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  tech 5

  Sarvam open-sources 30B, 105B reasoning models; here’s what it means

  (Tech-Economic Times / 2026-03-08 08:02)

  Indian AI startup Sarvam has open-sourced its two reasoning models, Sarvam 30B and Sarvam 105B. These models, trained from scratch in India with government-supported compute resources, excel in Indian languages and perform well on global benchmarks.

  The models use a Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) architecture for computational efficiency, with the 30B model designed for practical deployment and the 105B flagship model built for enterprise-grade applications and complex reasoning. Open-sourcing the models aims to foster transparency, lower barriers to AI development, and accelerate innovation.

  The release is part of a full-stack AI effort, with the startup having developed the complete training and deployment stack. The models already power the company's in-house offerings: the Samvaad conversational platform and the Indus AI assistant.

  Main topics: Sarvam's model release, model specifications and architecture, the significance of open-sourcing, training and development context, and intended applications.

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  tech 5

  Columbia Flouted Its Own Policies and Let ICE Into University Buildings

  (The Intercept / 2026-03-08 09:00)

  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested a Columbia University student by entering campus housing without a judicial warrant, misleading security by claiming to search for a missing child. An investigation reveals Columbia repeatedly failed to follow its own policies requiring judicial warrants for law enforcement access, despite explicit rules barring ICE from non-public property.

  The article details multiple incidents where international students were targeted, indicating a systemic failure by university staff to demand proper documentation. Critics within the Columbia community contrast this lapse with the university's investment in policing campus protests, suggesting misplaced institutional priorities.

  The main topics covered are the warrantless ICE arrest, Columbia University's failure to enforce its own protective policies, and the perceived institutional hypocrisy in prioritizing protest policing over student protection from immigration authorities.

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  tech 5

  Left-Handed People Are More Competitive, Says Science

  (Science Latest / 2026-03-08 09:00)

  A new study investigates why left-handedness persists at a stable rate of around 10% in humans, despite seeming non-essential for survival. It tests the evolutionary hypothesis that left-handers gain a competitive advantage in one-on-one situations due to their rarity and unpredictability, while right-handers excel in cooperative behaviors.

  The research involved questionnaires and manual dexterity tests with over 1,100 participants. It found that left-handers, particularly males, showed higher levels of personal-development competitiveness and a greater desire to win, but no direct link to motor skill differences.

  The study concludes that left-handedness may be preserved by an evolutionarily stable strategy, where its competitive benefit exists only while it remains a minority trait, creating a balanced equilibrium with the cooperative majority of right-handers.

  Main topics: Evolution of left-handedness, evolutionary stable strategy (ESS), competitive vs. cooperative advantages, psychological study on handedness and personality.

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  tech 6

  Memory bit flips cause up to 15% of Firefox crashes, asserts Mozilla engineer — figure inferred from 470,000 auto-submitted crash reports

  (Latest from Tom's Hardware / 2026-03-08 10:00)

  A Mozilla engineer's analysis of 470,000 crash reports indicates that memory bit flips cause up to 15% of Firefox crashes. These bit flips, where a memory cell unintentionally changes value, can be triggered by electrical issues, hardware defects, aging components, or even cosmic rays.

  The data suggests half of these bit-flip crashes stem from genuine hardware problems, though the exact contribution from cosmic rays remains unknown. The engineer emphasizes that all devices with memory, from PCs to smartphones, are susceptible to such errors.

  The main topics covered are the significant proportion of software crashes caused by hardware memory errors, the various causes of bit flips, and the universal susceptibility of electronic devices to this phenomenon.

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  tech 5

  California sues websites hosting 3D printed gun files — online platforms allegedly violate multiple civil codes regarding unlawful distribution and manufacturing of firearms

  (Latest from Tom's Hardware / 2026-03-08 10:20)

  California has filed a civil lawsuit against two websites and three individuals for hosting 3D-printed gun files and instructions, alleging violations of new state civil codes regarding the unlawful distribution and manufacturing of firearms. The state seeks civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation, arguing the activity enables dangerous individuals to create untraceable "ghost guns" without background checks.

  The lawsuit is part of a broader legislative effort, with California and other states like New York and Washington considering bills to restrict 3D printer sales or implement file detection to curb the proliferation of such weapons. However, these proposed regulations face criticism from 3D printing enthusiasts who worry they are overbroad, technically challenging, and could stifle innovation.

  The main topics covered are the civil lawsuit against specific websites and individuals, the cited California civil codes, the stated rationale from the Attorney General, and the wider legislative landscape and debate surrounding the regulation of 3D-printed firearms.

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  tech 6

  China warns of fresh chip crisis as Nexperia dispute flares up

  (Tech - South China Morning Post / 2026-03-08 10:30)

  China has warned the Netherlands it must bear responsibility if the ongoing dispute between Dutch chipmaker Nexperia and its Chinese subsidiary reignites a global automotive chip shortage. The Chinese commerce ministry stated that Nexperia's headquarters, by disabling office accounts for all employees in China, has seriously disrupted normal operations.

  The remarks follow accusations from Nexperia's China subsidiary that its Dutch parent company's actions have caused significant operational disruption. This dispute is an escalation of a months-long conflict that previously severely impacted the global chip supply chain.

  The main topics covered are the diplomatic warning from China, the corporate dispute disrupting operations, and the potential risk to the global semiconductor supply chain.

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  tech 3

  Seagate FireCuda X1070 SSD spotted at retailers — listed at $829.99 before any official announcement

  (Latest from Tom's Hardware / 2026-03-08 10:40)

  Seagate's unannounced FireCuda X1070 SSD, a PCIe 4.0 drive in capacities up to 4TB, was listed by retailers for $829.99 before being taken down. Its specifications show it has lower sequential speeds and endurance ratings compared to the existing FireCuda 530R model, which may be due to its suspected use of QLC NAND.

  The drive is certified for gaming handhelds and includes bundled software subscriptions. Notably, Seagate opted for a PCIe 4.0 interface instead of Gen5, positioning this as its first new consumer SSD release in over a year, though no official announcement or launch details have been provided.

  The main topics covered are the product's premature retail listing and specifications, its comparative performance against an existing model, the suspected NAND technology and interface choice, and the lack of official confirmation from Seagate.

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  tech 5

  OpenAI on Surveillance and Autonomous Killings: You’re Going to Have to Trust Us

  (The Intercept / 2026-03-08 11:10)

  OpenAI has secured a Pentagon contract, which it claims incorporates its safety principles prohibiting domestic mass surveillance and the use of AI for autonomous lethal strikes. This follows the collapse of a similar deal with rival Anthropic, which insisted on those prohibitions.

  However, OpenAI and the U.S. government have not released the actual contract, preventing independent verification of these claims. The company has offered only public statements and snippets of language, leading to criticism and questions about the deal's specifics and its safeguards.

  The main topics covered are the Pentagon contract, the stated ethical principles (against mass surveillance and autonomous weapons), the lack of contract transparency, and the comparison to Anthropic's failed negotiations.

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  tech 4

  Tiny, long-armed dinosaur leads to rethink of dinosaur miniaturization

  (Ars Technica / 2026-03-08 11:30)

  A new fossil discovery challenges the long-held hypothesis that alvarezsaurid dinosaurs evolved small body sizes specifically to specialize in eating ants and termites. The newly discovered species, Alnashetri cerropoliciensis, was a very small, nearly mature dinosaur but appears to have been a pursuit predator of insects and small mammals, not a specialized ant-eater.

  This finding suggests the evolutionary path to miniaturization in this dinosaur lineage was more complex and less linear than previously believed. The fossil, the most complete and smallest alvarezsaurid found in South America, lived approximately 90 million years ago.

  The main topics covered are the reevaluation of alvarezsaurid evolution and diet, the description of the new Alnashetri cerropoliciensis fossil, and the implications of this discovery for understanding dinosaur miniaturization.

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  tech 5

  The uncomfortable truth about hybrid vehicles

  (The Verge / 2026-03-08 12:00)

  A major issue with plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) is that owners frequently fail to plug them in, which negates their potential climate and fuel efficiency benefits. Studies show that in both North American fleets and across Europe, PHEVs are often operated primarily on gasoline, resulting in real-world fuel consumption much higher than official estimates.

  This is occurring even as hybrid sales surge due to slowing EV growth, with automakers promoting PHEVs as a transitional technology. However, the market is shifting, with some companies moving away from PHEVs toward other technologies like extended-range EVs, especially without strong regulatory incentives.

  Main topics: Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), real-world fuel efficiency and emissions, consumer charging behavior, hybrid vehicle market trends.

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  tech 4

  Jensen Huang set to receive $4 million bonus from Nvidia, 0.002% of his $164 billion net worth — a small incentive for one of the richest people on earth

  (Latest from Tom's Hardware / 2026-03-08 12:17)

  Nvidia has set a $4 million cash bonus for CEO Jensen Huang, contingent on the company meeting specific financial targets by January 2027. This bonus is a small fraction of his total compensation, which is heavily weighted toward stock awards that drive his immense net worth.

  After taxes, the bonus is estimated to net Huang only $2 to $2.5 million. The article contrasts this incentive with Huang's vast wealth from his Nvidia shareholdings, noting his base salary has seen minimal increases over the years.

  The main topics covered are executive compensation, wealth comparison, and taxation of bonuses.

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  tech 4

  The cute and cursed story of Furby

  (The Verge / 2026-03-08 12:17)

  Furby was the massively popular 1998 toy, notable for its limited but engaging interactive behaviors like looking at users and speaking nonsense. Its success is attributed to significant technical achievement and an unconventional approach to programming personality.

  The article frames Furby's design as representing a unique philosophy on human-computer interaction that could inform modern AI development. It promotes a podcast episode that will explore Furby's origins, rise to fame, and cultural impact.

  The main topics covered are Furby's popularity and characteristics, its technical and design significance, and the promotional details for a related podcast episode.

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  tech 6

  China warns of global chip shortages as Nexperia dispute escalates again

  (Tech-Economic Times / 2026-03-08 12:19)

  China's commerce ministry warns that escalating internal conflict at chipmaker Nexperia risks triggering a new global semiconductor supply chain crisis. The dispute involves Nexperia's Dutch headquarters and its Chinese subsidiary, with the Dutch side supporting the removal of Chinese parent Wingtech's control and the Chinese unit demanding its restoration.

  Recent actions, including the Dutch headquarters disabling office accounts for China-based employees, have intensified the conflict and stalled negotiations. China holds the Netherlands responsible for any resulting crisis, while the Dutch entity disputes claims that its IT actions have affected production.

  The impasse persists despite diplomatic efforts, with the Chinese subsidiary declaring independence and the Dutch parent suspending key supplies.

  Main Topics: China-Netherlands trade dispute, corporate conflict within Nexperia, global semiconductor supply chain risk, automotive industry impact.

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  tech 5

  Norwegian gov't consumer watchdog calls out ‘enshittification’ of video games, connected devices, and others — claims hardware deliberately degraded after purchase

  (Latest from Tom's Hardware / 2026-03-08 13:08)

  A Norwegian government consumer watchdog has published a report accusing tech companies of systematically degrading hardware and software after purchase, a process it calls "enshittification." The report highlights connected devices, printers, video games, and cars as particularly affected, where features are removed or locked behind subscriptions via software updates.

  It calls for EU action, urging stronger enforcement of existing laws and the passage of a new Digital Fairness Act. The report also welcomes upcoming EU right-to-repair rules that will challenge manufacturers' use of parts pairing to restrict third-party repairs.

  The main topics covered are the alleged post-sale degradation of products, the push for EU regulatory action, and the right-to-repair movement.

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  tech 4

  Jessica Jones joins the fray in Daredevil: Born Again trailer

  (Ars Technica / 2026-03-08 13:13)

  The critically acclaimed series Daredevil: Born Again has been renewed for a second season following its successful revival. The first season's dramatic choices, including killing off Foggy Nelson and writing out Karen Page, refocused the narrative on the parallel journeys of Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk.

  With Matt concentrating on his legal work and Fisk becoming mayor of New York, both characters struggled against their darker natures. The series was praised as an entertaining, character-driven story that honors its predecessor while establishing its own identity.

  The main topics covered are the show's critical and renewal success, key plot developments from its first season, and the central character arcs of Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk.