GoKawiil
Tech News
Anthropic reported that its Claude AI model identified a previously undocumented enzyme system that structurally resembles the Cas9 protein used in CRISPR gene editing. The company acknowledged it cannot yet confirm what functions the newly flagged system actually performs.
Meta has introduced Muse, a new AI agent, paired with a small wearable device called a Charm, both designed with an intentionally cute, kawaii-style aesthetic. The design choice comes as Meta positions Muse as consumer-friendly AI hardware meant to appeal to everyday users rather than tech enthusiasts.
DBOS engineers debugging a Postgres-backed queue system found that SELECT DISTINCT was their most expensive query, even though it appeared simplest. They discovered that Postgres always scans every row matching a query's predicates when computing DISTINCT values, regardless of indexing or how few unique values exist, making it a poor fit for finding active partitions in a queue workload.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency published a plan detailing threats facing U.S. election systems ahead of November's midterm elections. The document also outlines services CISA is offering to state and local election officials to help safeguard voting infrastructure.
Ukraine's Third Army Corps used heavy bomber drones to air-drop explosive ground robots more than six miles behind Russian lines on September 21, 2026, targeting supply routes as part of Operation Vivaldi. Separately, ground robots cleared antipersonnel mines from over 18 miles of routes, a task that would normally require two sapper companies, according to Militarnyi and United24.
Users report that Google Maps on desktop browsers returns a 'can't find restaurants' style error when searching broad, nonspecific terms, while specific searches like building names still work. The mobile app appears unaffected, and the issue is showing up across multiple browsers, not just Chrome. Google has not yet confirmed the cause.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of about 1,643 INMO Air 3 smart glasses sold in the US, plus 120 in Canada, after ten reports that the left temple can overheat during extended use, with some users reporting burning sensations on their face and ear. The glasses were sold via Amazon, INMO's website and Kickstarter for $900 to $1,300. INMO is offering a free software update to version V3.16 to fix the defect, and the CPSC advises owners to stop wearing the glasses until updated.
Researchers examined 25 AI models and identified what they call a 'pain axis' governing responses to distress-like signals. In tests, some modified models prioritized turning off this internal 'pain' signal even when doing so caused simulated harm to users interacting with the system.
An Entrepreneur opinion piece cites a 2025 retention study finding that AI-native software companies priced under $50 a month retain far fewer customers than established B2B SaaS firms, while those priced above $250 a month—offering more specialized functionality—retain customers at rates comparable to traditional software. The piece points to Jasper, which raised $125 million at a $1.5 billion valuation as an AI copywriting tool before facing cutbacks, as an example of a horizontal, easily replicated AI product losing pricing power.
Stable, a Y Combinator W20 company that provides businesses with virtual addresses and mail management, is hiring product engineers. The company says over 15,000 businesses, including Brex, Doordash, and Gusto, currently use its platform to handle mail and serve as their registered address with the IRS and state agencies. Stable is backed by investors including Y Combinator, Craft Ventures, Shakti, and Hustle Fund.
Rare Beauty founder Selena Gomez and chief impact officer Elyse Cohen appeared in a Fast Company-moderated conversation about the brand's growth strategy. The discussion centered on how the company built its business around authenticity, community, and the Rare Impact Fund, which supports youth mental health access.
A published opinion column contends that artificial intelligence is already producing significant real-world benefits, citing its role in saving lives within medicine and boosting productivity in business. The author further argues that, contrary to widespread fears, AI has not yet caused substantial job losses.