Meta faces 'astronomical' consequences as legal fight reaches critical moment
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/17/meta-attorneys-general-california-federal-trial-astronomical-consequences.html
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/17/meta-attorneys-general-california-federal-trial-astronomical-consequences.html
CNBC
Meta faces ‘astronomical’ consequences as legal fight reaches critical moment in California
Meta faces a federal trial over child safety claims that could bring major financial penalties and changes to Facebook and Instagram.
Amazon, which started off selling books, is destroying rare texts to train AI
https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/17/amazon-once-an-online-bookseller-is-destroying-rare-books-to-train-ai-models/
https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/17/amazon-once-an-online-bookseller-is-destroying-rare-books-to-train-ai-models/
TechCrunch
Amazon, which started off selling books, is destroying rare texts to train AI | TechCrunch
Rare books are incredibly valuable for training LLMs, since these models have already trained on whatever's available online.
The Lonely Men Who Work in Patagonia, at the End of the World
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/the-lonely-men-at-the-end-of-the-world
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/the-lonely-men-at-the-end-of-the-world
The New Yorker
The Lonely Men at the End of the World
In Patagonia, los puesteros look after other people’s livestock for not very much money, and sometimes go months without seeing anyone else.
AirTag reveals Amazon is trashing rare books to train AI
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/08/hidden-airtag-reveals-amazon-is-trashing-rare-books-to-train-ai/
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/08/hidden-airtag-reveals-amazon-is-trashing-rare-books-to-train-ai/
Ars Technica
Hidden Airtag reveals Amazon is trashing rare books to train AI
Amazon’s team uses a T. rex preparing to devour a book as its logo.
India built the biggest digital payments miracle: Now comes the bill
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8xnwqe00v1o
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8xnwqe00v1o
Bbc
India built the world's biggest digital payments miracle. Now comes the bill
India's UPI may finally face merchant fees, raising questions over who pays and whether users will resist.
Will you have spent more of your life with computers than your family?
https://beachfront.bearblog.dev/will-you-have-spent-more-of-your-life-with-computers-than-your-family/
https://beachfront.bearblog.dev/will-you-have-spent-more-of-your-life-with-computers-than-your-family/
BeachFront
Will you have spent more of your life with computers than your family?
I just had the realization that I spend more time facing my computer than family members, and now I feel haunted.
This is really screwed up. Like really s...
This is really screwed up. Like really s...
How do functions like alloca allocate memory from the stack?
https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20260817-40/?p=112617
https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20260817-40/?p=112617
Nation's Largest Reservoirs Are Drying Up, Threatening Life in the Southwest
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/17/climate/lake-powell-record-low-colorado.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/17/climate/lake-powell-record-low-colorado.html
Nytimes
Lake Powell Hits Lowest Level On Record As Water Crisis Continues
Levels in Lakes Mead and Powell have not been so low since 1957, underscoring a water crisis that plagues seven states that rely on the Colorado River.
PM Carney announces largest clean energy investment in North American history
https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2026/08/17/prime-minister-carney-announces-largest-clean-energy-investment-north
https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2026/08/17/prime-minister-carney-announces-largest-clean-energy-investment-north
Prime Minister of Canada
Prime Minister Carney announces the largest clean energy investment in North American history
Canada is starting from a position of strength. We have what the world wants.
Ask HN: Does anyone else feel like nothing matters anymore?
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49340013
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49340013
California's new tire efficiency rules could save drivers $1B a year
https://grist.org/transportation/californias-new-tire-efficiency-rules-could-save-drivers-1b-a-year/
https://grist.org/transportation/californias-new-tire-efficiency-rules-could-save-drivers-1b-a-year/
Grist
California’s new tire efficiency rules could save drivers $1B a year
The nation’s first tire efficiency standards target an overlooked drag on fuel economy that can cost drivers more at the pump.
Google buys crashed airline Spirit's data at auction, because AI
https://www.theregister.com/ai-and-ml/2026/08/18/google-buys-crashed-airline-spirits-data-at-auction-because-ai/5288962
https://www.theregister.com/ai-and-ml/2026/08/18/google-buys-crashed-airline-spirits-data-at-auction-because-ai/5288962
theregister
Google buys crashed airline Spirit’s data at auction, because AI
$10 million buys over 100 million emails, 30 million recorded phone calls, reams of stuff from Teams, Oracle, and SAP
As Wisconsin cities flee Flock, its shared camera network loses value
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/08/as-wisconsin-cities-flee-flock-its-shared-camera-network-loses-value/
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/08/as-wisconsin-cities-flee-flock-its-shared-camera-network-loses-value/
Ars Technica
As Wisconsin cities flee Flock, its shared camera network loses value
Network effect" can run in reverse.