Simon Willison: Fable gets another bump (Jul. 12, 2026)
Anthropic extended Claude Fable 5 access on paid plans through July 19, limiting use to half of weekly limits, with credits, model switches, or reduced usage afterward. But OpenAI seems unlikely to restrict GPT‑5.6, and uncertainty may drive users away.
Simon Willison: The new GPT-5.6 family: Luna, Terra, Sol (Jul. 9, 2026)
OpenAI released GPT-5.6 in Luna, Terra, and Sol sizes, with a million-token context, high output limits, and per-token pricing, and claims strong agentic performance versus Claude Fable 5.
WSJ: Can a Prettier Data Center Curb the Community Backlash? (Jul. 12, 2026)
Americans object to data centers’ water and power use, and their windowless, warehouse-like appearance. Firms like Gensler are redesigning them to fit local settings, add landscaping, parks, and friendlier facades.
WSJ: A New Foe Has Emerged for Data Centers: Farmers (Jul. 11, 2026)
Farmers and ranchers are denouncing a data-center boom that buys farmland and strains water, power, and livestock production. Tech groups say centers use less water, lower utility costs, and come from private sales, while states weigh bans.
The Register: Irish datacenters now guzzle 23% of the country's electricity (Jul. 11, 2026)
Irish datacenters used 23% of metered electricity in 2025, rising 10% to 7,663 GWh, surpassing household use. A Dublin moratorium limited new connections, new rules require onsite batteries or generators, and operators must feed power back to the grid.
WSJ: The Mind-Bending Company That Gets a Million Job Applications—and Rejects 99.9% (Jul. 10, 2026)
Milan-based Bending Spoons rejects almost all applicants—800,000 apply, 286 hired—using rigorous tests, graded interviews, and data-driven models. It buys old software brands, replaces teams with elite Spooners, remakes products, reinvests profits, and repeats.
NY Times: Nearly 200 Economists and Tech Leaders Warn of A.I. Threats (Jul. 13, 2026)
Nearly 200 economists, Nobel laureates, and tech leaders warned that A.I. could reshape the economy rapidly, risking widespread job displacement. They urged policymakers to act now, measure A.I.’s spread, and steer development to complement workers.
WSJ: How AI Advice Is Undermining Eating-Disorder Therapy (Jul. 11, 2026)
Eating-disorder therapists say patients turn to chatbots for diet and fitness advice, sometimes receiving dangerous ultralow-calorie plans or extreme routines that undermine treatment and challenge clinicians. AI firms add safeguards, referrals, and risk detection, but bots misjudge users.
NY Times: How Terrorist Groups Are Using A.I. to Gain an Edge in Battle (Jul. 10, 2026)
Terrorist groups are using A.I. chatbots for attack planning, weapon and bomb design, and tactical upgrades, not just propaganda, researchers found. Despite safety measures, extremists often bypass guardrails.
WSJ: The Hard-Line Activists Ramping Up for the War With AI (Jul. 11, 2026)
The Bay Area anti-AI movement draws disillusioned youth, splits between nonviolent, policy-focused groups, and hard-liners, and has prompted threats and attacks.
The Guardian: Why are US consumers so angry? It’s not just high prices (Jun. 4, 2026)
Nearly 80% of Americans reported product or service problems in 2025, many feeling “rage”, as hidden fees, poor service, consolidation, private equity, and AI tools fuel an “annoyance economy” costing about $165bn annually.
SFGATE: The infinite scroll may become endangered if controversial Calif. law (Jul. 13, 2026)
A California bill would force platforms to give under-16s less addictive feeds, or bar accounts if infinite scroll, autoplay, or similar features remain. Lawmakers set a 2028 deadline, narrowed the bill to protect teen access, and created oversight.
The New Yorker: Our Plastic-Surgery Nightmare (Jul. 11, 2026)
Social media has turned faces into editable, sellable objects, normalizing fillers, facelifts, and youthful ideals for ever-younger people. Toxic online looksmaxxing treats bodies as parts, spreading dehumanizing beauty standards among men and women.