Chase wants to charge fintechs for accessing Open Banking data. This move is part of a broader conflict over whether banks can monopolize and charge for all economic activities, despite not operating the payment methods. “Almost all discussions of it center on ‘data’, but it’s actually a fight about payments.” ~ learn more
“Fully autonomous driving is no longer a question of if, but when. And that ‘when’ is now upon us.” This article explores the dramatic shift towards self-driving technology and its implications for transportation. ~ learn more
AI pioneer Ilya Sutskever says, “We are squarely an age of research company.” In this interview with Dwarkesh, he discusses the shift from scaling to focused AI investigation and the nuances of effectively harnessing pre-trained models. ~ learn more
I knew nothing of this curiosity before watching this video about snuff. Now I know that there’s a communal snuffbox kept at the door of the House of Commons in the UK Parliament. ~ learn more
The BBC convinced viewers that spaghetti grew on trees. Richard Dimbleby narrated the faux report, and “an estimated eight million people watched the original program,” many fooled by the whimsical claim. ~ learn more
J.D. Vance’s book became an unlikely smuggling vehicle. “Siebert soaked the book’s pages with narcotics and mailed it to Grafton Correctional Institution disguised as an Amazon shipment.” ~ learn more
“My deepest insecurity is that I have these intuitions about things that I cannot explain to anyone,” said Joshua Kushner. Despite the massive success of his venture capital firm, Thrive Capital, Kushner seeks advice from unlikely places, like music producer Rick Rubin, on trusting his gut when making investment decisions. This is a long and interesting profile of the investor who will drop everything to help his people, like the…
A new method uses 3D printed resin as a scaffolding to create materials with remarkable strength and complexity. “Our materials could withstand 20 times more pressure compared to those produced with previous methods, while exhibiting only 20% shrinkage versus 60–90%.” The process involves infusing a hydrogel with metal salts, resulting in ultra-dense metal or ceramic objects. ~ learn more
“We are very excited because the technology has been designed with the clinician and patient in mind. It is safe, can be easily and rapidly applied, and it is scalable.” This fluoride-free gel mimics natural proteins to regrow enamel, potentially transforming dental care. ~ learn more
Recent bankruptcies among coffee chains highlight challenges like high coffee prices, adverse weather, and costly tariffs. “Starbucks is in the midst of a restructuring plan that involves closing underperforming stores and cutting staff.” ~ learn more