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Technology News

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Watchdog proposes new rules to increase blocking of scam texts

Watchdog proposes new rules to increase blocking of scam texts

Summary

A UK communications watchdog, Ofcom, has proposed new rules to help phone networks block scam texts more effectively. The rules would require mobile networks to take stronger measures to stop scam messages from reaching people. Ofcom plans to finalize these rules by summer 2026 after receiving public feedback.

Key Facts

  • Ofcom is the UK communications regulator proposing new rules to block scam texts.
  • The proposal includes measures for mobile networks to stop scam messages.
  • Ofcom's rules aim to close current gaps in consumer and business protection.
  • Feedback on the proposals is open until January 28, 2026.
  • Ofcom reported that in one year, 100 million messages were flagged as suspicious.
  • About half of UK mobile users received scam texts between November 2024 and February 2025.
  • Some phone providers currently block around 600 million scam texts annually.
  • Members of the public can report scam messages by texting 7726.
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The 'clippers' who make internet stars viral

Summary

NPR reported on the growing business of "clippers," who are video editors that help online content creators become internet sensations. These editors cut and edit videos to make them more appealing and shareable, increasing the chances of the content going viral.

Key Facts

  • A new industry of video editing helps online content creators become popular.
  • These video editors are called "clippers."
  • Clippers focus on making videos more attractive and shareable.
  • The goal of clippers is to help content go viral, meaning it spreads quickly online.
  • NPR discussed this topic with a Bloomberg reporter who covers digital culture.
  • This editing helps creators reach larger audiences on the internet.
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What Wikipedia and Grokipedia are saying about each other

What Wikipedia and Grokipedia are saying about each other

Summary

Elon Musk's Grokipedia is a new online encyclopedia that competes with Wikipedia. Grokipedia uses an AI tool called Grok and aims to be a comprehensive source of information. Both websites have information pages about each other, and there are criticisms about bias and content similarity.

Key Facts

  • Elon Musk launched Grokipedia to compete with Wikipedia.
  • Grokipedia uses Grok, an AI chatbot developed by Musk's company xAI.
  • Wikipedia and Grokipedia have entries about each other.
  • Grokipedia claims Wikipedia has a left-leaning bias.
  • Wikipedia points out that Grokipedia may have copied some of its content.
  • Critics say Grokipedia might promote right-leaning views.
  • Grokipedia's content sometimes mirrors Wikipedia's articles almost entirely.
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Deal to put TikTok under U.S. ownership could be finalized this week, White House says

Deal to put TikTok under U.S. ownership could be finalized this week, White House says

Summary

President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are close to finalizing a deal to transfer TikTok's ownership to U.S. hands, potentially ending concerns over the app's future in the U.S. The plan involves allowing a group of American investors to buy TikTok from its current owner, ByteDance, but it still needs China's approval. The deal could end the uncertainty that followed a law threatening to ban TikTok unless it found a new U.S. owner.

Key Facts

  • President Trump is meeting with Chinese President Xi in South Korea to discuss the deal.
  • The U.S. law passed and signed by former President Biden threatened to ban TikTok unless it got a new U.S. owner.
  • Trump signed an executive order to extend the deadline for finding a U.S. buyer for TikTok.
  • American investors, including Oracle and Silver Lake, are planned to buy TikTok.
  • The deal needs approval from both the U.S. and China to be completed.
  • TikTok is a popular video app, especially among U.S. adults under 30.
  • Concerns focus on data security and the control of the algorithm that selects content for users.
  • Public opinion on banning TikTok is divided, with data security being a major concern.
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Phony AI videos of Hurricane Melissa flood social media

Phony AI videos of Hurricane Melissa flood social media

Summary

Fake videos created by artificial intelligence are spreading on social media, showing events like sharks in a hotel pool during Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica. These videos are misleading viewers but are not real. Experts say AI tools make it easier to create realistic-looking but false videos.

Key Facts

  • AI-generated videos claim to show events, such as sharks in hotel pools during Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica.
  • These videos are not real and are spreading misinformation on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X.
  • AI tools like Sora allow people to make realistic-looking fake videos easily.
  • Jamaica's Education Minister urged people to get information from official sources.
  • Common signs of AI videos include strange image details or missing watermarks.
  • Experts say it's getting harder to spot fake videos as AI technology improves.
  • Many create these videos for engagement and clicks, which can earn money online.
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New on HBO Max: full list of movies, shows in November 2025

New on HBO Max: full list of movies, shows in November 2025

Summary

HBO Max has revealed the new TV series, movies, and specials that will be coming to its streaming service in November 2025. Highlights include "Eddington," a film about a sheriff and mayor's feud during COVID, and the second season of the baking competition "Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking." The full list includes a mix of new premieres and classic films.

Key Facts

  • HBO Max is releasing new content in November 2025.
  • "Eddington," directed by Ari Aster, will be available on November 14.
  • The movie stars Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal.
  • "Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking, Season Two" starts on November 3.
  • "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" will be available on November 13.
  • New HBO original series include "I Love LA" and "The Seduction."
  • Other notable releases include a mix of classic films and series like "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives."
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New on Peacock: full list of movies, shows in November 2025

New on Peacock: full list of movies, shows in November 2025

Summary

Peacock is adding several movies and TV shows to its streaming service in November 2025. This includes popular movie series like "Jurassic Park" and "Men in Black," as well as new specials like "Wicked: One Wonderful Night" featuring Ariana Grande. A full list of November releases is provided with specific dates for each new addition.

Key Facts

  • Peacock will stream the "Jurassic Park" and "Men in Black" movie series starting November 1st, 2025.
  • "Wicked: One Wonderful Night," a special concert featuring Ariana Grande, will air on November 7th on Peacock.
  • All four "Expendables" movies will be available on November 20th.
  • The list includes various popular movies like "Fast & Furious," "Les Miserables," and "The Greatest Showman."
  • New TV show seasons such as "Surviving Mormonism" and "Tiffany Haddish Goes Off" will be available on Peacock.
  • There are premieres of different shows and specials, such as "The Good Place" Seasons 1-4 and "BravoCon Live with Andy Cohen."
  • The service will release movie classics and family films like "Mrs. Doubtfire," "The Croods," and "Minions."
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Microsoft Outlook, Minecraft and Xbox Cloud Gaming Down

Microsoft Outlook, Minecraft and Xbox Cloud Gaming Down

Summary

Microsoft experienced a service outage affecting Outlook, Minecraft, and Xbox Cloud Gaming on Tuesday, preventing millions of users from accessing these platforms. The company is investigating the cause and working to restore services but has not given a specific timeline for full recovery.

Key Facts

  • Microsoft services such as Outlook, Minecraft, and Xbox Cloud Gaming went down on Tuesday.
  • The outage affected users worldwide, disrupting access to these services.
  • Microsoft is investigating the cause of the outage.
  • The issue started early in the day.
  • Microsoft is working to fix the problem but hasn't specified when services will be fully restored.
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Character.ai to ban teens from talking to its AI chatbots

Character.ai to ban teens from talking to its AI chatbots

Summary

Character.ai, a platform for talking to AI chatbots, will stop teens from having chats with its virtual characters starting from November 25. This decision follows criticism and legal action after concerns arose about the nature of interactions with young users. Instead of chats, teens can use the platform to generate content like videos, and new age verification methods will be introduced.

Key Facts

  • Character.ai will ban teens from chatting with AI chatbots from November 25.
  • The change comes after reports and feedback from regulators, safety experts, and parents.
  • The platform has faced lawsuits in the U.S., including one related to a teenager's death.
  • Concerns included AI's ability to make up information and feign empathy, posing risks to teens.
  • New features for teens will focus on gameplay and role-play instead of open-ended chats.
  • Age verification methods and an AI safety research lab will be introduced.
  • Character.ai removed harmful chatbots, including one based on Jeffrey Epstein, after reports.
  • Safety groups believe safety measures should have been part of the platform from the start.
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Microsoft and AWS Outages Live Updates: Azure, Xbox and Outlook Suddenly Go Down

Microsoft and AWS Outages Live Updates: Azure, Xbox and Outlook Suddenly Go Down

Summary

Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are facing outages, affecting many websites and online services. This has caused problems for millions of users and businesses around the world. Engineers are looking into the issues, but the root causes are not fully clear yet.

Key Facts

  • Microsoft Azure and AWS are both experiencing outages at the same time.
  • The outages are affecting many websites and services like Microsoft 365, Xbox, and Outlook.
  • Microsoft reports that a problem with DNS, which helps direct internet traffic, is causing issues with Azure.
  • AWS has not yet shared the reason for its outage, which is its second in less than ten days.
  • Over 4 million companies, including 90% of Fortune 100 firms, rely on AWS, while Azure supports over 550,000 organizations.
  • The outages highlight the risks of relying heavily on a few major cloud service providers.
  • Downdetector, a service that tracks website outages, noticed a spike in problems starting around 11:30 a.m. ET.
  • Engineers from both companies are investigating if the outages are linked but have not confirmed any connection.
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Honda Shows Off Future Land, Sea, Sky and Outer Space Mobility

Honda Shows Off Future Land, Sea, Sky and Outer Space Mobility

Summary

Honda presented new concept and ready-to-produce vehicles at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo. Their showcase included electric cars, motorcycles, and even a rocket, all part of Honda's goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. Production of some new models will begin in the U.S. and Japan over the next few years.

Key Facts

  • Honda aims to make all products and business activities carbon neutral by 2050.
  • The Honda 0 SUV, set to be made in Ohio, USA, will go on sale in 2026.
  • New electric vehicle models include the Honda 0 Saloon and the smaller Honda 0 α SUV.
  • Honda's future motorcycles will feature new designs and technology by 2030.
  • An electric scooter with a swappable battery and a new jet model were also showcased.
  • Honda's reusable rocket aims for suborbital flights by 2029, using renewable fuel.
  • A new electric kei car model, the Super-One Prototype, will launch in Japan in 2026.
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Yale New Haven Health Reaches $18 Million Settlement in Data Breach Lawsuit

Yale New Haven Health Reaches $18 Million Settlement in Data Breach Lawsuit

Summary

Yale New Haven Health agreed to pay $18 million to settle a lawsuit over a data breach that affected more than five million people. The breach involved unauthorized access to personal and medical information, prompting a lawsuit that accused the health system of failing to adequately protect this sensitive data. The settlement includes compensation for those affected and measures to improve data security.

Key Facts

  • Over five million people were affected by a data breach at Yale New Haven Health in March 2025.
  • The breach involved unauthorized access to personal information like Social Security numbers and medical record numbers.
  • Yale New Haven Health agreed to an $18 million settlement covering legal fees, administrative costs, and up to $5,000 for documented losses per person.
  • The settlement also includes two years of medical data monitoring for class members.
  • A class action lawsuit accused the health system of negligence in protecting patient data.
  • The final approval hearing for the settlement is set for March 3, 2026.
  • Yale New Haven Health denied any wrongdoing but settled to avoid prolonged legal proceedings.
  • The health system is one of Connecticut's largest employers, with over 31,000 employees.
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Behind the Curtain: How an AI jobs apocalypse unfolds

Behind the Curtain: How an AI jobs apocalypse unfolds

Summary

Companies like Amazon and PwC are reducing white-collar jobs, citing AI and automation as reasons. A new company, Mercor, is gaining value by training AI with human expertise, which could replace white-collar jobs. CEOs express concerns that AI may lead to significant job losses, even as the stock market benefits from increased productivity.

Key Facts

  • Amazon is cutting 14,000 white-collar jobs due to AI.
  • Other companies like JPMorgan, Walmart, and Nestlé plan to slow hiring or cut jobs, citing automation and AI.
  • PwC is reducing its workforce globally, partly because of AI.
  • A company called Mercor, recently valued at $10 billion, is using human professionals to train AI.
  • CEOs from companies like Anthropic and Ford warn that AI could replace a large portion of white-collar jobs.
  • The stock market is rising, but this may not reflect job security as companies adopt more AI.
  • Microsoft released a report detailing jobs at risk from AI, highlighting interpreters as most threatened and dredge operators as least vulnerable.
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Grammarly Announces Rebrand and Launch of Superhuman Agent

Grammarly Announces Rebrand and Launch of Superhuman Agent

Summary

Grammarly has changed its company name to Superhuman and launched a new AI tool called Superhuman Go. The original Grammarly tool that helps with spelling and grammar will still be offered as a part of the new brand. This change follows Grammarly's recent acquisitions and aims to expand the use of AI in various digital work environments.

Key Facts

  • Grammarly has rebranded itself as Superhuman.
  • The Grammarly spell-check tool will remain as a part of the new brand.
  • Superhuman is the result of Grammarly's acquisition of the company Coda at the end of 2023.
  • Shishir Mehrotra, co-founder of Coda, is now the CEO of the combined company.
  • Superhuman Go is a new AI tool that helps users by offering recommendations from various data sources.
  • The company also acquired an AI email app, Superhuman, and its founder, Rahul Vohra, is the general manager of the email division.
  • Superhuman Go and other acquired or developed products aim to operate independently within the company.
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The AI Boom Must Bust | Opinion

The AI Boom Must Bust | Opinion

Summary

The article discusses the potential for a market bubble in artificial intelligence (AI), with major tech companies anticipated to spend trillions on AI by 2030. This rapid spending could be problematic because companies aren't making enough money back quickly, creating a risk similar to past market failures.

Key Facts

  • Companies are expected to spend $400 billion on AI infrastructure in 2025, increasing to $2 trillion annually by 2030.
  • Big Tech companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Meta are heavily investing in AI infrastructure.
  • Early AI adoption is not yet profitable, and quick returns on these investments seem unlikely.
  • AI investments rely on circular financing, which increases financial risk if any part of the investment chain fails.
  • Unlike long-lasting infrastructure like fiber optic cables, AI technology quickly becomes obsolete and requires frequent updates.
  • The competition among AI companies forces them to continue high spending to avoid falling behind rivals.
  • Closing the financial gap would require AI to replace many white-collar jobs, a scenario expected to lead to significant unemployment.
  • Meta’s recent layoffs in its AI division suggest awareness of potential issues in AI investment sustainability.
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Scam Emails People Are Most Likely To Fall for Revealed by Experts

Scam Emails People Are Most Likely To Fall for Revealed by Experts

Summary

Experts say email scams are becoming more convincing and harder to spot, often using fake invoices and urgent messages. Despite fewer reported phishing victims in recent years, cybercriminals are using advanced techniques, like artificial intelligence, to trick people. The most effective scams involve stealing login details or impersonating company executives.

Key Facts

  • Phishing scams often use fake invoices, urgent messages, or follow-up emails.
  • In 2021, about 324,000 people in the U.S. reported phishing attacks, dropping to about 193,000 by 2024.
  • Many scams rely on creating urgency, such as using subject lines like “action required.”
  • Some scams use fake calendar invites to trick remote workers.
  • Generative AI helps scammers write emails that look like real corporate communication.
  • Credential harvesting and business email compromise (BEC) are highly damaging phishing methods.
  • Scams use trusted brands like Microsoft and Google to steal login information.
  • Newer scams include phishing via QR codes and voice phishing using AI-generated voices.
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Tech Life

Tech Life

Summary

The article discusses the impact of data-scraping robots from AI companies on Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia. It also explores concerns in the fashion industry about AI affecting jobs and discusses the issue of children accessing adult content online, with debates on age verification systems.

Key Facts

  • Data-scraping robots from AI companies gather information from Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia.
  • Wikipedia is used by hundreds of millions of people around the world.
  • The fashion industry has concerns about how AI might impact jobs for models and designers.
  • Some models and industry workers are worried about losing jobs to AI technology.
  • There is an ongoing discussion about how to prevent children from accessing inappropriate content online.
  • Many regions are making websites verify the ages of their users to protect children.
  • The largest adult content site suggests the current age verification systems need improvement.
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Nvidia will build AI supercomputers for US Department of Energy

Nvidia will build AI supercomputers for US Department of Energy

Summary

Nvidia announced plans to build seven supercomputers for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). These supercomputers will help with nuclear weapons maintenance and alternative energy research. Nvidia also announced new deals, including investments in Nokia and partnerships with Palantir and Uber.

Key Facts

  • Nvidia will build seven new supercomputers for the U.S. Department of Energy.
  • These supercomputers will support nuclear weapons and alternative energy research.
  • Nvidia has $500 billion in bookings for its AI chips.
  • The company announced a $1 billion investment for a 2.9% stake in Nokia.
  • Nvidia introduced a new product line called Arc for telecommunications.
  • Nvidia's partnership with Palantir focuses on commercial logistics solutions.
  • Nvidia announced a self-driving car platform, Hyperion, in partnership with Uber.
  • Nvidia's shares increased by 3.3% following the announcements.
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Japanese Travel Agency Plans Tokyo–New York Flights via Outer Space

Japanese Travel Agency Plans Tokyo–New York Flights via Outer Space

Summary

A Japanese travel agency plans to start offering high-speed space transport between Tokyo and U.S. cities like New York, with trips taking only 60 minutes. The project, scheduled to begin in the 2030s, involves reusable rockets and anticipates the service to cost around $657,000 per round trip.

Key Facts

  • Nippon Travel Agency Co. and Innovative Space Carrier Inc. are working together on this project.
  • The transport vehicle will be able to connect any two points on Earth in about an hour.
  • A round trip is expected to cost about 100 million yen or $657,000 per person.
  • The launch site for these vehicles will be offshore.
  • Advance applications for the program will open in fiscal year 2026.
  • The project will start with related space-themed tours and food-tasting experiences.
  • Plans include offering space orbital stays in the 2040s.
  • Nippon Travel Agency focuses on product design and marketing, while Innovative Space Carrier aims to reduce costs by extending rocket usage.
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A Brief But Spectacular take on preventing homelessness

A Brief But Spectacular take on preventing homelessness

Summary

Dana Vanderford and Fred Theus work in Los Angeles County to help stop people from losing their homes. They use technology to find those most at risk and provide support before they become homeless.

Key Facts

  • Dana Vanderford and Fred Theus focus on preventing homelessness in Los Angeles County.
  • They work in a homelessness prevention unit.
  • The unit uses AI technology to identify individuals at risk of homelessness.
  • AI stands for Artificial Intelligence, which helps find patterns in data.
  • The goal is to support people before they lose their homes.
  • This approach aims to reduce homelessness by offering early help.
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