Minimalist News

Simply the latest news, updated on the hour.

Tech

AI Summary

  • The AI sector is experiencing a surge in investment, with AI chip startups securing multi-billion dollar valuations, yet the industry also faces increasing legal challenges over data usage for model training and ethical concerns regarding generated content and its application in government.
  • TikTok's transition to a new US entity has been met with significant technical glitches and user dissatisfaction, prompting a rise in downloads for rival social platforms and heightened attention to the app's data collection policies.
  • Major tech companies are navigating significant privacy and legal battles, including Google's $68 million settlement over alleged voice assistant spying and lawsuits challenging the use of copyrighted material for AI model development.
  • The tech industry is under fire for its involvement in immigration enforcement, with international event attendees, tech workers, and online communities protesting the use of surveillance technologies by ICE amidst ongoing legal and ethical debates.
  • The broader tech and venture capital landscape reveals a mixed picture of strategic shifts, including social media platforms exploring premium subscription models, increased advertising in app stores, and robust funding rounds for climate tech innovations.

TechCrunch


Hacker News


Engadget

  • A TikTok US power outage caused a 'cascading systems failure' leading to multiple bugs an hour ago by Karissa Bell
    Software, Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Karissa Bell

    If your TikTok feed has felt a little off lately, it's not just you. TikTok says is still working to fix its service in the US following a power outage at one of its data centers that's caused “multiple bugs” in the app. TikTok users have reported problems logging in and uploading videos, as well as strange behavior from the "for you" algorithm. Creators have also noticed that new uploads are seemingly getting o views or likes and that in-app earnings have disappeared. "Since yesterday we’ve been working to restore our services following a power outage at a U.S. data center

  • People are uninstalling TikTok and downloading an indie competitor 2 hours ago by Karissa Bell
    Software, Mobile Apps, Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Karissa Bell

    TikTok's newly formed US entity is off to a very bumpy start. As the app continues to face technical issues affecting the recommendation algorithm, view counts and other features, TikTok is also seeing a wave of frustrated users uninstalling it, according to new data. Analytics firm Sensor Tower, which tracks downloads and other app store-related metrics, told CNBC that there has been a 150 percent rise in uninstalls of the TikTok app in the United States compared with the last three months. An analyst at Sensor Tower told Engadget that TikTok's US daily active users (DAUs) have increased about 2 percent

  • Google agrees to $68 million settlement in voice assistant privacy lawsuit 3 hours ago by Anna Washenko
    Company Legal & Law Matters, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Anna Washenko

    Google has agreed to a $68 million settlement regarding claims that its voice assistant inappropriately spied on smartphone users. Plaintiffs claimed that the company’s Google Assistant platform began listening to them after it misheard conversations that sounded like its wake words. The suit argued that private information that Google Assistant shouldn't have heard was then used to deliver those individuals targeted ads.  Reuters reported that Google denied wrongdoing in the suit, but according to court papers, the company agreed to a settlement in order to avoid the risk and costs of litigating the issue. The preliminary class action settlement was filed

  • Google aims to take the sting out of scheduling meetings with a new Gemini feature 5 hours ago by Kris Holt
    Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Kris Holt

    Google is rolling out a Gemini feature that could turn out to be pretty useful for many folks. It's a Google Calendar tool that can help figure out the best time to schedule a meeting, taking into account attendees' schedules. When creating a meeting, you can click the "Suggested times" option and Gemini will look at the availability that people have marked on their calendar and potential conflicts. You'll then be able to choose from a list of suggested time slots. But the time you pick may not work for everyone. So if multiple people decline the meeting invite, you can

  • Ubisoft proposes even more layoffs after last week's studio closures and game cancellations 6 hours ago by Lawrence Bonk
    Arts & Entertainment, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Lawrence Bonk

    It looks like Ubisoft is planning even more layoffs to accompany last week's studio closures and game cancellations, according to reporting by IGN. The company is planning a massive reduction of the workforce in its Paris headquarters. It has proposed the loss of up to 200 jobs, which is nearly 20 percent of the current staff. This will be organized under France's Rupture Conventionnelle Collective (RCC) process, in which staff can agree to form a collective, voluntary mutual termination agreement. It's not a done deal just yet, with a company spokesperson saying "at this stage, this remains a proposal and no


The Verge

  • X faces EU investigation over Grok’s sexualized deepfakes 3 hours ago by Emma Roth
    AI, News, Policy, Politics, Tech, Twitter - X, xAI

    X is facing an investigation from the European Commission over the sexualized deepfakes generated by its Grok AI chatbot. In its announcement, the Commission says it will evaluate whether X "properly assessed and mitigated risks" associated with Grok's image-generating capabilities in the EU, as reported earlier by The New York Times. Advocacy groups and lawmakers from around the world have raised the alarm on Grok's AI image editing feature after it began complying with requests to generate sexualized images of women and minors on the platform. X later paywalled the ability to edit images in public replies to posts, but everyone

  • The best Bluetooth trackers for Apple and Android phones 5 hours ago by Victoria Song
    Buying Guides, Gadgets, Tech, Verge Shopping, Wearable

    Bluetooth trackers come in all shapes and sizes. | Illustration: Cath Virginia / The Verge Some people rarely lose things. Wallets are always exactly where they’re supposed to be, keys never go missing, and remotes never slip between the couch cushions. And then there’s the rest of us — the folks who can’t ever seem to find the thing that was right there a few seconds ago. For us, there are Bluetooth trackers. Bluetooth trackers have been around for a long time, and they all generally work the same way. You stick the tracker onto an object, pair it with your phone,

  • OpenAI’s president is a Trump mega-donor 6 hours ago by Hayden Field
    AI, News, OpenAI, Policy

    OpenAI's co-founder and longtime president, Greg Brockman, didn't just make a run-of-the-mill donation to the main pro-Trump super PAC - together, he and his wife Anna's September 2025 donations equaled the largest of them all, totaling $25 million to "MAGA Inc.," per a recent filing. The Brockmans' donations made up nearly one-fourth of the six-month fundraising cycle. It's the latest in a string of examples of tech executives cozying up to President Trump's administration, happening as the administration pushes to aggressively back the AI industry and defang state-level regulations that companies like OpenAI have largely opposed. OpenAI … Read the full story

  • Google will settle its Assistant spying lawsuit for $68 million 6 hours ago by Stevie Bonifield
    Google, Google Assistant, News, Privacy, Tech

    Google could owe you some money, now that it's moving to settle a class-action lawsuit over how it handled recordings captured when its devices were activated by something other than Google Assistant's actual trigger word, "Ok Google." German outlet VRT NWS's 2019 report exposed the issue, and court filings from last Friday say the proposed settlement number is $68 million, as reported previously by Reuters. The lawsuit accuses Google of "unlawful and intentional recording of individuals' confidential communications without their consent," during these "False Accepts." VRT NWS reported that human workers who analyzed Assistant audio clips … Read the full story at

  • Apple’s luxe AirPods Max have dropped to one of their lowest prices ever 6 hours ago by Sheena Vasani
    Apple, Deals, Gadgets, Headphones, Tech, Verge Shopping

    All colors are on sale right now, including the attractive blue shade. If you prefer over-ear headphones to earbuds and own an iPhone or another Apple device, the AirPods Max with USB-C are worth a look, especially now that you can buy them at Best Buy as part of a flash deal for $429.99 ($120 off) through tomorrow, January 27th. That’s $30 shy of their lowest price to date, and a notable deal given these over-ears don’t often drop below $449.99 outside of big sales events. AIRPODS MAX (USB-C) WHERE TO BUY: * $549.99 $429.99 at Best Buy * $549 $449.99 at Walmart


Wired


Looking for more? Search Google News