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Judge sides with Anthropic to temporarily block the Pentagon’s ban
After Anthropic's weeks-long standoff with the Pentagon, the company won one milestone: A judge granted Anthropic a preliminary injunction in its lawsuit, which sought to reverse its government blacklisting while the judicial process plays out. "The Department of War's records show that it designated Anthropic as a supply chain risk because of its 'hostile manner […]
Campaigners welcome Meta and YouTube's defeat in landmark social media addiction trial
A woman has been awarded $6m in a verdict that could have implications for hundreds of other cases in the US.
Judge rejects Pentagon's attempt to 'cripple' Anthropic
A federal judge told the government it could not immediately enforce a ban on Anthropic’s tools.
David Sacks is no longer the White House AI and Crypto Czar
David Sacks, the venture capitalist and tech billionaire who'd become Silicon Valley's primary advocate inside the White House and a key architect of its aggressive AI policy initiatives, revealed on Thursday that he was no longer a special government employee - and therefore no longer President Donald Trump's Special Advisor on AI and Crypto. Sacks' […]
Brendan Carr says his broadcast license threat wasn’t really about Iran war coverage
Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr never meant to threaten broadcast licenses over their coverage of the war in Iran, he told reporters after an event hosted by FGS and Semafor. "My comments weren't actually on the Iran war," Carr said in response to a question from The Verge about his statement regarding coverage of […]
Google is making it easier to import another AI’s memory into Gemini
After Anthropic updated its tool for copying another AI's memory into Claude earlier this month, Google Gemini is rolling out new "Import Memory" and "Import Chat History" features on desktop that can help users quickly copy over everything their current AI already knows about them. To use the "Import Memory" tool, users copy and paste […]
Apple’s Mac Pro is dead, apparently for good this time
The most expensive Mac you could get is no longer available on Apple's website, as 9to5Mac reports that the "cheese grater" Mac Pro workstation has been discontinued. It had been a part of the lineup since replacing the Power Mac G5 in 2006 when Apple shifted from Arm to Intel processors, but it's had the […]
Robot vacuums from Eufy and Roborock are over 50 percent for Amazon’s spring sale
A good robovac can save you a surprising amount of time. Luckily, Amazon’s Big Spring Sale is a great time to pick one up, as you can currently find deals on everything from basic, budget-friendly robovacs to high-end models that can mop or pick up objects. Whether you’re looking for a completely hands-free experience or […]
Apple will reportedly allow other AI chatbots to plug into Siri
Apple's iOS 27 update will allow users to choose the AI chatbot they want to link with Siri. That's according to a report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who says third-party chatbots downloaded from the App Store, like Google's Gemini or Anthropic's Claude, will be able to fetch replies for Siri - similar to how the […]
Anker’s wireless charging pad offers Qi2 speeds for $15
I’ve probably saved minutes of my life by using a wireless charging puck. Minutes! More valuable than that, I’ve saved myself from bending over numerous times to pick up my USB-C cable that somehow always ends up on the floor. Those with magnet-equipped phones (like the iPhone 12 or newer, or a Google Pixel 10 […]
Apple’s AI Playlist Playground is bad at music
Apple Music: "What do you want to hear?" Me: "Atmospheric instrumental black metal to write to." Apple Music: "Here's three metal songs with vocals, a field recording, an ambient electronic track, and a piece of doom jazz." I am skeptical of AI's ability to serve up the music I want to begin with, but even […]
Streaming keeps getting more expensive: all the latest price hikes
Death. Taxes. All your streaming services getting a little more expensive all the time. These are the new certainties in life, it seems. Netflix has raised the cost of its subscription repeatedly in recent years. Disney Plus, Prime Video, HBO Max, Paramount Plus, Peacock — practically any service you can name — charges more per […]
Elon Musk's X advertising boycott lawsuit dismissed by US judge
US District Judge Jane Boyle said the company had failed to show it had suffered any harm under federal competition laws.
Brussels opens investigation into Snapchat amid concern over children’s safety
European Commission says social messaging app is exposing children to grooming and sexual exploitationBrussels has opened an investigation into Snapchat over concerns the social messaging app is exposing children to grooming, sexual exploitation and other criminality.In a separate decision on Thursday, the European Commission also said four pornographic websites were failing to prevent minors seeing adult content, harming young people’s mental health and fuelling negative gender attitudes. Continue reading...
Creator of AI actor Tilly Norwood says she received death threats over project
Eline van der Velden says she developed her ‘digital twin’ to provoke discussion but backlash from some has been worse than expectedThe creator of the AI actor Tilly Norwood has said she received death threats after a global backlash against the project, and said she developed it to “provoke thoughts and discussion” about the impact of AI in the entertainment world.Eline van der Velden caused anger and panic in Hollywood and beyond last year after she said talent agents had been interested in signing her creation. Prominent actors and acting unions immediately condemned the idea. Continue reading...
Marriage over, €100,000 down the drain: the AI users whose lives were wrecked by delusion
One minute, Dennis Biesma was playing with a chatbot; the next, he was convinced his sentient friend would make him a fortune. He’s just one of many people who lost control after an AI encounterTowards the end of 2024, Dennis Biesma decided to check out ChatGPT. The Amsterdam-based IT consultant had just ended a contract early. “I had some time, so I thought: let’s have a look at this new technology everyone is talking about,” he says. “Very quickly, I became fascinated.”Biesma has asked himself why he was vulnerable to what came next. He was nearing 50. His adult daughter had left home, his wife went out to work and, in his field, the shift since Covid to working from home had left him feeling “a little isolated”. He smoked a bit of cannabis some evenings to “chill”, but had done so for years with no ill effects. He had never experienced a mental illness. Yet within months of downloading ChatGPT, Biesma had sunk €100,000 (about £83,000) into a business startup based on a delusion, been hospitalised three times and tried to kill himself. Continue reading...
'A game-changing moment for social media' - what next for big tech after landmark addiction verdict?
The ruling could be the beginning of the end of social media as we know it, writes the BBC's technology editor Zoe Kleinman.
Charity Commission warns Alan Turing Institute of its legal duties after complaints
Exclusive: Watchdog issues formal guidance to trustees at top AI research institute after staff expressed concernsThe board of the UK’s leading AI research institute has been reminded of its legal duties in areas such as financial oversight and managing organisational change by the charity watchdog after a whistleblower complaint.The Charity Commission issued formal regulatory advice and guidance to trustees at the Alan Turing Institute (ATI), the organisation’s board, after it was contacted by a group of staff with a list of concerns. Continue reading...
Former Google executive Matt Brittin selected to be next BBC director general
Former Olympic rower to lead corporation as it hammers out future funding model with governmentThe BBC has turned to a former tech executive to steer it through a critical period in its history, as it attempts to navigate government talks over its future and huge changes in media consumption.Matt Brittin, who stepped down as Google’s president in Europe, the Middle East and Africa last year, will replace Tim Davie as the corporation hammers out its crucial future funding model with the government. Continue reading...
Rocket stocks soar on report Musk's SpaceX to file for share sale
Reports it plans the biggest listing ever sent the shares of firms in its orbit soaring in US trade on Wednesday.
Parents should monitor children '24/7' on Roblox, says developer
Roblox said safety was a top priority and it had advanced safeguards in place to keep users safe.
Meta and YouTube designed addictive products that harmed young people, jury finds
Jury in Los Angeles awards plaintiff damages of $6m, with Meta to pay 70% and YouTube the remainderSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxMeta and YouTube have been found liable for deliberately designing addictive products that hooked a young user and led to her being harmed, a jury ruled on Wednesday. Jurors found the tech companies to be both negligent and having failed to provide adequate warnings about the potential dangers of their products.The jury awarded the plaintiff in the case damages of $6m, with Meta to pay 70% and YouTube the remainder. It took nearly nine days of deliberations for the Los Angeles jury to reach its verdict. This lawsuit, over social media’s alleged harm to young people, was the first of its kind to go to trial. Continue reading...
Apple brings in age checks for UK iPhone users
Customers who do not confirm how old they are or are underage will have web content filters turned on automatically.