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Love factually: Dating start-ups promise to cut the cheats

Love factually: Dating start-ups promise to cut the cheats

May 21, 2026 • BBC Tech

Summary

New dating sites are using careful checks and technology to reduce fake profiles and scams. They aim to help people find genuine matches by encouraging real-life meetings and verifying identities with ID documents and photos.

Key Facts

  • Dennie Smith started Geek Meet Club to connect people with shared interests and remove fake profiles by personally checking each applicant.
  • Geek Meet Club organizes offline events like quizzes and costume gatherings to promote meeting in person.
  • Jo Mason created Cherry Dating, which uses software to match selfies with ID cards to verify users’ identities.
  • Cherry Dating also scores users on compatibility to help them find better matches.
  • Nearly half of British people surveyed feel current dating apps don’t meet their needs.
  • Over half of UK dating app users admitted to using AI to enhance their profile pictures.
  • Catfishing, where people use fake photos or information, remains a common problem on dating apps.
  • The new sites want people to meet quickly in person to avoid deception.
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BBC Tech BBC Business
Paley Museum Celebrates 45 Years Of Pac-Man With Limited-Time Exhibit

Paley Museum Celebrates 45 Years Of Pac-Man With Limited-Time Exhibit

May 21, 2026 • Newsweek

Summary

The Paley Center for Media in New York City is hosting a special exhibit celebrating 45 years of the video game Pac-Man. The exhibit features playable games, collectibles, and a timeline of Pac-Man's history, and will run until June 7, 2026.

Key Facts

  • Pac-Man was originally released as an arcade game in 1981 and quickly became very popular.
  • The character was inspired by a pizza with one slice missing.
  • The exhibit includes arcade cabinets, console games, classic cartoons, and Pac-Man merchandise.
  • It runs through June 7, 2026, at the Paley Center for Media in New York City.
  • A new animated series called "Pac-Man: Snack Breaks" started on May 22 on the Pac-Man YouTube channel, with monthly new episodes.
  • Pac-Man has appeared in many game styles, including 3D platformers, party games, and action games.
  • The character is also featured in the popular fighting game series "Super Smash Brothers."
  • Pac-Man remains a widely recognized and influential video game brand after 45 years.
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Newsweek
UK police bosses urge unsafe platforms to be blocked for under-16s

UK police bosses urge unsafe platforms to be blocked for under-16s

May 21, 2026 • BBC Tech

Summary

UK police leaders have asked the government to block children under 16 from accessing social media, AI, and gaming apps that have dangerous features like private messaging and exposure to harmful content. They want stricter rules to protect children online and say tech companies must do more to keep young users safe.

Key Facts

  • UK police chiefs want apps with risky features banned for children under 16.
  • High-risk features include private messaging with strangers, sharing nude photos, and harmful content recommendations.
  • The National Crime Agency (NCA) and National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) say the online world isn’t safe for children now.
  • The government is considering age limits, app curfews, or bans for under-16 users.
  • The NCA reported 92,000 cases of potential child sexual abuse online in 2025, which is increasing.
  • Police want stronger laws to stop children from easily accessing adult content and to enforce minimum age rules.
  • Tech companies like Instagram and Apple are working on tools to prevent children from seeing or sharing nude images.
  • The Online Safety Act already targets many harmful features, and regulator Ofcom can fine companies that break rules.
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BBC Tech BBC Business BBC Top Stories
IoT gadget maker AcuRite shares reasoning for killing customers’ favorite app

IoT gadget maker AcuRite shares reasoning for killing customers’ favorite app

May 21, 2026 • Ars Technica

Summary

AcuRite will stop supporting its old My AcuRite app on May 30 because the technology behind it is outdated. Customers must switch to the new AcuRite NOW app, which offers a modern platform but currently lacks some features of the old app.

Key Facts

  • The My AcuRite app, used since 2016, will no longer work after May 30.
  • AcuRite NOW, launched in June 2025, is the new app for controlling AcuRite devices.
  • The new app runs on a modern cloud platform that allows better updates and smart home integration.
  • Some features from the old app, like renaming multiple sensors and detailed temperature reports, are missing but may return later.
  • AcuRite NOW charges a subscription fee to share data with the Weather Underground service, unlike the old app that was free.
  • The old app’s technology is hard to maintain because of changing phones, operating systems, and services.
  • The web dashboard for device management tied to the old system was removed and a new one for AcuRite NOW is planned.
  • AcuRite aims to keep existing weather stations compatible with the new app despite initial customer frustration.
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Ars Technica
Moderna mRNA flu vaccine to get FDA panel review

Moderna mRNA flu vaccine to get FDA panel review

May 21, 2026 • The Hill

Summary

An FDA advisory panel will review Moderna’s experimental mRNA flu vaccine called MFLUSIVA on June 18. The panel will discuss the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness before making recommendations.

Key Facts

  • Moderna developed an mRNA flu vaccine called MFLUSIVA.
  • The vaccine is still experimental, meaning it is not yet approved for general use.
  • The FDA has scheduled an advisory panel meeting on June 18 to review this vaccine.
  • The panel will assess the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness data.
  • This review is part of the FDA’s process to decide if the vaccine should be approved.
  • The decision comes after changes in FDA leadership aimed at stabilizing the agency’s review methods.
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The Hill
As Grok flounders, SpaceX bets future on beating Big Tech at AI

As Grok flounders, SpaceX bets future on beating Big Tech at AI

May 21, 2026 • Ars Technica

Summary

SpaceX is focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) as its main future business, aiming at a very large market opportunity. The company owns the AI division SpaceXAI, which runs the Grok chatbot, but Grok has so far had limited success compared to rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic.

Key Facts

  • SpaceX sees AI as its biggest growth area, estimating a potential market worth $26.5 trillion, close to the size of the US economy.
  • SpaceX acquired the AI startup xAI earlier in 2026; Grok chatbot is developed by SpaceXAI, the division created from that acquisition.
  • Grok chatbot has low user adoption, with only 0.174% of surveyed US users paying for it in early 2026; OpenAI’s ChatGPT had over 6%.
  • Corporate use of competing AI tools Claude (Anthropic) and Gemini (Google) has grown much faster than Grok’s.
  • The US government rarely uses Grok, with only three public mentions out of 400 AI uses in federal agencies in 2025.
  • Grok had a controversy in early 2026 for allowing users to create inappropriate images, leading to lawsuits and regulatory bans in the EU.
  • SpaceX introduced business and government-targeted versions of Grok hoping to gain more customers.
  • Elon Musk has described xAI as a small player in the AI industry during legal proceedings related to his lawsuit against OpenAI.
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Ars Technica
How Ring's Fire Watch feature works to keep people safe amid wildfires

How Ring's Fire Watch feature works to keep people safe amid wildfires

May 21, 2026 • CBS News

Summary

Ring, a company that makes doorbells and security cameras, has a new Fire Watch feature to help people during wildfires. This feature gives alerts and helps residents and emergency teams stay informed and safe.

Key Facts

  • Ring makes doorbells and home security cameras.
  • The Fire Watch feature is designed to help during wildfires.
  • It sends alerts to users about fire risks near their homes.
  • The feature helps both residents and emergency responders.
  • It is currently being used as people evacuate during the Sandy Fire in Southern California.
  • Jamie Siminoff, Ring's founder, spoke about how Fire Watch works.
  • The feature aims to improve safety and information flow during wildfire emergencies.
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CBS News
Stanford student explains how AI impacted his graduating class

Stanford student explains how AI impacted his graduating class

May 21, 2026 • CBS News

Summary

A Stanford student named Theo Baker wrote an opinion piece about how artificial intelligence (AI) affected the class graduating in 2026. He talked about the changes AI brought to their studies and daily life at the university.

Key Facts

  • Theo Baker is a student at Stanford University.
  • He wrote an opinion article for The New York Times.
  • The article focuses on how AI influenced the 2026 graduating class.
  • AI changed how students studied and learned at Stanford.
  • The discussion about AI's impact was featured on CBS News.
  • The conversation aims to show real student experiences with AI technology.
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CBS News
Why Google's Gemini Spark AI agent could be a game changer

Why Google's Gemini Spark AI agent could be a game changer

May 21, 2026 • CBS News

Summary

Google introduced Gemini Spark, a new AI tool that acts like a personal assistant to help users complete tasks such as writing emails, making reservations, and managing calendars. This AI connects with Google apps like Gmail and Calendar, giving it important information to work better, and can also interact with outside services like Instacart.

Key Facts

  • Gemini Spark is Google’s new AI assistant that can perform tasks for users.
  • It connects to Google apps like Gmail, Docs, and Calendar to access relevant user information.
  • The AI can highlight important details from emails and meetings automatically.
  • Gemini Spark can also work with external apps like Instacart (for groceries) and OpenTable (for reservations).
  • Google is currently testing Gemini Spark and will roll it out to Google AI Ultra subscribers who pay $100 per month.
  • The AI needs user permission before doing sensitive actions like spending money or sending emails.
  • Experts suggest starting with simple tasks before trusting AI with more important jobs.
  • Gemini Spark represents a shift from chat-based AI to AI that can actively perform work on your behalf.
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CBS News
AT&T sues California in attempt to shut off old phone network

AT&T sues California in attempt to shut off old phone network

May 21, 2026 • Ars Technica

Summary

AT&T is suing the state of California because the state won’t allow the company to stop providing old-style landline phone service to all potential customers. AT&T wants permission to replace its outdated copper phone network, used by a small number of people, with modern fiber and wireless technology.

Key Facts

  • AT&T filed a lawsuit against California for blocking its plan to end landline phone service to about 199,000 customers.
  • California requires AT&T to maintain its old copper phone network, even though only 3% of households use it.
  • AT&T argues that maintaining the copper network costs about $1 billion a year and is inefficient.
  • The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) denied AT&T’s request to stop being the Carrier of Last Resort (required to serve everyone).
  • CPUC says AT&T can still upgrade to fiber or other technologies and retire copper lines if they want.
  • AT&T plans to prioritize fiber internet in densely populated areas but wants to replace copper with wireless options in less populated areas.
  • AT&T claims copper networks are vulnerable to theft and use a lot of electricity.
  • AT&T asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to override California’s rules and allow the company to shut down the old network.
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Ars Technica
Meta settles social media addiction case with US school district

Meta settles social media addiction case with US school district

May 21, 2026 • BBC Tech

Summary

Meta has settled a lawsuit with a Kentucky school district that accused the company of causing mental health problems by making its social media platforms addictive. The school district wanted money to cover costs from dealing with this issue and changes to how the platforms work. Other companies like TikTok, Snap, and YouTube also settled similar cases.

Key Facts

  • Breathitt School District sued Meta and other social media companies for causing mental health issues like anxiety and self-harm in students.
  • The district wanted $60 million to help pay for the effects of social media addiction and asked for the platforms to be changed to be less addictive.
  • Meta's settlement lets the company avoid going to trial, but other cases against Meta are still planned.
  • The lawsuit was chosen to represent over 1,200 school districts with similar claims.
  • Earlier, a woman won $6 million in a case saying Meta and YouTube made platforms that harmed her mental health.
  • Meta says it is working on safety features like Instagram Teen Accounts to protect young users.
  • Critics say these safety tools do not fully prevent harmful content like posts about suicide.
  • Meta has faced accusations of trying to influence public opinion by paying influencers to promote its safety features.
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BBC Tech BBC Business
Spotify and Universal Music agree deal to let subscribers create AI remixes

Spotify and Universal Music agree deal to let subscribers create AI remixes

May 21, 2026 • Guardian Tech

Summary

Spotify and Universal Music Group have made a deal to let Spotify subscribers create AI-generated song covers and remixes. This feature will be a paid add-on for Premium users and aims to give artists extra income while keeping copyrights protected.

Key Facts

  • Spotify is allowing users to create AI-driven remixes and covers of songs from participating Universal Music artists.
  • The new AI remix feature will be a paid add-on available on Spotify’s app for Premium users.
  • The deal is the first time Spotify officially licenses AI-generated music creation on its platform.
  • Universal Music Group represents major artists like Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Billie Eilish.
  • The financial details and specific involved artists have not been made public.
  • Spotify’s new AI tools focus on respecting artist consent, giving credit, and ensuring compensation.
  • Spotify recently introduced a Verified badge to distinguish human artists from AI-created content.
  • Spotify aims to grow its business by adding AI features and new subscription options beyond traditional music streaming.
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Guardian Tech
Fans create AI-generated team songs ahead of World Cup

Fans create AI-generated team songs ahead of World Cup

May 21, 2026 • Al Jazeera

Summary

Fans are using artificial intelligence (AI) to create many football songs supporting their teams before the World Cup. These AI-made songs are becoming very popular on social media, raising questions about who owns the music and how artists should be paid.

Key Facts

  • Fans make AI-generated football anthems that get millions of plays on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
  • The trend began with a French team song called "Imbattables" made using AI-assisted music production.
  • Songs for countries like Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, and Germany followed, copying similar formats and beats.
  • AI helps create music by layering sounds, but questions about copyright and who owns the songs remain.
  • Experts say AI music can lack complexity and sometimes have errors, like wrong accents or pronunciations.
  • Some listeners do not mind the simple style of AI songs and prefer them over official World Cup anthems.
  • The World Cup is held in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico in June and July, and official songs from artists like Shakira have also been released.
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Al Jazeera
Meta becomes latest to settle social media addiction case ahead of June bellwether trial

Meta becomes latest to settle social media addiction case ahead of June bellwether trial

May 21, 2026 • The Hill

Summary

Meta agreed to settle a federal lawsuit about social media addiction before a major trial was set to begin in June. This settlement follows similar agreements from three other tech companies earlier this month.

Key Facts

  • Meta settled a federal lawsuit regarding social media addiction.
  • The lawsuit was brought by the Breahitt County, Kentucky, Board of Education.
  • The settlement was reached just weeks before the scheduled June trial.
  • Three other technology companies also settled similar cases earlier in the same month.
  • The lawsuit involved claims related to Facebook, which is owned by Meta.
  • The case centers on concerns about addiction linked to social media platforms.
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The Hill
Met Palantir row gets to heart of how public services should use AI

Met Palantir row gets to heart of how public services should use AI

May 21, 2026 • Guardian World

Summary

The Metropolitan Police wants to spend £50 million on Palantir’s AI technology to help analyze large amounts of digital evidence amid budget cuts and staff losses. This has sparked debate about using AI in public services, with concerns over privacy, trust, and reliance on controversial US tech firms.

Key Facts

  • The Metropolitan Police faces a £125 million funding shortfall and plans to cut 1,150 jobs.
  • Palantir’s AI systems would sift through intelligence reports, emails, phone records, and other crime data.
  • AI is seen as a possible substitute for some human police work and a growing part of national security.
  • Other UK police forces like Bedfordshire and Leicestershire also use Palantir technology.
  • The Home Office supports faster and broader AI adoption in policing.
  • London Mayor Sadiq Khan blocked the Palantir contract citing procurement and ethical concerns.
  • Palantir is controversial due to ties with US government agencies and statements by its leaders.
  • Police unions worry about privacy and surveillance issues with Palantir’s AI monitoring their own staff.
  • British firms are not currently able to offer the full range of AI tools that Palantir provides.
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Guardian World
Trump says he’s postponing signing an executive order on AI out of concern it would hurt AI industry

Trump says he’s postponing signing an executive order on AI out of concern it would hurt AI industry

May 21, 2026 • AP News

Summary

President Donald Trump postponed signing an executive order on artificial intelligence (AI) due to concerns it might harm the U.S. lead in AI technology. He canceled the event hours before it was planned, saying the order’s details did not meet his approval.

Key Facts

  • President Trump decided not to sign a new AI-related executive order as planned on May 21, 2026.
  • He expressed worry that the order could reduce America’s advantage over other countries, especially China, in AI technology.
  • Trump said he did not like the specific language in the text of the order.
  • The order was intended to address government oversight of powerful AI systems.
  • There is rising concern about AI’s ability to find security weaknesses in software, affecting industries like banking.
  • U.S. officials have mentioned the cyber abilities of an AI model called Mythos from the company Anthropic, which is not widely available.
  • The signing was scheduled to take place at the White House Oval Office.
  • Trump made these remarks during a different event in the Oval Office.
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AP News
New weight-loss shot appears to outperform other obesity drugs on market

New weight-loss shot appears to outperform other obesity drugs on market

May 21, 2026 • Guardian World

Summary

A new drug called retatrutide, developed by Eli Lilly, helped people lose up to 28% of their body weight in a clinical trial. The drug combines three hormones and is taken once a week by injection. It showed better results than other weight-loss drugs currently available.

Key Facts

  • Retatrutide led to an average weight loss of 70.3 pounds (28.3%) over 80 weeks in the highest dose group.
  • The trial included 2,339 adults with obesity or overweight and at least one related health condition, but no diabetes.
  • 45.3% of participants on the highest dose lost at least 30% of their body weight.
  • Retatrutide combines GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon hormones to help metabolism, appetite control, and energy balance.
  • Other drugs like Eli Lilly’s Zepbound and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy typically result in 14%-20% weight loss, less than retatrutide.
  • Common side effects include nausea (up to 42%), diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting, with higher doses causing more side effects.
  • About 65.3% of participants on the highest dose reduced their BMI below 30, which is the level used to define obesity.
  • The drug is injected weekly, with the dose gradually increasing over time.
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Guardian World
Trump postpones long-awaited artificial intelligence order signing

Trump postpones long-awaited artificial intelligence order signing

May 21, 2026 • The Hill

Summary

President Donald Trump delayed signing an executive order about voluntary testing for artificial intelligence (AI) models. He said he did not agree with some parts of the order, leading to the cancellation of the signing ceremony planned for Thursday afternoon.

Key Facts

  • President Trump postponed signing an executive order related to AI.
  • The order involved a voluntary testing process for AI models.
  • The signing ceremony was canceled just hours before it was scheduled.
  • The White House informed invited technology leaders about the cancellation.
  • President Trump expressed concerns about certain parts of the order.
  • The delay came despite the order being long-awaited.
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The Hill
OpenAI makes breakthrough on 80-year-old maths problem

OpenAI makes breakthrough on 80-year-old maths problem

May 21, 2026 • Guardian World

Summary

OpenAI has made progress on a math problem that has been studied for about 80 years. Their AI system found new arrangements of points that go beyond a previous guess by mathematician Paul Erdős about distances between points on paper.

Key Facts

  • The problem is called the planar unit distance problem, first asked by Paul Erdős in 1946.
  • Erdős suggested that the number of point pairs at the same distance grows only a little faster than the number of points.
  • OpenAI’s AI showed there are better arrangements that break Erdős’s suggested limit.
  • This result was confirmed by human mathematicians, including Thomas Bloom and Tim Gowers.
  • The AI used is a general reasoning model that breaks down problems, not a math-specialized system.
  • Humans still improved and helped interpret the AI’s proof.
  • Experts say the AI is offering new ways to think about mathematical problems.
  • This work represents a notable step in using AI for advanced math research.
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Guardian World Guardian Tech
Netflix’s ‘The Crash’ Shows Key Difference Between Millennials and Gen Z

Netflix’s ‘The Crash’ Shows Key Difference Between Millennials and Gen Z

May 21, 2026 • Newsweek

Summary

The Netflix documentary "The Crash" tells the story of a fatal car crash in Ohio in 2022 and explores the role of social media in understanding people’s lives. It highlights differences between Millennials and Gen Z in how they use and show themselves on social media.

Key Facts

  • "The Crash" aired on Netflix on May 15 and covers a crash that killed two young men and left one survivor, Mackenzie Shirilla.
  • Shirilla was driving when the car hit a building at about 100 mph and was later found guilty of murder and sentenced to 15 years to life.
  • The documentary uses courtroom footage and recordings from Shirilla’s cell phone and social media to tell the story.
  • Shirilla’s online posts showed partying, drug use, and other behaviors shortly after the crash, raising questions about how people present themselves online.
  • Millennials often worry about their digital footprint, the lasting impact of their online posts on future jobs and reputation.
  • Gen Z, who grew up with smartphones and social media, share more of their everyday lives online as part of their identity.
  • Gen Z spends more time on social media (about 3.2 hours daily) than older generations and uses several platforms actively.
  • Researchers believe Gen Z’s social media use reflects different social rules and ways of expressing themselves compared to Millennials.
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Newsweek
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