Recurrent Ventures vs The New York Times

Outdoor Life to Become AI-Powered Marketplace Under New Owner

Recurrent Ventures sold Outdoor Life to eFormed Ventures on Oct. 7 for an undisclosed sum. The newly formed fund, backed by family offices, plans to transform the 128-year-old title into an AI-powered marketplace using proprietary technology called Resonance. This platform tailors product recommendations and pricing based on seasonality, location, and shopping behavior. eFormed has tested Resonance on the Field & Stream storefront since January, reporting triple-digit growth. The company aims to blend owned inventory with partner-held virtual inventory, learning from past content-to-commerce failures. Outdoor Life drove over $20 million in purchases last year. The new owner plans to keep the existing staff and is optimistic about execution, despite the model's spotty track record.

• Recurrent Ventures sold Outdoor Life to eFormed Ventures on Oct. 7 for an undisclosed sum.
• eFormed Ventures plans to transform Outdoor Life into an AI-powered marketplace using proprietary platform Resonance.
• Outdoor Life drove more than $20 million in purchases last year.

Bluesky Adds iPad Support, Profile Links

Bluesky, the social media platform and alternative to X and Threads, has introduced two major updates in its v1.136 app update. First, iPad users can now access Bluesky in a beta version, fulfilling one of the platform's most requested features. Second, Bluesky has launched profile links, allowing creators to add up to 30-character titled links in their bio, pointing to external websites, newsletters, podcasts, or other social media accounts. The company's Head of Product, Alex Benzer, announced that links to payment platforms like Patreon and Ko-fi will appear as prominent green buttons, supporting creator monetization. This move aligns with Bluesky's broader vision for cross-app creator monetization within the AT Protocol ecosystem. With 41.4 million users as of early 2026, Bluesky differentiates itself through its open and independent structure.

• Bluesky releases iPad support in beta with app update v1.136.
• Bluesky introduces profile links for creators, supporting up to 30-character titles.
• Links to Patreon and Ko-fi will appear as green buttons on profiles to facilitate monetization.

Introducing the Inaugural Wirecutter Hall of Fame Awards

The New York Times announces the inaugural Wirecutter Hall of Fame Awards, recognizing top products and services.

Essay: Minority Report Predicted Generative AI's Hallucinations

In a Medium essay on UX design, Patrick Neeman argues that Steven Spielberg's 2002 film Minority Report is a more accurate forecast of generative AI than of gesture interfaces. He compares the film's precogs to large language models: both produce confident, plausible output rather than retrieving facts, which leads to hallucination. The essay highlights the 'minority report' concept as an early description of hallucination. It also addresses AI's hidden training-data costs, citing Anthropic's $1.5 billion copyright settlement and OpenAI's low-paid Kenyan contractors. On AI agents, Neeman notes a PwC survey finding 79% of companies use AI agents, and warns of automation bias. He cites Stanford research showing legal AI tools fabricate law 17–33% of the time. The piece concludes that designers should surface uncertainty and keep humans in the loop.

• ChatGPT crossed 800 million weekly active users within three years of launch, per Sam Altman.
• A federal judge approved Anthropic's $1.5 billion copyright settlement with authors in 2026.
• PwC found that 79% of companies already have AI agents in use.