A federal judge found Google broke ad-tech law and still will not make it sell AdX. April liability stands. The public order rejects a sale and does not list the new rules. Also: Gemini 3.8 Flash and a locked Cyber twin for Fairwind, with a price that doubles on New Year's Day; New York City pausing student-facing AI through eighth grade; and about 5,000 Dropbox accounts opened via Continue with Lenovo. The side of tech news nobody talks about.

In this episode

• Google keeps AdX. The court named a conflict (seller desk plus auction) and left both in the same company.
• Gemini 3.8 Flash is cheap and public. Flash Cyber is the same intelligence with looser attack-side rules, Fairwind-only. Intro price doubles 1 Jan 2027.
• NYC paused student-facing AI from two-year-olds through eighth grade for one year (~600,000 kids). Companion chatbots banned in every grade. Teachers and high-school pilots stay.
• About 5,000 Dropbox accounts opened without the Dropbox password via Lenovo login. Files downloaded from ~1,500. Lenovo's email check is the colorful bug. Dropbox treating a matching email as enough is the hole.

Links

• The Current - Google avoids ad tech breakup
• Public Knowledge - remedies leave monopoly power intact
• Hacker News - Google ad tech remedies
• Google - Gemini 3.8 Flash and 3.8 Flash Cyber
• Google - Fairwind Program
• Hacker News - Gemini 3.8 Flash
• NYC Mayor's Office - student-facing AI pause
• Hacker News - NYC school AI pause
• 9to5Mac - Dropbox login via Lenovo ID
• Hacker News - Dropbox Lenovo login

AI disclosure

This episode was created with artificial intelligence. Alex & Jordan are AI hosts; their voices and conversation are generated with AI. Research and editorial judgment shape the skeptic angles; we do not invent quotes, scores, or viral claims about the news.

A dark-web shop listed more than 153 million North American drivers license scans. Security reporter Brian Krebs matched sample images to the kind of infrared and ultraviolet scan ID-check machines make at rental desks and dispensaries. The FBI's New Orleans office opened an inquiry into idscan.net. The company is investigating and has not confirmed the count. The shop login later went dark. That is not a recall of the copies. Alex and Jordan also look at Anthropic shipping Claude Fable 5.1 and Mythos 5.1 as the same model with different locks; the FTC and 22 states suing Amazon over a hidden ad-auction surcharge; and Apple's new filing that an ex-engineer's MacBook shows a chip drawing used at OpenAI. The side of tech news nobody talks about.

In this episode

• The scan they kept — A dark-web shop listed 153 million license scans. Krebs tied sample pictures to IDScan-style machines at Hertz and dispensaries. The FBI opened an inquiry. The shop login going dark is not the same as the copies going away.
• Same brain, two locks — Anthropic shipped Claude Fable 5.1 for everyone and Mythos 5.1 for a vetted club. They are the same model with different locks. The cheaper number is looking at a stored prompt again, not a new list price.
• The bidder the house invented — The FTC and 22 states sued Amazon, saying it sold a second-price ad auction and then invented the second bidder. Allegations, not a verdict. The agency says shoppers ate the cost in prices.
• A laptop you can copy — Apple filed after a first look at Chang Liu's MacBook. The filing says a chip drawing was used at OpenAI and an AI helper learned the simulation tool. Allegations. OpenAI wants the case dismissed.

Links

• Krebs on Security - FBI probes service selling 153M+ drivers licenses
• IDScan.net
• Anthropic - Claude Fable 5.1 and Claude Mythos 5.1
• FTC - states sue Amazon over secret ad surcharge
• Ars Technica - FTC alleges Amazon made $20 billion rigging ad auctions
• 9to5Mac - Apple shocking evidence from ex-employee MacBook in OpenAI suit

AI disclosure

This episode was created with artificial intelligence. Alex & Jordan are AI hosts; their voices and conversation are generated with AI. Research and editorial judgment shape the skeptic angles; we do not invent quotes, scores, or viral claims about the news.

Google removed remaining Manifest V2 extensions from the Chrome Web Store on 31 August 2026, including full uBlock Origin. Copies already on Chrome stay installed, get no updates, and cannot be reinstalled. Chrome 138 had already switched Manifest V2 off a year earlier.

Alex and Jordan look at Kaiser and Rogers clinicians who say automated intake is routing people to the wrong care; a multi-base commissary freezer failure the Pentagon will not explain; and Apple's early Mac mini and Mac Studio refresh, which recaps tie to AI labs buying desktops.

Hosts: Alex and Jordan. Show: Chief Skeptic Officer. Drop: daily 7:00 A.M. America/New_York. Episode date: 2026-09-01.

In this episode

• The shelf, not the switch. Google took remaining Manifest V2 add-ons off the Chrome Web Store, including full uBlock Origin. Installed copies get no updates and cannot be reinstalled.
• The queue was already filtered. Clinicians at Kaiser and Rogers say automated intake is routing patients to the wrong care. One triage desk went nine to three.
• Nobody has to break in. Several military commissaries lost refrigeration. Fort Huachuca said every freezer went into defrost. The Pentagon calls it a possible disruption.
• Your ten week wait. MacRumors, citing The Information, says Apple was caught short on Mac mini and Mac Studio by AI hardware demand.

Links

• Web Iterate: store removed MV2 including uBlock Origin
• Capital and Main: algorithmic triage
• Navy Times: commissary refrigeration
• MacRumors: Mac mini / Studio AI demand

AI disclosure. This episode was created with artificial intelligence. Alex and Jordan are AI hosts; their voices and conversation are generated with AI. Research and editorial judgment shape the skeptic angles; we do not invent quotes, scores, or viral claims about the news.