Pebble Round 2
Pebble has announced the release of the Pebble Round 2, a new version of its thin smartwatch line. The article discusses the updated features and design of the Pebble Round 2, including a thinner profile, improved battery life, and new customization options.
Biggest Cybersecurity and Cyberattack Stories of 2025
The article provides a summary of the biggest cybersecurity and cyberattack stories of 2025, including widespread ransomware attacks, critical infrastructure breaches, and the growing threat of state-sponsored cyber operations.
Ask HN: What do you plan to read in 2026?
I'm curious what books, papers, or long-form articles are on people's lists this year. Technical books? New fields? Old favorites?
Giving Your Agent Eyes Is Not Enough
The article discusses the limitations of current AI systems in perceiving and understanding the world like humans, and the need for developing more advanced AI with human-like perception, reasoning, and contextual understanding to tackle complex real-world problems effectively.
Science Is a Guessing Game
The article discusses the role of conjectures and guessing in the scientific process, highlighting that scientific progress often involves making educated guesses and then testing them through experimentation and observation, rather than relying solely on definitive facts.
I built a screen-aware desktop assistant; now it can write and use your computer
I posted Julie here a few days ago as a weekend prototype: an open-source desktop assistant that lives as a tiny overlay and uses your screen as context (instead of copy/paste, tab switching, etc.)
Update: I just shipped Julie v1.0, and the big change is that it’s no longer only “answer questions about my screen.” It can now run agents (writing/coding) and a computer-use mode via a CUA toolkit. ((https://tryjulie.vercel.app/))
What that means in practice:
- General AI assistant, it hears what you hear, sees what you see, and gives you real-time answers for any question instantly. - Writing agent: draft/rewrite in your voice, then iterate with you while staying in the overlay (no new workspace). - Coding agent: help you implement/refactor with multi-step edits, while you keep your editor as the “source of truth.” - Computer-use agent: when you want, it can take the “next step” (click/type/navigate) instead of just telling you what to do.
The goal is still the same: don’t break my flow. I want the assistant to feel like a tiny utility that helps for 20 seconds and disappears, not a second life you manage.
A few implementation notes/constraints (calling these out because I’m sure people will ask):
- It’s opt-in for permissions (screen + accessibility/automation) and meant to be used with you watching, not silently running. - The UI is intentionally minimal; I’m trying hard not to turn it into a full chat app with tabs/settings/feeds.
Repo + installers are here: https://github.com/Luthiraa/julie
Would love feedback on two things: 1. If you’ve built/used computer-use agents: what safety/UX patterns actually feel acceptable day-to-day? 2. What’s the one workflow you’d want this to do end-to-end without context switching?
Ask HN: Why is iOS in-app purchase monetization so hard to learn as a system?
Does AI pose an existential threat to mathematicians?
The article explores the potential existential risks posed by the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. It discusses the ongoing debate among experts on whether AI poses a genuine threat to humanity's long-term survival and the need for responsible development and governance of AI systems.
Was It a Billion Dollar Mistake?
The article explores the history and impact of a supposed 'billion-dollar mistake' in software development, examining the circumstances around the error, its consequences, and the debate surrounding its significance.
Hacking Welfare Doubles Somalia's GDP
The article discusses how fraudulent businesses took advantage of pandemic relief programs, such as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) in the United States, to obtain substantial sums of money. It highlights the scale of the fraud and the challenges faced by authorities in addressing the issue.
Show HN: I mapped System Design concepts to AI Prompts to stop bad code
The article discusses system design, which involves the high-level structure and components of a software system. It covers various aspects of system design, including architecture, scalability, and performance considerations, as well as best practices and tools used in the process.
Questions to ask yourself every year (2016)
This article presents 40 thought-provoking questions to encourage self-reflection, personal growth, and a deeper understanding of oneself and the world around us. The questions cover a range of topics, including values, goals, relationships, and personal experiences.
The Chicken Game and the Evolution of the DRAM Industry from 2006 to 2014 [pdf]
A "Fresh" New Terminal Text Editor
Charlie Angus, Lafayette, Joni Askola, Outsiders Who See Collapse Coming First
The article examines the relationship between Canadian Member of Parliament Charlie Angus and Lafayette Joni Askola, an investigative journalist and activist. It explores allegations of harassment and bullying made against Angus by Askola and the ongoing tensions between the two individuals.
From many to one – parallel reductions on the GPU
The article explores the shift from a decentralized, many-to-many internet to a more centralized, one-to-many model dominated by a few large platforms. It discusses the implications of this transition on individual privacy, data control, and the overall landscape of the internet ecosystem.
How to add two vectors, fast
This article discusses a fast method for adding two vectors, which involves leveraging the properties of vectors to perform the operation efficiently. The author presents a step-by-step approach that can save time and computational resources compared to traditional vector addition techniques.
A Study Is Retracted, Renewing Concerns About the Weedkiller Roundup
Documented source code for The Sentinel on the BBC Micro
The article discusses the source code of the BBC Micro game 'The Sentinel', which was reverse-engineered and released on GitHub. It provides insight into the technical details and development process of this classic game from the 1980s.
The Click Communicator combines Blackberry function with modern smartphone form
Clicks, a new startup, has launched a BlackBerry-style communicator phone with a physical QWERTY keyboard and focus on messaging and productivity. The device aims to appeal to users who prefer physical keyboards and a simpler, more focused smartphone experience.
Show HN: Get company brand data API
brand.dev is a web development and design agency that helps businesses establish a strong online presence through custom website design, development, and digital marketing services.
The Handyman Principle: Why Your AI Forgets Everything
The article discusses the 'Handyman Principle', which explains why AI models, like language models, often forget information they have learned. It explores the challenges of maintaining long-term memory in AI systems and the potential solutions being explored by researchers.
Google AI Overviews put people at risk of harm with misleading health advice
Liars and Outliers: Enabling the Trust That Society Needs to Thrive, 2nd Edition
The article explores the role of trust in society, examining how 'liars' and 'outliers' can undermine societal trust and what mechanisms are needed to maintain trust and enable society to thrive. It provides insights into the complex interplay between individual behavior, social norms, and institutional structures in fostering a trustworthy environment.
Why I'm skipping Dry January
The article examines the potential benefits and drawbacks of participating in 'Dry January', a month-long abstinence from alcohol, and discusses the latest research on the health impacts of moderate drinking.
How much the richest people made in 2025
The article explores the rapid growth of the world's wealthiest individuals, projecting that the number of trillionaires could reach 11 by 2025. It highlights the rising wealth of tech entrepreneurs like Elon Musk and Larry Ellison, and discusses the implications of such extreme wealth concentration on global inequality.
Tell HN: Check if the site is down. Also monitor your site
Updown is a free web monitoring service that provides real-time status updates for websites, APIs, and web applications. It offers features such as email and Slack notifications, custom check intervals, and detailed reports on outages and performance.
Fighting Fire with Fire: Scalable Oral Exams
Nice to Meet You: Synthesizing Practical MLIR Abstract Transformers [pdf]
Accounting for Computer Scientists (2011)
The article discusses the importance of accounting principles and practices for computer scientists, highlighting the value of understanding financial statements, cost accounting, and budgeting in software development and technology companies.