Russian startup Mostik has developed a method allowing AI models to exchange information through their internal weight values rather than generated text, effectively letting a smaller model absorb capabilities from a larger one. The team demonstrated this by linking a 753-billion-parameter GLM-5.2 model with a 4-billion-parameter Qwen-3.5 model, producing a hybrid system that runs at one-twentieth the cost of the full-size model while performing roughly midway between the two in capability. Mostik also used a related technique to build a model that has topped the ARC-AGI 3 benchmark, though details remain undisclosed while the contest is ongoing.
A blog post highlights a handy jq trick from Sequoia McDowell that pretty-prints JSON copied to the clipboard and pastes it back automatically, using pbpaste and pbcopy on macOS. The author adapts this for Linux using xclip, then identifies a flaw: if the clipboard doesn't contain valid JSON, jq fails silently and wipes the clipboard content. The fix adds a fallback so the original clipboard text is preserved when jq errors out.
Caterpillar CIO Jamie Engstrom, who leads a global IT team of over 2,200 employees across 28 countries, is expanding the company's three-decade use of AI into advanced analytics, automation, and supply chain optimization. Engstrom frames the effort around 'the art of the possible,' emphasizing that AI should augment employees' capabilities rather than replace their jobs.
Michael Wisler, who became M&T Bank's chief information officer in 2018 after years at Capital One, has shifted the 170-year-old Buffalo-based bank away from outside tech contractors toward an in-house engineering team. The move aims to speed up how quickly the bank can adapt its systems to new technology and customer demands while building more resilient infrastructure.
Meta has agreed to detailed commitments requiring more robust methods for identifying underage users, including AI tools and facial analysis, as part of a legal settlement over child safety. The company faces the technical challenge of accurately distinguishing minors from adults without overreaching into the privacy of all users, since safety protections only work if kids are correctly identified in the first place.
An analysis compares using televisions versus dedicated monitors for computer use, focusing on refresh rates, input latency, and color depth. It finds monitors generally offer higher refresh rates, lower latency (1-4ms vs 9-12ms on TVs), and better color support at lower price points than comparable TVs.
The US Army's Joint Task Force Southern Border used a 20-kilowatt Locust Laser Weapon System to destroy three drones near the Rio Grande Valley overnight on August 25-26, after officials said the drones threatened military and border patrol personnel. The vehicle-mounted laser, derived from the Army's AMP-HEL program, was supplied by defense contractor AeroVironment, which delivered its first prototypes in September 2025 and expanded the fleet in December.
Vermell is a newly released C++ web framework built on Linux's native epoll and pthreads APIs, requiring no runtime, garbage collector, or external dependencies beyond base OS calls. Developers build apps by including one header and linking one static library, compiling with a single g++ command, and the framework runs on architectures from x86_64 to ARM and Raspberry Pi.
Google is rolling out three new travel tools inside AI Mode in Search: a built-in airfare tracker that lets users set price-change alerts, a hotel search-and-compare tool that supports direct booking through partners like Booking.com, Marriott, Hilton and Expedia, and a feature to help travelers understand the value of points and miles. The rollout begins in the US in English, with global expansion planned.
New guidance outlines how stress resilience fluctuates based on biological rhythms operating at multiple levels, including cellular processes, daily circadian patterns, and broader seasonal shifts. The framework suggests a three-step approach to building resilience by aligning habits and expectations with these natural cycles rather than treating stress capacity as constant year-round.
Thryv's 2026 AI and Small Business Adoption Survey found that AI adoption among small businesses rose from 55% to 66% year over year, with 70% reporting revenue gains and 92% saying it saves time. However, 70% of respondents said they still need more AI training, even though 86% describe themselves as comfortable using the tools.
Google's Call Assist feature can screen unknown or suspicious calls before they ever ring through, either by prompting users manually or, on supported Pixel devices, handling the interaction automatically. If the call is identified as spam, the phone disconnects it; otherwise it rings and shows details about how the caller responded. The feature runs locally on the device without needing internet access, and Google says it doesn't store call audio or transcripts in user accounts.
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