US soliciting new bids for Moon mission amid SpaceX delays: NASA chief
The US space agency's Artemis program hopes to return humans to the Moon as China forges ahead with a rival...
Geostrategy
Google infuses Gemini generative AI into home gadgets
Paris, France -- Google said Wednesday it was adding its Gemini generative AI assistant to its smart home devices, saying...
Business
Science
Experts seek to legitimize AI mental health care
Researchers at Dartmouth College believe artificial intelligence can deliver reliable psychotherapy, distinguishing their work from the unproven and sometimes dubious...
- Their application, Therabot, addresses the critical shortage of mental health professionals.
- The Dartmouth team recently published a clinical study demonstrating Therabot's effectiveness in helping people with anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
Geostrategy
AI companions present risks for young users, US watchdog warns
New York, United States -- AI companions powered by generative artificial intelligence present real risks and should be banned for...
- The watchdog, Common Sense, tested several of these platforms, namely Nomi, Character AI, and Replika, to assess their responses.
- While some specific cases "show promise," they are not safe for kids, concluded the organization, which makes recommendations on children's use of technological content.
Business
Meta releases standalone AI app, competing with ChatGPT
San Francisco, United States -- Social media behemoth Meta unveiled its first standalone AI assistant app on Tuesday as it...
- Zuckerberg said the app "is designed to be your personal AI" and would be primarily accessed through voice conversations with the interactions personalized to the individual user.
- The release comes as OpenAI stands as a leader of straight-to-user AI through its ChatGPT assistant that is regularly updated with new capabilities.
Business
Screens, drones, massages: Shanghai flaunts the future of cars
Shanghai, China -- At the huge Auto Shanghai industry show this week, the chatter was less about powerful engines and...
- Chinese consumers place more value on interior comfort compared to other markets, according to European carmakers.
- Visitors at Auto Shanghai queued to sit in luxurious minivans with chrome radiator grilles and reclining rear seats.
Business
Chinese firms extend EV range with petrol generators
The generator, known as a range extender, is connected to the cars' batteries and feeds them only when needed. Since...
- This technology grew faster in China last year than any other type of powertrain, the system that propels a vehicle forward.
- More than one million EREVs were sold, representing a total market share of six percent, according to the McKinsey consultancy.
Business
Global tax plans targeting super rich and tech giants stall under Trump
Paris, France -- Global tax plans targeting billionaires and multinational companies are running aground, with the United States torpedoing reforms...
- Countries have accused Amazon, Microsoft, Google owner Alphabet and Facebook's parent company Meta of sidestepping local taxes.
- Trump issued a warning on February 21 to countries that would hit big tech and other US companies with fines or taxes that are "discriminatory, disproportionate".
Business
Meta to start using Europeans’ data for AI training May 27
Paris, France -- Meta will start using public posts and comments by its European users to train generative artificial intelligence...
- Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and Threads, said earlier it would develop its AI models with European users' public content and conversations with the Meta AI chatbot.
- That means anything from Instagram photo captions to Facebook comments could soon be fair game for Meta AI, though private conversations via WhatsApp will be excluded.
Business
Denmark’s Royal Unibrew adds AI colleagues into workforce
Fakse, Denmark -- They have names, faces and email addresses, but the five new colleagues at Denmark's Royal Unibrew only...
- Royal Unibrew in Denmark has introduced five virtual AI colleagues with names and backstories to assist human employees with routine tasks and information retrieval.
- The company reports increased engagement since adding photos to the AI agents, and employees interact with them through chats and emails for enhanced efficiency.
Business
US exempts several consumer electronics from Trump’s import tariffs
Washington, United States -- The Trump administration has exempted a raft of consumer electronics from its punishing import tariffs --...
- US Customs and Border Protection office said smartphones, laptops, memory chips and other products would be excluded from the global levies President Donald Trump rolled out a week
- The exemptions will benefit US tech companies like Nvidia and Dell, as well as Apple, which makes iPhones and other premium products in China.
Geostrategy
After Instagram restrictions, Meta to introduce teen accounts for Facebook
Paris, France -- Meta on Tuesday announced that it was extending its teen accounts to its social network Facebook, after...
- The accounts were brought in for 13- to 15-year-old Instagram users last September as part of moves to shield underage internet users from online harms.
- Teens are immediately placed in such accounts, with those under 16 unable to change settings without parental permission.
Most Read
Revenue from Saudi cinema may exceed $1bn by 2030KSA, UAE play well as e-gaming trends across GCCExclusive: Middle East’s retail sector rides on AR and hybrid shopping to become $600bn digital economyTECOM Group profit soars 13%UAE startups eye Saudi Arabia for growth, expansionSaudi Arabia leads GCC AI healthcare raceDisparity remains as Saudis, Emiratis see wealth gains
US soliciting new bids for Moon mission amid SpaceX delays: NASA chief
The US space agency's Artemis program hopes to return humans to the Moon as China forges ahead with a rival...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
Google packs new Pixel phones with Artificial Intelligence
New York, United States -- Google on Wednesday unveiled new Pixel 10 smartphones, showcasing artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities woven into...
Business
US developers report half of new electric generating capacity will come from solar
Washington, United States - Developers added 12 gigawatts (GW) of new utility-scale solar electric generating capacity in the United States...
Economy
Games industry in search of new winning combo at Gamescom 2025
Paris, France -- The global games industry gathers for the vast Gamescom trade fair in Cologne this week, with hopes...
Business
Most Read
Science
Passwords under threat as tech giants seek tougher security
Paris, France -Fingerprints, access keys and facial recognition are putting a new squeeze on passwords as the traditional computer security...
- Fingerprints, access keys and facial recognition are putting a new squeeze on passwords as the traditional computer security method
- Although many large platforms are stepping up login security, large numbers of sites still use simple passwords as credentials
Arts & Culture
Walking sharks, bombing crocodiles: Italian Brainrot memes only kids know
Shouty, crude and often nonsensical Italian voiceovers feature in many of the clips made by people in various countries that...
- The dozen-plus cartoonish AI creatures have fast become memes, inspiring a stream of new content such as "Brainrot Rap", viewed 116 million times on YouTube.
- A YouTube Short titled "Learn to Draw 5 Crazy Italian Brainrot Animals" -- including a cactus-elephant crossover named "Lirili Larila" -- has also been watched 320 million times.
Business
Electric ‘air taxis’ could debut in Japan from 2027
Tokyo, Japan -- Airline ANA said Thursday that, together with a US start-up, it hopes to have electric "air taxis"...
- ANA and California-based Joby Aviation said they will establish a joint venture with a view to deploying more than 100 of the five-seater aircraft.
- The project primarily envisages trips between Narita and Haneda airports and Tokyo, although the routes can diversify in the future.