How People Use ChatGPT — NBER large-scale study (w34255) A new NBER working paper (No. 34255), produced in collaboration with researchers from OpenAI and Harvard, analyzes a representative sample of about 1.5 million anonymized ChatGPT conversations to understand how people use the model in everyday life and at work. Quick summary Dataset: ~1.5 million anonymized conversations (representative sample). Main use cases: practical guidance (tutoring/how‑to/idea generation), information‑seeking (research, facts, recipes), and writing tasks (drafting, editing, summarizing, translating). Work vs. non‑work: Over 70% of use was non‑work related by July 2025; writing dominates work tasks (~30% of total usage). Interaction types classified as "Asking" (~49%), "Doing" (~40%), and "Expressing" (~11%). Economic implications: substantial decision‑support value, especially in knowledge‑intensive tasks; faster uptake in lower‑income countries and narrowing gender gaps among users. Method &…

iOS 26.1 Beta 1: Languages, Music & Photos Tweaks, Security Improvements Apple has released the first developer beta of iOS 26.1 (Sept 22, 2025). This update focuses on expanded language support for Apple Intelligence and AirPods Live Translation, UI improvements in Apple Music and Photos, and system security changes. Key changes Apple Intelligence: Adds support for Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (Traditional), and Vietnamese. AirPods Live Translation: New languages including Japanese, Korean, Italian, and Mandarin (Traditional & Simplified). Apple Music: Swipe on the song title to switch tracks. Photos: Improved video scrubbing slider for easier navigation. Phone keypad: New “Liquid Glass” number design. Calendar: Multi-calendar events now show full-color backgrounds. Security: "Rapid Security Updates" renamed to Background Security Improvement, enhancing pre-installation of security improvements and system files.…

Disney+ price hikes come Oct 21 — here’s what changes Disney will raise US prices for several Disney+ plans and bundles effective October 21. Standalone and bundle increases range from $2–$3 per month. Key price changes Disney+ (with ads): $12/month (+$2) Disney+ Premium (ad-free): $19/month (+$3) Disney+ & Hulu (with ads): $13/month (was $11, +$2) Disney+, Hulu & ESPN Select (with ads): $20/month (was $17, +$3) Disney+, Hulu & ESPN Select Premium (ad-free): $30/month (was $27, +$3) Disney+ Premium (ad-free), Hulu & ESPN Select (with ads) — legacy plan: $25/month (was $22, +$3) Disney+, Hulu & HBO Max Basic (with ads): $20/month (was $17, +$3) Disney+ Premium, Hulu Premium & HBO Max (no ads): $33/month (was $30, +$3) Some plans and bundles are unchanged for now (ad-free Hulu Premium, certain…

Riot’s 2XKO Fighting Game — What We Know (Update) Riot Games’ long-anticipated fighting game 2XKO (formerly Project L) recently had a developer update showcasing gameplay, characters and a pronunciation guide. Below is a concise summary of confirmed facts and corrections to some circulating claims. Confirmed Name: 2XKO (pronounced “two-ex-k-oh”). Gameplay: 2v2 tag-based fighting game set in the League of Legends universe — reminiscent of tag fighters like Marvel vs. Capcom. Platform plan: Riot has signaled a broader console release for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S; official full release targeted in 2025 per Riot communications. Official sources: Riot’s 2XKO site and announcement/trailer are the best primary references: https://2xko.riotgames.com/en-us/ Official trailer / gameplay Claims to correct / unconfirmed claims PC Early Access on October 7: Not confirmed by Riot. Official communications point…

Secret Service seizes SIM-server network in NYC capable of disabling cell service The U.S. Secret Service announced the seizure of a sophisticated network of SIM servers in the New York City area. According to reporting, the operation uncovered over 300 SIM servers and roughly 100,000 SIM cards across multiple sites. The network reportedly had capabilities including jamming cell towers, conducting distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, and enabling encrypted communications. An early analysis suggested the network could send up to 30 million anonymous text messages per minute. Key details Date disclosed: Reported ahead of the UN General Assembly Scope: 300+ SIM servers; ~100,000 SIM cards; devices concentrated within a ~35-mile radius Capabilities: Tower jamming, DDoS, encrypted comms; possible eavesdropping Quotes: "This network had the potential to disable cell phone towers and essentially…

Apple expands Tap to Pay on iPhone across five more European countries Apple has rolled out Tap to Pay on iPhone for merchants in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Monaco and Norway. The feature lets businesses accept in-person contactless payments using only an iPhone and an approved third-party iOS app — no extra hardware required. Platforms enabled at launch (selected) Estonia: SumUp, Revolut Latvia: SumUp Lithuania: SumUp, Revolut Monaco: Adyen, BNP Paribas Norway: Adyen, Nexi, PayPal, Stripe, SumUp, Surfboard Payments, Viva.com (includes BankAxept via Surfboard) Merchants using these supported platforms can accept Apple Pay as well as contactless credit and debit cards. Every Tap to Pay transaction is encrypted and processed using Apple’s Secure Element, a dedicated chip for storing sensitive payment data. Platforms must have a commercial agreement with Apple to…

Vonmählen Evergreen Go — Keyring Powerbank: specs, availability and first impressions Vonmählen has released the Evergreen Go, a compact powerbank designed to live on your keyring. With a 1,000 mAh battery and an integrated detachable USB‑C cable, the Evergreen Go is intended as an emergency top‑up rather than a full charger — Vonmählen estimates roughly a 25% charge for an iPhone. Key specifications Capacity: 1,000 mAh Connector: USB‑C (built‑in/detachable cable) Form factor: keyring / compact Use case: emergency boost, pocketable daily carry Where to get it Retailers listing the product include Exclusive Business Gifts and Digitec; product pages with specs and ordering options: Exclusive Business Gifts — Evergreen Go Digitec — Evergreen Go (black) Cadolino — product info Who is it for? Anyone who wants a low-friction, always-available emergency charger…

Death Stranding Mosquito — Animated Film Announced (Teaser) Kojima Productions and ABC Animation have released a teaser for an animated film titled Death Stranding Mosquito. The short confirms key staff and teases an original story set within the surreal, emotionally resonant Death Stranding universe. Key details Title: Death Stranding Mosquito (working title) Director: Hiroshi Miyamoto (ABC Animation) Producer: Hideo Kojima Screenwriter: Aaron Guzikowski (Raised by Wolves) Studio: ABC Animation Studio Release window: Not announced The teaser shows a hooded figure (not Sam Porter Bridges) encountering a BT-like dog creature and engaging in a brutal fist fight. Visually the trailer is striking and suggests the film will tell an original story in the games world rather than adapt the main game's plot directly. Trailer Official teaser: https://youtu.be/GFLoRTwPtic More coverage Gematsu: Death…

Meta Launches National Super PAC to Fight State AI Regulation Meta has launched a national super political action committee (PAC) called the American Technology Excellence Project to oppose state-level AI regulation. According to reporting by Axios, Meta is investing "tens of millions" into the effort. The PAC will focus on electing pro‑AI state candidates from both parties. Who is running it? The effort is being led by Republican operative Brian Baker, with operational support from Democratic consulting firm Hilltop Public Solutions. Goals and context The PAC aims to prevent a patchwork of state laws that Meta says could hamper U.S. competitiveness in AI, especially versus China. There have been over 1,000 state-level AI policy proposals introduced recently that range from transparency and safety requirements to limits on specific uses. "State…

Sharge Disk Pro: Portable SSD + Hub in one compact device Sharge has launched the Disk Pro — a very compact portable SSD that integrates the SSD module plus hub/docking features in a single unit. It's aimed at gamers, handheld/phone users and anyone wanting high-capacity, high-speed portable storage with extra connectivity. Key features Built-in SSD (options up to 4 TB reported) Fast transfer speeds (around 1,000 MB/s reported) Integrated hub: USB-A ports, USB-C (supports high-watt PD input and strong PD output to charge devices) HDMI 2.1 output (supports high-refresh 4K and potentially 8K modes) Integrated cooling fan to sustain performance under heavy use Magnetic mounting ring compatible with MagSafe/Qi2 and accessories for handhelds Short integrated USB-C cable for easy, cable-free carry Availability & pricing The Disk Pro is currently being…