Natasha Bernal
@natashabernal.bsky.social
Senior business editor @WIRED. I like news
This evening, join me in treating yourself to a subscription to @jakelahut.writes.news's brand new newsletter! One door closes and another opens ❤️
I was one of the four people who got canned.
In the interim, you can subscribe to my newsletter, Straight From The Hut. No paywall, but feel free to choose the pay to support model. I'm not going anywhere — the show goes on, and I'll be back on MSNBC Saturday night. straightfromthehut.substack.com
In the interim, you can subscribe to my newsletter, Straight From The Hut. No paywall, but feel free to choose the pay to support model. I'm not going anywhere — the show goes on, and I'll be back on MSNBC Saturday night. straightfromthehut.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:55 PM
This evening, join me in treating yourself to a subscription to @jakelahut.writes.news's brand new newsletter! One door closes and another opens ❤️
Reposted by Natasha Bernal
Open source language models are crucial to AI innovation. Can open robotics models do the same for physical machines?
This Open Source Robot Brain Thinks in 3D
Open source language models are crucial to AI innovation. Can open robotics models do the same for physical machines?
wrd.cm
October 22, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Open source language models are crucial to AI innovation. Can open robotics models do the same for physical machines?
NEW from @carolinehaskins.bsky.social today: People are begging the FTC for help as they claim ChatGPT is fuelling their 'AI psychosis' www.wired.com/story/ftc-co...
People Who Say They’re Experiencing AI Psychosis Beg the FTC for Help
The Federal Trade Commission received 200 complaints mentioning ChatGPT between November 2022 and August 2025. Several attributed delusions, paranoia, and spiritual crises to the chatbot.
www.wired.com
October 22, 2025 at 12:12 PM
NEW from @carolinehaskins.bsky.social today: People are begging the FTC for help as they claim ChatGPT is fuelling their 'AI psychosis' www.wired.com/story/ftc-co...
Have you been emotionally manipulated by an AI chatbot?
Some chatbots created as companions are guilt-tripping people to stop them from saying goodbye, @willknight.bsky.social explores why www.wired.com/story/chatbo...
Some chatbots created as companions are guilt-tripping people to stop them from saying goodbye, @willknight.bsky.social explores why www.wired.com/story/chatbo...
Chatbots Play With Your Emotions to Avoid Saying Goodbye
A Harvard Business School study shows that several AI companions use various tricks to keep a conversation from ending.
www.wired.com
October 2, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Have you been emotionally manipulated by an AI chatbot?
Some chatbots created as companions are guilt-tripping people to stop them from saying goodbye, @willknight.bsky.social explores why www.wired.com/story/chatbo...
Some chatbots created as companions are guilt-tripping people to stop them from saying goodbye, @willknight.bsky.social explores why www.wired.com/story/chatbo...
Reposted by Natasha Bernal
In college, I'd always walk past an unremarkable store in Beijing that sold a variety of trendy, but tacky, toys. That store has turned into Pop Mart, the $45-billion Chinese toy empire behind Labubu, the biggest global fad of 2025.
This is my big story/pilgrimage trip to explain how they got here
This is my big story/pilgrimage trip to explain how they got here
A Journey Into the Heart of Labubu
I made an epic trek across four countries to answer one question: Why is the world going mad for a plushie monster?
www.wired.com
October 1, 2025 at 2:23 PM
In college, I'd always walk past an unremarkable store in Beijing that sold a variety of trendy, but tacky, toys. That store has turned into Pop Mart, the $45-billion Chinese toy empire behind Labubu, the biggest global fad of 2025.
This is my big story/pilgrimage trip to explain how they got here
This is my big story/pilgrimage trip to explain how they got here
I covered the protests in London against Trump for @wired.com. Protesters aren't convinced by the AI deal from US tech giants: They want to know what the UK is giving them in exchange for up to $45bn in investment and where the power for data centers will come from www.wired.com/story/climat...
Anti-Trump Protesters Take Aim at ‘Naive’ US-UK AI Deal
Thousands marched in London to protest President Donald Trump’s second state visit. Among them were many environmental activists unhappy with Britain’s new AI deal with the US.
www.wired.com
September 18, 2025 at 11:12 AM
I covered the protests in London against Trump for @wired.com. Protesters aren't convinced by the AI deal from US tech giants: They want to know what the UK is giving them in exchange for up to $45bn in investment and where the power for data centers will come from www.wired.com/story/climat...
Spent some time with Jensen Huang this morning and let's just say some stuff came up a lot
www.wired.com/story/jensen...
www.wired.com/story/jensen...
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Is Bananas for Google Gemini’s AI Image Generator
The Nvidia CEO reveals his consuming love for Google’s image generator, the artsy side of Grok, and what exactly he uses Perplexity, Gemini, and ChatGPT for right now.
www.wired.com
September 17, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Spent some time with Jensen Huang this morning and let's just say some stuff came up a lot
www.wired.com/story/jensen...
www.wired.com/story/jensen...
Over 200 contractors who work on improving Google’s AI products, including Gemini and AI Overviews, have been laid off, sources tell WIRED. It’s the latest development in a conflict over pay and alleged poor working conditions. www.wired.com/story/hundre...
Hundreds of Google AI Workers Were Fired Amid Fight Over Working Conditions
Over 200 contractors who work on improving Google’s AI products, including Gemini and AI Overviews, have been laid off, sources tell WIRED. It’s the latest development in a conflict over pay and alleged...
www.wired.com
September 15, 2025 at 4:53 PM
NEW: OpenAI is putting together a team capable of developing algorithms to control robots and appears to be hiring roboticists who work specifically on humanoids. Great piece from @willknight.bsky.social www.wired.com/story/openai...
OpenAI Ramps Up Robotics Work in Race Toward AGI
The company behind ChatGPT is putting together a team capable of developing algorithms to control robots and appears to be hiring roboticists who work specifically on humanoids.
www.wired.com
September 15, 2025 at 2:02 PM
NEW: OpenAI is putting together a team capable of developing algorithms to control robots and appears to be hiring roboticists who work specifically on humanoids. Great piece from @willknight.bsky.social www.wired.com/story/openai...
NEW AI Lab this week: an AI-powered version of Atlas (Boston Dynamic's biped dancing robot) is demonstrating some surprising new improvisational skills to complete task—a significant step toward general-purpose robot algorithms. www.wired.com/story/this-h...
This Robot Only Needs a Single AI Model to Master Humanlike Movements
Atlas, Boston Dynamics’ dancing humanoid, can now use a single model for walking and grasping—a significant step toward general-purpose robot algorithms.
www.wired.com
September 5, 2025 at 8:19 AM
NEW AI Lab this week: an AI-powered version of Atlas (Boston Dynamic's biped dancing robot) is demonstrating some surprising new improvisational skills to complete task—a significant step toward general-purpose robot algorithms. www.wired.com/story/this-h...
hmmmmmmm www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
August 4, 2025 at 11:01 AM
hmmmmmmm www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Natasha Bernal
**THREAD**
Yesterday, WIRED launched a shiny new subscription package!
On top of all of our journalism, subscribers now get five premium newsletters, access to AMAs with reporters, and narrated articles.
I cover crypto for WIRED. Here are some of my favourite stories from the past twelve months:
Yesterday, WIRED launched a shiny new subscription package!
On top of all of our journalism, subscribers now get five premium newsletters, access to AMAs with reporters, and narrated articles.
I cover crypto for WIRED. Here are some of my favourite stories from the past twelve months:
July 24, 2025 at 9:46 AM
**THREAD**
Yesterday, WIRED launched a shiny new subscription package!
On top of all of our journalism, subscribers now get five premium newsletters, access to AMAs with reporters, and narrated articles.
I cover crypto for WIRED. Here are some of my favourite stories from the past twelve months:
Yesterday, WIRED launched a shiny new subscription package!
On top of all of our journalism, subscribers now get five premium newsletters, access to AMAs with reporters, and narrated articles.
I cover crypto for WIRED. Here are some of my favourite stories from the past twelve months:
New from @joelkhalili.bsky.social: There was a time when crypto firms claimed to be out in the cold... now, under Trump's crypto regime, they're being courted by traditional banks willing to do business www.wired.com/story/the-gr...
The Great Crypto Re-Banking Has Begun
For years, crypto firms complained about being “debanked” in the US. Under the Trump administration, a group of fintechs is rolling out the red carpet.
www.wired.com
July 24, 2025 at 10:27 AM
New from @joelkhalili.bsky.social: There was a time when crypto firms claimed to be out in the cold... now, under Trump's crypto regime, they're being courted by traditional banks willing to do business www.wired.com/story/the-gr...
New from @knibbs.bsky.social today: people are being asked in interviews whether they're willing to work from 9am to 9pm, six days a week FOREVER if they want to get a job in some US AI startups. This is just wild
www.wired.com/story/silico...
www.wired.com/story/silico...
Silicon Valley AI Startups Are Embracing China’s Controversial ‘996’ Work Schedule
In an industry once known for cushy perks, some founders are now asking staff to commit to a 72-hour weekly schedule. You’re either in or you’re out.
www.wired.com
July 23, 2025 at 5:36 PM
New from @knibbs.bsky.social today: people are being asked in interviews whether they're willing to work from 9am to 9pm, six days a week FOREVER if they want to get a job in some US AI startups. This is just wild
www.wired.com/story/silico...
www.wired.com/story/silico...
New: Trump's AI Action Plan continues the crusade against “woke” AI, recommending that federal procurement guidelines are updated so that only AI companies that “ensure that their systems are objective and free from top-down ideological bias” are given contracts. www.wired.com/story/trumps...
Trump’s AI Action Plan Is a Crusade Against ‘Bias’—and Regulation
The Trump administration’s new AI policy blueprint calls for limited regulation and lots of leeway for Big Tech to grow even bigger.
www.wired.com
July 23, 2025 at 3:51 PM
New: Trump's AI Action Plan continues the crusade against “woke” AI, recommending that federal procurement guidelines are updated so that only AI companies that “ensure that their systems are objective and free from top-down ideological bias” are given contracts. www.wired.com/story/trumps...
Remember Mark Zuckerberg's plan to raise cattle on macadamia nuts and beer? Well...
www.wired.com/story/mark-z...
www.wired.com/story/mark-z...
Mark Zuckerberg Is Expanding His Secretive Hawaii Compound. Part of It Sits Atop a Burial Ground
Meta’s CEO has become one of the biggest landowners in Hawaii, growing his property’s footprint and erecting new mysterious buildings.
www.wired.com
July 21, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Remember Mark Zuckerberg's plan to raise cattle on macadamia nuts and beer? Well...
www.wired.com/story/mark-z...
www.wired.com/story/mark-z...
Reposted by Natasha Bernal
New from me: The Enhanced Games, a version of the Olympics where you're allowed to take drugs, has announced a host city (Las Vegas), a date (next May) and a that an 'enhanced' athlete has set a world record in the 50m freestyle!
www.wired.com/story/the-en...
www.wired.com/story/the-en...
The Enhanced Games Has A Date, A Host City and a Drug-Fuelled World Record
The Enhanced Games, where athletes are allowed to take performance-enhancing drugs, will host its first event in May. One "enhanced" former Olympic swimmer has already broken the 50m freestyle record.
www.wired.com
May 21, 2025 at 8:03 PM
New from me: The Enhanced Games, a version of the Olympics where you're allowed to take drugs, has announced a host city (Las Vegas), a date (next May) and a that an 'enhanced' athlete has set a world record in the 50m freestyle!
www.wired.com/story/the-en...
www.wired.com/story/the-en...
Backstabbing! Sabotage! Spreadsheets! This story about how @joelkhalili.bsky.social went undercover to try to win a huge pot of crypto in a winner-takes-all game is so nerdy and fabulous pls read thanks www.wired.com/story/crypto...
I Went Undercover in Crypto’s Answer to ‘Squid Game.’ It Nearly Broke Me
I spent 10 days competing in Crypto: The Game, a winner-takes-all contest where hundreds of players try to finesse and backstab their way to claiming a $140,000 cryptocurrency prize.
www.wired.com
March 26, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Backstabbing! Sabotage! Spreadsheets! This story about how @joelkhalili.bsky.social went undercover to try to win a huge pot of crypto in a winner-takes-all game is so nerdy and fabulous pls read thanks www.wired.com/story/crypto...
Reposted by Natasha Bernal
As the Trump administration continues its efforts to slash the US federal workforce, the team responsible for publishing data used in advanced research in astrophysics, nuclear fusion, and other fields appears to be on the chopping block.
Trump Admin Plans to Cut Team Responsible for Critical Atomic Measurement Data
The team at the National Institute of Standards and Technology publishes measurement data crucial for advanced research in areas like astrophysics, nuclear fusion, and semiconductors.
wrd.cm
March 25, 2025 at 3:40 PM
As the Trump administration continues its efforts to slash the US federal workforce, the team responsible for publishing data used in advanced research in astrophysics, nuclear fusion, and other fields appears to be on the chopping block.
Reposted by Natasha Bernal
Exclusive: The White House is weighing measures to restrict Chinese artificial-intelligence upstart DeepSeek, including banning its chatbot from government devices
Exclusive | U.S. Likely to Ban Chinese App DeepSeek From Government Devices
The White House is weighing measures to restrict the artificial-intelligence upstart, including banning its chatbot from government devices.
www.wsj.com
March 7, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Exclusive: The White House is weighing measures to restrict Chinese artificial-intelligence upstart DeepSeek, including banning its chatbot from government devices
Reposted by Natasha Bernal
The Social Security Administration banned its workers from reading WIRED (and other news pubs) on government devices.
from @davidgilbert.bsky.social
www.wired.com/story/social...
from @davidgilbert.bsky.social
www.wired.com/story/social...
Social Security Workers Aren't Allowed to Read This Story
New internet restrictions at the embattled SSA have cut off access to WIRED, along with other “general news” websites like The Washington Post and The New York Times.
www.wired.com
March 6, 2025 at 6:12 PM
The Social Security Administration banned its workers from reading WIRED (and other news pubs) on government devices.
from @davidgilbert.bsky.social
www.wired.com/story/social...
from @davidgilbert.bsky.social
www.wired.com/story/social...
Reposted by Natasha Bernal
SCOOP: Some of the DOGE staffers are drawing salaries from the agencies they are cutting. We got some new details: www.wired.com/story/doge-g...
Some DOGE Staffers Are Drawing Six-Figure Government Salaries
Engineers and executives at the so-called Department of Government Efficiency are drawing healthy taxpayer-funded salaries—sometimes from the very agencies they are cutting.
www.wired.com
March 4, 2025 at 8:33 PM
SCOOP: Some of the DOGE staffers are drawing salaries from the agencies they are cutting. We got some new details: www.wired.com/story/doge-g...
Reposted by Natasha Bernal
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restart the refugee admissions program that legally resettles people from across the globe, which the president had ordered shut down on his first day in office
Judge Overturns Trump Order Blocking Refugee Admissions
A lawsuit had argued the president overstepped his authority in shutting down the resettlement program.
www.wsj.com
February 25, 2025 at 11:30 PM
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restart the refugee admissions program that legally resettles people from across the globe, which the president had ordered shut down on his first day in office
Reposted by Natasha Bernal
A sprawling Minnesota refinery wants to make low-carbon aviation fuel mainstream—but without government support experts believe the project could be "dead in the water."
This Refinery Wants to Make Sustainable Aviation Fuel Mainstream. Trump’s Cuts Could Kill It
A sprawling Minnesota refinery wants to make low-carbon aviation fuel mainstream—but without government support experts believe the project could be "dead in the water."
buff.ly
February 25, 2025 at 2:33 PM
A sprawling Minnesota refinery wants to make low-carbon aviation fuel mainstream—but without government support experts believe the project could be "dead in the water."
Last week, a handful of Jeep owners reported that they had advert popping up on their dashboard every time they braked. This was a glitch, but the idea of using this type of messaging in the future very much isn't. Great story by @aarianmarshall.bsky.social
When Jeep owners complained ads were appearing while driving, the carmaker said it was a glitch. But as auto makers consider connected car opportunities, in-vehicle selling might be too tempting to ignore.
Ads Popped Up on Drivers' Screens. There May Be More on the Way
When Jeep owners complained ads were appearing while driving, the carmaker said it was a glitch. But as auto makers consider connected car opportunities, in-vehicle selling might be too tempting to ignore.
buff.ly
February 25, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Last week, a handful of Jeep owners reported that they had advert popping up on their dashboard every time they braked. This was a glitch, but the idea of using this type of messaging in the future very much isn't. Great story by @aarianmarshall.bsky.social