In a wide-ranging discussion on the What Bitcoin Did podcast, developer Calle reflected on the mounting tension between Bitcoin’s financial progress and the regulatory clampdown on privacy. While Bitcoin is at all-time highs and institutions are accelerating adoption, Calle warned that “the Kraken is now… putting its arms over the system we’ve been building for 15 years,” referencing government prosecutions of privacy developers and laws such as the UK’s Online Safety Act. He stressed that privacy is not just a technical feature but “necessary for a democracy to function,” comparing the fight to the decades-long “Crypto Wars.” Calle highlighted his work on Cashew, a Chaumian eCash system for private, peer-to-peer Bitcoin payments, and BitChat, Jack Dorsey’s Bluetooth mesh messenger. He argues resilience depends on parallel systems and developers who “determine what Bitcoin is from the inside and spread this message.”
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OpenAI’s Economic Research Team has released the first large-scale analysis of how people actually use ChatGPT, drawing on direct internal data across 2.6 billion daily messages. The paper, co-authored with Harvard economist David Denning and published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, found that the service now reaches more than 700 million users—nearly 10% of the global adult population—though growth is increasingly driven by new signups rather than heavier use by early adopters. According to the report, usage skews young, with 46% of users between 18 and 25, and has shifted from an 80% male base in 2022 to near gender parity. Non-work purposes now dominate, comprising 72% of activity. Writing support remains the most common function, but information-seeking queries are surging, while coding, multimedia, and roleplay account for small fractions. OpenAI notes many workers are now using ChatGPT as an “advisor or research assistant,” underscoring its evolving role in decision-making.
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In a razor-thin 48–47 vote, the U.S. Senate confirmed Stephen Miran to the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors, sparking immediate partisan debate over central bank independence. Miran, a Harvard-trained economist and current Trump economic adviser, will serve through January 2026, filling the seat vacated by Adriana Kugler. Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott (R-S.C.) praised the decision, saying Miran “brings deep experience” and would strengthen U.S. competitiveness. But Democrats, led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, warned his dual role, remaining chair of Trump’s Council of Economic Advisers while on unpaid leave, threatens to turn the Fed into Trump’s “personal piggy bank.” Miran has supported deregulation and told The Bitcoin Layer that digital assets have ”a big role potentially to play in innovation.” His background includes Treasury work during the COVID-19 crisis and Wall Street experience, including at Hudson Bay Capital trading FTX bankruptcy claims. The appointment highlights growing political pressure on the Fed as Trump seeks greater influence over monetary policy.
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A Canadian education reform report calling for “ethical” AI use has been found to contain at least 15 fabricated citations, CBC News reported. The 418-page document, A Vision for the Future: Transforming and Modernizing Education, took 18 months to complete and was released in late August by Memorial University professors Anne Burke and Karen Goodnough alongside Education Minister Bernard Davis. Experts say the false references, including one to a nonexistent 2008 National Film Board film, mirror telltale AI-generated confabulations. “Fabricating sources is a telltale sign of artificial intelligence,” said Memorial assistant professor Aaron Tucker. The irony is stark: one of the report’s 110 recommendations urges schools to teach responsible AI practices. Memorial professor Sarah Martin, who identified multiple fakes, warned that the errors undermine trust in such a critical policy blueprint. The provincial Education Department has pledged to correct the document online in the coming days.
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