Fri. 05/16 – Bribing Is The Oldest Form Of Hacking

May 16, 2025 18m

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Epic Games and Apple are still having beef over app store rejections. Coinbase got hacked with the oldest attack vector there is: bribery. Meta’s having problems with its behemoth AI model. New Windsurf coding suite. New Apple Car Play. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions.

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Links:

Apple blocks Fortnite’s App Store return as downloads fail in Europe (The Verge)
Coinbase warns of up to $400 million hit from cyberattack (Reuters)
Coinbase Hack Rocks Company That Led Crypto Into Mainstream (Bloomberg)
Meta Is Delaying the Rollout of Its Flagship AI Model (WSJ)
Vibe-coding startup Windsurf launches in-house AI models (TechCrunch)
Next-gen CarPlay, branded CarPlay Ultra, starts rolling out today (9to5Mac)

Weekend Longreads Suggestions:

I let lasers power my smart home — and I don’t want to go back (The Verge)
The Popular Alternative - The State of A24 (Dirt)

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AI-Generated Summary

Epic Games vs. Apple: Fortnite on Ice

Epic Games is once again at odds with Apple over the rejection of its Fortnite submission to the App Store. Following the rejection, Fortnite is offline globally on iOS, including Europe, where it had previously returned due to the EU's Digital Markets Act. Epic claims the blockage ties into a long-standing legal battle against Apple concerning developers' rights to link to external payment systems. Epic CEO Tim Swini has criticized Apple's app review process, claiming it has been unfairly manipulated.

Coinbase Hacked: The Cost of Bribery

Coinbase has fallen victim to a major security breach, with hackers bribing customer service employees for user data. The attack exposes a significant amount of personal information, though not login credentials. Coinbase expects costs associated with this breach to reach between $180 to $400 million and has refused to pay the demanded ransom of $20 million. The company has since terminated the involved staff and vowed to reimburse impacted customers.

Meta's AI Model Delay

Meta has postponed the rollout of its large language model, Behemoth, originally scheduled for release in April. Internal struggles regarding its capabilities have led to significant frustration among staff, with management considering changes to the AI product group. These delays come amidst Meta's ambitious AI goals and its investments to match or surpass competitors in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

Windsurf’s In-House AI Models Launch

Windsurf has launched a suite of software engineering AI models, SWE1, designed to enhance the entire software engineering process. This move marks a departure from relying solely on external AI model providers, suggesting Windsurf's ambition to redefine its role in the application development space. Their models aim to compete with established counterparts but still trail behind frontier AI models in specific tasks.

Apple CarPlay Ultra Unveiled

Apple has begun rolling out CarPlay Ultra, its next-generation interface, to select vehicles, including Aston Martins. This update integrates vehicle controls into the CarPlay experience and expands the system's functionality across various screens within the car. Despite a limited current rollout, Apple aims for broader adoption with additional brands like Hyundai and Kia expressing interest.

Weekend Long-Reads Suggestions

The episode wraps up with recommendations for long-reads, including a discussion on the innovative concept of infrared wireless charging for smart home devices and an exploration of A24, the rising film studio, amid Hollywood's ongoing challenges.