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Showing posts from July, 2023

Twitter, now X, sues group that researched hate speech on platform

Elon Musk's X alleged the Center for Countering Digital Hate violated its terms of service in a bid to scare away advertisers and harm the company financially. https://wapo.st/47a6eEn

California privacy regulator’s first case: Probing connected cars

Data collection in cars has surged in recent years, especially in cars that encourage users to plug in their phones to play music, get spoken directions and make hands-free calls. https://wapo.st/3YiIfPq

‘SHUT IT OFF!!' Disruptive new 'X’ logo removed in San Francisco

Twitter HQ's X sign is being taken down in San Francisco after complaints https://wapo.st/3OCO5aW

Online book clubs are exploding. Let’s find the right one for you.

From Goodreads to TikTok, online communities of readers make joining a book club — on the internet or in person — easier than ever. https://wapo.st/43IUbel

Move fast and beat Musk: The inside story of how Meta built Threads

As Elon Musk's Twitter stumbled, Mark Zuckerberg pushed for a new app to rival it. The result, Threads, has reinvigorated the struggling social media giant. https://wapo.st/44JzIr9

Renting an EV can be cheap yet inconvenient. Here’s how to rent smart.

Electric vehicles are fun to drive and easy on the environment — just make sure build extra time into your itinerary before you hit the road. https://wapo.st/43LQdkY

Top résumé tips to stand out in automated screenings and with recruiters

Job recruiters share advice to help applicants increase the chance of landing the job, even as more tech is used in the process. https://wapo.st/3OImdm1

San Francisco once courted Twitter. Now it’s a headache.

Twitter has always had a fraught relationship with its hometown, but Elon Musk's ownership has ushered in a new era of chaos for San Francisco. https://wapo.st/3rPY9Vi

Parents are using AirTags to track kids too young for a phone

Despite Apple's warnings, parents and caregivers are using AirTag trackers to keep tabs on their kids. Is it helicopter parenting or a new way to let go? https://wapo.st/3rD7yz8

AI leaders warn Congress that AI could be used to create bioweapons

Two AI researchers and the CEO of AI startup Anthropic testified about the long-term risks of AI and said Congress needs to institute rules to control it. https://wapo.st/46ZEJNP

NASA funds moon projects to help missions to ‘live off the land’

The space agency awarded contracts to develop technologies that would build habitats and power sources on the lunar surface as part of its Artemis program. https://wapo.st/452t0Mm

Tired of proving you’re not a robot? Say goodbye to Captcha boxes.

Tired of diabolical puzzles to prove you're a human? Technology may finally kill the hated Captcha. https://wapo.st/451QuRI

Twitter is turning into X. Analysts don’t see the treasure map.

In changing Twitter’s blue logo, owner Elon Musk is trading a bird in the hand for the promise of a wide-ranging “everything app" analysts say may never materialize https://wapo.st/44VYwf9

Before X, Twitter got its name from a dictionary

Elon Musk's Twitter is now X, as the social media platform changes its branding. But Twitter got its name using some decidedly old-school tools. https://wapo.st/3pVxiqf

Twitter will lose bird logo in latest brand overhaul, Elon Musk says

Elon Musk suggested replacing Twitter’s blue bird with an ‘X’ and changing its default color to black or white. https://wapo.st/44Cccw2

The creator economy was already exploding. Then Hollywood went on strike.

The last big strikes reshaped the movie business and fueled the rise of reality TV. The latest walkout likely will help turn established actors into TikTok stars — and vice versa. https://wapo.st/3rKpMyF

Hong Kong court to rule if Google, Meta must censor unofficial anthem

If a judge grants the government's request, global tech companies will have to ensure they do not distribute "Glory to Hong Kong" — or risk punishment. https://wapo.st/3O2n67g

Google it? People now are searching with TikTok or Reddit.

Users bemoan Google's declining utility in viral tweets and TikToks and trade information on more reliable methods of hunting down info. https://wapo.st/43PHjDj

Calling all nostalgic millennials: Neopets is reviving fantastical pet game

Neopets, which came out in 1999, is relaunching. Its new owners hope $4 million of investment and a new "World of Neopets" game will return it to its "glory days." https://wapo.st/3XWzhad

The best tech to have in a natural disaster

Your smartphone can be a lifesaver in an emergency situation like a heat wave or wildfire. Here is the tech you need to stay connected in a disaster. https://wapo.st/3K5AIxd

Harry Frankfurt, philosopher of excrement-level falsehoods, dies at 94

Dr. Frankfurt’s bestselling book, with a title referencing a form of deceit that employs a word bleeped out during his many TV interviews, earned him literary fame. https://wapo.st/46SFVlT

Facebook will make its latest AI model free to use

The social media giant is doubling down on its open source approach on Llama, in contrast to Google, Microsoft and OpenAI. https://wapo.st/44tb5i1

U.S. blacklists spyware companies, citing security threats

Intellexa and Cytrox were added to a federal “entity list” that prohibits American companies from engaging in certain trade activities with them. https://wapo.st/3rxRVsP

Threads follows Twitter in limiting number of posts that users can see

Threads had a wildly successful launch amid a backlash against Twitter over limits on how many posts could be viewed. Now Threads is doing the same thing. https://wapo.st/3Oibxdf

Ford slashes electric F-150 price as Tesla Cybertruck enters production

Industry analysts describe it as an aggressive attempt to gain market share from rivals Tesla and Rivian. https://wapo.st/3Q2Bmj4

Smoking weed after work? A growing number of employers don’t mind.

As more states legalize marijuana, employers are opting out of testing for the substance — either by choice or as required by law. https://wapo.st/3OfgpQA

AI learned from their work. Now they want compensation.

Authors, artists and publishers are suing tech companies that used copyrighted works to train their artificial intelligence programs. https://wapo.st/44Ps6TB

TikTok’s latest aging effect reveals America’s obsession with youth

The release of TikTok's latest aging affect has sparked a debate about whether Americans think its okay to appear old https://wapo.st/44LRysV

Is the FTC harassing Elon Musk? Jim Jordan takes on Lina Khan

Committee chair Jim Jordan wanted to make the hearing with Lina Khan about FTC treatment of Elon Musk and Twitter. Other members weren't going along. https://wapo.st/3DbyIQm

China announces rules to keep AI bound by ‘core socialist values’

The “Interim Measures for the Management of Generative Artificial Intelligence Services” will encourage growth of the AI industry while retaining total control over information. https://wapo.st/44C5WnE

How to make Threads work more like a good version of Twitter

Tips and tricks to help you navigate Meta's new social network, Threads. https://wapo.st/3NQ05UP

Printer ink is a scam. Here’s how to spend less.

Americans waste $10 billion each year on name-brand ink. So we tested low-cost options including remanufactured cartridges, ink injection kits — and even making our own. https://wapo.st/46KCWfi

Group forms to pressure 2024 candidates to turn down Big Tech money

The organizers hope to persuade candidates not to take money from Big Tech companies for their 2024 campaigns. https://wapo.st/3JRB0rm

Employees want ChatGPT at work. Bosses worry they’ll spill secrets.

Companies know the AI tool could be a game-changer, but fears about security and privacy are holding them back. https://wapo.st/43jHnL2

Your printing service might read your documents. Here’s what to know.

Some printers and printing services are snooping on your documents. Here's a quick guide to printer privacy for people in a rush. https://wapo.st/3XHZysO

Tech firms hope sweaty workouts can sell women on VR headsets

Makers of virtual reality headsets move away from gaming in a bid to broaden their customer base. https://wapo.st/3NHVXpT

How an AI-written Star Wars story created chaos at Gizmodo

A Gizmodo story on Star Wars, generated by artificial intelligence, was riddled with errors. The irony that the problem happened at a tech publication was undeniable. https://wapo.st/3XQau7F

ChatGPT loses users for first time, shaking faith in AI revolution

OpenAI's chatbot has been heralded as spurring a revolution in the tech world. But its spectacular growth has suddenly slowed down. https://wapo.st/44gOFR3

Life after Twitter? Here are alternatives for anyone looking to leave.

The best alternatives to Twitter for people who don't want to stay on the Elon Musk-owned site. https://wapo.st/3D2rON9

In Big Tech layoffs, cooks and janitors are hit hardest

Amid a wave of tech company layoffs, contract workers such as on-site cooks and janitors receive the lowest severance packages. https://wapo.st/3pCdtE1

How elite schools like Stanford became fixated on the AI apocalypse

Student-led groups focused on AI Safety have popped up at Stanford University and other schools, backed by billionaires fixated on the AI apocalypse https://wapo.st/3JFExJt

Judge blocks U.S. officials from tech contacts in First Amendment case

The Trump-appointed judge’s move could upend years of efforts to enhance coordination between the government and social media companies. https://wapo.st/44AdVSd

A viral left-wing Twitter account may have been fake all along

For months, the Erica Marsh account had raised suspicions among online misinformation experts due to her lack of a real-world footprint and her devotion to attention-grabbing viewpoints one called “cartoonishly liberal.” https://wapo.st/3CWKv4X

Truth Social’s merger partner offers $18 million in settlement to SEC

The settlement, which is subject to approval by the SEC, could help unlock hundreds of millions of dollars for Trump’s media company. https://wapo.st/3JHo4V4

Meeting friends online is normal. Here’s how to do it.

Post-pandemic loneliness is driving young adults to turn to the internet to find real-life friends, rather than to rely on circumstance. https://wapo.st/3CX5e8B

Uniforms? Check. Motto? Check. Now the Space Force needs an identity.

Three years after it was established as the sixth branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, the U.S. Space Force is working to define its mission. https://wapo.st/3Nt0SuE

San Francisco may soon get 24/7 driverless cabs. City leaders are fuming.

San Franciscans may soon be able to hail a fully-autonomous robo-taxi. City officials aren't happy about that. https://wapo.st/3Ns3vgg

More Americans are retiring than ever before. See what that means for you.

As boomers age, the workforce will be older than ever. As they retire, the worker-to-retiree ratio will drop to lower than ever. Here's what that means for you. https://wapo.st/3XCr5f1