All posts tagged: sources

Palo Alto Networks paid 0M for Thrive-backed Console, sources say

Palo Alto Networks paid $500M for Thrive-backed Console, sources say

Published by Miika Tikkanen

Palo Alto Networks paid $500 million in cash and stock to acquire Console, a two-year-old startup that uses AI agents to automate routine IT help desk tasks, according to two people with knowledge of the deal. The companies officially announced the acquisition on Tuesday but didn’t reveal terms of the deal. Since its founding in 2024, Console has raised $29 million across two rounds: a $6.2 million seed led by Thrive Capital and a $23 million Series A co-led by DST Global and Thrive. Before the sale, Console was valued at $157 million, according to PitchBook, delivering a rapid return for investors including SV Angel, Abstract Ventures, and notably Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora, who participated as an angel investor. Palo Alto Networks declined to comment. The cybersecurity giant said that it will integrate Console into Cortex, its platform that uses AI to automatically detect and neutralize threats. Console’s agentic functionality will allow security teams to investigate and resolve alerts using natural language, giving Cortex “the arms and legs to deliver autonomous security outcomes …

AI-generated Grokipedia articles are longer, less readable, and cite fewer sources than their Wikipedia counterparts

AI-generated Grokipedia articles are longer, less readable, and cite fewer sources than their Wikipedia counterparts

Published by José Betancourt

A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences provides evidence that automated encyclopedias differ from human-edited platforms in both structure and political leaning. The research suggests that rather than uniformly removing bias, these automated systems tend to favor longer, more complex narratives while introducing rightward shifts in certain topic areas. These findings raise questions about how artificial intelligence shapes public knowledge and source verification. In October 2025, the American technology company xAI, founded by Elon Musk, launched Grokipedia. The platform was presented as the world’s first artificial intelligence-written encyclopedia. Musk promised the platform would fix left-leaning biases alleged to exist in the widely used online encyclopedia Wikipedia. Wikipedia’s content is written and maintained by volunteer editors. Grokipedia generates and reviews its content using a large language model, which is a type of artificial intelligence trained on vast amounts of text to predict and generate human-like language. Visitors can suggest edits, but the automated system reviews and implements the changes without traditional human editorial oversight. To evaluate these claims, researchers at …

‘People should aim to get a variety’: the pros and cons of popular protein sources

‘People should aim to get a variety’: the pros and cons of popular protein sources

Published by Sam Flores

Do you think you’re not getting enough protein? Debbie Fetter, an associate professor in nutrition at the University of California, Davis, likes to ask her students this same question. In a lecture hall of more than 500 people, “almost every hand shoots up”, she says. Protein is top of mind for consumers. A 2024 survey of 3,000 Americans suggests most are trying to eat more of it, and research shows that foods labeled “more protein” are especially appealing to consumers. And as consumers become more aware of their intake, they may wonder whether some sources are better than others. “People should aim to get a variety of protein sources in their diet,” says Andrea Glenn, an assistant professor of nutrition at New York University. Here’s how to navigate individual needs and preferences, while getting the nutrients needed for good health. What is protein and why is it important? Protein is essential for building and repairing tissues, and for making enzymes, hormones and disease-fighting antibodies. It is made up of smaller units called amino acids. The …

Lachy Groom to back India startup Pronto at a 0M valuation, sources say

Lachy Groom to back India startup Pronto at a $200M valuation, sources say

Published by Miika Tikkanen

Pronto, an Indian instant house-help startup, is finalizing a funding round led by tech investor Lachy Groom that would value the fast-growing company at about $200 million after investment, TechCrunch has learned. The deal is expected to bring in about $20 million in fresh capital and would mark a sharp jump from the $100 million valuation at which the company raised $25 million in a Series B round led by Epiq Capital in early March, doubling its valuation in a matter of weeks, two people familiar with the matter said. Bengaluru-based Pronto completed about 500,000 orders last month and is currently handling around 24,000–25,000 orders daily, up from about 18,000 daily bookings in March and roughly 1,000 last year. Founded in 2025, Pronto connects households with on-demand domestic help for services such as cleaning and chores, promising quick turnaround times through a managed network of workers. In March, Pronto founder Anjali Sardana told TechCrunch the startup had expanded from one city to 10 — including Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, and Mumbai — and from five to …

NotebookLM in Gemini: New Workflow, Sources & Syncing

NotebookLM in Gemini: New Workflow, Sources & Syncing

Published by Miika Tikkanen

Google’s integration of NotebookLM with the Gemini AI platform introduces a structured way to handle information and streamline tasks. As explained by Universe of AI, one standout feature is persistent memory, which allows the system to remember details from previous interactions. This is particularly useful for long-term projects, as it reduces repetitive data entry and helps maintain continuity in workflows. Explore how this update enhances workflow organization with features such as task categorization through folders and the ability to consolidate conversations into notebooks. Learn how customizable AI instructions can assist with tasks like summarizing complex research or creating detailed reports. Gain insight into AI Studio, which offers tools for organizing knowledge, including mind mapping, flashcard creation and slide deck development. Key Features of the NotebookLM & Gemini Integration TL;DR Key Takeaways : Google has integrated NotebookLM with the Gemini AI platform, offering a unified system for productivity, knowledge management and workflow organization. Key features include persistent memory, customizable AI instructions, seamless synchronization and advanced tools for organizing and accessing information. New tools like AI Studio, …

Inside Sources Say Sam Altman Is a Sociopath

Inside Sources Say Sam Altman Is a Sociopath

Published by José Betancourt

Sign up to see the future, today Can’t-miss innovations from the bleeding edge of science and tech You don’t build a trillion dollar AI empire by being a saint. In a seeping new investigative piece from The New Yorker, numerous tech insiders paint a picture of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman as a relentless liar who wants everyone to like him while manipulating even the people closest to him to get what he wants. AI safety, in this slippery portrait of Altman, is merely a bargaining chip he dangles like a carrot to get concerned engineers — and anyone else worried about the tech’s far-reaching consequences — on board, before going back on his word. Some of these insiders were strikingly blunt in their diagnoses: Altman was a literal “sociopath,” one OpenAI board member alleged. “He’s unconstrained by truth,” they told The New Yorker. “He has two traits that are almost never seen in the same person. The first is a strong desire to please people, to be liked in any given interaction. The second is …

How to Use NotebookLM for Research, Summaries & Sources

How to Use NotebookLM for Research, Summaries & Sources

Published by Miika Tikkanen

What if you could transform mountains of scattered information into clear, actionable insights with just a few clicks? Futurepedia explores how NotebookLM, a innovative AI platform, is redefining how we organize, analyze, and use data in their latest video. Imagine uploading your research papers, meeting notes, or creative ideas into one centralized space and having an AI not only summarize the key points but also generate citations, brainstorm ideas, or even create flashcards and presentations. It’s not just about saving time, it’s about unlocking entirely new ways to think and work. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or a creative, NotebookLM promises to make your workflow smarter, faster, and more intuitive. In this quick-start guide, we’ll break down the standout features that make NotebookLM so versatile, from its conversational insights to its ability to create custom AI assistants through Gemini integration. You’ll discover how to use the Studio Panel to turn raw data into visually engaging formats like mind maps or slide decks, and how the platform adapts to everything from academic research to trend …

Bass directed watering down of Palisades fire after-action report, sources say

Bass directed watering down of Palisades fire after-action report, sources say

Published by Sam Flores

For nearly two months, Mayor Karen Bass has repeatedly denied that she was involved in altering an after-action report on the Palisades fire to downplay failures by the city and the Los Angeles Fire Department in combating the catastrophic blaze. But two sources with knowledge of Bass’ office said that after receiving an early draft, the mayor told then-interim Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva that the report could expose the city to legal liabilities for those failures. Bass wanted key findings about the LAFD’s actions removed or softened before the report was made public, the sources said — and that is what happened. The changes to the report, which was released on Oct. 8, came to light through a Times investigation published in December. The sources told The Times that two people close to Bass informed them of the mayor’s behind-the-scenes role in watering down the report. One source spoke to both of the people; the other spoke to one of them. The sources requested anonymity to speak frankly about the mayor’s private conversations with Villanueva …

Scientists demonstrate how reliable news sources are weaponized to spread falsehoods

Scientists demonstrate how reliable news sources are weaponized to spread falsehoods

Published by José Betancourt

A new study suggests that online misinformation is not limited to fabricated stories from unreliable websites but also includes factual reports from mainstream media that are repurposed to support false claims. Researchers found that social media users who frequently share fake news also share specific articles from reputable news outlets that contain narratives common in misinformation. The findings indicate that bad actors may strategically select true information to lend credibility to misleading arguments. The study was published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour. Social scientists and media researchers have traditionally struggled to quantify the spread of falsehoods online. The standard approach involves identifying specific websites or domains known for publishing fabricated content and tracking how often links to those sites appear on social networks. This method assumes a clear division where “fake” news comes from bad sources and “real” news comes from good sources. However, this source-based binary fails to capture the nuance of how information actually circulates. A factual story from a reliable outlet can be taken out of context to imply something untrue. …