AP Top Technology News at 2:41 p.m. EDT
Google unleashes AI in search, raising hopes for better results and fears about less web traffic
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TechCrunchUnitedHealth 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
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
Samsung reportedly requires independent repair stores to rat on customers using aftermarket parts
The details were revealed thanks to 404 Media, which obtained a contract that Samsung requires all independent repair stores to sign in exchange for selling them genuine repair parts.
- 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.
- Yahoo Finance
Google tweaks the business of clicks
The gatekeeper of the internet is revamping its most important product, but it's not clear how advertising fits into AI-infused answers.
- 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
AWS confirms it will launch European 'sovereign cloud' in Germany by 2025, plans €7.8B investment over 15 years
Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon's cloud computing business, has confirmed further details of its European "sovereign cloud," which is designed to enable greater data residency across the region. The company said that the first AWS sovereign cloud region will be set up in the German state of Brandenburg and will go live by the end of 2025. AWS added that it plans to invest €7.8 billion ($8.5 billion) in the facility through 2040.
- Yahoo Finance
Google'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.
- Engadget
Google plans to run a fiber optic cable from Kenya to Australia
Google said on Thursday it will build a fiber optic cable to connect Africa and Australia. Named Umoja (a Swahili word meaning “unity”), the project will start in Kenya and pass through several other African nations before crossing the Indian Ocean to the land down under.
- TechCrunch
What are Google’s AI Overviews good for?
Google has been taking heat for some of the inaccurate, funny and downright weird answers that it’s been providing via AI Overviews in search. AI Overviews are the AI-generated search results that Google started rolling out more broadly earlier this month, with mixed results — apparently, a user looking for help in getting cheese to stick to their pizza was told to add glue (the advice was pulled from an old Reddit post), and someone else was told to eat “one small rock per day” (from The Onion). “The vast majority of AI Overviews provide high quality information, with links to dig deeper on the web,” the spokesperson said.
- 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.
- Yahoo Life Shopping
Did you know that Amazon sells greenhouses? These 5 cost as little as $38
From permanent structures to portable options, there's a plant-nurturing solution for everyone.
- Engadget
Microsoft outage impacts Bing, Copilot, ChatGPT internet search and other sites
Multiple Microsoft services including Bing and Copilot, along with ChatGPT internet search and DuckDuckGo are down in Europe.
- Yahoo Sports
Benches clear as Red Sox's Chris Martin takes exception to Brewers bunting on him
An argument between Boston Red Sox reliever Chris Martin and Milwaukee Brewers first base coach Quintin Berry caused a bench-clearing confrontation at Fenway Park on Sunday.
- 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
Caitlin Clark outplays Cameron Brink for career-high 30, but red-hot Sparks overwhelm Fever from long distance
Turnovers plagued Clark and the Fever again while the Sparks put on a clinic from beyond the 3-point arc.
- Yahoo Sports
Lexi Thompson, 29, set to retire after the 2024 LPGA season
Thompson will be competing in her 18th straight U.S. Women's Open later this week.
- Yahoo Finance
Nvidia stock leaps to latest record — thanks to Elon Musk
The increase of AI investment has continued to boost optimism over Nvidia's growth as the chipmaker continues its record-setting stock rally.
- Yahoo Sports
Dodgers snap longest losing streak in 5 years aided by late Mets blunders
The New York Mets were the cure for the ailing Los Angeles Dodgers.
- Autoblog
California launching pilot program to charge drivers for miles driven
California will soon begin testing a pilot program that will tax drivers based on the miles they log to offset the loss of gas tax revenues from EVs.