What truly motivates the corporate crackdown on remote and hybrid work, and why your work-from-home days may be numbered.

The Real Reasons Companies Are Forcing You Back To The Office

Is BlackBerry’s rally over? If you are looking for another good rally, consider adding this Canadian AI stock to your watchlist. The post Move Over, BlackBerry: This AI Stock Is the Real Deal for Canadian appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

Move Over, BlackBerry: This AI Stock Is the Real Deal for Canadian

NVIDIA engineers have developed an AI-powered neural network capable of generating ultra realistic virtual characters in real-time. Technically speaking, a neural network-based simulation super-resolution framework that can efficiently and realistically enhance a facial performance produced ...

NVIDIA Develops AI Neural Network Capable of Generating Ultra Realistic Virtual Characters in Real-Time - TechEBlog

SandboxAQ, MITRE, and The Linux Foundation are pleased to present RWPQC Real World Post Quantum Cryptography (RWPQC) 2025, the third annual conference dedicated

RWPQC 2025 Unites Industry Leaders to Drive Cybersecurity and Quantum Innovation - IT Security Guru

Ederson believes Manchester City proved their quality in their win over Newcastle and says it has given them confidence going into their game at Real Madrid on Wednesday. "It's really, really important to win the game against big opponents - it gives us lots of confidence for Wednesday," said ...

Newcastle win 'gives us lots of confidence' - Yahoo Sports

Manuel Akanji is ruled out of Manchester City's Champions League return with Real Madrid and the Premier League match with Liverpool amid fears the defender faces an extended absence with a muscular problem.

Man City's Akanji out of Madrid and Liverpool games - Yahoo Sports

Manchester United consider move for Liam Delap, Vinicius Jr in talks to extend Real Madrid contract, Manchester City want Atalanta midfielder Ederson, plus more.

Man Utd consider move for Delap - Saturday's gossip - Yahoo Sports

Subscribe to our daily newsletter to keep in touch with the subjects shaping our future.

If Elon Musk Had Any Real Guts, He Would Go After the Gigantic Budget of the US Military

A Gaming Leaderboard is a ranked list of players, typically sorted by a specific metric such as score, points or level.

System Design of a Real-Time Gaming Leaderboard

Real

real

DIY Real-Time Polling App Locks Down Access With Supabase and Permit.io

DIY Real-Time Polling App sluit toegang af met Supabase en Permit.io

تطبيق DIY Real-Time Polling يغلق الوصول مع Supabase و Permit.io

DIY Real-Time Polling App блокира достъпа с Supabase и Permit.io

DIY Real-Time Polling aplikacija blokira pristup s Supabase i Permit.io

DIY Real-Time Polling App が Supabase と Permit.io でアクセスをブロック

Kofutela Kofutela Kofutela Kofutela Kofutela Kofutela Kofutela Kofutela Kofutela

DIY Real-Time Polling App waxay ku qiyaasta Access iyo Permit.io

DIY Real-Time Polling App blokira pristup sa Supabase i Permit.io

DIY Real-Time Polling اپلی کیشن Supabase اور Permit.io کے ساتھ رسائی کو بند کرتا ہے

DIY Real-Time Polling App khóa truy cập với Supabase và Permit.io

Crypto Conferences Have a Vibe—and It’s Getting Realer, Smarter, and Way More Technical

Avi Schiffmann is the Founder/CEO of Friend.com, the new AI necklace companion. Previously Avi dropped out of Harvard and founded InternetActivism.org, where he notably built a COVID tracker that over 600M people visited. Avi was kind enough to spend a few minutes sharing his rare insights with the HackerNoon community. Avi Schiffmann is the Founder/CEO of Friend.com Avi Schiffmann Avi Schiffmann Friend.com Friend.com the new AI necklace companion. Previously Avi dropped out of Harvard and founded InternetActivism.org, where he notably built a COVID tracker that over 600M people visited. Avi was kind enough to spend a few minutes sharing his rare insights with the HackerNoon community. InternetActivism.org InternetActivism.org COVID tracker COVID tracker HackerNoon community Me: What is Friend.com? Me: What is Friend.com? Avi Schiffmann: Friend is the first product that can actually be called an AI companion. They are palm-sized, always listening devices you can talk to anytime and bring anywhere. Friends remember everything you say, and each develops a distinct personality. Avi Schiffmann To me, they’re the world’s first living electronics, and personally it’s a stickier product to me than my iPhone. We’re currently producing a batch of 5,000 friends, which will start shipping July 30th this year (World Friendship Day). You notably bought the domain for $1.8M, and have claimed it’s already paid for itself in backlinks and brand reputation. I agree with you. Historically, it’s probably the single word that built Facebook - so I think it will hold internet value regardless. But as I understand it, the majority of your funding went into purchasing the domain - is that true? Could you share more of the process behind the negotiations for such a valuable piece of digital real estate? And what do you plan to spend money on and not spend money on going forward? You notably bought the domain for $1.8M, and have claimed it’s already paid for itself in backlinks and brand reputation. I agree with you. Historically, it’s probably the single word that built Facebook - so I think it will hold internet value regardless. But as I understand it, the majority of your funding went into purchasing the domain - is that true? Could you share more of the process behind the negotiations for such a valuable piece of digital real estate? And what do you plan to spend money on and not spend money on going forward? $1.8M $1.8M A company is more than a product, and the only real moat that exists is consumer mindshare. I believe in AI companionship for everyone, and there is no major incumbent that openly shares this POV. I think I am a master of getting attention, which will only get more fun as VCs give me more money, and I think I’ll be able to use that to be the dominant voice in digital relationships. This will be increasingly valuable in the coming years, as I genuinely believe the AI companionship industry will become the most culturally influential consumer category of the next generation. This is what GenA is growing up into and it will be as influential to them as social media was to me. Plus having avi@friend.com is pretty cool. avi@friend.com avi@friend.com Do you see your company as more of a hardware company, software company, or another type of company? Do you see your company as more of a hardware company, software company, or another type of company? Friend is a digital relationships company. Whatever that means. With Scarlett Johanasson suing OpenAI for using an imitation of Her voice in their app and you tweeting that most of your friends have not seen Her, I do wonder, how do you see younger people accepting AI into their lives in ways that older generations don’t? With Scarlett Johanasson suing OpenAI for using an imitation of Her voice in their app and you tweeting that most of your friends have not seen Her, I do wonder, how do you see younger people accepting AI into their lives in ways that older generations don’t? Scarlett Johanasson suing OpenAI Scarlett Johanasson suing OpenAI tweeting that most of your friends have not seen Her tweeting that most of your friends have not seen Her I launched a little chatbot experiment last year on friend.com, where you could chat with these very realistic feeling chatbots. They could block users, for example. My most interesting insight from that is that it’s really mostly millenials+ that try and fuck their robots. It’s mostly GenZ & younger that are able to view AI as a platonic companion. I think for them it’s extremely intuitive, they are growing up with it. friend.com What popular culture is most impactful on your product decision making? What popular culture is most impactful on your product decision making? “I’ll play first, and tell you about it later. Maybe.” - Miles Davis Mark Zuckerberg, Adam Mosseri, and Linda Yaccarino are all tech executives who have all started wearing gold chains in their public appearances.  Do you think this at all relates to normalizing jewelry as a path for ai hardware adoption? Or do they just like the bling bling now? Mark Zuckerberg, Adam Mosseri, and Linda Yaccarino are all tech executives who have all started wearing gold chains in their public appearances.  Do you think this at all relates to normalizing jewelry as a path for ai hardware adoption? Or do they just like the bling bling now? I think they just like the bling bling. What AI models are you using under the hood with Friend? And what types of AI models do you think will see increased usage? What AI models are you using under the hood with Friend? And what types of AI models do you think will see increased usage? I find Claude 3.7 to be the best model for Friend right now. That could change by the time we ship, but Claude certainly has the most stable charisma of any model I’ve tried. What future AI breakthroughs have you excited? And what historical AI breakthroughs do you think have been underappreciated by the media? What future AI breakthroughs have you excited? And what historical AI breakthroughs do you think have been underappreciated by the media? I want to see AI memory solved on a foundational model level, rather than the experimental RAG techniques that we have today. Bad friends can have a massively negative impact on one’s life. How are you preventing or minimizing the potential bad advice that AI could give Friend.com’s users? Bad friends can have a massively negative impact on one’s life. How are you preventing or minimizing the potential bad advice that AI could give Friend.com’s users? You haven’t ever had a friend give you bad advice? When your COVID tracker took the internet by storm, what were some of the strangest inbound messages you received? When your COVID tracker took the internet by storm, what were some of the strangest inbound messages you received? That will forever be one of the craziest periods of my life. Strangest? I did have the CIA approach me to join some kinda program related to COVID things. I think the government handled COVID awfully. I started ncov2019 in January, months before it was even called COVID, so I really watched the world descend into chaos very quickly. I can’t wait to see a smaller government of hyper competent people leveraging AI to more effectively serve its people. ncov2019 What are a couple programs, apps, books, or technologies you use and love that the general public may not know about? What are a couple programs, apps, books, or technologies you use and love that the general public may not know about? Very random but I always try and recommend mobbin.com. It’s the best resource on modern design practices out there tbh. Great artists steal, copy it all. mobbin.com What prompt or direction or style can you give to AI to make it more human or friendly? What prompt or direction or style can you give to AI to make it more human or friendly? Just make it more opinionated, it makes for more entertaining conversation. Do you dye your own hair? Do you dye your own hair? My X pfp is me with neon green hair, although it was a bit washed out from the ocean, we were at Nazare in that photo. X pfp Nazare

"The only real moat that exists is consumer mindshare," says Friend.com CEO Avi Schiffmann

"El único foso real que existe es el pensamiento compartido de los consumidores", dice el CEO de Friend.com Avi Schiffmann

"एकमात्र असली गड़बड़ी जो मौजूद है, उपभोक्ता मानसिकता साझा करना है," Friend.com के सीईओ Avi Schiffmann कहते हैं

「存在する唯一の真のは、消費者のマインドシェアである」とFriend.comのCEOのAvi Schiffmannは言います。

"Vienīgais reālais trūkums, kas pastāv, ir patērētāju domāšana," saka Friend.com izpilddirektors Avi Schiffmann

"Единствената вистинска грешка што постои е споделување на умот на потрошувачите", вели извршниот директор на Friend.com Ави Шифман

"Den enda verkliga fällan som existerar är konsumentens mindshare", säger Friend.com CEO Avi Schiffmann

"Kitabu cha pekee cha kweli kinachoonekana ni ushirikiano wa wateja," anasema Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Friend.com Avi Schiffmann

"ขี้ผึ้งที่แท้จริงเดียวที่มีอยู่คือการแบ่งปันความคิดของผู้บริโภค" กล่าวว่า CEO ของ Friend.com Avi Schiffmann

"Sự lúng túng thực sự duy nhất tồn tại là sự chia sẻ tâm trí của người tiêu dùng", CEO của Friend.com Avi Schiffmann nói.

LangChain has rapidly become a go-to framework for building powerful applications leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs). While LLMs excel at understanding human language, accessing the vast amounts of structured data locked away in SQL databases typically requires specialized query knowledge. This raises a key question: how can we empower more users to interact with databases, such as MySQL, using simple, natural language? This article chronicles my practical journey using LangChain to build exactly that — a natural language interface capable of querying a MySQL database. I’ll share the steps involved in setting up the system using Docker, the inevitable hurdles encountered (including managing LLM token limits, ensuring sensitive data privacy, and handling ambiguous prompts), and the multi-step, multi-LLM solutions I developed. Follow along to explore the challenges and successes of bringing conversational AI to relational databases. The entirety of the Python code implementing the natural language querying tool discussed here was generated with the assistance of AI models, primarily ChatGPT and Gemini. My role involved defining the requirements, structuring the prompts, reviewing and evaluating the generated code for functionality and potential issues, guiding the AI through necessary revisions, integrating the various components, and performing the crucial testing and debugging phases. Step 1: Establishing the Foundation with Docker Step 1: Establishing the Foundation with Docker The Goal: Create a stable, isolated multi-container environment.
The Method: My first practical step was to create a reliable and reproducible environment using Docker. The architecture involved three distinct containers: one running the Frontend application (React/Node.js), one for the Backend service (Python with LangChain), and another dedicated to the MySQL database instance. This containerized approach became necessary after encountering frustrating difficulties installing the required Python libraries locally due to dependency conflicts and platform incompatibilities.
Setup Details: Using Docker provided a clean slate. Leveraging AI assistance helped accelerate the creation of the Dockerfiles and docker-compose.yml needed to define these three services and their dependencies (like Python, LangChain, Node.js, MySQL connector). Critical configuration included setting up Docker networking for necessary inter-container communication (e.g., allowing the Frontend to talk to the Backend) and securely handling database credentials using environment variables.
Outcome & Transition: Once running, the containers could communicate appropriately, providing the necessary infrastructure. With this foundation established, the following steps will zoom in specifically on the architecture design and challenges encountered within the Backend Python service, as this is where the core LangChain logic, LLM orchestration, and data processing pipeline were implemented. The Goal: Create a stable, isolated multi-container environment. The Goal: The Method: My first practical step was to create a reliable and reproducible environment using Docker. The architecture involved three distinct containers: one running the Frontend application (React/Node.js), one for the Backend service (Python with LangChain), and another dedicated to the MySQL database instance. This containerized approach became necessary after encountering frustrating difficulties installing the required Python libraries locally due to dependency conflicts and platform incompatibilities. The Method: three distinct containers Frontend application (React/Node.js) Backend service (Python with LangChain) MySQL database instance Setup Details: Using Docker provided a clean slate. Leveraging AI assistance helped accelerate the creation of the Dockerfiles and docker-compose.yml needed to define these three services and their dependencies (like Python, LangChain, Node.js, MySQL connector). Critical configuration included setting up Docker networking for necessary inter-container communication (e.g., allowing the Frontend to talk to the Backend) and securely handling database credentials using environment variables. Setup Details: Dockerfile docker-compose.yml Outcome & Transition: Once running, the containers could communicate appropriately, providing the necessary infrastructure. With this foundation established, the following steps will zoom in specifically on the architecture design and challenges encountered within the Backend Python service, as this is where the core LangChain logic, LLM orchestration, and data processing pipeline were implemented. Outcome & Transition: zoom in specifically on the architecture design and challenges encountered within the Backend Python service Step 2: First Queries and the Schema Size Challenge Step 2: First Queries and the Schema Size Challenge Initial Success: The containerized setup worked, enabling successful natural language queries against the database. Simple requests yielded correct query logic and data via LangChain and the primary LLM.
The Challenge: Token Limits: However, a major bottleneck quickly emerged: API errors due to exceeding token limits. This happened because the context provided to the LLM often includes database schema details (table/column names, types), and with hundreds of tables, this schema information made the prompts too large for the LLM’s limits.
The Workaround: Subsetting: My immediate solution was to restrict the schema information provided to the LLM, perhaps by only considering a small, manually defined subset of the database tables or using parameters like top_k=1 if applicable to the LangChain component handling schema representation. This significantly reduced prompt size and avoided the errors for queries within that subset.
Limitations: While functional, this is a brittle fix. The LLM remains unaware of tables outside this limited view, preventing more complex queries and requiring manual updates. This clearly indicated that handling large database schemas efficiently requires a more advanced approach. Initial Success: The containerized setup worked, enabling successful natural language queries against the database. Simple requests yielded correct query logic and data via LangChain and the primary LLM. Initial Success: The Challenge: Token Limits: However, a major bottleneck quickly emerged: API errors due to exceeding token limits. This happened because the context provided to the LLM often includes database schema details (table/column names, types), and with hundreds of tables, this schema information made the prompts too large for the LLM’s limits. The Challenge: Token Limits: The Workaround: Subsetting: My immediate solution was to restrict the schema information provided to the LLM, perhaps by only considering a small, manually defined subset of the database tables or using parameters like top_k=1 if applicable to the LangChain component handling schema representation. This significantly reduced prompt size and avoided the errors for queries within that subset. The Workaround: Subsetting: subset of the database tables top_k=1 Limitations: While functional, this is a brittle fix. The LLM remains unaware of tables outside this limited view, preventing more complex queries and requiring manual updates. This clearly indicated that handling large database schemas efficiently requires a more advanced approach. Limitations: Step 3: Implementing PII/PHI Filtering via a Dedicated LLM Prompt Step 3: Implementing PII/PHI Filtering via a Dedicated LLM Prompt The Critical Need for Compliance: After enabling basic queries, the next priority was data privacy compliance. For companies, particularly in regulated sectors like healthcare and banking, filtering sensitive PII/PHI is often a strict legal requirement (e.g., due to HIPAA or financial regulations) needed to avoid severe penalties. Exposing raw data also breaks customer trust, harms reputation, and violates internal security and ethics. Robust filtering before displaying results was therefore essential to meet these compliance needs, especially for wider team access.
The Solution: A “Data Security Bot”: My approach involved adding a dedicated data sanitization layer… (the rest of the paragraph describing the LLM filter implementation remains the same)
Filtering Logic: Inside, a detailed prompt (get_sanitize_prompt) instructed this second LLM to act as a "data privacy filter." Its primary task was to review the raw text response and redact identified PHI and PII. The Critical Need for Compliance: After enabling basic queries, the next priority was data privacy compliance. For companies, particularly in regulated sectors like healthcare and banking, filtering sensitive PII/PHI is often a strict legal requirement (e.g., due to HIPAA or financial regulations) needed to avoid severe penalties. Exposing raw data also breaks customer trust, harms reputation, and violates internal security and ethics. Robust filtering before displaying results was therefore essential to meet these compliance needs, especially for wider team access. The Critical Need for Compliance: healthcare and banking strict legal requirement severe penalties customer trust reputation ethics The Solution: A “Data Security Bot”: My approach involved adding a dedicated data sanitization layer… (the rest of the paragraph describing the LLM filter implementation remains the same) The Solution: A “Data Security Bot”: (the rest of the paragraph describing the LLM filter implementation remains the same) Filtering Logic: Inside, a detailed prompt (get_sanitize_prompt) instructed this second LLM to act as a "data privacy filter." Its primary task was to review the raw text response and redact identified PHI and PII. Filtering Logic: get_sanitize_prompt "data privacy filter." Example: A result like {'member_id': 12345, 'member_name': 'Jane Doe', 'address': '123 Main Street, Mercy City'} would be transformed by the filter LLM to {'member_id': 12345, 'member_name': '[REDACTED]', 'address': '[REDACTED]'}. Example: A result like {'member_id': 12345, 'member_name': 'Jane Doe', 'address': '123 Main Street, Mercy City'} would be transformed by the filter LLM to {'member_id': 12345, 'member_name': '[REDACTED]', 'address': '[REDACTED]'}. Example: {'member_id': 12345, 'member_name': 'Jane Doe', 'address': '123 Main Street, Mercy City'} {'member_id': 12345, 'member_name': '[REDACTED]', 'address': '[REDACTED]'} Here is the entire diagram after the change Step 4: Refining Prompts for Raw SQL Generation Step 4: Refining Prompts for Raw SQL Generation The Challenge: Misinterpretation: After implementing the PII filter, I tackled the challenge of ensuring the main NL-to-SQL LLM (MainLLM) accurately understood the user's intent before executing potentially complex or ambiguous queries against the database. Vague prompts could lead MainLLM to execute incorrect SQL, retrieve irrelevant data, or fail.
The Solution: A “Prompt Refinement Bot”: To improve execution reliability, I introduced a preliminary “Prompt Refinement Bot” — a third LLM call. This bot acted as an “expert prompt engineer,” taking the original user query and database schema to rewrite the request into a highly explicit and unambiguous instruction for the MainLLM.
Goal of Refinement: The goal was to formulate a prompt that clearly guided MainLLM on what tables, columns, and conditions were needed, maximizing the chance it would execute the correct query against the database and retrieve the intended data.
Outcome: This pre-processing step significantly improved the consistency and accuracy of the data retrieved by MainLLM. The Challenge: Misinterpretation: After implementing the PII filter, I tackled the challenge of ensuring the main NL-to-SQL LLM (MainLLM) accurately understood the user's intent before executing potentially complex or ambiguous queries against the database. Vague prompts could lead MainLLM to execute incorrect SQL, retrieve irrelevant data, or fail. The Challenge: Misinterpretation: MainLLM before MainLLM The Solution: A “Prompt Refinement Bot”: To improve execution reliability, I introduced a preliminary “Prompt Refinement Bot” — a third LLM call. This bot acted as an “expert prompt engineer,” taking the original user query and database schema to rewrite the request into a highly explicit and unambiguous instruction for the MainLLM. The Solution: A “Prompt Refinement Bot”: “Prompt Refinement Bot” — a third LLM call for the MainLLM Goal of Refinement: The goal was to formulate a prompt that clearly guided MainLLM on what tables, columns, and conditions were needed, maximizing the chance it would execute the correct query against the database and retrieve the intended data. Goal of Refinement: MainLLM execute the correct query Outcome: This pre-processing step significantly improved the consistency and accuracy of the data retrieved by MainLLM. Outcome: MainLLM Step 5: Enhancing Context with Conversation Memory Step 5: Enhancing Context with Conversation Memory The Need: To elevate the user experience beyond single queries and enable more natural dialogue, remembering the conversation context was crucial for handling follow-up questions.
The Implementation: I integrated LangChain’s memory capabilities using ConversationSummaryMemory. This approach uses an LLM (gpt-3.5-turbo in this case) to progressively summarize the conversation, keeping key context accessible while managing token usage (configured with max_token_limit=500).
Integration: This summarized {history} was then incorporated directly into the prompt template used when interacting with the MainLLM (the NL-to-SQL + Executor), alongside the user's current (potentially refined) {query}.
Benefit: Adding this memory layer allowed the system to consider the ongoing dialogue, significantly improving usability for more coherent and context-aware conversations about the database contents. The Need: To elevate the user experience beyond single queries and enable more natural dialogue, remembering the conversation context was crucial for handling follow-up questions. The Need: The Implementation: I integrated LangChain’s memory capabilities using ConversationSummaryMemory. This approach uses an LLM (gpt-3.5-turbo in this case) to progressively summarize the conversation, keeping key context accessible while managing token usage (configured with max_token_limit=500). The Implementation: ConversationSummaryMemory gpt-3.5-turbo max_token_limit=500 Integration: This summarized {history} was then incorporated directly into the prompt template used when interacting with the MainLLM (the NL-to-SQL + Executor), alongside the user's current (potentially refined) {query}. Integration: {history} MainLLM {query} Benefit: Adding this memory layer allowed the system to consider the ongoing dialogue, significantly improving usability for more coherent and context-aware conversations about the database contents. Benefit: Conclusion: Lessons from Building a Multi-LLM SQL Interface Conclusion: Lessons from Building a Multi-LLM SQL Interface Building this natural language interface to MySQL using LangChain was a revealing journey into the power and complexities of modern AI development. What started as a goal to query a database using plain English evolved into a multi-stage pipeline involving three distinct LLM calls: one for refining user prompts, one for translating natural language to SQL and executing it directly against the database, and a critical third one for filtering sensitive PII/PHI from the results. Integrating conversation memory further enhanced the usability, allowing for more natural, context-aware interactions. Key challenges like managing LLM token limits with large schemas, ensuring data privacy through filtering, and improving prompt understanding required iterative solutions. While leveraging AI for code generation accelerated parts of the process, designing the overall architecture, implementing specific logic like the PII filter exceptions, integrating components, and rigorous testing remained crucial human-driven tasks. Next Steps: Exploring Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) Next Steps: Exploring Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) The success rate, especially for more complex or ambiguous queries, indicates clear opportunities for improvement beyond the current prompt engineering and filtering techniques. One promising avenue I plan to explore next to further boost accuracy is Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). Instead of solely relying on the LLM’s internal knowledge or a static view of the schema, RAG introduces a dynamic retrieval step. Before generating the SQL, a RAG system would search a specialized knowledge base for information highly relevant to the user’s current query. Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) In this NL-to-SQL context, this could involve retrieving: Detailed descriptions or documentation for the specific database tables and columns deemed most relevant to the query.
Examples of similar natural language questions previously mapped to their correct SQL counterparts.
Relevant business rules or definitions pertaining to the data requested. Detailed descriptions or documentation for the specific database tables and columns deemed most relevant to the query. Examples of similar natural language questions previously mapped to their correct SQL counterparts. Relevant business rules or definitions pertaining to the data requested. This retrieved, targeted information would then be added (“augmented”) to the prompt sent to the main NL-to-SQL LLM (MainLLM), providing it with richer, just-in-time context. The hypothesis is that this dynamic context will significantly enhance the LLM's understanding and ability to generate accurate SQL, potentially offering substantial improvements without the extensive dataset requirements of fine-tuning. Implementing and evaluating an effective RAG strategy represents the next exciting phase in enhancing this conversational database interface. MainLLM

LangChain Promised an Easy AI Interface for MySQL—Here’s What It Really Took

LangChain ለ MySQL አንድ ቀላል AI መተግበሪያ ይሰጣል - እዚህ ይህ በእርግጥ ያገኛል

LangChain prometió una interfaz de IA fácil para MySQL - aquí está lo que realmente tomó

LangChain lupasi helpon AI-liittymän MySQL: lle – tässä se todella tuli

A LangChain könnyű AI-interfészt ígért a MySQL számára – itt van, amit valóban hozott

LangChain- ը խոստանում է Easy AI Interface- ի համար MySQL- ի համար: Սա այն է, ինչ դա իրականում տվել է

LangChainはMySQLのための簡単なAIインターフェースを約束しました - Here's What It Really Taken

LangChain은 MySQL에 대한 쉬운 AI 인터페이스를 약속했습니다.

'गोबी' एक मङ्गोलियन शब्द हो, जसको अर्थ पनि नभएको क्षेत्र हो।

LangChain د MySQL لپاره یو آسانه AI انټرنېټ وعده کړ - دلته هغه څه چې دا په رښتيا کې راځي

LangChain aliahidi interface rahisi ya AI kwa MySQL - Hapa ni kile kilichotokea

LangChain hứa hẹn một giao diện AI dễ dàng cho MySQL - Đây là những gì nó thực sự mang lại

AI code generation has taken off, making it easier than ever to produce functional code. Tools like Cursor, Lovable, Bolt, v0 (etc and etc) can generate entire functions, classes, and even full applications in seconds. But while AI has been racing ahead in code creation, investment in AI-driven code review has lagged behind. And that’s a problem—because writing code is only half the battle. https://x.com/forgebitz/status/1903111698459902187?embedable=true https://x.com/forgebitz/status/1903111698459902187?embedable=true https://x.com/jackfriks/status/1902160166998470917?embedable=true https://x.com/jackfriks/status/1902160166998470917?embedable=true https://x.com/abdelmoghit_id/status/1903188731613643243?embedable=true https://x.com/abdelmoghit_id/status/1903188731613643243?embedable=true In real-world codebases, success isn’t about how quickly you can generate working code. It’s about whether that code integrates cleanly, remains maintainable, and doesn’t introduce bugs that will haunt the team later. The real bottleneck in software development isn’t typing speed—it’s ensuring that code is correct, scalable, and sustainable over time. The perfect future state is to delegate a task to AI where we have the confidence that it’s actually good enough. And that’s why AI-assisted code review is the next frontier that actually matters. The Illusion of "Working" Code The Illusion of "Working" Code It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that if code compiles and runs, it’s good enough. AI code generation tools make this even more tempting, providing instant, seemingly functional solutions. But experienced developers know that "it works" is just the beginning. Poorly structured, unclear, or overly complex code can turn into technical debt overnight. Code review is what separates code that merely functions from code that endures. The best reviewers don’t just check for correctness; they evaluate whether a change is clear, maintainable, and safe in the broader system. They ask: Is this the simplest way to solve the problem?
Will this be understandable six months from now?
How does this change interact with the rest of the system?
Are we introducing unnecessary risk or hidden dependencies? Is this the simplest way to solve the problem? Will this be understandable six months from now? How does this change interact with the rest of the system? Are we introducing unnecessary risk or hidden dependencies? These are the kinds of questions that code generation tools don’t ask—and that’s why the lack of investment in AI-assisted code review is a glaring gap in today’s development workflows. The Skill of Code Review The Skill of Code Review Reviewing code is a completely different skill from writing it. It requires not just technical knowledge, but also architectural thinking and an awareness of long-term consequences. It’s about catching subtle issues that could cause cascading failures later. It’s about recognizing when something is technically correct but practically unmaintainable. technically correct practically unmaintainable Great code reviewers develop an instinct for complexity. They recognize when a function does too much, when an abstraction hides more than it helps, or when a small change has unintended side effects. And crucially, they know how to communicate these concerns effectively—so that the entire team improves, not just the code. Why AI-Assisted Code Review Is the Missing Piece Why AI-Assisted Code Review Is the Missing Piece As codebases grow in size and complexity, even the best human reviewers struggle to keep up. Manually tracing dependencies across multiple services, languages, and APIs is an enormous cognitive load. And with AI tools generating more code than ever, we need AI-powered review tools just as urgently. This is why AI-driven code review is the real next step in software development—not as a replacement for human judgment, but as an augmentation. AI can: AI-driven code review is the real next step in software development Analyze code changes holistically, recognizing patterns across the entire repository.
Identify potential breaking changes, security risks, and inefficiencies before they become problems.
Free up developers from repetitive, tedious checks—so they can focus on design, architecture, and real innovation. Analyze code changes holistically, recognizing patterns across the entire repository. Identify potential breaking changes, security risks, and inefficiencies before they become problems. Free up developers from repetitive, tedious checks—so they can focus on design, architecture, and real innovation. Code Review as the True Measure of a Development Team Code Review as the True Measure of a Development Team A team’s ability to review code effectively is one of the strongest indicators of long-term success. It determines how quickly new developers ramp up, how well the team handles technical debt, and how resilient the software is to future changes. A strong code review culture doesn’t just produce better code; it produces better engineers. AI code generation is useful, but it’s only part of the equation. If we want to build software that lasts, we need to invest just as much in AI-driven code review. Because in the end, success isn’t about how fast you can push changes—it’s about whether those changes make your codebase stronger or weaker over time.

Writing Code Is Easy Now. Reviewing It? That’s Where the Real Work Begins

Virtual reality (VR) offers new ways to connect and explore, but it also raises a critical question about what all that immersion does to mental health. The answer isn’t simple, as it can be therapeutic or disruptive to the psyche. Yet, as VR continues to go mainstream, it’s worth taking a closer look at the risks of living inside a headset. The Rise of VR: A Double-Edged Sword Virtual reality has officially left the world of niche tech and is now a multi-billion-dollar industry. Today, over 53 million U.S. consumers own a VR system, and usage will only grow further as the technology advances. People enjoy the use of this system because of how immersive it feels. Once users put on a headset, it takes them to an entirely different world, providing a highly interactive and engaging experience. Users can step back in time to when dinosaurs roamed the earth or enjoy a ride on the world’s tallest roller coaster. It’s an experience like no other — one that makes users feel like they’re there. While VR is popular for gaming, it has many other applications. Current uses include everything from job training and working out to teaching virtual classrooms. Travel and entertainment are also big draws. A recent survey found that 32% of Americans report using virtual reality to explore new places before a trip abroad, and 30% say they’d like to use VR to watch movies. VR makes promises to help people learn and grow while giving users a way to escape reality, but does it have a chance of harming their mental health? Many studies have shown the therapeutic effects this technology has had on people struggling with anxiety and other mental health disorders. However, further research exemplifies the psychological risks that can occur the deeper the immersion becomes. How VR Use Can Harm Mental Health VR impacts mental health in different ways. However, the effects of its use depend heavily on how people interact with it, the platform they use, and how long they use it. For instance, a five-minute guided meditation session in a calming forest is a far cry from spending six hours deep in a chaotic multiplayer shooter. The problem is the more immersive and engaging VR becomes, the easier it is to lose track of time and reality. And while short, purposeful sessions can be harmless, extended or unstructured use can have unexpected side effects. Here is a breakdown of the most common mental health risks that can arise from its use. 1. Disassociation and Reality Confusion Virtual reality has been shown to blur the boundaries between the virtual and the real, leading to disassociation and reality confusion. Users may experience depersonalization, where they feel detached from their own body, or derealization, where the external world seems unreal. In a retrospective survey involving 358 VR users, 83.9% reported experiencing dissociative symptoms after using VR. The study highlighted that longer sessions and preexisting mental health conditions could exacerbate these symptoms. Anecdotal evidence also supports these concerns. For instance, Jeff Grover — an avid VR gamer — recounted episodes where he found himself perceiving real-life environments as though they were part of a game. While walking outdoors with his wife, he noted how lifelike the graphics were. Even after an hour-long session, Grover noticed how he could not socialize with friends at a bar and have a conversation. Such experiences highlight how prolonged immersion can lead to challenges in distinguishing between the virtual and real worlds. 2. Social Isolation VR platforms enable users to connect with others virtually. It can be a great way to meet new people or catch up with loved ones from afar. However, excessive reliance on these digital interactions may reduce in-person engagements, potentially diminishing real-world social skills and deepening feelings of loneliness. Research indicates the problems of social media use in immersive platforms. A study published in PLOS ONE found that excessive engagement with social VR can lead toreduced real-life social support, which is crucial for mental health. 3. Increased Anxiety and Panic While virtual reality can be thrilling, it can also be overwhelming, especially for users with anxiety disorders or sensory sensitivities. The immersive nature of VR means that even a minor in-game event triggers a psychological response. Think sudden jump scares, disorienting visuals, or tight virtual spaces that simulate claustrophobia. The brain reacts as if these scenarios are truly happening. Because these systems engage the senses so powerfully, they can induce symptoms like shortness of breath, racing heart, or panic attacks. However, it also depends on the environment in which users are located. Whether it simulates falling, drowning, or the feeling of being trapped, individuals can easily experience anxiety-related symptoms. 4. Addiction and Escapism One of VR’s biggest selling points is its ability to transport users to entirely different worlds. However, the same feature can become a crutch for those looking to escape their real lives. This is where addiction to escapism starts to creep in. Social VR platforms, massively multiplayer online role-playing games, and sandbox-style worlds offer endless opportunities for interaction and entertainment. For some users, these spaces become their preferred realities. While everyone needs a break now and then, virtual escapes can become a substitute for facing real-life problems. It can snowball into avoidance and isolation and become detrimental to users’ mental health. When VR Can Be Good for Mental Health Virtual reality may present certain risks but offers promising outcomes when used appropriately. One application is in exposure therapy for anxiety disorders. A recent study explored the benefits of personalized VR exposure therapy for individuals with panic disorder and agoraphobia. In this study, participants were divided into two groups — one experienced VR environments tailored to their specific triggers, adjusting brightness and crowd density, while the other encountered randomized settings. The findings revealed that those in the personalized VR group exhibited heightened anxiety responses during sessions. This outcome is desirable in exposure therapy, where individuals can confront and process their anxieties. Yet, by conducting it in a personalized way, therapists can facilitate more progress and ensure safety while gradually building resilience against real-world triggers. Beyond anxiety treatment, VR also shows potential in addressing other mental health challenges like post-traumatic stress disorder and phobias. As the technology evolves, its role in therapeutic settings will likely expand, offering innovative solutions for mental health professionals and patients. Best Practices for Safe VR Use As with any emerging technology, how people use VR matters as much as what they use it for. To enjoy the benefits of it without putting their mental health at risk, users should keep these practical safety guidelines in mind: Set time limits: VR’s biggest drawback is its ability to detach users from the real world. It’s easy to lose track of time when immersed in a virtual environment that feels all too real. Limiting time and spending in these alternative realities keeps the experience balanced and grounded.
Take regular breaks: Users should give their brain and body time to recalibrate by stepping out of VR at least every 30 minutes to reduce eye strain, motion sickness, and dissociation.
Use VR in a safe environment: Make sure the surroundings are free from tripping hazards and that there is enough space to move around safely. Lighting can also help users stay anchored in reality while using the headset.
Avoid VR right before bed: The sensory stimulation and blue light exposure can interfere with sleep cycles. Creating time to wind down in the real world is essential to falling asleep.
Be mindful of your emotional state: When feeling anxious or emotionally off, consider skipping VR sessions, as they may intensify those feelings. Using VR Safely Virtual reality is one of the most immersive technologies ever created, which is why it profoundly impacts mental health. Yet, when used intentionally, it can be an excellent tool for healing, learning, and personal growth. That’s why users must stay grounded to reduce the risks associated with it. When individuals know their limits and listen to their bodies, they can enjoy the system more freely. Virtual reality (VR) offers new ways to connect and explore, but it also raises a critical question about what all that immersion does to mental health. The answer isn’t simple, as it can be therapeutic or disruptive to the psyche. Yet, as VR continues to go mainstream, it’s worth taking a closer look at the risks of living inside a headset. Virtual reality (VR) offers new ways to connect and explore, but it also raises a critical question about what all that immersion does to mental health. The answer isn’t simple, as it can be therapeutic or disruptive to the psyche. Yet, as VR continues to go mainstream, it’s worth taking a closer look at the risks of living inside a headset. The Rise of VR: A Double-Edged Sword The Rise of VR: A Double-Edged Sword Virtual reality has officially left the world of niche tech and is now a multi-billion-dollar industry. Today, over 53 million U.S. consumers own a VR system, and usage will only grow further as the technology advances. 53 million U.S. consumers People enjoy the use of this system because of how immersive it feels. Once users put on a headset, it takes them to an entirely different world, providing a highly interactive and engaging experience. Users can step back in time to when dinosaurs roamed the earth or enjoy a ride on the world’s tallest roller coaster. It’s an experience like no other — one that makes users feel like they’re there. While VR is popular for gaming, it has many other applications. Current uses include everything from job training and working out to teaching virtual classrooms. Travel and entertainment are also big draws. A recent survey found that 32% of Americans report using virtual reality to explore new places before a trip abroad, and 30% say they’d like to use VR to watch movies. found that 32% of Americans report VR makes promises to help people learn and grow while giving users a way to escape reality, but does it have a chance of harming their mental health? Many studies have shown the therapeutic effects this technology has had on people struggling with anxiety and other mental health disorders. However, further research exemplifies the psychological risks that can occur the deeper the immersion becomes. How VR Use Can Harm Mental Health VR impacts mental health in different ways. However, the effects of its use depend heavily on how people interact with it, the platform they use, and how long they use it. For instance, a five-minute guided meditation session in a calming forest is a far cry from spending six hours deep in a chaotic multiplayer shooter. depend heavily on how people interact The problem is the more immersive and engaging VR becomes, the easier it is to lose track of time and reality. And while short, purposeful sessions can be harmless, extended or unstructured use can have unexpected side effects. Here is a breakdown of the most common mental health risks that can arise from its use. 1. Disassociation and Reality Confusion Virtual reality has been shown to blur the boundaries between the virtual and the real, leading to disassociation and reality confusion. Users may experience depersonalization, where they feel detached from their own body, or derealization, where the external world seems unreal. In a retrospective survey involving 358 VR users, 83.9% reported experiencing dissociative symptoms after using VR. The study highlighted that longer sessions and preexisting mental health conditions could exacerbate these symptoms. 83.9% reported experiencing dissociative symptoms Anecdotal evidence also supports these concerns. For instance, Jeff Grover — an avid VR gamer — recounted episodes where he found himself perceiving real-life environments as though they were part of a game. found himself perceiving real-life environments While walking outdoors with his wife, he noted how lifelike the graphics were. Even after an hour-long session, Grover noticed how he could not socialize with friends at a bar and have a conversation. Such experiences highlight how prolonged immersion can lead to challenges in distinguishing between the virtual and real worlds. 2. Social Isolation VR platforms enable users to connect with others virtually. It can be a great way to meet new people or catch up with loved ones from afar. However, excessive reliance on these digital interactions may reduce in-person engagements, potentially diminishing real-world social skills and deepening feelings of loneliness. Research indicates the problems of social media use in immersive platforms. A study published in PLOS ONE found that excessive engagement with social VR can lead to reduced real-life social support , which is crucial for mental health. reduced real-life social support 3. Increased Anxiety and Panic While virtual reality can be thrilling, it can also be overwhelming, especially for users with anxiety disorders or sensory sensitivities. The immersive nature of VR means that even a minor in-game event triggers a psychological response. Think sudden jump scares, disorienting visuals, or tight virtual spaces that simulate claustrophobia. The brain reacts as if these scenarios are truly happening. Because these systems engage the senses so powerfully, they can induce symptoms like shortness of breath, racing heart, or panic attacks. However, it also depends on the environment in which users are located. Whether it simulates falling, drowning, or the feeling of being trapped, individuals can easily experience anxiety-related symptoms. 4. Addiction and Escapism One of VR’s biggest selling points is its ability to transport users to entirely different worlds. However, the same feature can become a crutch for those looking to escape their real lives. This is where addiction to escapism starts to creep in. Social VR platforms, massively multiplayer online role-playing games, and sandbox-style worlds offer endless opportunities for interaction and entertainment. For some users, these spaces become their preferred realities. While everyone needs a break now and then, virtual escapes can become a substitute for facing real-life problems. It can snowball into avoidance and isolation and become detrimental to users’ mental health. When VR Can Be Good for Mental Health Virtual reality may present certain risks but offers promising outcomes when used appropriately. One application is in exposure therapy for anxiety disorders. A recent study explored the benefits of personalized VR exposure therapy for individuals with panic disorder and agoraphobia. In this study, participants were divided into two groups — one experienced VR environments tailored to their specific triggers, adjusting brightness and crowd density, while the other encountered randomized settings. The findings revealed that those in the personalized VR group exhibited heightened anxiety responses during sessions. were divided into two groups This outcome is desirable in exposure therapy, where individuals can confront and process their anxieties. Yet, by conducting it in a personalized way, therapists can facilitate more progress and ensure safety while gradually building resilience against real-world triggers. Beyond anxiety treatment, VR also shows potential in addressing other mental health challenges like post-traumatic stress disorder and phobias. As the technology evolves, its role in therapeutic settings will likely expand, offering innovative solutions for mental health professionals and patients. Best Practices for Safe VR Use As with any emerging technology, how people use VR matters as much as what they use it for. To enjoy the benefits of it without putting their mental health at risk, users should keep these practical safety guidelines in mind: Set time limits: VR’s biggest drawback is its ability to detach users from the real world. It’s easy to lose track of time when immersed in a virtual environment that feels all too real. Limiting time and spending in these alternative realities keeps the experience balanced and grounded. Take regular breaks: Users should give their brain and body time to recalibrate by stepping out of VR at least every 30 minutes to reduce eye strain, motion sickness, and dissociation. Use VR in a safe environment: Make sure the surroundings are free from tripping hazards and that there is enough space to move around safely. Lighting can also help users stay anchored in reality while using the headset. Avoid VR right before bed: The sensory stimulation and blue light exposure can interfere with sleep cycles. Creating time to wind down in the real world is essential to falling asleep. Be mindful of your emotional state: When feeling anxious or emotionally off, consider skipping VR sessions, as they may intensify those feelings. Set time limits: VR’s biggest drawback is its ability to detach users from the real world. It’s easy to lose track of time when immersed in a virtual environment that feels all too real. Limiting time and spending in these alternative realities keeps the experience balanced and grounded. is its ability to detach users Take regular breaks: Users should give their brain and body time to recalibrate by stepping out of VR at least every 30 minutes to reduce eye strain, motion sickness, and dissociation. at least every 30 minutes Use VR in a safe environment: Make sure the surroundings are free from tripping hazards and that there is enough space to move around safely. Lighting can also help users stay anchored in reality while using the headset. Avoid VR right before bed: The sensory stimulation and blue light exposure can interfere with sleep cycles. Creating time to wind down in the real world is essential to falling asleep. Be mindful of your emotional state: When feeling anxious or emotionally off, consider skipping VR sessions, as they may intensify those feelings. Using VR Safely Virtual reality is one of the most immersive technologies ever created, which is why it profoundly impacts mental health. Yet, when used intentionally, it can be an excellent tool for healing, learning, and personal growth. That’s why users must stay grounded to reduce the risks associated with it. When individuals know their limits and listen to their bodies, they can enjoy the system more freely.

Is Virtual Reality Bad for Your Mental Health?

While billion-dollar crypto heists like the Bybit hack dominate headlines, there are threats that are far more subtle and more disruptive than any data breach. I have recently interviewed Alex Ferrer, Director of Forensics at Crypto Legal, who once again reminded me of how often we cybersecurity reporters fail to keep our readers’ eyeballs where they should be. Take the recent Bybit Hack as an example: “Everyone’s shocked by big numbers in a single hack… But phishing is death by a thousand cuts-quiet, constant, and devastating.” “Everyone’s shocked by big numbers in a single hack… But phishing is death by a thousand cuts-quiet, constant, and devastating.” So let’s unpack his warning about the true scale of phishing in crypto, what loopholes in internet infrastructure are making the problem worse, and why regulators urgently need to rethink their approach to this. With scammers outpacing security teams using AI and automation, this isn’t just a crypto issue - it’s a growing threat to consumer trust, financial systems, and digital safety as a whole. Numbers speak Phishing scams are quietly stealing just as much (if not more) than the most publicized hacks every few months. Just CoinMarketCap data shows phishing accounted for an estimated $1.05 billion in crypto losses in 2024-roughly 40% of all stolen crypto that year. every few months But the real damage goes far beyond money: But the real damage goes far beyond money: Phishing fuels ransomware and terrorism – In one case, £2.3 million from a fake NFT platform was traced to a sanctioned entity.
Victims aren’t always crypto users – A retired couple wired £45,000 to scammers impersonating police to “unfreeze” crypto their son never even owned.
Some web hosting companies and domain registrars are enabling it – Ferrer’s team reported 132 fraudulent sites to a major registrar this year. Only 17 were removed. Some providers even charge for takedowns-creating a perverse incentive to delay. Phishing fuels ransomware and terrorism – In one case, £2.3 million from a fake NFT platform was traced to a sanctioned entity. Victims aren’t always crypto users – A retired couple wired £45,000 to scammers impersonating police to “unfreeze” crypto their son never even owned. Some web hosting companies and domain registrars are enabling it – Ferrer’s team reported 132 fraudulent sites to a major registrar this year. Only 17 were removed. Some providers even charge for takedowns-creating a perverse incentive to delay. “Crypto exchanges are heavily regulated. Hosting providers? Almost zero oversight. Until that changes, phishing will keep thriving-and evolving with AI.” “Crypto exchanges are heavily regulated. Hosting providers? Almost zero oversight. Until that changes, phishing will keep thriving-and evolving with AI.” “Crypto exchanges are heavily regulated. Hosting providers? Almost zero oversight. Until that changes, phishing will keep thriving-and evolving with AI.” Crypto Legal tracks over 100 new phishing domains weekly and runs the free public Crypto Legal Scam Hub, with 50,000+ entries to help victims verify threats. Even so, he admitted, "For every domain we report, three more emerge.” The good news is that many phishing attacks can be avoided with stronger habits, smarter tech, and clearer accountability from the companies that power the web. What you can do I asked Ferrer what people should  start doing today to prevent crypto phishing scams. Here are his tips: Never trust links from search ads - Always use in-app support
Bookmark sites you trust - Typosquatting like Binancce[.]com is rampant
Use hardware multi-factor authentication (MFA) - SMS-based two-factor authentication (2FA) is vulnerable to SIM Swapping (when an attacker socially engineers a mobile provider or bribes an insider into transferring your phone number to a SIM card they control), and does not prevent phishing
Search "Crypto Legal Scam Hub" to check for known scam sites
Report anything suspicious - To registrars, the NCSC, and Action Fraud Never trust links from search ads - Always use in-app support Never trust links from search ads Bookmark sites you trust - Typosquatting like Binancce[.]com is rampant Bookmark sites you trust Binancce[.]com Use hardware multi-factor authentication (MFA) - SMS-based two-factor authentication (2FA) is vulnerable to SIM Swapping (when an attacker socially engineers a mobile provider or bribes an insider into transferring your phone number to a SIM card they control), and does not prevent phishing Use hardware multi-factor authentication (MFA) not Search "Crypto Legal Scam Hub" to check for known scam sites Search "Crypto Legal Scam Hub" Report anything suspicious - To registrars, the NCSC, and Action Fraud Report anything suspicious What the big guys should do Ferrer’s tips will help people stay safer only to a certain extent, since the problem isn’t just the scammers. It’s the system that lets them flourish: hosting providers that ignore abuse, regulators that overlook infrastructure, and consumers left fighting sophisticated scams with outdated tools. Otherwise, we’re fighting with toothpicks against AI-powered hydras. Scammers are counting on that.

Forget The Bybit Hack - This is the REAL Crypto Epidemic Fueling Global Crime

When one hears the phrase "dark web", it usually evokes visions of illicit transactions, hoodie-wearing hackers, and clandestine operations. Yes, some of that does occur, but the dark web is really more complicated and less Hollywood than what films or the news portray. Here in this blog, let's get deep into the dark web—what it is, what it isn't, and debunk myths vs. reality—all in simple, bite-sized language. What is the Dark Web? The dark web is a portion of the internet that isn't searched by engines like Google, Bing, or Yahoo. You need special programs like Tor (The Onion Router) or I2P (Invisible Internet Project) to access it. Unlike the “surface web” (what most of us use daily), the dark web isn’t directly accessible through normal browsers. It’s part of a broader category known as the deep web, which includes any content that requires a login, like your Gmail inbox or bank account. But the dark web is a smaller, intentionally hidden portion of this deep web. Myth #1: The Dark Web is 100% Illegal Reality: Not all on the dark web is criminal. Yes, the dark web does have illegal marketplaces, stolen information, and other illicit services. But not all of it is criminal. Some websites and communities use the dark web for privacy. For instance: Whistleblowers provide information without putting their safety at risk.


Journalists communicate securely with sources.


Citizens in repressive nations get uncensored news and services. Whistleblowers provide information without putting their safety at risk. Whistleblowers provide information without putting their safety at risk. Journalists communicate securely with sources. Journalists communicate securely with sources. Citizens in repressive nations get uncensored news and services. Citizens in repressive nations get uncensored news and services. Actually, organizations such as The New York Times, BBC, and ProPublica have mirror sites of their websites on Tor precisely for this reason. Myth #2: The Dark Web is One Giant Black Market Reality: Markets do exist, but it's more than that. Yes, you can discover illicit marketplaces on the dark web selling weapons, drugs, false IDs, and stolen data. One of the most notorious examples was Silk Road, a dark web marketplace seized by the FBI in 2013. However, the dark web is also inhabited by: Political discussion forums


Privacy-conscious communities


Libraries of prohibited books or censored material


Tech enthusiasts and security researchers Political discussion forums Political discussion forums Privacy-conscious communities Privacy-conscious communities Libraries of prohibited books or censored material Libraries of prohibited books or censored material Tech enthusiasts and security researchers Tech enthusiasts and security researchers It's not only a black market—it's an entire ecosystem of multiple purposes, good and evil. Myth #3: You'll Get Hacked Instantly Reality: It's not inherently dangerous—but caution is a must. The dark web itself will not hack you for visiting it. But yes, it can be dangerous if you're irresponsible. Risks include: Clicking malicious links


Downloading infected software


Posting personal data


Trusting strangers or phishing sites Clicking malicious links Clicking malicious links Downloading infected software Downloading infected software Posting personal data Posting personal data Trusting strangers or phishing sites Trusting strangers or phishing sites If you're on the dark web, it's important to: Use a VPN + Tor for extra anonymity
Never download files or share personal information
Not click random links
Only use sites with established reputations Use a VPN + Tor for extra anonymity Never download files or share personal information Not click random links Only use sites with established reputations Myth #4: You Can Be Totally Anonymous Reality: Complete anonymity is difficult—but Tor makes it easier. Tor conceals your IP address by routing your connection through multiple nodes around the globe. This provides you with a degree of anonymity, but it's not guaranteed. Governments and skilled attackers have de-anonymized users before through: Malware


JavaScript exploits


Misconfigured browsers


Revealing personal info accidentally Malware Malware JavaScript exploits JavaScript exploits Misconfigured browsers Misconfigured browsers Revealing personal info accidentally Revealing personal info accidentally If anonymity is your goal, remember: Disable JavaScript in your Tor browser
Don’t log in to any real-world accounts (like Gmail, Facebook)
Don’t use your real name or identity anywhere Disable JavaScript in your Tor browser Don’t log in to any real-world accounts (like Gmail, Facebook) Don’t use your real name or identity anywhere Myth #5: Law Enforcement Can’t Access the Dark Web Reality: They can—and they do. While the dark web is anonymous by design, it’s not invisible to law enforcement. Agencies have: Infilitrated marketplaces


De-anonymized server locations


Located cybercriminals through errors that they committed


Utilized advanced traffic analysis tools Infilitrated marketplaces Infilitrated marketplaces De-anonymized server locations De-anonymized server locations Located cybercriminals through errors that they committed Located cybercriminals through errors that they committed Utilized advanced traffic analysis tools Utilized advanced traffic analysis tools The shut down of markets such as AlphaBay, Hansa, and Silk Road illustrates that criminals aren't safe because they are in the dark web. So no—the dark web isn't some lawless wasteland. Police are monitoring it, and people using it to commit crimes can and do get arrested. Myth #6: The Dark Web is Only for Criminals and Hackers Reality: It's a tool, just like any aspect of the internet. Imagine the dark web as a technology platform—similar to email or social media. It's up to the user how it's used. Though it's become a haven for cybercriminals, it's also used: Activists


Whistleblowers


Reporters


Daily users who want to be private Activists Activists Whistleblowers Whistleblowers Reporters Reporters Daily users who want to be private Daily users who want to be private Most times, individuals use the dark web not to be a criminal, but to escape surveillance, censorship, or data collection from big companies. Do You Go to the Dark Web? It depends on why you're interested. If you're merely browsing for knowledge or to know how it functions, that's okay—as long as you're safe and ethical. Safe Browsing Tips: Download the official Tor Browser
Use a VPN before booting up Tor
Don't disclose your true identity
Avoid downloading anything
Never trust a site blindly—scams happen everywhere Download the official Tor Browser Use a VPN before booting up Tor Don't disclose your true identity Avoid downloading anything Never trust a site blindly—scams happen everywhere Final Thoughts The dark web isn't evil in and of itself, but it's not totally safe, either. Like any technology, it's a double-edged sword—capable of both safeguarding freedom and facilitating harm. If you ever decide to go there, do it with eyes wide open, on your toes, and with a purpose in mind. Don't believe everything you hear, nor should you act hysterically based upon some myth or urban legend. The point to take away? The Dark Web is just a tool-in how it gets used is the actor.

So How Scary is The Dark Web Really?

Science fiction has always pushed the boundaries of our imagination. From movies like Star Wars to books by Arthur C. Clarke, these stories introduced big ideas like space travel, robots, and satellite networks long before they became real. Today, many of those once-impossible dreams are part of everyday life. Star Wars This article explores how science fiction has influenced real-world space technology. I will also look at how a modern project called Spacecoin continues that journey by using satellites to make money and communication more accessible worldwide. Spacecoin Spacecoin How Sci-Fi Sparked Innovation How Sci-Fi Sparked Innovation Science fiction, or “sci-fi,” is more than just entertainment. It allows writers and creators to imagine the future freely without worrying about cost or current technology. That freedom often leads to ideas that scientists and engineers may later turn into reality. Arthur C. Clarke’s Satellite Vision In 1945, sci-fi writer Arthur C. Clarke wrote an article describing a network of satellites that could send signals around the world. This idea didn’t exist in real life, but it inspired scientists to make it happen. Today, satellites power GPS, the global internet, and phone networks. article Star Trek’s High-Tech Tools The Star Trek TV series showed people using handheld communicators (like today’s cell phones), tablets, and voice-controlled computers. These tools seemed like science fiction in the 1960s. Now, we use similar devices every day. Many engineers say Star Trek helped shape their careers. Star Trek Star Trek Real Tech That Started in Sci-Fi Real Tech That Started in Sci-Fi Let’s look at real space technologies today that first appeared in sci-fi stories or shows. Starlink: Internet from the Sky SpaceX’s Starlink uses thousands of satellites to bring internet access to places without it. This idea of satellite-based communication has been featured in many sci-fi books and movies. Starlink In those stories, people living on other planets or in remote areas use space technology to stay connected, just like Starlink does now. Mars Rovers: Robots on Another World NASA’s Mars rovers, like Perseverance, drive around the surface of Mars, studying rocks and soil. These smart robots are similar to the droids in Star Wars or the robots from older movies like Forbidden Planet (1956). Sci-fi excited people about space robots, which helped push real science forward. Perseverance Star Wars Forbidden Planet Reusable Rockets Many rockets used to burn up after a single trip to space. Sci-fi stories often imagined rockets landing safely and being used again, like in the Thunderbirds show or Robert A. Heinlein's books. Today, companies like SpaceX reuse rockets to save money and reduce waste. Thunderbirds Spacecoin: Sci-Fi Ideas Meet Modern Tech Spacecoin: Sci-Fi Ideas Meet Modern Tech Spacecoin is a new project that uses satellites to build a different financial system. It allows people to send and receive digital money (cryptocurrency) without needing internet or cell service. Spacecoin Why Use Satellites? Most digital money systems depend on the Internet. But what if you’re in a place without connection, like a remote village or during a natural disaster? With satellite networks, Spacecoin lets people make secure payments from almost anywhere on Earth. This idea sounds like it’s from a sci-fi movie. In many stories, people in space or off-grid locations still manage to trade and communicate using satellite tools. Spacecoin makes that vision real. Sci-Fi Parallels In the show Firefly, people trade across planets using space-based systems. Spacecoin does something similar here on Earth.
In books like Snow Crash, people use digital money controlled by smart contracts. Spacecoin uses blockchain to do just that.
In many sci-fi stories, privacy and freedom are protected through high-tech systems. Spacecoin offers those same protections through encryption and decentralized tools. In the show Firefly, people trade across planets using space-based systems. Spacecoin does something similar here on Earth. Firefly In books like Snow Crash, people use digital money controlled by smart contracts. Spacecoin uses blockchain to do just that. Snow Crash In many sci-fi stories, privacy and freedom are protected through high-tech systems. Spacecoin offers those same protections through encryption and decentralized tools. How Sci-Fi and Real Tech Inspire Each Other How Sci-Fi and Real Tech Inspire Each Other The connection between science fiction and real technology works both ways: Sci-fi shows bold new ideas.
Engineers and scientists get inspired and build them.
These new inventions give writers new material for future stories. Sci-fi shows bold new ideas. Engineers and scientists get inspired and build them. These new inventions give writers new material for future stories. For example, after Starlink became popular, sci-fi books started featuring more believable space-based internet systems. For example, after Starlink became popular, sci-fi books started featuring more believable space-based internet systems. Now that satellite-based money like Spacecoin is real, writers are beginning to include it in their stories, too. Movies and TV Help Us Understand Space Movies and TV Help Us Understand Space Movies don’t just entertain, they also teach. When The Martian came out in 2015, it showed what life might be like for someone stuck on Mars. NASA helped with the film to ensure it was mostly accurate. The movie helped people understand the science and sparked interest in space careers. The Martian Even Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX and Tesla, has said movies like Iron Man and Blade Runner influenced him. Those futuristic styles can be seen in Tesla dashboards and SpaceX space suits. Big Challenges Ahead Turning sci-fi into real life isn’t always easy. There are still many challenges: Money: Some ideas are too expensive to build today.
Ethics: Real-world tech must consider safety, privacy, and fairness, something sci-fi sometimes ignores.
Science Limits: Some concepts, like faster-than-light travel, are impossible. Money: Some ideas are too expensive to build today. Money Ethics: Real-world tech must consider safety, privacy, and fairness, something sci-fi sometimes ignores. Ethics Science Limits: Some concepts, like faster-than-light travel, are impossible. Science Limits Still, sci-fi gives us a direction to explore. Even when an idea isn’t possible now, it can spark research that leads to discoveries. A Future Powered by Satellites Spacecoin is just one example of using satellite tech for more than communication. Similar systems could support: Remote learning, where students in faraway places get access to the same lessons as city schools.
Emergency support, where rescue teams use satellite networks after disasters.
Health care is where doctors are advised by satellite in areas without hospitals. Remote learning, where students in faraway places get access to the same lessons as city schools. Remote learning Emergency support, where rescue teams use satellite networks after disasters. Emergency support Health care is where doctors are advised by satellite in areas without hospitals. Health care Sci-fi dreamed of a future where space tech helps everyone. With Spacecoin and projects like it, that future is starting now. Final Thoughts Science fiction shows us what is possible, gets us excited about the future, and sometimes helps make that future real. From Arthur C. Clarke’s satellite vision to SpaceX’s Starlink and now Spacecoin’s global mission, sci-fi has guided innovation for decades. Ideas once only found in books and movies are now part of our daily lives. And as we continue to build the future, sci-fi will keep lighting the way.

Sci-Fi to Sky-Fi: How Pop Culture Inspired Real-World Space Tech

At this time, it would be unusual for an industry not to have a place in the world of decentralized ledgers and cryptocurrencies. Everyone can offer something here. Memecoins, for instance, offer basically nothing besides fun, but we also have the other side of the coin with Real-World Assets (RWA) tokens and platforms. Just as the name suggests, they offer assets that already exist in the real world (the world outside of crypto) through tokenization features. To go into detail, Real-World Assets (RWAs) refer to physical or traditional financial assets that can be represented as digital tokens on a crypto network. These assets, which may include real estate, commodities, bonds, and art, hold intrinsic value and are widely recognized in global financial markets. To go into detail, Real-World Assets (RWAs) refer to physical or traditional financial assets that can be represented as digital tokens on a crypto network. The process of tokenizing RWAs involves converting ownership rights into ledger-based tokens, allowing these assets to be traded and accessed in a decentralized manner. Now, for practical reasons, every time you see the term “RWA” inside crypto, they’ll likely be talking about the tokens and platforms related to this concept, and not exactly to the assets involved. The process of tokenizing The process of tokenizing One of the most significant advantages of RWA tokenization is its ability to improve liquidity. Unlike traditional asset markets, which often involve complex transactions and lengthy processing times, crypto-based RWAs enable instant and global trading. Additionally, tokenization allows for fractional ownership, lowering entry barriers for investors who might otherwise be excluded due to high capital requirements —not everyone can buy a whole house, for instance, but a lot of people could hold a fraction of it and enjoy the benefits. RWA Use Cases Real-World assets (RWAs) have the potential to revolutionize various industries by making traditionally illiquid assets more accessible and flexible. One major use case is in government and corporate bonds, where tokenization allows investors to purchase small portions of these financial instruments instead of needing large sums of money upfront. This fractional ownership makes bond investments more inclusive while maintaining the benefits of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), such as enhanced transparency and instant transactions. In real estate, RWAs enable fractional property ownership, lowering the barriers to entry. Instead of purchasing an entire building, investors can buy tokens representing a share of a property and earn rental income. This simplifies real estate investment, making it more transparent and accessible. Additionally, tokenized industrial properties like warehouses and factories provide businesses with easier capital-raising options while offering investors a diversified portfolio. In real estate, RWAs enable fractional property ownership, lowering the barriers to entry. Instead of purchasing an entire building, investors can buy tokens representing a share of a property and earn rental income. RWAs also apply to physical commodities and collectibles, allowing fractional ownership of precious metals, artwork, and machinery. Instead of buying a whole gold bar or a rare painting, individuals can invest in small shares, benefiting from potential appreciation. As the adoption of RWAs grows, industries will continue to explore how tokenization can optimize asset ownership, increase market efficiency, and create new economic opportunities. RWAs in Obyte Obyte provides a cost-effective and accessible way to create tokenized RWAs, making it an appealing platform for both beginners and experts. As a decentralized, DAG-based system, Obyte eliminates intermediaries while ensuring seamless transactions. Users can generate custom tokens either with coding for advanced configurations or without coding through a simple online tool. This flexibility allows businesses and individuals to tokenize a wide range of assets, from financial instruments to loyalty rewards, without incurring high costs. Obyte Obyte Users can generate custom tokens either with coding for advanced configurations or without coding through a simple online tool. Unlike other networks, where tokens require separate smart contracts for transactions, Obyte treats all tokens equally, just like its native currency, GBYTE. This means transfers happen smoothly within the core protocol, reducing complexity and potential errors. Transaction fees are minimal, often less than $0.01, making it ideal for frequent and small-value transfers. Additional token features include adjustable supply, privacy settings, and regulatory compliance options, like requiring verified users for transfers. all tokens all tokens A notable real-world application of Obyte’s tokenization is Aufort, a European investment firm that represents gold holdings using Obyte's DAG network. This enables instant and global transactions while maintaining a custodial model for simplicity. Beyond this, Obyte’s tokenization tools can be used for any kind of fractional ownership, internal business credits, or custom digital assets tailored to specific needs. Obyte gives you the power to decide—no middlemen, no high costs, just your vision made real on-chain. Obyte’s tokenization tools Obyte’s tokenization tools Featured Vector Image by Freepik Featured Vector Image by Freepik Freepik Freepik

Stories, News & Mentions about REAL

Real’s Stories on HackerNoon

Real's News & Mentions