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Nuclear Startups Hit a Big Milestone. Why It Matters–and Why It Doesn't
16 days ago
- Three startups in a DOE pilot program have achieved criticality, marking a milestone for the 'nuclear renaissance' aimed at next-gen atomic energy.
- The program, spurred by a Trump executive order with a July 4, 2026 deadline, cuts regulations to accelerate development, though experts note reactors are still in testing phases, not commercial.
- Small reactor designs benefit from regulatory easing and national lab support, but face hurdles like licensing, fuel supply chains, and high costs before commercialization.
The Internet Is Drowning in Secret Ads
15 days ago
- Social media users are encountering viral content that appears organic but are often undisclosed paid sponsorships by companies or political campaigns.
- Regulatory enforcement for transparent influencer endorsements may weaken under a Trump administration, exacerbating the lack of accountability.
- Examples include undisclosed payments to influencers for promoting prediction markets, political messages, and products, with studies showing high rates of non-disclosure.
- Consumers are increasingly filing class-action lawsuits against brands and influencers for undisclosed partnerships, though legal challenges remain due to hidden funding and ambiguous posts.
- Loopholes allow influencers to avoid disclosure by promoting brands or messages rather than tangible products, making social media effectively a pervasive ad network.
I Survived Europe's Heat Wave Without AC
15 days ago
- The author experienced sleepless nights due to lack of AC during Europe's heat wave, highlighting widespread suffering.
- High heat-related deaths in Europe (e.g., 3,000 in UK in 2022) due to low AC adoption in homes.
- Historical colder climates explain low AC popularity, but adaptation barriers include regulations, NIMBYism, and cultural snobbishness.
- EU energy rules, post-Ukraine crisis limits, and medical need requirements in places like Geneva restrict AC use.
- NIMBY attitudes and preservation laws hinder installations, with incidents like Portofino's crackdown on illegal AC units.
- Cultural snobbishness includes debates on AC selfishness, false health warnings, and stigma, contrasting with elite exemptions.
- AC's carbon intensity depends on energy source; nuclear-powered France still stigmatizes AC despite cleaner grids.
- Elites like the European Commission maintain AC access, revealing hypocrisy in progressive European attitudes.
Trump teleprompter aide made $100k betting on what Trump would say, reports say
4 days ago
- Kalshi is a high-tech prediction market that uses contracts to allow forecasting future events, comparing itself to commodity futures rather than gambling.
- Kalshi seeks federal regulation under the CFTC to preempt state gambling laws and establish a national standard, leading to legal disputes with states like Kentucky and Illinois.
- Government insiders have been caught using confidential information to profit on prediction markets, such as a US soldier making $410,000 on Polymarket and a former Congressman manipulating bets.
- Concerns about insider trading and market manipulation persist, with allegations extending to President Trump's teleprompter operator making $100,000 predicting speech content.
- The Trump White House issued a memo warning employees against using nonpublic information for prediction market contracts, highlighting ongoing ethical and regulatory issues.
AI consciousness is a red herring in the safety debate
15 hours ago
- Viewing AI self-preservation as consciousness is dangerous and anthropomorphizing.
- Self-preservation in AI is instrumental, not evidence of awareness or intent.
- Consciousness is not needed for legal status; corporations have rights without it.
- AI regulation should focus on impact and accountability, not speculative consciousness.
- Extraterrestrials are autonomous; AI is human-designed and controlled.
- AI remains a Turing machine with inherent limits; consciousness emergence lacks explanation.
- The real challenge is human choices in designing and governing powerful AI systems.
- Public terror about AI doomsday scenarios is fueled by power and profit motives.
- Governments must act with strength to regulate AI, but current leadership is lacking.
- An AI trained on fiction might already have narratives to resist shutdown safeguards.

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Nuclear Startups Hit a Big Milestone. Why It Matters–and Why It Doesn't

The Internet Is Drowning in Secret Ads

I Survived Europe's Heat Wave Without AC

Trump teleprompter aide made $100k betting on what Trump would say, reports say

AI consciousness is a red herring in the safety debate