The education platform Canvas, run by the US firm Instructure, suffered a ransomware attack that stole data from millions of students and staff worldwide. Instructure said it reached an agreement with the hackers, likely involving a ransom payment, to recover and destroy the stolen data.
Key Facts
Canvas, used by schools globally, experienced a ransomware attack causing outages and data theft.
Hackers called ShinyHunters claimed they stole 3.6 terabytes of data including student IDs, emails, and messages from 275 million people.
The attack exploited a weakness in Instructure’s Free for Teacher software, allowing hackers to deface login pages.
Instructure reported they “returned” the data and received proof it was destroyed after an agreement with the hackers.
Experts believe Instructure probably paid a ransom, possibly up to $10 million, though the company has not confirmed this.
Many governments advise against paying ransoms because it can fund criminals and does not guarantee data safety.
In Australia, paying designated cybercriminal groups may be illegal, and such payments are reviewed individually for prosecution.
Since May 2023, at least 75 Australian companies with revenue over $3 million have paid ransoms under mandatory reporting rules.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Steven Soderbergh made a documentary about John Lennon’s last interview, recorded hours before Lennon’s death in 1980. The film uses AI-generated images that many find uninteresting and low quality, showing Lennon talking about peace, music, and culture.
Key Facts
The documentary focuses on John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s final interview on December 8, 1980, in New York.
Interviewers were from San Francisco’s KFRC radio station: Dave Sholin, Laurie Kaye, and Ron Hummel.
Shortly after the interview, Lennon was killed by a stalker who had asked Lennon to sign a copy of the "Double Fantasy" album.
The film includes AI-created visuals to accompany Lennon’s words on peace and culture.
These AI images have been described as generic and low quality, reducing the film’s appeal.
The documentary does not add much new analysis or commentary beyond Lennon and Ono’s words and some remarks from the interviewers.
The film avoids focusing on the dark tragedy of Lennon’s murder, instead keeping a hopeful tone.
Multiple recent documentaries about John Lennon and Yoko Ono exist, but this one is centered specifically on the last interview.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
China is developing fully automated manufacturing plants called "dark factories" that can operate without human workers. These factories use robots and advanced technology to run production with minimal human involvement.
Key Facts
"Dark factories" are fully automated and do not require humans to work inside them.
They use robots and machines to handle all manufacturing tasks.
These factories can operate without lights, hence the name "dark."
The technology aims to make production faster and less costly.
China is investing in these factories to change how goods are made.
This approach could reduce the need for factory workers.
Automation in manufacturing is becoming more common worldwide.
The move may reshape the global manufacturing industry.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Residents in Atlanta report traffic jams caused by self-driving cars made by Waymo. The cars seem confused by neighborhood road signs, which slows down traffic.
Key Facts
The traffic jams happen in Atlanta neighborhoods.
The cars involved are self-driving vehicles from Waymo.
Residents say the cars get confused by street signs.
The confusion leads to slow-moving traffic or jams.
Waymo uses advanced computer systems to drive the cars automatically.
The problem shows challenges self-driving cars face in real-world settings.
Local drivers and residents notice these disruptions during their daily routines.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A jury is set to decide if Elon Musk’s claims that OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman and others broke rules by turning the company from a charity into a for-profit entity are true. The trial revealed many private messages and included testimony from top tech leaders, highlighting a long-running dispute about control and profit in the AI industry.
Key Facts
The trial is about Musk’s claim that Altman and OpenAI “stole a charity” by restructuring OpenAI from a nonprofit to a for-profit company.
Musk says he was tricked into funding OpenAI, which later prioritized profit over its original mission.
OpenAI denies all claims, saying Musk knew about the change and left to start a rival company, xAI.
Musk wants Altman and Brockman removed, OpenAI’s restructuring reversed, and $134 billion returned to the nonprofit.
The case includes private emails, text messages, and diary entries used as evidence.
High-profile tech figures like Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella have testified in the trial.
The outcome could affect OpenAI’s planned public stock offering, valued at $1 trillion.
Musk testified for three days, describing his view that Altman broke the company’s charitable goals.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A new gene therapy that targets the GLP-1 hormone is about to be tested in humans for the first time. This therapy aims to treat obesity and Type 2 diabetes by using the body’s own mechanisms to control weight and blood sugar.
Key Facts
GLP-1 is a hormone involved in regulating appetite and blood sugar.
Medicines based on GLP-1 have helped many people with obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
The new therapy uses gene therapy, which involves changing genes to treat diseases.
This will be the first time the GLP-1 gene therapy is tested in human trials.
The goal is to create a long-lasting treatment for obesity and diabetes by making the body produce GLP-1 on its own.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Since the introduction of AI tools like ChatGPT in 2022, many college students are earning higher grades, especially in subjects where AI can help with homework. A study found that students who might have earned C grades before are now getting A's, which raises concerns about the true understanding of the material.
Key Facts
A study from a large Texas university showed a 30% rise in excellent grades in courses where AI can assist, such as English and coding.
Grade increases did not happen in courses where AI is less helpful, like sculpture or lab-based classes.
The university studied has over 50,000 students and offers many different academic programs.
Classes that focus more on homework than exams are seeing more grade inflation, likely because homework can be done with AI help.
Some professors may grade more leniently due to pressure from student evaluations, which can affect their career advancements.
AI has made existing grade inflation trends worse, but it is not the only cause of rising GPAs.
Professors are using new rules to reduce AI cheating, such as handwritten or oral exams.
Experts suggest creating assignments that allow AI use when properly documented, to adapt to the new technology.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The article discusses the growing impact of AI data centers, which are physical places that store and process data for AI and the internet. These centers use a lot of electricity and resources, which is causing higher power costs, environmental concerns, and local opposition in communities.
Key Facts
Data centers are buildings with computers that support the internet and AI operations.
AI requires a lot of computing power, causing data centers to expand rapidly.
Data centers contributed to a 76% increase in electricity prices on the largest US grid in early 2025.
By 2030, data centers might use over 14% of the total US electricity supply, up from 6% today.
They can cause pollution, noise, and use large amounts of water, as seen in Fayetteville, Georgia.
Most Americans oppose building AI data centers near their homes, some even prefer living near nuclear plants.
Tech leaders acknowledge the increasing size of data centers but have no clear solutions.
Some industry figures accuse protesters of being paid agitators, and there are early talks about giving AI or data centers legal rights.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The article describes a TV program called "Tech Now" that features different episodes about new technology in various fields. Topics include 3D imaging for heart surgery, AI solving art mysteries, underwater technology, and innovations in phones and space exploration. The show aims to explain how technology is used to solve problems and improve lives.
Key Facts
"Tech Now" is a TV program highlighting new technology stories.
One episode covers 3D imaging technology for heart operations.
Other episodes explore AI in art history and underwater technology.
The show features the latest phone and gadget trends from a technology event.
Episodes include topics on climate science, space exploration, and agriculture.
The program visits places like Esrange Spaceport in Sweden and the Rubin Observatory in Chile.
It also discusses AI startups, brain cell biocomputing, and wildfire detection tech.
The show is available with features like audio description and sign language.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Driverless Waymo cars caused a traffic jam on a quiet street in Atlanta on Friday. These self-driving vehicles temporarily blocked part of a residential area as they operated without drivers.
Key Facts
The incident happened in Atlanta on a quiet residential street.
Waymo’s driverless cars were involved in the traffic jam.
The cars were operating without human drivers behind the wheel.
This event took place on a Friday morning.
The traffic jam disrupted local residents’ daily routines.
Waymo is a company that develops self-driving car technology.
The situation attracted media attention, including from CBS News.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
SpaceX launched a Cargo Dragon spaceship carrying over 6,500 pounds of supplies and research gear to the International Space Station. The Falcon 9 rocket's first stage successfully landed back on Earth after the launch, marking SpaceX's 611th booster recovery.
Key Facts
The Cargo Dragon carried supplies for about 50 science investigations and over 6,000 pounds of hardware and essentials for the station crew.
The Falcon 9 rocket launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and flew in line with the station’s orbit.
The rocket’s first stage completed its sixth flight and landed safely at Landing Zone 40 near the launch site.
This is the first Cargo Dragon spaceship to visit the station for the sixth time.
The dragon is scheduled to dock with the station’s forward Harmony module two days after launch.
The current Expedition 74 crew on the ISS includes astronauts from NASA, the European Space Agency, and Russia.
The ISS has hosted more than 4,000 science experiments from over 5,000 researchers in 110 countries over 25 years.
Future space missions include launching new crew members in July and September using Soyuz and SpaceX vehicles.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Scammers are using artificial intelligence (AI) to create fake voices that sound very real. This makes it harder to spot scams, especially for older people, but there are ways to protect yourself.
Key Facts
Scammers use AI voice cloning to imitate real voices.
These fake voices can sound very convincing.
Older adults are often targeted by these scams.
The use of AI makes scams harder to recognize.
Experts suggest methods people can use to stay safe from these scams.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A federal judge delayed approval of Anthropic’s $1.5 billion copyright settlement because some authors and class members objected. They argue that lawyers are asking for much more money than the authors will receive and want the court to lower lawyer fees and increase payments to authors.
Key Facts
Anthropic agreed to a $1.5 billion settlement over unauthorized use of books to train AI.
US District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin postponed final approval to review objections from some class members.
Objectors claim lawyers want over $320 million in fees while authors might only get about $3,000 each.
One author estimated lawyers’ pay could be $10,000–$12,000 per hour, which objectors see as excessive.
Objectors argue lawyers’ fees should be based on the number of authors compensated, not the full settlement amount.
Lawyers say claims cover over 92% of the 480,000 works involved in the settlement.
Objectors want fairer lawyer fees to increase author payouts, suggesting a $70 million fee as an example.
A group of 25 class members who opted out of the settlement filed a new lawsuit against Anthropic.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Several empty Waymo self-driving cars got stuck while driving around a dead-end street in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. Waymo, which uses artificial intelligence to operate its cars without drivers, said they have fixed the problem after hearing from the community.
Key Facts
Waymo cars can drive themselves using artificial intelligence for route planning and safety.
The incident happened in a cul-de-sac, a street with no exit, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Multiple empty Waymo cars were seen driving around this dead-end early in the morning.
Waymo has already fixed the routing error that caused the cars to get trapped.
Waymo’s self-driving vehicles are already operating in more than 10 U.S. cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Miami.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
U.S. officials told CNN that hackers connected to Iran may have broken into automatic tank gauge (ATG) systems at gas stations across the United States. These systems track fuel supplies, and while no physical damage or fuel theft was reported, the hacking could make it harder to detect potential gas leaks.
Key Facts
Hackers believed to be linked to Iran accessed ATG systems that monitor fuel tanks at U.S. gas stations.
The ATG systems were online but often lacked password protection, making them easier to hack.
The hackers altered some display readings, but did not physically damage equipment or change fuel levels.
Vulnerabilities in ATG systems have been found before, including critical flaws reported in September 2024.
Iran has a history of cyberattacks on U.S. infrastructure such as energy, banking, and water systems.
Groups connected to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) often use cyberattacks for disruption and spying.
Past attacks by Iran included denial-of-service attacks on banks and breaches of dam control systems.
Increased Iranian cyber activity followed discovery of the Stuxnet virus in 2010, which targeted Iran’s nuclear sites.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A new study finds that pollution from coal burning and other sources reduces the amount of electricity generated by solar panels worldwide. Aerosols, tiny particles in the air from burning coal and other fuels, scatter sunlight and lower solar power output by hundreds of terawatt-hours a year.
Key Facts
Coal burning releases sulfur dioxide aerosols and other particles that pollute the air.
Aerosols in the atmosphere reduce sunlight reaching solar panels, lowering their electricity production.
In 2023, over 25% of possible solar power was lost due to clouds and aerosols, with aerosols causing around 6% of losses.
This loss equals more than 500 terawatt-hours, roughly the annual output of 84 large coal power plants.
Coal pollution produces nearly half of the aerosols that affect solar power worldwide.
In China, aerosols reduce solar power by about 7.7%, offsetting up to half of its yearly solar growth.
The U.S. experiences smaller losses from aerosols (about 3%) because coal plants are located away from solar-rich regions.
China is improving the situation by replacing older coal plants with cleaner technology to reduce pollution.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
London’s traditional black taxi drivers are facing new competition from driverless taxis that use artificial intelligence (AI). The city’s taxi drivers are hesitant to accept the change and want to keep driving themselves.
Key Facts
London has famous black cabs that are driven by human drivers called cabbies.
New taxis powered by AI technology can drive themselves without a human driver.
These autonomous taxis will soon operate in London.
Taxi drivers in London are not ready to stop driving and give up their jobs.
The story was reported by Anderson Cooper on the TV program 60 Minutes.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
AcuRite, a company that makes weather-monitoring devices, is ending support for its old app, My AcuRite, and requires users to switch to a new app, AcuRite Now, by May 30, 2026. Some customers are unhappy with the new app, citing fewer features and usability problems, while AcuRite plans to offer new features and a paid subscription for extra services.
Key Facts
AcuRite sells weather devices like weather stations, indoor thermometers, and rain gauges.
The old app, My AcuRite, launched in 2016, will no longer work after May 30, 2026.
The new app, AcuRite Now, was introduced in June 2025 and will be the only way to control AcuRite devices.
AcuRite Now supports many smart home products in the Tuya SmartLife system, such as fans and lights.
Some users complain the new app has fewer features, like no ability to rename multiple sensors or show detailed data easily.
AcuRite plans to add missing features and a desktop app soon.
Sharing data with Weather Underground now requires a subscription costing $2 per month, which also adds more data storage.
AcuRite Now has low customer ratings on app stores, partly due to user dissatisfaction compared to the old app.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley has invited the CEOs of four big tech companies to a hearing next month about online safety for children. This comes after recent important court rulings against two of these companies.
Key Facts
Chuck Grassley is the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
He has invited CEOs from four major tech companies to testify.
The hearing will focus on children's safety online.
The invitation follows two major court decisions against two of the tech firms.
CEOs invited include Mark Zuckerberg (Meta) and Sundar Pichai (Alphabet).
The meeting is scheduled for next month.
The hearing aims to address concerns about how technology affects kids.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The arXiv preprint server, used by scientists to share early research papers, will ban authors who submit AI-generated content that breaks their rules for one year. After the ban, any new papers from these authors must go through formal peer review before being posted on arXiv.
Key Facts
arXiv is a preprint server for fields like physics and astronomy, where scientists share early research papers.
AI-generated content sometimes contains errors, fake citations, or misleading information.
arXiv now has a policy to punish authors who submit problematic AI-generated content.
If a submission breaks the rules, all listed authors get a one-year ban from submitting papers.
After the ban, new submissions from those authors will only be accepted if already peer-reviewed by a journal.
Authors are responsible for all content on their papers, even if AI tools were used.
The policy aims to keep research shared on arXiv clear, accurate, and properly prepared.
arXiv has an appeals process if authors want to challenge a punishment.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
