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@alexhern

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TikTok: how the west has turned on gen Z’s favourite app

TikTok: how the west has turned on gen Z’s favourite app

US and European fears about China exploiting TikTok’s data harvest and promoting Beijing’s worldview look set to inspire an urgent overhaul in data privacy laws

23h

It’s so easy to cheat with technology that even judges are doing it | Torsten Bell

It’s so easy to cheat with technology that even judges are doing it | Torsten Bell

Everyone uses Wikipedia, but should it really be affecting what happens in court?

Feb 4

ChatGPT isn’t a great leap forward, it’s an expensive deal with the devil | John Naughton

ChatGPT isn’t a great leap forward, it’s an expensive deal with the devil | John Naughton

The new chatbot is generating a lot of hype, but we would do well to consider its human and environmental cost

Google poised to release chatbot technology after ChatGPT success

Google poised to release chatbot technology after ChatGPT success

Alphabet CEO says company well positioned in AI field, as analysts say ChatGPT has reached 100m users

Tell us: how do you use ChatGPT?

Tell us: how do you use ChatGPT?

We would like to speak to people from around the world who use ChatGPT for assistance at work, with creative projects, studies or just for fun

Australian TikTok creators could dump app after month-long test removed sound from videos

Australian TikTok creators could dump app after month-long test removed sound from videos

‘It makes you feel like it’s a platform that doesn’t value us as much as it should,’ says one frustrated creator and others say it may be the ‘final straw’

Some popular accounts likely to disappear from Twitter as Elon Musk ends free access to API

Move to pay-for-access application program interface continues platform owner’s push for revenue

Colombian judge says he used ChatGPT in ruling

Colombian judge says he used ChatGPT in ruling

Juan Manuel Padilla asked the AI tool how laws applied in case of autistic boy’s medical funding, while also using precedent to support his decision

Apple posts first revenue drop in four years

Apple posts first revenue drop in four years

Supply chain issues and slowing demand for the iPhone caused a rare slump for the tech giant as CEO Tim Cook took a pay cut

ChatGPT reaches 100 million users two months after launch

ChatGPT reaches 100 million users two months after launch

Unprecedented take-up may make AI chatbot the fastest-growing consumer internet app ever, analysts say

Mother of Archie Battersbee says he was bullied online

Mother of Archie Battersbee says he was bullied online

Exclusive: Hollie Dance, who fought legal battle to stop her son’s life support being switched off, says he received threatening messages

Unopened first-generation iPhone set to sell for $50,000 at US auction

Unopened first-generation iPhone set to sell for $50,000 at US auction

Phone from 2007 with 2 megapixel camera and 8GB storage had sat on Karen Green’s shelf for years before she realized its worth

Feb 1

Samsung Galaxy S23 launch: 200MP cameras and bigger batteries

Samsung Galaxy S23 launch: 200MP cameras and bigger batteries

Top-end Android phones with improved sustainability announced alongside Galaxy Book 3 laptops

Feb 1

A touch-screen fridge? A seven-blade razor? Why is everything suddenly so complicated? | Adrian Chiles

A touch-screen fridge? A seven-blade razor? Why is everything suddenly so complicated? | Adrian...

Modern technology is supposed to make our world better. But my flat’s ‘lighting system’ is broken, and I long for a single, simple light switch

Feb 1

ChatGPT maker OpenAI releases ‘not fully reliable’ tool to detect AI generated content

ChatGPT maker OpenAI releases ‘not fully reliable’ tool to detect AI generated content

OpenAI is calling on educators to give their feedback on how the tool is used, amid rising concerns around AI-assisted cheating at universities

Jan 31

‘They filmed me without my consent’: the ugly side of #kindness videos

‘They filmed me without my consent’: the ugly side of #kindness videos

Some social media users are building a following through ‘feelgood’ videos, in which, for instance, they give flowers to a stranger. The stranger then becomes their clickbait. Is there anything we...

Jan 30

TikTok CEO to testify before US Congress next month over data privacy

TikTok CEO to testify before US Congress next month over data privacy

Shou Zi Chew will face legislators amid concerns over the social media app’s alleged collusion with Beijing in accessing user data

Jan 30

How to not get caught in the million dollars a day of scams in Australia

How to not get caught in the million dollars a day of scams in Australia

With little chance of getting money back if you are a victim, take these measures to protect yourself from unsolicited calls, texts and emails

Jan 29

Tears, blunders and chaos: inside Elon Musk’s Twitter

Tears, blunders and chaos: inside Elon Musk’s Twitter

In the three months since Musk bought Twitter for £44bn, thousands have been sacked and the company has nosedived. Here, staff tell of a firm in disarray and an owner whose reputation is also...

Jan 29

Tesla trial: did Musk’s tweet affect the firm’s stock price? Experts weigh in

Tesla trial: did Musk’s tweet affect the firm’s stock price? Experts weigh in

Legal and finance experts say the car company’s attorneys face an ‘uphill battle’ to prove the billionaire’s tweets had no impact on shares

Jan 28

Why has Alphabet hit the panic button? Only Google can answer that question | John Naughton

Why has Alphabet hit the panic button? Only Google can answer that question | John Naughton

The economic downturn, US lawsuits and the fear of rising tech rivals could be reasons for the firm’s 'code red” alert, but it still has an AI ace up its sleeve

Jan 27

Elon Musk ‘doesn’t seem like’ right person to own Twitter, says co-founder

Elon Musk ‘doesn’t seem like’ right person to own Twitter, says co-founder

Biz Stone, one of quartet who set up company, says positive changes he oversaw have been undone by Tesla chief executive

Jan 26

State-linked hackers in Russia and Iran are targeting UK groups, NCSC warns

State-linked hackers in Russia and Iran are targeting UK groups, NCSC warns

Sophisticated campaigns against politicians and media aim to steal secrets or embarrass high-profile figures rather than to extort money

Tesla surpasses earning expectations even as Musk remains mired in lawsuits

Tesla surpasses earning expectations even as Musk remains mired in lawsuits

The electric car company posted $24.3bn in fourth-quarter earnings, surpassing anticipated revenue

First UK industrial action against Amazon is ‘making an impact’, says GMB

First UK industrial action against Amazon is ‘making an impact’, says GMB

Managers said to be covering for striking staff, though firm insists action has not disrupted activity

How I would fix Twitter if I were CEO | Margaret Sullivan

How I would fix Twitter if I were CEO | Margaret Sullivan

My name was floated as a potential head of the social media platform. Here’s what I’d do if I were suddenly in charge

Microsoft investigates outage affecting Teams and Outlook users worldwide

Microsoft investigates outage affecting Teams and Outlook users worldwide

Service status monitoring website Downdetector records thousands of people reporting problems

Why it’s time to stop filming strangers in public for social media thrills | Jason Okundaye

Why it’s time to stop filming strangers in public for social media thrills | Jason Okundaye

Whatever happened to respecting people’s basic dignity, asks the writer and researcher Jason Okundaye

Musk tells court he lacked ‘specific’ funding to take Tesla private

Musk tells court he lacked ‘specific’ funding to take Tesla private

CEO of electric carmaker says finance was ‘not an issue’ but he did not have binding commitments from investors

Jan 24

Justice department sues Google over its ‘unlawful’ online advertising dominance

Justice department alleges Google tried to ‘eliminate’ ad market rivals in lawsuit

The DoJ and eight states have filed a complaint against the tech company for violating antitrust laws

Jan 24

Is ‘banning’ TikTok protecting users or censorship? It depends who you ask

TechScape: Is ‘banning’ TikTok protecting users or censorship? It depends who you ask

In this week’s newsletter: American universities and legislators are blocking access to the China-owned app over privacy concerns – but fans say the choice should be theirs

Guardian Tech Retweeted

with the latest on TikTok 'campus bans' in today's TechScape

Alex Hern’s look at how technology is shaping our lives, direct to your inbox

Jan 24

Australian crypto exchange Digital Surge saved after $1.25m loan from creditors

Australian crypto exchange Digital Surge saved after $1.25m loan from creditors

The Brisbane-based firm lost $33m in the collapse of the global platform FTX but now aims to pay back customers over five years

Musk tells court Saudis ‘unequivocally’ backed plan to take Tesla private

Musk tells court Saudis ‘unequivocally’ backed plan to take Tesla private

Elon Musk testifies at trial accusing him of defrauding investors by driving up the price of Tesla stock with his tweets

Microsoft confirms multibillion dollar investment in firm behind ChatGPT

Microsoft confirms multibillion dollar investment in firm behind ChatGPT

Company says deal with OpenAI will involve deploying artificial intelligence technology across its products

Spotify to cut 600 jobs after CEO admits to expanding too quickly

Spotify to cut 600 jobs after CEO admits to expanding too quickly

Music streaming service becomes latest tech firm to announce cuts after pandemic overexpansion

Twitter to launch ad-free subscription tier, Elon Musk says

Twitter to launch ad-free subscription tier, Elon Musk says

Tesla boss hopes for rise in revenue after advertising downturn in wake of takeover

Surface Pro 9 review: Microsoft’s best tablet – if you pick the right one

Surface Pro 9 review: Microsoft’s best tablet – if you pick the right one

Faster and easier to repair, Intel version is best yet, but Arm model isn’t ready for prime time

African leaders who dilute workers’ rights for Uber’s digital empire harm Africa