Good morning. It’s Tuesday, April 8. Today we are covering:
Meta got caught gaming AI benchmarks
Space Systems Command awards National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 2 contracts
Waymo Explores Using Rider Data to Train Generative AI
Musk's DOGE using AI to snoop on U.S. federal workers, sources say
Your Windows 11 Start menu is getting a design makeover
Let’s dive in
Meta got caught gaming AI benchmarks
By Kylie Robison via The Verge
Meta used a specially optimized, non-public version of its Llama 4 Maverick model to boost its ranking on LMArena, misleadingly showcasing performance that developers can’t actually access.
After researchers uncovered the benchmark manipulation, LMArena updated its policies to prevent similar tactics, while Meta defended its actions as experimentation with chat-optimized variants.
The controversy sparked industry backlash, underscoring how AI benchmarks are being gamed and raising doubts about the credibility of leaderboard rankings in guiding real-world AI use.
𝕏: Meta is so desperate to be seen as a leader in AI that it’s been caught cheating in AI benchmarks. Reminds me of the time Facebook artificially inflated its video views to con advertisers - Tom Warren (@tomwarren)
Space Systems Command awards National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 2 contracts
Spaceforce
SpaceX, ULA, and Blue Origin secure major defense launch contracts under the U.S. Space Force’s $15B National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 2, with projected awards of $5.9B, $5.4B, and $2.4B respectively.
84 missions planned from FY25 to FY29, nearly doubling Phase 2’s total; SpaceX will handle ~60%, ULA ~40%, and Blue Origin will begin launches in Order Year 2.
New dual-lane strategy aims to boost launch resiliency and cost-efficiency, securing reliable access to space for high-priority national security payloads through 2032.
𝕏: It appears that US Space Force isn't taking a DOGE like cut as the other agencies are. On Friday it announced three big contracts. The biggest: $6 billion to Elon Musk's SpaceX - Sam Stein (@samstein)
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Waymo Explores Using Rider Data to Train Generative AI
By Alex Perry via The Information
Waymo is considering using data from its autonomous vehicle riders to train generative AI models, aiming to enhance in-car conversational agents and other features.
The move reflects a growing interest in pairing real-world user data with AI training to improve personalization and responsiveness.
The company is reportedly weighing privacy implications and consent mechanisms, acknowledging the sensitivity of user data and regulatory scrutiny.
𝕏: Waymo is working on Generative AI training using “interior camera data associated with rider’s identity,” provides opt-opts for this and data sharing under CCPA Waymo explicitly states in this unreleased Privacy page it may share your data for personalized ads - Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane)
Musk's DOGE using AI to snoop on U.S. federal workers, sources say
By Alexandra Ulmer via Reuters
Musk’s DOGE team is allegedly using AI to monitor federal employee communications for anti-Trump or anti-Musk sentiment, raising serious concerns about surveillance, freedom of speech, and abuse of power within federal agencies like the EPA.
The use of encrypted messaging app Signal and Google Docs by DOGE staff may be violating federal record-keeping laws, with critics highlighting the secrecy and lack of transparency as potential ethical and legal issues.
Musk’s expanding influence inside federal agencies has triggered legal and internal backlash, including court orders for greater transparency and fears that AI could be used to purge non-loyal government workers under the guise of “efficiency.”
Your Windows 11 Start menu is getting a design makeover
By Lance Whitney via ZDNET
Microsoft is testing a redesigned Windows 11 Start menu that shows all apps on the main screen, offers customizable layouts (list, grid, or category folders), and lets users disable the cluttered Recommended section entirely.
The new Start menu, currently only available via Windows Insider builds and tools like ViVeTool, addresses longstanding usability complaints by offering a more expansive layout and deeper personalization options.
Longtime critics of the Windows 11 Start menu, including former Microsoft UX staff, have praised the update as a step forward, though some still recommend alternatives like Start11, StartAllBack, or Open Shell for a more classic experience.
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