Month: January 2025

‘It’s buzzing here’: Detroit’s revival takes shape after decades of decay

The tech scene is booming in the US’s largest Black-majority city, with foreign investment and a recent population boost When the Book Cadillac hotel opened in Detroit a century ago this month, it crowned the Motor City as one of the most dominant metropolitan powers on the planet. The tallest hotel in the world at …

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Football coaches could soon be calling on AI to scout the next superstar

Technologists claim managers could wish for specific player attributes and AI would suggest perfect youth prospect Football coaches desperate to boost their team’s performance could soon find an answer in an artificial intelligence system aimed at conjuring the next superstar. A kind of sporting Aladdin’s lamp is within reach, technologists claim, which could allow managers …

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How to deal with Zoom calls in 2025: in smaller groups with static backgrounds

Researchers are looking at how to make video meetings feel less tiring, reduce anxiety and tackle ‘Zoom dysmorphia’ Whether it’s a social catch-up with colleagues, or assembling to set new year objectives, many of us will be reconnecting via Zoom, Teams or Google Meet come Monday morning. Yet while such platforms have revolutionised flexible and …

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Meta is killing off its own AI-powered Instagram and Facebook profiles

Instagram profile of ‘proud Black queer momma’, created by Meta, said her development team included no Black people Meta is deleting Facebook and Instagram profiles of AI characters the company created over a year ago after users rediscovered some of the profiles and engaged them in conversations, screenshots of which went viral. The company had …

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Trolling the UK: the issues enraging Elon Musk, world’s richest ‘pub bore’

Unprompted outbursts on X suggest the Tesla owner is hellbent on making life awkward for Keir Starmer While Keir Starmer was trying to enjoy a family holiday in Madeira over the new year, Elon Musk was trying to spoil it. The world’s richest man has been using X to lob insults and slurs in the …

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Apple to pay $95m to settle claims Siri listened to users’ private conversations

Settlement of proposed class-action lawsuit represent nine hours of profit for Apple, which has denied wrongdoing Apple has agreed to pay $95m in cash to settle a proposed class-action lawsuit claiming that its voice-activated assistant Siri violated users’ privacy, listening to them without their consent. iPhone owners complained that Apple routinely recorded their private conversations …

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From electric blankets to the cosiest coats: the cold weather essentials you need to beat the big freeze

As the temperature drops, we’ve rounded up our top winter warmers to help you brave the cold After a mostly mild, overcast December, winter has finally arrived. To help you keep warm, especially if you’re reluctant to crank up the thermostat too much, we’ve rounded up some of our best-loved, tried-and-tested products. From slippers to …

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Smuggled Starlink devices allegedly used to defy India’s internet shutdowns

Civilian and armed groups in conflict-ridden state of Manipur using SpaceX’s satellite internet, sources say Elon Musk’s satellite-based Starlink – currently unlicensed for use in India – is being used by militant groups in the conflict-ridden state of Manipur to circumvent government internet shutdowns, fighters and security sources have said. The satellite internet service provider, …

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Nick Clegg has sold almost $19m in Meta shares since joining Facebook in 2018

Former UK deputy prime minister, who still has about $21m worth, is leaving role as president of global affairs Nick Clegg has made almost $19m (£15.3m) from the sale of shares in Meta since he joined the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp six years ago. The former British deputy prime minister announced on Thursday …

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As a child psychiatrist, I see what smartphones are doing to kids’ mental health – and it’s terrifying | Emily Sehmer

The online world is forcing children to grow up before they are ready, and parents need government’s help to combat its harms Smartphone use among children has reached a critical moment. Many of us in the UK are increasingly aware of the dangers associated with them – and as a child and adolescent psychiatrist, I …

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