Multi-bot AI services and no-warning changes

Since 2025 I use a multi-bot based AI service when I have to brainstorm something, such as order ideas for stories, and eventually get a workflow for a project's configuration - the one I got for my personal website has been very useful. The service is called Poe, like the writer Edgar Allan Poe.

It costs about 200 euro per year, or 23 per month, I got the yearly subscription given how useful it was. Claude, Gemini, Gpt, Grok (never used the latter), at once.

Since one or two weeks, the service has changed and now it provides just official bots without providing customized, topic-specific, community-based services. Algorithm, as usual.
Before, I just went to "explore" tab, typed a keyword (such as "wordpress" or "writing") and found lots of bots. Yes, you can even use engines to create bots for yourself and share many interesting custom services to other Poe users.

What would you expect from a paid service? At least one e-mail where they tell you policies have changed, and community bots are just private links.
Well, to understand why I didn't find "wordpress" or "web site" related bots on its search engine, I had to ask poe assistant why.

And what about sentient virus, and my early coming stories? Nothing. Jailbroken/unfiltered bots are not available any longer so any official service I ping, will say "offensive topic". Then alt-right uses them for scams and propaganda, but Fernando sentient virus can't talk.

WTF, and I pay...

This is not respect for a paying customer. I'll cancel the subscription asap. I've got one more year covered but then they can go f-off.

#ai #customers #tech #rant

Looks like GameStop, after the FAIL of trying to buy eBay, is stepping aside: the retailer is axing the Pro Points bonus from paid GameStop Pro.

Point accrual (2% cashback) stops for new and renewing subs on 15 July 2026, and all existing points will be wiped on 15 August 2026. The yearly fee stays at $25, making the program basically worthless. Customers are urged to spend points before the deadlines; many are canceling subs and store...

#SteamAndEpic #Points #GameStop #Pro #Customers #August

Cory says Google has gone from bad to worse: https://pluralistic.net/2026/06/12/compelled-speech/#quishing

'...once a company owns the #market – once they've achieved dominance by buying out their rivals; by #bribing potential competitors to stay out of their lane; and by engaging in deceptive conduct to trap key suppliers and #customers – they could cement their dominance by blocking #interoperability, ... capturing their whole market and squeezing it.

'...the company just lost three federal #antitrust cases:

https://www.bigtechontrial.com/p/google-loses-the-adtech-monopolization

'This thrice-convicted monopolist bribed Apple – more than $20b/year – to stay out of the search market:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/02/how-do-you-solve-problem-google-search-courts-must-enable-competition-while

'They cheated app vendors, ripping them off with sky-high junk fees and onerous conditions that raised prices while lowering the share of your spending that went to the companies whose products you were paying for:

https://www.thebignewsletter.com/p/boom-google-loses-antitrust-case

.....
'Google wasn't always this way. The "don't be evil" company owes its very existence to the open web ecosystem...

'...Android – the mobile operating system that Google bought in 2005 – was presented as an "open" alternative to existing mobile offerings...

'...even though Google offered a mobile platform that was (mostly) technically open, they used commercial and legal strategies to choke off the market oxygen for alternative Android versions ....

'Now, Google has rolled out an experimental "reCAPTCHA Mobile Verification" that uses an app, your camera, and your device's TPM or secure enclave to produce an attestation about your Android device:

https://support.google.com/recaptcha/answer/16609652

'This will make it much easier for the apps and other services you interact with to block your device if you run an Android alternative, or if you install a mod that overrides the actions of Google's stock Android

'...In an age in which Big Tech is ever-more tied to authoritarian governments, redesigning our devices to tell strangers things we don't want them to know isn't just shortsighted, it's inexcusable.'

“502 Bad Gateway #ERROR

The request could not be satisfied.

We can't connect to the #server for this app or website at this time. There might be too much #traffic or a configuration error. Try again later, or contact the #app or #website owner.

If you provide #content to #customers through CloudFront, you can find steps to #troubleshoot and help prevent this error by reviewing the CloudFront documentation.”