# Tech & AI Weekly — November 2025
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## 🚨 Major Headlines
- **FFmpeg team calls out Google**: If you discover and report vulnerabilities, **provide funding or patch support** — not just bug reports.
- **yt‑dlp update**: Starting **2025‑11‑12**, **YouTube support now requires** an external JavaScript runtime and `yt-dlp-ejs`.
- **Yann LeCun leaves Meta**: Launching a **“world models” AI startup** with a decade-long research horizon.
- **U.S. retires the penny**: Last minted on **Nov 12, 2025**; legal tender remains but prompts rounding debates.
- **Pakistani AI prompt leak**: Newspaper published AI instructions in final text — raising editorial responsibility issues.
- **Collaboration critique**: Over-collaboration slows teams; advocates for **clear ownership**, autonomy, and post‑execution review.
- **Solar storm alert**: Nov 11 X5.1 flare + fast CME expected to cause **G4-class geomagnetic storm**.
- **Blood pressure monitor RE**: Partial protocol decoding for Microlife WatchBP O3 via USB traffic capture; incomplete.
- **Perkeep update**: Open-source long-term storage project gets v0.12 after 5 years, still technical-user focused.
- **Avalonia MAUI backend**: Bringing .NET MAUI apps to **Linux** and **WebAssembly**, with performance boosts.
---
## FFmpeg vs Google — Funding vs Bug Reports
**Article:** [The New Stack](https://thenewstack.io/ffmpeg-to-google-fund-us-or-stop-sending-bugs/)
**HN:** [Discussion](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45891016) — 1125 points / 836 comments
**Summary:**
- FFmpeg is crucial for VLC, Chrome, YouTube; maintained mostly by volunteers.
- Google’s AI found a vulnerability; FFmpeg says unpaid volunteers shouldn’t bear big‑company responsibilities.
- Calls for **patch contributions or funding** rather than just disclosures.
- Example: libxml2 maintainer stepped down due to unpaid security labor overload.
**HN Key Points:**
- If you can pay to find vulns, pay to fix them.
- Upstream patches improve ecosystem, ethical responsibility.
- Corporate process blocks upstreaming; cultural change needed.
- Success example: Valve’s sustained open-source investment in Mesa & WINE.
---
## yt-dlp — YouTube Support Changes
**Issue:** [GitHub #15012](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/15012)
**HN:** [Discussion](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45898407) — 832 points / 511 comments
**Summary:**
From v2025.11.12:
- **Requires external JS runtime** (`Deno`, `Node.js`, `QuickJS`, `Bun`; only Deno defaults enabled).
- Must install **yt-dlp-ejs** (bundled in official builds / PyPI).
**Implications:**
Without a runtime, YouTube download will degrade and may stop entirely.
**HN Highlights:**
- Performance improves with `--remote-components ejs:github`.
- Notes on VPN anti‑bot triggers, Firefox anti‑adblock issues.
- Speculation on a “controlled corporate web” vs “hostile free web.”
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## Meta’s AI Shakeup — LeCun Departs
**Article:** [Nasdaq](https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/metas-chief-ai-scientist-yann-lecun-depart-and-launch-ai-start-focused-world-models)
**HN:** [Discussion](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45897271) — 795 points / 608 comments
**Summary:**
- LeCun launching “world models” startup; decade-long research focus.
- Meta AI refocused toward commercial LLMs; FAIR reduced.
- Meta’s Llama 4 underperformed; $14.3B stake in Scale AI.
- Internal AI leadership churn; high-priced hires.
**HN Notes:**
- Investors funding vague “science experiment” AI startups.
- Debate over high pay vs actual project quality.
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## End of the Penny in the US
**Article:** [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/12/business/last-penny-minted)
**HN:** [Discussion](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45901904) — 516 points / 683 comments
**Summary:**
- Last penny minted Nov 12 2025; cost to make > face value.
- Legal constraints in several states prohibit rounding.
- SNAP rules block rounding for card payments.
**HN Highlights:**
- Calls to scrap low‑value coins; adopt whole‑cent rounding like Canada.
- Criticism of poor legislative planning.
- VAT‑style tax-inclusive pricing proposed.
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## Pakistani Newspaper AI Prompt Leak
**Tweet:** [@omar_quraishi](https://twitter.com/omar_quraishi/status/1988518627859951986)
**HN:** [Discussion](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45898789) — 462 points / 158 comments
**Summary:**
- AI prompt printed in Dawn Business article.
- Sparks debate on AI in journalism and editorial oversight.
**HN Observations:**
- AI-generated filler text common; prompts for summarization etc.
- Lack of charts in financial articles.
- Suggestion for “Answer Only” mode in chat UIs.
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## Collaboration Sucks — PostHog View
**Article:** [PostHog Newsletter](https://newsletter.posthog.com/p/collaboration-sucks)
**HN:** [Discussion](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45892394) — 454 points / 246 comments
**Core Idea:**
- Over-collaboration slows execution; empower the “driver” for each task.
- Avoid *“let’s discuss”* default.
- Pre-discussion replaced by post-feedback.
**HN Notes:**
- Trust key for sustainable autonomy.
- Poor managers cause dependency and attrition.
- Avoid decision reversal; use docs for knowledge transfer without stalling iteration.
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## Solar Flare & G4 Storm Watch
**Article:** [SpaceWeatherLive](https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en/news/view/593/20251111-x5-1-solar-flare-g4-geomagnetic-storm-watch.html)
**HN:** [Discussion](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45893004) — 391 points / 110 comments
**Summary:**
- Nov 11 X5.1 flare, Earth-directed CME.
- Expected Nov 12 G4 geomagnetic storm; auroras visible at low latitudes.
- Solar wind speed ~953 km/s; S2 radiation storm.
**HN Highlights:**
- Grid operators issuing GMD warnings.
- Auroras photographed as far south as El Salvador.
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## Reverse Engineering BP Monitor
**Article:** [James Belchamber](https://james.belchamber.com/articles/blood-pressure-monitor-reverse-engineering/)
**HN:** [Discussion](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45893095) — 335 points / 147 comments
**Summary:**
- Microlife WatchBP O3 via USB (HID device) — 32‑byte packets.
- Extracted SYS/DIA/HR fields; partial timestamp decoding.
- Could not fully reverse protocol in 24 h.
**HN Notes:**
- AI adds noise for technical problem-solving — solo thinking works better.
- BP measurement accuracy affected by rest, conversation, posture.
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## Perkeep v0.12 Release
**Site:** [perkeep.org](https://perkeep.org/)
**HN:** [Discussion](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45896130) — 314 points / 66 comments
**Summary:**
- Long-term personal data storage, open-source.
- New release after 5 years, with Tailscale auth support.
**HN Takeaways:**
- Limited adoption due to stalled maintenance.
- Weak UX/docs, high complexity for non-technical users.
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## Avalonia — .NET MAUI on Linux & Browser
**Blog:** [AvaloniaUI](https://avaloniaui.net/blog/net-maui-is-coming-to-linux-and-the-browser-powered-by-avalonia)
**HN:** [Discussion](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45893986) — 306 points / 260 comments
**Summary:**
- Avalonia backend allows MAUI apps on Linux & WebAssembly.
- Improves desktop performance; single target dev workflow.
**HN Concerns:**
- Web builds lack native web capabilities (text select, copy).
- Comparison to Flash/Silverlight “web islands.”
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## Other Notable Threads
- **Steam Machine / VR headset**: ARM Linux PC + VR, mod‑friendly, foveated streaming.
- **NYT vs OpenAI privacy**: 20M ChatGPT conversation request; raises retention concerns.
- **.NET 10 upgrade**: Smooth, lowered resource usage; C# stigma remains.
- **Transmeta retrospective**: Dynamic compilation bet failed, lessons in GPU & LLM scaling.
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- Docs: [docs.aitoearn.ai](https://docs.aitoearn.ai)
- GitHub: [yikart/AiToEarn](https://github.com/yikart/AiToEarn)
- Blog: [blog.aitoearn.ai](https://blog.aitoearn.ai)
---
