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Elizabeth Lopatto

Elizabeth Lopatto

Senior Reporter

Elizabeth Lopatto is a senior writer at The Verge, where she covers how the internet is changing how we think about money: cryptocurrency, business, fintech and Elon Musk for some reason.

She joined the site in 2014, as science editor, then deputy editor running science, transportation and social media, before she got tired of being an authority figure and went back to blogging.

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Are science journals prepared to deal with AI-generated glurge?

So far, the obvious giveaway phrases (“As of my last knowledge update in September 2021,” and “Certainly, here is a possible introduction for your topic”) are appearing primarily in low-tier journals. But after Penis Rat, I am somewhat concerned about the quality of peer review.


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A bloc of private equity and hedge-fund types are holding talks about how to minimize SEC fines over disappearing messages.

The firms include Citadel, KKR. and Blackstone. “Their goal is to minimize any fines and ensure that if they reach a settlement, no firm is singled out for a harsher penalty,” according to Bloomberg.

The SEC is investigating whether WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal use at these companies broke disclosure rules. Citadel in particular is still willing to fight the SEC on this.


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Hey, some guy made a bot for dating apps.

What’s the definition of a “baddie” that’s being “found” by this bot? “I just gathered some photos of girls I thought were hot, attached a small sample.”

If you aren’t picky about personality and your tastes align with this guy’s, you too can be flagged by Tinder for Captchas to prove you’re human!


Why the Kate Middleton scandal just won’t die

How a bad Photoshop job turned into an existential crisis for the British monarchy.

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I’ll have what she’s having!

“This is not an attempt to ban TikTok. It’s an attempt to make TikTok better. Tic-tac-toe. A winner. A winner.”

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Deadspin sold.

Jim Spanfeller, known for his sensitivity about being called a “herb,” has sold sports site Deadspin to Lineup Publishing. Every person who worked at the site has been fired.

Spanfeller’s management has had some benefits; when he bungled Deadspin’s editorial tone, a mass quit resulted in the founding of the excellent new website Defector.


Happy 311 day to all who celebrate!

NPR posted a Tiny Desk concert with the Omaha band.

Nick Hexium, the band’s lead singer, reviewed the NPR venue: “This kind of reminds me of being in my dad’s basement, being back next to the pool table, but it smells better here.”

They did not play “Come Original,” a song I have been making jokes about for at least the last 20 years.


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So there’s a Chinese policy directive to “delete America.”

The idea is to get American tech giants out of the country:

Document 79 was so sensitive that high-ranking officials and executives were only shown the order and weren’t allowed to make copies, people familiar with the matter said. It requires state-owned companies in finance, energy and other sectors to replace foreign software in their IT systems by 2027. 

Also, the Chinese government plans to splash out on science and tech — spending $51 billion this year, a 10 percent increase over last year.


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Adobe is experiencing AI whiplash.

First, Adobe’s embrace of AI though Firefly made its stock shoot up. Then, AI didn’t add enough to its bottom line for investors, and OpenAI’s Sora tanked Adobe’s stock price.

Investors don’t really know how to view AI, and 2024 may be when reality sets in. Adobe’s first quarter earnings are expected next week.