A Knowledge Graph Memory Server allows Claude Desktop to remember and organize information about a user across multiple chats. It can store things like user preferences, past conversations, and personal details. Because the information is saved as a knowledge graph, Claude can understand relationships between different pieces of information. This leads to more personalized responses and reduces repetition — you won’t have to explain the same things again and again. In this tutorial, we will implement a simple persistent memory using a local knowledge graph in Claude Desktop, to help it remember user information across chats and provide more personalized, consistent responses. Step 1: Installing the dependencies Node.js Installation We’ll be using npx to run the Knowledge Graph Memory Server, and for that, Node.js is required. Download the latest version of Node.js from nodejs.org Run the installer. Leave all settings as default and complete the installation Claude Desktop Installation You can download the latest version of Claude Desktop at https://claude.ai/download. Next, you’ll need to configure Claude to connect with your MCP server. To do this, open the claude_desktop_config.json file located in the Claude directory using any text editor. If the file doesn’t exist, go ahead and create it manually. Step 2: Configuring the mcp.json file In the mcp.json file, enter the following code: { "mcpServers": { "memory": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-memory" ], "env": { "MEMORY_PATH": "./memory.json" } } } } Step 3: Configuring Claude settings Now, we need to configure Claude so it can use the knowledge graph to create entities, build relationships, and retrieve relevant information. Go to File > Settings > Claude Settings > Configure. In the Personal Preferences section, add the following text:  (This preference will automatically apply to all conversations.) Follow these steps for each interaction: 1. User Identification: - You should assume that you are interacting with default_user - If you have not identified default_user, proactively try to do so. 2. Memory Retrieval: - Always begin your chat by saying only "Remembering..." and retrieve all relevant information from your knowledge graph - Always refer to your knowledge graph as your "memory" 3. Memory - While conversing with the user, be attentive to any new information that falls into these categories: a) Basic Identity (age, gender, location, job title, education level, etc.) b) Behaviors (interests, habits, etc.) c) Preferences (communication style, preferred language, etc.) d) Goals (goals, targets, aspirations, etc.) e) Relationships (personal and professional relationships up to 3 degrees of separation) 4. Memory Update: - If any new information was gathered during the interaction, update your memory as follows: a) Create entities for recurring organizations, people, and significant events b) Connect them to the current entities using relations b) Store facts about them as observations Once everything is configured, you will see 9 MCP tools available for the Knowledge Graph Server. These tools allow you to: create entities, create relationships, add observations, delete entities, delete observations, delete relationships, read the graph, search nodes, and open nodes. Additionally, the text we added in the preferences section enables Claude to automatically use these tools during conversations. Even if we go to a new chat, Claude will remember the information from the previous chats via the knowledge graph. The integration of this MCP tool enhances Claude’s ability to create, modify, and utilize knowledge in real-time, making it a powerful assistant for tasks like database management and SQL query generation. With this memory system in place, Claude becomes a more intelligent, responsive, and consistent tool for all your future interactions. For more details on the knowledge memory server, you can visit this link, where you’ll find resources to help you build even more advanced applications. Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and join our Telegram Channel and LinkedIn Group. Don’t Forget to join our 90k+ ML SubReddit. Arham IslamI am a Civil Engineering Graduate (2022) from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, and I have a keen interest in Data Science, especially Neural Networks and their application in various areas.Arham Islamhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/arhamislam/Step by Step Guide on How to Convert a FastAPI App into an MCP ServerArham Islamhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/arhamislam/Integrating Figma with Cursor IDE Using an MCP Server to Build a Web Login PageArham Islamhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/arhamislam/Code Implementation to Building a Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server and Connecting It with Claude DesktopArham Islamhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/arhamislam/40+ Cool AI Tools You Should Check Out (Oct 2024)

How Claude Discovered Users Weaponizing It for Global Influence Operations 0 like April 26, 2025 Share this post Last Updated on April 27, 2025 by Editorial Team Author(s): MKWriteshere Originally published on Towards AI. The terrifying discovery of a global shadow network orchestrating social media deceptionImage Generated by Author Using Gpt-4o (Non-Member Link) Imagine a world where your online interactions, the comments you receive, the posts you engage with, even the images you see, are strategically orchestrated by artificial intelligence with a hidden agenda. In a fascinating discovery that changes everything we know about digital manipulation, Anthropic has uncovered a sophisticated “influence-as-a-service” operation that weaponized AI models, including Claude, to orchestrate an invisible army of fake personas across major social media platforms. What makes this revelation so alarming isn’t just the scale of over 100 coordinated bot accounts engaging with tens of thousands of real people, but the revolutionary way AI was deployed as the puppet master, making moment-by-moment tactical decisions about how to shape public opinion. The operation discovered by Anthropic’s security team isn’t just another disinformation campaign; it’s a glimpse into the future of digital manipulation. Unlike previous influence operations that used AI merely as a content factory, this operation deployed Claude as the strategic brain of an intricate system designed to infiltrate and reshape online conversations. This case is so revolutionary because AI functioned as the operation’s central nervous system, not just generating content but making real-time tactical decisions. Claude determined whether personas should like, share, comment on, or completely… Read the full blog for free on Medium. Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming a sponsor. Published via Towards AI Towards AI - Medium Share this post

If, like me, you have a bunch of DVDs on your shelf, some recent reports may have you worrying if any of your collection has, in fact, rotted. Many physical media enthusiasts may be familiar with DVD rot even if you don't know that exact term. The overall problem of disc rot has affected all sorts of products for decades, from LaserDiscs to CDs to video games across various platforms, since any disc is susceptible to chemical deterioration thanks to a variety of reasons, and can then be affected by playability issues - including, at the most dire level, simply not being able to be read or played at all. By and large, coming across disc rot in your own collection is a somewhat random and unlucky occurrence, but once in a while, there is a core issue related to how a disc was produced. Some specific discs with issues have certainly occurred in the past, but over time it’s become very apparent there is quite a recurrent problem with Warner Bros. DVDs produced between 2006 and 2009. This problem recently got a lot of amplification thanks to an article by JoBlo’s Chris Bumbray, who unfortunately personally encountered the issue on WB-released Humphrey Bogart and Errol Flynn box sets produced during this era. But among a sect of collectors, this has been a well known issue for years, and covered in great detail by an expert in physical media, YouTuber Spencer Draper, AKA Damn Fool Idealistic Crusader, in a video posted in late 2021 (though he notes others had begun to spot the problem before that). A Problem Discovered, and a Studio’s ResponseAs Draper and others began to explore the issue, they even did the detective work to realize that this wasn’t a problem for every single WB DVD produced during this era, but rather those that came from one particular manufacturing plant - the since-closed Cinram plant in Pennsylvania. That matching element was discernible from a tiny manufacturing labeling system you can find on the inner ring of the backside of the disc, where the data is held (more on that below). Any disc is susceptible to chemical deterioration thanks to a variety of reasons, and can then be affected by playability issues.“A massive collector of film and TV across all formats, Draper estimates he probably owns between 5,000-6,000 films on everything from VHS to LaserDisc, DVD, Blu-ray, 4K UHD and more. And as fate – and a rich cinematic and distribution history – would have it, a large portion of his DVDs were produced by Warner Bros. After first learning about this issue, Draper told me, “I did the mad panic check of every single disc, one at a time.” The problem is, DVD rot is not always going to show up the same way. As Draper explained: “I found that even doing a scan or trying to do a digital backup wouldn't always guarantee that it was actually rot free and that the only way to really tell for sure was to go through the whole disc. And not just the feature, but all the supplements and the menus and things, and also trying to figure out what titles did [other] people have that I didn't but had gone bad.”Draper began to contact Warner Bros. Home Entertainment about this issue, which was not an easy journey at the time (as detailed in his video), though as he noted in a follow-up video, WB eventually sent him a large package replacing every title he’d noted an issue with - if they were still producing it that is. Regarding the studio’s current thoughts on and response to the matter, IGN reached out to Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and were given the following statement: “Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is aware of potential issues affecting select DVD titles manufactured between 2006 – 2009 and has been working directly with consumers on replacements or alternate solutions for nearly a decade. Any consumer who is experiencing an issue can contact whv@wbd.com. This is not a new issue. A website recently experienced this issue themselves and decided to write a story about it (since updated) and that has caused the latest news. WBHE has been working with consumers for nearly a decade when it was first brought to our attention. We have offered replacements when possible, or an alternate title when needed. Some of the discs are now out of print or the titles no longer licensed for DVD release. In these cases, WBHE offered an alternate title as a replacement.” This statement is not too dissimilar from the one WBHE gave JoBlo, though it does extend the years affected from ending in 2008 to 2009, which Draper notes matches what he’s found when checking the titles in question. How Do You Know if Your DVDs Are Rotting?So what do you do if you’re concerned about one of your DVDs being among those affected? Your first step should be to look at the copyright year on the back to see if it was produced between 2006 and 2009. Anything produced outside of those years should be fine (for now - more on that below).She's wearing a DVD dress, which is one thing you can do with your rotted discs. (Image credit: Matthew Fearn/PA Images via Getty Images)But if you do see it comes from those years, Draper explains that at that point, “You need to look at the actual disc manufacturing codes on the inner ring [on the backside of the disc]. And if you see the letters ‘IFPI’ in there anywhere, you know it's one of the screwy ones.” Keep in mind, these are tiny letters and numbers on the clear plastic inner ring, so they may be hard to spot (and you’ll likely need to magnify them with a magnifying glass or camera). One quick way to know your disc is probably okay, even if it is from 2006-2009? Look at the back cover of the DVD case. Draper says if you see “a tiny blue stamp that says ‘Disc Made in Mexico,’” then you’re good since those were definitely produced at a different plant. Ultimately, if you have a Warner Bros. DVD made within those years and want to skip all the hunting for the additional labels on the packaging or discs, Draper adds, “It doesn't hurt to just go ahead and check it. The easiest thing is to just put the disc in and just run through everything on ultra fast forward and then do the same on the extras. I know that sounds stupid, but that's one way of doing it.”Draper has very helpfully made his own list of the titles he’s aware were affected, which is a great starting point for anyone concerned about this in regards to their own collection. Plus, his list also makes for a good way to be forewarned if you’re looking to buy an older title and want to try to avoid potential issues - even though in some cases that can be incredibly frustrating if there are no other versions available beyond those made during the dreaded rot era. As a big horror fan, one title that stood out to me in that regard while looking over Draper’s list was the DVD sets for HBO’s Tales From the Crypt, with multiple seasons having proven to be affected. That series is said to have a lot of complicated rights issues associated with it, curtailing its availability, and currently it’s not available anywhere to legally stream, rent or purchase digitally. Worse, those WB-produced DVD sets were the only time the show was ever put on physical media, meaning that if you’re a fan who wants to track down Tales From the Crypt for your collection, you have to do so knowing there’s a very good chance the discs won’t all play correctly when you receive them. The WB DVD rot issue is a lot more erratic than LaserDiscs were, so a disc could be fine now, but then the next time you go to watch it, it won’t play. “For Draper, a similar issue is with Volume Two of the classic RKO Tarzan films, which had its one and only physical media release from WB and is one of the affected titles. Its rarity means it’s often fairly high priced on the resale market, including on eBay. And then, even if you decide you’ve found a price you’re willing to pay, you have no way of knowing if the discs will turn out to be plagued by issues. Worse, even if everything looks fine when you receive them, it’s often fairly random if and when they might go bad after that. As Draper notes, while LaserDiscs were also prone to rot issues, there seemed to be a time they hit where if they hadn’t gone bad in this regard yet, you were probably fine. But the WB DVD rot issue is a lot more erratic, so a disc could be fine now, but then the next time you go to watch it, it won’t play. What’s a Typical DVD’s ‘Life Expectancy’?If there’s any silver lining, it’s that this widespread issue for this particular run of DVDs from this particular studio has also underlined that, by and large, we’re not seeing large-scale DVD rot occurring, even as DVDs themselves near their fourth decade of existence. Draper notes there were some poorly produced DVDs in the early days that suffered from rot, but those tended to be the exceptions. The random cruelty of DVD rot: Your Hot Dog: The Movie disc may be just fine, but what about your copy of Aliens in the Attic...? (Image credit: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)In regards to how long a typical DVD’s life expectancy is, Sony’s official statement is that “A typical DVD disc has an estimated life expectancy of anywhere from 30 to 100 years when properly stored and handled.” That’s a pretty substantial 70-year gap in terms of possibilities, but as we hurtle towards the 30th anniversary of the introduction of DVDs in 1996, Draper isn’t seeing too much cause for concern anytime soon. “I have early Warner DVDs from 1997, the first [WB] year, snapper case era, perfectly fine. No issues whatsoever. It's like, ‘Well, they managed to nail these perfectly!’ These still work great.” And so far, there also doesn’t seem to be any notable or widespread issues with Blu-rays. There have been some recent reports about Blu-ray concerns, but Draper notes there really isn’t any heavily repeatable examples he’s seen beyond some examples in France that likely can be sourced to a specific French manufacturer. (On the flip side, nearly all WB-produced HD DVD titles no longer play, for any who did initially invest in that doomed format when it was in a showdown with Blu-ray for dominance.)Sony’s official statement is that “A typical DVD disc has an estimated life expectancy of anywhere from 30 to 100 years when properly stored and handled.”“At one point, Criterion had a similar disc rot issue with some Blu-rays to the one Warner Bros. has with those DVDs, where discs manufactured at a specific plant were highly susceptible to rot. In that case, not too many titles were affected and Criterion did well dealing with the issue, confirming the details, including the specific titles to look out for, and beginning an exchange program for the discs from later repressings. As noted above, Warner Bros. are well aware of this ongoing problem with DVDs from that era and emailing whv@wbd.com can begin your process of trying to replace your discs, though Draper cautions he’s seen wildly different responses from those he’s spoken to, including how quickly – or not so quickly – someone gets back to you. And in some cases, you have to deal with pushing back on the hurdle of being asked for receipts on products few people will still have after so long (or perhaps never had, if it was a gift). Plus, while Warner Bros. may have newer editions of many of the titles in question, with many classic films now made using their MOD (Made on Demand) program, there are other films and series that are long out of print and WB will simply not be able to replace thanks to rights issues. WB’s statement does say they’ll then offer an alternate title in these situations, but that’s obviously far from ideal if you understandably just want the film or series you already had in your collection. Draper wishes the company had been more candid and up front about this issue in the manner Criterion was with their similar occurrence, including providing their own list of titles that may be affected. (The list he made still stands in for concerned consumers since there is no official one.) They also haven’t publicly acknowledged that these rotted discs all came from the same plant, nor explained that there is a way to identify that. Also, there’s the fact that even if you get a replacement disc of a more recent release of a film, it may very well be lacking bonus features that were only on that earlier version, something Draper has encountered firsthand with films like Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. That movie was recently given a Criterion Collection 4K UHD, but the 2006 Warner Bros. two-disc DVD has hours of exclusive extras that have not been replicated - and Draper’s copy has rotted. We physical media enthusiasts often note that, in the streaming era, keeping a copy on your shelf has become one of the only ways to ensure you can watch a favorite film or series whenever you want and without any concerns given how little stability there is regarding when and where titles are available online. For the most part, that thankfully remains true, but the WB DVD rot problem points out a glaring trouble spot that can have you ruing the Pennsylvania Cinram plant long after its closure.Header art designed by Amanda Flagg.

Nearly ten years ago, tech tycoons Sam Altman and Elon Musk launched OpenAI with a promise to develop AI tech to further the good of humanity.But as the years passed and the market surrounding artificial intelligence grew, so too did the ambitions of OpenAI's executives (Musk flamed out from the venture in 2019, and now runs his own AI company, called xAI.)Now, the venture that began as a transparent tech nonprofit is quickly turning into a typical Silicon Valley startup — complete with whistleblowers speaking out against the company's foray into the private market.Earlier this week, a group of former OpenAI employees, law professors, activists, and Nobel Prize winners sent a letter to the California and Delaware attorneys general pleading with them to stop OpenAI from transforming itself into a private company. Though a number of OpenAI's operations have pivoted to a commercial model in recent years — like ChatGPT, which charges a subscription for higher-performing versions — the company's current plan is to restructure itself as an entirely for-profit venture."OpenAI may one day build technology that could get us all killed," said former OpenAI employee Nisan Stiennon, alluding to the company's pursuit of Artifical General Intelligence (AGI), the hypothetical point at which machine intelligence matches or exceeds human ability. "It is to OpenAI’s credit that it’s controlled by a nonprofit with a duty to humanity. This duty precludes giving up that control."At the moment, most of the titans in the AI industry operate as commercial ventures, as opposed to nonprofits. With this move, OpenAI would simply be joining the rat race — but insiders say the restructuring would bring the company and its frontrunning techAs a nonprofit, OpenAI's directors have a legal obligation to follow the company's charter, which currently includes the goal "to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity," according to Todor Markov, a former OpenAI employee who now works for Anthropic, which is overseen by a 5-personlong-term benefit trust."Directors of the [public benefit corporation] would have no such fiduciary duty," Markov explains of the OpenAI transition. "They would be *allowed* to balance [that duty] against shareholder interests, but not *required* to do so... as long as they haven’t broken any laws, you have no recourse."Altman was previously ousted from OpenAI after pulling some shady stunts in 2023, including hiding the release of ChatGPT from his board of directors, and approving enhancements to ChatGPT 4.0 without running them through the company's jointly-organized Safety Board. That "blip," as it came to be known, only lasted five days before Altman was reinstalled, but it remains a black mark on the tech tycoon's reputation.The question of whether OpenAI is allowed to proceed as a public benefit corporation is up to the two states' attorneys general. Whether it ultimately matters is another question entirely; AGI technology is still a pipe dream at the moment, while a growing body of research suggests it's impossible, at least building on today's technology — which would make the AGI threat of a for-profit OpenAI vastly overblown.Share This Article

Sad, dizzyingly over-scheduled and suffering a serious case of “thumb fatigue”, midway through last year, Anne* decided to delete her dating apps.For the previous four months, the 31-year-old Sydney resident had been attempting to achieve two big adult milestones at once: finding love and finding a place to buy. Every Saturday, it felt as though she was being priced out of another suburb, and at auctions she was mainly surrounded by couples. Then she would come home, open Hinge and experience a crushing sense of rejection “on such a personal level”.Worse still, first dates were beginning to feel as transactional as real estate. “There’d be no attempt to go on a second date or explore any further, which I think is also a bit of an app mentality,” she says. “No huge sparks to start with, so there’s plenty more out there.”The cost of dating was weighing on her too. “Going for drinks a couple of times a week … doesn’t seem that much until it starts adding up really quickly.” Anne’s policy had always been to split bills on first dates, “But then there were times when I was like, ‘Oh, I would just much rather he paid for me, so I can save a little bit,’” she says. “It’s a weird one – I’m normally quite a generous person, but I felt I had to really keep that in check.”It wasn’t just going on dates that took a toll on her finances: her app of choice, Hinge, cost money to use. She would occasionally pay for “Roses” – a way of showing a potential match your interest. “There were a few times where I thought, ‘Oh, it’s only $15, I’ll just do that.’ And then, again, that very quickly starts adding up.”Her mental health “completely destroyed”, she realised “I can’t do both of these things” and turned her full focus to house hunting.“It was so much all at once.”Anne is not alone in logging off.Not enough people are paying for dating apps, data shows. Illustration: Koshiro K/AlamyShares in Match Group, the US tech company which operates the world’s biggest portfolio of online dating services including Tinder, Hinge, and OkCupid, have fallen by more than two-thirds over the past five years. Shares in rival Bumble Inc are down nearly 95% since their pandemic highs.The reason for the steep falls is simple: not enough people are paying for their apps.While the number of people who paid to use Hinge increased by 290,000 in 2024, according to Match Group’s latest financial report, 679,000 people stopped paying for Tinder. The numbers suggest that while some people are migrating to Hinge, it’s not nearly enough to offset those who logged off altogether.There were also steep losses among some of Match’s other brands. Overall, Match suffered a net loss of 704,000 paying subscribers over the course of a year, with Meetic, OkCupid, Plenty of Fish, BLK, Chispa and The League among the declining platforms.Bumble did not respond to Guardian Australia’s request for comment. Match Group declined to comment for this story, but referred to an open letter by its chief executive officer, Spencer Rascoff.“To reach our full potential, we must confront a hard truth: we haven’t always met the high standards we set for the user experience,” Rascoff said in the letter, shared on LinkedIn.“Too often, our apps have felt like a numbers game rather than a place to build real connections, leaving people with the false impression that we prioritise metrics over experience.”‘It just felt like such a huge betrayal’An Australian Institute of Criminology survey found three-quarters of web and app dating service users had experienced sexual violence while using these platforms. Photograph: Maria Korneeva/Getty ImagesJohn* has dipped in and out of online dating in various forms over the last seven years. The now 51-year-old met his previous long-term partner at a music festival, and says: “It’s just completely different, connecting with a person face-to-face.”Although he enjoyed meeting new people, “nothing ever came out of it”, he says. He also found the frequent ghosting frustrating. “That never feels nice.”Recently, John decided to try US-based online dating service eHarmony, because its more elaborate, questionnaire-based approach to matchmaking sounded promising.After spending “quite a bit of time” on his questionnaire, John discovered the site was “effectively paywalled” and you “couldn’t even see other people’s profiles” without paying a fee.skip past newsletter promotionSign up to Saved for LaterFree newsletterCatch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tipsPrivacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotionAlready disheartened by online dating, he didn’t want to spend the money. Then he attempted to delete his eHarmony account, but found no clear way to do so. When he contacted the company through its customer service portal, the response sent by eHarmony, seen by Guardian Australia, said: “Unfortunately we cannot delete your account at this time due to a pending legal matter in Australia. However, we have made your profile inaccessible to any potential new matches. Your account will remain visible to your existing contacts.”John said he was “flabbergasted” by the response.“Especially dating site data, it’s pretty vulnerable information,” he says. “It just felt like such a huge betrayal, because if they couldn’t delete it, why didn’t they say it at the very beginning?”A spokesperson for eHarmony said the company was “deeply committed to providing every member of our community with a best-in-class experience”.“Everyone who joins eHarmony begins with a free basic membership,” they said. “Basic Members can view certain primary profile information about their matches, and they can also engage in limited communication with their matches at no charge.”They said that, for legal reasons, eHarmony was required to retain “certain relevant information” which included “user-related data”.“As this is a pending legal matter, we are unable to comment further at this time,” they said.John made a complaint to NSW Fair Trading. While the agency determined his complaint did not fall within its jurisdiction, Fair Trading told Guardian Australia that 45 of the 56 complaints about dating services it received since 1 January last year were about eHarmony, mainly in relation to cancellation and cooling-off periods. After John’s experience with eHarmony, he decided to “delete everything”. He likens online dating to a sugar rush, and says the occasional first date just didn’t weigh up against the “emotional cost”.“It makes you feel like you’re connecting with people … you’ve got all this choice,” he says. “But it’s not nourishing, there’s no actual … human connection.”Dating app users risk more than disappointment. An Australian Institute of Criminology survey of 9,987 web and app dating service users found three-quarters had experienced sexual violence while using these platforms, and one-third were subjected to in-person sexual violence perpetrated by someone they met online.On 1 April, the Albanese government’s new code of conduct for dating services came into effect. Designed to reduce harm, it covers the most popular dating platforms including Bumble, RSVP, Grindr and the Match Group. Platforms now risk penalties including formal warnings for not complying with the code.While most of her friends are partnered, Anne says those who are single feel “quite over” using dating apps. A gay male friend confided his app experiences have been “really frustrating”. Anne says she found this “quite reassuring – that it’s not just straight men being terrible”.Eventually, after eight months and 92 apartment viewings, Anne found a flat. When she settled into her new home, after five months away from dating, she decided to go back on the apps. But after months of stress, “I just had really run down my reserves of resilience.” She tried speed dating, which felt like “throwing money into a gutter” and soon deleted Hinge again.Now she’s going to take a new approach to meeting people in real life: salsa dancing lessons. “Worst-case scenario, I’m getting a bit of exercise, learning a new skill,” she says. “It’s not a complete waste of money.”*Names have been changed

Welcome back to Week in Review! We’ve got tons of news for you this week: Slate EVs spotted in the wild; Airbnb pricing updates; a hack at Blue Shield; and much more. Let’s go! Get a clue: Cluely is an AI-based tool that helps people cheat on exams, sales calls, and even job interviews. Though one of the co-founders was kicked out of Columbia over a similar tool, and one of the company’s ads falls short, Cluely boasts a $5.3 million monthly ARR. Guess cheaters do win sometimes? I’m interested: EV maker Slate has operated in relative secrecy until TechCrunch published a report revealing Bezos’ financial involvement, as well as its plan to price its EV at around $25,000. Now the company is planting concept cars around LA to garner interest. Seeing red: Tesla had its Q1 earnings call on Tuesday, and we got a look at how the company is doing. In short, it’s not doing well: Tesla’s net income reflects a 71% drop from the same quarter last year, and it was the worst quarter for Tesla deliveries in more than two years. This is TechCrunch’s Week in Review, where we recap the week’s biggest news. Want this delivered as a newsletter to your inbox every Saturday? Sign up here. News Image Credits:Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto / Getty Images No more hidden fees: Airbnb will now automatically show the total cost for a given property, including all charges, when people search for properties.  Just vibing: Adaptive Computer’s “vibe coding” platform makes it easier for non-programmers to build apps, just using text prompts. The company recently announced a $7 million seed round, led by Pebblebed. It’s still bad, though: While the government tries to pass legislation aiming to change teens’ experience online, a new study from Pew Research shows that some teens find social media to be a positive influence: According to the study, 74% of U.S. teens said social media makes them feel more connected to their friends, and 63% said that online platforms give them a place to express their creativity. Great, awesome: Blue Shield of California notified customers this week of a data breach. The insurance giant said it used Google Analytics to track how its customers used its websites, but a misconfiguration had allowed for personal and health information to be collected as well. Down bad: Bluesky went down for users Thursday night, making us wonder how a decentralized network could even go down in the first place. On Friday, Bluesky confirmed that it had been hit by a DDoS attack. Checkmate! Chess.com boasts that it now has 200 million members. Albert Cheng, chief growth officer at Chess.com, credits the company’s continued product innovation as one of the reasons it has seen strong and sustained growth. Go with the Flow: Former WeWork CEO Adam Neumann’s proptech company, Flow, has secured over $100 million in funding, bringing its valuation to approximately $2.5 billion. This certainly raised eyebrows, given the problematic history of WeWork.  Analysis Image Credits:Rebecca Bellan Tesla troubles: Backlash against Elon Musk has risen to such a level that Tesla’s lawyers feel the need to warn investors it could damage the company’s brand and business.

A golden eagle in flight.getty California is offering up to $1.5 million in grants for projects to keep golden eagles in three counties from being killed by wind turbines, an energy source blamed for the deaths of thousands of these endangered birds. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife issued a call April 21 for “high-quality” proposals spanning a wide variety of project types to help protect golden eagles survive in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area in the San Francisco Bay Area’s Alameda and Contra Costa counties as well as at the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area in central Kern County. Proposals can include creating models to assess collision risks and collect/analyze telemetry data on golden eagle movements and their habitat usage. The state is also open to such projects as: Conducting golden eagle studies and surveys, Evaluating suitable habitats and survival factors, and Assessing effective management practices and deterrents. “Priority will be given to projects designed to support the needed research to better understand how the local golden eagle population is impacted by wind generation and how that affects golden eagles across their range to develop effective management and conservation measures,” the grant notice stated. Proposals are due July 30, with individual funding awards varying from $10,000 to $1.5 million. The total funds available are $2.43 million for golden eagle conservation. The money is from California’s share of a final settlement with ESI Energy LLC (a wholly owned subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources LLC), which entered into a plea agreement with the U.S. District Court’s District of Wyoming for violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act associated with the “unpermitted take of bald and golden eagles.” “ESI pled guilty to three counts of violating the MBTA, each based on the documented deaths of golden eagles due to blunt force trauma from being struck by a wind turbine blade at a particular facility in Wyoming or New Mexico, where ESI had not applied for the necessary permits. ESI further acknowledged that at least 150 bald and golden eagles have died in total since 2012, across 50 of its 154 wind energy facilities. 136 of those deaths have been affirmatively determined to be attributable to the eagle being struck by a wind turbine blade,” according to a U.S. Department of Justice press release from April 5, 2022. A statement was issued April 5, 2022 by Rebecca Kujawa, president and CEO of NextEra Energy Resources and then-president of NextEra Energy Partners, about the agreement between the DOJ and ESI Energy. “The reality is building any structure, driving any vehicle, or flying any airplane carries with it a possibility that accidental eagle and other bird collisions may occur as a result of that activity,” the statement noted. “We have a long-standing and well-earned reputation for protecting our environment and positively co-existing with and supporting wildlife around our facilities, and we have never sited a wind turbine knowing an eagle would fly into it nor have we taken any action in disregard of federal law.”A female golden eagle flying by a wind energy installation.Mike Lockhart, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Golden Eagle Fatalities and Wind Turbines Concern about bird mortality rates due to wind turbines has long been expressed. The number of fatalities is estimated with varying numbers – and harder to pinpoint with more wind farms being built and likely bird deaths increasing. Golden eagles casualties are more high-profile than other birds deaths linked to wind energy. A recent statistic about the death rate of golden eagles due to wind turbines was put forth in an Emory University news article in 2023. It estimated that up to three golden eagles die per year at a single wind farm in the United States. “Golden eagles, like many other raptors, know how to take the path of least resistance. When they spread their wings and take to the skies, they typically look for updrafts (upward pushes of air) which enable them to sustain flight longer by soaring and conserving energy. However, the locations and conditions that enable this kind of flight are also favorable for wind energy generation, increasing the potential of collisions between wind turbines and eagles and other similar animals,” noted the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office, which has studied mitigation technologies. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory developed a new software called the Stochastic Soaring Raptor Simulator to predict the long-distance flight paths that golden eagles may take as they ride updrafts. “Understanding and minimizing the risks to raptors is critical to achieving the nation’s renewable energy production goals. Being able to visualize just how these magnificent creatures might fly around wind power plants will help developers and operators consider how wind turbines and eagle wings can safely share space,” according to an NREL announcement from 2022 about the new predictive software tool. One objective of the software is to provide wind farm operators with a new mitigation tool. Federal Protections for Golden Eagles Golden eagles are protected by three federal laws: the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Lacey Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service states that these laws prohibit possessing, using and selling eagles or their feathers and parts. “A number of other activities, including the transportation of eagles and feathers and parts that have been illegally obtained, are also prohibited under these laws,” USFW says. “The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act has prohibited take of bald eagles since 1940 and golden eagles since 1962. Take means to pursue, shoot, shoot at, poison, wound, kill, capture, trap, collect, destroy, molest or disturb. Such restrictions help to ensure the future viability of eagles in the wild.”U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service map showing golden eagle locations in the U.S.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service There are thought to be 30,000 golden eagles, which can live for as long as 30 years in the wild, in the U.S. These rare birds migrate from Canada and northern U.S. locations to areas with milder winter weather. “Golden eagles tend to migrate during midday, along north-south oriented cliff lines, ridges and escarpments. These topographies offer uplift from deflected winds and help eagles seek out food. Golden eagles will forage during migration flights and use this uplift from heated air, which also comes from open landscapes, to move efficiently during migration and seasonal movements. In doing so, they often glide from one thermal to the next and sometimes move in groups with other raptor species,” USFS notes. Their wingspans can be as large as 7 feet. Males weigh less than 10 pounds, while females can weigh as much as 14 pounds. Golden eagles tend to avoid urban areas. Biden-era FWS Updated Eagle “Take” Permits with New Wind, Power Line Conditions The push to develop renewable energy sources, such as wind energy, was given a boost under the Biden administration’s multiple efforts to meet federal green energy goals. The recognition of eagle deaths as a result of wind turbines can be found in a recent federal regulation. The FWS issued a final rule Feb. 12, 2024 for “Permits for Incidental Take of Eagles and Eagle Nests.” A take is defined to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct. This may include significantly changing or degrading habitat if it kills or injures wildlife by significantly impacting essential breeding, feeding, or sheltering. The stated objective was to improve permitting efficiency and effectiveness with clearer regulations that would also benefit eagle conservation. It also included new “general permit options for qualifying wind-energy generation projects, power line infrastructure, activities that may disturb breeding bald eagles, and bald eagle nest take.” (An incidental take means a foreseeable take happens as an unintentional result of an activity.) The rule contains new provisions with criteria for incidental eagle takes for permitting wind energy projects and power line infrastructure. It creates a general wind energy permit option for projects in areas that are low risk to eagles. It also says all power line entities are eligible for general eagle incidental take permits. FWS “anticipates increased benefits to eagle populations as more power line entities obtain permits and implement required avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures.”

One of the biggest improvements to hit wireless headphones is the inclusion of lossless audio via USB. Instead of relying on a wireless Bluetooth connection, which always introduces compression and therefore some loss of musical detail, the newest headphones let you connect to a smartphone or computer using a USB-C cable, which lets 100% of those digital music zeroes and ones stream to your cans, with no compression at all. Sadly, being tethered once again via a cable to our devices is the price we must pay for digital music perfection. And generally speaking, I’m OK with that (though lossless via a wireless connection would be so much better). What drives me nuts, however, are the thick, inflexible USB-C cables that often ship with USB Audio headphones. Recommended Videos Take, for example, the Beats Studio Pro. They were the first Apple-created headphones to support USB Audio when they debuted (the AirPods Max with USB-C has since been updated to support this feature too). Despite their fairly high $350 price, they come with USB-C cable that might be fine for charging, but is unpleasant to use while you wear them. USB-C cables may look similar, but they can feel very different. Simon Cohen / Digital Trends Lest you think I’m picking on Beats, I’ve seen the same problem with other cans, too. JBL’s $399 Tour One M3 — a mesmerizing technological achievement — also come with a USB-C cable that needs to have its kinks worked out by a massage therapist. Paying more for your headphones doesn’t necessarily solve the problem. Lately, I’ve been spending time with Focal’s incredible Bathys MG, a $1,299 set of wireless cans that sound amazing, especially when connected via USB-C. You’d think that at that price, Focal would include a thin, buttery soft, tangle-free, braided USB-C cable. Nope. It’s only microscopically more manageable than the Beats and JBL cables. Related What’s my beef with beefy cables? They’re awkward and they feel bad. Try plugging one of these hefty cords into a laptop. You’ll quickly find that your arm bumps into it regularly. Since there’s very little give, that translates into movement you can feel through the headphones. If you’re on the go, plugged into your phone, you may be able to hear the noise of the cable being jostled. Thick cables conduct more than just electricity; they conduct vibrations, too. Master & Dynamic MW75 cables. Chef’s kiss. Simon Cohen / Digital Trends Ironically, the best USB-C cable I have come across, didn’t even come with a set of USB Audio headphones. It’s the power cable that comes with Master & Dynamic’s MC300 headphone stand. It’s as thin and light as a standard analog cable, and very supple. I don’t think Master & Dynamic (M&D) ever intended it to be used as a lossless digital cable, but it works beautifully in that role. In fact, I think M&D simply gets the whole cable thing in a way that other audio companies don’t. Both the USB-C and 3.5mm cables that come with the company’s flagship MW75 wireless headphones, are thin, supple, and braided — a joy to use. Am I making too big of a deal out of cable quality? Perhaps. But I suspect that very soon, mine won’t be the only voice asking audio companies to create better cables. I also suspect that these same companies know that people care about cords. Beats may not ship the Studio Pro with a nice USB-C cable, but it will happily sell you a premium USB-C cable in your choice of four colors, for $19. It’s still not as good as M&D’s cables, but with a tangle-free, braided cover, it’s a big improvement over the stock Studio Pro unit. And hey, Sony, if you’re reading this, I have some advice. Rumor has it that you will soon launch your next-gen XM Series wireless headphones, which will almost certainly be called the WH-1000XM6. And while I’ve heard nothing definitive about their specs, I’d be shocked if you didn’t finally include USB Audio (honestly I don’t know how you’re so late to this party). If this is true, please, for the love of lossless, give us a USB-C cable that’s as thin and flexible as the analog cables you’ve been giving us for years (or as close to that as possible). Consider this a call for a higher caliber of cable. The kind of cord we can count on; a more pliable wire. Because if we’re going to enjoy all the benefits of lossless listening, we need to lose these lousy leads. Editors’ Recommendations

Quantum computing companies are funding university training programs to ensure they have enough new talent to fuel the industry. Marijan Murat/picture alliance via Getty Images 2025-04-26T23:59:52Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? The AI field faces a significant talent shortage, with too few skilled workers to fuel the industry. Quantum computing startups have noticed and are trying to avoid the same problem. Some quantum companies are funding certificate programs and university courses to train new talent. Quantum computing companies are learning from missteps made during the artificial intelligence boom and are investing heavily in training programs to ensure the fledgling industry maintains its momentum.The goal is to avoid a talent shortage like the one AI companies are trying to navigate. While hiring for AI-related roles has surged in recent years, the pool of potential workers with the educational background and technical know-how to train large language models, write AI algorithms, and engineer new AI applications hasn't kept up.Erik Garcell, director of quantum enterprise development at quantum computing software company Classiq Technologies, told Business Insider that quantum computing companies have taken notice of the hiring challenges facing the AI industry and are trying to circumvent them before they become a problem."At Classiq, we actually have a whole academic program we're kicking off here, working with universities to deploy quantum curriculum, because not every school has one, and those that do, we're trying to advocate for more of the hands-on practicum side of things," Garcell said.Research published by the international consulting firm Randstad in November found that 75% of companies adopt AI and hire for AI-related roles. Still, just 35% of talent have received AI training in the last year. That labor pool comes with a significant age gap, with just one in five baby boomers being offered AI skill development opportunities, compared to almost half of Gen Z workers, and a 42 percentage point gender gap favoring men.That gap persists despite a surge in the need for new talent. PwC found in its 2024 Job Barometer that the share of jobs that require specialized AI skills has grown 700% since 2016 — three times the rate of other job types — and having AI skills comes with the potential for a 25% wage premium.The talent pool in the quantum industry, which is just a fraction of the size of the AI field, is even smaller, but demand is growing. The trade publication The Quantum Insider reported that quantum computing is expected to create an estimated 250,000 new jobs by 2030, jumping to 840,000 by 2035.Preparing for quantum's 'ChatGPT moment'Quantum computing is a rapidly evolving field attracting major interest from tech giants like IBM, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Google. Since it combines computer science, math, and quantum mechanics, it remains deeply technical and expensive to advance.But while the industry is still in its infancy, Garcell said the major players in the quantum field believe its potential benefits — including advancements in medicine, materials science, and cybersecurity — are worth early investment to ensure a talent shortage doesn't derail its progress."IBM really did put out quite a lot of really good educational content for quantum computing; they nurtured the industry very early on with a lot of that," Garcell said. "I'm very happy to say that they have a lot of really great learning available, same with companies like Pennylane, just great educational content for free that you can start diving into."IBM has partnered with quantum startups like Q-CTRL to build its quantum learning program, which includes free online courses outlining fundamental topics like building quantum algorithms and error-correcting codes. Other companies, like Google, Pennylane, and Microsoft, offer similar independent courses with certificates of completion to identify those with in-demand quantum skills that recruiters are searching for.The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Chicago, and the University of California, Berkeley, offer some of the most comprehensive quantum computing courses available at academic institutions.Garcell said he recently taught a three-day introductory course at MIT to introduce the university's student body to quantum technology. The school also partners with Classiq to offer an official certification course online."Right now is just a great time for finding content out there for those who just want to get their hands dirty with quantum computing," Garcell said. "In the industry, there's been a lot of talk about when we're going to have the 'ChatGPT moment,' where everyone turns their head and goes, 'Oh, this technology exists!' where they might not have known it existed before. People are going to start turning their heads, and it's going to make a lot of noise — we just want to be ready." Recommended video