Alexa On Speed Dial

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Happy Monday, Future Party. If you’re looking to protect your privacy these days, it’s wise to double-check the location settings on all your apps. Just last week, a French Navy officer accidentally leaked the exact position of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean when a run on deck was logged to the Strava app — a major classified oops.

The controversy surrounding an allegedly AI-written horror novel called Shy Girl is prompting a reckoning in the publishing industry.

The Generative Picture: As AI use has permeated nearly every aspect of society, self-published books have skyrocketed. Book industry insights firm Bowker found that 3.5 million self-published titles were released last year, up from 2.5 million the year before (compared with 642,000 from traditional publishers).

Behind The Pages: Mia Ballard’s Shy Girl, self-published in February 2025 and released in the UK by Hachette that fall, was pretty bold in its use of AI, according to The NYT.

Last Chapter: As backlash intensified, Hachette announced it would no longer print the novel in the UK and scrapped plans to release it in the US through its Orbit imprint. It may be the most high-profile book cancellation tied to AI use — but it’s not the first. Two other publishers, speaking anonymously, told The NYT they’ve also encountered authors quietly using AI in their work.

Hachette — along with every major publisher The NYT contacted — requires submissions to be “original,” largely for copyright reasons. The problem? “Original” is a vague standard, one that leaves room for interpretation and potential abuse. And if Shy Girl managed to pass through multiple discerning editors, it raises a tougher question: how can publishers police undisclosed AI use at all?

Next Novel: With a study out of Stony Brook University finding that 20% of more than 14,000 self-published novels on Amazon are “substantially” written by AI, we may be entering the literary slop era. Prepare for editing jobs to increasingly require an understanding of the top AI models.

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Amazon is reportedly once again attempting to develop its own smartphone — this time with a focus on AI.

Why It Hits: Every major tech company is trying to define its AI device strategy in hopes of unseating Apple’s dominance in personal devices. As Amazon reboots Alexa with an LLM, putting the power of the voice assistant in customers’ pockets could create a frictionless gateway to the tech giant’s entire ecosystem.

Behind The Screen: Amazon wants to be at its customers’ fingertips at all times of the day.

Last Call: Surprisingly, Amazon is considering taking cues from recent “dumbphones,” particularly the $700 Light Phone. That approach could position the Transformer as a secondary device to an iPhone or Samsung Galaxy. Secondary devices accounted for 15% of global handset sales last year and are growing in popularity among Gen Z and Gen Alpha.

Considering that Amazon has been down this road before with the failed Fire Phone in 2014, it’s likely aiming to ensure the Transformer has a clearer path to success.

The Future: If the proposed device can create an ecosystem of discounts and deals across the company’s constellation of businesses, Amazon may be able to capture meaningful market share.

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33.8% of you voted Sometimes in Friday’s poll: How often do you watch movie trailers?

“It is the only way to try and keep from wasting my $20.00, and sometimes even watching the trailer beforehand doesn’t keep the movie event from being a bust.”

“It’s how I decide if I want to see the movie.”

“I love movie trailers. Sometimes after watching a series of trailers before a movie, I wish I could watch the movies from those trailers instead of the movie I came to see.”

Let’s keep the conversation going. Join Poll Of The Day, so your opinions can shine. Discover how your views line up with your peers’, check out cool insights, and have some fun. It’s data with personality.

⚾ Netflix has recruited legendary pro baseball player Barry Bonds as an announcer for its upcoming MLB coverage.

🎥 Peter Chernin’s North Road Company has formed North Road Films to finance and produce a slate of director-driven commercial movies.

🎮 Future PlayStation games will feature AI-created frames to reduce lag.

🤖 OpenAI is building a desktop superapp that will combine ChatGPT, Codex, and a browser platform.

👀 Signal founder Maxie Marlinspike is helping Meta encrypt its Meta AI app.

🚚 Tesla is rolling out its Semi trucks this year, featuring a center-driving position and up to 500 miles of range per charge.

💻 WordPress announced that users can now let AI agents essentially run their accounts, including drafting posts and responding to comments.

💸 Kalshi is raising a new funding round led by Coatue Management at a $22 billion valuation.

💰 Canva is planning to go public next year as it shifts its focus to AI-powered design tools.

💄 DTC brand Glossier announced it will close all of its physical locations except its flagship stores in NYC, LA, and London.