Techmeme
August 13, 2025, 12:35 PM

Top News

SemiAnalysis:
GPT-5's router directs queries based on complexity and intent, helping OpenAI allocate compute across low-value informational and high-value commercial requests  —  To many power users (Pro and Plus), GPT5 was a disappointing release.  But with closer inspection, the real release is focused …
Maxwell Zeff / TechCrunch:
OpenAI adds GPT-5 Auto, Fast, and Thinking settings to ChatGPT's model picker; Auto seems to work like GPT-5's model router that OpenAI initially announced  —  When OpenAI launched GPT-5 last week, the company said the model would simplify the ChatGPT experience.
Reuters:
Sources: the US secretly embedded location trackers in select AI chip shipments, such as in Dell and Super Micro servers, to detect illegal diversions to China  —  U.S. authorities have secretly placed location tracking devices in targeted shipments of advanced chips they see as being at high risk …
M.G. Siegler / Spyglass:
Perplexity's unsolicited $34.5B bid for Chrome with claimed VC backing is clearly a marketing stunt and maybe a signal to the judge in Google's antitrust case  —  Perplexity Makes Longshot $34.5 Billion Offer for Chrome  —  With its unsolicited bid for Google's browser …
Katherine Blunt / Wall Street Journal:
Victoria Song / The Verge:
Core Devices CEO Eric Migicovsky unveils the Pebble Time 2 in four colors, with a 1.5" e-paper display, multicolor RGB backlighting, and a 30-day battery life  —  The Time 2 sports a sleeker profile and RGB backlighting. … Now that Pebble is Pebble again, we're getting an official look …
New York Times:
Derek Thompson:
Studies suggest AI chatbots' sycophantic responses may increase narcissism among young and vulnerable users, potentially changing personality traits at scale  —  “I can imagine a future where a lot of people really trust ChatGPT's advice for their most important decisions,” Sam Altman said.
Ben Raab / Wall Street Journal:
A look at social media “clippers”, who are paid $0.50 to $2 per thousand views by streamers, podcasts, and startups to make buzzy moments go viral online  —  Companies are hiring ‘clippers’ to flood TikTok and Instagram with short, promotional videos  —  You know those buzzy viral clips you see on social media?
Bloomberg:
Crypto exchange Bullish raised $1.1B in its IPO, selling 30M shares for $37 each, above its $32-to-$33 marketed range, implying a $5.4B valuation  —  Bullish raised $1.1 billion in an initial public offering, pricing its shares above the marketed range.  —  The digital-asset exchange operator …
Bloomberg:
Amazon says it now offers same-day grocery delivery in 1,000+ cities and plans to bring it to 2,300+ more by the end of 2025; Prime subscribers get it free  —  Amazon.com Inc. plans to offer same-day grocery delivery in 2,300 cities by the end of the year, more than doubling the current number …
Financial Times:
Sources: OpenAI is preparing to back Neuralink rival Merge Labs, co-founded by Sam Altman, that aims to raise $250M at an $850M valuation, including from OpenAI  —  OpenAI in talks to invest in brain implant start-up that would compete with Musk's company  —  OpenAI and its co-founder Sam Altman …
Mark Gurman / @markgurman:
In response to Elon Musk's claims that the App Store favors ChatGPT, Apple says that it “is designed to be fair and free of bias” and has “objective criteria”  —  Apple on @elonmusk's claims: “The App Store is designed to be fair and free of bias. We feature thousands of apps through charts, algorithmic recommendations, and curated lists selected by experts using objective criteria.” https://www.bloomberg.com/...
Surbhi Misra / Reuters:
Bloomberg:
Chinese chip equipment supplier E-Town sues Applied Materials in the Beijing IP Court over alleged trade secret theft; Applied Materials hired two E-Town staff  —  Top US chip-equipment supplier Applied Materials Inc. was sued by a rival in China over what that company characterized as trade secret theft …
More: Reuters
Joedy McCreary / MedPage Today:
Study: endoscopists accustomed to using AI during colonoscopies detected fewer precancerous growths after the tech was taken away, raising “deskilling” concerns  —  - The adenoma detection rate (ADR) in more than 1,400 non-AI assisted colonoscopies dropped 6 percentage points …
Wall Street Journal:
US tech startups are reviving US hiring plans as President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill lets companies accelerate R&D tax deductions, starting in 2025  —  Faster deductions make adding staff cheaper when cash flow is critical, executives say  —  Tech startups are dusting off U.S. hiring plans …
More: Observer

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More News

Reuters:

Earlier Picks

Jagmeet Singh / TechCrunch:
Sharon Goldman / Fortune:
Bloomberg:
Emma Roth / The Verge: