WEATHER ALERT
In 2024, artificial intelligence was all about putting AI tools to work
Read full article: In 2024, artificial intelligence was all about putting AI tools to workJust over two years after the debut of ChatGPT, the world is getting a little savvier about what artificial intelligence technology can do for us and what it’s not so great at.
Trump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban so he can weigh in after he takes office
Read full article: Trump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban so he can weigh in after he takes officePresident-elect Donald Trump has asked the Supreme Court to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue.
New York state government to monitor its use of AI under a new law
Read full article: New York state government to monitor its use of AI under a new lawNew York state government agencies will have to conduct reviews and publish reports that detail how they’re using artificial intelligence software, under a new law signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul.
An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalition
Read full article: An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalitionAn online spat between factions of Donald Trump’s supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in the president-elect’s political movement into public display.
A 9th telecoms firm has been hit by a massive Chinese espionage campaign, the White House says
Read full article: A 9th telecoms firm has been hit by a massive Chinese espionage campaign, the White House saysA top White House official says a ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans.
Mexico tests cellphone app allowing migrants to send alert if they are about to be detained in US
Read full article: Mexico tests cellphone app allowing migrants to send alert if they are about to be detained in USMexico is developing a cellphone app that will allow migrants to warn relatives and consulates if they think they are about to be detained by U.S. immigration officials.
Undersea power cable linking Finland and Estonia hit by outage, prompting investigation
Read full article: Undersea power cable linking Finland and Estonia hit by outage, prompting investigationFinland’s prime minister says authorities are investigating an interruption in a power cable under the Baltic Sea between his country and Estonia.
Snowy owl rescued from car grille by Minnesota woman who saved another bird hours earlier
Read full article: Snowy owl rescued from car grille by Minnesota woman who saved another bird hours earlierA great gray owl and a snowy owl are being treated by experts after being rescued by a northern Minnesota woman.
Baby mammoth preserved for 50,000 years is unveiled in Russia's Siberia
Read full article: Baby mammoth preserved for 50,000 years is unveiled in Russia's SiberiaThe 50,000-year-old remains of a baby mammoth uncovered by melting permafrost have been unveiled to the public by researchers in Russia’s Siberia region.
AI will eavesdrop on world's wildest places to track and help protect endangered wildlife
Read full article: AI will eavesdrop on world's wildest places to track and help protect endangered wildlifeA biologist hid 350 audio monitors across Costa Rica’s tropical rainforests to spy on endangered spider monkeys in order to help protect them.
The internet is rife with fake reviews. Will AI make it worse?
Read full article: The internet is rife with fake reviews. Will AI make it worse?Researchers and watchdog groups say the emergence of generative artificial intelligence tools that allow people to efficiently produce detailed and novel online reviews has put merchants, service providers and consumers in uncharted territory.
Nissan and Honda to attempt a merger that would create the world's No. 3 automaker
Read full article: Nissan and Honda to attempt a merger that would create the world's No. 3 automakerJapanese automakers Nissan and Honda have announced plans to work toward a merger that would catapult them to a top position in an industry in the midst of tectonic shifts as it transitions away from its reliance on fossil fuels.
Albanian prime minister says TikTok ban was not a 'rushed reaction to a single incident'
Read full article: Albanian prime minister says TikTok ban was not a 'rushed reaction to a single incident'Albania’s prime minister says the ban on TikTok his government announced was “not a rushed reaction to a single incident.”.
Bluesky finds with growth comes growing pains — and bots
Read full article: Bluesky finds with growth comes growing pains — and botsBluesky has seen its user base soar since the U.S. presidential election, boosted by people seeking refuge from Elon Musk’s X, or wanting an alternative to Meta’s Threads and its algorithms.
Amazon and Starbucks workers are on strike. Trump might have something to do with it
Read full article: Amazon and Starbucks workers are on strike. Trump might have something to do with itAmazon delivery drivers and Starbucks baristas are on strike in a handful of U.S. cities as they seek to exert pressure on the two major companies to recognize them as unionized employees or to meet demands for an inaugural labor contract.
Ex-OpenAI engineer who raised legal concerns about the technology he helped build has died
Read full article: Ex-OpenAI engineer who raised legal concerns about the technology he helped build has diedSuchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials.
Albania to close TikTok for a year blaming it for promoting violence among children
Read full article: Albania to close TikTok for a year blaming it for promoting violence among childrenAlbania’s prime minister says the government will shut down video service TikTok for one year, blaming it for inciting violence and bullying, especially among children.
Amazon workers are striking at multiple facilities. Here's what you should know
Read full article: Amazon workers are striking at multiple facilities. Here's what you should knowAmazon workers affiliated with the Teamsters union are on strike for a second day at seven of the company’s delivery hubs just days before Christmas.
Giant sloths and mastodons lived with humans for millennia in the Americas, new discoveries suggest
Read full article: Giant sloths and mastodons lived with humans for millennia in the Americas, new discoveries suggestNew discoveries from several archaeological sites in North and South America suggest that ancient people first arrived in the New World much earlier than scientists once thought.
Australian who falsely claimed to have invented bitcoin is found in contempt of UK court
Read full article: Australian who falsely claimed to have invented bitcoin is found in contempt of UK courtAn Australian computer scientist who falsely claimed to be the founder of the bitcoin cryptocurrency has been found to have committed contempt of court by breaching an order of London’s High Court.
Elon Musk considers funding Nigel Farage's populist party, a move that could shake up UK politics
Read full article: Elon Musk considers funding Nigel Farage's populist party, a move that could shake up UK politicsBritish politician Nigel Farage says talks are underway about Elon Musk making a hefty donation to Farage’s party Reform U.K. The Times of London reported it could be as much as $100 million, which would be the largest political donation in U.K. history.
Apple complains Meta requests risk privacy in spat over EU efforts to widen access to iPhone tech
Read full article: Apple complains Meta requests risk privacy in spat over EU efforts to widen access to iPhone techApple complained that requests from Meta Platforms requests for access to its operating software threaten user privacy, in a spat fueled by the European Union’s intensifying efforts to get the iPhone maker to open up to products from tech rivals.
Ireland embraced data centers that the AI boom needs. Now they're consuming too much of its energy
Read full article: Ireland embraced data centers that the AI boom needs. Now they're consuming too much of its energyDozens of massive data centers are consuming more electricity than all of the urban homes in Ireland and starting to wear out the warm welcome that brought them here.
Blinken announces aid for Sudan and talks about AI risks at UN Security Council
Read full article: Blinken announces aid for Sudan and talks about AI risks at UN Security CouncilSecretary of State Antony Blinken has announced $200 million in humanitarian aid for conflict-torn Sudan during his likely final trip to the United Nations while in office.
Biden, on his way out, sets 'ambitious' climate goal: Cut US greenhouse gas emissions by over 60%
Read full article: Biden, on his way out, sets 'ambitious' climate goal: Cut US greenhouse gas emissions by over 60%President Joe Biden is pledging to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by more than 60% by 2035.
The US egg industry kills 350 million chicks a year. New technology offers an alternative
Read full article: The US egg industry kills 350 million chicks a year. New technology offers an alternativeEvery year the U.S. egg industry kills about 350 million male chicks because they will never lay eggs and so have little monetary value.
Data on animal movements help Hungarian researchers create a swarm of autonomous drones
Read full article: Data on animal movements help Hungarian researchers create a swarm of autonomous dronesThe scientists at Hungary’s Eötvos Loránd University have been studying group robotics since 2009, and earlier succeeded in creating the world’s first flock of synchronized drones.
US effort to curb China's and Russia's access to advanced computer chips 'inadequate,' report finds
Read full article: US effort to curb China's and Russia's access to advanced computer chips 'inadequate,' report findsThe U.S. Commerce Department’s efforts to curb China’s and Russia’s access to American-made advanced computer chips have been “inadequate” and will need more funding to stymie their ability to manufacture advanced weapons.
New York man finds mastodon jaw while gardening in his backyard
Read full article: New York man finds mastodon jaw while gardening in his backyardScholars are hailing the discovery of a fossilized mastodon jaw discovered by a man who spotted two giant teeth while gardening at his upstate New York home this year.
Endangered whales found entangled in rope off Massachusetts, and 1 is likely to die
Read full article: Endangered whales found entangled in rope off Massachusetts, and 1 is likely to dieThe federal government says that two endangered whales have been spotted entangled in fishing gear off Massachusetts and that one is likely to die from its injuries.
Barcelona subway recycles energy from braking into power to charge electric cars
Read full article: Barcelona subway recycles energy from braking into power to charge electric carsBarcelona's subway system is using regenerative braking to help power both its convoys but also recharge electric cars at street level.
Musk and Trump are viewed roughly the same by Americans, an AP-NORC poll finds
Read full article: Musk and Trump are viewed roughly the same by Americans, an AP-NORC poll findsElon Musk’s attachment to President-elect Donald Trump has created an unprecedented alliance between America’s most powerful politician and its richest businessman.
What a merger between Nissan and Honda could mean for the automakers and the industry
Read full article: What a merger between Nissan and Honda could mean for the automakers and the industryJapanese automakers Nissan Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. have confirmed that they are discussing closer collaboration but denied reports they have decided on a merger.
Japanese space startup aborts 2nd satellite launch attempt minutes after liftoff
Read full article: Japanese space startup aborts 2nd satellite launch attempt minutes after liftoffA Japanese space startup says its second attempt to launch a rocket carrying satellites into orbit had been aborted minutes after liftoff.
A new neutrino detector in China aims to spot mysterious ghost particles lurking around us
Read full article: A new neutrino detector in China aims to spot mysterious ghost particles lurking around usScientists in China have almost finished building a massive underground detector to sniff out mysterious particles called neutrinos.
What does Big Tech hope to gain from warming up to Trump?
Read full article: What does Big Tech hope to gain from warming up to Trump?In a string of visits, dinners, calls, monetary pledges and social media overtures, big tech chiefs have joined a parade of business and world leaders in trying to improve their standing with President-elect Donald Trump before he takes office in January.
Tech consultant found guilty of second-degree murder in stabbing death of Cash App founder Bob Lee
Read full article: Tech consultant found guilty of second-degree murder in stabbing death of Cash App founder Bob LeeA San Francisco jury has found a tech consultant is guilty of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of Cash App founder Bob Lee.
Two stars may be orbiting each other near a supermassive black hole in our Milky Way galaxy
Read full article: Two stars may be orbiting each other near a supermassive black hole in our Milky Way galaxyScientists have spotted what appear to be two stars whipping around each other near the supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy.
EU investigates TikTok over Romanian presidential election safeguards
Read full article: EU investigates TikTok over Romanian presidential election safeguardsEuropean Union regulators are investigating whether TikTok breached the bloc’s digital rulebook by failing to deal with risks to Romania’s presidential election.
Why is tech giant SoftBank investing over $100 billion in the US?
Read full article: Why is tech giant SoftBank investing over $100 billion in the US?Japanese tycoon Masayoshi Son has joined President-elect Donald Trump in announcing plans by technology and telecoms giant SoftBank Group to invest $100 billion in projects in the United States.
Corps of Engineers will look to save 150-year-old lighthouse from crumbling into the Hudson River
Read full article: Corps of Engineers will look to save 150-year-old lighthouse from crumbling into the Hudson RiverEfforts to save an imperiled 150-year-old lighthouse in New York are getting a boost with federal officials announcing new funding to study ways to protect the structure.
TikTok asks the Supreme Court for an emergency order to block a US ban unless it's sold
Read full article: TikTok asks the Supreme Court for an emergency order to block a US ban unless it's soldTikTok is asking the Supreme Court to step in on an emergency basis to block the federal law that would ban the popular platform in the United States unless its China-based parent company agrees to sell it.
Insider Q&A: High hopes for Australia social media ban and channeling parental 'fury' over tech
Read full article: Insider Q&A: High hopes for Australia social media ban and channeling parental 'fury' over techJulie Scelfo started MAMA — Mothers Against Media Addiction — earlier this year to help parents fight back against the harms of social media on children.
Senate report alleges Amazon rejected warehouse safety recommendations due to productivity concerns
Read full article: Senate report alleges Amazon rejected warehouse safety recommendations due to productivity concernsA U.S. Senate committee says at least two internal Amazon studies have found a relationship between worker speed and injuries in the online retailer's warehouses.
How old are Saturn's rings? Study suggests they could be 4.5 billion years old just like the planet
Read full article: How old are Saturn's rings? Study suggests they could be 4.5 billion years old just like the planetNew research suggests that Saturn's rings may be older than they look — possibly as old as the planet.
Schools are cutting bus service for children. Parents are turning to ride-hailing apps
Read full article: Schools are cutting bus service for children. Parents are turning to ride-hailing appsReliance on school buses has been waning for years as districts struggle to find drivers and more students attend schools far outside their neighborhoods.
US agencies should use advanced technology to identify mysterious drones, Schumer says
Read full article: US agencies should use advanced technology to identify mysterious drones, Schumer saysU.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer is urging the federal government to deploy advanced drone-tracking technology following weeks of reported drone sightings in parts of New York and New Jersey that have stirred fear and bewilderment.
Trump hosts Apple CEO at Mar-a-Lago as big tech leaders continue outreach to president-elect
Read full article: Trump hosts Apple CEO at Mar-a-Lago as big tech leaders continue outreach to president-electDonald Trump is hosting Apple CEO Tim Cook for a Friday evening dinner at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago resort.
Court denies TikTok's request to halt enforcement of potential US ban until Supreme Court review
Read full article: Court denies TikTok's request to halt enforcement of potential US ban until Supreme Court reviewA federal appeals court has left in place a mid-January deadline in a federal law requiring TikTok to be sold or face a ban in the United States.