed a lawsuit in U.S. federal court as part of a fight over the UK's Online Safety Act.
Flock
CBP Had Access to More than 80,000 Flock AI Cameras Nationwide
Flock said it has "paused all federal pilots" after police departments said they didn't realize they were sharing access with Customs and Border Patrol.
AI Slop
80s Nostalgia AI Slop Is Boomerfying the Masses for a Past That Never Existed
AI makes it easier than ever to slip into the comforting glow of nostalgia.
404 Media
404 Media at Two Years: How We've Grown, and What's Next
We're reflecting on the impact our journalism had in year two, how we've grown with your support, and what we aspire to accomplish in year three.
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Our Second Anniversary Party!
This week, we have some party pics and musical selections from last night.
Immigration
Pentagon Asks Its Civilian Employees If They Want to Work for ICE
The Department of Defense asks its civilian workers to apply for a "volunteer force" to support ICE that may involve working under "austere conditions.
wired
Chinese Livestreaming 'Virtual Human' Salespeople Are Outselling Their Human Counterparts
Built using AI technology from Baidu and DeepSeek, these virtual livestreamers sell everything from wet wipes to printers and work 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Exercises in OSINT and Storage Pains
This week, we discuss OSINT for chat groups, Russell Crowe films, and storage problems.