Reading List
The most recent articles from a list of feeds I subscribe to.
Mistral's CEO proposes a revenue-based levy for AI model providers in the EU, to be invested "in new content creation and supporting Europe's cultural sectors" (Arthur Mensch/Financial Times)
Arthur Mensch / Financial Times:
Mistral's CEO proposes a revenue-based levy for AI model providers in the EU, to be invested “in new content creation and supporting Europe's cultural sectors” — A revenue-based charge would protect the livelihoods of copyright holders and bring legal certainty
Super Mario Bros. Wonder Talking Flower toy is a jump scare machine
I spent a week living with Nintendo's new Talking Flower toy. The plastic menace jump scared me the entire time.
Much ado about protein
This is Optimizer, a weekly newsletter sent every Friday from Verge senior reviewer Victoria Song that dissects and discusses the latest gizmos and potions that swear they're going to change your life. Opt in for Optimizer here. Wellness crazes come and go, but protein is forever. At least that's how it feels as the algorithm […]
Starling launches an AI banking assistant that actually does things

The UK challenger bank is rolling out Starling Assistant to personal account holders today, billing it as the UK’s first agentic AI financial assistant. It can set up savings goals, organise bill payments, and even quiz you on your own spending, all from a voice or text prompt. Starling Bank has been building methodically towards […]
This story continues at The Next Web
Amazon is making an Alexa phone
Over 10 years after shelving the Fire Phone, Amazon is reportedly planning to launch another smartphone, this time focused on Alexa. According to Reuters, the phone, which is code-named "Transformer," will center around Amazon's AI assistant, but Alexa won't "necessarily be the primary operating system of the phone." "Transformer" is currently in development in Amazon's […]