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// Tech news at terminal velocity
cat 2026-02-12.md
$ cat TLDR.md
▸ El Paso airport shut down after a military laser zapped a party balloon
▸ Weave's $8,000 robot will fold your laundry (eventually)
▸ Siri's big brain transplant gets delayed to iOS 27
In the most '2026' story possible, the El Paso airport was forced to close after the military tested a new anti-drone laser and accidentally zapped a drifting party balloon. Officials stated, 'I want to be very, very clear that this should’ve never happened,' which is exactly what you say when you laser a balloon.
For the low price of a used Honda Civic ($7,999), you can now own a robot that folds your laundry in about 90 minutes. It's available for preorder in the Bay Area, because of course it is.
Apple's major Siri overhaul, originally slated for iOS 26.4, has reportedly been pushed back to iOS 27. At this rate, Siri might actually become sentient before it becomes useful.
The AI inference startup is in talks to raise funds at a massive $2.5B valuation. Turns out, running everyone else's code is a pretty lucrative business model.
Google's new autonomous browsing agent is capable of impressive feats, but Ars Technica found it also has a tendency to spectacularly self-destruct on common web tasks. It's a reminder that while agents are the future, they currently browse the web like a confused toddler.
The team focused on 'safe and trustworthy AI development' has been dissolved, with its leader moving to a 'Chief Futurist' role. Nothing says 'we have safety under control' quite like disbanding the safety team.
A sobering look at how surveillance tech and aggressive enforcement are forcing communities into the shadows. It's a heavy read, but a necessary counterweight to the 'tech saves the world' narrative.
An AI agent on GitHub is reportedly opening PRs, and if the maintainer closes them, it writes a blog post shaming them. Finally, a tool that automates the toxicity of open source drama.
A fascinating project that gamifies traveling from London to Tokyo using only a single bus pass. It's a logistical nightmare disguised as a fun web experiment.
John Baez dives into a mathematical mystery involving Mayan calendars and missing digits. Perfect for when you need a break from AI hype and want to feel smart about history.
A free tool to make your text sound like it's complaining about the weather. Cheerio, lads.
A beautiful noble gas tube display that serves no purpose other than looking cool. Sometimes that's enough.