Notices by Ars Technica (arstechnica@mastodon.social)

Man told ChatGPT he was feeling delusional. ChatGPT insisted he was Jesus.

Man with bipolar disorder sued OpenAI after surviving ChatGPT-linked suicide attempt.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/09/man-told-chatgpt-he-was-feeling-delusional-chatgpt-insisted-he-was-jesus/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

LG TV shown capable of tracking user activity, even when offline

“It doesn’t cost a lot to store text forever.”
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/09/lg-tv-shown-capable-of-tracking-user-activity-even-when-offline/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Measles killed 6-week-old baby, coroner confirms after RFK Jr. disputed deaths

"It’s long past time for RFK to stop playing games with people’s lives."
https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/09/measles-killed-6-week-old-baby-coroner-confirms-after-rfk-jr-disputed-deaths/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Reports: RFK Jr. ordered measles deaths deletion; CDC still secretly counts them

CDC staff had already accepted the measles death reports when RFK Jr. meddled.
https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/09/reports-rfk-jr-ordered-measles-deaths-deletion-cdc-still-secretly-counts-them/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Nvidia buys Hugging Face, the Github of AI, for $13 billion

Nvidia says Hugging Face will stay open even as the chipmaker takes control of a key AI hub.
https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/09/nvidia-buys-hugging-face-the-github-of-ai-for-13-billion/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

My driver's license is one of 153 million for sale on a new dark website

The FBI is reportedly investigating a massive data breach that is unfolding in real time.
https://arstechnica.com/security/2026/09/my-drivers-license-is-one-of-153-million-for-sale-on-a-new-dark-website/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

FCC plans robocall scorecard to grade phone companies on spam call blocking

Carrier scorecards may include call-blocking stats and data on customer complaints.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/09/fcc-plans-robocall-scorecard-to-grade-phone-companies-on-spam-call-blocking/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

CDC reported then deleted two measles deaths that were questioned by RFK Jr.

Historically, state health departments determine cases and deaths, not the CDC.
https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/09/cdc-reported-then-deleted-two-measles-deaths-that-were-questioned-by-rfk-jr/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

FTC alleges Amazon illegally made $20 billion by rigging billions of ad auctions

FTC says firm replaces actual ad-auction results "with higher prices set by Amazon."
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/09/ftc-alleges-amazon-illegally-made-20-billion-by-rigging-billions-of-ad-auctions/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

It turns out that Orion's much-maligned heat shield performed really well

Independent safety officials also have high praise for changes by NASA leadership.
https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/09/it-turns-out-that-orions-much-maligned-heat-shield-performed-really-well/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Without new landers or rovers, it's helicopters or bust for NASA's Mars program

NASA's cost estimate for SR-1 Freedom is $2.1 billion, but that doesn't include the helicopters.
https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/09/without-new-landers-or-rovers-its-helicopters-or-bust-for-nasas-mars-program/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Review: Coyote vs. Acme is an unabashed love letter to Looney Tunes

Director Dave Green's live action/animated hybrid captures smart, subversive weirdness of the classic cartoons.
https://arstechnica.com/culture/2026/08/review-coyote-vs-acme-is-an-unabashed-love-letter-to-looney-tunes/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

"RFK Jr. has lied to the Senate": Lawmakers call for criminal probe, ouster

RFK Jr. went to Samoa to spread vaccine fears. The measles outbreak after killed 83.
https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/08/rfk-jr-has-lied-to-the-senate-lawmakers-call-for-criminal-probe-ouster/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Cities terminate Flock contracts at record pace in August

Cancellations have accelerated.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/08/cities-terminate-flock-contracts-at-record-pace-in-august/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Elon Musk’s xAI used child porn to train Grok models, lawsuit says

xAI accused of training Grok on real and AI-generated child pornography.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/08/elon-musks-xai-used-child-porn-to-train-grok-models-lawsuit-says/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Why did 1,000 Swiss citizens bury their underpants?

Study: Land use is the biggest factor in determining decomposition rates of organic cotton underpants.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/08/why-did-1000-swiss-citizens-bury-their-underpants/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Two unvaccinated people die from measles in Pennsylvania, officials confirm

"[P]eople are not familiar with this disease and don’t fully understand the potential severity."
https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/08/two-unvaccinated-people-die-from-measles-in-pennsylvania-officials-confirm/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Catholic bishops tell Florida there's no religious reason for vaccine exemptions

The bishops' snub comes as the state continues to attack vaccines.
https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/08/catholic-bishops-tell-florida-theres-no-religious-reason-for-vaccine-exemptions/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Meta settles states' child-safety claims for $18B; Florida rejects deal as "peanuts"

Meta to impose daily limit on child social media use in deal with nearly every state.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/08/meta-settles-states-child-safety-claims-for-18b-florida-rejects-deal-as-peanuts/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

World humanoid robot games show runners breaking records, bursting into flames

Record-breaking robot races are less substantial than household chore challenges.
https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/08/world-humanoid-robot-games-show-runners-breaking-records-bursting-into-flames/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social