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What's In the News
Hello, and thanks for reading! It was a long/busy week out at RSA Conference in San Francisco. I had about a dozen meetings a day, a few interviews with various reporters, a panel at a Ballistic Ventures event, and a book signing at ReversingLabs.
Generally speaking, it was all about AI at the conference, and I think people were surprised that I wasn't as bullish about AI as a differentiator, especially given that, yes, I wrote a book on the topic. But I can tell you without a doubt that there was a small backlash against it brewing. John Dickson was sporting a "AI Blah Blah Blah" tee-shirt. A PR agent told me that the press told them that if a company is going to talk about AI, they didn't want to take those interviews because they are so overdone. A VC we met with said it was really refreshing to hear what we were up to because it wasn't about AI, and all those pitches sound the same. So while the industry is ramping up rhetoric, the people on the periphery are slowly turning their backs on it as a differentiator. Lots of other talk around shifting right, and limiting what AI agents can do, AI Agents as synthetic identities, etc.
In Russia/Ukraine News, a Russian-flagged tanker carrying around 723,000 barrels of crude oil heads to Cuba, expected to arrive in four to five days, with reports of escort by a Russian Navy vessel. I think the chances are high that it is intercepted, because a slow collapse of Cuba is useful for the US, and it can divert those barrels to the US, too.
Russia has developed a ring-wing fixed-wing FPV drone, including a larger interceptor variant, that triples the range to 50 kilometers; the drones launch vertically and transition to horizontal flight. While these likely have a longer range, they look complicated and expensive to build, so I'm not sure how much of a game-changer they will end up being.
Aerial footage reveals damage at Russia's Ust-Luga port following repeated Ukrainian drone strikes, including burn zones and structural impacts. Multiple oil storage tanks are on fire with heavy smoke at the Ust-Luga oil terminal.
In European news, the United States redirected over 100 million CHF from the F-35 budget through a joint military sales fund to bypass Switzerland's payment freeze on the Patriot system, prompting Swiss officials to call the move unsatisfactory and a breach of trust in defense agreements. I don't think the Swiss were all that happy about it, but that said, sometimes things like this serve as air cover to allow the government's will to win the day while still appeasing the average European's sensibilities. Hard to say.
A Ukrainian AN-196 drone crashed near Kouvola in southeastern Finland after veering off course due to Russian GPS jamming, about 100 kilometers from the Russian border; Finland's Air Force scrambled an F/A-18 Hornet for reconnaissance but did not fire to avoid damage, with two drones confirmed on the ground in cordoned areas. People have said the word "jamming" a lot, but this could likely also be GPS spoofing that led it so far off course.
In Southeast Asian news, the People's Liberation Army unveiled the Atlas drone swarm system, in which a single vehicle launches and controls nearly 100 drones, in contrast to U.S. counter-drone programs that target one at a time with human oversight. The Chinese system emphasizes autonomy and scalability in multi-drone engagements and assumes that larger drone swarms will overwhelm air defenses.
It is alleged that Neville Roy Singham channeled at least $278 million through dark-money networks, donor-advised funds, shell companies, and U.S. nonprofits to far-left groups and media, promoting far left narratives that undermine the U.S.. At a 2024 CCP forum in Shanghai, Singham stated the need to undo World War II-era ideological narratives for a new multipolar order; this funding connects causes such as climate change, BLM, trans rights, and anti-Israel activism into an "omnicause" framework. There were examples, including UN Women's focus on trans access over Hamas attacks and Greta Thunberg's pivot to Israeli "apartheid" without addressing Chinese overfishing, etc. Sounds about right to me, and a shockingly small drop in the ocean compared to what China can and likely has done.
North Korea tested an active protection system on a new battle tank, successfully countering anti-tank missiles and drone threats. I'd fully expect to see these landing in Ukraine in the next year or two, as that appears to be DPRK's biggest role in the world right now - arms dealer.
In Middle East news, footage shows U.S. and Israeli guided bombs striking Iran's Dezful airbase on March 21. The attacks are still coming hard and strong, but there seems to be less footage making it out, and that is likely due to the great censorship of the Iranian Internet.
That has not stopped the Iranians from launching rockets both at Israel and other nations nearby as well. One rather amazing shot caught one of the reentry vehicles. You can see the guidance rockets firing at the last moments to get a more direct hit. Pretty wild!
President Donald J. Trump warned that if Iran does not fully open the Strait of Hormuz without threats within 48 hours, the U.S. will target and destroy Iranian power plants, starting with the largest. That time came and went, and while the US did attack some targets, it also backed off from attacking the oil infrastructure to avoid spooking the oil markets. That said, there is a theory that Qeshm is the next big target of an expeditionary force, led by the US. At least one Republican insider predicts a U.S. ground invasion of Iran would cost the GOP 60-70 House seats, calling it political suicide.
U.S. aircraft destroyed an Iranian munitions storage facility at Bandar Abbas Airbase. These hits use many guided munitions, all landing at almost the exact same second, which is a pretty insanely effective way to carpet-bomb a large facility.
U.S. Central Command confirmed the A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft's first-time involvement in close air support operations against Iranian kamikaze surface drones and small armed boats threatening ships in the Strait of Hormuz. These are very cheap on a cost-per-kill basis. But the A-10 was not relegated to drone hunting. U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II engaged pro-Iranian Shia militia positions near Mosul, Iraq, using its GAU-8 30mm cannon. It was hunting Iranian proxy group PMU members. This video is pretty insane, not because of the visuals, but the audio.
A surveillance drone disguised as a bird, such as an eagle, reportedly operated by infiltrators, was spotted in Iran. So... yeah, the "Birds aren't real" conspiracy nutsos will have a field day with this one.
An Iranian MANPADS hit the tail of a U.S. F/A-18 fighter jet over southeastern Iran, narrowly missing the body. It apparently survived, likely due to the pilot's good training, who aggressively turned into the missile's path and likely saved his own life in the process.
The U.S. deployed uncrewed autonomous robot war boats in the Strait of Hormuz during Operation Epic Fury, logging over 450 hours and 2,200 nautical miles for surveillance or kamikaze strikes. Each boat costs about $250,000, far less than an Iranian missile or a U.S. destroyer. They are also useful because they can haul mine tracking or mine decoy equipment.
Satellite imagery confirms an Iranian attack that destroyed a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, with several others possibly damaged by ballistic missiles and drones. This is the problem with these static targets, like airbases, oil refineries, power generation, communications buildings, etc. They are sitting ducks without a layered air defense strategy. It's like we have learned nothing from Ukraine/Russia.
At least 10 U.S. service members were injured, including five seriously, in the strike involving six missiles and 29 drones; additional damage affected an E-3 Sentry AWACS and multiple KC-135s, with fires observed around Riyadh from debris; Landsat imagery shows a large fire likely involving a KC-135R.
European allies informed U.S. diplomats that Russia provides direct material support to Iran's war efforts beyond public U.S. acknowledgments. And it makes a lot of sense that it would, because Russia needs the ally, and it needs the drones and missile tech from Iran.
JP Morgan mapped timelines for affected areas amid disruptions. Asia by April 1, Europe by April 10, North America by April 15, and Australia by April 20. Now we have to be careful with this data, and I'll explain why with another set of interesting posts.
Saudi Arabia's oil export revenues have increased due to higher prices offsetting lower volumes, countering claims of gold sales. Upside to Brent oil prices remains limited even with an Iranian oil embargo, as $115 already reflects major disruptions. So, for the moment, the Middle East's economy is doing just fine.
But while the macroeconomics of oil is not quite as bad as everyone thinks, it's also already hedging against future uncertainty, which means the expected risk is priced in to a large extent. The upside of oil is, therefore, limited because it's already been hit to some extent by the speculators.
The UAE developed the Shadow 3 drone, which takes off vertically, resists jamming, and strikes targets precisely. The destructive power of this thing is pretty incredible. It's both pretty sophisticated and deadly. So now we have another nation creating drones. I think it is safe to say every major regional and global power will be using drones now.
An Iranian ballistic missile struck the Neot Hovav industrial zone near Be'er Sheva, Israel, on March 29, causing a large fire and multiple explosions at a chemical plant with no reported injuries. People are worried about whether the smoke is toxic, and smoke is almost always toxic, but that said, some is far worse than others. Either way, don't breathe it if you are close!
The Syrian Ministry of Defense reported discovering two Hezbollah smuggling tunnels on the Lebanon border. This makes a lot of sense, how Hezbollah has managed to sneak so many munitions into the country without the Lebanese knowing about it.
On March 16, the UAE used widespread GPS/GNSS jamming to redirect projectiles, visible via AIS data. Over 300 tankers showed no jamming evidence on satellite imagery, possibly to verify authorized Strait of Hormuz transits. But while again, people are calling this jamming, I think it also may be spoofing, in order to direct munitions to very specific locations that are well suited with layered air defense for handling inbound GPS-guided drones/missiles. At least that's my theory.
There has been a lot of GPS jamming, and while some reports say it has stopped, others say it persists in the region as of at least yesterday, per ADS-B data.
In North America news, travelers at Atlanta International Airport faced five-hour security lines early in the week due to the partial government shutdown. But that was before President Trump announced the deployment of ICE agents to assist TSA. For obvious reasons, people didn't like that idea, but it did have a huge effect on reducing lines. I was through security in Austin and SFO in under 15 minutes, going through Clear and PreCheck.
TSA agents may receive back pay as early as March 31 or April 1 after President Trump signed an emergency executive order redirecting funds amid the DHS standoff, following 43 days without paychecks. White House border czar Tom Homan confirmed the plan, which means things should go back to normal soon enough, at least at the airport.
Skydio launched a Robotic Takeoff and Landing system with a robotic arm for automatic drone deployment and recovery, compatible with the F10 fixed-wing drone to create mobile bases for expanded coverage. This means it can be mounted onto all sorts of weird equipment where horizontal space is limited - think the sides of buildings or boats, etc.
Drones were spotted going over Barksdale Air Force Base, headquarters for B-52 nuclear bombers and a 9/11 shelter site, exceeding capabilities seen in Ukraine or Iran. Chinese intelligence official'’ large property purchases near Barksdale Air Force Base indicate a deliberate CCP strategy for strategic land acquisitions near U.S. military assets, aimed at intelligence gathering and potential sabotage in future conflicts. These drones were long-range, loitering, and jamming-resistant, and there were enough of them that this was a large coordinated effort, not a hobbyist. It also means that our air defense is dangerously bad within the United States, while we have millions of illegal aliens, many of whom are Chinese military-aged males, and likely operatives for the CCP, operating here on our soil.
In Tech news, LiteLLM was hacked, stealing valuable credentials. Matt Johansen provided a good overview, but the basic guidance is that users should remove it immediately. So if you use it, maybe consider replacing it with something else. But these supply chain hacks are pretty nasty.
Google Research introduced TurboQuant, a compression algorithm that reduces LLM key-value cache memory by at least 6x and speeds up inference by up to 8x without accuracy loss. This was kind of a crazy paper and wiped out billions in tech stock gains when it came out. The thing is, this will likely only increase usage, not decrease it, because it allows larger context windows, enabling conversations that are much more comprehensive, and enabling tools that weren't that useful until now.
Insanely Fast Whisper open-sources audio transcription at zero cost and faster than paid services like OpenAI ($0.006/minute), Google ($0.024/minute), and AWS ($0.024/minute); it transcribes 150 minutes in 98 seconds using Whisper Large v3 with Flash Attention 2, or 78 seconds with Distil Whisper, including speaker diarization, translation, and JSON output. Best of all, it runs locally on NVIDIA GPUs or commodity Apple Silicon hardware, and is on GitHub.
Aiwyn Tax connector for Claude automates tax return preparation by accessing documents such as W-2s and prompting the AI, potentially eliminating the need for paid software like TurboTax in consumer markets. I know a lot of people are starting to move in this direction to help speed up the process and reduce the overpayments to the IRS. Why we can't just get a bill from the IRS and pay it still boggles my mind. They already know what we owe (or suspect anyway), so unless we contest it, just let us pay the bill!
As an editorial note: Claude advises that users be mindful about uploading sensitive information in their tos and help center.
Sendblue CLI provides iMessage numbers for AI agents via npm install and setup commands. This means that people no longer have to use Telegram and can just open an iMessage account for all users or lock it down to specific inbound iMessages. Pretty cool idea if you have $100/mo to throw at it, because while the package is free, the number is not.
Leaked Anthropic documents reveal testing of "Claude Mythos," a super-strong model generation posing unprecedented cybersecurity risks. I have heard this before, with other models like GPT2, and it made people pile on like crazy. So it's hard to say if this is a marketing stunt or not until they release it.
Claude Code projects have started to get a lot more scrutiny on how they should be set up before you even begin. This tweet did a fairly good job of explaining one way to do it, which means that what gets pushed to production is safe, and the project stays on the rails.
Speaking of, Anthropic developer Boris Cherny released/leaked a CLAUDE.md file he uses in his projects to instruct Claude on past errors, conventions, and rules, read at every session. It's probably worth a look if you are using Claude. For my projects, I have been using a lot more of it lately than Cursor, because the size of these projects is quite large and complex.
Most AI models lean left, but even if you include Grok, which leans right, there is new research that shows that these LLMs have depolarizing effects on social media users, nudging views toward the center per evidence. This is related to the great middling, but also because while they do tend to agree with the users, they do have safety controls that push them towards the middle.
A computer science teacher began earning $2,800 monthly using open-source GitHub repos like poly_data (fed to Claude for high win-rate wallets), insider-tracker (alerts), and poly-maker (spread farming) to earn $3,140 in 14 days through 1,400 fills at $0.03 each. It just shows how much arbitrage and hedging is left, though be careful with this stuff when it comes to naked shorts, which have no bottom to the losses.
Lastly, in Economic news, which also happens to be synonymous with Austin news, rents seem to have been declining alongside other economic pressures, but likely also due to the increase in deportations. Austin, Texas lead the pack with the largest decline.
Investment in Austin startups reached a record $7.19 billion in 2025, up from $4.37 billion in 2024 and surpassing the 2021 pandemic peak of $6.1 billion, driven by AI, robotics, and manufacturing. Funny enough, while we have three people in Austin and our VC is here, Root Evidence doesn't even count towards that number. Imagine if all of the situations like ours were counted!
Okay, onto the articles!
Geopolitics
The USS Tripoli and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit have arrived in U.S. Central Command waters amid escalating tensions following an Iranian missile and drone strike that wounded U.S. service members in Saudi Arabia. This military buildup includes deploying additional Army forces to respond to ongoing crises in the region, as the U.S. military continues to enhance its presence and capabilities in Middle Eastern operations.
USS Tripoli and the 31st MEU have arrived in the Middle East following an Iranian attack.
The U.S. military is increasing its presence and capabilities in response to regional tensions.
[RSnake: It is possible that we should expect the Marines to harden positions around the Middle East rather than invade Iran.]
Source: https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-military/2026/03/28/uss-tripoli-embarked-31st-marine-expeditionary-unit-arrive-in-middle-east/
Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have launched missiles toward Israel as the Middle Eastern conflict escalates, marking their first involvement in the war, which began a month ago following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran. The situation has already caused disruptions to global air travel and significant increases in fuel prices, while multiple parties, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt, are seeking diplomatic solutions to de-escalate tensions in the region.
Houthi rebels claimed a missile launch toward Israel amid a month-long conflict involving Iran.
Major global disruptions to air travel and fuel supply have occurred due to the ongoing war.
[RSnake: It was just a matter of time before the Houthis got involved in this fight. They’re an Iranian proxy after all. But this won’t end well for them because they just broke the peace treaty in doing so.]
Source: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2026/03/28/iran-backed-houthis-claim-first-missile-launch-israel-war-mideast-intensifies.html
Cuba is experiencing severe energy shortages and blackouts due to an oil and fuel blockade enforced by the Trump administration, exacerbating struggles for vulnerable populations. Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East continue to rise, with the US military increasing its presence following Iranian attacks, and oil prices climbing due to ongoing conflicts. The global impacts of these crises are felt in various sectors, including humanitarian concerns and energy instability.
Cuba faces severe energy shortages and blackouts affecting vulnerable populations.
The US military has increased its presence in response to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Oil prices are rising significantly due to ongoing conflicts and geopolitical crises.
[RSnake: It’s not going well for them, and the longer we delay things, the more desperate the people will become for change. Getting rid of a large Russian/Chinese asset so close to our border would be great.]
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c8dl9n7gvdgo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
Over one million people have been displaced in Lebanon due to ongoing conflict involving Israel and Hezbollah amidst the US-Israel war with Iran. Israeli airstrikes have intensified, prompting evacuations and causing families to seek shelter in extreme conditions as violence escalates across the region.
More than a million people have been displaced in Lebanon due to the conflict.
Israel's military has intensified strikes against Hezbollah, causing widespread evacuations and homelessness.
[RSnake: Yes, we’re going to have a refugee crisis if we cannot get this to a quick end, which is really sad for the Lebanese people.]
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/clyr530yry5o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
In the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war, Russian forces have sustained significant losses, with reports indicating an increase of 1,360 casualties in a single day, along with the loss of multiple military vehicles and equipment. The cumulative losses for Russia since the onset of the conflict in February 2022 are estimated at over 1.29 million personnel, including thousands of tanks, aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Russia's losses include approximately 1,295,830 personnel since the conflict began.
Recent reports detail a daily increase of 1,360 casualties for Russian forces.
[RSnake: Compared to the US losses in Iran of a couple of dozen casualties, which is only a couple of deaths and mostly injuries. It could be so so much worse!]
Source: https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/03/29/8027643/
Nationwide protests termed 'No Kings' are taking place across the United States, with over 3,100 events reported. Major turnouts are expected, especially in St. Paul, Minnesota, where significant speakers and performers, including politicians and celebrities, are participating. The demonstrations reflect ongoing public dissent against President Donald Trump's administration, marking the third significant national mobilization since he took office in January 2025.
Massive protests are occurring in over 3,100 locations across the U.S.
The movement is characterized by significant participation from various community leaders and celebrities.
[RSnake: An estimated 1,500 or so were in Austin. So large, but far from shutting down the city.]
Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/political/nationwide-no-kings-rallies-erupt-nationwide
The Pentagon is seeking vendors to supply pre-made shelters for U.S. troops in the Middle East amid ongoing conflict with Iran. They are looking for transportable, hardened shelter systems that can withstand significant threats and have set a deadline for vendors to provide potential delivery timelines. The urgency of this request aligns with recent troop deployments and increased hostilities in the region.
The Pentagon aims to quickly procure pre-made shelters for military personnel in the Middle East.
This initiative is in response to escalating tensions and conflicts involving U.S. forces and Iranian threats.
[RSnake: I like this idea, but I think pre-made armored shelters would be even better - a frame that can have concrete poured in it to limit small explosive air-dropped devices.]
Source: https://taskandpurpose.com/?p=367044
Cybersecurity
The personal email account of FBI Director Kash Patel was hacked by an Iran-linked group named Handala, resulting in the release of approximately 800 megabytes of personal and sensitive materials. The group has claimed responsibility, mocking the security of U.S. intelligence and threatening further cyberattacks against American assets.
An Iran-linked hacking group breached the email account of FBI Director Kash Patel.
The stolen data includes personal emails and photos, and the group has threatened additional attacks on U.S. interests.
[RSnake: This is always tough - those personal accounts are often very poorly protected compared to the government accounts.]
Source: https://gizmodo.com/?p=2000739001
The official White House Android app has been reported to include features that track users' GPS locations and inject JavaScript into external web pages to circumvent consent requirements for cookie tracking and paywalls. It utilizes third-party libraries and services, raising questions about privacy and security due to the lack of stringent infrastructure controls and potential implications on user data.
The app tracks users' locations every 4.5 minutes and permits background access.
The integration of third-party JavaScript could expose users to security risks if those sources are compromised.
[RSnake: This is pretty standard stuff of most apps. Not sure if it’s intentional exactly, because they likely used a contractor who has standard frameworks.]
Source: https://thereallo.dev/blog/decompiling-the-white-house-app
A sophisticated iOS exploit kit named Coruna has been identified, targeting Apple's latest hardware and operating systems to execute cyberattacks, with a particular focus on stealing sensitive information. Connections between this new kit and previous espionage efforts, including Operation Triangulation, have been established, demonstrating an evolution in tactics and tools used by cybercriminals.
Coruna exploits multiple vulnerabilities, targeting modern Apple chips and iOS versions.
The exploit kit has evolved from earlier espionage campaigns to now also facilitate financial theft operations.
[RSnake: Lots of interest in attacking iOS for obvious reasons. Apple really needs to stay on top of this. This is one of the few places where LLMs are going to make a big difference - staying on top of all of the research and fuzzing likely crazy for a much lower cost and ideally much more thorough.]
Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/coruna-ios-exploit-framework-linked-to-triangulation-attacks/
Russian police arrested an individual believed to be the owner of LeakBase, an online forum where cybercriminals traded stolen data. The FBI, in a coordinated international operation with law enforcement from 14 countries, took down LeakBase, seized its domain, and executed enforcement actions including multiple arrests and searches.
A major cybercrime forum known as LeakBase has been shut down by international law enforcement.
The seizure of LeakBase's data will be used in ongoing investigations into cybercrime.
[RSnake: I am a bit shocked they wouldn’t just recruit them. Russia could use these actors.]
Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/russia-arrests-suspected-owner-and-admin-of-leakbase-cybercrime-forum/
A new malware called Infinity Stealer is specifically targeting macOS systems by using a Python payload wrapped in a native executable. This malware employs advanced techniques to evade detection, including a fake CAPTCHA to trick users into executing malicious code, and it can steal sensitive data such as authentication tokens and development secrets.
Infinity Stealer malware is a new threat targeting macOS users.
The malware uses sophisticated methods to avoid detection and exploits user actions to execute.
[RSnake: Clever. I’ve heard of this software before, but this is another article on it.]
Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/new-infinity-stealer-malware-grabs-macos-data-via-clickfix-lures/
In Germany, a high-profile case involving accusations of non-consensual deepfake pornography has triggered nationwide protests and calls for legal reform. The case centers around TV presenter Collien Fernandes, who claims her ex-husband disseminated pornographic deepfakes of her online, leading to heightened scrutiny of the country's laws regarding digital abuse and gender-based violence.
Germany is witnessing protests demanding stronger laws against non-consensual deepfake pornography following allegations made by Collien Fernandes.
Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig announced plans to explicitly criminalize the creation and distribution of pornographic deepfakes.
[RSnake: Not exactly what they can do here, other than drive the entire industry out of Germany. Not exactly a productive outcome.]
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9vlm4j47e2o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
Social media platforms are facing numerous lawsuits connecting them to addiction, particularly among children, with large settlements being announced. A recent jury verdict in Los Angeles determined that Instagram and YouTube were designed to exploit addictive behaviors in users, leading to ongoing legal battles that could reshape the accountability of tech giants. Public sentiment is shifting towards recognizing personal responsibility while addressing potential risks associated with social media use.
Multiple lawsuits are being filed against social media companies over addiction allegations.
A recent verdict linked Instagram and YouTube to designed behaviors that create addiction in children.
[RSnake: Yes, keep the kids away from these platforms for as long as you can. Especially girls, it turns out, who are much more vulnerable to social contagion.]
Source: https://www.dailywire.com/news/big-tech-made-social-media-addictive-but-thats-not-the-whole-story
Internet-connected cameras are increasingly being used as military assets for intelligence gathering and targeted strikes in ongoing conflicts between nations, particularly between the US, Israel, and Iran. The Iranian government has reportedly expanded its target scope to include private-sector entities and critical infrastructure, heightening cybersecurity risks across multiple countries.
Nation-states are exploiting Internet-connected cameras for military intelligence and targeted strikes.
Iran has expanded its cyber operations to target private-sector organizations and critical infrastructure.
The use of compromised cameras in warfare poses a serious cybersecurity threat that organizations need to address.
[RSnake: Yep, the Israelis are experts at this. But the Nest cams in the US are phoning home even without subscriptions, so it’s just a matter of time before someone decides to start paying Amazon to keep those recordings.]
Source: https://www.darkreading.com/cyber-risk/wartime-usage-of-compromised-ip-cameras-highlight-their-danger
Technology
A significant helium shortage is affecting the semiconductor industry due to production disruptions linked to the ongoing war in the Middle East. The halt in helium supply from Qatar, which accounts for a third of global production, threatens to disrupt manufacturing for major companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company and Samsung, affecting a wide range of devices that rely on advanced chips.
A third of the global helium supply has been cut off due to the war in Iran and damage to production facilities in Qatar.
The helium shortage poses a serious threat to semiconductor production, impacting everything from AI servers to consumer electronics.
[RSnake: We discussed this last week, but we’ll need more factories built if we want to stop relying on overseas sources.]
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/27/business/helium-chips-iran-war.html
A project by four Fraunhofer institutes in Germany aims to develop an innovative method for sealing paper packaging without using adhesives or plastic. This approach utilizes laser treatment to create materials that can bond under heat and pressure, addressing the environmental concerns associated with traditional plastic packaging. The technology is designed to integrate with existing production processes and could position companies as leaders in the green packaging sector.
Fraunhofer institutes are developing a laser-based sealing process for paper packaging that eliminates the need for adhesives.
The project focuses on enhancing recyclability and reducing plastic waste through eco-friendly packaging solutions.
[RSnake: That would be great. I keep picturing 50 years from now, and kids will be saying, “Can you believe how insane it was that our grandparents used to eat food sealed in plastic, and they used to use plastic forks and cups?”]
Source: https://www.fraunhofer.de/en/press/research-news/2026/march-2026/sealing-paper-packaging-without-adhesives.html
All 11 co-founders of xAI, the artificial intelligence company founded by Elon Musk, have left the organization amid concerns over its operational issues and product performance. The company, which was recently acquired by SpaceX at a significant valuation, is now facing a critical leadership vacuum and challenges in its AI research culture in an exceptionally competitive talent market.
All co-founders of xAI have departed the company, leaving it without its founding leadership.
The company is undergoing significant restructuring following its acquisition by SpaceX and acknowledges issues with its AI products.
The competitive landscape for AI talent is intensifying, with leading researchers now available for recruitment by other tech companies.
[RSnake: And yet, I used Grok as recently as this morning, and it was quite a bit faster than usual and gave great results. So, clearly it’s not all bad.]
Source: https://thenextweb.com/news/xai-all-cofounders-departed-musk-spacex-rebuild
Meta is launching new prescription smart glasses models, Scriber and Blazer, aimed at the 1.5 billion people worldwide who need corrective lenses. The initiative focuses on moving smart glasses into mainstream optical retail, leveraging the growing prescription eyewear market, while navigating complications with its partner, EssilorLuxottica, over pricing and strategy. The smart glasses market is projected to grow significantly, but success depends on consumer adoption of connected eyewear over traditional options.
Meta's smart glasses models are targeted at the prescription eyewear market, leveraging existing consumer habits.
The partnership with EssilorLuxottica presents both opportunities for revenue growth and challenges related to pricing and distribution.
[RSnake: I still think it is lacking the most important feature, which is the visuals displayed, even if it’s just text. Augmented reality is a lot more important than yet another way to capture data.]
Source: https://thenextweb.com/news/meta-ray-ban-prescription-smart-glasses-scriber-blazer
Kandou AI, a Swiss semiconductor company, has raised $225 million in Series A funding, redefining its business focus on AI infrastructure while being valued at $400 million. The company aims to provide copper-based interconnect solutions that address the bandwidth demands of AI training clusters, competing with the optical interconnect market projected to grow significantly. Significant participation from major investors signals a strategic shift in the AI infrastructure landscape, where traditional copper solutions are being reevaluated for their potential longevity and cost-effectiveness.
Kandou AI raised $225 million to enhance AI infrastructure using copper interconnect technology.
The company aims to address the bandwidth bottlenecks in AI with its Chord signalling technology.
Significant investor participation indicates a potential shift in the market dynamics, favoring copper solutions over optical alternatives.
[RSnake: I’d be a little surprised if that actually worked as well as optical, but cool if so.]
Source: https://thenextweb.com/news/kandou-ai-225m-copper-interconnect-ai-infrastructure
Bluesky has launched a new AI app called Attie, which allows users to create custom feeds by utilizing natural language commands. The app operates on the AT Protocol and is designed to empower users by providing them control over their content curation without needing coding skills. The development of Attie signifies a shift towards a more user-focused approach in AI applications within social networking.
Bluesky's new AI app, Attie, enables users to design their own algorithms and curate feeds.
Attie is built on the AT Protocol, enabling personalized experiences within a decentralized ecosystem.
The app highlights a trend of developing AI tools that prioritize user agency over platform control.
[RSnake: Could be of some use to some people, but honestly do not see this going anywhere unless they unlock some new killer feature, because most devs want something closer to an IDE or closer to a CLI.]
Source: https://techcrunch.com/?p=3107020
Anthropic's AI product, Claude, is experiencing significant growth in consumer subscriptions amidst ongoing conflicts with the Department of Defense regarding the use of its technology for military purposes. The company has publicly refused to allow the DoD to use Claude for lethal operations or mass surveillance, leading to legal battles while simultaneously increasing its user base, particularly among lower-tier subscribers. Despite this growth, Claude still lags behind competitors like ChatGPT in overall subscriber numbers.
Anthropic's Claude AI has seen a major increase in paid subscribers.
The company is in a legal dispute with the DoD over the allowed uses of its technology.
Claude's user growth has surged in response to media reports and a public statement from its CEO.
[RSnake: Funny how that might actually help Anthropic with the predominantly left-leaning dev community who ostensibly dislike the US military.]
Source: https://techcrunch.com/?p=3106809
Cortical Labs has developed a biocomputing platform using living neurons to play video games, demonstrating their capability for adaptive learning. This research could lead to new approaches in drug testing and efficient computing systems, given that biological neurons can process information more complexly than silicon-based chips. The project indicates a merging of biological and computational technologies, although practical applications are still in early stages.
Living neurons can learn to play complex video games, showcasing their adaptive capabilities.
Biological computing may offer significant energy efficiency advantages over traditional silicon-based computing.
The research could revolutionize drug testing methodologies in the neuropsychiatric fields.
[RSnake: This company has been around for a while now. I even wrote about them in AI’s Best Friend, but it does add a weird/new dimension to thinking.]
Source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-human-neurons-on-a-chip-learned-to-play-doom/
AMD has announced the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition processor, which features 208MB of cache across its two CPU dies, making it potentially 10% faster than its predecessor in gaming and applications that utilize additional cache. This new chip addresses previous hybrid configurations by providing 64MB of 3D V-Cache on both dies and being fully overclockable. It is set for release on April 22, 2026, with a higher price expected compared to existing models.
The Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition boasts 208MB of cache, enhancing gaming performance.
This processor improves upon previous models by eliminating hybrid configurations and offering better overclocking capabilities.
[RSnake: That’s cool - it is interesting to see greater caching right on the edge of the GPU. To some extent, it’s like having a computer on a computer.]
Source: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/03/amds-ryzen-9-9950x3d2-dual-edition-crams-208mb-of-cache-into-a-single-chip/
OpenAI has invested $94 million in Isara, a startup focused on coordinating AI agent swarms, which has a $650 million valuation. The startup aims to revolutionize multi-agent coordination for complex analytical tasks, initially targeting investment firms and later expanding to biotechnology and geopolitical analysis. The investment reflects a broader trend of funding research-heavy AI startups that could enable significant breakthroughs in the field.
Isara is developing a novel architecture to coordinate thousands of AI agents for complex tasks.
The investment from OpenAI indicates a strategic interest in the development of multi-agent coordination capabilities.
[RSnake: That is awfully expensive for something that likely could be coded up by OpenAI itself. That it feels it has some sort of special sauce is strange given the fact that they know software is no longer a moat.]
Source: https://thenextweb.com/news/openai-isara-ai-agent-swarms-650m-valuation
Scientists in Japan have developed wearable devices that generate electricity from human sweat, potentially revolutionizing personal health monitoring and wearable technology. These sensors harness compounds like lactate from sweat to create a continuous power source, paving the way for new applications in health monitoring without needing to recharge. The advancement marks progress toward sustainable, battery-free electronics that could change how devices function in daily life.
Japanese scientists have created sweat-powered sensors that generate electricity using lactate from sweat.
This technology has the potential to enable continuous health monitoring without the need for recharging.
The development signifies a step toward sustainable and battery-free wearable technology.
[RSnake: Sweat… plus an enzyme. So it still needs some sort of battery or reserve that would have to be refilled.]
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/science/electricity-from-sweat-scientists-develop-sweat-sensors-and-their-future-in-personal-health-monitoring-looks-bright/articleshow/129847384.cms
Business
Elon Musk is planning a significant IPO for SpaceX, targeting up to 30% of shares for retail investors. The offering aims for a valuation above $1.7 trillion, with investor interest driven by new initiatives such as an AI business and space-based data centers. The IPO process will include immersive experiences at SpaceX facilities to attract potential investors.
SpaceX plans to raise tens of billions in its IPO with a focus on retail investors.
The IPO could achieve a valuation above $1.7 trillion, positioning it as one of the largest public offerings ever.
Investor outreach will include detailed financial and strategic information to clarify the company's valuation.
[RSnake: This will either be huge or a flop. Seems like that is the way with Elon’s companies.]
Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/musk-targets-retail-investors-30-spacexs-ipo-shares
Bank of America has agreed to pay $72.5 million to settle a civil lawsuit brought by women who accused the bank of facilitating their sexual abuse by Jeffrey Epstein. The settlement, which requires court approval, comes after claims that the bank ignored suspicious financial transactions related to Epstein’s activities.
Bank of America reached a settlement of $72.5 million to address claims of facilitating abuse linked to Jeffrey Epstein.
The lawsuit alleged that the bank ignored suspicious transactions despite having prior knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities.
[RSnake: Interesting. Debanking is very risky for companies like BofA; it’s also not their job to kick people off who are suspicious. That’s what the government is supposed to be for. As much as it sucks, I think it’s better if the victims lose this particular suit to avoid policing being done by corporations who are already too creepy as it is.]
Source: https://www.dailywire.com/news/another-major-bank-agrees-to-dish-out-over-70m-to-settle-epstein-lawsuit
The housing market is experiencing a significant imbalance, with nearly 50% more home sellers than buyers, resulting in a record mismatch of 630,000. This situation is compounded by high mortgage rates and economic uncertainty, leading to a decline in homebuying activity. The combination of low buyer confidence and high housing costs is exacerbating the affordability crisis in the market.
There is a record gap between home sellers and buyers, creating a buyer's market.
High mortgage rates and economic uncertainties are contributing to a decline in homebuying activity.
The affordability crisis is increasingly affecting potential buyers in the housing market.
[RSnake: Good time to buy a home if you are in the market!]
Source: https://fortune.com/2026/03/28/housing-market-buyers-vs-sellers-mismatch-home-prices-mortgage-rates-iran-war/
Recent investigations have revealed significant irregularities in Medicaid spending for autism services across several states in the U.S. Audits show that spending has surged dramatically, with reports of improper billing practices and fraudulent activities, particularly affecting vulnerable populations such as the autism community. States like Minnesota, Nebraska, and North Carolina are experiencing exponential growth in expenditures that cannot be solely attributed to an increase in autism diagnoses.
Fraudulent activities in Medicaid autism services have led to widespread investigations across multiple states.
Audits reveal improper billing and significant financial waste, with Medicaid spending for autism increasing at an alarming rate.
Issues identified include inadequate supervision and possible criminal offenses related to service providers.
[RSnake: Expect a lot more news like this coming soon, especially to distract from oil prices, leading up to November.]
Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/political/audits-spotlight-unusual-trends-medicaid-spending-autism-care
Organizations are experiencing a shift in Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) practices as technological advancements like agentic AI are taking over operational tasks traditionally managed by human professionals. This transition allows GRC teams to refocus on strategic thinking and managing risks rather than routine tasks, though it raises concerns about professional identity and job security among practitioners. The future of GRC appears to depend on how quickly teams can embrace this shift and redefine their roles.
Agentic AI is transforming the roles of GRC professionals by replacing manual operational tasks.
GRC teams may need to redefine their focus to emphasize risk management and strategic thinking.
[RSnake: There was a lot of talk about this at RSA. No good answers, but a lot of talk.]
Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/agentic-grc-teams-get-the-tech-the-mindset-shift-is-whats-missing/
Meta has granted stock options to six executives, contingent on the company achieving a $9 trillion market valuation by March 2031, which is six times its current value. This decision comes amid significant layoffs and cuts to employee stock compensation, reflecting a stark contrast in compensation between executives and rank-and-file staff as Meta focuses on ambitious growth, primarily through AI investments.
Meta has issued stock options to top executives, each worth up to $921 million, tied to achieving a $9 trillion valuation.
The company is experiencing budget cuts and layoffs while increasing its investment in AI infrastructure to drive future growth.
[RSnake: That is a hell of a bonus incentive! What would you do for $9.21 billion?]
Source: https://thenextweb.com/news/meta-9-trillion-valuation-executive-stock-options-layoffs
PaperShell, a Swedish deeptech company, has secured a €40.3 million grant from the EU to establish a full-scale factory in Tibro, with the aim of reaching an annual production capacity of 23,000 tonnes by 2030. The project, part of an €83 million investment, focuses on producing a bio-based material approved by NATO, intended for use in construction, electronics, and defense, which could significantly reduce CO₂ emissions. Construction of the factory is set to begin in 2027, with European industrial decarbonization in mind as a key goal.
PaperShell has secured a significant EU grant to support its production expansion.
The material produced by PaperShell aims to substantially reduce CO₂ emissions across various industries.
[RSnake: Probably wise. I think the world is about to get into build-mode, especially when they cannot rely on access to foreign goods/products.]
Source: https://thenextweb.com/news/papershell-eu-innovation-fund-40m-grant
SoftBank has secured a $40 billion bridge loan, the largest dollar-denominated loan in its history, to fund a $30 billion follow-on investment in OpenAI. This investment will increase SoftBank's total stake in OpenAI to approximately $64.6 billion, or about 13% of the company, amidst concerns regarding the implications for SoftBank's liquidity and credit outlook due to this significant exposure.
SoftBank has leveraged a $40 billion loan to increase its investment in OpenAI.
The total stake after this investment will rise to approximately 13% of OpenAI.
S&P has expressed caution regarding SoftBank's credit outlook due to the size of its investment.
[RSnake: So they’re all in. We suspected they would be, and now it’s confirmed. That’s a big bet. One thing that I did not hear at RSA was the words “OpenAI Codex,” which means OpenAI is lagging behind Claude at least on the programming front.]
Source: https://thenextweb.com/news/softbank-40-billion-bridge-loan-openai
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Full Disclosure: None of this is advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and my opinions. Please be careful, do your own research, and consult a professional before taking any action based on anything posted here.