Topics · business

AI Policy Could Price Startups Out of AI

Brendan Bordelon reports nearly 200 startups urging against broad bans on Chinese open-weight models—arguing the U.S. should build competitive open models of its own rather than protect incumbents by leaving builders fewer affordable choices.

Inspired by businessinsider.com · Brendan Bordelon

A Correct Query Can Still Answer the Wrong Question

Michael Stonebraker and Peter Baile Chen argue LLMs are not ready to let anyone reliably query enterprise data in ordinary language—because the dangerous SQL runs successfully, returns plausible numbers, and answers the wrong question with the appearance of authority.

Inspired by cacm.acm.org · Michael Stonebraker

I Bought a Car, Not a Subscription

Slashdot highlights Ben Shimkus’s reporting on GM’s software and services push—OnStar revenue, high software margins, and remote features that expire— arguing that buying a vehicle should mean owning its features, not an extended trial that turns into another recurring charge.

Inspired by tech.slashdot.org · Ben Shimkus

It Should Not Take Public Pressure

Joseph Cox reports Apple took a year to fully fix a Hide My Email flaw Tyler Murphy disclosed in June 2025—only after 404 Media’s coverage—arguing a paid privacy feature should not need public pressure before customers are protected.

Inspired by 404media.co · Joseph Cox

An Expensive Box of Bricks

LEGO Ideas’ new X-Files set is about 13.5¢ per piece versus roughly 10.8¢ for Yellow Submarine a decade ago—inflation and licensing aside, adult sets at $200–$1,000 make a childhood hobby feel like a luxury collectible market.