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Tech
Industry, products, and the wires that hold it all together.
472 stories archived
‘These are some of the most complex structures ever created’: how tech reporting moved into the physical world
The Guardian’s global tech reporting team are investigating the impact of the vast datacentres being built to power the AI revolution. We spoke to them about how their beat has become increasingly offline Journalists often use the term “shoe-leather reporting” to refer to the on-the-ground legwork that goes into covering certain stories. As the tech industry’s focus has shifted from screen-based realities to the physical world of colossal AI datacentres and social media harms, comfortable footwear has become more essential to a tech reporter’s job. Earlier this week, we published the Guardian’s latest investigation into the datacentres and energy infrastructures that underpin AI – revealing that an £8.2bn AI complex in rural Scotland has misrepresented its plans to be powered entirely by on-site renewables. “Our reporting is showing that you can’t simply wave a magic wand and have a datacentre appear,” says Aisha Down, who covers AI for the Guardian and went to Scotland to investigate the story. “There are a lot of huge physical constraints and reality checks. These physical, tangible things are what makes or sinks the AI boom.” Continue reading...
CurrentBody Multi Light Therapy LED mask review: hands down the best I’ve tested
With five light modes targeting everything from fine lines to blemishes and pigmentation, CurrentBody’s latest mask promises a lot – and so does its price tag • The best LED face masks I’ve been testing LED masks for a couple of years now, and the CurrentBody Series 2 red-light face mask has long been my favourite option for anti-ageing. It’s comfortable, offers excellent coverage and powerful deep near-infrared treatments. Sadly, it doesn’t work for other skin concerns. It’s a one-trick pony. So, when I heard that CurrentBody had launched its Multi Light Therapy mask with five different modes, I was interested to see how it would stand up to the stellar performance of its predecessor. As someone with hormonal acne, I was especially keen to try the mask’s “clearing” mode, but it also offers a calming “restoring” mode, a pigmentation-reducing “brightening” mode, and a distinctive “complete” mode, as well as the “anti-ageing” mode. Continue reading...
The real mystery behind Moana: After 1,700 years, why did Polynesians suddenly sail east?
New climate evidence adds context to these long voyages.
‘This was a righteous case. A holy war’: the lawyer who took on Meta and Google – and won
When Mark Lanier and his young client Kaley faced the tech giants in an LA courtroom earlier this year, it seemed a bigger battle than David v Goliath. But they scored a landmark victory, proving that the social media giants had created ‘addiction machines’ that harmed mental health. How did they pull it off? When Mark Zuckerberg walked into a Los Angeles courtroom on 18 February flanked by an entourage bedecked in Meta Ray-Bans, some people laughed. If this was an attempt at product placement for the company’s newest range of smart glasses, it was jarringly ill-judged: Zuckerberg was about to testify before a jury in a landmark lawsuit that sought to prove that Instagram and YouTube are addictive by design, and he had passed a throng of bereaved parents on his way into the courthouse. But the prosecution team, led by Mark Lanier, were not laughing. This was a serious trial. For the first time, the most powerful names in social media were being held to account for the inherent design of their platforms, rather than the content hosted on them. They were accused of deliberately and maliciously building products that keep children hooked, with disastrous consequences for the mental wellbeing of young people. It was a landmark case – a big tobacco moment for big tech. Continue reading...
Chasing new skills, going back to basics and pushing for collective action: how software engineers are adapting to AI
Software engineering was one of the best-paying professions in the US in 2022, but the advent of AI has disrupted it, leading to several layoffs and underemployment Every weekday, Matt, a software engineer, looks forward to his four-hour train commute to Pawling, New York. It’s time he uses to work on his own project: a browser-based video game for which he writes every line of code himself. “I am actively trying to keep my axe sharp,” said Matt, who did not want to use his actual name, to protect his employment. In the last six months, Matt’s job has increasingly shifted away from coding, problem solving and software architecture towards reviewing code generated by artificial intelligence. Convinced that the shift will weaken his skills, he’s doing what he can to keep them intact. “I am trying not to leverage AI where I can.” Continue reading...
‘A very good clone’: news stories faked to lure victims to scam investment sites
Fraudsters create false articles that appear to be from publishers such as the Guardian to share on social media The Guardian article looks interesting. It says the billionaire Jim Ratcliffe has stormed out of a BBC interview after presenter Laura Kuenssberg revealed details of his personal financial affairs – and now the episode has been removed from iPlayer. Among the detail in the piece is that Ratcliffe has been using an online investment platform to make money. The report says although the site has been kept secret, other people have used it too, and they have made a fortune. There is a link to the site where you can trade cryptocurrency, stocks and shares. Continue reading...
Scientists Solve Mystery of Bizarre ‘Alien Megastructure’ Star
For more than a decade, the strange light patterns emitted by “Tabby’s Star” have sparked speculation about alien megastructures and exotic natural explanations. The discovery of a giant planet is a new twist.
A Jupiter-size planet that escaped its star's death
It's unclear how the planet avoided its star's bloated red giant stage.
Overhaul of public lands grazing regulations seeks to cut public involvement
For the first time since 1995, the Bureau of Land Management is rewriting its grazing regulations.
Safe from AI: which jobs will help you thrive in the future?
Experts say there will still be opportunities ahead in everything from teaching to hotels and the law Entering the world of work often brings some uncertainty, but now there is another question: how can I AI-proof my career? We asked people from across various industries what they think the impact of AI will be on careers, and which jobs may be less affected. While it is still early days for the tech, many had ideas about how you can best prepare yourself for a successful career in this new world. Continue reading...
Meta ditches Muse Image AI feature because it ‘misses the mark’ on users’ privacy
Meta was criticised for feature launched on Tuesday that automatically lets users generate images using content from public Instagram accounts Meta has said it is discontinuing an AI feature launched this week that allowed users to generate images using public Instagram accounts, after drawing widespread criticism over privacy concerns, including from a Hollywood union. “Our intent was to provide a useful creative tool and to give people control over whether their public content could be referenced in this way,” Meta said in a statement. Continue reading...
Quantum error correction can constantly recalibrate a processor
Reinforcement learning uses error information to adjust control algorithms.
Increased drone surveillance of illegal July 4th fireworks led to $100K fine
More police and firefighters use drones to catch and deter illegal fireworks.
Apple sues OpenAI, alleging artificial intelligence company stole trade secrets
Suit claims OpenAI poached Apple workers, coaxing them to share confidential material in bid to create hardware Apple filed a lawsuit against OpenAI on Friday alleging the artificial intelligence firm stole company trade secrets in a move to create its own hardware device. The suit claims OpenAI poached Apple employees, coaxing them to hand over confidential material, product designs and other tightly held information. Continue reading...
China recovered its first reusable rocket and showed a new way to do it
"Clearly, they admire the work that's being done by SpaceX and are trying to replicate it."
Check out the first images of Quest shipwreck
The Quest shipwreck is in worse shape than expected, but it has turned into a thriving marine ecosystem.
Ransomware negotiator hired to represent victims was working for the attackers
Six years in prison for man who "sold out the very victims he was hired to represent."
Study shows how toxic RFK Jr.’s change to measles vaccine is for US toddlers
The children who get a combination shot are some of the most vulnerable.
AI Fiction Is Easy to Detect Because It's Stupid and Bad, Research Finds
ChatGPT uses too many dream sequences and Gemini won’t stop describing characters.
Behind the Blog: The Promise of the Internet
This week, we discuss mobile podcasting, participating in the meme, and vertigo.
Valve's new Steam Machine verification system is silent on these Steam Deck-busters
Dozens of titles too taxing for Steam Deck are still unrated for the new hardware.
Firmware update bricks Hue Bridge Pro devices; Philips gives free replacements
Affected users will have to configure their lights and settings all over again.
An orbiting disco ball gave Einstein’s theory its most precise test yet
The Earth may not be that massive, but it still distorts space-time.
Disable auto-play and infinite scroll or risk massive fines, EU tells Meta
Digital Services Act may force Meta to make big changes on its platforms.