Thousands of Discord users experienced connection problems on a Wednesday. The main issue was an error that stopped the app from connecting to voice servers. Discord's engineers worked to identify and fix the issue.
Key Facts
Many Discord users reported connection failures, mainly experiencing an "Awaiting Endpoint" error.
The issue affected the ability to connect to voice servers and make voice calls on Discord.
Tracking services like StatusGator and Downdetector recorded the problems in real time.
Discord acknowledged the performance issues around 3:20 p.m. Eastern time.
By 4:07 p.m. Eastern, Discord identified the issue and began taking steps to fix it.
Discord stated that while fixing the voice connectivity, other features might temporarily be affected.
Newsweek contacted Discord for comments on the situation.
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HBO has announced that the new Harry Potter series will premiere on Christmas Day. A trailer for the series introduces new actors playing Harry, Ron, and Hermione, with the show set to adapt J.K. Rowling's seven novels.
Key Facts
The Harry Potter series will debut on HBO this Christmas Day.
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson commented on the new actors playing their iconic roles.
The trailer features familiar Harry Potter scenes and characters.
Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout, and Arabella Stanton play Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
HBO plans to adapt all seven Harry Potter novels into this series.
Francesca Gardiner is the executive producer and showrunner, and Mark Mylod directs at least one episode.
Filming and production complexity mean the show won’t air annually as previously hoped.
The original Harry Potter films' producer, David Heyman, returns as an executive producer for the series.
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HBO is creating a new "Harry Potter" TV series set to start in 2027, which will have seven seasons, each based on one of the books. The series will feature additional scenes that expand on the original story, but won't release a new season every year. The entire series aims to be completed within ten years.
Key Facts
HBO's new "Harry Potter" series will start in 2027.
There will be seven seasons, each based on one of the original books.
The first season will cover "Sorcerer's Stone."
Each season will include new scenes that expand the universe.
Seasons won't be released annually; production needs more time.
The goal is to complete the series over a decade.
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Lockheed Martin's technology officer Craig Martell discussed the need for humans and machines to work together in future warfare. He emphasized the importance of training with AI systems and taking responsibility for their use. The U.S. Army has started using autonomous Black Hawk helicopters as part of this technological advancement.
Key Facts
Lockheed Martin's CTO, Craig Martell, spoke about human-machine teamwork at an AI summit.
The military is increasing its use of autonomous weapons, leading to debates on trust and accountability.
Martell believes that humans must train with AI systems to understand their errors and limits.
He envisions a pilot working with autonomous aircraft to enhance safety.
Martell previously served as the Defense Department's first chief digital and AI officer.
The Army received its first autonomous Black Hawk helicopter, which can operate alone or be remotely controlled.
The autonomous Black Hawk reflects a shift towards using drones and unmanned vehicles in combat.
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A California jury found that Meta and Alphabet's Google are responsible for $3 million in damages in a case about social media addiction. The jury decided that these companies made their platforms addictive, which caused harm to a 20-year-old woman named Kaley. This case is part of a growing number of lawsuits focused on social media companies and their impact on users.
Key Facts
A jury in California ruled against Google and Meta in a social media addiction lawsuit.
The plaintiff, Kaley, was awarded $3 million in damages.
Kaley claimed social media platforms worsened her mental health issues.
Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram's Adam Mosseri testified in the case.
Jurors decided the companies' platform designs were addictive, causing harm.
The decision does not hold companies liable for user-posted content due to Section 230.
The ruling is part of a broader series of lawsuits against social media companies.
Google plans to appeal the verdict, disagreeing with the decision.
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Senator Mark Warner criticized a proposal to pause the building of AI data centers, claiming that such a pause would allow China to advance faster in AI development. This statement came after Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced a bill to stop new data center projects until AI safety measures are established.
Key Facts
Sen. Mark Warner expressed opposition to halting AI data center construction, calling it "idiocy."
Warner believes a construction pause would give China an advantage in AI development.
The proposal for a moratorium was introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The proposed legislation aims to stop new AI data centers until "strong national safeguards" are created.
Warner argued that stopping AI data center growth is based on unrealistic ideas.
Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez’s proposal represents one of the more aggressive AI policy efforts in Congress.
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Meta President Dina Powell McCormick said that artificial intelligence (AI) is leading to big changes in humanity. She spoke at a summit about the importance of keeping human values at the center of technological advancement.
Key Facts
Dina Powell McCormick is the President of Meta.
She spoke at the Axios' AI+DC Summit.
McCormick described AI as causing a "transformation" of humanity.
She emphasized the importance of maintaining human values in technology.
The discussion focused on the impact of AI on the workforce and the world.
McCormick mentioned that people are finding new ways to use AI that were previously unimaginable.
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Meta President Dina Powell McCormick stated that the U.S. needs a new workforce in the next two years to stay competitive in artificial intelligence (AI). She emphasized the need for 500,000 electricians to build the required infrastructure.
Key Facts
Dina Powell McCormick is the President of Meta.
The U.S. must create a new workforce for AI within two years.
McCormick highlighted the need for 500,000 electricians.
McCormick's role at Meta focuses on tech infrastructure and dealmaking.
Meta launched an initiative called "Meta Compute" to enhance AI infrastructure.
McCormick will partner with governments to support Meta's projects.
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A jury found Meta and YouTube responsible for not preventing social media addiction in a key trial, awarding $3 million to a woman impacted by this addiction. This case is significant as it may lead to more lawsuits and regulation against social media companies regarding user safety.
Key Facts
A jury awarded $3 million to a woman who claimed Meta and YouTube caused her social media addiction.
The trial took place in Los Angeles and is viewed as a significant legal case against social media companies.
Meta and YouTube were found negligent, meaning they failed to take proper care to prevent harm.
The lawsuit claimed that social media addiction led to mental health issues like depression and anxiety for the woman.
The case could lead to more lawsuits and possibly new safety rules for online platforms.
Meta plans to challenge the jury's decision and is exploring legal options.
Recent court rulings are holding social media companies more accountable for user harm.
Meta's president mentioned the company's focus on improving user protection and safety.
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The U.S. Supreme Court decided that Cox Communications, an internet provider, is not responsible for copyright violations committed by its customers downloading music. This ruling overturned a previous decision that had partially blamed Cox.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of Cox Communications.
The case involved Cox's liability for customers' illegal music downloads.
Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the opinion for the court.
The ruling reversed a previous jury verdict against Cox.
Sony Music Entertainment led the lawsuit against Cox.
Cox serves more than 6 million homes and businesses with internet services.
The music companies expressed disappointment with the court's decision.
Cox warned of potential internet disruptions if the ruling went against them.
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A jury in California found Meta and YouTube responsible for contributing to a young woman's addiction to social media. This landmark case sought to hold these platforms accountable for harm to children due to their use. The trial examined features like infinite scrolling, which are designed to keep users engaged.
Key Facts
A jury ruled Meta and YouTube liable in a trial about social media addiction's impact on children.
The case involved a woman, Kaley, who started using YouTube at age 6 and Instagram at age 9.
The lawsuit claimed social media worsened Kaley's mental health struggles.
Meta and YouTube argued their platforms were not the cause of her mental health issues.
The trial did not consider specific content due to legal protections from Section 230.
Kaley's lawyers pointed to design features like "infinite scroll" as addictive.
YouTube said it was more like a video platform than social media.
The case is a bellwether trial, possibly influencing other similar lawsuits against social media companies.
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A Los Angeles jury ruled that Meta and Google are liable for creating addictive social media platforms, which harmed a woman's mental health. The jury found Meta mostly responsible and Google partly responsible for the impacts on the woman, who became addicted during her childhood.
Key Facts
A Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google responsible for a woman's social media addiction.
The woman, identified as Kaley, claimed the platforms harmed her mental health.
The jury assigned 70% of the blame to Meta and 30% to Google.
Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, testified, sticking to the policy of not allowing users under 13.
Meta disagrees with the verdict and is considering legal actions.
Although Google owns YouTube, the case mainly focused on Meta's Instagram.
Snap and TikTok settled their involvement in the case before the trial.
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A jury found Meta and YouTube responsible in a lawsuit claiming these platforms harmed young users. The case involved a 20-year-old woman who said social media affected her mental health, and it could influence similar lawsuits.
Key Facts
A jury held Meta and YouTube liable for harm to young users in a lawsuit.
The case involved a woman, Kaley, who began using YouTube at age 6 and Instagram at age 9.
Kaley's lawyers claimed the platforms' features led to compulsive use and harmed her mental health.
Jurors were advised not to focus on specific posts due to legal protections for tech companies.
Meta argued that other factors contributed to Kaley's mental health issues.
YouTube claimed to be more like television and highlighted its safety controls.
This trial could affect many similar lawsuits in the future.
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Many Americans across different states hear a strange humming noise, which they believe comes from nearby data centers. These centers, essential for powering internet searches and AI, make noise from equipment like cooling systems and generators, leading to discomfort for nearby residents.
Key Facts
People in states like New Jersey, Virginia, and Connecticut report hearing a humming noise near their homes.
Residents think this noise is from data centers used for internet and AI processing.
Data centers need a lot of electricity and water, making them resource-intensive.
There are 4,088 data centers in the United States, with Virginia having the most at 579.
Noise comes from cooling systems, diesel generators, and fans within the centers.
Some residents find the noise so loud it affects their ability to relax or sleep.
Proposals are being discussed to update regulations to manage noise and resources better.
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First Lady Melania Trump attended the "Fostering the Future Together" summit in Washington, DC, where she introduced a humanoid robot called Figure 3. The event focused on expanding educational tools and protecting children in digital spaces, with participation from leaders of over 40 countries.
Key Facts
First Lady Melania Trump hosted a tech summit in Washington, DC.
The summit's goal is to expand educational tools and protect kids online.
Leaders from over 40 countries, including France's First Lady Brigitte Macron, attended.
A humanoid robot named Figure 3 was showcased at the event.
Figure 3 is developed by an AI robotics company called Figure.
The robot can autonomously perform household tasks like cleaning and doing dishes.
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Education Secretary Linda McMahon made a claim that the PlayStation Portable (PSP), released in 2005, marked the start of portable gaming. Users on social media flagged her statement, noting that handheld gaming devices existed long before, dating back to 1976.
Key Facts
Linda McMahon is the U.S. Secretary of Education as of March 2025.
In a post on social media, McMahon claimed the PSP was the start of portable gaming.
X’s Community Notes feature flagged the post for being misleading.
Handheld gaming systems like Mattel Auto Race and the Milton Bradley Microvision existed in 1976 and 1979, respectively.
Sony released the PSP in 2004 in Japan, with later international releases.
Community Notes provide additional context based on user consensus.
As of now, McMahon’s original post remains visible with the Community Note attached.
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Stephen Colbert will write a new Lord of the Rings screenplay after leaving his late-night talk show. This project, titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past, is based on parts of the book not covered in the original films. There is both excitement and concern among fans about the success of this new addition.
Key Facts
Stephen Colbert will write a new Lord of the Rings movie script.
The project is called The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past.
It focuses on parts of the book not included in the original movie trilogy.
The film will follow characters Sam, Merry, Pippin, and Sam’s daughter Elanor.
The movie is set 14 years after Frodo's departure.
Tom Bombadil, a character not seen in earlier films, might appear in this one.
The announcement was made by Peter Jackson on Tolkien Reading Day.
Fans have mixed feelings due to previous mixed reviews of later franchise films.
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Entrepreneur Mark Cuban predicts that artificial intelligence (AI) will change the traditional 40-hour work week, allowing employees to work fewer hours for the same pay. He suggests that companies adopting AI tools can increase productivity while reducing work hours. Cuban emphasizes that these changes should benefit workers' personal time without reducing their pay.
Key Facts
Mark Cuban is a billionaire entrepreneur who discussed the impact of AI on work hours.
Cuban believes AI will allow companies to shorten work hours while maintaining pay.
He described AI "agents" as software that can perform tasks on their own, increasing efficiency.
Cuban argues that companies should rethink productivity and employee rewards as AI becomes more capable.
He stated that AI might not lead to mass unemployment, contrary to some opinions.
Other tech leaders, like Zoom and Microsoft executives, also believe AI could shorten the workweek.
There is debate over AI's ability to truly reduce work hours due to the need for human oversight.
Cuban stresses that any time saved by AI should be given back to employees as personal time.
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Apple is implementing age checks for iPhone and iPad users in the UK. Users will need to verify they are adults to access certain services, like 18-plus apps, by providing a credit card or scanning their ID. This change follows new safety rules in the UK aimed at protecting children online.
Key Facts
Apple is adding age verification checks for iPhone and iPad users in the UK.
Users must confirm they are adults to access specific apps by using a credit card or ID.
If users don't verify their age, web content filters will be automatically turned on.
The UK media regulator, Ofcom, supports this move for child and family safety.
New UK rules in the Online Safety Act of 2025 focus on child safety but don't include device-level age checks yet.
Children under 13 will need a guardian to create an Apple account.
An ongoing debate continues about online protection for young users and data privacy issues.
The UK is testing limits on social media use for teenagers as part of broader safety measures.
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A New Mexico jury found Meta liable for $375 million for harming children's mental health and enabling exploitation on its platforms. However, these lawsuits may not bring the changes needed to protect children from social media harms. Existing laws are not designed to address these issues, and more effective regulation could come from different approaches.
Key Facts
A jury in New Mexico decided Meta must pay $375 million for harming children's mental health and violating consumer protection laws.
Meta was accused of enabling child exploitation and misleading about platform safety.
Internal documents from Meta showed Instagram was described like a drug and compared to a slot machine.
New Mexico's lawsuit is part of many legal actions against social media companies regarding youth mental health issues.
Current laws, like consumer protection and product liability, are not well-suited to address these social media problems.
Changes to protect children from harmful online content may require new regulations or Congress action.
A proposed solution is to implement age verification technology on devices to restrict minors' access to social media.
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