This year, reliable government data became harder to find than ever. A long shutdown delayed key reports, and some datasets vanished entirely. When we can’t agree on the facts, making smart policy—or even having a sane conversation—becomes impossible.
In a first-of-its-kind move, New York State will require social media platforms to show warning labels about potential harm to young users’ mental health. The law targets features like infinite scrolling and algorithmic feeds.
According to Fast Company, the deal to create a new U.S.-based TikTok entity involves Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX. But a closer look reveals it’s not the clear-cut victory for American interests it’s being sold as.
Researchers are creating synthetic lichens by pairing fungi with cyanobacteria. This engineered living material can produce valuable compounds, heal cracks in concrete, and might one day be used to build structures on Mars from local soil.
ByteDance has reportedly agreed to divest TikTok’s US operations to a consortium including Oracle and Silver Lake. The deal, set to close by January 22, 2026, aims to address national security concerns but still needs Chinese approval.
Google has expanded its AI verification feature from images to videos. The Gemini app can now scan uploaded clips to detect if they were created or edited using Google’s own AI models. The system looks for an “imperceptible” watermark, but its real-world effectiveness is still untested.
The Federal Trade Commission is reportedly investigating Instacart’s use of an AI-powered pricing tool. This follows a study showing the app charged different users different prices for identical grocery orders at the same time.
According to Forbes, the Shiftphone 8 comes pre-loaded with the privacy-focused e/OS, a version of Android that strips out all Google services. The phone itself features hardware kill switches for the camera and mic, a removable battery, and a Qualcomm QCM6490 chipset with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage
Google Labs has launched “CC,” an experimental AI agent that connects to your Gmail, Calendar, and Drive to manage your day. It’s free for now, but the cost is your data. Users in the U.S. and Canada can join a waitlist.
The first iOS 26.3 beta includes the new interface for forwarding iPhone notifications to third-party devices, a requirement under the EU’s Digital Markets Act. Apple’s implementation is predictably restrictive, allowing only one accessory at a time and warning users about data sharing.
