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Showing posts from July, 2024

OpenAI rolls out voice mode after delaying it for safety reasons

The ChatGPT maker says the new features are capable of sensing emotions. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/30/openai-voice-mode-launch-sky-scarlett-johansson/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Senate passes landmark bills to protect kids online, raising pressure on House

KOSA and COPPA 2.0. would extend privacy protections to most teenagers and require platforms to prevent bullying and sexual exploitation. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/30/seante-kosa-passes-kids-online-privacy/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Apple says Safari protects your privacy. We fact-checked those claims.

“If browser privacy were a sport at the Olympics, Apple isn’t getting on the medal stand,” one expert said. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/30/safari-best-browser-privacy/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Meta to pay record $1.4 billion to settle Texas facial recognition suit

Meta reached a $1.4 billion settlement over claims the company improperly collected millions of users’ biometric data. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/30/meta-texas-fine-facial-recognition/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Senate lawmakers turn to online content creators to push legislation

Democrats in the Senate are spearheading an effort to use online influencers to push policy initiatives. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/30/democratic-senators-influencers-laws-initiatives/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Trump vs. Harris is dividing Silicon Valley into feuding political camps

Democratic megadonors are backing Kamala Harris and countering tech industry support for Trump — a dispute that has birthed a vicious public battle.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/30/silicon-valley-donors-kamala-harris-trump-election/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Fake images are getting harder to spot. Here’s a field guide.

Here are a few things experts suggest you try the next time you come across an image that leaves you wondering. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/29/how-to-spot-fake-pictures-guide/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

How Elon Musk came to endorse Donald Trump

The world’s richest man favored Biden in 2020, but has since become a vocal Trump supporter. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/29/musk-trump-endorsement-immigration/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Inside the powerful Peter Thiel network that anointed JD Vance

JD Vance’s rise as a Silicon Valley investor shaped his ideas about tech, an industry that stands to gain if he wins the White House. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/28/jd-vance-peter-thiel-donors-big-tech-trump-vp/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Welcome to ‘Snark Tank,’ where Silicon Valley start-ups get roasted

Most young businesses fail. Tech founders get blunt feedback at a comedy show -- and laugh off the challenges standing in their way. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/28/silicon-valley-startup-roast/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

A priest sues Grindr after he was outed, his lawsuit says

Monsignor Jeffrey Burrill said in a lawsuit that Grindr released his data, leading him to lose his job and suffer “significant damage” to his reputation. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/07/27/priest-grindr-privacy-lawsuit/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

False rumors about Vance, Musk’s X show misinfo cuts both ways

Elon Musk has pulled back on policing falsehoods. That doesn’t only hurt liberals. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/26/jd-vance-couch-twitter-whitelist-fake/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Judge in Washington state dismisses safety violation allegations at Amazon

A Washington state judge decided in favor of Amazon in a major workplace safety case, a significant win for the e-commerce giant, which has grappled with allegations that it sets a grueling pace for warehouse workers, exposing them to injury and illness. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/25/amazon-workers-safety-washington-dismiss/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

‘Hug your IT folks’: The CrowdStrike outage turned technicians into heroes

When CrowdStrike took down millions of devices, IT workers became the thin line between corporate America and chaos. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/25/crowdstrike-microsoft-outage-it-technicians-bsod/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

OpenAI is testing web search features for ChatGPT, challenging Google

Tech experts have predicted that search could be upended by AI, but Google’s dominance remains largely untouched. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/25/openai-search-google-chatgpt/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

U.S. charges North Korean man with cyberattacks on NASA

Rim Jong Hyok is accused of using ransomware to attack computer systems at American hospitals, generating money to pay for hacking NASA and U.S. military bases. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/07/25/north-korea-hacking-indictment/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

What Musk’s Trump support means for X

Conservatives long accused Twitter of liberal bias. What happens now that its owner openly backs Trump? https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/07/17/musk-trump-endorsement-x-moderation-bias/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Right-wing influencers use Trump assassination attempt to attack DEI

Attacking diversity and inclusion efforts has become a popular way for conservatives to generate outrage online. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/16/trump-dei-female-secret-service-assassination-attempt/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Trump allies draft AI order to launch ‘Manhattan Projects’ for defense

The plan to roll back ‘burdensome regulations’ would favor Silicon Valley investors, who are now flocking to support the former president. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/16/trump-ai-executive-order-regulations-military/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Is it bad if your electronics feel hot?

How to tackle the (literally) hot tech that’s heating up your home and driving up your electric bill. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/16/electronics-hot-to-the-touch/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Should I buy this? A guide to sustainable online shopping

When deciding whether to make a purchase, ask yourself these questions to make your deliberations easier and help you become a sustainable fashionista. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/interactive/2024/should-i-buy-quiz-eco-friendly-online-shopping/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Elon Musk allies poured millions into pro-Trump super PAC

A new Austin-based Super Pac said to be raising money for Trump reported raising $8.5 million, much of it from tech titans. A source says Musk will also donate. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/15/musk-trump-super-pac/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

5 useful new iOS 18 features, from motion sickness fixes to satellite texting

Apple just released the public beta version of its iOS 18 software. Here’s what to try first. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/15/ios-18-features-public-beta-apple-iphone/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Amazon’s health clinic pushed a misleading account of call center errors

One Medical instructed staff to say that “patients received the care they needed” in incidents the company previously acknowledged included errors. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/15/amazon-one-medical-call-center-errors/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Musk, other pro-Trump billionaires have helped shape shooting narrative

The right-learning business community on Twitter, including Elon Musk and hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman, used their megaphones to endorse Trump and fuel storylines about Saturday’s attack. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/14/elon-musk-billionaires-trump-shooting-dei-antifa/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

‘BlueAnon’ conspiracy theories flood social media after Trump rally shooting

Researchers who track online conspiracies say liberals, too, are now vulnerable to -- and generating -- QAnon-like bursts of misinformation. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/14/blueanon-conspiracy-theories-trump-rally-shooting/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

OpenAI illegally barred staff from airing safety risks, whistleblowers say

OpenAI whistleblowers filed a complaint with the SEC where they allege the AI company is silencing employees from sharing concerns about its AI technology. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/13/openai-safety-risks-whistleblower-sec/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Meta rolls back restrictions on Trump’s social media accounts

“We believe that the American people should be able to hear from the nominees for President on the same basis,” Meta executive Nick Clegg said in a statement. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/12/meta-rolls-back-trump-restrictions/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Hackers stole almost everyone’s AT&T phone records. What should you do?

Hackers stole phone records from almost all AT&T wireless customers. What should you do if that includes you? https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/12/att-data-breach-hack-calls-texts-what-do/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket suffers engine failure during satellite launch

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk wrote on X that the engine on the mission with no astronauts failed “for reasons currently unknown. Team is reviewing data tonight to understand root cause.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/12/spacex-falcon-failure-satellites/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

OpenAI promised to make its AI safe. Employees say it ‘failed’ its first test.

Employees said OpenAI rushed the release of its latest AI model, called GPT-4 Omni. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/12/openai-ai-safety-regulation-gpt4/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Tesla sells ‘Self-Driving’ cars. Is it fraud?

A series of investigations focuses on whether Tesla committed fraud in its marketing of Autopilot and Full Self-Driving. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/11/elon-musk-tesla-full-self-driving/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

A grieving mom’s TikTok videos spark online speech battle

A Mississippi judge ordered Heather Wyatt to take down posts accusing schoolmates of bullying her daughter, Aubreigh, to death https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/10/aubreigh-wyatt-heather-wyatt-tiktok-bullying/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

NASA astronauts are confident Boeing’s Starliner will get them home

NASA and Boeing are continuing to conduct ground tests to see why five of the spacecraft’s thrusters stopped working during the approach to the space station. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/10/boeing-starliner-astronauts-space-station/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Influencer running for U.S. Senate challenges campaign finance rules

Senate candidate and online influencer Caroline Gleich asked the FEC to modernize campaign finance rules she says disadvantage people who make a living online. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/10/caroline-gleich-utah-influencer-fec/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Health tracking rings are getting more popular. Samsung wants in.

The Galaxy Ring tracks sleep quality, lasts nearly a week on a single charge, and controls your phone. Is that enough to take smart rings mainstream? https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/10/samsung-galaxy-ring-399-health-features/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

U.S. and allies take down Russian ‘bot farm’ powered by AI

The effort drove nearly a thousand covert accounts on X. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/09/us-russia-bot-farm-propaganda-ai/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The unspoken rules of sharing passwords with your partner

Whether to combine financial, social media and streaming accounts is a struggle in modern relationships. Here are some rules to live by. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/09/combine-accounts-finances-streaming-advice/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

How Kamala Harris’s awkward moments became internet gold

Clips of Kamala Harris in awkward or offbeat moments that were previously used to criticize her are being turned into social posts portraying her as relatable. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/09/kamala-harris-internet-social-memes/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

In a first, federal regulators ban messaging app from hosting minors

The groundbreaking FTC settlement stems from claims popular app NGL overhyped its anti-bullying efforts and engaged in aggressive marketing to kids and teens. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/09/ftc-bans-kids-ngl-messaging-app/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Should you quit your job? Take our quiz.

No job will make you happy all the time, but there are signs it could be time to seek new opportunities. Take our quiz to find out. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/interactive/2024/should-i-quit-my-job-quiz-reasons-leave/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Cyclists can’t decide whether to fear or love self-driving cars

Cyclists have a contentious and sometimes deadly relationship with human drivers. Now they are split about whether self-driving cars can make the roads safer. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/07/waymo-cruise-self-driving-cars-cyclist-safety/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Younger women are practicing radical pay transparency on TikTok

Young women are sharing payday routines, breaking down investments and opening up about budgeting. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/07/04/young-women-pay-transparency-tiktok/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

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://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/technology-emergency-kit-phone-disaster-flood/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

What would happen if Russia detonated a nuclear bomb in space?

A mysterious satellite known as Cosmos 2553 has raised concerns that Russia is conducting tests that could lead to a nuclear weapon in space. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/interactive/2024/nukes-space-explosion-nuclear-weapon-russia/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Need a new song of the summer? Creating songs with AI is uncomfortable fun

With apps like Suno, it’s never been easier to generate “new” music on the fly -- for better or worse. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/05/suno-ai-music-iphone-app/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Meta’s Threads is struggling to win over content creators

Social platforms need buy-in from content creators to draw big audiences, but Meta’s Threads is struggling to win them over. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/05/meta-threads-creators-one-year/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Biden’s gameplan against tech giants faces new legal dangers

President Biden’s tech enforcers are confronting new legal challenges after the Supreme Court overturned Chevron. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/05/chevron-decision-tech-regulation-biden/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Thinking of buying a new laptop? AI PCs are here.

The best things about a new wave of “AI PCs” may have nothing to do with AI. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/04/ai-laptop-review-copilot-plus-surface-pc/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Why work four days a week when you can work six? Greece gives it a shot.

New legislation for a longer workweek in Greece took effect in July as other countries pilot and adopt four-day workweeks. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/03/greece-six-day-workweek/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger