UCLA Introduces AI-Generated Course Materials for Humanities Division
A UCLA comparative literature course is taking a high-tech turn this winter. Starting in 2025, students diving into literature from the Middle Ages to the 17th century will encounter AI-generated…
FTC Begins $72 Million Refund to Fortnite Players
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) began distributing $72 million in refunds to Fortnite players tricked into unintended purchases due to deceptive practices by the game’s developer, Epic Games. Announced on…
X’s Aurora Image Generator Debuts Briefly, Disappears, Then Returns for Rollout
X, Elon Musk’s social network formerly known as Twitter, launched and quickly removed a new image generator called Aurora over the weekend. The tool, integrated into Grok, X’s AI chatbot,…
Google Challenges CFPB Supervision Order Over Payment Division
Google has taken legal action against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) after the federal agency announced its decision to supervise Google Payment Corp., citing potential risks to consumers, TechCrunch…
OpenAI Launches Sora, Bringing AI Video Generation to the Public
OpenAI has officially released its much-anticipated video-generation tool, Sora, marking a major step in its generative AI portfolio. Announced by CEO Sam Altman on X (formerly Twitter), this launch provides…
Rivian Expands Charging Network, Opening Access to Other EVs
Rivian has unveiled a new charging station in Joshua Tree, California, marking a pivotal step for the company as it opens its network to electric vehicles beyond its own. This…
Google DeepMind’s GenCast Takes Weather Forecasting to New Heights
Google’s DeepMind team has introduced GenCast, an artificial intelligence-based weather prediction model, which reportedly outperforms the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts’ (ECMWF) ENS, often considered the gold standard in…
Google Wallet Now Supports Digital US Passports for TSA Checkpoints
Travelers in the United States can now store a digital version of their passport in Google Wallet, simplifying identification at select Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints. The feature, available starting…
X’s Grok AI Chatbot Now Free for All Users
X has made its AI chatbot, Grok, accessible to all users, dropping the X Premium subscription requirement. Users can now interact with the chatbot under a freemium model, with 10…
Apple Faces Lawsuit Over Dropped CSAM Detection Plans for iCloud
Apple faces legal action over its decision to abandon a system designed to detect child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in iCloud. The lawsuit, filed in Northern California, accuses Apple of…
Waze’s Community Reporting Feature Comes to Google Maps
Google Maps users are beginning to see reports from Waze’s driver community integrated directly into the app, merging one of Waze’s most popular features with Google’s flagship navigation tool. This…
ThredUp Sheds European Operations, Transfers Remix to Local Leadership
Fashion resale marketplace ThredUp has sold its European business, Remix, to focus solely on its domestic U.S. operations. This move, part of a strategic realignment, sees Remix’s management team, led…
Amazon Partners with Orbital Materials to Trial Carbon Capture at Data Centers
Amazon has partnered with Orbital Materials, an AI startup, to deploy a novel carbon capture technology at one of its AWS data centers. This collaboration addresses the surging energy demands…
Walmart Finalizes $2.3 Billion Acquisition of Vizio
Walmart has officially completed its $2.3 billion acquisition of Vizio, marking a major step in the retail giant’s push to grow its connected TV advertising business. The all-cash deal, initially…
Amazon Music’s “2024 Delivered” Is Here to Compete with Spotify Wrapped
Amazon Music has officially entered the year-end recap game with its new feature, 2024 Delivered. Launched on Tuesday, the tool offers a detailed look at user listening habits, including top…
Apple Music Replay 2024 Now Available in the App
Apple Music’s Replay 2024 is here, giving users a detailed breakdown of their streaming habits. This year, Replay is available directly in the Apple Music app for users on iOS…
Microsoft Faces UK Lawsuit Over Cloud Pricing Practices
Microsoft is facing a lawsuit in the U.K. over allegations that it has been unfairly overcharging customers who use its Windows Server software on rival cloud platforms, including Amazon Web…
Meta Reports AI Content Makes Up Less Than 1% of Election Misinformation
Warnings about generative AI fueling election misinformation in 2024 ultimately did not materialize as feared, according to Meta. The tech giant stated that AI-generated content accounted for less than 1%…
FTC Orders Goat to Pay $2M Over Deceptive Shipping and Refund Practices
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has fined Goat, an online marketplace specializing in sneakers and apparel, over $2 million for misleading customers with false shipping promises and inadequate refund policies.…
GoBlue App Launches, Brings Analytics Tracking to Bluesky Users
GoBlue, a new iOS app, is stepping in to fill a void in the Bluesky ecosystem, offering users the ability to track analytics on the rapidly growing social network. With…