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Hospital Robots Are Helping Combat a Wave of Nurse Burnout from 2022-04-21T06:10:05
Moxi and other delivery-focused assistants have become even more critical as the Covid-19 pandemic has pushed health care workers to their limits.
ListenThe Rise of Brand-New Secondhand EVs from 2022-04-20T06:10:05
The global chip shortage has triggered a surge in demand for prized, pricey used electric vehicles. It's only just beginning.
ListenElon Musk’s Truth from 2022-04-19T06:10:05
At TED, the Tesla CEO made his case for owning Twitter—and rewrote his own history.
ListenWikipedia Editors Are Ready to Stop Accepting Crypto Donations from 2022-04-18T06:10:06
A majority of editors voiced support to end such donations, arguing that the Bitcoin and Ethereum networks consume too much energy.
ListenThe Census Is Broken. Can AI Fix It? from 2022-04-15T06:10:07
Machine learning can help count people to deliver government funding and decide political representation, but the technology still makes mistakes.
ListenHow Apple’s Monster M1 Ultra Chip Keeps Moore’s Law Alive from 2022-04-14T06:10:06
By combining two processors into one, the company has squeezed a surprising amount of performance out of silicon.
ListenThe Race to Archive Social Posts That May Prove Russian War Crimes from 2022-04-13T06:10:05
Painstaking new techniques for archiving social media posts could provide crucial evidence in future prosecutions.
ListenThis Is How Twitter’s Edit Button Can Actually Work from 2022-04-12T06:10:04
The ability to edit tweets is coming—but it’s full of risks. This is how to do it right.
ListenAfter-Loss Tech Wants to Ease the Logistics of Death from 2022-04-11T06:10:07
A world of services has appeared to help act as digital death doulas for the bereaved. They show software's potential—and its limits.
ListenThis Is How the Global Energy Crisis Ends from 2022-04-08T06:10:06
With future price rises baked in and some countries on the verge of rationing gas, things are going to get a whole lot worse before they get any better.
ListenEurope’s Biggest Lithium Mine Is Caught in a Political Maelstrom from 2022-04-07T06:10:05
Europe wants to source EV materials within its own borders. But fierce opposition ahead of the elections in Serbia shows locals don’t trust mining companies.
ListenWashington State Passed a Contentious New Gig Worker Law from 2022-04-06T06:10:07
Uber and Lyft have legally cemented the independent contractor status of ride-hail drivers. Now other states are on the horizon.
ListenA Wave of Startups Is Tackling Cow Burps and Other Climate Issues from 2022-04-05T06:10:05
The demand for tech to save the planet is driving a new boom in companies trying to cash in.
ListenRussians Need VPNs. The Kremlin Hates Them from 2022-04-04T06:10:06
VPNs are divided between trying to help Russians stay connected to the global web and steering clear of Putin’s messy politics.
ListenTikTok’s Black Box Obscures Its Role in Russia’s War from 2022-04-01T06:10:06
Outside researchers can’t easily monitor how truth or lies circulate on the social media platform—raising concerns about its role in spreading misinformation.
ListenThe Supply Chain Crisis Is About to Get a Lot Worse from 2022-03-31T06:10:04
A seemingly endless supply chain crunch has fueled interest in tech that promises to track problems or predict where new ones might occur.
ListenEurope's Digital Markets Act Takes a Hammer to Big Tech from 2022-03-30T06:10:06
The EU targets tech giants' walled gardens with aggressive new rules, but the smaller companies the DMA is meant to help are skeptical it will work.
ListenWorkers Are Trading Staggering Amounts of Data for 'Payday Loans' from 2022-03-29T06:10:06
Companies are offering interest-free advances to people with poor credit in exchange for detailed personal data.
ListenCalifornia’s Plan to Electrify Uber and Lyft Doesn’t Add Up from 2022-03-28T06:10:08
A 2030 target for electric vehicles to dominate ride-hailing is a lofty goal. But it’s the drivers, not the companies, who may have to foot the bill.
ListenWhy WhatsApp Survived Russia’s Social Media Purge from 2022-03-25T06:10:04
Russia has branded Meta an “extremist organization” and banned Facebook and Instagram. WhatsApp is a different story.
ListenCoal Threatens a Comeback as the EU Pulls Away From Russian Oil from 2022-03-24T06:10:04
Europe's efforts to avoid Russian energy imports will likely trigger a short-term spike in coal, and environmentalists are concerned.
ListenChina’s Gig Workers Are Challenging Their Algorithmic Bosses from 2022-03-23T06:10:05
Food delivery drivers are using platforms’ data-powered systems, mass WeChat groups, and unofficial unions to fight unfair conditions.
ListenCan an Online Course Help Big Tech Find Its Soul? from 2022-03-22T06:10:07
The Foundations of Humane Technology is an eight-hour class for Silicon Valley’s disillusioned workers.
ListenOn Depop, Sellers Are Pushing Shady Secondhand Pills from 2022-03-21T06:10:05
The popular ecommerce site is riddled with half-used packets of diet pills and harmful health supplements, highlighting the need for tougher regulation.
ListenActivists Are Reaching Russians Behind Putin's Propaganda Wall from 2022-03-18T06:10:07
Apps like Tinder, Google Maps, and Telegram give activists a way to share what's really going on in Ukraine—for now.
ListenHow a New Digital Dollar Could Shake the US Financial System from 2022-03-17T06:10:04
The Biden administration is looking into a government-issued digital currency. The implications would be profound.
ListenThe Great Tech Hub Exodus Didn't Quite Happen from 2022-03-16T06:10:04
Two years into the pandemic, US tech jobs remain concentrated in a handful of coastal hubs. But a new set of cities is gaining ground.
ListenThe Problem With Big Tech's Wartime Push Against Putin from 2022-03-15T06:10:04
Plus: Silicon Valley’s response to Snowden, stories that shift reality, and a culmination of catastrophes.
ListenIn Ukraine, Online Gig Workers Keep Coding Through the War from 2022-03-14T06:10:05
The country is a large supplier of contract labor through platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr. The ongoing crisis with Russia exposes weaknesses in that system.
ListenHigh Above Ukraine, Satellites Get Embroiled in the War from 2022-03-11T06:10:04
While the Russian invasion rages on the ground, companies that operate data-collecting satellites find themselves in an awkward position.
ListenToday's Startups Are Flush With Cash—and Watching Every Penny from 2022-03-10T06:10:06
Investors have poured money into startups the past few years. Now, founders worry about a changing market and the rising cost of retaining employees.
ListenHow to Move Your Shop or Business Online from 2022-03-09T06:10:06
The pandemic prompted entrepreneurs to move their brick-and-mortars into the digital sphere. Here's what worked for me and other small business owners.
ListenThe Original Hybrid Workers Can Teach Us How to Do It Right from 2022-03-08T06:10:05
Over 50 years ago, they trialed “part-time telecommuting.” The pandemic-driven model has problems, but early adopters think they can be fixed.
ListenThe Governor of Colorado Is High on Blockchain from 2022-03-07T06:10:07
Can Jared Polis turn the Rockies into the next crypto paradise?
ListenAustralia's Standoff Against Google and Facebook Worked—Sort Of from 2022-03-04T06:10:06
A year after Australia forced tech giants to pay news outlets for the content they display, other countries want to follow suit.
ListenYouTube's Captions Insert Explicit Language in Kids' Videos from 2022-03-03T06:10:07
The AI that transcribes spoken dialog on the platform's standard version can render “corn” as “porn,” “beach” as “bitch,” and “brave” as “rape.”
ListenEnergy Firms Are Going ‘Green’ by Offloading Dirty Coal Plants from 2022-03-02T06:10:05
In the EU, phasing out emissions often means paying someone to take over polluting plants—and keep them running.
ListenAn NFT Bubble Is Taking Over the Gig Economy from 2022-03-01T06:10:06
Two-thirds of freelancers on Fiverr say they’re servicing the NFT industry. But is it sustainable?
ListenWhy Cities Want Old Buildings Taken Down Gently from 2022-02-28T06:10:06
A growing number of US cities are adopting “deconstruction” policies that involve taking structures apart by hand in the name of sustainability.
ListenChina Is About to Regulate AI—and the World Is Watching from 2022-02-25T06:10:05
Sweeping rules will cover algorithms that set prices, control search results, recommend videos, and filter content.
ListenTikTok Wants Longer Videos—Whether You Like It or Not from 2022-02-24T06:10:04
The company knows that clips over 60 seconds in length stress users out. That won't stop it from chasing the lucrative long-video market.
ListenGrocery Apps Hoped to Win Over Amsterdam. Then Things Turned Sour from 2022-02-23T06:10:06
The "dark stores" that popped up in Dutch cities have triggered turf wars with residents and citywide crackdowns.
ListenThe Elusive Hunt for a Robot That Can Pick a Ripe Strawberry from 2022-02-22T06:10:05
It's a tricky, delicate task that combines machine vision and robotics. Progress has been slow, but entrepreneurs and farmers continue to invest.
ListenThe Psychology of Placing EV Chargers Along Roads Less Traveled from 2022-02-21T06:10:06
Just seeing a map of charging stations in rural areas can help alleviate “range anxiety”—and help get more EVs on the streets.
ListenThe Brutal Reason Some Primates Are Born a Weird Color from 2022-02-18T06:10:04
When species have babies with conspicuous fur, it can attract good attention—or bad. A new theory could explain why.
ListenAfter the Great Resignation, Tech Firms Are Getting Desperate from 2022-02-17T06:10:05
Faced with a shortage of qualified workers and fierce competition, companies are offering candidates money to interview and plush perks if they stay.
ListenFace Recognition Is Out. So How Will the IRS Verify Identity? from 2022-02-16T06:10:06
Fighting fraud is important. But so is respecting privacy and guarding against bias. It's a “no-win situation,” one former official says.
ListenAssange’s NFT Clock Sale Rides a Wave of DAO Crowdfunding from 2022-02-15T06:10
The WikiLeaks founder raised $50 million for legal fees, making him the latest public figure to benefit from decentralized autonomous organization...
Assange’s NFT Clock Sale Rides a Wave of DAO Crowdfunding from 2022-02-15T06:10
The WikiLeaks founder raised $50 million for legal fees, making him the latest public figure to benefit from decentralized autonomous organizations.
ListenSony's AI Drives a Race Car Like a Champ from 2022-02-14T06:10:06
The company built GT Sophy to master the game Gran Turismo, but it may help the development of real self-driving cars.
ListenThe IRS Drops Facial Recognition Verification After Uproar from 2022-02-11T06:15:58
Privacy advocates and lawmakers from both major parties objected to the agency's use of a third-party system to confirm taxpayers' identities.
ListenBattery-Powered Trains Are Picking Up Speed from 2022-02-10T06:10:04
Electric locomotives could cut emissions of greenhouse gases and toxic pollutants that harm people living near rail yards.
ListenA Fight Over the Right to Repair Cars Turns Ugly from 2022-02-09T06:10:04
In the wake of a voter-approved law, Subaru and Kia dealers in Massachusetts have disabled systems that allow remote starts and send maintenance alerts.
ListenThousands of Planes Are Flying Empty and No One Can Stop Them from 2022-02-08T06:10:05
A pre-pandemic policy on airport usage is pressuring airlines to keep "ghost flights" in the air. The climate impact is massive.
ListenBig Tech Needs to Stop Trying to Make Their Metaverse Happen from 2022-02-07T06:10:05
From Microsoft to Meta, the race is on to sell an amorphous concept that no one really wants them to build.
ListenHP Wins Huge Fraud Case Against Autonomy’s Mike Lynch from 2022-02-04T06:10:06
The ruling by the UK’s High Court could also lead to Lynch’s extradition to the United States, where he faces further charges.
ListenIt's Not Just the IRS—the US Government Wants Your Selfies from 2022-02-03T06:10:06
A controversial new program that uses facial recognition is part of a national effort to verify identities and reduce fraud.
ListenNow Physical Jobs Are Going Remote, Too from 2022-02-02T06:16:45
Advances in artificial intelligence and other technology allow machines to be operated from far away. The trend could spell trouble for workers.
ListenSynthetic Voices Want to Take Over Audiobooks from 2022-02-01T06:10:07
Publishers hope computer-generated voices can help them tap surging demand, but some fans—and Amazon—are resisting the robots.
ListenLatino Founders Have a Hard Time Raising Money From VCs from 2022-01-31T06:10:05
Despite diversity pledges, funding to Latino-founded startups in the US still lags—accounting for only 2 percent of venture investments last year.
ListenEveryone Wants to Be an Entrepreneur from 2022-01-28T06:10:04
Applications for new businesses rose 20 percent last year, after languishing for a decade. Many newly minted founders attribute it to the pandemic.
ListenMeta and Twitter's NFT Landgrab Could Backfire from 2022-01-27T06:10:05
A new plan to lure social media users to the metaverse could legitimize NFTs, but it could also ruin them.
ListenGuts, Not Guidelines, Will Stop Tech Mergers from 2022-01-26T06:10:05
Plus: Microsoft’s bid for Yahoo, Silicon Valley’s approach to history, and Tonga’s disastrous eruption.
ListenChina’s ‘People’s Courts’ Resolve Online Disputes at Tech Firms from 2022-01-25T06:10:06
No garlic on the oysters? Soup stained a blanket? Panels of users hear the complaints and can order refunds or removal of critical reviews.
ListenWhen It Comes to Health Care, AI Has a Long Way to Go from 2022-01-24T06:10:04
Medical information is more complex and less available than the web data that many algorithms were trained on, so results can be misleading.
ListenCities Want Ebikes to Stay in Their Lane—but Which One? from 2022-01-21T06:10:05
From New York to Moab, Utah, bicyclists and municipal officials are divided over whether ebikes should be permitted on bicycle trails.
ListenWho Do Young Entrepreneurs Look Up To? Elon Musk from 2022-01-20T06:10:05
Steve Jobs is dead, Mark Zuckerberg is tarnished. For the next generation of startup founders, the contributions of Bill Gates feel like ancient history.
ListenAs Kazakhstan Descends into Chaos, Crypto Miners Are at a Loss from 2022-01-19T06:10:04
The central Asian country became No. 2 in the world for Bitcoin mining. But political turmoil and power cuts have hit hard, and the future looks bleak.
ListenAccessible Cars Aren’t Born, They’re Made from 2022-01-18T06:10:04
Car buyers looking for specific mobility features have limited options, but customizers and manufacturers are trying to change that.
ListenYou May Be Able to Own a Self-Driving Car After All from 2022-01-17T06:10:04
For years, automakers focused on using autonomous technology for “robotaxis,” akin to a shared Uber. A GM announcement this week shows that’s changing.
ListenFacebook’s Data Center Plans Rile Residents in the Netherlands from 2022-01-14T06:20:38
The country has become a magnet for Big Tech facilities, but locals say they will syphon away all their green energy.
ListenSelf-Driving Vehicles Are Here—If You Know Where to Look from 2022-01-13T06:10:05
Glossy visions of an autonomous future always seem just out of reach. But two insiders say the technology is available on farms, and on clear, dry...
Public Transit Systems Refocus on Their Core Riders from 2022-01-12T06:10:04
In the wake of the pandemic, officials are shifting bus and rail service toward lower-income neighborhoods, while some agencies are eliminating fa...
A Move for 'Algorithmic Reparation' Calls for Racial Justice in AI from 2022-01-11T06:10:04
Researchers are encouraging those who work in AI to explicitly consider racism, gender, and other structural inequalities.
Advice to Startup Founders: Prepare to Fail from 2022-01-10T06:10:05
Three new books explore why fledgling companies flounder—and what to do about it.
John Deere's Self-Driving Tractor Stirs Debate on AI in Farming from 2022-01-07T06:10:04
The automation, and control of the resulting data, raise questions about the role of human farmers.
A Year In, Biden’s China Policy Looks a Lot Like Trump’s from 2022-01-05T06:10:04
The administration has toned down the anti-China rhetoric, but it has maintained and expanded economic sanctions—and plans a “diplomatic boycott” ...
This Company Has a Way to Replace Plastic in Clothing from 2022-01-04T06:10:05
Natural Fiber Welding uses an innovative process to treat cotton and make it behave more like synthetic fibers.
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The Morbid War Over Online Obituaries from 2022-01-03T06:10:05
“Obituary pirates” scrape websites and publish their own versions of death notices, reaping commissions on flowers and gifts.
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VCs Lavished Startups With Cash in 2021. Now Comes the Hard Part from 2021-12-30T06:10:05
“Is it a casino or the future of tech? Everyone’s trying to figure that out.”
Face Recognition Is Being Banned—but It’s Still Everywhere from 2021-12-29T06:10:05
Two dozen cities and states prohibit use of the tech. But it’s on phones and is increasingly used in airports and in banks.
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How Y Combinator Changed the World from 2021-12-28T06:10:04
As if launching Airbnb, Stripe, and Dropbox weren’t enough, the famous accelerator has had an outsize—and mixed—impact on all of us.
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More Black and Hispanic Entrepreneurs Are Open for Business from 2021-12-23T06:10:06
A new report finds more people, particularly those in minority groups, are starting new ventures amid the pandemic.
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This Digital Bank Is Designed for the LGBTQ+ Community from 2021-12-22T06:10:04
New York-based Daylight is rethinking fintech with a social twist.
Taking a ‘Flexible Job’? Beware the Never-Ending Workday from 2021-12-21T06:10:04
The rise of “asynchronous” working has great potential for companies and employees alike—but it comes with unexpectedly rigid downsides.
The Gig Economy’s Days in Europe Are Numbered from 2021-12-20T06:10:05
Court cases and a new draft law from the European Commission are chipping away at the controversial industry. What comes next may look very differ...
This New Tech Cuts Through Rock Without Grinding Into It from 2021-12-17T06:10:04
A startup called Petra uses super-hot gas to penetrate bedrock. The method could make it cheaper to move utilities underground—and make electric l...
There's $2B for Broadband on Reservations. It Won't Be Enough from 2021-12-16T06:10:05
The recently approved US infrastructure law aims to close the digital divide for Native peoples. But the demand far outstrips the money allocated....
What Will Work Look Like in 2022? (Hint: Not the Metaverse) from 2021-12-15T06:10:04
Here’s what industry leaders think about the future of work, from changing office hours to, yes, staying in the meatspace.
What Crypto Can Expect From Twitter’s New CEO from 2021-12-14T06:10:04
@jack is out at Twitter, but his crypto-mania is alive and well under Parag Agrawal.
Meta’s Failed Giphy Deal Could End Big Tech’s Spending Spree from 2021-12-13T06:10:05
There was a time, not so long ago, when Meta’s big-money deal to acquire Giphy would have been waved through. No more.
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Why Do DVDs Still Exist? from 2021-12-10T06:10:04
Some people still buy them—though not necessarily who you’d think.
The Watch World Is Finally Being Forced to Embrace Ecommerce from 2021-12-09T06:10:05
Digital retail came into its own during lockdown, yet amazingly some watch brands still haven’t committed to online sales. Now time is running out...
Robots Won’t Close the Warehouse Worker Gap Anytime Soon from 2021-12-08T06:10:05
Even Amazon’s new AI-powered machines aren’t nearly capable enough to handle the most important fulfillment tasks.
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Great Resignation? Tech Workers Try a Great Reconsideration Instead from 2021-12-07T06:10
More Americans are quitting their jobs than ever before. Some engineers are finding new workplaces to prioritize their own wellbeing.
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Good Luck Trying to Fix the Supply Chain Crisis from 2021-12-06T06:10:03
The system of getting things from A to B is broken. Fixing it will involve rethinking how pretty much everything moves.
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Why the Chip Shortage Drags On and On … and On from 2021-12-03T06:10:03
Demand is still surging, but it takes time to build new factories. And a history of highs and lows may deter some investors.
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John Doerr Wants to Stop Climate Change—With OKRs from 2021-12-02T06:10:17
Plus: Bill Gates’ climate plan, real estate in the metaverse, and a different kind of mirrorworld.
Twitter Blue Is for People Who Love Reading the News from 2021-12-01T06:10:06
The platform's first subscription feature has a specific target audience.
You Don’t Have to WFH at Home—Try These Places Instead from 2021-11-30T06:32:10
Mix up your new normal by seeking out quirky local coworking spaces—or find some inspiration in a museum.
The Hidden Dangers of 'Buy Now, Pay Later' Apps from 2021-11-29T06:10:08
Services such as Afterpay, Affirm, and Klarna are soaring in popularity and valuation. But consumer advocates say they make it easy to get overext...
Timnit Gebru Says Artificial Intelligence Needs to Slow Down from 2021-11-23T06:10:05
The AI researcher, who left Google last year, says the incentives around AI research are all wrong.
How To Fix Email … With Science! from 2021-11-22T06:10:05
Email isn’t broken—it’s the people who are the problem. But if you start treating it like old-fashioned snail mail, suddenly it makes sense again....
Sodium Batteries May Power Your New Electric Car from 2021-11-19T06:10:08
As EV sales increase, supplies of lithium may get tight. So some companies are incorporating cells with sodium, which provides almost as big a cha...
The Wild Rise of Moonbug—YouTube’s Magic Money Machine from 2021-11-18T06:10:06
The company, which runs several channels full of children's content, just sold for $3 billion. Disney, look out.
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The Metaverse Is Mark Zuckerberg’s Mobile Do-Over from 2021-11-17T06:10:05
Plus: Facebook’s Home flop, the trouble with Covid answers, and good and bad news from Gaia.
These Robots Follow You to Learn Where to Go from 2021-11-16T06:10:05
Burro makes carts that help growers of trees and vineyards with harvests. Meanwhile, the maker of Vespa scooters wants to carry your groceries.
These Philadelphians Created an App to Prevent Gun Violence from 2021-11-15T06:10:06
Two neighbors stepped up to use technology to protect their community, and now they're sharing how easy it is for others to do the same.
Google Staff Squirm as Remote Workers Face Pay Cuts from 2021-11-12T06:10:07
As more and more people switch to working from home, some are left counting the cost.
Even as China Cracks Down on Tech, AI Companies Plan IPOs from 2021-11-11T06:10:07
SenseTime and Megvii both include facial recognition technology among their offerings and do a lot of business with government agencies.
Facebook Drops Facial Recognition to Tag People in Photos from 2021-11-10T06:10:05
The social media company will delete data from images of more than 1 billion people.
These Companies Are Already Living in Zuckerberg’s Metaverse from 2021-11-09T06:10:07
The Meta dream envisages whole companies operating in a virtual world. Many made the switch years ago—with mixed results.
These Batteries Can't Power a Car—but They Can Light Up a City from 2021-11-08T06:10:06
Entrepreneurs are devising innovative ways to reuse spent electric vehicle batteries. One promising idea is storing power from solar and wind farm...
Facebook Is Going Meta from 2021-11-05T06:10:07
Mark Zuckerberg would like you to call his troubled company something else now.
This Group Pushed More AI in US Security—and Boosted Big Tech from 2021-11-04T06:10:04
The National Security Commission on AI included members from Oracle, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon. Some of its recommendations are already federa...
This Program Can Give AI a Sense of Ethics—Sometimes from 2021-11-03T06:10:06
Researchers trained an algorithm to answer questions about human values. Some of the responses are troubling.
Apple’s New MacBook Pro Chips Flex the Power of Custom Silicon from 2021-11-02T06:10:07
The new M1 Pro and M1 Max better integrate the computers’ hardware with their software—much like the iPhone.
Facebook Is Everywhere; Its Moderation Is Nowhere Close from 2021-11-01T06:10:05
Human reviewers and AI filters struggle to police the flood of content—or understand the nuances in different Arabic dialects.
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I Used Facebook Without the Algorithm, and You Can Too from 2021-10-29T06:10:07
Making your News Feed chronological is an enlightening look at what's really happening on the platform.
You Can Get This Free Crypto—If the ‘Orb’ Scans Your Eye from 2021-10-28T06:10:05
Worldcoin's backers see it as a potential first step to a universal basic income.
The ‘Broadband Gap’ Is Now a Housing Problem from 2021-10-27T06:10:05
Many people eligible for Covid-era rent assistance have trouble navigating a “tangled web” of agencies because they don't have reliable internet a...
Facebook Can't Hide Its Problems Behind a New Name from 2021-10-26T06:10:05
Can rebranding the company herald a fresh start? Experts, as you might guess, are skeptical.
A New Credit Card Arrives—With a Silicon Valley Twist from 2021-10-25T06:10:04
The X1 is designed for spenders who are young, high-earning, and live on their phones.
With Subscriptions, Automakers Mimic Netflix’s Playbook from 2021-10-22T06:10:05
GM thinks consumers might pay $135 a month for emergency assistance, enhanced maps, and software-enabled upgrades that boost acceleration.
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AI’s Smarts Now Come With a Big Price Tag from 2021-10-21T06:10:04
As language models get more complex, they also get more expensive to create and run. Some companies are locked out.
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A Huge Subterranean ‘Tree’ Is Moving Magma to Earth’s Surface from 2021-10-20T06:10:05
Deep in the mantle, a branching plume of intensely hot material appears to be the engine powering vast volcanic activity.
These Virtual Obstacle Courses Help Real Robots Learn to Walk from 2021-10-19T06:10:15
Researchers used specialized chips and simulation software to teach a four-legged robot to navigate stairs and blocks.
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The Government Wants to Bolster Its Tech—Starting With Workers from 2021-10-18T06:10:05
Robin Carnahan, head of the agency that manages the federal government's offices and IT, is revamping job descriptions and pushing remote work.
Borrowed a School Laptop? Mind Your Open Tabs from 2021-10-15T06:10:05
Students—many from lower-income households—were likely to use school-issued devices for remote learning. But the devices often contained monitorin...
A True Story About Bogus Photos of People Making Fake News from 2021-10-14T06:10:05
A photographer set out to capture the misinformation producers in a small town in Macedonia. He wound up revealing uncomfortable truths about his ...
Weighing Big Tech’s Promise to Black America from 2021-10-13T06:10:05
Last year, Netflix made a pledge that represents the tech industry’s best shot at redressing the nation’s racial inequality. How seriously should ...
Clearview AI Has New Tools to Identify You in Photos from 2021-10-12T06:10:08
In an interview with WIRED, CEO Hoan Ton-That said the company has scraped 10 billion photos from the web—and developed new ways to aid police sur...
Bring on the Fist Bumps and Nasal Swabs—Tech Conferences Are Back from 2021-10-11T06:10:07
Hundreds of (vaccinated) attendees gathered in a Beverly Hills hotel ballroom as Code Conference returned after a year-long hiatus.
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China's Sweeping Cryptocurrency Ban Was Inevitable from 2021-10-08T06:10:07
The decentralized technology clashes with the government’s plans for a state-dominated economy—one that includes its own digital currency.
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Soon Your Google Searches Can Combine Text and Images from 2021-10-07T06:10:04
With the help of AI, you’ll be able to take a picture of a shirt, then ask Google to find socks with the same pattern.
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This Software Aims to Make Your Flight Smoother—and Help the Planet from 2021-10-06T06:10:05
Airplanes taxiing isn't just annoying—it's a big source of emissions. The FAA and NASA created a new system to save time and fuel.
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Why Tesla Is Designing Chips to Train Its Self-Driving Tech from 2021-10-05T06:47:10
Developing AI is costly and time-consuming. Custom silicon can give companies an edge.
These Deepfake Voices Can Help Trans Gamers from 2021-10-04T06:10:08
Players of online games can be harassed when their voices don't match their gender identity. New AI-fueled software may help.
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AI Can Write Code Like Humans—Bugs and All from 2021-10-01T06:10:06
New tools that help developers write software also generate similar mistakes.
It’s Time to Talk About Facebook Research from 2021-09-30T06:10
Plus: Adam Mosseri on News Feeds, remote drivers for cars, and a pickle for Greenland.
How Computationally Complex Is a Single Neuron? from 2021-09-29T06:10:07
Scientists taught an artificial neural network to imitate a biological neuron. The result offers a new way to think about the complexity of brain ...
The Elizabeth Holmes Trial Is Underway. Silicon Valley Is Watching from 2021-09-28T06:10:05
“I’m glad the ‘Fake it till you make it’ mantra of Silicon Valley is coming into question,” one investor told WIRED.
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Google Is Getting Caught in the Global Antitrust Net from 2021-09-27T06:10
As more governments force US tech companies to change how they do business, one case in Turkey cuts to the heart of the search giant’s power.
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A Stanford Proposal Over AI's 'Foundations' Ignites Debate from 2021-09-24T06:10:05
A research paper that dubs some artificial intelligence models "foundational" is sparking a dispute over the future of the field.
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Community Pharmacies Stepped Up During Covid—and Changed for Good from 2021-09-23T06:10:06
Pharmacies have long been perceived as commodities. Now, they’re a central tool for removing barriers to health care.
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In the US, the AI Industry Risks Becoming Winner-Take-Most from 2021-09-22T06:10:07
A new study illustrates just how geographically concentrated AI activity has become.
El Salvador’s Bitcoin Gamble Is Off to a Rocky Start from 2021-09-21T06:10:05
Enthusiasm, fear, and light shows usher the country into the age of cryptocurrency.
An Explosion in Geofence Warrants Threatens Privacy Across the US from 2021-09-20T06:10:05
New figures from Google show a tenfold increase in the requests from law enforcement, which target anyone who happened to be in a given location a...
The $150 Million Machine Keeping Moore’s Law Alive from 2021-09-17T06:10:07
ASML’s next-generation extreme ultraviolet lithography machines achieve previously unattainable levels of precision, which means chips can keep sh...
GM Recalls Every Chevy Bolt Ever Made Over Faulty Batteries from 2021-09-16T06:10:06
The automaker is recalling the electric vehicle after investigating two manufacturing defects linked to car fires.
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Gavin Newsom’s Recall Election Divides Silicon Valley’s Elite from 2021-09-15T06:10:06
How the tech world’s unique brand of politics is shaping the fight over who governs California.
A New Chip Cluster Will Make Massive AI Models Possible from 2021-09-14T06:10:07
Cerebras says its technology can run a neural network with 120 trillion connections—a hundred times what's achievable today.
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Lina Khan’s Theory of the Facebook Antitrust Case Takes Shape from 2021-09-13T06:10:07
With a beefed-up complaint, the Federal Trade Commission explains precisely why it thinks the social media giant is an illegal monopoly.
AI Can Write in English. Now It's Learning Other Languages from 2021-09-10T06:10:08
Startups in Germany, China, Israel, and elsewhere are following the path blazed by GPT-3—with local twists.
Tesla Promised a Robot. Was It Just a Recruiting Pitch? from 2021-09-09T06:10:07
The highlight of an event aimed at AI whizzes was a human simulating a robot that might someday replace a human.
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Looking for a New Job in Tech? It’s Your Lucky Day from 2021-09-08T06:10:04
Flexible WFH policies, signing bonuses, fancy cookies—employers are turning on the charm to attract engineers and developers to their firms.
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The Push for Ad Agencies to Ditch Big Oil Clients from 2021-09-07T06:10:05
An activist coalition is pressuring firms to stop promoting fossil fuel companies—some of which have advertised oil and gas as “climate friendly.”...
Apple and Google Are Gearing Up to Fight a New App Store Bill from 2021-09-06T06:10:05
The Open App Markets Act would relax the tech giants’ grip on the app economy. But a PR campaign against it is already underway.
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Now That Machines Can Learn, Can They Unlearn? from 2021-09-03T06:10:06
Privacy concerns about AI systems are growing. So researchers are testing whether they can remove sensitive data without retraining the system fro...
How an Obscure Green Bay Packers Site Became the Biggest Thing on Facebook from 2021-09-02T06:10:06
The social media giant's new transparency report mostly succeeds in showing the extent of its spam problem.
New Regulation Could Cause a Split in the Crypto Community from 2021-09-01T06:10:06
An article in the Infrastructure Bill led cryptocurrency to acquire a great marker of prestige: a lobby. But can it keep a united front?
The Feds Are Investigating Tesla Over Autopilot Crashes from 2021-08-31T06:36:37
The probe will look at 11 accidents, each of which involved a parked emergency vehicle.
Deepfakes Are Now Making Business Pitches from 2021-08-30T06:10:09
The video technology, initially associated with porn, is gaining a foothold in the corporate world.
What Airbnb’s Summer Boost Reveals About Covid-19 Recovery from 2021-08-27T06:10:06
The company’s latest earnings report showed an upsurge in business, but it also hedges expectations for the fall.
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Samsung Has Its Own AI-Designed Chip. Soon, Others Will Too from 2021-08-26T06:10:04
Synopsys, which sells software for designing semiconductors to dozens of companies, is adding artificial intelligence to its arsenal.
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This Device Helps Paralyzed People Breathe—and Sing from 2021-08-25T06:10:05
Called the Exo-Abs, the robotic device uses artificial intelligence to gauge how much pressure to put on a person’s midsection.
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Struggling to Recruit, Police Turn to Targeted Ads from 2021-08-24T06:10:04
The pandemic and the George Floyd protests have made recruiters’ jobs tougher. Now they’re tapping the behavioral profiling power of social media....
Biden Wants More EVs on Roads. What About Charging Stations? from 2021-08-23T06:10:04
The president called for 40 percent of new cars to be electric by 2030. But motorists still fret about running out of juice—even if it rarely happ...
John Deere Doubles Down on Silicon Valley and Robots from 2021-08-20T06:10:05
The farm-equipment giant is buying Bear Flag Robotics, which makes autonomous tractors, marking its second big tech buy in four years.
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If YouTube Algorithms Radicalize Users, Data Doesn’t Show It from 2021-08-19T06:10:07
New research tracking people’s behavior on the platform found that most don’t go down those ever-deepening rabbit holes.
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These Algorithms Look at X-Rays—and Somehow Detect Your Race from 2021-08-18T06:10:06
A study raises new concerns that AI will exacerbate disparities in health care. One issue? The study’s authors aren’t sure what cues are used by t...
Amazon's Massive GDPR Fine Shows the Law's Power—and Limits from 2021-08-17T06:10:09
It's the first significant GDPR ruling against Big Tech. But secrecy around the decision exposes the regulation’s flaws.
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Facebook’s Reason for Banning Researchers Doesn’t Hold Up from 2021-08-16T06:10:04
The company says privacy concerns forced it to block access for a team of academics. Whose privacy, exactly?
China Cracks Down On Its Tech Giants. Sound Familiar? from 2021-08-13T06:10:05
Companies like Alibaba, Baidu, and Tencent were once regarded with national pride. Now they’re being slapped with fines and other penalties.
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The Pandemic Drives Cofounders to Couples Therapy from 2021-08-12T06:10:05
Startups are like relationships—at least that’s what some Silicon Valley therapists are pitching.
Toyota Whiffed on EVs. Now It’s Trying to Slow Their Rise from 2021-08-11T06:10:05
In a bid to protect its investments in hybrids and hydrogen fuel cells, the carmaker is lobbying against the transition to electric vehicles.
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Intel's Ambitious Plan to Regain Chipmaking Leadership from 2021-08-10T06:10:08
The company announced a strategy that involves new machinery and new technologies. It may get a boost from the US government.
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Clubhouse Opens Its Doors. Is Anyone Rushing to Get In? from 2021-08-09T06:10:06
Just a few days after ditching its invite-only status, the audio chat app had fewer than 500,000 new downloads.
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Trucks Move Past Cars on the Road to Autonomy from 2021-08-06T06:10:06
Money is pouring into autonomous trucking startups, just as many are souring on the short-term prospects for self-driving cars.
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These Bendy Plastic Chips Fit in Unusual Places from 2021-08-05T06:10:05
Researchers think these flexible semiconductors will be able to monitor your heartbeat or tell you whether your milk has spoiled.
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As the Use of AI Spreads, Congress Looks to Rein It In from 2021-08-04T06:10:06
The White House, lawmakers from both parties, and federal agencies are all working on bills or projects to constrain potential downsides of the te...
Who’s Winning the War Between Biden and Facebook? Fox News from 2021-08-03T06:10:06
Misinformation on the cable channel may be responsible for more vaccine hesitancy than the social network.
The Pentagon Is Bolstering Its AI Systems—by Hacking Itself from 2021-08-02T06:11:18
A new “red team” will try to anticipate and thwart attacks on machine learning programs.
Why Not Use Self-Driving Cars as Supercomputers? from 2021-07-30T06:10:06
Autonomous vehicles use the equivalent of 200 laptops to get around. Some want to tap that computing power to decode viruses or mine bitcoin.
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No, Facebook and Google Are Not Public Utilities from 2021-07-29T06:10:05
It’s time to retire one of the most half-baked ideas for regulating Big Tech.
As Travel Rebounds, Airlines Are Figuring It Out on the Fly from 2021-07-28T06:10:06
Businesses destinations are out, tourist spots are in. The old rules governing fares and flight schedules have been thrown out the window.
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Why Do Some Crimes Increase When Airbnbs Come to Town? from 2021-07-27T06:10:06
Tourists neither commit nor attract crimes. But a study finds that violent offenses rose in neighborhoods where more homes were converted to short...
The US Needs to Get Back in the Business of Making Chips from 2021-07-26T06:10:05
Pandemic-induced supply disruptions and competition from China put more pressure on US companies to manufacture semiconductors at home.
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China's Nationalistic ‘Wolf Warriors’ Blast Foes on Twitter from 2021-07-23T06:10:05
Diplomats hurl insults and mock enemies in screeds that often appear aimed at a domestic audience, even though the social media service is blocked...
A New Tool Shows How Google Results Vary Around the World from 2021-07-22T06:10:07
Search Atlas displays three sets of links—or images—from different countries for any search.
GitHub’s Commercial AI Tool Was Built From Open Source Code from 2021-07-21T06:10:06
Copilot is pitched as a helpful aid to developers. But some programmers object to the blind copying of blocks of code used to train the algorithm....
Clubhouse Aimed to Foster Diversity. Is it Working? from 2021-07-20T06:10:07
Here’s what you need to know before joining the social audio platform, especially if you’re a person of color.
French Spyware Executives Are Indicted for Aiding Torture from 2021-07-19T06:10:06
The managers are accused of selling tech to Libya and Egypt that was used to to identify activists, read private messages, and kidnap, torture, or...
Pet Startups Are Having a Field Day from 2021-07-16T06:10:07
The pandemic ushered in a new wave of pet owners—and unleashed business opportunities for companies that cater to them.
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Need to Fit Billions of Transistors on a Chip? Let AI Do It from 2021-07-15T06:10:06
Google, Nvidia, and others are training algorithms in the dark arts of designing semiconductors—some of which will be used to run artificial intel...
The Pentagon Scrubs a Cloud Deal and Looks to Add More AI from 2021-07-14T06:10:08
The JEDI program had become a legal and political morass. Microsoft won the $10 billion contract, but Amazon and Oracle sued to block the deal.
This AI Helps Police Monitor Social Media. Does It Go Too Far? from 2021-07-13T06:10:06
Law enforcement officials say the tool can help them combat misinformation. Civil liberties advocates say it can be used for mass surveillance.
A Global Smart-City Competition Highlights China’s Rise in AI from 2021-07-12T06:10:04
Chinese entrants swept all five categories, featuring technologies to improve civic life. But the advances could also be tools for surveillance.
Oregon’s Buckled Roads and Melted Cables Are Warning Signs from 2021-07-09T06:10:05
Highways and rail lines in the Pacific Northwest were built for a cooler climate. But the heat wave proved that extreme weather is becoming more c...
El Salvador’s Race to Be the Bitcoin Capital of the World from 2021-07-08T06:10:06
After China’s crackdown, the cryptocurrency crowd is looking for a new haven. This Central American nation thinks it’s the answer.
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Google Launches a New Medical App—Outside the US from 2021-07-07T06:10:06
The dermatology AI app won approval for use in the EU but not with the FDA, an odd twist on Europe's reputation for tough rules on tech.
America’s ‘Smart City’ Didn’t Get Much Smarter from 2021-07-06T06:10:06
Columbus, Ohio, won a $50 million grant five years ago to use tech to solve old problems. But technical hurdles, bureaucracy, and the pandemic das...
An Algorithm That Predicts Deadly Infections Is Often Flawed from 2021-07-05T06:10:06
A study found that a system used to identify cases of sepsis missed most instances and frequently issued false alarms.
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Andreessen Horowitz Goes Ham on Crypto with a New $2.2B Fund from 2021-07-02T06:10:07
After its wildly successful Coinbase exit, the VC firm signals its commitment to cryptocurrencies with a third fund.
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A New Wave of Dating Apps Takes Cues From TikTok and Gen Z from 2021-07-01T06:10:05
Online dating exploded in popularity during the pandemic, and the number of new startups has grown. But will they last?
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How Some Americans Are Breaking Out of Political Echo Chambers from 2021-06-30T06:10:06
A growing number of people are seeking a wider diversity of news sources or opinions contrary to their own to combat information silos within soci...
Baltimore May Soon Ban Facial Recognition for Everyone but Cops from 2021-06-29T06:10:07
The measure would make private use of the technology illegal, but would not apply to police. It awaits the mayor's signature.
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The Efforts to Make Text-Based AI Less Racist and Terrible from 2021-06-28T06:10:07
Language models like GPT-3 can write poetry, but they often amplify negative stereotypes. Researchers are trying different approaches to address t...
Apple and Google’s New AI Wizardry Promises Privacy—at a Cost from 2021-06-25T06:10:06
The companies revealed upgrades for their phones that protect data and reduce reliance on the cloud. It also binds users more tightly to their eco...
Zillow Taps AI to Improve Its Home Value Estimates from 2021-06-24T06:10:07
By employing a neural network, the company says its numbers will be more accurate—and allow it to offer to buy more homes.
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Transit Agencies Are Trying Everything to Lure You Back from 2021-06-23T06:10:04
Systems in Boston, Cleveland, Las Vegas, and the San Francisco Bay Area are offering reduced fares or free rides. Others are considering abolishin...
VC Pledged to 'Do Better' on Diversity. It's Barely Changed from 2021-06-22T06:10:04
The Black Lives Matter protests drew sympathetic public statements from investors in 2020. One year later, signs of progress are harder to find.
Covid Brings Automation to the Workplace, Killing Some Jobs from 2021-06-21T06:10:04
Unable to find enough workers, employers are turning to technology to perform tasks—and women are likely to be the hardest hit.
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China's Quiet Ecommerce Giant Thrives on Fresh Produce from 2021-06-18T06:10:06
Pinduoduo, which recently passed Alibaba as the shopping site with the most customers, connects 12 million farmers to more than 800 million users....
Deepfake Maps Could Really Mess With Your Sense of the World from 2021-06-17T06:10:05
Researchers applied AI techniques to make portions of Seattle look more like Beijing. Such imagery could mislead governments or spread misinformat...
Don't End Up on This Artificial Intelligence Hall of Shame from 2021-06-16T06:10:05
A list of incidents that caused, or nearly caused, harm aims to prompt developers to think more carefully about the tech they create.
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The All-Seeing Eyes of New York’s 15,000 Surveillance Cameras from 2021-06-15T06:10:07
Video from the cameras is often used in facial-recognition searches. A report finds they are most common in neighborhoods with large nonwhite popu...
This Arcane Manual Could Pave the Way to More Human-Friendly Cities from 2021-06-14T06:10:06
For decades, the federal government has issued a guide for designing streets. Activists want to make it better for pedestrians and cyclists.
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Inside Silicon Valley’s Mayo Marketing Madness from 2021-06-11T06:10:05
The war on eggs started back in the ’70s, not with the company formerly known as Hampton Creek, but with a little cafe-grocery store in Los Angele...
AI Can Write Disinformation Now—and Dupe Human Readers from 2021-06-10T06:10:06
Georgetown researchers used text generator GPT-3 to write misleading tweets about climate change and foreign affairs. People found the posts persu...
Uber’s Union Deal in the UK Doesn’t Mean Its Battles Are Over from 2021-06-09T06:10:06
The company's first-ever union agreement could distract from more changes that need to happen, both within the gig economy and governments.
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AI Could Soon Write Code Based on Ordinary Language from 2021-06-08T06:10:07
Microsoft reveals plans to bring GPT-3, best known for generating text, to programming. “The code writes itself,” CEO Satya Nadella says.
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When Driving Is (Partially) Automated, People Drive More from 2021-06-07T06:10:06
A study finds that users of advanced driver-assistance systems drive 4,888 more miles per year than similar drivers without the feature.
Meet Your Next Angel Investor. They're 19 from 2021-06-04T06:10:06
It’s never been easier to invest in startups, and Gen Z is taking full advantage.
This AI Makes Robert De Niro Perform Lines in Flawless German from 2021-06-03T06:10:06
When films are dubbed in another language, an actor’s facial movements may clash with his lines. Technology related to deepfakes can help smooth t...
Florida’s New Social Media Law Will Be Laughed Out of Court from 2021-06-02T06:10:05
The Stop Social Media Censorship Act almost certainly violates both the US Constitution and Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
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The Ford Lightning F-150 Is the Electric Vehicle of Dystopia from 2021-06-01T06:10:05
The automaker says the battery inside the pickup can power a home for three days—useful in a world of fires, floods, and freezes.
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All Those Electric Vehicles Pose a Problem for Building Roads from 2021-05-31T06:10:04
Gas taxes are the largest source of funding for highway construction and maintenance. As more cars plug in, that revenue is shrinking.
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The Most Radical Thing About Ford's F-150 Lightning? The Cost from 2021-05-28T06:10:04
After tax credits, the base model of the electric pickup will be cheaper than its gas-fueled sibling, removing what has been a big barrier for EV ...
Roku and YouTube Are Battling for Your Precious TV Data from 2021-05-27T06:10:05
Connected TV advertising brought in $9 billion last year and is poised to grow as more viewers shift from cable to streaming.
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Covid Forced America to Make More Stuff. What Happens Now? from 2021-05-26T06:10:04
A software entrepreneur pivoted to making masks at the start of the pandemic. The experience opened his eyes: “I thought, ‘Wow, the US really is b...
Live Audio Apps Lure Creators With Money and Promises from 2021-05-25T06:10:05
Talk is cheap, unless you’re an in-demand content creator for platforms like Clubhouse and its many clones.
GameStop FOMO Inspires a New Wave of Crypto Pump-and-Dumps from 2021-05-24T06:10:07
Thousands of would-be investors are joining Discord groups that promise big earnings by manipulating the crypto market.
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DeepMind Wants to Use AI to Transform Soccer from 2021-05-21T06:10:06
The Alphabet-owned company is working with Liverpool to bring computer vision and statistical learning to the high-stakes world of sports.
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To Make These Chips More Powerful, IBM Is Growing Them Taller from 2021-05-20T06:10:06
The company reveals a process that it says can cram two-thirds more transistors on a semiconductor, heralding faster and more efficient electronic...
Black and Queer AI Groups Say They'll Spurn Google Funding from 2021-05-19T06:10:05
The move is the latest fallout following the departures of the heads of the company's ethical AI research team and a recruiter.
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Twitter Group's Offer India a Covid-19 Lifeline from 2021-05-18T06:10:07
Hashtags have provided a kind of emergency hotline—but the need for mutual aid on social media is also a rebuke to the government.
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It Began As an AI-Fueled Dungeon Game. It Got Much Darker from 2021-05-17T06:10:05
The game touted its use of the GPT-3 text generator. Then the algorithm started to generate disturbing stories, including sex scenes involving chi...
The One Legal Question That Will Probably Decide the Epic-Apple Lawsuit from 2021-05-14T06:10:17
It’s all about how you define the market.
Gummy Bears and Candy Bars Are Casualties of the Pandemic from 2021-05-13T06:10:17
Shopping online means fewer unplanned purchases. Manufacturers and retailers are testing tactics to bring impulse buying to the web.
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Why Almost No One Is Getting the Fastest Form of 5G from 2021-05-12T06:10:16
A new report shows that US mobile customers are tapping into the technology’s speediest networks less than 1 percent of the time.
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The WFH Exodus Creates an Opportunity for Small Cities from 2021-05-11T06:10:14
Workers from urban centers will continue to work from home, at least part-time. Officials and developers are planning the shops and services they'...
Ford's Ever-Smarter Robots Are Speeding Up the Assembly Line from 2021-05-10T06:10:20
A transmission factory shows how artificial intelligence may creep into industrial processes in gradual and often imperceptible ways.
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AI Helps Prove Two Scribes Wrote Text of a Dead Sea Scroll from 2021-05-07T06:10:17
Most scholars thought the Isaiah Scroll was copied by a single author. New handwriting analysis just revealed otherwise.
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This Researcher Says AI Is Neither Artificial nor Intelligent from 2021-05-06T06:10:20
Kate Crawford, who holds positions at USC and Microsoft, says in a new book that even experts working on the technology misunderstand AI.
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Now for AI’s Latest Trick: Writing Computer Code from 2021-05-05T06:10:21
Programs such as GPT-3 can compose convincing text. Some people are using the tool to automate software development and hunt for bugs.
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Europe's Proposed Limits on AI Would Have Global Consequences from 2021-05-04T06:10:17
The EU released draft laws that would regulate facial recognition and uses of algorithms. If it passes, the policy will impact companies in the US...
Need an Angel Investor? Just Open Up Clubhouse from 2021-05-03T06:10:16
Consider it like Shark Tank on your phone: Every week on Angelhouse, founders make a pitch to a panel of investors as hundreds of people listen in...
A Fatal Crash Renews Concerns Over Tesla’s ‘Autopilot’ Claim from 2021-04-30T06:10:13
The company offers a feature called “Full Self-Driving Capability.” But it remains far from a self-driving car.
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Union Says Amazon Violated Labor Law in the Alabama Election from 2021-04-29T06:10:14
Amazon defeated the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union’s bid to represent workers at one warehouse. The union claims the company fought ...
BMW’s Virtual Factory Uses AI to Hone the Assembly Line from 2021-04-28T06:10:14
The German automaker uses new software from chipmaker Nvidia to simulate train robots and human workers.
Microsoft Makes a $16 Billion Entry Into Health Care AI from 2021-04-27T06:10:10
The company plans to buy Nuance, a speech-recognition firm that grasps the specialized language of medicine — tech that won’t be easy for others t...
Is Silicon Valley Dead? Not According to Venture Dollars from 2021-04-26T06:10:13
In a record quarter for VC funding, California still takes the cake—further evidence that reports of the region’s demise are greatly exaggerated. ...
Coinbase Makes Its Debut—and Bitcoin Arrives on Wall Street from 2021-04-23T06:10:14
The largest cryptocurrency exchange goes public through a direct listing, and it could make a bigger debut than Facebook.
Antitrust and Privacy Are on a Collision Course from 2021-04-22T06:10:11
Facebook is being sued for weakening data protections. Google is being sued for strengthening them. Can that paradox be resolved?
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AI Comes to Car Repair, and Body Shop Owners Aren’t Happy from 2021-04-21T06:10:12
During the pandemic, insurers accelerated the use of automated tools to estimate repair costs. Garage operators say the numbers can be wildly inac...
New Vaccine Conspiracy Theories Are Going Viral in Arabic from 2021-04-20T06:10:13
Facebook has been criticized for failing to curb misinformation in English. But little attention has been paid to the scale of the problem in Arab...
This AI Could Help Wipe Out Colon Cancer from 2021-04-19T06:10:09
Medtronic's GI Genius, awaiting clearance from the FDA, will help doctors identify precancerous polyps.
Biden Announces His Broadband Plan—and ISPs Will Hate It from 2021-04-16T06:10:16
The $100 billion proposal will probably be met with fierce resistance by telecom companies, but there's a lot to like for internet users.
Serve Food in Far-Away Restaurants—Right From Your Couch from 2021-04-15T06:10:15
A growing number of robots are operated remotely, often by workers thousands of miles away. Could it be a job of the future?
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US Sanctions Are Squeezing Huawei, but for How Long? from 2021-04-14T06:10:14
Growth slowed last year at the tech giant, as it had trouble securing the most advanced chips. China's government has a plan to change that.
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Silicon Valley Revs Up for a ‘Hot Startup’ Summer from 2021-04-13T06:10:11
“Now is the time to start stepping on the gas,” as one prominent VC firm put it to founders.
Groups Call for Ethical Guidelines on Location-Tracking Tech from 2021-04-12T06:10:16
The Locus Charter asks companies to commit to 10 principles, including minimizing data collection and actively seeking consent from users.
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Biden Wants You Out of Your Car and on the Train from 2021-04-09T06:10:14
The president's $2 trillion infrastructure proposal boosts funding for buses and rail. It even envisions actually tearing down some freeways.
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The Foundations of AI Are Riddled With Errors from 2021-04-08T06:10:10
The labels attached to images used to train machine-vision systems are often wrong. That could mean bad decisions by self-driving cars and medical...
One Startup’s Solution for Zoom Fatigue? The Walk and Talk from 2021-04-07T06:10:11
Spot is a new platform dedicated entirely to walking meetings, launched by a longtime remote work evangelist.
This AI Can Generate Convincing Text—and Anyone Can Use It from 2021-04-06T06:10:14
The makers of Eleuther hope it will be an open source alternative to GPT-3, the well-known language program from OpenAI.
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Negligence, Not Politics, Drives Most Misinformation Sharing from 2021-04-05T06:10:12
Researchers found that social media users are generally adept at identifying fake news. But that doesn’t always affect their decision to repost it...
AI Could Enable 'Swarm Warfare' for Tomorrow's Fighter Jets from 2021-04-02T06:10:15
A Pentagon project is testing scenarios involving multiple aircraft that could change the dynamics of air combat.
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Where Are Those Shoes You Ordered? Check the Ocean Floor from 2021-04-01T08:10:13
More containers have fallen off ships in the past four months than are typically lost in a year. Blame heavy traffic and rolling waves.
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A New WeWork Documentary Relives Its Roller Coaster Story from 2021-03-31T08:10:12
WeWork: Or The Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn is a good crash course while you wait for the adaptation starring Jared Leto and Anne ...
This Startup Wants to Take Your Blood Pressure With an iPhone from 2021-03-30T08:10:12
“Hey Siri, help me treat my hypertension."
Researchers Blur Faces That Launched a Thousand Algorithms from 2021-03-29T08:10:13
Managers of the ImageNet data set paved the way for advances in deep learning. Now they’ve taken a big step to protect people’s privacy.
This Chip for AI Works Using Light, Not Electrons from 2021-03-26T07:10:12
Lightmatter says the computing and power demands of complex neural networks need new technologies like these to keep up.
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The Pandemic Prompts Cities to Rethink the Parking Spot from 2021-03-25T07:10:13
Some urban designers have long wanted to reduce the area set aside for cars. Covid is giving them a chance.
Who Are the Biggest Influencers on Clubhouse? from 2021-03-24T07:10:16
It's harder to figure out than you might expect.
Fake News Gets More Engagement on Facebook—But Only If It's Right-Wing from 2021-03-23T07:10:14
Far-right pages that publish misinformation get the most interactions by far compared to other news sources, new research shows.
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As China Rises, the US Builds Toward a Bigger Role in AI from 2021-03-22T07:10:12
After decades of staying out of industrial policy, a Pentagon-appointed commission recommends more spending on research and support for US chip ma...
Black Tech Employees Rebel Against ‘Diversity Theater’ from 2021-03-19T07:10:14
Companies pledged money and support for people of color. But some say they still face a hostile work environment for speaking out or simply doing ...
Good-bye Zoom. Hello Low-Key Ambient Snooping from 2021-03-18T07:10:13
If you are missing out on serendipity in your remote work, try ramping up your 2-D audio copresence.
Big Tech Targets DC With a Digital Charm Offensive from 2021-03-17T07:10:13
Facebook, Amazon, and Google ads are blanketing inside-the-Beltway newsletters in a bid to rehab their tarnished reputations.
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Gig Companies Fear a Worker Shortage, Despite a Recession from 2021-03-16T07:10:13
The pandemic sapped demand for rides from Uber and Lyft, and government aid has cushioned the blow for workers. Execs are feeling the strain.
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There's a Surge of New EVs. We Take Them for a Spin from 2021-03-15T07:10:14
Volkswagen, Chevrolet, Volvo, Porsche, and Polestar have each introduced new battery-powered models. So we hit the road with each of them.
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You’re About to See a Lot More Instagram Live Collabs from 2021-03-12T07:10:13
Instagram is finally giving creators their most requested feature—which the company hopes will make it a more dynamic destination for viewers.
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Why a YouTube Chat About Chess Got Flagged for Hate Speech from 2021-03-11T07:10:12
AI programs that analyze language have difficulty gauging context. Words such as “black,” “white,” and “attack" can have different meanings.
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California Can Now Enforce Its Net Neutrality Law from 2021-03-10T07:10:16
A judge ruled earlier this week on the law, which has faced challenges from lobbyists representing internet providers as well as the Trump adminis...
Clubhouse Is Booming. So Is the Ecosystem Around It from 2021-03-09T07:10:13
A wave of startups, features, and tools has sprung up around the popular audio app. And some are looking to cash in.
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Gig Workers Gather Their Own Data to Check the Algorithm’s Math from 2021-03-08T07:10:13
Drivers for Uber, Lyft, and other firms are building apps to compare their mileage with pay slips. One group is selling the data to government age...
The UK Is the Latest Country to Tighten the Screws on Uber from 2021-03-05T07:10:11
The country's highest court ruled that the 25 drivers who filed a lawsuit should be considered workers and entitled to minimum wage and vacations....
How Planes Keep Flying After an Engine Catches Fire from 2021-03-04T07:10:11
A Boeing 777 shed huge chunks of metal over a Denver suburb over the weekend—but wasn't in danger of going down itself.
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Boston Dynamics’ Robot Dog Is Now Armed—in the Name of Art from 2021-03-03T07:10:13
A group of meme-spinning pranksters attached a paintball gun to the dynamic robot to make a point about the automated future.
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A Second AI Researcher Says She Was Fired by Google from 2021-03-02T07:10:13
Margaret Mitchell was the co-leader of a group investigating ethics in AI, alongside Timnit Gebru, who said she was fired in December.
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The AI Research Paper Was Real. The ‘Coauthor’ Wasn't from 2021-03-01T07:10:16
An MIT professor found his name on two papers with which he had no connection. A different paper listed a fictitious author by the name of "Bill F...
How Covid Gums Up the Court System from 2021-02-26T07:10:13
Videofeeds sometimes fail, defense attorneys can’t confer with clients, and witnesses have a hard time reviewing documents.
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A New Artificial Intelligence Makes Mistakes—on Purpose from 2021-02-25T07:10:12
A chess program that learns from human error might be better at working with people or negotiating with them.
Carjackings Are Up—and Gig Workers Are Getting Victimized from 2021-02-24T07:10:12
Drivers, often unfamiliar with a neighborhood, leave cars running while dropping off food. Opportunistic thieves lie in wait.
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Microsoft’s Big Win in Quantum Computing Was an ‘Error’ After All from 2021-02-23T07:10:14
In a 2018 paper, researchers said they found evidence of an elusive theorized particle. A closer look now suggests otherwise.
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Aurora Partners With Toyota on Self-Driving Sienna Taxis from 2021-02-22T07:10:14
The autonomous vehicle startup purchased Uber’s struggling self-driving technology division in December.
How Censorship Can Influence Artificial Intelligence from 2021-02-19T07:10:14
A study finds that algorithms learn to associate words with other words. “Democracy” can equal “stability”—or “chaos.”
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A Silicon Chip Shortage Is Causing Big Issues for Automakers from 2021-02-18T07:10:17
Car companies have had to reduce output, pause production, and even idle shifts and entire factories.
The Digital Divide Is Giving American Churches Hell from 2021-02-17T07:10:16
Covid-19 has upended churchgoing in the US. Like so much else with the pandemic, the impacts are not felt equally.
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Would You Trade a Bitcoin for a Tesla? from 2021-02-16T07:10:14
The maker of electric vehicles said it had invested $1.5 billion in bitcoin and plans to accept the cryptocurrency as payment for its cars.
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Finally, an Interesting Proposal for Section 230 Reform from 2021-02-15T07:10:17
A new bill directly targets the most egregious excesses of online platform immunity.
AI and the List of Dirty, Naughty, Obscene, and Otherwise Bad Words from 2021-02-12T07:10:17
It started as a way to restrict autocompletes on Shutterstock. Now it grooms search suggestions on Slack and influences Google's artificial intell...
Lawmakers Take Aim at Insidious Digital ‘Dark Patterns’ from 2021-02-11T07:10:17
A new California law prohibits efforts to trick consumers into handing over data or money. A bill in Washington state copies the language.
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Biden Wants the Government to Run on EVs. It Won’t Be Easy from 2021-02-10T07:10:14
The president hopes electrifying the federal fleet will create jobs and encourage motorists to ditch gas-powered cars. But no automaker is ready y...
Miami’s Mayor Woos Techies. What Does He Need to Succeed? from 2021-02-09T07:10:13
If anywhere could use innovation, it’s Miami—one of the country’s most unequal, environmentally vulnerable cities.
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Why Instacart Is Laying Off Workers As Deliveries Soar from 2021-02-08T07:10:15
Big grocery chains relied on app-based delivery companies at the start of the pandemic. Now grocers’ priorities have shifted.
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New Algorithms Could Reduce Racial Disparities in Health Care from 2021-02-05T07:22:57
Machine learning programs trained with patient reports, rather than doctors', find problems that doctors miss—especially in Black people.
These Doctors Are Using AI to Screen for Breast Cancer from 2021-02-04T07:10:10
During the pandemic, thousands of women have skipped scans and check-ups. So physicians tapped an algorithm to predict those at the highest risk.<...
This AI Could Go From ‘Art’ to Steering a Self-Driving Car from 2021-02-03T07:10:12
DALL-E drew laughs for creating images of a daikon radish in a tutu. But it builds on an important advance in computer vision with serious applica...
Facebook’s Oversight Board Has Spoken. But It Hasn’t Solved Much from 2021-02-02T07:10:10
The board’s first content moderation decisions show how impossible its task—and Facebook’s—really is.
Janet Yellen Will Consider Limiting the Use of Cryptocurrency from 2021-02-01T07:10:15
During her confirmation hearing, the Treasury nominee said that blockchain-based financial networks are “a particular concern.”
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The Art and Science of Boarding an Airplane in a Pandemic from 2021-01-29T07:10:11
Researchers and airlines that obsessed over efficiency have spent the past year worrying about safety too.
The US Needs More Foreign Artificial Intelligence Know-How from 2021-01-28T07:10:13
Jason Furman, a top economic adviser to President Obama, says good ideas come from everywhere—but Trump has dissuaded tech workers from coming to ...
AI-Powered Text From This Program Could Fool the Government from 2021-01-27T07:10:18
A Harvard medical student submitted auto-generated comments to Medicaid; volunteers couldn’t distinguish them from those penned by humans.
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An Algorithm Is Helping a Community Detect Lead Pipes from 2021-01-26T07:10:14
The model had shown promise in Flint before officials rebelled. Now Toledo is using it, while incorporating more public input.
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The Ongoing Collapse of the World's Aquifers from 2021-01-25T07:10:14
When humans over-exploit underground water supplies, the ground collapses like a huge empty water bottles. It's called subsidence, and it could af...
Job Screening Service Halts Facial Analysis of Applicants from 2021-01-22T07:10:15
But it’s still using intonation and behavior to assist with hiring decisions.