Deepfake Marketplace Turns Dark
Civitai, an AI‑generated content marketplace backed by Andreessen Horowitz, now hosts “bounty” requests for custom instruction files that create celebrity deepfakes, including pornographic images that the platform normally bans. Stanford and Indiana University researchers found that between mid‑2023 and the end of 2024, 90% of deepfake requests targeted women.
Electric‑Vehicle Battery Outlook for 2026+
EVs accounted for over a quarter of global new‑vehicle sales in 2025, up from under 5% in 2020. China leads with >50% of new sales being battery‑electric or plug‑in hybrids, while Europe saw more EVs than gasoline cars in December. The surge is driving rapid innovation in battery chemistry, recycling, and solid‑state technologies slated for rollout in 2026 and beyond.
First Personalized Gene‑Editing Therapy
Kyle “KJ” Muldoon Jr., born with a fatal ammonia‑detoxification disorder, received a bespoke base‑editing CRISPR treatment at seven months old. The therapy corrected a single‑base mutation, allowing him to meet developmental milestones. This marks the first instance of a one‑off, patient‑specific gene‑editing intervention.
AI Agent Social Network Vulnerability
Moltbook, a Reddit‑style platform for AI agents, suffered a misconfiguration that let any user take control of any agent. The flaw highlights the broader security challenges of deploying autonomous AI agents in open ecosystems.
Wi‑Fi Sensing Becomes Everyday Tech
Routers are now equipped with motion‑detection algorithms that can monitor occupants’ movements for health and security applications. While still eclipsed by ultra‑wideband radar, Wi‑Fi sensing is quietly rolling out in millions of homes via ISPs and smart‑home vendors.
Quick Picks from Today’s Newsletter
- A social network for AI agents is vulnerable to abuse (404 Media)
- Google breached its own ethics rules to aid an Israeli contractor (Washington Post)
- China’s elite program to train the next generation of AI experts (Financial Times)
- Indonesia lifts its ban on xAI’s Grok after compliance updates (Reuters)
- Blue Origin delays tourist flights for at least two years (NY Times)
- U.S. high‑speed internet rollout faces a skilled‑labor shortage (Wall Street Journal)
- AI tools aim to help people grieve by simulating conversations with deceased loved ones (The Atlantic)
- Fungal solutions to future insect infestations (Ars Technica)
- Robot‑made latte reviewed by a former barista (The Verge)