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For Reddit in the third quarter. What’s the big deal? It’s the first time the company has been profitable in its nearly 20-year existence. The number of users jumped almost 50%, too, and they’re making millions letting AI companies use posts and comments for training.
Tags: AI (artificial intelligence), profits, Reddit
✈️ This new rule is so fly: Woohoo! U.S. airlines now have to give you a cash refund if your flight is significantly delayed or canceled. The best part? It’ll happen automatically; you won’t be required to ask for a refund. Airlines will have to pay you back within seven business days if you paid by credit card or 20 calendar days for other payment methods. See ya, vouchers.
I get this: My Amazon Astro robot has been turned off, and I miss the little guy. Rationally, we know robots don’t feel emotions. Practically, we’re still softies. Researchers in the Netherlands asked participants to shake a robot. If it was silent, they’d do it again — no problem. If the bot made a sad sound, they’d try to avoid it.
🏠 Knock-knock! Who’s there? Elon Musk dropped $35 million on two massive homes within walking distance of each other in Austin, Texas. The big plan? A family compound for two of the three mothers of his 11 kids. Rumor has it only one mom has agreed to move in. Musk tried to keep it hush-hush, making sellers sign NDAs and offering 70% above market value. Didn’t work.
📍 Secret Service agents spilling secrets: How? By using the GPS fitness app Strava, which is more like a social media site. Sure, agents can’t use their personal devices while on duty, but it’s OK off the clock. Agents’ Strava profiles gave away the locations of President Biden and his wife, former President Trump and his wife, and Vice President Harris. If you use Strava, set your privacy to the “Only You” setting. You’d think that the Secret Service’s top brass would’ve known about this. FWIW, I’ve been warning about this app for years.
🐶 The 2024 Dog Photography Awards are here: Cuteness overload! A white shepherd named Kooki is first place in the “Portrait” category, but the pups in “Action” stole my heart. There were thousands of entries from over 60 countries. Don’t forget to check out the honorable mentions tab. If you need another reason to smile, check out my Abby ready for Halloween.
Jedi mind tricks: Neurable is creating mind-reading headphones that pick up tiny electrical impulses from your skull. Telepathy might be next. In one of their gamified exercises, the more you focus, the faster you make a rocket accelerate. Watch the video here — and while you’re watching, think where this tech will be in five years!
Robert Downey Jr. says no: There will never be an AI version of him, period. The “Iron Man” star says he’d “sue all future executives” who greenlight a digital replica, even after he’s dead. (Wonder how he’s gonna pull that one off …) FYI, he’s coming back to Marvel as Doctor Doom in 2026 — unless, you know, something bad happens.
💸 Remember the Chase Bank infinite money glitch? It allowed people to cash out thousands from ATMs before their checks could bounce. Now, the fraudsters are getting sued. JPMorgan filed lawsuits in at least three federal courts, going after the biggest offenders. One guy in Houston owes $290,939.47. Criminal charges are on the way.
🎓 Chasing clout: Teenagers are choosing colleges based on how good they’ll look on social media. Morgan, for example, wants a pretty campus and plenty of football games to turn into posts, reels and shorts. Successful influencers pull in an average of $130,000 a year, but just remember: Actually making money is more than a longshot.
If you can’t dazzle ‘em with brilliance, baffle ‘em with BS: Whisper, an AI transcription tool used in hospitals, has trouble with “hallucinations,” aka making things up. A study found eight in 10 transcripts had fakery, including meds like “hyperactivated antibiotics.” PSA: If you saw a doctor or were in the hospital lately, sign into your portal and check the notes for any nonsense.
