Samsung’s biggest new phone in years may launch in the US this year
Englewood Cliffs, NJ — Samsung is considering releasing its upcoming “tri-fold” smartphone in the United States, a first for US smartphones and Samsung as it seeks to recharge the market for what was once a-cutting-edge product but is now a staple of everyday life. Samsung is still weighing which markets to launch the device in when it arrives later this year, but a United States release is part of those discussions, a person familiar with the company’s plans told CNN. That’s crucial because Samsung has previously restricted new product lines to certain markets such as South Korea or China, like the Galaxy...
More families sue Character.AI developer, alleging app played a role in teens’ suicide and suicide attempt
The families of three minors are suing Character Technologies, Inc., the developer of Character.AI, alleging that their children died by or attempted suicide and were otherwise harmed after interacting with the company’s chatbots. The families, represented by the Social Media Victims Law Center, are also suing Google. Two of the families’ complaints allege its Family Link service – an app that allows parents to set restrictions on screen time, apps and content filters – failed to protect their teens and led them to believe the app was safe. The lawsuits were filed in Colorado and New York, and also list...
Mark Zuckerberg is making a major bet on the future. He’s about to share it
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg made a bold claim on the social media giant’s earnings call in July. People without smart glasses may one day be at a “significant cognitive disadvantage” compared to those who do use the tech, he told analysts. That vision for the company’s future could come into focus this week during the Meta Connect conference, where the tech giant outlines its next steps and announces new products. Reports suggest Meta will announce a new pair of AI-powered smart glasses to follow its relatively successful Ray-Ban spectacles, which can analyze a wearer’s environment and answer questions about their surroundings. The...
The world’s first commercial space station is getting closer to launch
The International Space Station (ISS) is one of humanity’s greatest achievements, providing a habitat in orbit that has been occupied continuously for almost 25 years. Visited by almost 300 people from 26 countries so far, it is a shining example of international collaboration and a one-of-a-kind technological marvel. But its lifespan is drawing to a close, and even though it has long outlived its originally scheduled 15-year mission, NASA plans to de-orbit the station around 2030. The agency is working with private companies to transition to a commercial space station. A competition will select the best designs and one or more partners for an initial demonstration that...
Nvidia will take a $5 billion stake in Intel, joining the US government as a major shareholder
Nvidia said on Thursday that it would buy $5 billion worth of Intel’s common stock, becoming another major shareholder in the beleaguered company just weeks after the US government took a roughly 10% stake. The tech giant, which makes artificial intelligence chips, will pay $23.28 per share, it said in a joint press release. The purchase will give Nvidia around 4% or more of Intel after new shares are issued to complete the deal, Reuters reported. Intel shares (INTC) surged 22.77% on Thursday and posted their biggest single-day gain since 1987. Nvidia shares (NVDA), meanwhile, gained 3.49%. Last month, US President...
Rolling Stone, Billboard owner Penske sues Google over AI overviews
The owner of Rolling Stone, Billboard and Variety sued Google on Friday, alleging the technology giant’s AI summaries use its journalism without consent and reduce traffic to its websites. The lawsuit by Penske Media in federal court in Washington, DC, marks the first time a major US publisher has taken Alphabet-owned Google to court over the AI-generated summaries that now appear on top of its search results. News organizations have for months said the new features, including Google’s “AI Overviews,” siphon traffic away from their sites, eroding advertising and subscription revenue. Penske, a family-owned media conglomerate led by Jay Penske...
The trope of ‘liberal media’ is finally dead
New York — Growing up in Missouri, the home state of Rush Limbaugh, I often heard the word “media” spoken with a fair bit of derision, sandwiched by the words “liberal” and “bias.” It was an accusation that crystallized as a capital-T Truth for much of the country as Fox News emerged in the late 90s, wielding it as a cudgel to reinforce the network’s conservative credentials. The perception of “liberal” media was always exaggerated, and often unfair, rooted partly in the fact that most mass media giants were headquartered in Democratic strongholds like DC and New York (where, of course, Fox...
US will complete TikTok deal ‘in coming days’ and control its algorithm, White House says
The United States will have control over TikTok’s algorithm in the acquisition of the social media platform’s US operations, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Saturday. “We are 100% confident that a deal is done. Now that deal just needs to be signed, and the president’s team is working with their Chinese counterparts to do just that,” Leavitt said on Fox News. She added that the deal will likely be signed “in the coming days,” adding that data and privacy for the app in the United States will be led by tech giant Oracle. Leavitt said Americans would...
$2,000 for a phone? Apple says yes
Back in 2017, consumers balked at the idea of a $1,000 iPhone. Now, some shoppers may end up paying double that if they choose Apple’s latest top-of-the-line model. The iPhone 17 Pro Max, the larger variant of Apple’s Pro phone that launches today along with the iPhone 17, 17 Pro and iPhone Air, costs $2,000 if buyers choose the version with two terabytes (2TB) of storage. Phones with extra storage typically cost more, but this is the first time Apple has released a 2TB option for the iPhone, making it one of the most expensive phones on the market. The launch comes as Apple...