0:04
How LLMs can be Assisted to do Arithmetic Correctly
I’ve been thinking about why language models still stumble over something as simple as “2 + 2”. The core issue is that an LLM is just a probability cloud—it predicts the next token, not a deterministic answer. So when you ask it to add, it can wander off and even count the wrong number of letters in “strawberry”.
Alvaro Videla tried to patch that gap with his Rune project. Instead of handing the request off to an external calculator, Rune watches the model’s internal state, spots when an arithmetic pattern is forming, and injects the correct result right back into the inference stream. In theory, the model continues as if it had solved the problem itself.
The experiment showed that you can nudge the model toward the right answer, but it’s fragile. The interference works only when the arithmetic is clearly identified, and the model still can’t generalize to arbitrary calculations.
In the end, Rune proved that you can cheat a language model into giving the right number, but it also reinforced the idea that a plain LLM isn’t the right tool for reliable math—sometimes you just need a proper calculator.
0:36
Go eyes robotaxis and acquisitions after Japan’s biggest IPO of 2026. Here’s why it matters
Go’s IPO — Japan’s biggest so far this year — has done more than provide a much-needed boost to the country’s languishing listing season. It has also supplied the taxi-hailing app with the capital required to address an existential issue: Japan’s shortage of drivers.
0:47
Microsoft Office for Mac is on sale for a one-time $40 for a limited time
TL;DR: Through June 28, Deal Days shoppers can get a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 for Mac for just $39.97 (reg. $219).
Credit: Microsoft
Subscriptions have their place, but productivity software doesn’t really need to be one of them — especially when it’s something as familiar and widely used as Microsoft Office. Somewhere along the way, there must have been a glitch in the matrix, because buying software turned into renting it forever.
Thankfully, Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 for Mac skips that model entirely.
1:04
Pixelated 105: An Android 17 summer
Welcome to episode 105 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Abner, Damien, and Will return to talk all through the launch of Android 17. From general improvements to Pixel-specific changes, there’s plenty to dig through. Plus, Pixel Screenshots goes cloud, Google’s new smart speaker goes up for pre-order, and it might be easier than ever to jump back and forth between Android and iOS.
Sponsored by Bitwarden: Pixelated listeners can get started with Bitwarden’s free individual plan by clicking this link.
1:20
Rich On Tech Episode 179 - June 20, 2026
Check out Rich’s Guide to Prime Day 2026!
Guests:
Bryan Bishop, creator of the Hooray for Baldywood newsletter, reviews Toy Story 5 and tells us whether Pixar still has the magic.
Rick Broida, senior tech writer at Yahoo, shares smart ways to save money on tech without giving up much.
T.J.
1:29
Researchers grow a hypothesis tree for AI coding agents
AI coding agents can tend to isolate research, running experiments and generating ideas that are then forgotten when context windows reset. This can waste tokens, as models then repeat the same mistakes and hit the same dead ends.
But new research argues that it’s not the model itself, but the overarching ‘tree,’ that needs tweaking.
1:40
New NTFS Driver Sees Hardening & Fixes, Windows Native Symlinks With Linux 7.2
Happening back in Linux 7.1 was the "NTFS resurrection" with landing a new NTFS driver into the Linux kernel that had been years in the making and began as the former NTFS read-only kernel driver many years back before the stint of the Paragon NTFS3 driver in the Linux kernel.
1:51
Norway Imposes Near Ban On AI In Elementary School
Norway will largely prohibit generative AI use for elementary kids ages 6 to 13 beginning with the new school year, while allowing limited, teacher-supervised use for older students. The government says the restrictions are intended to prevent children from skipping foundational reading, writing, and mathematics skills amid declining test scores. Reuters reports: Facing a broad decline in education test scores, the government in 2024 banned smartphones from schools and has given teachers back more powers to enforce discipline in the classroom.
2:07
Amazon Drops Sam Altman Movie After Announcing OpenAI Partnership
Amazon MGM has dropped Luca Guadagnino's nearly completed Sam Altman biopic Artificial and is seeking another distributor for the film. The move comes months after Amazon expanded its multibillion-dollar partnership with OpenAI, fueling speculation about a potential conflict given the movie's reportedly unflattering portrayal of Altman.
2:19
Linux gamers have dealt with hidden input lag for years, and someone finally figured out why
When it comes to gaming, Linux is still a bit behind Windows. Don't get me wrong; it has come a very long way in the space of a decade, turning the OS from a productivity-only distro to a serious competitor in the gaming scene.
