Microsoft will end unlimited Xbox Cloud Gaming access less than a year after introducing it, replacing it with monthly caps of 15 hours for Ultimate subscribers, 10 hours for Premium, and 5 hours for Essential. Players who exceed these limits will need to buy additional playtime bundles through the Xbox store, though unused hours can roll over. Microsoft says the change affects about 4% of Game Pass subscribers and cites rising infrastructure costs as the reason.
A WIRED science feature uses the classic double-slit experiment—first demonstrated with light by Thomas Young in 1801 and later with subatomic particles by Claus Jönsson in 1961—to explain why quantum mechanics defies human intuition. The piece argues that while physicists can mathematically predict quantum outcomes with great precision, the underlying behavior, such as particles acting simultaneously like waves and discrete objects, cannot be visualized in everyday terms.
A blogger writes that the rise of generative AI has made much of the internet harder to use, citing AI-generated summaries cluttering search results and bot-produced 'slop' overwhelming social platforms like X. In response, they've deactivated most social accounts and shifted toward RSS feeds, Substack newsletters, and a curated list of YouTube channels.
Pangram co-founder and CEO Max Spero appeared on TechCrunch's Equity podcast to discuss the complexities of detecting AI-generated content. The startup recently raised $9 million, partnered with Substack to flag AI-written newsletters, and launched a new tool for detecting AI-generated images.
A research team has detected an anomalous signal that current physics cannot fully explain, raising the possibility it could be evidence of dark matter or an entirely new phenomenon. The finding comes after years of dedicated searches for dark matter, a substance believed to make up much of the universe's mass but never directly observed.
LWN, the Linux and open-source news site that has run on a reader-subscription model since 2002, announced its first price increase since early 2022. The new monthly rates rise by about 20%, mirroring US consumer-price inflation over that period, moving to $6, $11, $19 and $55 across its four subscriber tiers. Existing prepaid subscriptions remain valid until they expire, and current monthly subscribers keep the old rate for six more months.
Pangram, a 24-person AI-detection startup that raised $13 million, has flagged high AI-generated percentages in several notable works, including a Hachette-acquired novel that was subsequently canceled, a New York Times Modern Love column, and prize-winning fiction. Substack recently integrated Pangram's detection tool so readers can check content for AI involvement.
A tech writer subscribed to YouTube Premium Lite hoping for an ad-free experience without bundled services like YouTube Music, but found sponsored videos still appearing throughout the app on both TV and mobile after activation. Despite accepting that ads would remain on Shorts and music videos, they discovered sponsored placements interspersed regularly in their regular viewing feed as well, prompting them to cancel the subscription after just one month.
The New York Times is rolling out a new set of exclusive puzzles for subscribers, released every Wednesday. The lineup includes five to six variants each week, such as Wordle in 1, Connections 3x3, Colorful Strands, Mystery Mini, and themed Special Crosswords sometimes made with celebrities like Nick Offerman and Gabby Windey.
Researchers report that shellfish, insects and other aquatic invertebrates supply a significant share of essential nutrients like omega-3s, iron and vitamin B12 to human diets worldwide. The findings draw on global data comparing nutrient contributions from invertebrates against fish and other food sources.
A new analysis draws on atmospheric measurement records and emission datasets to explain why global methane concentrations temporarily plateaued rather than kept rising. Researchers attribute the pause primarily to increases in nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and a geographic shift of those emissions toward the Southern Hemisphere, which altered atmospheric chemistry governing methane's main removal pathway via hydroxyl radicals.
Security researcher Bruce Schneier reported receiving a flood of AI-generated, one-line 'thank you' replies to the confirmation emails his Crypto-Gram newsletter sends to verify subscriptions. The messages came from dozens of throwaway Gmail addresses that never actually completed the subscription process, and none of the senders responded when he replied back.
GoKawiil