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Nous Research has added animated mascot sprites to its Hermes self-improving AI agent, and the design choice is refreshingly honest — they do absolutely nothing useful. No function, no utility, just a small creature sitting alongside your AI while it works. It's a rare moment of whimsy in a field that tends to take itself very seriously, and it raises an interesting question about whether a little personality might actually make these tools feel less alienating.
On the hardware side, reMarkable's budget-focused Paper Pure tablet launched last month, but it's the discontinued reMarkable two that's flying off Amazon shelves at a record-low price. The company's own designer weighed in on the comparison, which is a genuinely unusual move. The reMarkable two remains a capable device, but buyers should weigh whether a lower price on older hardware beats a purpose-built entry point into the lineup.
And in a story with real implications for law enforcement, a California sheriff's department used a magnet-equipped drone to disarm a knife-wielding suspect — believed to be a first of its kind in policing. The technology worked, and no one was hurt, but it opens a serious conversation about accountability, escalation, and where autonomous tools belong in public safety decisions.
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