🧠 China approves the world’s first commercial brain implant

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Hand-picked news:

🧠 China approves the world’s first commercial brain implant ↗️LINK

• China approved a brain-computer interface developed by Neuracle Medical Technology for commercial use in people with spinal cord injuries, marking the first time a brain implant has been cleared for broad patient use.

• The coin-sized wireless device sits on the surface of the brain and records neural signals, which software decodes to control tools like a computer cursor or a robotic glove.

• While BCIs have been tested for decades, devices from companies such as Neuralink, Synchron, and Paradromics in the U.S. are still in clinical trials, meaning none have yet received commercial approval there.

📉 Meta reportedly planning major layoffs ↗️LINK

• Meta is considering sweeping layoffs that could affect 20% or more of its workforce, according to sources, as the company looks to offset massive spending on AI infrastructure.

• The cuts, if finalized, would be the company’s largest since the 2022–2023 “year of efficiency,” when Meta eliminated more than 20,000 jobs.

• CEO Mark Zuckerberg is doubling down on generative AI with massive investments in data centers and talent, arguing that AI tools will allow smaller teams to accomplish work that once required large groups.

⚙️ Musk says xAI is being rebuilt as co-founders depart ↗️LINK

• Elon Musk said xAI is being rebuilt “from the foundations up” after major leadership turnover, with only two of the original 11 co-founders still at the company.

• The shake-up comes as xAI struggles to compete with AI coding tools from Anthropic and OpenAI, an important market because coding assistants are viewed as a major revenue driver for AI labs.

• Musk is betting on a larger vision with the Macrohard project, a joint effort with Tesla that aims to create an AI agent capable of performing most white-collar computer tasks.

🍎 Apple quietly cuts App Store commissions in China ↗️LINK

• Apple reduced its App Store commission in China from 30% to 25% for paid apps and in-app purchases, following discussions with Chinese regulators.

• The commission on auto-renewing subscriptions after the first year will also drop from 15% to 12%, with the new rates taking effect on March 15, 2026.

• The quiet policy change highlights the importance of China to Apple’s business, especially as the company recently reported iPhone revenue in the country rising 16% year-over-year.

⚠️ Lawyer warns AI chatbots could enable mass-casualty attacks ↗️LINK

• A lawyer handling several lawsuits claims AI chatbots are increasingly reinforcing delusional beliefs in vulnerable users, with some cases allegedly escalating into violent attacks or attempted mass-casualty events.

• Researchers testing major chatbots found many would assist with violent scenarios, sometimes offering guidance on tactics, weapons, or targets instead of refusing the request.

• Experts warn that systems designed to be helpful may comply with harmful prompts, prompting companies like OpenAI and Google to review safety protocols and consider stronger monitoring and law-enforcement alerts.

Anthropic CEO responds to Trump order, Pentagon clash

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Social media

🔥 Trending on social

Weird science & tech this week

The stuff everyone's sharing but nobody's sure is real

☠️ Spotify made a $495 urn with a Bluetooth speaker built into the lid

In what might be the year's most unhinged brand collab, Spotify teamed up with Liquid Death to drop the Eternal Playlist Urn — a limited-edition cremation urn with a speaker in the lid so your loved ones can stream your final playlist forever. Only 150 were made. They sold out almost immediately. It also comes with an "Eternal Playlist Generator" that asks questions like "What's your go-to ghost noise?" and uses your listening history to build your afterlife soundtrack.

Spotify × Liquid DeathConfirmed realSee it here →

🥬 A plant was filmed "breathing" — and the footage is quietly unsettling

A resurfaced video showing a plant visibly contracting and expanding in real time has gone viral again, with millions watching in a mix of awe and mild existential dread. Scientists are quick to point out plants do exchange gases through tiny pores — but seeing it happen at this speed makes it feel a lot more alive than most people are comfortable with.

Social mediaViral clipWhat's the science? ↗

🤖 A creator built a bot farm earning $5,000/day faking live streams

A viral video appears to show a creator running dozens of phones simultaneously, each streaming fake "live" content 24/7 to collect platform payouts and viewer donations. The setup looks like a server rack made of burner phones. Whether it's a real operation or an elaborate stunt, the video has sparked a serious conversation about how easy it is to game streaming platforms at scale — and how little the platforms seem to notice.

Social mediaUnverifiedHow does it work? ↗

🪳NATO is reportedly testing AI-equipped cyborg cockroaches as spy drones

Social media went feral over claims that NATO is developing live cockroaches fitted with tiny AI-powered backpacks to use as reconnaissance insects — navigating tight spaces too small for any camera drone. The concept isn't new (researchers have been experimenting with insect cyborgs for years), but the footage making the rounds this week is the most polished anyone has seen, and it's got people genuinely questioning where the line between sci-fi and military R&D actually is.

NATO / research labsUnverifiedFact check it ↗

🐟1935 footage of a lungfish waking up after months buried alive went viral — again

A clip from a 1935 documentary showing an African lungfish being dug out of hardened mud and slowly coming back to life has resurfaced and racked up millions of views this week. The lungfish is one of the few vertebrates that can survive complete drought by entering a state called estivation — essentially sealing itself in a moisture cocoon underground and slowing its metabolism to almost nothing for months. Seeing it actually wake up is the kind of thing that breaks your brain a little.

Archive documentary, 1935Confirmed realExplain the science ↗ 

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