This is Behind the Blog, where we share our behind-the-scenes thoughts about how a few of our top stories of the week came together. This week, we discuss AI doomers, 9/11 posting, and Barbie. JOSEPH: I do always get emotional on 9/11 because it’s the moment everything changed. Rather than ...
Automattic’s Matt Mullenweg Claims He’s Back ‘In Control’Automattic’s Matt Mullenweg Claims He’s Back ‘In Control’
Less than 48 hours after announcing he was forcibly placed on a leave of absence by the Automattic board on Wednesday, Automattic’s Matt Mullenweg posted in a company-wide Slack channel claiming that he’s back “in control” of the company. 💡 Have something to share? I would love to hear from ...
‘We Did Not Invite You.’ Citizens Rage at Town Hall Over Proposed Nuclear AI Data Center‘We Did Not Invite You.’ Citizens Rage at Town Hall Over Proposed Nuclear AI Data Center
Representatives from the University of Michigan faced tough questions and a lot of vitriol from the citizens of Ypsilanti Township Wednesday night. The University partnered with America’s nuclear weapons scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratories (LANL) to build a hyperscale data center in the Township and residents are pissed. On ...
MPs vote against fresh attempt to legalise assisted dyingMPs vote against fresh attempt to legalise assisted dying
The proposed law sought to introduce one of the biggest societal changes in recent years. ...
An extraordinary result – why did MPs reject assisted dying bill this time?An extraordinary result – why did MPs reject assisted dying bill this time?
Although supporters say they will try again, for now the momentum has fallen away from a change in the law. ...
Houthis claim major advance in Yemen and tighten grip on Red Sea shipping laneHouthis claim major advance in Yemen and tighten grip on Red Sea shipping lane
The Iran-backed Houthis are also reported to have seized Perim – a strategic island on the major shipping route. ...
How global trade and oil prices could be hit by Houthi advanceHow global trade and oil prices could be hit by Houthi advance
Yemen’s Houthis have seized territory near the Bab al-Mandab Strait – a key trade gateway for oil and global shipping. ...
UK government rejects ‘kill switch’ idea for dangerous AIUK government rejects ‘kill switch’ idea for dangerous AI
The Cabinet Office, which leads on AI safety, says the UK “cannot simply turn AI off”. ...
In Gaza, we’ve seen horror unfold with global powers’ support. Is that a blueprint for horror elsewhere? | Ahdaf SoueifIn Gaza, we’ve seen horror unfold with global powers’ support. Is that a blueprint for horror elsewhere? | Ahdaf Soueif
For now, it is Palestinians who are being killed and displaced. But ideologies of supremacy and domination threaten us all Last week, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s minister of national security, put out an AI-generated video that showed a conveyor belt of overweight Palestinian prisoners – dreaming of food and education – ...
Mistakes, mistrust and misdirection: 25 years after 9/11, its dark legacy continues to unfoldMistakes, mistrust and misdirection: 25 years after 9/11, its dark legacy continues to unfold
The world’s most powerful country responded to the worst terrorist attack in its history by inflicting terror of its own – around the world, and at home US marks 25 years since 9/11 – latest updates As clear as that cloudless September morning, Jenna Jacobs McPartland remembers the moment everything ...