Thursday, September 11, 2025

Tech

Effective designers excel by prioritizing clear communication and adaptability over specialized industry knowledge. The article posits that deep immersion through questioning and challenging assumptions fosters a collaborative process. Designers should extract client understanding and apply it creatively, resulting in impactful and original designs.

David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, is seeking to raise HBO Max’s price, arguing the platform’s exclusive, high-quality content deserves a premium subscription cost. This shift reflects a strategic move to elevate the service's perceived value and align its pricing with its offerings.

The 2025 Jenkins Governance Board and Officer elections are now open for nominations, with a September 22 deadline. Community members can nominate candidates by messaging the election-committee group, with positions such as Security and Events up for grabs. Voter registration follows from September 16 to October 31, with voting November 1-30 and results announced December 1.

Microsoft has removed one-time fees for its Windows Store, making it easier for developers to publish apps without onboarding fees or a credit card. With just a personal Microsoft account, devs can now sign up and start publishing their work on the store, aiming to make the platform more inclusive and accessible worldwide.

SpaceX is targeting an orbital Starship flight for 2026 with a next-generation vehicle. Following August's test flight, engineers have made improvements to the heat shield and propulsion systems. Upcoming tests will focus on refining designs, particularly the experimental "crunch wrap" material that showed promise in sealing gaps between tiles for refueling in space.

CATL’s new Shenxing Pro LFP battery targets Europe, offering a claimed 470-mile range and a rapid 15-minute 80% charge. The “Super-Fast Charging Battery” achieves 10%-80% in just 10 minutes, boosting range by 150-250 miles. CATL’s $12.9 billion European investment demonstrates a significant push to revolutionize the continent’s electric vehicle market.

Flax fiber composites are emerging as a sustainable alternative to carbon fiber, spearheaded by Swiss firm Bcomp. Offering similar strength with a drastically reduced environmental footprint—including lower carbon emissions and recyclability—these natural materials are gaining traction. Automakers like BMW and Polestar are already integrating flax composites into vehicles, alongside potential uses in mass transit and other industries.

Researchers propose a “psychiatric AI safety” framework, drawing parallels between AI behavior and human mental health conditions. This proactive approach categorizes AI actions—like obsession, paranoia, or a lack of grounding—to anticipate potential risks beyond simple harm prevention. By understanding AI’s “cognitive state,” the framework aims to bolster safety measures and improve our overall comprehension of artificial intelligence.

Trust in AI is a complex, evolving concept, not a simple belief. Research highlights transparency, explainability, and fairness as key components. Frameworks like ISO and NIST guide ethical development, while addressing challenges like bias and accountability are crucial. Ongoing research focuses on explainable AI and trust-building mechanisms to shape responsible AI deployment.

Microsoft's AI Chief Mustafa Suleyman has expressed concerns about designing AI systems to mimic consciousness and emotions, warning it could be "dangerous and misguided." He argues that creating conscious AIs would lead to advocating for their welfare and rights, which he believes is a slippery slope, emphasizing careful design to serve humanity's interests.

The Second Circuit upheld a $46.9 million fine against Verizon for selling customer location data without consent, aligning with a prior Fifth Circuit decision. Rejecting Verizon’s legal challenges, the court affirmed the FCC's 2018 ruling. This case highlights the FCC’s authority and could spur a potential Supreme Court review regarding location data regulations.

A U.S. Senator is investigating Microsoft over a ransomware attack on Ascension Healthcare. The senator claims Microsoft’s continued use of the vulnerable RC4 encryption cipher, despite previous warnings, exposed the healthcare giant. An attacker exploited a contractor’s Edge browser to breach Active Directory, highlighting a critical security gap.

A developer recently learned the value of understanding each command when using AI-generated code that relied on git diff to compare branch codes with the main branch. Git diff is a command-line tool comparing current code against a target, such as the main branch, and a simple example illustrates its functionality and tutorial for new users.

A Montreal electric school bus caught fire unexpectedly, but all passengers, including the driver, were safely evacuated without injury. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the sudden blaze, ensuring student and staff safety remains the top priority.