Saving 100 terabytes of memory by optimizing 1.1.1.1's DNS cache
Cloudflare optimized the DNS cache of 1.1.1.1, saving 100 terabytes of memory. This improvement enhances performance and reduces resource usage for the DNS resolver.
saving memory with 1.1.1.1 DNS cache, small models arrive, and trade tariffs
First things first
Some cool tech stuff popped up online today, from big improvements in DNS to tiny AI models that are surprisingly capable. There's also chatter about AI ethics, hacking nostalgia, and how public backlash is hitting Silicon Valley.
Overall, it feels like we're balancing crazy innovation with a lot of questions about privacy, safety, and the future of AI. Just another day in the wild world of tech.
The top 6
Small Models Have Arrived
Small AI models like gpt-5.6-luna have become surprisingly capable and affordable, with costs around $0.10 per interaction. This shift reduces inference costs, making consumer and business AI applications more viable and scalable.
Trade (and Tariffs)
The xkcd comic titled 'Trade' humorously illustrates the complexities of international trade and tariffs. It uses a simple, humorous drawing to comment on economic interactions.
507 Mechanical Movements
507 Mechanical Movements is an online resource showcasing animated illustrations of various mechanical movements, with some animations currently available. The site aims to eventually feature all 507 movements with ongoing updates and social media notifications.
Aphantasia Beginner's Guide
Aphantasia is the inability to create mental images, affecting visual and other senses in imagination. The guide offers assessments, explanations, and community resources for those discovering they have aphantasia.
We found a division by zero bug in FFmpeg with a vibecoded fuzzer
A division by zero bug was discovered in FFmpeg using a vibecoded fuzzer. This highlights potential vulnerabilities in the multimedia processing software.
Support our sponsor
Your Newsletter Deserves Better Than a Free Plan
beehiiv handles the unglamorous parts of running a newsletter - deliverability, referrals, ad revenue, subscriber growth - so you can spend your time writing. Built by people who scaled Morning Brew. Free to start, no card required. 14-days free, then save 20% for 3 months.
Quote of the day
Be the change you wish to see in the world.
Mahatma Gandhi
Also big today
Suica, Japan's First IC Transit Card
Suica is Japan's first integrated IC transit card, allowing contactless payments for transportation. It operates without a battery, using electromagnetic fields to power transactions.
Gemini Omni 1.1 Flash
Google has released Gemini Omni 1.1 Flash, an update to its AI language model. The new version aims to improve performance and capabilities for developers building with the model.
Decompiling a Nintendo 64 Game in 84 Days
The decompilation of the Nintendo 64 game Snowboard Kids was completed in 84 days, significantly faster than previous efforts, thanks in part to AI and community collaboration. The project aims to aid speedrunners and modders by providing full source code for analysis and modification.
Gemini-3.5-Transcribe
Google has introduced Gemini-3.5-Transcribe, a live transcription model that is fast, accurate, and supports voice editing commands. It can transcribe speech into text with features like adding punctuation or starting new paragraphs automatically.
Judge Rules Trump Administration’s Blacklisting of Anthropic Was Illegal
A judge has ruled that the Trump administration's blacklisting of AI company Anthropic was illegal. The ruling challenges government actions that restricted Anthropic's ability to operate.
Stripe said to abandon $50B pursuit of PayPal
Stripe is reported to have abandoned its plans to acquire PayPal in a deal valued at $50 billion. The potential acquisition was under consideration but did not proceed.
Pass it on
Enjoying the digest?
Forward it to someone who'd like it, or send them the link to subscribe.
Share hn.todayOne for the road
I got a new pen that can write under water.
It can write other words, too.
Worth a look
US Government Designates Host of Noblogs.org a "Global Terrorist"
The US government has designated the Italian collective Autistici/Inventati as a 'Global Terrorist' due to its privacy-focused communication services. Critics argue the designation is based on false claims linking the group to violent extremist organizations.
Sovereign Tech Agency invests €500k in Flatpak
The Sovereign Tech Agency invested €508,640 in a two-year project to improve Flatpak, a Linux application distribution platform. The initiative aims to enhance Flatpak's security, sandboxing, and overall user and developer experience within the free software ecosystem.
Please stop flooding our projects with AI slop to furnish your CV
Open source contributions are increasingly being gamed with AI to boost profiles and impress recruiters, often with superficial fixes like spelling corrections. Maintainers are concerned that AI-generated pull requests may not reflect genuine interest or meaningful engagement with projects.
Two German airport workers die of malaria after 'mosquito arrives on plane'
Two workers at Frankfurt Airport died of malaria after mosquitoes arrived on a plane, causing a rare outbreak among employees. Authorities are analyzing captured mosquitoes and advising staff to seek medical attention if symptoms appear.
Doctors are finally learning to manage antidepressant withdrawal
Doctors are increasingly recognizing and managing withdrawal symptoms from antidepressants. This shift is leading to a reevaluation of depression treatment approaches.
Autism mutations drive neurodevelopmental pathology
Mutations linked to autism influence neurodevelopmental processes, contributing to associated pathologies. These genetic changes affect brain development and function, shedding light on the biological basis of autism spectrum disorders.
Song of the day
Deep cuts
Emacs 31: An unofficial guide to Markdown-ts-mode
Emacs 31 introduces markdown-ts-mode as an experimental feature-rich mode supporting CommonMark and GitHub Flavored Markdown, with integrations like Pandoc. Users must manually load and configure the mode, as it is not enabled by default, and it requires Tree-sitter for optimal performance.
Silicon Valley is in denial in face of widespread backlash
Public backlash against data centers, surveillance cameras, and AI products like Ray Bans has grown significantly, with widespread protests and negative sentiment towards Silicon Valley. Industry leaders remain in denial or are disconnected from this rising opposition, despite clear signs of public discontent.
Show HN: We built open OpenRouter that distills usage into a better model
OpenRouter is an open-source project that refines usage data into a more effective model for AI applications. It aims to improve the efficiency and accuracy of AI systems by distilling user interactions into better training data.
Nvidia projects $673B in sales as AI demand widens
Nvidia forecasts $673 billion in sales for fiscal 2028, driven by expanding AI demand beyond hyperscalers. Supply constraints currently limit the company's ability to meet this growth, as Nvidia broadens its customer base to include regional AI firms and startups.
Show HN: OpenTIE and OpenXWA, Modern Ports of Tie Fighter and X-Wing Alliance
OpenTIE and OpenXWA are modern ports of classic space simulation games Tie Fighter and X-Wing Alliance. They aim to revive these titles with updated technology and gameplay enhancements.
MIT's Ad Hoc Committee on AI Use in Teaching, Learning, and Research Training
MIT's Ad Hoc Committee on AI Use in Teaching, Learning, and Research Training recommends adapting educational processes to incorporate AI responsibly and ethically. The report emphasizes principles like humility, intentionality, and human-centered learning to guide the Institute's future in AI-enhanced education.