The World Health Organization has declared a new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo a public health emergency of international concern. This is the most serious designation short of a pandemic emergency, which was how COVID-19 was classified. The announcement came just days after health officials confirmed a deadly, fast-moving strain of Ebola was spreading across one of the world’s most remote and conflict-torn regions. It had already crossed an international border.The current outbreak, centered in Congo’s northeastern Ituri province, has been confirmed as the Bundibugyo strain: a rare and understudied Ebola virus for which no approved vaccine…
In today’s column, I examine the latest research on whether generative AI and large language models (LLMs) can aid people in reducing a personal sense of loneliness. The truth is that in some ways, yes, and other ways no, namely that it is a mixed bag and depends on significant…
Timing really is everything. Just as Samsung finally uplifts Galaxy phones with its long-awaited One UI 8.5 upgrade, Apple releases iOS 26.5. Both on the same day. But while Apple’s update followed its usual slick schedule, Galaxy owners have now been waiting five months since the initial One UI 8.5…
In today’s column, I examine the swiftly emerging trend of people taking full and unwavering credit for the outputs generated by AI and large language models (LLMs), even when the prompt used by a person to spur the AI was nothing more than asking the AI to solve a vexing…
Khamzat Chimaev has had enough of the weight cut to get to 185 pounds. Moments after he lost his UFC middleweight championship to Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328 in New Jersey, Chimaev told UFC President Dana White, “I want to move up. I don’t want to…
EA UFC 6 early access and full retail release is just over a month away. EA dropped the closed beta this week and several fans and content creators got an opportunity to test the game. There’s some mixed reviews on gameplay and visuals, but we’ll know more once we get…
In today’s column, I examine an intriguing and perhaps abrasive question that some are starting to ask about the nonstop barrage of lawyers blaming AI for generating AI hallucinated citations and quotations as part of their legal filings.The pointed question is this:Might it be that some of these instances of…
If you have a Galaxy S25 or S24 phone, you may have a serious problem. Samsung’s must recent security update has reportedly left owners of these recent flagships with a daily nightmare as batteries drain rapidly and devices start to overheat. Samsung users are not alone, with Google’s Pixel owners…
While I was a little late to the party on this one, I’ve finally managed to see the new 4K remaster of Angel’s Egg in the theater, and it was genuinely wondrous.Angel’s Egg is an oddity even within OVA circles. A somewhat post-apocalyptic tale, Angel’s Egg is very much an…
It’s finally here — probably. Samsung’s latest Android upgrade, bringing Galaxy smartphone owners some of the innovations Pixels have enjoyed for some time is “poised to release” this week. Millions of users will have their fingers crossed.Samsung’s One UI 8.5 “strengthens device protection,” Samsung says, “and gives users clearer control…
In today’s column, I examine the ongoing job struggles facing human actors when it comes to the increasing use of AI-generated synthetic actors. AI is getting so good at devising human-like video actors that it is nearly impossible to discern whether the movie screen contains real actors or fake actors.…
A new study has identified 45 rocky exoplanets — planets orbiting other stars in the Milky Way — that may be capable of supporting life. The research, published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, narrows down the most promising candidates from more than 6,000 known exoplanets.The international…
What’s next for Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton? It’s unclear as to whether Rhodes will be cleared for action after suffering a nasty head and eye injury at WrestleMania 42. However, you’ve got to believe that feud will continue. Trick Williams’ U.S. championship coronation figures to be interrupted by Carmelo…
In today’s column, I examine the diabolical use of unassuming poetry as a conniving form of AI prompting that can potentially overcome AI safeguards and get generative AI and large language models (LLMs) to do or say things they aren’t supposed to do or say.Here’s the deal. We normally think…
Despite its control of hardware and firmware, Google triggers a surprising number of serious issues for Pixel users after security updates are installed. This pattern has repeated in recent months, and now there’s a new worry for users.Per 9to5Google, “following the rollout of the April 2026 update on Google Pixel…
Spotlight
Updated on Jan. 18 with a new warning for Gmail users as…
For decades, humans have assumed that recognizing faces, especially our own faces,…
At the 2026 CES Jensen Huang made many announcements associated with the…
Thanks to Chance Mathisen for his contributionIn the current wave of generative…
