Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • Sam Altman addresses ‘bumpy’ GPT-5 rollout, bringing 4o back, and the ‘chart crime’

    Sam Altman addresses ‘bumpy’ GPT-5 rollout, bringing 4o back, and the ‘chart crime’

    During a Reddit ask-me-anything session on Friday, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and key members of the GPT-5 team were peppered with questions about the new model and requests to bring back its previous model, GPT-4o. They also asked Altman about the most embarrassing — and perhaps funniest — snafu in the presentation, the “chart crime.”…

  • RIP, Microsoft Lens, a simple little app that’s getting replaced by AI

    RIP, Microsoft Lens, a simple little app that’s getting replaced by AI

    Sometimes it’s nice to have a simple app that does one thing well without a lot of fuss. Microsoft Lens was that type of app: a mobile document scanner that turned paper documents, business cards, receipts, and anything else into easily readable digital files. Now that app is being discontinued, Microsoft says, as it directs…

  • Tesla shuts down Dojo, the AI training supercomputer that Musk said would be key to full self-driving

    Tesla shuts down Dojo, the AI training supercomputer that Musk said would be key to full self-driving

    Tesla is breaking up the team behind its Dojo supercomputer, ending the automaker’s play at developing in-house chips for driverless technology, according to Bloomberg. Dojo’s lead, Peter Bannon, is leaving the company, and the remaining team members will be reassigned to other data center and compute projects within Tesla, per Bloomberg’s reporting, which cited anonymous…

  • xAI’s legal chief steps down after whirlwind year

    xAI’s legal chief steps down after whirlwind year

    Robert Keele said this week that he has stepped down as xAI’s head of legal after just over a year, saying he wants to spend more time with his children. In his announcement, Keele also acknowledged “daylight between our worldviews” with boss Elon Musk, who hasn’t commented on Keele’s exit. “I love my two toddlers…

  • Rocket Lab eyes big defense opportunities with new acquisition

    Rocket Lab eyes big defense opportunities with new acquisition

    Rocket Lab is signaling to investors, yet again, that it’s more than “just” a rocket company. Rocket Lab’s second-quarter results, which were posted Thursday, show revenues continue to be driven by its space systems business rather than launch. The results also highlighted the company’s acquisition strategy and how its purchase of a new optical payloads…

  • How to use Instagram Map and set your location-sharing preferences

    How to use Instagram Map and set your location-sharing preferences

    This week, Instagram introduced a new Snap Map-like feature called Instagram Map that lets U.S. users share their most recent active location with others and discover location-based content.  If you decide to turn on your location on Instagram Map, your location only updates when you open the app or have it running in the background,…

  • Two teens charged in attack on former DOGE official Edward “Big Balls” Coristine

    Two teens charged in attack on former DOGE official Edward “Big Balls” Coristine

    Two 15-year-olds have been charged with unarmed carjacking after allegedly attacking Edward “Big Balls” Coristine, the 19-year-old software engineer and former Neuralink intern who became a prominent figure in the Trump administration’s cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). According to reports citing local authorities, Coristine — who left DOGE in June but quickly returned to…

  • The Browser Company launches a $20 monthly subscription for its AI-powered browser

    The Browser Company launches a $20 monthly subscription for its AI-powered browser

    The Browser Company has launched a Pro subscription plan for Dia, its new web browser that heavily integrates AI features. The plan costs $20 per month and provides unlimited access to Dia’s AI-powered chat and skills features. The introduction of a paid tier means free users will now face usage limits on AI features. While…

  • Google denies AI search features are killing website traffic

    Google denies AI search features are killing website traffic

    Numerous studies indicate that the shift to AI search features and the use of AI chatbots are killing traffic to publishers’ sites. But Google on Wednesday denied that’s the case, at least in aggregate. Instead, the search giant says that total organic click volume from its search engine to websites has been “relatively stable” year-over-year…

  • Upwork is buying its way into corporate staffing beyond freelancers

    Upwork is buying its way into corporate staffing beyond freelancers

    Upwork, a platform that connects companies with freelancers, announced two acquisitions to help build out a new, standalone enterprise-focused business that could expand its market reach. The San Francisco-based company announced it has acquired Bubty, a workforce management platform, and has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Ascen, a global compliance and employer of record…

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