Chasing an Economic Boom, White House Dismisses Risks of A.I.
The administration has downplayed concerns — from mass job losses, to a potential financial bubble — as President Trump cheers soaring stock prices and faster growth.
Science/Tech
Handy Phone Features Can Save You Holiday Time
Try these useful shortcuts for sharing your Wi-Fi with guests, wrangling your to-do list or deciding what to do with family and friends.
A Father and Son’s $108 Billion Hostile Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery
Larry and David Ellison didn’t always have a close relationship. Now they’re one of the most intriguing partnerships in business.
Texas Age-Verification Law for App Stores Is Blocked, a Win for Apple and Google
A preliminary injunction in federal court cited the First Amendment, handing a win to tech companies like Apple and Google.
U.S. Bars 5 European Tech Regulators and Researchers
The Trump administration, citing “foreign censorship,” imposed travel bans on experts involved in monitoring major tech platforms.
How Much Water Does the A.I. Industry Use?
Kevin Roose and Casey Newton, the hosts of “Hard Fork” at The New York Times, spoke with Andrew Marley, executive director for Effective Altruism DC, about how much water A.I. data centers use.
Is Australia’s Social Media Ban for Kids a Good Idea?
On the “Hard Fork” podcast, the hosts Kevin Roose and Casey Newton discuss a new law in Australia barring kids under 16 from social media.
It’s a Hard Forkin’ Christmas!
The “Hard Fork” co-hosts Kevin Roose and Casey Newton sing an original, tech-inspired rendition of “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”
Former Roomba C.E.O. Reminisces on 2008’s Viral ‘Shark Cat’ Meme
In conversation with Kevin Roose and Casey Newton on the “Hard Fork” podcast, the former Roomba C.E.O. Colin Angle shares how YouTube’s viral shark cat brought him joy in 2008.
Tribunal clears Vumatel’s takeover of Herotel – with conditions
The Competition Tribunal has approved the sale of Herotel to Vumatel, but subject to an extensive set of conditions.
Wiocc subsidiary OADC cleared to buy NTT data centres in South Africa
The Competition Commission has approved a deal that will see Open Access Data Centres expand its local footprint.
Netflix launches Afcon football show, hinting at bigger sports ambitions
Netflix has taken a small but significant step with the launch of its first-ever daily highlights show for the Afcon football.
Koos Bekker sells R2.5-billion in Naspers and Prosus shares
Naspers and Prosus chairman Koos Bekker has sold shares in both companies worth about R2.5-billion over three trading days.
TikTok removes AI weight loss ads from fake Boots account
The adverts for prescription-only drugs showed healthcare professionals impersonating the British retailer.
Amazon blocks 1,800 job applications from suspected North Korean agents
The firm’s chief security officer said North Koreans tried to apply for remote working IT jobs using stolen or fake identities.
The showers and baths keeping data centre tech cool
Finding greener ways to keep giant new data centres cool is a challenge.
Vince Zampella, Call of Duty co-creator, dies in California car crash
The influential video game developer died after his car crashed and caught fire on a highway in Los Angeles, US media report.
Google Buys Data Center Company for $4.75 Billion
The deal for Intersect, a data center and energy developer, is set to help Google built out its infrastructure for artificial intelligence.
Some of the World’s Atomic Clocks Were Off Last Week (by 5-Millionths of a Second)
How some of the world’s most precise clocks missed a very small beat.
Waymo Suspended Service in San Francisco After Its Cars Stalled During Power Outage
The self-driving cars came to a halt at intersections when the power outage knocked out traffic signals, causing tie-ups but no accidents or injuries.
Uber and Lyft announce plans to trial Chinese robotaxis in UK in 2026
Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxis have already accrued millions of driverless rides in cities worldwide.