Topic
viral
Technology Startups #hotornot#dating apps
Hot or Not Built the Internet We’re Still Swiping Through, 26 Years Later
Hot or Not, launched in 2000, converted human judgment about attractiveness into structured data at web scale, according to WIRED. Its mutual-opt-in mechanic became the basis for Tinder's swipe, and two decades later Bumble and Match Group are retreating from the format amid dating app fatigue.
Aug 19, 2026 1 source
Technology Artificial Intelligence #ai#chatbot
The Hottest New AI Chatbot Is Just a Guy Answering Your Questions
WIRED reports on ChatTJB, the viral chatbot that is actually Tucker Bryant answering prompts by hand. The project has drawn 30,000 queries and a peak of 5,000 per hour, and highlights the concept of 'cognitive surrender' to AI.
Aug 7, 2026 1 source