🧠 Is tech making us less smart?

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Greetings! Your latest quick tech update is here:

☀️ On this day: On October 18, 1954, Regency, in partnership with Texas Instruments, announced the Regency TR-1, the world’s first commercially produced transistor radio. This groundbreaking device revolutionized consumer electronics by introducing portable, battery-powered radio technology, paving the way for the modern era of personal and mobile devices.

What’s happening:

• 🧠 Is tech making us less smart?

• 💬 WhatsApp bans general-purpose AI chatbots

• ⚛️ Amazon reveals plans for compact nuclear plant

• 📸 Facebook’s AI now scans your photo library

• 👆 Apple preps first-ever touchscreen MacBook

• + 📊 Daily poll and results

• + 📈 Trending tools and resources

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Hand-picked news:

🧠 Is tech making us less smart? ↗️LINK

• What: MIT researchers found that people who used ChatGPT to write essays showed less brain activity in areas linked to focus, creativity, and memory. Many couldn’t even recall what they’d just written. It suggests that heavy AI use may make our brains “switch off” when we rely on it too much.

• Why: Technology is designed to make life easier — but our brains need challenge (“friction”) to stay sharp. Constant scrolling, multitasking, and AI tools give us quick answers but weaken attention and independent thinking.

• Impact: Experts warn we may be entering a “stupidogenic society,” where machines think for us. The more we outsource memory and problem-solving to tech, the harder it may become to think deeply or remember on our own.

💬 WhatsApp bans general-purpose AI chatbots ↗️LINK

• What: WhatsApp has updated its Business API terms to ban general-purpose AI chatbots—like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Luzia—from operating on its platform starting January 15, 2026. Only business-focused bots for customer support or notifications will still be allowed.

• Why: Meta says WhatsApp’s API was built for business messaging, not chatbot distribution. The surge of AI assistants caused high message volumes and didn’t fit WhatsApp’s revenue model, since it couldn’t charge for those interactions.

• Impact: The move effectively blocks independent AI assistants from WhatsApp, leaving Meta AI as the only built-in chatbot—and signaling Meta’s intent to keep tighter control (and profits) over AI use on its platforms.

⚛️ Amazon reveals plans for compact nuclear plant ↗️LINK

• What: Amazon unveiled new renderings of the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility, a small modular nuclear power project near Richland, Washington. Built with Energy Northwest and X-energy, the first phase will produce 320 megawatts, with eventual capacity reaching 960 MW—enough to power about 770,000 homes.

• Why: Amazon aims to secure cleaner, more reliable energy for its data centers and operations while supporting next-gen nuclear tech that’s cheaper and faster to build.

• Impact: The facility could create 1,000 construction and 100 permanent jobs, marking a major step toward scalable, carbon-free power by the 2030s.

📸 Facebook’s AI now scans your photo library ↗️LINK

• What: Facebook has launched a new AI feature in the US and Canada that scans users’ camera rolls (with permission) to create collages, edits, and memory-style recaps. The tool suggests highlights like vacations or events using photos stored on your phone.

• Why: Meta says the goal is to help users rediscover “hidden gems” and automate creativity, but using the AI tools or sharing results may allow Meta to train its models on that media.

• Impact: While opt-in and private by default, the feature raises fresh privacy and data concerns as Meta continues pushing AI deeper into personal content.

👆 Apple preps first-ever touchscreen MacBook ↗️LINK

• What: Apple is developing its first touchscreen MacBook Pro, slated for release in late 2026 or early 2027. The premium model will feature an OLED display, ditch the notch for a sleek hole-punch design, and run on Apple’s upcoming M6 chip.

• Why: Apple aims to merge Mac and iPad experiences while addressing touch usability issues. A reinforced hinge and upgraded screen hardware will reduce screen wobble when tapped.

• Impact: This marks a major shift in Mac design philosophy, signaling Apple’s move toward more interactive, hybrid computing.

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Today’s Poll:

Vote and find out about the result tomorrow.

Yesterday’s Poll Result:

How likely is it that AI will determine the outcome of future wars?

• A) Very likely – AI dominance is inevitable - 89% 🏆

• B) Unlikely – Human leadership will still decide outcomes - 11%

Reader’s opinions:

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