Day: March 11, 2025

MINJA sneak attack poisons AI models for other chatbot users

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] They call their technique MINJA, which stands for Memory INJection Attack. “Nowadays, AI agents typically incorporate a memory bank which stores task queries and executions based on human feedback for future reference,” Zhen Xiang, assistant professor in the school of computing at the University of Georgia, told The Register. “For example, after each session Read more about MINJA sneak attack poisons AI models for other chatbot users[…]

NASA’s Chevron Technology Has Quieted the Skies

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Shortly after dawn on March 27, 2001, NASA pilot Bill Rieke took off from an airfield just outside of Phoenix in NASA’s blue-and-white Learjet 25 and flew low over a series of microphones for the first flight test of a groundbreaking NASA technology. On one of the plane’s engines was an experimental jagged-edged nozzle that Read more about NASA’s Chevron Technology Has Quieted the Skies[…]

REGENT Begins Sea Trials of First Passenger-Carrying Electric Seaglider

Posted on by Robin Edgar

REGENT Craft, the Rhode Island-based developer and manufacturer of all-electric seagliders, revealed today the world’s first full-scale crewed seaglider and completed the first on-water tests, showcasing the successful technical validation of the novel maritime vessel with humans on board and marking a pivotal moment in transportation history. The 12-passenger Viceroy seaglider prototype, at 55ft long Read more about REGENT Begins Sea Trials of First Passenger-Carrying Electric Seaglider[…]

Firmware update bricks HP printers, makes them unable to use HP cartridges

Posted on by Robin Edgar

HP, along with other printer brands, is infamous for issuing firmware updates that brick already-purchased printers that have tried to use third-party ink. In a new form of frustration, HP is now being accused of issuing a firmware update that broke customers’ laser printers—even though the devices are loaded with HP-brand toner. The firmware update Read more about Firmware update bricks HP printers, makes them unable to use HP cartridges[…]

Bad news for Starlink: Earth’s atmosphere is shrinking

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Earth’s atmosphere is shrinking due to climate change and one of the possible negative impacts is that space junk will stay in orbit for longer, bonk into other bits of space junk, and make so much mess that low Earth orbits become less useful. That miserable set of predictions appeared on Monday in a Nature Read more about Bad news for Starlink: Earth’s atmosphere is shrinking[…]

New Battery Harvests Energy From Radioactive Nuclear Waste

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] researchers in Ohio have developed a small battery powered by nuclear waste. They exposed scintillator crystals—a material that emits light when it absorbs radiation—to gamma radiation, which is produced by nuclear waste. The crystals’ light then powered a solar battery. The study, published January 29 in the journal Optical Materials: X, demonstrates that background Read more about New Battery Harvests Energy From Radioactive Nuclear Waste[…]

Apple must allow app sideloading in Brazil within 90 days, judge orders

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Brazil has ordered Apple to allow users to bypass the App Store and sideload apps within 90 days, according a report in Valor Econômico seen by 9to5Mac. The new ruling follows similar orders issued in Europe and elsewhere that were referenced by the Brazilian court. “[Apple] has already complied with similar obligations in other countries, Read more about Apple must allow app sideloading in Brazil within 90 days, judge orders[…]

A well-funded Moscow-based global ‘news’ network has infected Western artificial intelligence tools worldwide with Russian propaganda

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A Moscow-based disinformation network named “Pravda” — the Russian word for “truth” — is pursuing an ambitious strategy by deliberately infiltrating the retrieved data of artificial intelligence chatbots, publishing false claims and propaganda for the purpose of affecting the responses of AI models on topics in the news rather than by targeting human readers, NewsGuard Read more about A well-funded Moscow-based global ‘news’ network has infected Western artificial intelligence tools worldwide with Russian propaganda[…]

Undocumented commands (backdoor) found in ESP32 Bluetooth chip used by a billion devices

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Update 3/9/25: After receiving concerns about the use of the term ‘backdoor’ to refer to these undocumented commands, we have updated our title and story. Our original story can be found here. The ubiquitous ESP32 microchip made by Chinese manufacturer Espressif and used by over 1 billion units as of 2023 contains undocumented commands that could Read more about Undocumented commands (backdoor) found in ESP32 Bluetooth chip used by a billion devices[…]

In no-brainer, Volkswagen to Bring Back Physical Buttons to All Vehicles – but still misses some important ones

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Volkswagen is bringing back physical buttons to all its vehicles after pivoting to touch screens in recent years. In an interview with Autocar, Andreas Mindt, design chief at the German auto giant, called the decision to remove these buttons “a mistake.” “From the ID 2all onwards, we will have physical buttons for the five most Read more about In no-brainer, Volkswagen to Bring Back Physical Buttons to All Vehicles – but still misses some important ones[…]