Tech Know
The US lags other countries in social media restrictions for kids, but a reform push is growing
Amy Neville describes Kristin Bride as her “soulmate.” But the day that forged their bond — June 23, 2020 — was the worst of each of their lives. Both Bride and Neville lost their teen sons that day. Their kids lived a thousand miles apart and never met, but they both died from harms related […]
Apple increases prices for Macs and iPads, blaming a shortage of memory chips
Apple on Thursday announced an increase in prices for Macs and iPads, citing a memory chip shortage brought on by the artificial intelligence boom. The Cupertino, California-based company called the demand spike an “unprecedented challenge” for the consumer electronics industry. “The rapid expansion of AI data centers has created an extraordinary surge in demand for […]
Canada seeks to ban social media accounts for children under 16, joining growing global effort
TORONTO | Canada introduced legislation on Wednesday that could bar children younger than 16 from having social media accounts unless the companies show they can make their platforms safe. Canada is joining a growing global effort to tighten safety protections. Canadian government officials said social media platforms can obtain an exemption if they have put […]
Visa plugs its payment network into ChatGPT, letting AI agents shop and pay for users
SAN FRANCISCO | Betting that people will soon grow more comfortable having artificial intelligence agents shop for groceries, plane tickets or diapers on their behalf, payments giant Visa said Wednesday that it has embedded its payment network inside of ChatGPT, empowering the chatbot to independently shop and complete transactions. It means AI agents can not […]
The skills people still perform better than AI, according to workplace experts
NEW YORK | Many workers fear machines will supplant them as adoption of artificial intelligence accelerates. But what if people have qualities both unmistakably human and essential to career success that AI could not easily replace them? Some workplace experts argue that with more businesses adopting AI tools, soft skills such as empathy, critical thinking […]
Accessorize with earplugs at this summer’s concerts so you can enjoy more music in the future
NEW YORK | When her favorite band took the stage, Kristin Shires was in the front row. As the Misterwives started to play, the drums and saxophones blared from the trembling speakers. Shires soaked in the music — but on the way home, a different sound played in her ears. “The half hour after the […]
MIT researchers channel AI to turn hand gestures into robot training data
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. | Humanoid robots struggling with tasks like grasping a cup have a new teacher — a person wearing an ultrasound wristband that captures the movement of muscles, tendons and ligaments beneath the skin. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology developed the tool to collect data of human hand motion that could eventually […]
Apple unveils new AI features with privacy focus at developers conference
CUPERTINO, Calif. | Apple unveiled new artificial intelligence features with a focus on privacy and day-to-day at its annual developers conference Monday the last one featuring CEO Tim Cook before he turns his post over to John Ternus in September. While the iconic iPhone maker has been playing catch-up with rivals when it comes to […]
A new kind of date makes personal to-do lists a reason to get together with friends
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. | Life tasks like paying bills, canceling subscriptions and answering overdue emails are becoming a reason to socialize for friends, couples, roommates and other people who get together for what’s known as “admin dates.” The low-pressure gatherings taking place in coffee shops, accommodating bars and private homes are intended to turn tedious and […]
Some parents don’t want their kids to use tech at school. But districts are pushing back
ARDMORE, Pa. | For high school senior Aliyah Pack, getting distracted during school is the norm. Kids in her Pennsylvania school district use iPads starting in kindergarten, switch to Chromebooks in second grade and get their own MacBooks in eighth grade. Aliyah has ADHD, and finds it difficult to concentrate when she’s learning from a […]