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Showing posts from March, 2023

ChatGPT Faces Ban in Italy Over Privacy Concerns

ChatGPT Faces Ban in Italy Over Privacy Concerns https://ift.tt/RHLWlB5 The action by Italy’s data protection agency is the first known instance of the chatbot being blocked by a Western country.

The Future of AI: What Comes Next and What to Expect

The Future of AI: What Comes Next and What to Expect https://ift.tt/RHLWlB5 Where we’re heading tomorrow, next year and beyond.

New Rules Will Make Many Electric Cars Ineligible for Tax Credits

New Rules Will Make Many Electric Cars Ineligible for Tax Credits https://ift.tt/RHLWlB5 The Biden administration hopes its guidelines for up to $7,500 in tax credits will encourage automakers to reduce their reliance on China for batteries and raw materials.

Google C.E.O. Sundar Pichai on Bard, A.I. ‘Whiplash’ and Competing With ChatGPT

Google C.E.O. Sundar Pichai on Bard, A.I. ‘Whiplash’ and Competing With ChatGPT https://ift.tt/RHLWlB5 “Am I concerned? Yes. Am I optimistic and excited about all the potential of this technology? Incredibly.”

NPR staff review the biggest games of March, and more

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NPR staff review the biggest games of March, and more https://ift.tt/iSVPr8c March 2023 took us places: from scary Spain in Resident Evil 4 to Tchia 's colorful archipelago, to the Diablo IV Beta's grim Sanctuary. NPR staff round up these and other notable games. (Image credit: Kepler Interactive, Nintendo, Bungie)

Teens share the joy, despair and anxiety of college admissions on TikTok

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Teens share the joy, despair and anxiety of college admissions on TikTok https://ift.tt/VtfPaeN NPR's Adrian Florido talks with New Yorker writer Jay Caspian Kang about his latest piece, "The Particular Misery of College Admissions TikTok."

Elon Musk Tried to Meet With F.T.C. Chair About Twitter, but Was Rebuffed

Elon Musk Tried to Meet With F.T.C. Chair About Twitter, but Was Rebuffed https://ift.tt/RHLWlB5 Mr. Musk requested a meeting with Lina Khan, the chair of the F.T.C., which has been investigating Twitter’s privacy and data practices.

A.I., Brain Scans and Cameras: The Spread of Police Surveillance Tech

A.I., Brain Scans and Cameras: The Spread of Police Surveillance Tech https://ift.tt/ve0AwiG In the Middle East, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies have become part of everyday policing.

MLB The Show 23 Review: Negro Leagues storylines is a tribute to baseball legends

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MLB The Show 23 Review: Negro Leagues storylines is a tribute to baseball legends https://ift.tt/IsfNxYH The long-running baseball video game features a new mode that celebrates historical Black all-stars and offers a much-requested single-player experience. (Image credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment)

Sailboat Crew Rescued After Hitting Whale in Pacific Ocean

Sailboat Crew Rescued After Hitting Whale in Pacific Ocean https://ift.tt/ve0AwiG After the collision in the Pacific Ocean this month, Rick Rodriguez and three other sailors were rescued by a fellow boater, with an assist from a satellite internet signal.

All new cars in the EU will be zero-emission by 2035. Here's where the U.S. stands

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All new cars in the EU will be zero-emission by 2035. Here's where the U.S. stands https://ift.tt/z5KPQMN European Union states agreed to a plan after adding an exemption for cars that run on e-fuels. In the U.S., efforts to phase out gas-powered cars include future bans in several states. (Image credit: Gabriel Bouys/AFP via Getty Images)

An open letter signed by tech leaders, researchers proposes delaying AI development

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An open letter signed by tech leaders, researchers proposes delaying AI development https://ift.tt/R8u2mhS NPR's Adrian Florido speaks with Peter Stone, computer science professor at the University of Texas, on an open letter calling for a temporary halt in development of advanced artificial intelligence.

Tech leaders urge a pause in the 'out-of-control' artificial intelligence race

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Tech leaders urge a pause in the 'out-of-control' artificial intelligence race https://ift.tt/ei0aCLc A group of prominent computer scientists and other tech industry notables are calling for a 6-month pause to ponder the risks of powerful technology that spawned a successor to ChatGPT. (Image credit: Michael Dwyer/AP)

An Unopened 2007 iPhone Can Be Yours (for $32,000 or More)

An Unopened 2007 iPhone Can Be Yours (for $32,000 or More) https://ift.tt/ve0AwiG A first-generation Apple smartphone is going up for auction.

What Makes Chatbots ‘Hallucinate’ or Say the Wrong Thing?

What Makes Chatbots ‘Hallucinate’ or Say the Wrong Thing? https://ift.tt/vtr3oRf The curious case of the hallucinating software.

Elon Musk and Others Call for Pause on A.I., Citing ‘Risks to Society’

Elon Musk and Others Call for Pause on A.I., Citing ‘Risks to Society’ https://ift.tt/vtr3oRf More than 1,000 tech leaders, researchers and others signed an open letter that urged a moratorium on the development of the most powerful artificial intelligence systems.

Rift Between Gaming Giants Shows Toll of China’s Economic Crackdown

Rift Between Gaming Giants Shows Toll of China’s Economic Crackdown https://ift.tt/vtr3oRf Activision Blizzard and NetEase could not agree on a new deal to distribute video games in China, cutting millions of players from the games in January.

Kites

Kites https://ift.tt/vtr3oRf Kites date back 3000 years, when the Chinese made them from bamboo and silk. Over the centuries kites have been used in religious ceremonies, scientific experiments, military maneuvers and, of course, for fun. In honor of April’s status as National […]

A Campaign Aide Didn’t Write That Email. A.I. Did.

A Campaign Aide Didn’t Write That Email. A.I. Did. https://ift.tt/vtr3oRf The swift advance of artificial intelligence in politics is already blurring the boundaries between fact and fake.

In Hundreds of TikTok Videos, Its Users Defend the App

In Hundreds of TikTok Videos, Its Users Defend the App https://ift.tt/vtr3oRf After lawmakers grilled TikTok’s chief executive last week, the app’s users argued that the platform should not be banned in the United States over national security concerns.

How Chatbots and Large Language Models, or LLMs, Actually Work

How Chatbots and Large Language Models, or LLMs, Actually Work https://ift.tt/IOZQ3KB Learning how a “large language model” operates.

Tinkering With ChatGPT, Workers Wonder: Will This Take My Job?

Tinkering With ChatGPT, Workers Wonder: Will This Take My Job? https://ift.tt/IOZQ3KB Artificial intelligence is confronting white-collar professionals more directly than ever. It could make them more productive — or obsolete.

Panera rolls out hand-scanning technology that has raised privacy concerns

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Panera rolls out hand-scanning technology that has raised privacy concerns https://ift.tt/yXESNji Developed by Amazon, the technology will make it faster for Panera customers' to pay as well as give recommendations on what to order based on their order history. (Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Biden Acts to Restrict U.S. Government Use of Spyware

Biden Acts to Restrict U.S. Government Use of Spyware https://ift.tt/IOZQ3KB The president signed an executive order seeking to limit deployment of a tool that has been abused by autocracies — and some democracies — to spy on dissidents, human rights activists and journalists.

Have AI Chatbots Developed Theory of Mind? What We Do and Do Not Know.

Have AI Chatbots Developed Theory of Mind? What We Do and Do Not Know. https://ift.tt/IOZQ3KB Some researchers claim that chatbots have developed theory of mind. But is that just our own theory of mind gone wild?

A Sting Operation to Save Elephants, With No Stings

A Sting Operation to Save Elephants, With No Stings https://ift.tt/IOZQ3KB While live bees can be used as a deterrent to keep elephants away from farms, a new technology fills in for cases where a buzz without the sting is preferable.

Silicon Valley Bank’s Collapse Chills Start-Up Funding

Silicon Valley Bank’s Collapse Chills Start-Up Funding https://ift.tt/hdPpYjt Two weeks after Silicon Valley Bank failed, the fallout has hit the start-up market as investors pull back further and fear has risen.

Twitter says parts of its source code were leaked online

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Twitter says parts of its source code were leaked online https://ift.tt/oiX7F5E Some parts of Twitter's source code — the fundamental computer code on which the social network runs — were leaked online, the social media company said in a legal filing. (Image credit: Gregory Bull/AP)

Twitter Says Parts of Its Source Code Were Leaked Online

Twitter Says Parts of Its Source Code Were Leaked Online https://ift.tt/hdPpYjt The leak adds to the challenges facing the Elon Musk-owned company, which is trying to unmask the person responsible and any other people who downloaded the code.

Elon Musk Values Twitter at $20 Billion

Elon Musk Values Twitter at $20 Billion https://ift.tt/hdPpYjt The billionaire bought the social media company for $44 billion in October and took it private.

At Apple, Rare Dissent Over a New Product: Interactive Goggles

At Apple, Rare Dissent Over a New Product: Interactive Goggles https://ift.tt/hdPpYjt The company is expected to unveil an augmented reality headset in a few months. Some employees wonder if the device makes sense for Apple.

AI deepfakes could advance misinformation in the run up to the 2024 election

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AI deepfakes could advance misinformation in the run up to the 2024 election https://ift.tt/kfjbUC0 New artificial intelligence tools make it cheap, easy and fast to make convincing fake video, audio and text. Going into the 2024 election, the misuse of this technology could have huge consequences.

A judge sided with publishers in a lawsuit over the Internet Archive's online library

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A judge sided with publishers in a lawsuit over the Internet Archive's online library https://ift.tt/9cP5oWL The nonprofit, which has a mission to provide "universal access to all knowledge," says it will appeal the ruling. (Image credit: Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Wisconsin Rep. Mark Pocan on TikTok hearing

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Wisconsin Rep. Mark Pocan on TikTok hearing https://ift.tt/EZ8xcza NPR's Scott Detrow speaks with Mark Pocan, Democratic congressman of Wisconsin, about this week's hearing that featured TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, and how he thinks lawmakers should regulate the app.

Google's 'ghost workers' are asking for labor rights

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Google's 'ghost workers' are asking for labor rights https://ift.tt/KCXnboy People who work to assure the quality of Google search results are asking for labor rights.

Intel co-founder and philanthropist Gordon Moore has died at 94

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Intel co-founder and philanthropist Gordon Moore has died at 94 https://ift.tt/Gm5RK2y Moore also made his famous observation, now known as Moore's Law, three years before he helped start Intel in 1968. It said the capacity and complexity of integrated circuits would double every year. (Image credit: Ben Margot/AP)

Gordon E. Moore, Intel Co-Founder Behind Moore’s Law, Dies at 94

Gordon E. Moore, Intel Co-Founder Behind Moore’s Law, Dies at 94 https://ift.tt/5xbXlJG His prediction in the 1960s about exponential advances in computer chip technology charted a course for the age of high tech.

Gordon E. Moore, the Intel Co-Founder Behind Moore’s Law, Dies at 94

Gordon E. Moore, the Intel Co-Founder Behind Moore’s Law, Dies at 94 https://ift.tt/5xbXlJG His prediction in the 1960s about exponential advances in computer chip technology set a course for the age of high tech.

Utah passes an age-verification law for anyone using social media

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Utah passes an age-verification law for anyone using social media https://ift.tt/BPIqGt4 Utah is the first state to pass an age verification law for anyone using social media. Those under 18 must soon have parental consent. Critics say the law does not protect children as it intendeds.

LG Will Spend $5.5 Billion on a Battery Factory in Arizona

LG Will Spend $5.5 Billion on a Battery Factory in Arizona https://ift.tt/ihdCbEZ Investment plans for U.S. battery production have increased since President Biden signed a law that offers generous incentives for electric cars and green energy.

Bard Fork, and How to Talk So Chatbots Will Listen

Bard Fork, and How to Talk So Chatbots Will Listen https://ift.tt/ihdCbEZ Google has unleashed its A.I. chatbot, Bard, to the world. And Spotify’s A.I. D.J. knows your taste — perhaps a little too well.

Nintendo's Wii U and 3DS stores closing means game over for digital archives

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Nintendo's Wii U and 3DS stores closing means game over for digital archives https://ift.tt/a1HR37O Starting March 27th, you won't be able to buy digital games for the Wii U and 3DS. Video game archivists and fans are racing to preserve titles that may soon dissappear. (Image credit: Nintendo/Jamal Michel)

Utah's new social media law means children will need approval from parents

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Utah's new social media law means children will need approval from parents https://ift.tt/lbjazWM The restrictions passed through Utah's Republican-supermajority Legislature reflect how politicians' perceptions of technology companies are changing — and that includes pro-business Republicans. (Image credit: Trent Nelson/AP)

Utah Law Could Curb Use of TikTok and Instagram by Children and Teens

Utah Law Could Curb Use of TikTok and Instagram by Children and Teens https://ift.tt/ihdCbEZ The law, which prohibits social networks from allowing minors to have accounts without parental consent, may come as welcome news to many families even as it raises privacy concerns.

Still trying to quit that gym membership? The FTC is proposing a rule that could help

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Still trying to quit that gym membership? The FTC is proposing a rule that could help https://ift.tt/daNXKRW The Federal Trade Commission gets thousands of complaints a year from customers trapped in memberships they don't want. Its "Click to Cancel" proposal aims to change that, Chair Lina Khan tells NPR. (Image credit: Graeme Jennings/AP)

How to Set Up and Use an eSIM for International Travel

How to Set Up and Use an eSIM for International Travel https://ift.tt/wNqEMCF The digital version of the SIM card, included on many newer phones, is set to become prevalent. It also offers affordable cellular data abroad.

It takes a few dollars and 8 minutes to create a deepfake. And that's only the start

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It takes a few dollars and 8 minutes to create a deepfake. And that's only the start https://ift.tt/aNoPRxW Powerful artificial intelligence tools that can create video, audio, text, and pictures are raising fears the technology will supercharge disinformation and propaganda by bad actors. (Image credit: Ethan Mollick)

Relativity Space’s 3-D Printed Rocket Fails Just After Launch

Relativity Space’s 3-D Printed Rocket Fails Just After Launch https://ift.tt/wNqEMCF Relativity Space, a private company with ambitions for sending people to Mars, made it off the launchpad, but the vehicle experienced problems during the second stage of its flight.

William A. Wulf, Pioneering Computer Scientist, Dies at 83

William A. Wulf, Pioneering Computer Scientist, Dies at 83 https://ift.tt/wNqEMCF One of the first people to receive a graduate degree in the field, Dr. Wulf helped to adapt an early Pentagon communications web into the network that eventually grew into the internet.

Tiktok's lobbying tops $5.3M in 2022 as it brings its charm offensive to Congress

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Tiktok's lobbying tops $5.3M in 2022 as it brings its charm offensive to Congress https://ift.tt/YbKWN3f TikTok's CEO plans to tell the committee that it is working to protect U.S. users' data from Chinese government scrutiny. TikTok is pouring millions into lobbying to ease national security worries.

Armed with influencers and lobbyists, TikTok goes on the offense on Capitol Hill

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Armed with influencers and lobbyists, TikTok goes on the offense on Capitol Hill https://ift.tt/se9OFnt TikTok's top executive will have to defend the app against allegations it shares U.S. users data with the Chinese government at a Thursday hearing, as the government weighs limiting or banning it. (Image credit: OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)

Harry Houdini

Harry Houdini https://ift.tt/LRQBteo Harry Houdini (March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926) was a legendary twentieth-century American magician, escape artist, contortionist and showman. Born Erich Weiss in Budapest, Hungary, he immigrated to the U.S. with his parents in 1878. Here’s where his spirit […]

Pulling the Plug on TikTok Will Be Harder Than It Looks

Pulling the Plug on TikTok Will Be Harder Than It Looks https://ift.tt/LRQBteo The tensions over the Chinese-owned social media app will come to a head on Thursday, when the company’s chief executive testifies on Capitol Hill.

What Google Bard Can Do (and What It Can’t)

What Google Bard Can Do (and What It Can’t) https://ift.tt/LRQBteo Google has released a new chatbot to a limited number of people in the U.S. and Britain. How does it compare with what is already out there?

Strains Emerge Inside the Union That Beat Amazon

Strains Emerge Inside the Union That Beat Amazon https://ift.tt/LRQBteo Nearly a year after its victory on Staten Island, the Amazon Labor Union is grappling with election losses and internal conflict.

The number of Black video game developers is small, but strong

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The number of Black video game developers is small, but strong https://ift.tt/iVCmsj6 We talk to five people who are forging their own path in the industry, and bringing their unique experience to the world of video games. (Image credit: Neil Jones)

Google Releases Bard, Its Competitor in the AI Chatbot Race

Google Releases Bard, Its Competitor in the AI Chatbot Race https://ift.tt/LRQBteo The internet giant will grant users access to a chatbot after years of cautious development, chasing splashy debuts from rivals OpenAI and Microsoft.

BONUS: Hard Fork Live! Big Tech’s Arch Nemesis + Bot or Not?

BONUS: Hard Fork Live! Big Tech’s Arch Nemesis + Bot or Not? https://ift.tt/LAJxkSB Live from the South by Southwest festival in Austin, a conversation with the assistant attorney general Jonathan Kanter.

Amazon Plans to Lay Off Another 9,000 Employees

Amazon Plans to Lay Off Another 9,000 Employees https://ift.tt/LAJxkSB The cuts follow another round of layoffs affecting more than 18,000 jobs announced several months ago.

Amazon is cutting another 9,000 jobs as tech industry keeps shrinking

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Amazon is cutting another 9,000 jobs as tech industry keeps shrinking https://ift.tt/UMNy7HT The announcement comes after the company said it was laying off 18,000 employees in January. (Image credit: Mark Lennihan/AP)

Book Review: ‘Meganets,’ by David B. Auerbach

Book Review: ‘Meganets,’ by David B. Auerbach https://ift.tt/LAJxkSB Who’s really in charge of our online behavior? No one, David Auerbach argues in “Meganets.”

Got a question for Twitter's press team? The answer will be a poop emoji

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Got a question for Twitter's press team? The answer will be a poop emoji https://ift.tt/Cj9Dl51 Twitter's communications email went dark after mass layoffs late last year. CEO Elon Musk announced this weekend (and NPR confirmed) that it now responds to press inquiries with a single poop emoji. (Image credit: Jeff Chiu/AP)

Crypto Wants Its Shine Back

Crypto Wants Its Shine Back https://ift.tt/LAJxkSB After a miserable year, cryptocurrency companies are looking for ways to rebrand products that many consumers no longer trust.

YouTube lets Trump post new videos, says it evaluated risk of 'real-world violence'

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YouTube lets Trump post new videos, says it evaluated risk of 'real-world violence' https://ift.tt/MfGnAJO The platform had banned him from adding videos after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. More than two years later, it lifted those restrictions. (Image credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

WeWork Reaches a Debt Restructuring Deal With SoftBank

WeWork Reaches a Debt Restructuring Deal With SoftBank https://ift.tt/1EQ8uhs The agreement will reduce the unprofitable office space company’s debt, giving it more financial breathing room.

GPT-4 Is Here, and the Silicon Valley Bank Fallout

GPT-4 Is Here, and the Silicon Valley Bank Fallout https://ift.tt/yNbILSd Then, Mark Zuckerberg rethinks Meta’s strategy.

New Zealand lawmakers banned from TikTok amid data use fears

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New Zealand lawmakers banned from TikTok amid data use fears https://ift.tt/RFJ5sdk New Zealand lawmakers and other workers inside the nation's Parliament will be banned from having the TikTok app on their government phones, officials said Friday. (Image credit: Matt Slocum/AP)

'Resident Evil 4' Review: A bold reimagining that stands on its own merits

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'Resident Evil 4' Review: A bold reimagining that stands on its own merits https://ift.tt/xgG7HCb Capcom made a companion to a classic game rather than a faithful recreation. It's a risky choice, but a smart one. (Image credit: Capcom)

China’s Answer to ChatGPT Gets an Artificial Debut and Disappoints

China’s Answer to ChatGPT Gets an Artificial Debut and Disappoints https://ift.tt/yNbILSd The promised “live” demonstration of the bot had, in fact, been prerecorded. Shares of Baidu, the company behind the technology, tumbled in Hong Kong.

The U.K. is the latest to ban TikTok on government phones because of security concerns

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The U.K. is the latest to ban TikTok on government phones because of security concerns https://ift.tt/Gjs1nKp British authorities said they are banning the Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok from government mobile phones following similar moves by the U.S. and European Union. (Image credit: Matt Slocum/AP)

U.K. Bans TikTok on Government Devices

U.K. Bans TikTok on Government Devices https://ift.tt/yNbILSd The move reflects fears in Britain and elsewhere in the West that the popular app’s Chinese ownership could share user information with Beijing.

The Biden administration demands that TikTok be sold, or risk a nationwide ban

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The Biden administration demands that TikTok be sold, or risk a nationwide ban https://ift.tt/NbVBhOI TikTok officials say they are "disappointed in the outcome," but will remain focused on implementing a plan to keep the data of Americans safe. (Image credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Stripe Raises New Funding That Values It at $50 Billion

Stripe Raises New Funding That Values It at $50 Billion https://ift.tt/hkOEMYK The payments processing start-up was valued at $95 billion in 2021, but private company dealmaking has been hurt by souring global economic conditions.

T-Mobile buys Ryan Reynolds' Mint Mobile in a $1.35 billion deal

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T-Mobile buys Ryan Reynolds' Mint Mobile in a $1.35 billion deal https://ift.tt/YqMNytR T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert said the telecom giant would use its size and resources to "supercharge" Mint, which is best known for ads starring the actor who is part owner of the smaller company. (Image credit: Lisa O'Connor/AFP via Getty Images)