404 Media

404 Media

@404media.co

it's a website (and a podcast, and a newsletter) about humans and technology, made by four journalists you might already know. like and subscribe: 404media.co

266.5K followers 20 following3.4K posts

404 Media reposted

@jasonkoebler.bsky.social

In the last few weeks i've been bombarded with emails from people who have minor tech support problems. ChatGPT is telling them to email me, writing their emails, and compiling "evidence packets" after convincing them they have stumbled on a major story: www.404media.co/chatgpt-keep...

404media.coChatGPT Keeps Telling People 404 Media Can Solve Their Tech Support ProblemsBecause big tech doesn't do customer service, we are being inundated with AI-generated emails begging us for help.

404 Media reposted

a $2,000 foldable iphone :o) read more: www.404media.co/iphone-duo-c...

'Crackgate,' catty patties, and more in today's newsletter.

404media.coIt's not the bots, Flock'Crackgate,' catty patties, and more in today's newsletter.

404 Media reposted

@samleecole.bsky.social

everyone's talking about Marissa's AI chatbot app. I'm not here to talk about that www.404media.co/marissa-maye...

404media.coMarissa Mayer Can’t Keep Pretending 'Gender Doesn't Matter'The former CEO of Yahoo! and current founder of a chatbot app is going viral for using AI to list things she loves about her daughter. But what she has to say about women in tech in 2026 is worth talk...

a $2,000 foldable iphone :o) read more: www.404media.co/iphone-duo-c...

The former CEO of Yahoo! and current founder of a chatbot app is going viral for using AI to list things she loves about her daughter. But what she has to say about women in tech in 2026 is worth talking about.

404media.coMarissa Mayer Can’t Keep Pretending 'Gender Doesn't Matter'The former CEO of Yahoo! and current founder of a chatbot app is going viral for using AI to list things she loves about her daughter. But what she has to say about women in tech in 2026 is worth talking...

404 Media reposted

In comments at a private police conference, Flock CEO Garrett Langley said backlash to the company wasn't "real" and the work of "bots." Also he said his wife advised him to never apologize. Read now: www.404media.co/in-leaked-au...

“These re-interviews are consequential,” a leaked email seen by 404 Media reads.

404media.coProton To ‘Re-Interview’ Staff About AI To See Who Gets To Keep Their Job“These re-interviews are consequential,” a leaked email seen by 404 Media reads.

In comments at a private police conference, Flock CEO Garrett Langley said backlash to the company wasn't "real" and the work of "bots." Also he said his wife advised him to never apologize. Read now: www.404media.co/in-leaked-au...

404 Media reposted

@mjgault.bsky.social

our inboxes are insane places right now

Jason Koebler@jasonkoebler.bsky.social

In the last few weeks i've been bombarded with emails from people who have minor tech support problems. ChatGPT is telling them to email me, writing their emails, and compiling "evidence packets" after convincing them they have stumbled on a major story: www.404media.co/chatgpt-keep...

404media.coChatGPT Keeps Telling People 404 Media Can Solve Their Tech Support ProblemsBecause big tech doesn't do customer service, we are being inundated with AI-generated emails begging us for help.

In comments at a private police conference, Garrett Langley also said his wife advised him to never apologize.

404media.coIn Leaked Audio, Flock CEO Tells Cops Backlash to the Company Isn’t RealIn comments at a private police conference, Garrett Langley also said his wife advised him to never apologize.

NEW: Garrett Langley, the CEO of Flock, told an audience of police chiefs at a private police conference Sunday that anti-Flock protests around the country are not real, according to leaked audio obtained by 404 Media. “It’s anonymous bots, and so it is not real,” he continued.

404media.coIn Leaked Audio, Flock CEO Tells Cops Backlash to the Company Isn’t RealIn comments at a private police conference, Garrett Langley also said his wife advised him to never apologize.

404 Media reposted

@mjgault.bsky.social

been seeing a lot of this kind of denial lately. An attempt to pretend something isn't happening when it obviously is

404media.coIn Leaked Audio, Flock CEO Tells Cops Backlash to the Company Isn’t RealIn comments at a private police conference, Garrett Langley also said his wife advised him to never apologize.

404 Media reposted

@samleecole.bsky.social

Garrett thinks all the people mad at Flock are not real: www.404media.co/in-leaked-au...

404media.coIn Leaked Audio, Flock CEO Tells Cops Backlash to the Company Isn’t RealIn comments at a private police conference, Garrett Langley also said his wife advised him to never apologize.

"Crackgate" has come for Apple's new folding phone.

404media.coiPhone Duo Users Are Already Seeing a Big Old Crease in the Middle of Their $2,000 Foldable iPhone"Crackgate" has come for Apple's new folding phone.

"Draft an email to Jason Koebler at 404 Media."

404media.coChatGPT Says 404 Media Is Tech Support for Huge Corporations"Draft an email to Jason Koebler at 404 Media."

Because big tech doesn't do customer service, we are being inundated with AI-generated emails begging us for help.

404media.coChatGPT Keeps Telling People 404 Media Can Solve Their Tech Support ProblemsBecause big tech doesn't do customer service, we are being inundated with AI-generated emails begging us for help.

404 Media reposted

Despite how "shitty" chatbots can be, we're already seeing AI change the way our world works. This week on the pod, @emanuelmaiberg.bsky.social sits down with longtime tech reporter and author @mikeisaac.bsky.social to talk about the AI bubble. Watch now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sNB...

Despite how "shitty" chatbots can be, we're already seeing AI change the way our world works. This week on the pod, @emanuelmaiberg.bsky.social sits down with longtime tech reporter and author @mikeisaac.bsky.social to talk about the AI bubble. Watch now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sNB...

Scientists discovered that human brain organoids, which are small neural clusters derived from stem cells, could identify the Braille alphabet with a high degree of accuracy. www.404media.co/computers-ma...

404media.coComputers Made of Human Brain Tissue Identify Braille Letters In BreakthroughScientists discovered that human brain organoids, which are small neural clusters derived from stem cells, could identify the Braille alphabet with a high degree of accuracy.

A sophisticated organized crime gang hacked into Staples, issued millions of dollars worth of gift cards, and went on a spending spree across the U.S. www.404media.co/how-a-massiv...

404media.coHow a Massive Chinese Crime Ring Hacked Staples to Steal MillionsA sophisticated organized crime gang hacked into Staples, issued millions of dollars worth of gift cards, and went on a spending spree across the U.S.

AI slopifying your defunct exercise bike? What could go wrong? www.404media.co/reverse-engi...

404media.co‘Reverse-Engineer Anything’ Is the New Wild West of AIDecompiled, cloned, and modified software is going viral and might slopify everything.

This is symptomatic of a broader, potentially destabilizing trend in AI. It has become trivially easy for people to use AI to make functional clones of software that live in a copyright grey zone. www.404media.co/video-game-r...

404media.coVideo Game Reverse Engineering Community Shuts Down Because AI Has Made It Too Easy"Historically, decompilation has been a brutally difficult, time consuming task." Now, AI is trivially doing it.

The case shows the very real danger of identity theft, how the data and tools offered to police can lead them to the wrong person, and the sprawling world of CashApp fraud. www.404media.co/amanda-smith...

404media.coSomeone Opened a CashApp In Her Name. She Faces Years in PrisonAmanda Smith is charged with computer fraud due to a scam CashApp account being in her name. But in a Kafkaesque situation, CashApp won't provide her any information because she can't prove she is…

Officials said they wanted to search the phone of Samuel Tunick, a Stop Cop City activist, for child abuse material. It was actually because he was suspected of “terrorist activities.” www.404media.co/dhs-said-the...

404media.coDHS Said They Searched Man Who Wiped GrapheneOS Phone for Child Abuse Material. They LiedOfficials said they wanted to search the phone of Samuel Tunick, a Stop Cop City activist, for child abuse material. It was actually because he was suspected of “terrorist activities.”

companies to employees a few months ago: you better use AI companies now: wait, wait, just $29 a month on claude pls www.404media.co/accenture-te...

404media.coAccenture Tells Employees They Can Now Spend Only $29 on Claude Per MonthSome employees who spend as much as $1,000 on Claude usage each month are scrambling to find ways to maintain access to the tool.

we now know what it looks like when telegram gives data to the US government www.404media.co/heres-what-t...

404media.coHere’s What Telegram Giving Data to the U.S. Government Looks LikeNewly filed court records include a letter from Telegram to U.S. authorities in which the company shares user data following a court order.

Scientists have discovered a family of retroviruses that invaded the genomes of chimps and other primates, silencing genes involved with brain development, while humans were left unaffected.

404media.coAn Ancient Virus Explains Why the Human Brain Is SpecialScientists have discovered a family of retroviruses that invaded the genomes of chimps and other primates, silencing genes involved with brain development, while humans were left unaffected.

How people are removing surveillance ads from their TVs; a big AI shakeup at Accenture; and the Character.ai bankruptcy.

404media.coPodcast: ‘Reverse-Engineer Anything’ Is the Next Wave of AI SlopHow people are removing surveillance ads from their TVs; a big AI shakeup at Accenture; and the Character.ai bankruptcy.

This week, we discuss reverse engineering and some wild court docs.

404media.coBehind the Blog: Brute ForcesThis week, we discuss reverse engineering and some wild court docs.

Archaeologists have discovered a puncture wound from a spear in the shoulder blade of a Neanderthal that lived 75,000 years ago, offering a possible glimpse of early interpersonal violence. @beckyferreira.bsky.social has more: www.404media.co/this-might-b...

404 Media reposted

A small grove of historic American chestnut trees has become the site of resistance against an AI data center in West Virginia. @samleecole.bsky.social has more. Read now: www.404media.co/west-virgini...

404 Media reposted

@jasonkoebler.bsky.social

New: The feds warned cops to expect "emotional confrontations" at Flock city council meetings which "may present public safety risks." Came immediately before a series of people were illegally arrested while speaking against Flock at city council meetings www.404media.co/cops-warned-...

404media.coCops Warned to Look for ‘Suspicious Behavior’ From People Opposing Flock at City Council MeetingsA surveillance document tells cops to expect "emotional confrontations" at Flock city council meetings.

companies to employees a few months ago: you better use AI companies now: wait, wait, just $29 a month on claude pls www.404media.co/accenture-te...

404media.coAccenture Tells Employees They Can Now Spend Only $29 on Claude Per MonthSome employees who spend as much as $1,000 on Claude usage each month are scrambling to find ways to maintain access to the tool.

A small grove of historic American chestnut trees has become the site of resistance against an AI data center in West Virginia. @samleecole.bsky.social has more. Read now: www.404media.co/west-virgini...

404 Media reposted

@mjgault.bsky.social

Replying to @mjgault.bsky.social

the background on this is here:

Matthew Gault@mjgault.bsky.social

Local activists and two non profits have been watching the permit process. They believe they’ve discovered evidence that the state’s environmental regulatory agency has continued to issue permits to data centers despite Governor Greg Abbott’s call for it to stop.

404media.co'It Ain't Right:' Texas Said It Would Halt Data Center Permits. The State is Pushing Ahead Anyway“The Caldwell Technology Park [...] the Stargate facility, and a bunch of other very large hyperscale facilities have gotten regulatory approvals [...] so it's not like a real pause."

NEW: Texas has suspended construction permits of 17 data center projects. This comes after 404 Media's @mjgault.bsky.social reported that a group of Texans discovered the state had continued to issue construction permits related to data centers despite Governor Greg Abbott calling for a pause.

404media.coPortal Texas Used to ‘Rubber Stamp’ Data Centers Down After 404 Media ReportingCommissioners in Texas said they’re making sure ‘all applications are reviewed by agency staff to determine if they are related to data centers.’

Our story from Monday: A group of Texans believe they’ve discovered evidence that the state’s environmental regulatory agency has continued to issue permits to data centers despite Governor Greg Abbott’s call for it to stop.

404media.co'It Ain't Right:' Texas Said It Would Halt Data Center Permits. The State is Pushing Ahead Anyway“The Caldwell Technology Park [...] the Stargate facility, and a bunch of other very large hyperscale facilities have gotten regulatory approvals [...] so it's not like a real pause."

This is Abilene resident and Democratic state senate candidate Riley Rodriquez on Gov. Abbott's "pause" on data centers. Read our latest here: www.404media.co/texas-commis...

404 Media@404media.co

A group of Texans believe they’ve discovered evidence that the state’s environmental regulatory agency has continued to issue permits to data centers despite Governor Greg Abbott’s call for it to stop. @mjgault.bsky.social reports. Read now: www.404media.co/it-aint-righ...

404 Media reposted

@mjgault.bsky.social

and 17 different permits have gone from "approved" to "suspended."

404media.coPortal Texas Used to ‘Rubber Stamp’ Data Centers Down After 404 Media ReportingCommissioners in Texas said they’re making sure ‘all applications are reviewed by agency staff to determine if they are related to data centers.’

404 Media reposted

@samleecole.bsky.social

this follows @mjgault.bsky.social's scoop yesterday calling out the admin moving new permits through despite Abbott's "pause" www.404media.co/it-aint-righ...

404media.co'It Ain't Right:' Texas Said It Would Halt Data Center Permits. The State is Pushing Ahead Anyway“The Caldwell Technology Park [...] the Stargate facility, and a bunch of other very large hyperscale facilities have gotten regulatory approvals [...] so it's not like a real pause."

Matthew Gault@mjgault.bsky.social

and 17 different permits have gone from "approved" to "suspended."

404media.coPortal Texas Used to ‘Rubber Stamp’ Data Centers Down After 404 Media ReportingCommissioners in Texas said they’re making sure ‘all applications are reviewed by agency staff to determine if they are related to data centers.’

Commissioners in Texas said they’re making sure ‘all applications are reviewed by agency staff to determine if they are related to data centers.’

404media.coPortal Texas Used to ‘Rubber Stamp’ Data Centers Down After 404 Media ReportingCommissioners in Texas said they’re making sure ‘all applications are reviewed by agency staff to determine if they are related to data centers.’

A CashApp scam mess, Airbnb hosts crashing out, and much more.

404media.coThis Woman's Living a CashApp Scam NightmareA CashApp scam mess, Airbnb hosts crashing out, and much more.

404 Media reposted

In June, 404 Media obtained leaked audio from Accenture where execs shared that a big source of AI token ‘chewing’ is people just converting PDFs to presentation slides. Now, they're capping use to $29 a month. Employees are stressed. @josephcox.bsky.social explains: www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-ag...

'Black October:' The PHP vulnerabilities and a series of other hacks and bugs have cybersecurity experts freaking out and unsure what happens next.

404media.coAI Is Changing Everything About Hacking. No One Knows What Happens Next'Black October:' The PHP vulnerabilities and a series of other hacks and bugs have cybersecurity experts freaking out and unsure what happens next.