August 15, 2025

The Download: Taiwan’s silicon shield, and ChatGPT’s personality misstep

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. Taiwan’s “silicon shield” could be weakening Taiwanese politics increasingly revolves around one crucial question: Will China invade? China’s ruling party has wanted to seize Taiwan for more than half a century. But in…

August 2025

How to Fire a Hire You Love and Move Your Business Forward

August 14, 2025
Sometimes there’s someone on our staff we adore — they’re wonderful, they’re great to work with, they’re talented … but they just don’t fit in with your company’s short- and mid-term growth goals. How do you let go of someone you hold dear?

Airbnb will allow US users book stays without paying upfront

August 14, 2025
Airbnb has launched a new feature called “Reserve Now, Pay Later” that lets users in the U.S. reserve a property without paying upfront, potentially allowing people to cancel their bookings with less hassle if their plans change.