Pro-Harris TikTok felt safe in an algorithmic bubble — until election day

In the weeks leading up to the US presidential election, Kacey Smith was feeling hopeful. Smith, who supported Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign, says she knew it would be a close race between the Democratic nominee and Republican Donald Trump. But as she scrolled TikTok, she believed Harris would be victorious.

But Election Day approached, and she started to sense red flags in that positivity. She recalls TikTok serving her enthusiasm for reproductive choice with videos encouraging “women’s rights over gas prices” — implying, falsely, she thought, the choice was “either/or.” The rhetoric fit well inside her feed filled with strangers, but as a campaign strategy, it felt limiting and risky. “When I started seeing that messaging play…

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Summary

The article discusses the experience of Kacey Smith, a supporter of Vice President Kamala Harris, as she navigated TikTok in the lead-up to the US presidential election. Initially optimistic about Harris’ chances against Donald Trump, Smith began to notice troubling messages in her TikTok feed that seemed to oversimplify complex issues, such as framing women’s rights as opposed to economic concerns. This raised concerns for her about the effectiveness of the campaign’s messaging strategy and highlighted the limitations of the algorithmic “bubble” created by social media platforms, which can distort perceptions of public sentiment and reality.

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AI pioneer Francois Chollet leaves Google

Francois Chollet, a leading figure in the AI world, is leaving Google after close to a decade. In a post on X, Chollet said that he’s starting a new company with “a friend” — but declined to reveal additional details. “I’m very grateful for my decade at Google,” he said. “In that timespan, deep learning […]

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Summary

Francois Chollet, a prominent AI researcher, has announced his departure from Google after nearly ten years. In a post on X, he mentioned that he will be starting a new company with a friend but did not provide further details. Chollet expressed gratitude for his time at Google, highlighting his contributions to deep learning during his tenure.

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Prominent crypto critic says someone offered bribes to take down a blog post

Crypto critic Molly White received emails from a purported lawyer and someone working for a “reputation management company” offering bribes in exchange for the takedown of a blog post about the arrest of an alleged crypto fraudster.

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Summary

Crypto critic Molly White reported receiving emails from a supposed lawyer and a representative from a “reputation management company” who offered bribes to have her blog post about the arrest of an alleged crypto fraudster removed.

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OpenAI hires its first chief economist

OpenAI has hired its first chief economist: Aaron Chatterji, formerly the chief economist at the Commerce Department under President Joe Biden and a senior economist in President Barack Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers. Chatterji, who’s also a professor of business and public policy at Duke, will study AI’s economic impacts at OpenAI, leading research into how […]

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Summary

OpenAI has appointed Aaron Chatterji as its first chief economist. Chatterji previously served as the chief economist at the Commerce Department under President Biden and was a senior economist in Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers. He is also a professor at Duke University and will focus on researching the economic impacts of AI at OpenAI.

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Plugable’s new 10-port USB-C hub is exactly the overkill my nightstand needs

Plugable has announced a new multi-port USB-C hub that can power or charge up to 10 connected devices using intelligent power distribution and an easy-to-understand priority-based charging system.

The company is bringing its new PS-10CC hub to consumers through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. The earliest backers can get one for $59, while the hub’s full MSRP will be closer to $99, with delivery expected as early as January 2025. There’s always a level of risk when backing a crowdfunded product, but Plugable has successfully delivered three devices through previous Kickstarters and says it already has functional prototypes of its new PS-10CC.

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Summary

Plugable has introduced the PS-10CC, a new 10-port USB-C hub that allows users to charge or power multiple devices using an intelligent power distribution system. The hub is being launched via a Kickstarter campaign, with early backers able to purchase it for $59, while the retail price will be around $99, with expected delivery by January 2025. Although crowdfunding carries some risks, Plugable has a solid track record of successfully delivering products and already has functional prototypes of the hub. Users will need to provide their own power adapter for the hub.

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Researchers link Polyfill supply chain attack to huge network of copycat gambling sites

A supply chain hack targeting 100,000 websites was launched to redirect internet users to a massive online gambling network.

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Summary

A supply chain attack affected 100,000 websites, redirecting users to a large network of copycat gambling sites. This incident highlights the vulnerabilities within the Polyfill supply chain.

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