🌎 Chatbot Confessions

New details about Minnesota senator shootings emerge following suspect’s arrest

Police have not yet identified a motive. Authorities captured and arrested Vance Boelter, the suspect accused of targeting Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota, on Sunday night after a two-day manhunt. Following Boelter’s arrest, new “chilling” details surfaced regarding the shootings.

Boelter “stalked his victims” before attack

On Saturday, 57-year-old Vance Boelter carried out a targeted shooting of four Minnesota Democratic lawmakers and their spouses. Two, former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, were killed, while two others remain in critical condition.

• Boelter reportedly spent months conducting surveillance, taking detailed notes of the victims’ homes.

• Disguised as a law enforcement officer, Boelter was seen wearing tactical gear and a lifelike silicone mask in security footage (see photos).

During a press conference Monday, the FBI confirmed that Boelter also visited the homes of two additional Minnesota lawmakers on the night of the attacks. One lawmaker was out of town at the time, and the second was likely spared after a police officer arrived on the scene and prevented Boelter from entering.

Manhunt uncovers weapons, list of victims

When arrested two days later after Minnesota’s largest manhunt in history— which spanned over 36 hours and drew in hundreds of extra officers, helicopters, and trail cameras—officers found even more disturbing items in Boelter’s vehicle, including:

• A list containing the names and addresses of nearly 70 other potential targets, including Democratic lawmakers.

• “No Kings” flyers for anti-Trump protests.

• Three AK-47 assault rifles, a 9mm handgun, and ammunition.

Boelter’s wife was detained by police: During the manhunt, authorities temporarily detained Boelter’s wife along with relatives and found passports, cash, and a handgun in her car during a traffic stop in Onamia.

Meta leaked users’ private AI chats to the public

If you want some tea, just look at Meta AI’s “Discover” feed. Meta’s AI chatbot app is in hot water after many users unknowingly published their sensitive conversations, including medical, legal, and personal details, on its public “Discover” feed.

Chatbot confessional

Now you know the place to be to see all kinds of queries about weird moles, white collar crimes, and… farts? Regardless, experts are warning that the design flaw is a serious oversight to user privacy.

Meta says chats are private unless users choose to share them, but many appear unaware that their conversations could become publicly viewable (and tied to their Instagram accounts):

• Users are unable to see privacy settings during posting, and those logged in through public Instagram accounts may accidentally make their queries public.

It’s basically like making a Venmo request public… except it’s exposing tax information, telephone numbers, and relationship struggles instead of beer money sent to a friend.

Don’t worry, there’s a solution: If you’d like for your questions about your irregular bowel movements to be kept private, here’s how you can change your settings on the Meta AI app.

Israel and Iran’s attacks escalate as conflict enters its fifth day

Neither side has said they will step down. After Israel launched an attack on roughly 100 military and nuclear sites in Iran on Friday, the two nations have only widened their attacks, increasing the death toll. See live updates here.

Why strike Iran?

Israel said the goal of its initial operation was to prevent Iran from advancing its nuclear weapons program, which is advancing at breakneck speed and far exceeds the power needed for civilian uses. See our previous article here.

• Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Netanyahu of launching the attack to sabotage Iran’s nuclear talks with the US.

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said continued strikes have set Iran’s nuclear program back “a very, very, long time.”

The assault has been described as the largest on Iran since its 1980s conflict with Iraq, and prompted widespread airspace shutdowns across the region, leaving tens of thousands of travelers stranded.

Back-and-forth battle

Since the first barrage by Israel, both sides have been locked in a fierce back-and-forth battle, continuing to deploy drones, ballistic missiles, and airstrikes.

• Israel has struck deep into Iran, hitting Revolutionary Guard command centers, nuclear sites, oil infrastructure, and even a state television studio in Tehran during a live broadcast (see video).

• Iran fired over 65 missiles and dozens of drones at cities across Israel, killing at least 24 civilians, injuring hundreds, and damaging the US embassy in Tel Aviv.

Tehran has issued urgent evacuation orders for residents near military and media complexes, triggering a mass exodus from the city, with over 100,000 people fleeing north due to safety fears and shortages.

International pressure is mounting: The G7, UN, and regional mediators are urging restraint, though a ceasefire has yet to be reached. President Trump has called on Iranians to evacuate Tehran and stressed the importance of diplomacy as US military assets travel to the Middle East.

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Walmart and Amazon may make their own crypto

This is about to become a trend, isn’t it? Walmart and Amazon are looking into launching their own stablecoins—digital tokens tied to the US dollar—in place of credit and debit card payments.

Why? While the headline reads like a cash grab, it’s actually to make payments cheaper and faster for everyone.

Trimming transactions

Right now, when you buy something with a credit card, it takes a few days to process and retailers have to pay fees to banks and card companies like Visa and Mastercard.

Stablecoins could speed that up and help retailers save big money on fees:

• US businesses paid approximately $172 billion in transaction fees last year, a nearly 50% increase from before the pandemic, driven largely by the rise of contactless payments.

The move is also being considered by other US companies, including Expedia and a few major airlines. While the idea is far from being implemented, just the possibility of retailers bypassing traditional payment systems caused Visa and Mastercard’s stock to drop 5%.

Coming to your checkout soon: The idea is still in early stages, but none of this moves forward without the GENIUS Act, a proposed law that would set clear rules for stablecoins in the US and give companies a template to create their own cryptocurrencies.

Mattel partners with OpenAI to ‘reimagine’ its toys

Let’s hope Ken doesn’t start asking for your home address. Mattel—the brand behind Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, Uno, and more—has entered a strategic collaboration with OpenAI to embed generative AI into its toy lineup.

Making toys smarter

OpenAI’s COO, Brad Lightcap, highlighted that the partnership gives Mattel “advanced AI capabilities” to transform how they design and produce toys. Mattel said its main focus is on creating age-appropriate, AI-enhanced play experiences that emphasize safety, privacy, and security for children.

While neither company has revealed specific product plans, several publications have reported that an AI-driven toy or digital experience will launch later this year:

• The toy giant says the tech will power fan-focused experiences, like interactive attractions at Mattel Adventure Parks.

• Lightcap hinted the new AI product might take inspiration from games like UNO or Magic 8 Ball.

Mattel is bringing OpenAI tech in-house, not just into its toys: Behind the scenes, Mattel is rolling out ChatGPT Enterprise to spark new ideas, speed up product design, and improve day-to-day operations.

FAST FACTS
Catch up on this week’s weird news

Tractor Chase: Police in South Carolina pursued a stolen tractor at walking speed (3 mph) for over an hour before it got stuck and its driver bolted into the woods, only to be found by a police dog.

Pre-T. Rex: Paleontologists have identified a new tyrannosaur species, Khankhuuluu mongoliensis—nicknamed the "Dragon Prince of Mongolia"—which predates the infamous T. rex.

Exotic Extraction: Ed, a pet zebra in Tennessee, was safely captured after he sparked traffic shutdowns and viral memes, using aviation crews to hoist him into a trailer.

Lightning Lift: Two out-of-state hikers were struck by lightning near the summit of Torreys Peak, Colorado, and rescued in what is believed to be the highest-altitude helicopter hoist rescue in state history at ~14,200 ft.

Budget Breaker: Under President Trump’s proposed 2026 budget, NASA’s science programs would face steep cuts of roughly 50%, dropping their funding to $3.9 billion.