Daily briefing
October 30, 2026
3 stories · about 3 minutes
A humanist wins a religious exemption from using AI at work
David Durman, a University of Kentucky administrator, got a Title VII accommodation so he doesn't have to use AI in his job. The American Humanist Association calls it a first for humanism.
- David Durman, a research administrator at the University of Kentucky, was granted a religious accommodation under Title VII so he does not have to personally use AI at work.
- The American Humanist Association (AHA), which helped him, says this is the first case of its kind for humanism.
- Durman still has to attend meetings with colleagues who use AI and submit materials to AI tools when needed.
- Software engineer Erin Maus, a Unitarian Universalist, reportedly won a similar accommodation earlier, and Durman says her case inspired him.
Why it matters: David Durman, a research administrator at the University of Kentucky, has been granted a Title VII religious accommodation that means he does not have to personally use AI at work. The American Humanist Association, which helped him, says it is the first case of its kind for humanism. He must still attend meetings with AI users and submit materials to AI tools when needed. The university says accommodations may be reviewed as jobs change.
Read the full story →Binance loses about $6.3 billion in the biggest crypto theft on record
The world's largest crypto exchange says an engineer's compromised laptop let attackers submit unauthorized withdrawals. Researchers blame North Korea's TraderTraitor group.
- Binance put the estimated total impact of the hack at about $6.3 billion, making it the largest known crypto theft, roughly four times the 2025 Bybit heist.
- Binance says attackers got in through a compromised engineer's laptop, reached a service container and submitted unauthorized withdrawals, and it has seen no sign that private keys leaked.
- TRM Labs, Chainalysis and Elliptic link the attack to TraderTraitor, a North Korean state-backed hacking unit; Binance has not named a group.
- Binance suspended deposits and withdrawals, says user funds are safe and that it will cover all losses from its SAFU fund and company funds.
Why it matters: Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange, says an estimated $6.3 billion was stolen after attackers compromised an engineer's laptop and submitted unauthorized withdrawals. Researchers at TRM Labs, Chainalysis and Elliptic blame North Korea's TraderTraitor group. Binance has paused withdrawals, says user funds are safe and promises to cover all losses. Billions remain frozen or out of reach, and the investigation is still open.
Read the full story →Reddit is moving to logged-in only as AI eats its search traffic
Reddit CEO Steve Huffman says the site will shift to a mostly logged-in experience, starting with tests outside the US, as search referrals fall by more than a million a week.
- Reddit announced with its third-quarter 2026 results that it is shifting to a primarily logged-in experience, with tests in select markets outside the US in the fourth quarter.
- Search referrals to Reddit dropped by more than 1 million a week on average in October, and the company warned daily users could fall by a low double-digit percentage next quarter if the trend continues.
- Reddit's revenue rose 53% to $895 million, while US daily active users fell from 53.2 million to 50.7 million.
- Huffman said logged-in users give better ad signals and that the move helps protect Reddit's data from scrapers.
Why it matters: Reddit said on its third-quarter earnings call that it will shift to a mostly logged-in experience, testing first in select markets outside the US. Search referrals fell by more than 1 million a week in October, and US daily users dropped to 50.7 million. Huffman says logging in helps ad targeting and protects Reddit's data from scrapers. There is no global date yet, so the fourth-quarter tests will set the shape.
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