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2024-09-26

OpenAI to Become For-Profit Company

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  • OpenAI is transitioning to a for-profit company, while maintaining a non-profit entity, which critics argue is now largely symbolic.
  • Concerns have been raised about the legality and ethics of using scraped internet data for training AI models without proper attribution or compensation.
  • The shift has led to high-level exits within the company and sparked debates about copyright laws and the potential exploitation of non-profit status.

Mira Murati leaves OpenAI

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  • Mira Murati's departure from OpenAI has ignited discussions about the company's restructuring and future directions.
  • Speculations include the possibility of departing employees starting new AI safety-focused companies or a shift in OpenAI's focus from AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) development to profit maximization.
  • The debate also encompasses challenges in AI regulation, the potential for AGI, and the broader implications of AI advancements.

PostgreSQL 17

  • PostgreSQL 17 has been released, featuring significant enhancements in performance, scalability, and adaptability to new data access and storage patterns.
  • Key improvements include better memory management, faster bulk loading, new SQL/JSON JSON_TABLE command, and simplified major version upgrades with new failover control.
  • The release also introduces new TLS options, incremental backups, and enhanced monitoring tools, continuing PostgreSQL's legacy of reliability and extensibility.

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  • PostgreSQL 17 has been released, featuring significant improvements such as vacuum operations using up to 20 times less memory and support for incremental backups.
  • New utilities include pg_combinebackup for combining backups and enhancements to postgres_fdw for pushing EXISTS and IN subqueries to remote servers.
  • The release has generated excitement in the community, particularly around the new JSON_TABLE functionality for handling JSON data within relational databases.

OpenAI to remove non-profit control and give Sam Altman equity

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  • OpenAI is shifting from non-profit control, granting equity to Sam Altman, which has sparked criticism for potentially contradicting the company's original mission.
  • Critics argue that this move may compromise AI safety and shift focus towards profit-driven decisions, raising ethical concerns.
  • The timing of this transition coincides with the departure of Mira Murati, adding to the controversy and concerns about leadership priorities.

Git-absorb: Git commit –fixup, but automatic

  • Git Absorb is a tool derived from Facebook's hg absorb, designed to streamline version control by automatically folding uncommitted changes into appropriate draft ancestor changesets.
  • It simplifies the process of applying review feedback by avoiding manual commits or interactive rebases, making it easier to manage feature branches and bug fixes.
  • Git Absorb can be installed via system package managers or compiled from source, and it offers configurable options to adjust commit ranges, auto-stage changes, and more.

Reactions

  • Git-absorb is an automated tool for creating fixup commits in Git, streamlining the process of correcting issues across multiple commits.
  • It is particularly useful for maintaining clean commit histories in pull requests (PRs) by automatically associating changes with the correct commits, reducing manual effort.
  • The tool is praised for its accuracy in identifying the right commits for changes, minimizing false positives and negatives, and saving time for developers who prefer logically small commits.

Rewriting Rust

  • The Rust programming language, initially innovative with features like memory safety and a modern package manager, now appears stagnant with slow progress and many unstable features.
  • The consensus process in Rust's development may be hindering its evolution, leading to extensive discussions that often result in dead ends, such as the unresolved Mutex improvement thread.
  • The author proposes significant changes, including function traits, compile-time capabilities, and adopting Zig's comptime concept, which would likely require a new edition of Rust due to incompatibility with the existing version.

Reactions

  • The discussion centers around the Rust programming language's RFC (Request for Comments) process and the balance between adding new features and maintaining simplicity.
  • The author argues that while Rust's core team is cautious about adding new features to avoid complexity, some existing features like Pin are already difficult to use and understand, suggesting a need for better design.
  • The debate highlights the tension between evolving a language to meet new needs and keeping it accessible and consistent for developers, with some features taking years to implement due to extensive deliberation.

Sam Altman: Long con was "child's play for me"

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  • Sam Altman, a prominent tech figure, is being discussed on Reddit with mixed opinions about his motives and actions.
  • Some users suggest Altman has been manipulative, while others argue he has significantly contributed to Reddit's success, transforming it into a multi-billion dollar company.
  • The discussion includes references to former Reddit CEOs and the impact of leadership changes on the company's trajectory.

Httpdbg – A tool to trace the HTTP requests sent by your Python code

  • httpdbg is a new tool for Python developers to debug HTTP(S) client requests easily.
  • It requires no external dependencies, setup, superuser privileges, or code modifications, making it simple to use.
  • The tool is designed to trace HTTP requests in tests back to API client methods, and it has been found useful by other developers.

Reactions

  • Httpdbg is a new tool for Python developers to trace HTTP(S) requests in their code, created by cle-b.
  • It simplifies debugging by linking HTTP requests to corresponding methods in the API client without requiring external dependencies, setup, superuser privileges, or code modifications.
  • The tool supports popular Python libraries such as requests, aiohttp, and urllib3, making it useful for developers who need to trace HTTP requests without using proxies or modifying their code.

DoNotPay has to pay $193K for falsely touting untested AI lawyer, FTC says

  • The FTC fined DoNotPay $193,000 for misleadingly advertising its AI as a "robot lawyer" capable of suing anyone with a click.
  • DoNotPay did not test its chatbot or employ lawyers to verify its claims, leading to the fine and a settlement without admitting liability.
  • This action is part of the FTC's broader initiative to address deceptive AI claims, highlighting the importance of transparency and verification in AI applications.

Reactions

  • DoNotPay has been fined $193K by the FTC for falsely advertising an untested AI lawyer, without attorney verification of AI outputs or legal claims.
  • Despite past positive reception, DoNotPay faces criticism for false advertising and other questionable practices, raising ethical concerns.
  • The fine is minor compared to DoNotPay's estimated $54 million annual revenue, highlighting the ongoing appeal of affordable legal services amidst a complex and costly legal system.

NKRYPT Sculpture

  • NKRYPT is a cryptography installation in Canberra, Australia, featuring eight stainless steel pillars with various ciphers, designed by Stuart Kohlhagen and installed in March 2013 for Canberra's Centenary.
  • The installation includes a range of ciphers such as Caesar, semaphore, scytale, binary, and more, inviting the public to decipher them, with some codes celebrating Canberra's Centenary offering prizes.
  • Some ciphers have been solved, revealing messages about historical figures and cryptographic methods, while others remain unsolved, adding an ongoing challenge for enthusiasts.

Reactions

  • The NKRYPT sculpture in Australia has sparked interest due to its column layout resembling the Little Dipper constellation, with potential encoded star spectra.
  • Observers note that the Little Dipper is not visible from the southern hemisphere, adding a layer of complexity to the puzzle.
  • The sculpture has drawn comparisons to famous cryptographic art like Kryptos and has engaged the puzzle-solving community, including those familiar with DEF CON challenges.

WP Engine is banned from WordPress.org

  • WP Engine has been banned from WordPress.org due to lacking a trademark license and disrupting communication about their disabling of a WordPress core feature for profit.
  • As a result of their legal actions against WordPress.org, WP Engine no longer has free access to WordPress.org resources and must manage their own systems and security.
  • WordPress.org advises users seeking a true WordPress experience to use any other host, as WP Engine is not considered part of the WordPress community.

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  • WP Engine has been banned from WordPress.org after disabling the news feature in the admin dashboard following a critical post by Matt Mullenweg, WordPress co-founder.
  • Mullenweg accused WP Engine of confusing customers and not contributing to WordPress, sparking debates about central control and open-source freedom.
  • Critics highlight the irony in Mullenweg's actions, given the existing confusion between WordPress.com and WordPress.org, and some suggest forking WordPress to prevent similar conflicts.

Cronexpr, a Rust library to parse and iter crontab expression

  • cronexpr is a Rust library designed for parsing and driving crontab expressions, supporting both standard and non-standard syntax extensions.
  • The library mandates timezone specification and supports IANA Time Zone Database names, ensuring accurate handling of time zones and DST (Daylight Saving Time).
  • Key features include handling edge cases like Vixie’s cron bug, and providing iterators for matching times, but it does not execute commands or support aliases like @hourly or @reboot.

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  • Cronexpr is a Rust library designed for parsing and iterating crontab expressions, with detailed documentation and support for non-standard features.
  • The project, initiated by tison, aims to simplify the understanding of complex cron rules and has been compared to other libraries like Cloudflare's Saffron.
  • Discussions among users highlighted the importance of features such as "hashed value" support for job staggering, timestamps, and timezones, with alternatives like APScheduler for Python also being mentioned.

Wordpress.org bans WP Engine, blocks it from accessing its resources

  • WordPress.org has banned WP Engine from accessing its resources, including themes and plug-ins, due to ongoing legal disputes.
  • This ban prevents WP Engine users from installing or updating plug-ins and themes, raising significant security concerns.
  • The conflict involves accusations of trademark violations and misuse of control, with both sides engaging in legal actions following public criticism from WordPress co-creator Matt Mullenweg.

Reactions

  • WordPress.org has banned WP Engine from accessing its resources, leading to controversy and debate within the community.
  • Critics claim Automattic, a competitor, is using WordPress.org's resources unfairly in a business dispute, raising concerns about potential power abuse.
  • The situation underscores the complexities of open-source contributions and the responsibilities of large companies, with some suggesting clearer rules for contributions based on company size.

Hacking Kia: Remotely Controlling Cars with Just a License Plate

  • In June 2024, vulnerabilities in Kia vehicles were discovered, allowing remote control over key functions using only a license plate, affecting models from 2014 to 2025.
  • Hackers exploited issues in Kia's infrastructure, including the owners.kia.com website and Kia Connect iOS app, to execute internet-to-vehicle commands and obtain personal information.
  • The vulnerabilities have since been fixed and were never exploited maliciously, with a detailed timeline showing Kia's response and remediation process.

Reactions

  • Kia's omission of interlocks in US vehicles has led to a significant increase in thefts, resulting in a crime wave and multiple lawsuits from various cities.
  • Vulnerabilities in Kia's system allow remote control of cars using just a license plate, raising serious security and privacy concerns.
  • The situation has sparked discussions on the necessity of connected features, potential solutions like disabling cellular modems, and the broader issue of software quality and regulatory needs in modern cars.

Did you personal website help you get hired? Tell about it

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  • Many developers report that personal websites and blogs have significantly contributed to their career opportunities, including job offers, freelancing, and consulting work.
  • Blogging about specific technologies or niche topics, such as React.js or multiplayer networking, can attract attention from recruiters and potential clients.
  • Personal websites and blogs serve as portfolios that showcase skills, projects, and critical thinking, often coming up in interviews and influencing hiring decisions.