Top HN · Wed, Feb 18, 2026

A new study reveals that nearly 90% of firms report AI has had no impact on productivity or employment, echoing Robert Solow’s 1980s "productivity paradox" where technological advancements fail to immediately show up in economic data despite significant corporate investment. [src]

The current lack of AI-driven economic growth is viewed by some as a modern "Solow’s productivity paradox," suggesting that high initial costs and integration hurdles delay visible gains, much like the computerization of the 1970s and 80s [0]. While some argue that low subscription costs and ease of onboarding should yield faster results than historical tech shifts [1], others contend that AI is currently optimizing "bullshit jobs" or reports that no one reads, failing to create real value [2][3]. Significant friction remains due to human overhead in large organizations [5][7], a lack of user proficiency even among technical professionals [4], and a transition period where the technology is most effective for solo engineers rather than collaborative teams [5][6].

Microsoft is facing criticism for publishing an AI-generated version of Vincent Driessen’s famous 2010 Git branching diagram on its Learn portal, featuring distorted graphics and nonsensical text like "continvoucly morged" without providing attribution to the original creator. [src]

Microsoft recently faced criticism for publishing a plagiarized, AI-mangled diagram containing nonsensical phrases like "continvoucly morged," which a company VP attributed to a vendor error amidst a fast-moving corporate environment [0][3][9]. While some argue this represents a systemic failure in review processes, others contend that identifying obscure plagiarism is difficult and note that Microsoft's documentation workflow often lacks significant friction [0][4][7]. The incident sparked broader complaints about a "glut" of AI-generated nonsense across LinkedIn and YouTube, where low-quality, hallucinated content is increasingly replacing factual information [2][8]. Additionally, the original diagram's subject—"git-flow"—prompted a technical debate regarding whether the model is unnecessarily complex compared to simpler "trunk-based" development [1][5][6].

We couldn't summarize this story. [src]

The U.S. government has a long history of funding censorship circumvention technologies as a tool for global internet freedom and soft power projection [0][1]. While some view these efforts as critical for providing access to information in oppressive regimes [6], others argue the initiative is a waste of resources or a facade for data collection and surveillance [2][7]. There is significant debate regarding the necessity of such a portal in Europe, with some users questioning the existence of European content bans while others express concern over declining free speech and privacy in the region [2][3][4].

Anna’s Archive has implemented an "llms.txt" file to guide AI models toward bulk data downloads via torrents and APIs, while requesting donations to support its mission of preserving and providing open access to human knowledge. [src]

The discussion centers on Levin, a tool designed to support Anna’s Archive by utilizing idle disk space and bandwidth to seed data, though critics warn this could lead to DMCA notices or security risks from hosting unknown content [0][2][4]. While some users debate the ethics of the archive's "ownership" of the data and its role in training LLMs, others point out that major AI companies currently ignore the site's instructions for bots [1][5][6][8]. Concerns were also raised regarding the safety of using an LLM-generated client to seed anonymous torrents [9].

Sizing chaos: Title: Sizing chaos

URL Source: https://pudding [src]

The discussion centers on the "sizing chaos" in women's fashion, with some attributing the issue to an obesity epidemic where the average American woman is now medically obese [0][7]. While some argue that individuals must take personal responsibility for their health and caloric intake [0][3], others contend that corporate food environments and biological brain chemistry make weight management a systemic rather than individual failure [2][4][6]. Beyond the obesity debate, users highlight that sizing remains inconsistent even within the same brand [5] and suggest that "vanity sizing" persists because it is a psychologically effective marketing strategy, even if it frustrates consumers [1][8]. Regarding the lack of functional pockets, commenters note that structural challenges—such as heavy phones dragging down stretchy fabrics or causing discomfort for shorter individuals—may prevent them from being a simple market fix [5][9].

*Halt and Catch Fire* is an underrated AMC drama that evolved from a tech-industry antihero story into a deeply empathetic ensemble study focused on human connection and the partnership between its female leads. [src]

*Halt and Catch Fire* is praised as "peak prestige TV" for its portrayal of the creative ambition and manic energy of the early computing era [2][4][8]. Commenters highlight Lee Pace’s "mesmerizing" performance as a charismatic visionary, though some debate whether that charisma stems from his acting or the reactions of the characters around him [0][2][7]. While the show is noted for its thematic ties to the book *The Soul of a New Machine* [3][6], some who lived through the era found it difficult to watch due to technical inaccuracies that created an "uncanny valley" effect [8].

Linguist Colin Gorrie traces 1,000 years of English evolution through a fictional travel blog that regresses from modern slang to Old English. The piece illustrates how shifting grammar, lost letters, and the disappearance of French loanwords eventually render the language unrecognizable to modern readers. [src]

Readers generally find English texts from 1400 onward accessible, but comprehension drops sharply by 1300 as vocabulary and archaic characters like "Þ" and "ȝ" become significant hurdles [4][6][9]. Commenters emphasize that reading and speaking are distinct challenges; while orthography has become increasingly non-phonetic over 500 years, spoken accents have diverged so much that even modern regional dialects can be mutually unintelligible [0][1][3]. Interestingly, native Dutch speakers may find Old English from 1000 AD easier to decipher than Modern English due to shared linguistic roots [2].

A report from The Tech Oversight Project alleges that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg lied to Congress regarding child safety, citing unsealed documents that contradict his 2024 testimony. The evidence suggests Meta knowingly ignored internal research on social media addiction, mental health harms, and the presence of underage users. [src]

Commenters debate whether Mark Zuckerberg’s congressional testimony constitutes perjury or merely corporate "understatements," with some arguing that claims of high investment in safety can be true even if the tools are ineffective [0][3]. However, others point to specific contradictions, such as Meta’s "17-strike policy" for sexually explicit content and internal studies linking social media to poor mental health that were allegedly suppressed [1][4][5]. While some users call for new legislation like the Kids Online Safety Act, critics warn such laws necessitate invasive age verification for all users and question why existing laws against lying to Congress are not already being enforced [2][7][8].

Despite their age, 27-year-old Apple iBooks are reportedly still capable of connecting to Wi-Fi and downloading official software updates. [src]

While users celebrate the longevity of vintage Apple hardware, many report that reinstalling older macOS versions is now "shockingly hard" due to expired security certificates, outdated SSL protocols, and broken App Store connectivity [0][8]. The discussion reflects a deep nostalgia for the "Aqua" and "Liquid Glass" aesthetics, with commenters arguing that modern UIs have degraded by trying to mimic mobile phone interfaces rather than embracing the precision of desktop computing [1][2][9]. However, some note that recreating these classic looks is difficult because modern operating systems must support decades of legacy software that resists cohesive redesign [6].

Tailscale Peer Relays is now generally available: Title: Tailscale Peer Relays is now generally available

URL Source: https://tailscale [src]

[1] How does Tailscale make money? I really like their service but I'm worried about a rug pull in the future. Has anyone tried alternative FOSS solutions? Also, sometimes it seems like I get rate limited on Tailscale. Has anyone had that experience? This usually happens with multiple SSH connections at the same time. [2] If you're sold on Tailscale due to them "being open" (as they semi-officially support the development of Headscale), keep in mind, that at the same time some of their clients are closed source and proprietary, and thus totally controlled by them and the official distribution channels, like Apple. Some of the arguments given for this stance are just ridiculous: > If users are comfortable running non-open operating systems or employers are comfortable with their employees running non-open operating systems, they should likewise be comfortable with Tailscale not being open on those platforms. https://github\.com/tailscale/tailscale/issues/13717 A solution like this can't really be relied in situations of limited connectivity and availability, even if technically it beats most of the competition. Don't ever forget it's just a business. Support free alternatives if you can, even if they underperform by some measures. [3] (Tailscalar here) To be clear: it's only the GUIs that are closed source on selected platforms.