Even though Character.AI may fall under the umbrella of “entertainment” and thus is less subject to critical scrutiny perhaps than the major general-purpose chatbot services like ChatGPT and Gemini, there is still reason to be vary of this potentially dangerous and ill-thought-out technology. TechCrunch reports on the legal claims involving minor users encouraged to engage in self-harm or other self-destructive behavior. Parents, check in with your teens!
The Internet Review
Character.AI: Harmless Fun for Teens…Or Lurking Dangerous Influence?
As the parent of a teen who is obsessed with Character.AI, a platform which lets you access chatbot friends based on near limitless permutations of...
Framework is not Apple, nor does it pretend to be—and obviously Nirav Patel, CEO of Framework, is not trying to channel some sort of half-baked Jobsian impression. But as I watched the Framework launch event earlier today, I was struck by how much I missed this adrenal rush of seeing a company really go for it and try industrial design that’s new and different—something with that intangible *aha!* factor.
The Internet Review
Framework Brings Real Excitement Back to Personal Computers
I was struck by how much I missed this adrenal rush of seeing a company really go for it.
Who's excited about the @npub15f7r...m7wr event?? Let's GO!!
The story of modern tech products: “Look at this cool new product which does this and that!” Yes, that does look pretty cool. “And it's powered by AI!” 🙅‍♀️ **BLOCK** ⛔️
Turns Out the “Killer App” of AI—Summarizing Things—Is, Um, Really Bad at Summarizing Things The BBC conducted research where journalists asked some of the top AI chatbots to provide answers to questions related to timely topics which had been covered by BBC news stories, and the responses were—well let’s just say truth doesn’t really play a role here. BBC News CEO Deborah Turness has this to say: “The companies developing Gen AI tools are playing with fire.”
The Internet Review
Turns Out the “Killer App” of AI—Summarizing Things—Is, Um, Really Bad at Summarizing Things
Studies are flying thick and fast this year revealing the horrendous problems and side-effects of Generative AI tools unleashed on an unsuspecting ...
According to #Pixelfed founder & lead developer Daniel Supernault, a number of new & improved moderation features will be rolling out later this month for the open source #fediverse photosharing platform. As is typical for any fast-growing social network—especially one with a distinct ActivityPub-powered visual flavor—users have been vocal about the need for advanced content moderation and the ability to enforce safety rules (contrasted with its commercial competition).
The Internet Review
Improved Moderation Features Coming Later This Month to Pixelfed
According to Pixelfed founder and lead developer Daniel Supernault, a number of new and improved moderation features will be rolling out later this...
Chilling news out of the UK that #Apple is being pressured to provide backdoor government access to encrypted data stored in iCloud should be ringing the loudest of alarm bells for all who believe in the rights of digital freedom, security, and privacy. Look, I’ve been plenty critical of Apple but I am 100% on their side with this. Unfortunately it sounds like their options are limited in the near term, unless they’re willing to play chicken with the UK’s legal system.
The Internet Review
Backdoors are an Assault on Free Computing, Apple Must Fight This
The chilling news out of the UK that Apple is being pressured to provide backdoor government access to encrypted data stored in iCloud should be ri...
I've been an #Apple fanboy for nearly 25 years. That's all about to change. The #Mastodon -> #Fediverse -> #Linux pipeline is real. 😅 But there's more to it than that. Apple as a company, and especially as a corporation managed by CEO Timothy D. Cook, has forgotten its core values—values which drew me to Apple all the way back in 2001. Do you think Steve Jobs would approve? 🤨
The Internet Review
My Shifting Computing Habits in 2025 (Thanks…Tim Cook?)
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Shoutout to @HilliTech for his reporting on AppleInsider about the Gulf of Mexico and why Apple Maps won't be (and shouldn’t be!) renaming it. “The Gulf of Mexico has been called as much for over 400 years. The name comes from Aztec origins since those were the people that resided in the region when the Americas were colonized.” And we have global deliberative bodies like the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEN) to agree on shared maps:
The Internet Review
Apple Maps Hasn’t (and Shouldn’t) Change the Name of the Gulf of Mexico
Let’s be clear here. Let’s be crystal clear.
Januaries. Am I right? 😂 Let me attempt to explain…No, there is too much. Let me sum up. • Jan 7: Meta goes MAGA 😵‍💫 • Jan 10: Mark Zuckerberg: most code will be written by "AI engineers" not "people engineers" • Jan 13: Mastodon announces new non-profit • Jan 13: Free Our Feeds to "billionaire-proof" AT Protocol • Jan 14: Pixelfed launches mobile apps, blows up • Jan 17: TikTok…??? I wonder what else will happen before the end of January? More riveting storytelling:
New Year, New State of Social Flux
There's more to Pixelfed's sudden rapid growth than just the apps. It's also the impeccable timing.