Month: April 2024

Google blocking links to California news outlets from search results

Tech giant is protesting proposed law that would require large online platforms to pay ‘journalism usage fee’ Google has temporarily blocked links from local news outlets in California from appearing in search results in response to the advancement of a bill that would require tech companies to pay publications for links that articles share. The …

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Suno AI can generate power ballads about coffee – and jingles for the Guardian. But will it hurt musicians?

Plug in some prompts and the ‘ChatGPT for music’ whips up a song in seconds – if you don’t mind slightly silly lyrics Heralded as the ChatGPT for music, Suno AI is the latest iteration of generative artificial intelligence to flood social feeds, wowing users with its (ahem) lyrical prowess. Plug in the musical style …

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Bafta games awards hail one of gaming’s best ever years

Despite lay-offs and studio closures, the 20th edition of the ceremony saw Dungeons & Dragons-inspired Baldur’s Gate 3 become the runaway winner in a hotly contested field In London last night, the 20th Bafta games awards celebrated a year that was stacked with critically acclaimed games. Taking place against the backdrop of an unprecedented year …

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Anger from campaigners as WhatsApp lowers age limit to 13 in UK and EU

Child safety group says Meta ‘putting profits before protecting children’, as messaging app lowers age limit from 16 Campaigners have reacted with anger to the social media company Meta lowering the minimum age for WhatsApp users from 16 to 13 in the UK and EU. The change was announced in February and came into force …

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Use TikTok to combat misinformation, MPs tell government

Cross-party committee urges creation of strategy engage with new platforms that appeal to young The government needs a TikTok strategy to help combat misinformation directed at young people, MPs have said. Members of the cross-party culture, media and sport committee said the government needed to adapt to new apps and platforms that appeal to young …

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Instagram to blur nudity in messages in bid to protect teens

Company says it is testing out features as part of campaign to fight sexual scams and forms of ‘image abuse’ Instagram said it’s deploying new tools to protect young people and combat sexual extortion, including a feature that will automatically blur nudity in direct messages. The social media company said in a blog post Thursday …

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IDF colonel discusses ‘data science magic powder’ for locating terrorists

Video of official from Unit 8200 in February 2023 raises questions about Israel’s denials of use of AI in Gaza A video has surfaced of a senior official at Israel’s cyber intelligence agency, Unit 8200, talking last year about the use of machine learning “magic powder” to help identify Hamas targets in Gaza. The footage …

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UK has real concerns about AI risks, says competition regulator

Concentration of power among just six big tech companies ‘could lead to winner takes all dynamics’ Just six major technology companies are at the heart of the AI sector through an “interconnected web” of more than 90 investments and partnerships links, the UK’s competition regulator has warned, sparking increased concern about the anti-competitive nature of …

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It crawled from below 50 years ago: how the global Dungeons & Dragons empire began in a basement

The fantasy tabletop role-playing game was conceived of by friends at the heart of Wisconsin’s gaming community, and has evolved to become a global phenomenon There are 15 of us crammed into a cellar beneath a nondescript house in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. To the uninformed observer, there’s nothing to see down here: just two low …

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Don’t believe these TikTok tax tips, say experts: ‘Anyone who follows this is in for a world of hurt’

As Tax Day approaches, accountants debunk some money-saving claims that are a little too good to be true You can find anything on TikTok from book reviews to sex education classes. So it’s unsurprising that some people hit up the app for tax advice. Just try not to be one of those people yourself. The …

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