When Chinese AI startup DeepSeek became a global sensation in January, it not only shocked Silicon Valley but also startled ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company. The Chinese tech giant had already launched Doubao, its own flagship AI assistant app with tens of millions of users. But when DeepSeek became the best-known Chinese AI company overnight, no… Continue reading How ByteDance Made China’s Most Popular AI Chatbot
Author: Wired Magazine
The Best Gifts for Book Lovers (2025): From E-Readers to Boxed Sets
I love losing myself in a good book, and I’m not the only one. Finding great gifts for book lovers isn’t just about testing for the best e-reader (which we have!) or rounding up all the accessories worth adding to your Kindle (we’ve done that too), but rather it’s about setting up your favorite reader… Continue reading The Best Gifts for Book Lovers (2025): From E-Readers to Boxed Sets
The AI Industry’s Scaling Obsession Is Headed for a Cliff
A new study from MIT suggests the biggest and most computationally intensive AI models may soon offer diminishing returns compared to smaller models. By mapping scaling laws against continued improvements in model efficiency, the researchers found that it could become harder to wring leaps in performance from giant models whereas efficiency gains could make models… Continue reading The AI Industry’s Scaling Obsession Is Headed for a Cliff
Beyerdynamic’s Amiron 300 Are Cheaper Than Ever
Looking for a pair of true wireless earbuds that pack a little more oomph than your average AirPods? The Beyerdynamic Amiron 300 (8/10, WIRED Review) are currently marked down to just $180 at Amazon, a full $100 off their list price, and the lowest price we’ve seen yet for these upgraded earbuds. Photograph: Parker Hall… Continue reading Beyerdynamic’s Amiron 300 Are Cheaper Than Ever
10 Great Gifts for Mom: Ideas for the Best Mother (2025)
Moms do such a good job finding gifts for the rest of us, it can feel intimidating to find great gifts for Mom. Don’t just get them something that’s really about cleaning the house or doing chores: Instead, get them something that recognizes them as the cool person they are, whether they’re a skin care… Continue reading 10 Great Gifts for Mom: Ideas for the Best Mother (2025)
A Quarter of the CDC Is Gone
After the latest round of mass firings at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over the weekend, the union that represents agency employees estimates that around 3,000 people this year—about a quarter of the agency’s workforce—have departed the agency. That number includes workers affected by layoffs earlier this year, as well those who… Continue reading A Quarter of the CDC Is Gone
A New Attack Lets Hackers Steal 2-Factor Authentication Codes From Android Phones
Android devices are vulnerable to a new attack that can covertly steal two-factor authentication codes, location timelines, and other private data in less than 30 seconds. The new attack, named Pixnapping by the team of academic researchers who devised it, requires a victim to first install a malicious app on an Android phone or tablet. The… Continue reading A New Attack Lets Hackers Steal 2-Factor Authentication Codes From Android Phones
4 Apple Airtags Are $65 Right Now
Picked up some fun new toys in the last few weeks that you need to keep track of? Amazon currently has Apple AirTags in a four pack marked down to just $65, an excellent price for these easy-to-use location tracking devices. Courtesy of Apple Apple AirTags (4-pack) While there are plenty of similar tracking tags… Continue reading 4 Apple Airtags Are $65 Right Now
Feds Seize Record-Breaking $15 Billion in Bitcoin From Alleged Scam Empire
“Chen Zhi was directly involved in managing the scam compounds and maintained records associated with each one, including records tracking profits from the scams that explicitly referenced ‘sha zhu,’ or pig-butchering,” the indictment claims, alleging there were also “ledgers of bribes to public officials.” One document allegedly held by Chen listed that two scam centers… Continue reading Feds Seize Record-Breaking $15 Billion in Bitcoin From Alleged Scam Empire
This Watch Brand Has Made a Completely New Kind of Strap Using Lasers
Want a watch strap that’s as comfortable as fabric, as light as rubber, as strong as a metal bracelet, and as tactile as a Milanese mesh? Any watch fan looking to tick all of the above boxes would normally expect to be a dab hand with a spring bar removal tool to experience all the… Continue reading This Watch Brand Has Made a Completely New Kind of Strap Using Lasers