Tootfinder

Ukraine’s communications system is crumbling amid blackouts, MP Fediienko warns: https://benborges.xyz/2026/02/09/ukraines-communications-system-is-crumbling.html

KLM-topvrouw na rampweek op Schiphol: ‘Onze communicatie naar reizigers moet beter’ | Trouw
#Schiphol #KLM

Coming Soon, From the People Behind ICE Detention Camps: Data Center Company Towns
https://gizmodo.com/coming-soon-from-the-people-behind-ice-detention-camps-data-center-company-towns-2000731145

'Nobody Could Have Seen This Coming,' Says Blindfolded Administration (Daniel W. Drezner/Drezner's World)
https://danieldrezner.substack.com/p/nobody-could-have-seen-this-coming
http://www.memeorandum.com/260309/p26#a260309p26

The Communication Complexity of Combinatorial Auctions with Additional Succinct Bidders
Frederick V. Qiu, S. Matthew Weinberg, Qianfan Zhang
https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.06585 https://arxiv.org/pdf/2512.06585 https://arxiv.org/html/2512.06585
arXiv:2512.06585v1 Announce Type: new
Abstract: We study the communication complexity of welfare maximization in combinatorial auctions with bidders from either a standard valuation class (which require exponential communication to explicitly state, such as subadditive or XOS), or arbitrary succinct valuations (which can be fully described in polynomial communication, such as single-minded). Although succinct valuations can be efficiently communicated, we show that additional succinct bidders have a nontrivial impact on communication complexity of classical combinatorial auctions. Specifically, let $n$ be the number of subadditive/XOS bidders. We show that for SA $\cup$ SC (the union of subadditive and succinct valuations): (1) There is a polynomial communication $3$-approximation algorithm; (2) As $n \to \infty$, there is a matching $3$-hardness of approximation, which (a) is larger than the optimal approximation ratio of $2$ for SA, and (b) holds even for SA $\cup$ SM (the union of subadditive and single-minded valuations); and (3) For all $n \geq 3$, there is a constant separation between the optimal approximation ratios for SA $\cup$ SM and SA (and therefore between SA $\cup$ SC and SA as well). Similarly, we show that for XOS $\cup$ SC: (1) There is a polynomial communication $2$-approximation algorithm; (2) As $n \to \infty$, there is a matching $2$-hardness of approximation, which (a) is larger than the optimal approximation ratio of $e/(e-1)$ for XOS, and (b) holds even for XOS $\cup$ SM; and (3) For all $n \geq 2$, there is a constant separation between the optimal approximation ratios for XOS $\cup$ SM and XOS (and therefore between XOS $\cup$ SC and XOS as well).
toXiv_bot_toot

Ford plans to launch an AI voice assistant on its apps this year before expanding to its vehicles in 2027, and aims to debut Level 3 autonomous driving in 2028 (Andrew J. Hawkins/The Verge)
https://www.theverge.com/transportation/857400/ford-ai-as…

Ford’s AI voice assistant is coming later this year, L3 driving in 2028
Ford announced an AI voice assistant will be coming to its cars in 2027, followed by Level 3 autonomous driving in 2028.

Cowboys Headlines: Ohio State coming to Dallas? Jerry talks Super Bowl https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/cowboys/2026/01/08/jerry-jones-hints-at-ma…

CETI is a nonprofit organization
applying advanced machine learning and state-of-the-art robotics
to listen to and translate the communication of sperm whales.
Our research focus is in Dominica
in the Eastern Caribbean
https://www.projectceti.org/

Project CETI •-- Home
CETI is a nonprofit organization applying advanced machine learning and state-of-the-art robotics to listen to and translate the communication of sperm whales.

Ahead of the Munich Security Conference, Google issued a call for action to secure the quantum computing era
https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/technology/safety-security/the-quantum-era-is-coming-are-we-ready-to-secure-…

The quantum era is coming. Are we ready to secure it?
Google shares an update on its work and suggestions for how policymakers can help everyone be more secure in the Quantum Era.

'Largest economic development in history': $20 billion dollar data center coming to Southaven (Hannah Kozlowski/Action News 5)
https://www.actionnews5.com/2026/01/08/largest-economic-development-history-20-billion-dollar-data-center-coming-southaven/
http://www.memeorandum.com/260108/p106#a260108p106