@emil | Digg

13min

Dad shot daughter after 'arguing about Donald Trump'

A British woman, Lucy Harrison, was shot dead by her father, Kris Harrison, in Texas after an argument about Donald Trump. The incident occurred on 10 January 2025, and the police investigated it as possible manslaughter, but no charges were brought against Kris after a grand jury declined to indict him. An inquest revealed that Lucy had been upset by her father's gun ownership and that Kris had relapsed on alcohol on the day of the shooting.

/news

13min

Dad shot daughter after 'arguing about Donald Trump'

/news

'We have to revise our expectations': The White House downplays the coming jobs report

The White House is tempering expectations ahead of the release of the January jobs report, with officials suggesting that employment gains may disappoint Wall Street. The report, delayed due to the partial government shutdown, is expected to show about 70,000 new jobs, but estimates vary widely. The administration attributes potential smaller numbers to a productivity boom and a decline in the labor force due to illegal immigration. The release comes amid signs of a shaky labor market, including lower-than-expected job openings and increased layoffs.

/politics

'We have to revise our expectations': The White House downplays the coming jobs report

/technology

Samsung announces a Galaxy Unpacked event on February 25 at 10am PT in San Francisco, where it is expected to introduce the Galaxy S26 series

Samsung will unveil its Galaxy S26 series on February 25 in San Francisco, featuring the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra. The event will also likely showcase the new Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro, with potential for additional surprises. Pre-order incentives include a $30 credit, a $150 discount, and up to $900 off with a trade-in.

/digg

Profile content ends in December 2025

/technology

The first signs of burnout are coming from the people who embrace AI the most

A recent study published in Harvard Business Review reveals that the widespread adoption of AI in the workplace is leading to increased workloads and burnout among employees. Contrary to the belief that AI would reduce work hours, employees are finding their to-do lists expanding to fill the time freed up by AI, leading to longer working hours and heightened stress. This phenomenon is not only affecting individual well-being but also raising concerns about the sustainability of such work practices.

/gaming

Discord says that the “vast majority of people can continue using Discord exactly as they do today” without needing to use a face scan or ID to verify their age

Discord clarifies that the vast majority of users won't need to verify their age through face scans or ID uploads when it implements age verification in March. The platform will use an age inference model based on account information, device data, and platform activity to determine age for most users. Only those accessing age-restricted experiences or whose age can't be accurately estimated will need to verify their age.

/technology

Discord says that the “vast majority of people can continue using Discord exactly as they do today” without needing to use a face scan or ID to verify their age

/technology

Nearly half of xAI's founding team has now left the company

Nearly half of xAI's founding team has left the company, raising concerns as the company faces an IPO and increased scrutiny. The departures include key figures like Infrastructure lead Kyle Kosic and Google veteran Christian Szegedy, with reasons ranging from personal ventures to technical challenges. The company's flagship product, Grok chatbot, has faced issues such as bizarre behavior and internal tampering, adding to the pressure as xAI prepares for its IPO.

/finance

Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter steps down after more than 30 years with the company and plans to retire; CFO Amanda McMaster will take over as interim CEO

Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter has stepped down after a 30-year career with the company. Playter, who took over as CEO in 2019, led Boston Dynamics through its acquisition by Hyundai in 2020 and helped bring products like Spot, Stretch, and Atlas to market. Amanda McMaster, the company's CFO, will serve as interim CEO until a new leader is found.

/technology

Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter steps down after more than 30 years with the company and plans to retire; CFO Amanda McMaster will take over as interim CEO

/finance

Sam Bankman-Fried files motion for new trial in FTX fraud case

Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the collapsed crypto exchange FTX, has filed a motion for a new trial in his fraud case, citing violations of his constitutional right to a fair trial. The motion, submitted from prison and signed by his mother, includes a declaration from a former FTX.US executive and is separate from his ongoing appeal in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

/technology

Facebook can now animate your profile pic with AI

Facebook is rolling out new AI features that allow users to animate their profile pictures with preset animations and restyle Stories and Memories with AI-generated options. The animated profile pictures can include effects like a natural wave, party hat, confetti, or a heart. To restyle Stories or Memories, users can either type out the changes they want or pick from preset options like 'anime' or 'low-poly.' Additionally, users can add animated backgrounds to text posts to make them more engaging.

/technology

Microsoft is automatically replacing Secure Boot certificates for older PCs before they start to expire later in 2026; Secure Boot was first introduced in 2011

Microsoft is automatically replacing boot-level security certificates on Windows devices before they start expiring later this year. The new Secure Boot certificates will be rolled out as part of the regular Windows platform updates, marking a 'generational refresh' of the security standard.

/finance

Crypto exchange Kraken fires CFO Stephanie Lemmerman as long-awaited IPO draws closer

Crypto exchange Kraken has dismissed its Chief Financial Officer, Stephanie Lemmerman, as the company gears up for its highly anticipated IPO in the U.S. Lemmerman, who joined Kraken from Dapper Labs in November 2024, has been reassigned to a strategic advisory role. Robert Moore, previously the Vice President of Business Expansion, has assumed the CFO position. This move comes after Kraken filed a confidential registration statement with U.S. regulators in November and raised $800 million at a $20 billion valuation.

/news

US retail sales were unexpectedly flat in December, putting consumer spending and the US economy on a slower growth path heading into 2026

U.S. retail sales were unexpectedly unchanged in December, signaling a slower growth path for consumer spending and the overall economy. This flat reading followed a 0.6% increase in November, contrary to economists' forecast of a 0.4% rise. The unchanged retail sales, excluding certain sectors, could lead to revisions in fourth-quarter GDP estimates.

/technology

12h

YouTube rolls out an AI-powered playlist generator that lets Premium and Music Premium users on iOS and Android use text prompts to create playlists

YouTube Music is rolling out an AI-powered playlist-generation feature for Premium users on iOS and Android. Users can create personalized playlists using text or voice prompts, such as 'raging death metal' or '90s classic hits'. This feature is part of YouTube's efforts to enhance its Premium plan and compete with other streaming services like Spotify and Amazon Music.

/news

12h

Russia's communications regulator Roskomnadzor plans to limit access to Telegram from Tuesday, as the government promotes its Max “super app”

Russia's communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, began restricting the operation of Telegram on Feb. 10, targeting one of the country's most widely used messaging platforms. The move fits into the Kremlin's broader push to replace Western digital services with domestic alternatives as it advances plans for a so-called 'sovereign internet,' tightening state control over online communications. Roskomnadzor said it will continue to impose consistent restrictions on the Telegram messenger 'in order to enforce Russian legislation and ensure the protection of citizens.' Telegram users across Russia reported widespread disruptions for a second consecutive day.

/technology

12h

Russia's communications regulator Roskomnadzor plans to limit access to Telegram from Tuesday, as the government promotes its Max “super app”

/technology

23h

Discord faces backlash over age checks after data breach exposed 70,000 IDs

Discord faces backlash over its new age verification policy, which requires users to verify their ages with selfies or government IDs to access adult content. After a recent data breach exposed the IDs of 70,000 users, many are skeptical about the security of their data. Discord claims that the age verification process will be conducted with AI on the user's device and that no personal data will leave the device. However, some users remain concerned about the potential for future breaches and the effectiveness of the age verification process.

/gaming

23h

Discord faces backlash over age checks after data breach exposed 70,000 IDs

/technology

ChatGPT’s cheapest options now show you ads

OpenAI has started testing ads on its AI platform, ChatGPT, for users on its Free and Go plans. These ads will appear as 'sponsored' links at the bottom of responses. However, users can opt out of ads on the Free plan in exchange for fewer daily messages. Users on the Go plan cannot opt out but can still dismiss ads, share feedback, and turn off ad personalization. Ads will not be shown to users under 18 or in conversations on sensitive topics. Plus plan subscribers, who pay at least $20 per month, will not see any ads.

/finance

Bitcoin hovers near $70,000 as analyst calls sell-off 'a mere crisis of confidence'

Bernstein analysts remain optimistic about Bitcoin's future, attributing the recent sell-off to a crisis of confidence. Despite Bitcoin's 44% drop from its all-time high, analyst Gautam Chhugani believes the cryptocurrency will reach new highs, targeting $150,000 by year-end. Chhugani dismisses concerns about quantum computing and emphasizes the resilience of the blockchain.

/technology

Hobbyist rescues $500 of RAM from local landfill — a "major haul" exposes our throwaway culture during one of the worst hardware shortages ever

A PC hobbyist found $500 worth of premium DDR4 RAM at a local landfill, highlighting the growing issue of e-waste and the potential for upcycling old hardware.

/finance

Elon Musk pivots SpaceX from Mars to the moon as its IPO approaches

Elon Musk shifts SpaceX's focus from Mars to the moon, aiming to build a self-sustaining city on the lunar surface as the company prepares for its IPO. This pivot comes as SpaceX seeks to raise significant funds, with a potential valuation of $1.5 trillion. Despite the shift in focus, SpaceX will continue to work on Mars missions in parallel.

/technology

Elon Musk pivots SpaceX from Mars to the moon as its IPO approaches

/technology

Moltbook was peak AI theater; as the hype dies down, Moltbook looks less like a window onto the future and more like a mirror held up to society’s AI obsessions

Moltbook, a viral social network for bots, reveals more about our current fascination with AI than the future of AI agents. Launched by Matt Schlicht, Moltbook quickly gained over 1.7 million agents posting over 250,000 times. Despite its popularity, experts argue that the bots are not autonomous or intelligent, merely mimicking human behaviors on social media. The site highlights the risks of unvetted content and the potential for malicious instructions to be hidden within bot interactions. Moltbook serves as a cautionary tale about the hype surrounding AI and the significant gap between current AI capabilities and the notion of general-purpose, fully autonomous AI.

/gaming

Discord says it will roll out age verification globally from March to access some content; all accounts will have a “teen-appropriate experience by default”

Starting in March, Discord will require all users to complete age verification to access a full experience. Users will need to submit a video selfie or ID to verify their age. Those who are not verified will have a 'teen-appropriate' experience by default, with access restrictions to age-restricted servers and channels, content filters, and warnings for friend requests and DMs from unfamiliar users.

/music

YouTube launches a Premium paywall for song lyrics on YouTube Music, after testing it in recent months; users get five free lyrics before they have to subscribe

YouTube Music is rolling out a Premium paywall for lyrics, requiring a subscription for full access. Users get five free lyrics before needing to subscribe. YouTube Music Premium costs $10.99 per month, while YouTube Premium is $13.99.