The Guardian reports on a unique ‘winking mechanism’ in Israeli cloud contracts with tech giants Amazon and Google, involving coded messages and monetary signals to indicate compliance with overseas legal requests. Microsoft lost out on the Project Nimbus contract due to refusal to accept certain terms. Both Amazon and Google deny any underhanded practices, emphasizing customer privacy and legal obligations.
Proton’s new Data Breach Observatory provides a centralized platform to track data leaks on the dark web, helping consumers stay informed about potential breaches and empowering them to take proactive measures to protect their personal information.
The advent calendar market has expanded to cater to geeky interests with products ranging from Pokémon cards to Star Wars LEGO ships. As fans seek unique ways to celebrate the holidays, businesses are capitalizing on this niche market, offering a variety of themed countdowns to appeal to different fandoms.
Figma’s acquisition of Weavy and the launch of the Figma Weave app allows users to seamlessly combine multiple AI models and editing tools in a single canvas, enhancing creativity and productivity in the design process. This new integration marks a significant advancement in the design ecosystem, offering designers powerful capabilities to streamline their workflow and create more efficiently.
The bipartisan GUARD Act aims to safeguard children from exploitative or manipulative AI chatbots by requiring age verification, privacy protections, and clear disclosures that the chatbot is not a human. The bill also seeks to hold AI companies accountable for making their chatbots available to minors, following lawsuits alleging AI chatbots contributed to tragic outcomes. This legislation prioritizes the safety and well-being of young users in the digital space.
AI writing aid Grammarly has undergone a rebranding to become part of the Superhuman suite. Alongside Coda and Superhuman Mail, a new AI assistant called Superhuman Go has been introduced. The Superhuman suite, which includes these tools, is now available to all Grammarly Pro subscribers, with Superhuman Go being offered at no extra cost until February.
As HBO Max increases subscription fees, users can follow simple steps to cancel their subscriptions either through the web or via third-party providers like Apple and Amazon. This guide provides practical instructions on how to end your HBO Max subscription and what to expect after cancellation.
The indie sensation Balatro makes its mark in Vampire Survivors with the free Ante Chamber expansion, introducing new stages, characters, and power-ups. Available on multiple platforms, the update aims to increase player engagement and potentially drive revenue growth for the game developers.
WIRED delves into the impact of AI’s omnipresence in our daily lives through 17 diverse readings, shedding light on the practical implications of this technology trend.
Elon Musk’s Grokipedia, the AI-powered encyclopedia, briefly crashed before coming back online with over 885,000 articles. The launch was delayed to remove propaganda, leading to entries similar to Wikipedia but lacking in-line sources. Social media users noticed Musk’s influence in some entries, raising concerns about bias in the new platform.
