💰 Bill Gates quietly donates $50M to Harris campaign

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What’s happening:

• 💰 Bill Gates quietly donates $50M to Harris campaign

• 🚔 City sued over AI-assisted tracking technology

• 🚀 Elon Musk seeks approval for 30,000 more Starlink satellites

• 🖥️ Anthropic’s AI can now control your PC

• 📱 Apple iPad Mini 2024: missing pieces

• 📲 NSA: You should turn off your phone weekly

• + 📊 Daily poll and results

• + 📈 Trending tools and resources

Hand-picked news:

💰 Bill Gates quietly donates $50M to Harris campaign ↗️LINK

• What: Bill Gates privately donated $50 million to Future Forward, a nonprofit supporting Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential run. This donation marks a shift for Gates, who has historically avoided large political contributions.

• Why: Gates is concerned about a second Trump presidency, particularly the potential cuts to family planning and global health programs, which align with the goals of the Gates Foundation. He praised the Biden-Harris administration’s work on climate change.

• Impact: This substantial contribution could bolster anti-Trump advertising in the final stretch of the election. Gates’s decision to donate through a "dark money" group protects him from potential backlash, as Trump has threatened Harris’s supporters.

🚔 City sued over AI-assisted tracking technology ↗️LINK

• What: Norfolk, Virginia, faces a lawsuit over its use of automated license-plate reader cameras, which plaintiffs argue create an unconstitutional, warrantless surveillance system tracking residents’ movements without consent.

• Why: The lawsuit, filed by the Institute for Justice, claims the camera network violates the Fourth Amendment by monitoring and storing detailed records of every car’s movements, without a warrant or probable cause. Plaintiffs fear this intrusive surveillance undermines privacy and civil rights.

• Impact: If successful, the lawsuit could set a precedent for limiting the use of AI-driven surveillance technology. It raises questions about the balance between public safety and personal privacy in an age of increasing digital monitoring.

🚀 Elon Musk seeks approval for 30,000 more Starlink satellites ↗️LINK

• What: SpaceX is requesting FCC approval to launch 30,000 additional Starlink satellites, aiming to expand global high-speed internet access. However, astronomers are raising concerns about the detrimental effects on both optical and radio astronomy.

• Why: Astronomers argue that the satellites create light pollution, interfere with telescope observations, and clutter low-Earth orbit, making it harder to study the night sky and celestial bodies.

• Impact: With 14,000 satellites already in orbit and plans for many more, the increasing satellite population threatens the pristine night sky and complicates efforts to mitigate interference in astronomical research.

🖥️ Anthropic’s AI can now control your PC ↗️LINK

• What: Anthropic has launched an upgraded version of its Claude 3.5 Sonnet model, featuring a new "Computer Use" API that allows it to interact with desktop apps by mimicking human inputs like mouse clicks and keystrokes. The model is aimed at automating tasks across apps, and it’s now available for developers in public beta.

• Why: This marks a significant step towards building AI that can automate complex tasks, such as answering emails or performing software development jobs, aligning with Anthropic's vision of virtual assistants that can power back-office work.

• Impact: Although the new feature shows promise, it’s still in the experimental phase, with some limitations and potential security risks. Anthropic has implemented safeguards but acknowledges there’s more to be learned from real-world use.

📱 Apple iPad Mini 2024: missing pieces ↗️LINK

• What: The 2024 iPad Mini has been updated with more storage, new colors, and support for Apple Pencil Pro, but overall it feels like a minor refresh. With only internal changes like the A17 Pro chip, the Mini doesn't stand out, especially since its major selling point—Apple Intelligence—has yet to fully launch.

• Why: This model banks on the upcoming Apple Intelligence AI features, which are expected to make the iPad Mini more powerful for productivity and AI-driven tasks. However, the AI system isn't yet available, and users are left with minimal upgrades over previous versions.

• Impact: Unless Apple Intelligence delivers a game-changing experience soon, the 2024 iPad Mini seems like a poor value at $499, with minimal improvements from earlier models. Those looking for significant performance upgrades may be better off with other iPads in the lineup.

📲 NSA: You should turn off your phone weekly ↗️LINK

• What: The NSA recommends powering off your phone at least once a week as a simple way to protect against security threats like malware, phishing, and spyware. This method helps make it harder for hackers to steal your data, though it may not prevent all attacks.

• Why: Mobile devices are vulnerable to various attacks, from malicious apps to zero-click exploits. Turning off your phone disrupts ongoing threats and can offer some defense against hackers.

• Impact: In addition to powering off your phone, the NSA suggests updating apps, using secure networks, avoiding public Wi-Fi, and employing strong passwords and biometrics to enhance mobile security. Following these practices can help safeguard your personal information.

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Today’s Poll:

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Yesterday’s Poll Result:

Government Using Deepfakes: Justified or Hypocritical?

• A) Justified – It’s a strategic tool for defense - 34%

• B) Hypocritical – The U.S. warned against deepfakes - 66% 👑

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