Agent-based computing is outgrowing the web as we know it

A heartwarming scene unfolded at Chicago's Brookfield Zoo when a bottlenose dolphin gave birth to a healthy calf early Saturday—with an assist from another experienced mom dolphin who stepped in to help during the delivery. The newborn took its first breaths under the watchful eyes of both dolphins, marking a rare and joyful moment for zoo staff and visitors alike.

Editor’s Note: Births in captivity can be tricky for marine mammals, so this successful delivery—aided by what appears to be dolphin teamwork—is a win for animal care and offers fascinating insights into their social bonds. It’s also a bright spot for conservation efforts, reminding us how intelligent and collaborative these creatures truly are.

This piece dives into the ongoing debate about whether carousels (those rotating slideshows on websites) are effective or just annoying. It links to a lively Hacker News discussion where designers and developers hash out the pros and cons—some argue carousels bury important content, while others defend them for showcasing multiple messages in limited space.

Editor’s Note: Even though this is from 2013, the carousel debate still pops up today. It’s a classic example of how UX choices aren’t always clear-cut—what works for one site might backfire for another. For anyone building or managing a website, it’s a reminder to question default design trends and test what actually engages users.

Instead of viewing AI development as a geopolitical showdown between the US and China, Hong Kong-based AI scientist De Kai suggests we rethink it as a collective challenge akin to climate change. He argues that framing AI as a competition misses the bigger picture—it’s more about responsible "parenting" of the technology to ensure ethical growth, much like raising a child. His perspective shifts the focus from rivalry to shared responsibility.

Editor’s Note: The usual narrative around AI is all about who’s winning the tech race, but De Kai’s take is refreshingly different. By comparing it to climate change, he highlights how collaboration, not competition, might be the key to avoiding pitfalls like bias or misuse. It’s a call to step back from national rivalries and ask: How do we raise AI right? That’s a conversation worth having.

A new family of fonts designed specifically for coding has emerged, aiming to improve readability and reduce eye strain for developers. The fonts, dubbed a "superfamily," offer various stylistic options while maintaining clarity—a big deal for programmers who stare at lines of code all day. The discussion around them is buzzing, especially among tech enthusiasts who geek out over typography.

Editor’s Note: Typography might seem niche, but for coders, the right font can make a huge difference in productivity and comfort. This isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about solving a real pain point for developers. If these fonts catch on, they could become the new standard in IDEs and text editors, subtly shaping how code is written and read for years to come.

Bill Atkinson, a pioneering software designer who helped shape the way we interact with computers—most famously through his work on the original Macintosh—has passed away at 74. His innovations, like the groundbreaking "Lisa" and Macintosh graphical interfaces, made technology more intuitive for everyday users.

Editor’s Note: Atkinson wasn't just a coder; he was a bridge between complex machines and regular people. Without his work, your laptop or phone might still feel like a cryptic puzzle. His death is a reminder of how much we owe to the unsung architects of the digital age—people who made tech feel human.