Google's AI Summary Halves Internet Traffic
Also Rope Dogs and Mandatory Spouse-Swiping

The Automated Memo Service Is Shredding Inbound Mail

The internal email memo announcing the launch of Google's new AI Overviews (AIOs) probably mentioned something about "elevating user utility" and "fostering a deeper connection to the source web." Reality, however, has proven to be less enthusiastic. New research from the Pew Research Center suggests that when a user is presented with one of the AI summaries, their likelihood of clicking on a traditional search result nearly halves. Users clicked a non-AIO link only eight percent of the time when a summary was present, down from fifteen percent without one. The data indicates that a substantial chunk of the internet's referral business has simply vanished.

When a user actually did find a cited link within the AI Overview itself, they were vanishingly unlikely to click on it, an event occurring in just one percent of visits. This confirms the new feature is operating less like a helpful concierge and more like a high-powered filter that says "You don't need that" before slamming the door on small business publishers. When questioned, a Google spokesperson claimed the findings rely on a "flawed methodology" and that the company is still directing "billions of clicks" to websites daily. This is the technical equivalent of saying the company cafeteria's new automated soup dispenser is working perfectly, even as the walls are covered in half-digested vegetable broth.

The Robot Dog Revolution is Powered by Dyneema Rope

While rival Boston Dynamics is busy building quadrupedal shock troops that are too loud to use in any actual office environment, engineer Aaed Musa has unveiled CARA, a robot dog whose entire movement system is driven by rope. The name is an acronym for "Capstans Are Really Awesome" which is the kind of self-aggrandizing technical flair you can only get from a dedicated solo builder. Instead of traditional gears that are loud and suffer from mechanical backlash, CARA uses capstan drives with 2mm Dyneema DM20 rope wrapped around drums to deliver motion.

The advantages are impressive: lower noise, higher torque transparency, and zero backlash. The fact that the pinnacle of modern robotics now relies on high-tech twine for its operational fidelity is a delightful bit of systems absurdity. The dog is reportedly so stable it can level itself on inclines, which is a feature your coworker Steve cannot manage after two happy hour margaritas. This is the innovation we were promised: a low-cost, high-precision robot that basically runs on a fancy piece of nautical string.

Show HN: An Application of Dating App Gamification to a Fully Committed Relationship

A developer has released a new application that is essentially the dating app Tinder, but with one key constraint: it only displays pictures of his wife and he can only swipe right. The creator, who did not seem to be actively looking to solve a real-world problem, described it as a "Show HN" project. This is a perfect example of the industry’s tendency to take a perfectly good piece of technology, strip out the core utility, and re-release it as a commentary on the original.

The comments section was the real gold mine, with users immediately discussing how this new application framework could be further weaponized. One user mused about a premium mode that places pictures of the partner's exes and coworkers into the swipe deck, providing immediate notifications of any infraction. Other users detailed how they used the application to start a humorous conversation with their spouse, leading to what they described as a "really great night" which is more than most people can say about their actual use of Tinder.

Briefs

• AI Features Rollback: The text editor Zed announced it is now possible to disable all AI features in its latest release. The release notes neglected to mention whether the AI will be filing a formal complaint to Human Resources.
• Chip Production Cost Inflation: AMD CEO Lisa Su expects chips from TSMC's new US plant to cost between five and twenty percent more than those manufactured in Taiwan. This is what happens when you insist on doing things onshore: the sticker shock is local too.
• New Large Language Model Released: Cerebras launched the Qwen3-235B model, which they claim achieves 1.5k tokens per second. The model is large, fast, and completely unable to write a polite but firm email to a coworker about their bad meeting habits.