Tootfinder

OpenAI says GPT-5.6 Sol, along with Terra and Luna, will launch publicly on Thursday; a source says the US Department of Commerce cleared a broad rollout (Axios)
https://www.axios.com/2026/07/08/openai-gpt-trump-ban-lifted

Scoop: Trump administration lifts restrictions on OpenAI's GPT 5.6
OpenAI expects to do a wide release of GPT 5.6 this week following additional testing.

A study estimates the iPhone's diffusion explains 33%-52% of the decline in US births from 2007 to 2011, with the most pronounced effects among women aged 15-24 (Sabrina Tavernise/New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/08/us/ipho…

Two New Studies Ask: Did the iPhone Cause Birthrates to Decline?
Modern smartphones rolled out in 2007, the year that fertility rates began falling. Two studies say that is not a coincidence.

"There are also mounting economic costs of falling behind. As of January 2026, more than 80% of European AI chatbot users relied on OpenAI's ChatGPT. That means European data — the raw material of the modern information economy — is flowing primarily into American algorithms rather than European ones."
No! This completely misunderstands what the advantage of a European stack should be. I don't care much whether my data goes to an American or a European company.
…

How the EU became a digital colony — and how it might break free
European lawmakers and analysts warn that reliance on US artificial intelligence and digital services is a strategic liability, spurring calls for ...

Artificial intelligence has triggered fierce competition for top talent and is also fueling tens of thousands of layoffs this year.
The class divide is widening in Silicon Valley as a tiny group of employees is landing unprecedented packages for AI skills,
while many others struggle to find work
The have-nots are doing everything that used to guarantee great jobs
— refreshing resumes, optimizing LinkedIn profiles and doing interviews
— but companies are much mo…

"Church of England votes against plan to rewild 30% of its land by 2030" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/14/church-of-england-votes-against-rewild-land-2030

Church of England votes against plan to rewild 30% of its land by 2030
Campaigners criticise C of E for failing to show moral leadership as one of country’s biggest landowners

The Dutch police are presenting the electric patrol cars which, following the completion of the trial period, are now set to be rolled out on a larger scale. It’s interesting to note what they mention in the video:
- the global fuel supply is volatile, as has recently been demonstrated once again; these EVs mean they can remain operational even in such situations
- climate change affects police work: floods, fires (and climate protests)

'Stealth mode' en laadpalen: elektrische Skoda en Cupra voor de politie
Dit zijn de nieuwe, volledig elektrische voertuigen van de politie.

💔 Dok-Film von und mit einer ME/CFS-Betroffenen. Ein wichtiger und darüber hinaus wirklich sehr gut gemachter Film.
Im Moment für 5 € Euro online zu sehen:
https://www.dokfest-muenchen.de/films/hello-new-body-how-are-you-today

HELLO NEW BODY, HOW ARE YOU TODAY?
Laura has ME/CFS: a filmic approach to a new reality.

I sure do enjoy #EdZitron's podcast #BetterOffline. #AI's going to be a huge crash, but at least there's other people who can see the reality that the hype is desperately trying to pape…

Ed Zitron (@edzitron.com)
Here’s this week’s Better Offline. I run you through how Uber’s COO said the quiet part out loud - that AI’s outputs and efficacy do not match up with its ruinous costs - and how despite its bluster, the AI industry’s grift is failing. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-offline/id1730587238?i=1000769758292 Linktr.ee/betteroffline

FilmLA: on-location shooting of shows and movies in Los Angeles fell 12% YoY in Q2, falling to 4,711 shoot days, down from 5,394 in Q2 2025 (Jeremy Fuster/The Wrap)
https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/filmla-production-decline-q2-2026/

Los Angeles Film and TV Production Sinks 12% Despite New Tax Credits, FilmLA Study Shows
While high-employment TV dramas are holding on, reality TV's continued exodus fueled the decline

Musk v. Altman: Elon Musk says the judge and jury "never actually ruled on the merits of the case, just on a calendar technicality" and he will file an appeal (Elon Musk/@elonmusk)
https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2056474896641782077

Elon Musk (@elonmusk) on X
Regarding the OpenAI case, the judge & jury never actually ruled on the merits of the case, just on a calendar technicality. There is no question to anyone following the case in detail that Altman & Brockman did in fact enrich themselves by stealing a charity. The only question