Lucas Ropek

Staff Reporter

Lucas Ropek was previously a staff writer at Gizmodo covering cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrency.

Lucas Ropek's posts

A Border Patrol agent walks through a cloud of tear gas on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, in Chicago.

U.S. Immigration Enforcement Apparently Provides Facial Scanning Tech to Local Cops

It's part of a program that essentially deputizes police into the federal mass deportation effort.

Tech News Lucas Ropek Nov 4

Close,up,of,a,shiny,bitcoin,btc,cryptocurrency,coin,on

If You Live in the UAE, You Can Now Mine Bitcoin Through Your Phone Plan

Let's please not make this a thing.

Cryptocurrencies Lucas Ropek Nov 4

Protest against Elon Musk and DOGE cuts to government funding in front of a Tesla showroom in NYC.

Tesla’s Sales Collapsed Nearly 90 Percent in Some Countries Last Month

In Europe, there's more bad news for Tesla.

Tech News Lucas Ropek Nov 3

Orange County Register Archive

The Inventor of the Frozen Burrito Has Died

Pour out a little hot sauce out for the man who changed American cuisine.

Culture Lucas Ropek Nov 3

Photo: PATRICK T. FALLON / Contributor

The New Way to Make Money Online? Predict What Words a Person Will Say

"Mention markets" are the new cash grab.

Tech News Lucas Ropek Nov 1

A Tesla Cybercab on display during the 9th edition of the VivaTech technology startup and innovation fair at the Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris on June 12, 2025

Elon Musk Wades Into the Debate Over Robotaxis Killing Cats. Guess Which Side He’s On

After a cat was reported run over by a Waymo this week, Musk decided to share his thoughts on pet safety and driverless cars.

Transportation Lucas Ropek Oct 31

The Netflix building in Los Angeles

Netflix Is Reportedly Mulling a Bid to Acquire Warner Bros Discovery

The streaming giant is "exploring a bid."

Culture Lucas Ropek Oct 31

A vehicle Tesla is using for robotaxi testing purposes, with "Robotaxi" on the passenger side door, on the road in Austin, Texas

Key Tesla Investor Says It Will Be Voting Against Making Elon Musk a Trillionaire

A spokesperson for the California pension system said it would "further concentrate power in a single shareholder.”

Transportation Lucas Ropek Oct 31

Us Economy Tesla

Tesla Recalls Thousands More Cybertrucks, Is Bad at Gluing Things

Again with the glue?

Transportation Lucas Ropek Oct 30

Is AI Leading to Layoffs or Does the Economy Just Suck?

Does the AI-ification of the economy mean less jobs, or does a faulty economy mean more AI?

Artificial Intelligence Lucas Ropek Oct 30

RFK Jr. Is Going After Trump’s Mortal Enemy: Wind Farms

Kennedy wants to get to the bottom of this whole wind farm thing.

Tech News Lucas Ropek Oct 30

President Donald Trump speaks with Satya Nadella, Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft, and Jeff Bezos, Chief Executive Officer of Amazon during an American Technology Council roundtable in the State Dinning Room at the White House in Washington, DC on Monday, June 19, 2017.

Microsoft Claims It Will Double Its Data Center Footprint in Two Years

Big Cloud is about to get a whole lot bigger.

Artificial Intelligence Lucas Ropek Oct 29

After Suicides, Lawsuits, and a Jeffrey Epstein Chatbot, Character.AI Is Banning Kids

Character has decided to limit young users' access to its bots.

Artificial Intelligence Lucas Ropek Oct 29

Elon Musk (L) holds a chainsaw alongside Argentine President Javier Milei during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, on February 20, 2025.

Yale Researchers Claim Elon’s Political Activity Cost Tesla a Million Sales in the U.S.

When it comes to the people most likely to buy his cars, Musk has made a lot of enemies.

Politics Lucas Ropek Oct 29

Chip Startup Backed by Peter Thiel and In-Q-Tel Seeks to Revolutionize the Semiconductor Biz

Another Thiel-backed company is having a moment.

Tech News Lucas Ropek Oct 29

Three Mile Island nuclear plant

Trump Just Bought $80 Billion Worth of Nuclear Reactors to Keep the AI Bubble Cooking

Here comes the next Nuclear Age.

Artificial Intelligence Lucas Ropek Oct 28

Tesla’s ‘Mad Max’ Mode is Now Being Investigated by U.S. Regulators

Elon's company is being scrutinized again.

Tech News Lucas Ropek Oct 25

inside a data center

New Trump Administration Energy Rule Would Enable Data Centers with ‘Large Loads’

The "urgent" regulatory amendment from the Energy Department would benefit AI companies.

Tech Policy Lucas Ropek Oct 25

China Huai'an Guan Dan Card Game Players

The Obscure Tech at the Heart of the Bombshell NBA Gambling Scandal

When you've got hackers on your side, the house takes all.

Crime Lucas Ropek Oct 24

Pepsico Products Ahead Of Earnings Figures

Teen Swarmed by Cops After AI Metal Detector Flags His Doritos Bag as a Gun

AI has done it again.

Artificial Intelligence Lucas Ropek Oct 24

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