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Rick Findlay / Reclaim The Net: Google seems to require Google Play Services for passing next-gen reCAPTCHA on Android, denying de-Googled Android phones and creating surveillance issues  —  Google has tied its next-generation reCAPTCHA system to Google Play Services on Android, meaning anyone running a de-Googled phone …

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Wispr Flow says growth accelerated in India after its Hinglish rollout, even as voice AI products continue to face challenges.

Heather Somerville / Wall Street Journal: Execs at Palantir, whose stock is up ~16x since its AI platform's 2023 debut, often decry other AI as slop, as competition from frontier AI labs stiffens  —  Investors and some employees see a real threat of the company ceding business to AI models  —  Palantir Technologies owes …

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said he's trying to raise his rating from 4.83. John Nacion/Getty Images Uber gives riders and drivers ratings to incentivize good behavior on the platform. The CEO of Uber shows that getting five out of five stars can be tough. Not to worry, though; Uber says the average rider has a rating of 4.89. If you've ever chased that elusive five-star rating on the Uber app, you're not alone. The company's CEO doesn't have a perfect score. Dara Khosrowshahi said in an interview on Molly O'Shea's Sourcery, published Friday, that his Uber rating is 4.83. "My Uber rating is like 4.83," the CEO said. "I gotta get to 4.9." That's a little under the average Uber rider rating of 4.89, according to a company blog. Uber has said that it gives ratings to drivers and riders to ensure safety and accountability on the platform. Users who receive a rating below a certain threshold risk being booted from the app, though the company doesn't specify the exact minimum rating. Khosrowshahi said he's taking a few steps to keep his ratings up, including meeting his car on time and asking his driver for permission to use the phone. The CEO said he's also a big tipper: "For a $30 ride, I'll tip 10, 15 bucks." Another pro-tip he gave was not to slam the car door. Uber, on its company blog, also says to keep the car clean and ask the driver for permission if you need to eat or drink in the car. Being the Uber boss apparently doesn't give Khosrowshahi a leg up —some drivers don't know it's the CEO in the car. "Half of them know who I am, and then we chat on how things are going and how we can improve the product. And then half of them kind of are doing their own thing, and then I do my own thing," he said. "It's all good." The last time Khosrowshahi shared his Uber score with CBS Sunday Morning in 2025, he said it was 4.81. So we're seeing some improvement there. Read the original article on Business Insider

Ken Macon / Reclaim The Net: FCC passed an anti-robocall proposal requiring telecoms, including VoIP providers, to verify user identities before activating service, raising privacy fears  —  The era of the anonymous phone number could be ending.  On April 30, the Federal Communications Commission unanimously approved …

The rise of AI has brought an avalanche of new terms and slang. Here is a glossary with definitions of some of the most important words and phrases you might encounter.

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Parker, a well-funded startup offering corporate credit cards and banking services, has filed for bankruptcy and is widely reported to have shut down.

Rob Hobson is stocked up on nut butter, seeds, tofu, and tinned fish. Rob Hobson Keeping the kitchen stocked with highly nutritious foods can make meeting nutrition goals easier. A nutritionist uses 12 ingredients to add protein, fiber, and vitamins to meals effortlessly. Rob Hobson is stocked up on nut butter, seeds, tofu, and tinned fish. Whether you're a working parent struggling to find time to cook or have a low appetite because you take GLP-1s, a nutritionist's "nourishing dozen" could help you meet your nutrition goals more consistently. Rob Hobson, the author of "Every Bite Counts," aims to eat around 100 grams of protein a day and plenty of different types of fiber. He always keeps 12 foods in his kitchen so it's easy to throw together a nutritious meal. "These are foods that are going to give you the maximum nutrition in a serving," Hobson, who is based in the UK, told Business Insider. Anyone could benefit from more of these "nutrient boosters," he said. Eggs Eggs are extremely versatile, high in protein and key nutrients, including Vitamin A, choline, and B vitamins, and easy to prepare, Hobson said. "They're just little nutrition powerhouses," he said. To boost the nutrients, he suggested adding frozen vegetables like peas or spinach to scrambled eggs or tomatoes to an omelet. Tinned fish Tinned fish, such as salmon, tuna, or sardines, is shelf-stable and pre-cooked, making it a convenient source of protein and healthy fats, Hobson said. Adding it to other "nourishing dozen foods" will turn a few ingredients into a balanced meal, he said. You could add it to an omelet, a salad, or eat it as a snack. Tofu Aubergine and tofu stew from "Every Bite Counts." Rob Hobson Tofu is a good source of protein and contains calcium, iron, and magnesium, Hobson said. He particularly recommends that anyone who is plant-based and experiencing bloating or digestive symptoms include it in their diet, as it is easier on the gut than most of other plant-based protein sources like beans or lentils. Oats Oats are high in beta glucans, a type of soluble fiber, that helps reduce cholesterol levels, Hobson said. They're versatile and make a great breakfast. Hobson likes to soak his overnight and eat them with Greek yogurt, berries, and nut butter. Beans and lentils Tandoori salmon with added chickpeas from "Every Bite Counts." Rob Hobson Beans and lentils are rich sources of magnesium, zinc, and calcium, Hobson said. They're also both high in fiber and good sources of protein. You can use them as the core ingredient of a meal, like in a lentil dahl or bean stew, or simply add a tablespoon of them into another dish like a pasta or salad, to bulk out the fiber content. Hobson is a fan of pre-cooked pouches of beans and pulses because they save him time in the kitchen. "It just doesn't get any easier if you've got a pouch. And what you can also do with the pouch is reseal it," he said. Nut butter Nut butters such as peanut and almond butter are energy-dense, meaning they are high in calories, but contain lots of nutrients, making them a great option for people taking GLP-1s, Hobson said. They contain healthy fats, magnesium, iron, vitamin E, and some protein, and can be easily added to a snack or meal. Hobson recommended trying some in a smoothie or salad dressing. Avocado Avocado, the original "superfood," contains lots of healthy fats, fiber, and potassium, Hobson said, and helps support a healthy heart and gut. "You only need a small amount to make a big difference to the overall nutrition of your dish," he said. Yogurt Yogurt requires no prep, lasts for ages in the fridge, and contains protein and healthy fats, Hobson said. It's also a good source of calcium, which supports bone health. You can add it to smoothies or dressings, stir it into a dish, or eat it as a snack with some fruit and seeds. Dark leafy greens Dark leafy greens are one of the more nutrient-dense vegetables, Hobson said. They are loaded with calcium, iron, vitamin D, magnesium, and vitamin K. "I'd be including plenty of those in my dishes because you're going to get more nutrition per spoonful," he said. Edamame beans Edamame beans are "super nutritious" and easy to snack on or sprinkle over a salad. They are a good source of protein and contain calcium, iron, and magnesium. Hobson likes to eat his with lime juice and sea salt as a snack. Seeds Nutrient-dense bread from "Every Bite Counts." Rob Hobson Seeds are nutritional powerhouses, Hobson said, and you can sprinkle them over a range of different dishes as a "nutritional booster." They contain fiber, omega-3, magnesium, iron, calcium, and protein, and add a nice crunchy texture to a dish, he said. Poultry Chicken and turkey are great sources of protein, but don't have the high saturated fat content that red meats do. "That's my meat of choice," Hobson said. One hundred grams of cooked chicken contains around 30 grams of protein. Read the original article on Business Insider

Bloomberg: How SpaceMob, an online community of ~50,000, has fueled a meme-stock-like rally in satellite networking company AST, which is up ~6,000% over a 22-month period  —  Championed by a guru known simply as the Kook, the satellite company AST has become one of the world's most expensive stocks.

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General Motors has reached a privacy-related settlement with a group of law enforcement agencies led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta.

Kayla Mazza and Honey Donegan at their home in southern Vermont. Courtesy of Ben DiFlorio/HomeShare Vermont Kayla Mazza rents a room in Honey Donegan's home after working with a nonprofit arranging matches. She pays a reduced rent of $650 to help with Donegan's finances and occasionally does chores. The 31-year-old analyst and the 77-year-old nanny get along well and enjoy sharing the space. This interview is based on a conversation with data analyst and systems manager Kayla Mazza, 31, of Windsor County, Vermont. It has been edited for length and clarity. Every night, at 7 p.m., my housemate, Honey Donegan, 77, and I sit down to watch Jeopardy in her den. Friday night is often movie night. It's a lovely bonding experience, despite the 46-year age gap. Honey and I first met in March 2023, but our friendship has gotten stronger by the day since I moved into her home. A few months before, I'd landed a job at a nonprofit near Honey's town, an hour's commute from my parents' home in Waterbury, Vermont. I'd stayed there temporarily until I found my own accommodation nearer my office. However, as soon as I started looking, I felt discouraged. There was a lack of affordable housing in the area. Renting a room in a house with four other people can easily cost over $1,000 a month. Guests like me are not considered carers My new job was at a nonprofit, and I'd taken a pay cut from my previous position. In most cases, I didn't even qualify as a tenant because I didn't earn the required amount under the lease. Do you live with someone from another generation? Please email Jane Ridley at jridley@insider.com if you'd like to share your story. A relative told me about HomeShare Vermont, a nonprofit that matches older people with empty space in their homes with people like me. It's an arrangement that works financially for both the guest and the host. As well as companionship, the host's incentives include the guest often assisting with chores. Guests are not considered carers, but they may help with tasks such as cooking meals, grocery shopping, and rides to the doctor's office. Mazza and Donegan with Tinker, one of Donegan's two dogs. Courtesy of Kayla Mazza. Each party is vetted by the organization, and I was excited to be matched with Honey, a part-time nanny, who lives in a four-bedroom house in a homeowners' association. We settled on a reasonable rent of $650 a month — the maximum HomeShare allows for a shared-housing arrangement — plus a percentage of utilities. My rent was higher than the average $380 monthly amount that HomeShare guests pay, mainly because Honey's needs were few. Some living situations are more intensive and may require a nightly presence and a set number of hours of assistance. The expectations were set in advance It worked out really well because I have a full-time job and am very busy. I also like visiting family and traveling a lot. Meanwhile, Honey is the most active senior I know, especially since she has to keep up with little children. The expectations were discussed in advance of what I should help with, such as watching her pets — two cats, two dogs, and some fish — when she's away or stacking wood in the winter. We really clicked and have never needed HomeShare's mediation if problems ever arise between housemates. We're both avid readers In addition to liking Jeopardy and funny movies, we have other things in common. We hike together, walk the dogs, and swim at a nearby lake. We have similar political beliefs and are both avid readers. Honey, who is extremely empathetic, would never judge me for curling up with a book for an entire weekend. Meanwhile, we have open conversations about coming from different generations. The arrangement makes good financial sense, and it's stimulating and rewarding. Read the original article on Business Insider

Zack Abrams / The Block: LayerZero apologizes for Kelp DAO exploit response, says single-verifier setup was deficient; Dune: in April, ~47% of LayerZero OApps had the same default setup  —  Quick Take  — LayerZero published a blog post Friday apologizing for poor communication in the three weeks since the $292 million Kelp DAO exploit.

"I did not want to be the CEO of GameStop. I want to be the CEO of eBay," Ryan Cohen told Business Insider. GameStop GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen said he will continue doing whatever it takes to buy eBay. CNBC's skeptical interviewers "misunderstood" his deal math in his now-viral "Squawk Box" appearance, he said. The activist investor accused eBay's leadership of poor management. "There's a ton of fat that can be cut." Ryan Cohen says he never wanted to be CEO of GameStop. Instead, he says he dreams of helming eBay and thinks he has a real shot at achieving that goal, despite critics' claims that the e-commerce giant is beyond his reach. "I'm going to continue doing whatever I need to do in order to buy the business," the GameStop CEO told Business Insider in a phone interview on Friday. "I'm going to make myself CEO of both." Cohen surprised Wall Street earlier this week when he disclosed that GameStop had made an unsolicited bid of about $56 billion for eBay, which has a market value more than three times its size. He raised eyebrows again on Monday when he appeared on CNBC's "Squawk Box," during which the hosts openly doubted whether the company could afford eBay and responded to his remarks with exhalations and chuckles. "I'm not sure whether their questions were sincere or not," said Cohen, adding that he laid out a clear explanation of how he would finance a deal for eBay. "I don't know what is so complicated for them to figure it out." A CNBC spokesperson said the "Squawk Box" interview "speaks for itself." Cohen, whose "half cash, half stock" mantra describing the financing quickly became a meme, said GameStop has about $9 billion in cash and that TD Bank had expressed confidence in placing roughly $20 billion in debt. Together, he said, would cover the cash portion of the bid. In the wake of his viral CNBC appearance, Cohen offered a more detailed explanation of his math, including on TBPN. "What we're proposing is for existing shareholders to take half of their investment off the table, and that would be us providing them with $28 billion, which is like a 40% premium from when we started buying the stock," he told TBPN. "And then they would be getting roughly — I mean it depends on ultimately when the transaction closes — but they would be rolling the rest into the combined company of GameStop and eBay." When speaking with Business Insider, Cohen suggested the stock component would be "earnings per share accretive" for GameStop shareholders because he said he could significantly increase eBay's profitability through cost-cutting, making the combined entities more valuable overall. A familiar playbook In publicly criticizing eBay's leadership and arguing he could do a better job, Cohen borrowed from the playbook he used when he took over GameStop in 2021. A key difference, though, is that eBay's business is much healthier today than GameStop's was back then. Cohen, who built his fortune as the cofounder of online pet-products retailer Chewy, told Business Insider that eBay could be in an even better financial position if it were managed more efficiently. "There's a ton of fat that can be cut," he said, pointing to what he described as excessive operating expenses at a company that carries no inventory and whose operating income has remained roughly flat for a decade despite broader e-commerce growth. EBay's operating income was $2.28 billion for 2025 compared to $2.2 billion for 2015. The company completed its PayPal spinoff in 2015 and has offloaded other assets in the last decade, including selling StubHub. The company's EBITDA margin, a profitability ratio measuring operational efficiency, was 24% for 2025. Cohen also took aim at eBay's executives and directors. He alleged they had sold "hundreds of millions of dollars of stock" without buying shares themselves. "They're not owners in the business. They're just milking it," he said. "It's simply a paycheck for them." Like other executives of publicly traded companies, Ebay's leadership receives shares and stock options as part of their compensation packages. A source familiar with the matter said company insiders currently own over $150 million in shares. Further, Cohen criticized eBay's corporate culture, alleging that the company had become too comfortable and undisciplined under its current leadership. EBay has publicly said it is reviewing Cohen's bid. A frugal 'meme king' Cohen, who has also pushed for change at Nordstrom and Bed Bath & Beyond, said he wouldn't take a salary if he became CEO of eBay. He doesn't earn one at GameStop, though he has a $35 billion compensation package tied to hitting market cap and profit milestones, which an eBay deal could help unlock. He said he pays his personal assistant out of his own pocket and that whoever GameStop hires for a recently posted private project manager job would be compensated the same way. "I have not pulled a penny out of GameStop," he said. Since unveiling his bid for eBay, Cohen has leaned into his message about frugality — and his "meme king" reputation for publicity stunts — by listing personal items for sale on the platform. Those included one for a used pair of socks that drew bids of over $14,000. He said the effort is a sincere part of a broader push to help finance the acquisition. "I have a lot of spare stuff," he said. In a brief follow-up call on Friday, Cohen expanded on his aspirations for leading the merged companies. "I did not want to be the CEO of GameStop. I want to be the CEO of eBay," he said. "I'm passionate about eBay. I believe in eBay's business. I wasn't passionate about GameStop. That's the difference." Correction, May 9, 2026: An earlier version of this article misstated the year Cohen took over GameStop. This story has also been updated with information about eBay leadership stock holdings and the company's financials. Read the original article on Business Insider

The MV Hondius, a cruise ship, faced an outbreak of hantavirus among its passengers. AFP via Getty Images The WHO's director-general said the current hantavirus outbreak "is not another COVID-19." An outbreak on a cruise ship has led to three deaths so far. The ship will arrive in the Canary Islands off Spain's coast on Sunday to evacuate passengers. The World Health Organization's director-general said the current hantavirus outbreak, which is so far linked to the deaths of three people, isn't "another COVID-19." Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus shared the message in an X post directed toward the residents of Tenerife, where a cruise ship that faced an outbreak of hantavirus will evacuate early Sunday morning. Some Tenerife residents have protested the ship's scheduled arrival, concerned that it could cause another pandemic. "I know you are worried. I know that when you hear the word 'outbreak' and watch a ship sail toward your shores, memories surface that none of us have fully put to rest," Ghebreyesus said on Saturday. "The pain of 2020 is still real, and I do not dismiss it for a single moment. But I need you to hear me clearly: this is not another COVID-19." To the people of Tenerife, My name is Tedros, and I serve as the Director-General of the @WHO, the @UN agency responsible for global public health. It is not common for me to write directly to the people of a single community, but today I feel it is not only appropriate, it is… pic.twitter.com/lx05ji4a79 — Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) May 9, 2026 Ghebreyesus said the current public health risk from hantavirus remains low, and there are no symptomatic passengers aboard the ship — called the MV Honduis — at this time. "Spain's authorities have prepared a careful, step-by-step plan: passengers will be ferried ashore at the industrial port of Granadilla, far from residential areas, in sealed, guarded vehicles, through a completely cordoned-off corridor, and repatriated directly to their home countries," Ghebreyesus said. "You will not encounter them. Your families will not encounter them." Some Tenerife residents protested the scheduled arrival of the cruise ship. JORGE GUERRERO/AFP via Getty Images The World Health Organization first received reports of passengers with severe respiratory illness aboard the cruise ship on May 2. As of May 8, a total of eight cases, including three deaths, have been reported. Health officials said the virus is the Andes strain, known to have limited human-to-human transmission. The United States, which officially withdrew from the World Health Organization earlier this year, shared an update for Americans through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on May 8. At the moment, the risk to the American public and travelers "remains extremely low," the agency said. In his X post, Ghebreyesus thanked Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain for agreeing to receive the cruise ship. "I intend to travel to Tenerife to observe this operation firsthand, to stand alongside the health workers, port staff, and officials who are making it happen, and to personally pay my respects to an island that has responded to a difficult situation with grace, solidarity, and compassion. Your humanity deserves to be witnessed, not just acknowledged from a distance," he said. Ghebreyesus added, "As I have said many times: viruses do not care about politics, and they do not respect borders. The best immunity any of us has is solidarity." Read the original article on Business Insider

Not having enough cash on hand cost me time and money during my trip to the Galápagos Islands. Dion Rabouin When I visited the Galápagos Islands, I assumed I'd be able to use credit cards and easily get cash. Unfortunately, ATM fees and credit-card charges were quite high on the islands. Next time, I'll bring more cash and spend more time in the Galápagos to help my money go further. Last year, I took a dream vacation to a place I had heard about my whole life, but never thought I would have the chance to visit: the Galápagos Islands. I swam with sea turtles and sharks, hung out with sea lions, and walked with the legendary giant tortoises. I traveled solo, skipped the touristy cruises, flew coach, and negotiated for some great deals, but my trip was nearly overshadowed by one major mistake: I didn't bring nearly enough cold, hard cash in the form of US dollars. Ecuador is a fully dollarized economy, which means American travelers don't even need to exchange currency. However, getting dollars once I was on the islands proved to be more difficult — and expensive — than I expected. Although I brought some cash, I spent most of it before my vacation even began I didn't get nearly enough cash in Ecuador before I headed to the islands. Dion Rabouin Before my trip, I thought a few hundred dollars would be all I needed for the week. Instead, my cash was gone before I even saw a blue-footed booby. For one, there's a long list of fees visitors have to pay just to enter the islands. There are also costs to get from the mostly uninhabited island where the main airport is located to other islands, where it's actually possible to book a stay for the night. First, I spent $20 on a Galápagos Transit Control Card at the mainland airport in Guayaquil, Ecuador. This is a mandatory document for all visitors, used to monitor tourism and manage immigration. Then, I flew to the Seymour Airport, located on the mostly uninhabited island of Baltra in the Galápagos. I paid a $200 mandatory national-park entry fee so I could exit the airport. I took several forms of transportation to reach my accommodations. Dion Rabouin From there, I spent about $15 to take a bus and ferry from Baltra to Santa Cruz, where my accommodations and tours were located. Once I arrived in Santa Cruz, I paid $25 for a taxi from the ferry terminal to the main town. I would've just taken the bus for about $5, but none were available when I arrived. Using credit cards and getting cash on the islands wasn't as great or as easy as I'd anticipated Using my credit card got expensive. Dion Rabouin Although I didn't have much cash by the time I arrived at my accommodations, I still had my credit cards and knew I'd be able to withdraw US dollars from any ATM in the country if needed. Unfortunately, I found out too late that many locally owned accommodations won't accept credit cards, and almost all of the local tour operators charge hefty fees for using them. Operators tack on credit-card or "convenience" fees that can rise to as high as 10% or 20% of the total bill. When I started really running low on money, I learned that convenience comes at a steep price for cash, too. Between the local ATM fees and my bank's international and out-of-network charges, I got hit with more than $25 in fees on a single withdrawal. Looking back, there are a few ways I wish I'd saved money on my trip Even if I hadn't brought more cash from home, I should've at least gotten it before flying to the Galápagos Islands. Dion Rabouin If you're planning your first trip, don't follow in my footsteps. First of all, a shorter stay offers the least bang for your buck, and my trip was just three days. Since the upfront fees to enter the islands are the same regardless of how long you're staying, my cost-per-day breakdown felt astronomical. If you're going to pay the price of admission to the islands, I suggest you stay at least a week to make the initial investment worth it. If I could do this trip over, I'd spend more time in the Galápagos. Dion Rabouin For a weeklong stay, I'd also advise packing at least $600 in a mix of bills ranging from $5 to $100 so you can tip easily without worrying about getting change. Even if bringing more cash from home isn't feasible, it's at least worth withdrawing some before flying to the Galápagos. Major cities like Guayaquil and Quito, where most visitors catch their flights to the islands, tend to have lower ATM fees. All in all, I had a great time seeing the Galápagos Islands, but my vacation could've gone smoother — and been a better value — if I'd been a bit more prepared. Read the original article on Business Insider