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How the cost of living crisis and games industry turmoil could hurt Sony's PlayStation 5 Pro release
In late November 2020, I was one of those people standing in line—or rather, refreshing my browser—hoping to snag a PlayStation 5 during a restock. The pandemic was in full swing, and with most of the world locked indoors, there weren't many better things to do. The original PS5 promised... Read more
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As LLMs grow bigger, they're more likely to give wrong answers than admit ignorance
A team of AI researchers at Universitat Politècnica de València, in Spain, has found that as popular LLMs (Large Language Models) grow larger and more sophisticated, they become less likely to admit to a user that they do not know an answer.... Read more
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Use voice control rather than touchscreens for vehicle navigation, say researchers
A man is driving a car along suburban streets when suddenly he receives a message: "Enter an address on the screen in front of you so that you can get help to find your way."... Read more
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ChatGPT is changing the way we write. Here's how—and why it's a problem
Have you noticed certain words and phrases popping up everywhere lately?... Read more
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Meta unveils cheaper VR headset, AI updates and shows off prototype for holographic AR glasses
Meta unveiled updates to the company's virtual reality headset and Ray Ban smart glasses on Wednesday as it tries to demonstrate its artificial intelligence prowess and the next generation of computing platforms beyond smartphones and computers.... Read more
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Study of data from start of pandemic examined changes in privacy and data choices
A crisis can alter one's personal considerations of the benefits and costs related to choices around data and privacy. In a new study, researchers used location data before and after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to determine how U.S. consumers reacted. They found that decisions to opt out of... Read more
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Exploding pagers and walkie-talkies are a reminder of how easily devices can be hacked
The recent attacks on walkie-talkies and pagers in Lebanon have highlighted the hidden vulnerabilities in everyday technology. These incidents underscore the need for individuals to understand the potential risks associated with their devices and to take proactive steps to protect themselves in an increasingly digital world where safety can be... Read more
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The design tricks keeping your kids hooked on games and apps—and three things you can do about it
Ever found yourself unable to resist checking out a social media notification? Or sending a random picture just to keep a Snapchat "streak" going? Or simply getting stuck staring at YouTube because it auto-played yet another cute cat video?... Read more
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ChatGPT's rise linked to decline in public knowledge sharing on online Q&A platforms
A new study published in PNAS Nexus reveals that the widespread adoption of large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, has led to a significant decline in public knowledge sharing on platforms like Stack Overflow. The study highlights a 25% reduction in user activity on the popular programming Q&A site... Read more
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Study offers improvements to food quality computer predictions
Have you ever stood in front of apples on display at the grocery store trying to pick out the best ones and wondered, "Is there an app for this?"... Read more
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Meta's AI-powered smart glasses raise concerns about privacy and user data
Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are just one of many wearable tech devices on the market. The glasses, which first launched in 2021, are a collaboration between Meta and Italian-French eyewear company EssilorLuxottica, which owns Ray-Ban among many other brands.... Read more
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Here's how to maintain healthy smartphone habits
What is the first thing you do in the morning after you awaken? Many people immediately check their phones for notifications of messages, alerts and social media updates by their social ties.... Read more
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How can we make the best possible use of large language models for a smarter, more inclusive society?
Large language models (LLMs) have developed rapidly in recent years and are becoming an integral part of our everyday lives through applications like ChatGPT. An article recently published in Nature Human Behaviour explains the opportunities and risks that arise from the use of LLMs for our ability to collectively deliberate,... Read more
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Apple begins testing AI software designed to bring a smarter Siri to the iPhone 16
Apple is giving more people the chance to test a software update that will implant artificial intelligence into its virtual assistant Siri and automate a variety of tedious tasks on the latest iPhone coming out Friday.... Read more
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E-scooter riders flouting rules, blocking footpaths and causing accidents? We need to use smart solutions
Recent decisions by several Australian and New Zealand cities to discontinue shared e‑scooter services have again thrust misperceptions and moral panic into the limelight.... Read more
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'Side job, self-employed, high-paid': Behind the AI slop flooding TikTok and Facebook
TikTok, Facebook and other social media platforms are being flooded with uncanny and bizarre content generated with artificial intelligence (AI), from fake videos of the US government capturing vampires to images of shrimp Jesus.... Read more
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Why Microsoft's Copilot AI falsely accused court reporter of crimes he covered
When German journalist Martin Bernklau typed his name and location into Microsoft's Copilot to see how his articles would be picked up by the chatbot, the answers horrified him.... Read more
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AI is working its way into smartphones, but some tools could be subverted for misinformation
Artificial intelligence (AI) has already transformed how we work and communicate. Now, it's making its way into our pockets.... Read more
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Instagram has announced it will be removing beauty filters—but the damage is done
Meta has announced third-party augmented reality (AR) filters will no longer be available on its apps as of January 2025. This means more than 2 million user-made filters offered across WhatsApp, Facebook and, most notably, Instagram will disappear.... Read more
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Study shows AI could lead to inconsistent outcomes in home surveillance
A new study from researchers at MIT and Penn State University reveals that if large language models were to be used in home surveillance, they could recommend calling the police even when surveillance videos show no criminal activity.... Read more
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Report: New smoke alarms are better at detecting fires, but still beep for bacon
Armored with safety glasses, hearing protection, and a fire-retardant lab coat, fire researcher Emma Veley carefully cradled a frying pan of raw bacon into a laboratory surrounded by wires and sensors. Mounted on the ceiling above, 12 smoke detectors waited patiently in a neat row. Veley closed the door behind... Read more
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What caused pagers used by Hezbollah to explode? Wireless security expert explains what might have happened
Thousands of pagers used by members of the militant group Hezbollah simultaneously exploded in parts of Lebanon and Syria on Tuesday afternoon, killing at least nine people and injuring more than 2,700.... Read more
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Meta, Ray-Ban maker extend smart glasses partnership
Ray-Ban maker EssilorLuxottica said Tuesday that it extended a partnership with Facebook and Instagram owner Meta to develop smart-eyewear products after producing glasses that let users make calls, capture images and listen to music.... Read more
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US says new Apple AirPods can be hearing aids
Apple on Thursday got a green light from US regulators to add a feature that would let upcoming AirPods Pro ear pieces be used as hearing aids, potentially disrupting that market.... Read more
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Sharing biosignals with online gaming partners can enhance mutual sense of social presence
Although interactive online platforms, including esports platforms, aim to foster close connections between people, they often fall short of supporting the creation of bonds between the interaction partners. Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have discovered that sharing biological signals (biosignals), such as heart rate data, while playing online games... Read more
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The latest version of ChatGPT has a feature you'll fall in love with—and that's a worry
If you're a paid subscriber to ChatGPT, you may have noticed the artificial intelligence (AI) large language model has recently started to sound more human when you are having audio interactions with it.... Read more
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New iPhone integrates AI: Expert explains what that really means for users
Apple unveiled the iPhone 16 on Monday, a device designed around Apple Intelligence, the company's generative artificial intelligence (AI) offering. This new feature promises a highly personalized experience that goes beyond AI, but what does that mean for avid iPhone users? As AI continues to appear in our everyday lives,... Read more
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The five biggest-selling gaming consoles
Since video game consoles first emerged in the early 1970s, hundreds of millions have been sold to players eager to immerse themselves in their favorite franchises, from Assassin's Creed to Zelda.... Read more
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Sony to release PlayStation 5 Pro on November 7
Sony said Tuesday it would launch an upgraded version of its flagship games console with better graphics and AI capabilities on November 7, calling it PlayStation 5 Pro.... Read more
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Apple embraces the AI craze with its newly unleashed iPhone 16 lineup
Apple on Monday charged into the artificial intelligence craze with a new iPhone lineup that marks the company's latest attempt to latch onto a technology trend and transform it into a cultural phenomenon.... Read more
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China's Huawei unveils triple-folding phone with hefty price tag
Chinese tech giant Huawei on Tuesday unveiled the world's first triple-folding phone at more than three times the price of the newest iPhone, hours after its US competitor lifted the curtain on its own new handset built for AI.... Read more
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The iPhone 16, new AirPods and other highlights from Apple's product showcase
Apple squarely shifted its focus toward artificial intelligence with the unveiling of its hotly anticipated iPhone 16 along with a slew of new features coming with the next update to the device's operating system. While the new phone lineup headlined Monday's showcase, the tech giant also shared updates to its... Read more
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Apple unveils new iPhone built for AI
Apple on Monday unveiled new iPhones built for generative artificial intelligence as it seeks to boost sales and show it is keeping up in the technology race.... Read more
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The iPhone is about to be very different, and potentially better, in Europe—experts explain why
Depending on what side of the Atlantic you're on, your iPhone will soon be very different.... Read more
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Most Australian teens have a phone—but many are not keeping their identity and location secure
Most Australian teenagers have their own smartphone. According to a 2023 survey, 91% of young people between 14 and 17 owned a phone.... Read more
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Apple AI expected to star as new iPhones are unveiled
Apple is expected to release its latest line of iPhones on Monday that will feature generative AI capabilities as the tech behemoth looks to bolster sales of its iconic device.... Read more
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Awe and trepidation as AI comes for smartphones
Matthew Day was keen to find out if an artificial intelligence-packed Google Pixel 9 smartphone could tell him a great local fishing spot.... Read more
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How the iPhone 16 is different from Apple's recent releases
Apple's ubiquitous iPhone is about to break new ground with a shift into artificial intelligence that will do everything from smartening up its frequently dim-witted assistant Siri to creating customized emojis on the fly.... Read more
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Paying with your face: What will convince consumers to use facial recognition payment technology?
You have probably opened your smartphone using your face. If you have traveled internationally, you have used your face to exit and enter the country. You may have even scanned your face to "verify" your online dating profile. But are you willing to use your face to pay for your... Read more
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Study: People facing life-or-death choice put too much trust in AI
In simulated life-or-death decisions, about two-thirds of people in a UC Merced study allowed a robot to change their minds when it disagreed with them—an alarming display of excessive trust in artificial intelligence, researchers said.... Read more
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How AI features in smartphones are reducing their dependence on the cloud
New phones are being launched with features enabled by artificial intelligence (AI). The latest of these was Google's flagship Google Pixel 9 phone. Samsung's Galaxy S24 phone, released at the beginning of 2024, also features a range of AI-enabled photo editing features.... Read more
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A sensory pen that can read Braille could improve literacy among the visually impaired
A pen that can transform Braille into English text has been developed by experts at the University of Bristol.... Read more
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How personalized technology could turn exercise pain into pleasure
Virtual reality (VR) video games that combine screen time with exercise are a great way to get fit, but game designers face a major challenge—like with regular exercise, adherence to "exergames" is low, with most users dropping out once they start to feel uncomfortable or bored.... Read more
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Australians trust new retail technologies but are slow to adopt them, report finds
Researchers from the Queensland University of Technology have found that while Australians generally trust retail technology, they remain hesitant to swiftly adopt new advancements, largely due to concerns over security and privacy.... Read more
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If new technologies snarl your airline experience, here are old-school strategies to cope
Ten years ago I wrote a book titled "The End of Airports" about how digital technologies and commercial air travel were on a collision course. Earlier this summer, I was proved right.... Read more
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A person's intelligence limits their computer proficiency more than previously thought, say researchers
A new study has found that intelligence, in the form of general cognitive abilities such as perception, thinking and remembering, is more important than hitherto thought at predicting a person's ability to complete common tasks with a PC. The study was published in the International Journal of Human-Computer Studies in... Read more
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Australians now have the right to disconnect, but how workplaces react will be crucial
From Monday August 26, many employees in Australia get a new right, called the right to disconnect from work.... Read more
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Morphing facial technology sheds light on the boundaries of self-recognition
Facial recognition is a critical part of self-image and social interactions. In an era of advanced digital technology, we face intriguing questions about communication and identity. How does altering our facial identity affect our sense of "self" and our interactions with others?... Read more
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Japan is next level for retro game collectors
US tourist David Madrigal is over the moon after paying $200 for a "vintage" console at a busy Tokyo store that is tapping into booming global demand for retro gaming kit.... Read more
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How smart toys may be spying on kids: What parents need to know
Toniebox, Tiptoi, and Tamagotchi are smart toys, offering interactive play through software and internet access. However, many of these toys raise privacy concerns, and some even collect extensive behavioral data about children, report researchers at the University of Basel, Switzerland.... Read more