The Latest Breaking News from Wired

Publishers Accused of Using AI Behind the Scenes as Authors Face Scrutiny on AI-Written Books

Employees at three major US publishers told WIRED that AI is being used in marketing and communications, prompting concerns about copyright, workplace surveillance, job losses and transparency.

International Business Times UK · 9h ago

The Elon Assist

Plus: The decline of children's books, Fed interrogation, and more...

Reason · 10h ago

MrBeast Told Billionaire Mark Cuban He ‘Spends Millions of Dollars Reverse Engineering the Algorithms on Each Platform’ So He Never Runs Out of Ideas

Cuban is impressed by how much effort MrBeast puts into understanding social media algorithms.

Barchart · Oct 9

ICE Agents Stored Photos and License Plates of Protest Observers in Palantir-Built Database, Court Filing Reveals

Federal court filings reveal ICE agents logged protest observers' photos and license plates in a Palantir-built database, sparking a retaliatory lawsuit.

Latin Times · Oct 6

ICE Agents Reportedly Tagged Protest Observers as a 'Threat to Law Enforcement' in a Palantir Database

A proposed class action lawsuit alleges DHS agents profiled people observing ICE operations in Maine and entered information into Palantir's ICM system, claims the government disputes.

International Business Times UK · Oct 3

In 1996, Tim Draper bought Hotmail shares for $300,000. 2 years later, Microsoft acquired the startup for $400 million

Microsoft announced the Hotmail acquisition on December 31, 1997. It did not reveal how much it paid for the company. A later securities filing provided more detail. Hotmail’s owners received 2,769,148 Microsoft shares in the deal. Wired estimated those shares were worth about $400 million at the time.

The Economic Times · Oct 1

Plasphalt: New Mexico road used recycled plastic; long-term impact unclear

In New Mexico, a groundbreaking project on a two-mile stretch of Interstate 25 showcased a novel asphalt mixture that integrated recycled plastic materials. Developed by TEWA Technology, this innovative paving method not only aimed to divert waste from landfills but also sought to improve road resilience. By incorporating plastics like…

The Times of India · Sep 29

Flock Workers Have Seven Days to Accept 'Generous' Severance as Customers Cut Ties With the $8B Surveillance Firm

Flock Safety's 2nd October buyout deadline nears as government customers leave, camera vandalism rises, and backlash over its surveillance technology fuels layoff fears.

International Business Times UK · Sep 25

New Meta Glasses Pitch an 'Enhanced Privacy Platform' but Face-Recognition Code Already Hit Millions of Phones

Meta plans private AI processing for its smart glasses after dormant NameTag code raised unanswered questions about faceprints, storage and consent

International Business Times UK · Sep 24

Less Tech, More Meaning: MIT couple’s 18-month low-tech life; leisure and community deepen

Eric Brende and his wife dedicated 18 months to experiencing life in a low-tech community, seeking to understand technology's impact on daily living. By disconnecting from modern conveniences and engaging in manual labor and community bonding, they learned that simplicity often provides deeper recreational moments. Brende's findings suggest that convenience…

The Times of India · Sep 24