AP Top Technology News at 12:14 a.m. EDT
Red, yellow, green ... and white? Smarter vehicles could mean big changes for the traffic light
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Yahoo FinanceGoogle's AI search overhaul raises 'more questions than answers' for its dominant ad business
Google's AI-driven approach is a bulwark against an emergent threat. It’s also a strategic gamble.
- TechCrunch
UnitedHealth data breach should be a wake-up call for the UK and NHS
The ransomware attack that has engulfed U.S. health insurance giant UnitedHealth Group and its tech subsidiary Change Healthcare is a data privacy nightmare for millions of U.S. patients, with CEO Andrew Witty confirming this week that it may impact as much as one-third of the country. As one of the largest healthcare companies in the U.S., UnitedHealth is well known domestically, intersecting with every facet of the healthcare industry from insurance and billing and winding all the way through the physician and pharmacy networks -- it's a $500 billion juggernaut, and the 11th largest company globally by revenue.
- TechCrunch
WitnessAI is building guardrails for generative AI models
Generative AI makes stuff up. Rick Caccia, the CEO of WitnessAI, believes it can. "Securing AI models is a real problem, and it’s one that's especially shiny for AI researchers, but it’s different from securing use," Caccia, formerly SVP of marketing at Palo Alto Networks, told TechCrunch in an interview.
- TechCrunch
OnlyFans hits UK regulator's radar for age-verification failures around porn access
U.K. regulator Ofcom is investigating OnlyFans, an online adult content subscription service, for failing to prevent children from accessing pornography through the platform. Ofcom, the official regulatory body for the U.K.'s broadcasting, telecommunications and postal industries, says it has grounds to suspect that OnlyFans' parent company, Fenix International Limited, failed to implement age-verification measures sufficiently. The regulator is also investigating whether Fenix may have provided incomplete or inaccurate information as part of two information request notices issued by Ofcom — one in June 2022, and another in June 2023.
- Engadget
The European Union will reportedly open a new investigation into Meta over election policies
The European Union is getting ready to launch a new investigation into Meta over its handling of election-related content.
- TechCrunch
Twitter co-founder Biz Stone joins board of Mastodon's new US nonprofit
Biz Stone, a Twitter co-founder, is among those who have joined the board of directors of Mastodon's new U.S. nonprofit, Mastodon CEO Eugen Rochko announced over the weekend. Mastodon's service, an open source, decentralized social network and rival to Elon Musk's X, has gained increased attention following the Twitter acquisition as users sought alternatives to X's would-be "everything app" that felt more like the old Twitter of days past. Mastodon only somewhat fits that bill.
- TechCrunch
EU grills Elon Musk's X about content moderation and deepfake risks
The European Union has deepened the investigation of Elon Musk-owned social network, X, that it opened back in December under the bloc's online governance and content moderation rulebook, the Digital Services Act (DSA). On Wednesday, the Commission said it had sent X a formal request for information (RFI) under the DSA, seeking more details about aspects of the ongoing probe. The investigation is on illegal content risks, manipulative design, shortcomings in ads transparency, and platform data access for researchers.
- Engadget
OpenAI strikes deal to put Reddit posts in ChatGPT
The partnership will “enable OpenAI’s tools to better understand and showcase Reddit content, especially on recent topics,” both companies said in a joint statement.
- Engadget
OpenAI is reportedly working on a search feature for ChatGPT
According to Bloomberg, the company is currently developing the capability, which can scour the web for answers to your queries and spit out results complete with citations to their sources.
- TechCrunch
TechCrunch Minute: Where CZ’s sentencing leaves the state of crypto
Four months behind bars and a massive fine, that's what CZ is getting from the government for his crypto exchange's misdeeds. There's effort by some in crypto to promote the technology element of blockchains over their well-reported ability to generate new gambling opportunities. Chris Dixon of a16z frames this in "computer vs. casino" terms, which I think is reasonable.
- TechCrunch
TechCrunch Minute: FTC bans noncompetes, court challenge incoming
The Federal Trade Commission voted 3-2 this week to ban noncompete agreements. While the FTC estimates that nearly one in five American workers is subject to a noncompete, these agreements haven’t been a huge issue in Silicon Valley, because they’re not enforceable in California. This has arguably been one of the region’s competitive advantages, as it allows employees to start something new without worrying (in most cases) that they’ll have to spend the next few years battling their old employer in court.
- TechCrunch
Retell AI lets companies build 'voice agents' to answer phone calls
Call centers are embracing automation. According to research firm TechSci Research, the global market for contact center AI could grow to nearly $3 billion in 2028, from $2.4 billion in 2022. Meanwhile, a recent survey found that around half of contact centers plan to adopt some form of AI in the next year.
- Yahoo Sports
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross reportedly declined $10 billion for team, stadium and F1 race
The value of the Dolphins and Formula One racing is enormous.
- Yahoo Sports
PGA Championship: Will Zalatoris says group of players considered asking for postponement after death, Scottie Scheffler arrest
It was a surreal day at the PGA Championship.
- Yahoo Sports
Report: Fanatics files lawsuit against Cardinals rookie WR Marvin Harrison Jr. for breach of contract
Marvin Harrison Jr., Fanatics said, “rejected or ignored every request” from the company while refusing to fulfill obligations of their contract that was signed last May.
- Yahoo Sports
Tied for the most bets for No. 1 overall pick in NBA Draft is ... Bronny James?
The co-leader in bets for the No. 1 overall pick is a stunner.
- Yahoo Sports
Best and worst NFL offseasons with the Ringer's Steven Ruiz | The Exempt List
Charles McDonald is joined by Steven Ruiz of The Ringer to break down which teams had the best and worst offseasons in the NFL
- Yahoo Sports
The Spin: Making a call on 5 slumping fantasy baseball stars
All five of these hitters were drafted highly in fantasy baseball leagues. So far, they have not lived up to their ADPs — and that's an understatement. Scott Pianowski analyzes.
- Yahoo Finance
Tesla stock pops after company reveals new details, deliveries for its semitruck program
Robotaxis, low-cost cars, and the Cybertruck aren't stopping Tesla from pushing ahead with its new semitruck, which is set to reach customers by 2026.
- Yahoo Sports
Mother sues LaMelo Ball after he allegedly drove over 11-year-old son's foot and broke it at a fan event
LaMelo Ball allegedly drove away and ran over an 11-year-old's foot when he was trying to get Ball's autograph at a Hornets fan event last fall.