My main newsletter, Complex Machinery, includes a section called "In Other News..." It's where I list one-liners about interesting articles that didn't fit into any segments.

You can think of this list as a version of In Other News, but with a wider remit than Complex Machinery's "risk, AI, and related topics."

Above the fold

1. AI-generated video slop is everywhere, filling possibly a third of YouTube's catalog. It's also pretty good business, according to a report from Kapwing. (Credit where it's due: I originally found this through an article in Der Spiegel 🇩🇪.)
2. This article about narcissistic leaders focuses on politicians and executives. The central point – that people prefer narcissists during times of uncertainty – also explains a lot of the influencer sphere. People crave bold, confident leadership when they feel lost. And that is fertile ground for self-proclaimed experts.. (New York Times)
3. We can mock OpenAI for just now opening up a Head of Preparedness role, this late into the company's existence. But they're still a step ahead of companies that are not making room in the org chart for AI-related risk management. (TechCrunch)
4. Do everyday people prefer AI-generated art? If so, what does that say about them, creators, and the creative process? Writers (The New Yorker) and musicians (Washington Post) weigh in.
5. France's 2027 push for digital identity documents could change banking for consumers. (Les Echos 🇫🇷)
6. Large genAI companies are still shuffling numbers to make their balance sheets (appear to) work out.

The rest of the best

• In November, The Atlantic's Matteo Wong wasn't too impressed with the AirPod real-time translation. Ruffin Prevost of the New York Times had a much different experience just a few weeks later. (New York Times)
• AI-generated faces have gotten so good that they even fool people who are skilled at recognizing faces. (Live Science)
• Getting trashed at a Disney property, while passing it off as a cultural exploration. (WSJ)
• This story about a large-scale lobster theft sheds light on a growing form of impersonation fraud, hitting up soft spots in supply chains. (NBC News)
• VCs expect 2026 will be the year of enterprise AI adoption. "Adoption," maybe. But what about "success?" (TechCrunch)
• France's news-based influencers overlap with professional journalists, but they don't officially get that title. (Le Monde 🇫🇷)
• One look at how genAI tools may change the workplace. (Vox)
• Tesla's electronic door handles have allegedly hindered rescue efforts. (Bloomberg, Washington Post)
• Autonomous taxi company Waymo is paying people to get their vehicles un-stuck. That includes tow companies, sure. And also random people to close car doors. (Washington Post)
• As podcasts shift to video, not everyone is impressed. (The Guardian)
• Did dark web markets die after the Silk Road bust in 2013? Not at all. They're alive and thriving, with Telegram at the center of their communications. (Wired)

Did I miss anything?

Have something I should read? Send the link my way.