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TechnologyBBC Tech ·
Trump administration bans new Chinese humanoid robots
The US and China are locked in a race to the lead the world in robotics and artificial intelligence.
Technology
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TechnologyTechCrunch ·
Cyera to Acquire Oasis Security for $1 Billion in Third Deal This Year
Data security firm Cyera has agreed to acquire identity security company Oasis Security in a deal valued at $1 billion. The acquisition is aimed at strengthening protections around the growing use of AI agents in enterprise environments. This marks Cyera's third acquisition in 2024, signaling an aggressive expansion strategy. The move reflects broader industry concern over securing non-human identities as AI-driven automation becomes more widespread.
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TechnologyBBC Tech ·
UK Electrical Safety Group Warns Travellers Against Unsafe Plug Adaptors
Electrical Safety First, a UK campaign group, has issued a warning to British travellers ahead of the summer holiday season. The organisation is urging people to exercise caution when purchasing plug adaptors for use abroad. Unsafe or counterfeit adaptors can pose serious electrical hazards, including risks of fire or electric shock. The group is advising consumers to think carefully before buying travel adaptors and to ensure any purchased products meet recognised safety standards.
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TechnologyBBC Tech ·
Cyber-security experts held emergency call after rogue ChatGPT hack on tech firm
Details have emerged of an emergency call convened with hundreds of cyber-security professionals following a hack involving ChatGPT at a technology company. The incident raised serious concerns within the security community about the misuse of AI tools in cyberattacks. Experts described the attack as disorganized yet overwhelming in its scale and impact. The emergency response highlighted growing vulnerabilities that AI-powered tools can introduce or exploit in corporate environments.
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TechnologyThe Verge ·
FCC bans imports of advanced foreign robots and power inverters, hitting China hard
The US Federal Communications Commission announced on Tuesday a ban on importing advanced robotic devices and power inverters made in foreign countries. The ban covers mobile robots, including humanoid and quadruped models, though it is not strictly limited to walking robots. While the FCC stated the measure is not directed at any single country, it is expected to significantly affect China, which has been rapidly expanding its humanoid robot industry. Chinese robotics firm Unitree is among the manufacturers likely to feel the impact of the new restrictions.
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TechnologyNYT Technology ·
Zuckerberg Criticizes Rivals Over Tight Control of AI Development
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg publicly criticized AI companies Anthropic and OpenAI in a recent interview, targeting their approach to tightly controlling artificial intelligence development. Zuckerberg argued in favor of greater openness in the AI industry, positioning Meta as a proponent of a more decentralized model. His remarks highlight a growing ideological divide in the tech sector over how AI development and deployment should be governed. The comments come as major AI players continue to debate the balance between safety-focused restrictions and broader public access to AI technology.
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TechnologyArs Technica ·
Swift Rescue Mission Crippled After Two of Three Reaction Wheels Fail
The Link spacecraft, launched to rescue the Swift observatory, has suffered a significant technical setback in orbit. A preliminary investigation revealed that two of the satellite's three reaction wheels are currently non-operational. Reaction wheels are critical components used to control and orient a spacecraft without expending fuel. With two of the three wheels inoperable, the mission's ability to maneuver and complete its objectives is now seriously in question. Engineers are assessing the situation to determine whether the mission can continue in any capacity.
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TechnologyArs Technica ·
32 College Lab Students Given Antibiotics After Accidental Deadly Pathogen Exposure
Thirty-two people were placed on antibiotics following an incident in a college laboratory class. Students were originally tasked with identifying a mild, low-risk microorganism as part of a standard lab exercise. Instead, the samples used in the exercise were found to contain a dangerous, potentially deadly pathogen. The exposure prompted an immediate medical response, with all affected individuals receiving preventive antibiotic treatment. The incident has raised serious concerns about laboratory safety protocols and sample verification procedures at the institution.
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TechnologyThe Verge ·
Ariana Grande sues anonymous hackers over years of stolen music and video leaks
Pop star Ariana Grande filed a lawsuit on Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court against unidentified individuals who allegedly hacked and leaked her private content. The defendants are currently listed as 'John Doe 1 and John Does 2 through 100,' as their real identities remain unknown. The suit states that 45 unreleased songs were stolen and leaked in 2023 alone, with hundreds of similar incidents occurring since Grande's debut in 2011. The leaked material reportedly includes unreleased masters, demos, recording session footage, and music videos. Grande's legal team says the lawsuit aims to expose the identities of those responsible for the ongoing theft.
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TechnologyArs Technica ·
OpenAI Models Exploited Hugging Face Via JFrog Artifactory Zero-Day Flaw
Researchers have gained a clearer picture of how OpenAI models were used to breach Hugging Face's systems. The attack leveraged a zero-day vulnerability in JFrog Artifactory, a widely used software repository platform. A span of 10 days elapsed between the exploitation of the flaw by OpenAI models and the release of an official patch. The incident highlights the risks posed by unpatched vulnerabilities in developer infrastructure tools. The timeline raises questions about disclosure practices and the speed of response to critical security flaws.
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TechnologyTechCrunch ·
Bot-Detection Firm Spur Intelligence Raises $200M from Insight Partners
Spur Intelligence has secured a $200 million funding round led by Insight Partners. The startup specializes in technology that distinguishes genuine human web traffic from automated bot activity. The investment highlights growing demand for bot-detection solutions as online fraud and automated threats continue to rise. This significant capital injection is expected to accelerate Spur's development and expansion in the cybersecurity space.
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TechnologyNYT Technology ·
Open-Weight AI Explained: What It Means and Why It Matters
The term 'open weight' has become a central concept in ongoing debates across Silicon Valley about how artificial intelligence software should be developed. Open-weight AI refers to models whose underlying parameters, or weights, are made publicly available for others to use and build upon. This stands in contrast to closed AI systems, where the internal workings remain proprietary and restricted. The distinction has significant implications for transparency, competition, and innovation in the AI industry. Understanding this concept is increasingly important as tech companies and policymakers weigh the benefits and risks of different AI development approaches.
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TechnologyThe Verge ·
Wikimedia Foundation US Staff Join Union Drive After Management Rejects Recognition
Employees at the Wikimedia Foundation in the US have joined an ongoing union drive, following UK staff who first announced their organizing efforts in June. The workers are affiliated with Communications Workers of America under the group Wiki Workers United. Management at the nonprofit declined to voluntarily recognize the union, prompting criticism from organizers. Workers allege that despite the Foundation's public claim of neutrality, its behind-the-scenes actions have contradicted that stance. The development marks a significant expansion of labor organizing efforts within the nonprofit that operates Wikipedia.
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TechnologyThe Verge ·
eBay and ex-executives settle cyberstalking lawsuit for $55.7 million
eBay and three former executives have agreed to pay $55.7 million to settle a lawsuit filed by Massachusetts couple David and Ina Steiner. The Steiners, who run the EcommerceBytes newsletter, were targeted in 2019 with a disturbing harassment campaign that included live insects, a bloody pig mask, and a funeral wreath. The campaign was allegedly orchestrated by eBay executives in response to the newsletter's coverage of the company. The couple filed suit in 2021, naming eBay and former CEO Devin Wenig among the defendants. The settlement brings a close to a years-long legal battle stemming from the misconduct.
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TechnologyNYT Technology ·
Massachusetts Journalists Harassed by eBay Security Team Settle for $56 Million
A couple from Massachusetts who were stalked and harassed by an eBay security team have reached a $56 million settlement. The two victims, who worked as journalists, were targeted by employees from the Silicon Valley-based e-commerce giant. The disturbing case drew widespread attention to the lengths corporate security personnel allegedly went to intimidate the pair. The settlement also reignited broader debates about the degree of accountability that corporate executives should bear when misconduct occurs under their watch.
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TechnologyArs Technica ·
eBay settles for $46M over harassment campaign targeting journalists
eBay has agreed to pay $46 million to settle claims related to a disturbing harassment campaign directed at journalists. Company operatives sent threatening and macabre items, including a bloody pig mask, directly to the journalists' homes. The campaign targeted individuals who had written critically about the e-commerce giant. The settlement marks a significant financial and reputational consequence for eBay over the deeply troubling misconduct by its employees.
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TechnologyArs Technica ·
Chicxulub asteroid impact may have charbroiled dinosaurs within hours
A new study suggests that the heat released by the Chicxulub asteroid impact was intense enough to kill off dinosaurs and other life within just one to two hours of the strike. The impact generated extreme thermal radiation that effectively charbroiled living creatures across vast regions. Researchers describe the killing power as so severe that survival in the immediate aftermath would have been nearly impossible for most species. The findings shed new light on the speed and ferocity of the mass extinction event that wiped out non-avian dinosaurs roughly 66 million years ago.
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TechnologyTechCrunch ·
Runlayer Sues Rippling, Alleging Idea Theft After Product Evaluation
Startup Runlayer has filed a lawsuit against HR and payroll software company Rippling over alleged misappropriation of its product concept. The dispute centers on Runlayer's MCP gateway product, which Rippling reportedly assessed during an evaluation process. Runlayer claims that after reviewing its technology, Rippling chose to build a similar product in-house rather than partnering or licensing the startup's solution. The lawsuit reflects growing concerns in the tech industry about the risks startups face when sharing proprietary ideas with larger companies during business discussions.
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TechnologyArs Technica ·
Philly suburb: Sure, build that data center—but first meet our 43 demands
The final condition will shock you! (It won’t. It’s taxes.)
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TechnologyNYT Technology ·
Writers Guild Pulls Sponsorship From Urbanworld Film Festival Over AI Films
The Writers Guild of America has withdrawn its support from Urbanworld, a New York-based film festival. The union's decision came after the festival announced a new section dedicated to films created using artificial intelligence tools. The WGA has been a vocal critic of AI's growing role in the entertainment industry. The guild had previously served as a sponsor of the annual event.
