Monday, February 27, 2023

White House: No more TikTok on gov’t devices within 30 days


The White House is giving all federal agencies 30 days to wipe TikTok off all government devices, as the Chinese-owned social media app comes under increasing scrutiny in Washington over security concerns.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/white-house-no-more-tiktok-on-govt-devices-within-30-days/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

U.S. cyber official urges Microsoft, Twitter to boost security


A senior U.S. cybersecurity official described adoption of some of Microsoft and Twitter's security protocols as "disappointing."

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/u-s-cyber-official-urges-microsoft-twitter-to-boost-security/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

‘Take It Down:’ a tool for teens to remove explicit images


A new online tool aims to give some control back to teens and others to take down explicit images and videos of themselves from the internet.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/take-it-down-a-tool-for-teens-to-remove-explicit-images/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

EU official defends talks on Big Tech helping fund networks


A top European Union official says existing telecom networks aren’t up to the job of handling surging amounts of internet data traffic and defended a consultation on whether Big Tech companies should help pay for upgrades.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/eu-official-defends-talks-on-big-tech-helping-fund-networks/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

German government pushes back on call to close Facebook page


The German government is pushing back against a demand by the country's data protection commissioner to take down its Facebook page over data privacy concerns.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/german-government-pushes-back-on-call-to-close-facebook-page/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Outsmarting humans just one step for AI video game players


Video game players have competed against computer-controlled opponents for decades, but they haven't been as smart and fast as GT Sophy, the new AI driver on PlayStation's Gran Turismo.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/outsmarting-humans-just-one-step-for-ai-video-game-players/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Sunday, February 26, 2023

Japan’s Nissan accelerates shift to electric vehicles


Nissan is speeding up its shift to electric vehicles, especially in Europe, where emissions regulations are most stringent.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/japans-nissan-accelerates-shift-to-electric-vehicles/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Company says missing Chinese banker Bao Fan aiding probe


A stock market filing says missing Chinese investment banker Bao Fan is co-operating in an investigation in China.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/company-says-missing-chinese-banker-bao-fan-aiding-probe/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

A video-gaming school stumbles on a way to get dropouts back in class


Japan’s first e-sports high school thought it would turn out pro gamers. Instead, it attracted an unexpected demographic.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/a-video-gaming-school-stumbles-on-a-way-to-get-dropouts-back-in-class/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Germany wants to ease visa application for Indian IT workers


German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says his government wants to make it easier for information technology experts from India to obtain work visas in Germany as the country struggles with a shortage of skilled labor.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/germany-wants-to-ease-visa-application-for-indian-it-workers/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Friday, February 24, 2023

Jeff Bezos receives highest French honor in private ceremony


Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, has received the Legion of Honor, the highest French order of merit. He joins a small group of honorees with Seattle ties.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/jeff-bezos-receives-highest-french-honor-in-private-ceremony/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

E-bike batteries blamed for 22 NYC fires, 2 deaths this year


New York City officials say lithium ion batteries used to power electric bicycles and scooters have already sparked 22 fires that caused 36 injuries and two deaths this year.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/e-bike-batteries-blamed-for-22-nyc-fires-2-deaths-this-year/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Netflix cuts prices in some markets to lure more subscribers


Netflix is cutting its prices in several of its smaller markets.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/netflix-cuts-prices-in-some-markets-to-lure-more-subscribers/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Telecom maker Ericsson to cut 8% of its global workforce


Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson has announced it’s cutting 8% of its global workforce as it looks to reduce costs.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/telecom-maker-ericsson-to-cut-8-of-its-global-workforce/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Chipmakers turn cutthroat in fight for share of federal money


A lobbying frenzy to secure funding for the semiconductor industry has turned cutthroat as companies argue for more cash than their competitors.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/chipmakers-turn-cutthroat-in-fight-for-share-of-federal-money/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Thursday, February 23, 2023

Russia launches rescue ship to space station after leaks


Russia has launched a rescue ship for two cosmonauts and a NASA astronaut whose original ride sprang a dangerous leak at the International Space Station.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/science/russia-launches-rescue-ship-to-space-station-after-leaks/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Companies can’t demand silence from ex-employees for severance, labor board rules


The National Labor Relations Board has ruled that including a broad non-disparagement stipulation as a condition of receiving severance violates employees' rights under federal law.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/companies-cant-demand-silence-from-ex-employees-for-severance-labor-board-rules/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

New drone footage shows scale of Bakhmut’s destruction


New video footage of Bakhmut shot from the air with a drone for The Associated Press shows how the longest battle of the year-long Russian invasion has turned the city of salt and gypsum mines in eastern Ukraine into a ghost town.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/new-drone-footage-shows-scale-of-bakhmuts-destruction/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

TikTok banned from EU Commission phones over cybersecurity


The European Union’s executive branch has temporarily banned TikTok from phones used by employees as a cybersecurity measure.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/tiktok-banned-from-eu-commission-phones-over-cybersecurity/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

China’s tech rainmaker vanishes, and so does business confidence


Bao Fan’s firm says he’s unreachable, and others in the tech sector are worried for him and fear what his disappearance says about China’s heavy hand in business.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/chinas-tech-rainmaker-vanishes-and-so-does-business-confidence/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

‘Never saw such hell’: Russian soldiers in Ukraine call home


Audio intercepts obtained by The Associated Press of conversations between Russian soldiers in Ukraine and their loved ones give an intimate glimpse of how ordinary men found themselves condoning atrocities and turning into killers.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/never-saw-such-hell-russian-soldiers-in-ukraine-call-home/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Amazon closes $3.9B buyout of health company One Medical


Amazon has closed its $3.9 billion acquisition of the primary care organization One Medical.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon-closes-3-9b-buyout-of-health-company-one-medical/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Microsoft brings Bing chatbot to phones after curbing quirks


Microsoft is ready to take its new Bing chatbot mainstream — less than a week after making major fixes to stop the artificially intelligent search engine from going off the rails.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/microsoft-brings-bing-chatbot-to-phones-after-curbing-quirks/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Edmunds: Honda CR-V Hybrid vs Kia Sportage Hybrid


Both the Honda CR-V hybrid and Kia Sportage Hybrid have been redesigned for 2023.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/edmunds-honda-cr-v-hybrid-vs-kia-sportage-hybrid/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Baidu to implement ChatGPT-like Ernie Bot chatbot from March


Baidu Inc., one of China’s biggest search and artificial intelligence firms, says it plans to implement its artificial intelligence chatbot Ernie into its search services from March.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/baidu-to-implement-chatgpt-like-ernie-bot-chatbot-from-march/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Stellantis earnings rise as EV push drives higher sales


Automaker Stellantis says earnings grew in 2022 from a year earlier and its push into electric vehicles led to a jump in sales even as it faces growing competition from the industrywide shift.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/stellantis-earnings-rise-as-ev-push-drives-higher-sales/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Hackers scored data center logins for some of the world’s biggest corporations more than a year ago. Now they’re selling that information


Hackers got ahold of login credentials for data centers used by some of the world’s biggest businesses, a potential bonanza for spying or sabotage, according to a cybersecurity research firm.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/hackers-scored-data-center-logins-for-some-of-the-worlds-biggest-corporations-more-than-a-year-ago-now-theyre-selling-that-information/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Romanian court rules to hold Andrew Tate for 30 more days


A court in Romania’s capital has agreed Tuesday to extend social media influencer Andrew Tate’s detention on suspicion of organized crime and human trafficking by another 30 days.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/romanian-court-rules-to-hold-andrew-tate-for-30-more-days/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Why prosecutors say former Seagen CEO wasn’t charged after arrest


Documents show Seattle-area prosecutors concluded an investigation into Clay Siegall without charges because of what they say were inconsistencies from witness statements.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/why-prosecutors-say-former-seagen-ceo-wasnt-charged-after-arrest/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

What is Section 230, the rule that made the modern internet?


Twenty-six words tucked into a 1996 law overhauling telecommunications have allowed companies like Facebook, Twitter and Google to grow into the giants they are today.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/what-is-section-230-the-rule-that-made-the-modern-internet/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Japan startup unveils space viewing tour on balloon flight


A Japanese startup company is planning to launch a commercial space viewing balloon flight that it hopes will bring down to earth an otherwise astronomically expensive experience.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/japan-startup-unveils-space-viewing-tour-on-balloon-flight/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

ChatGPT wrote cover letters for these job seekers. Can you tell?


Job applicants are using ChatGPT — a chatbot powered by artificial intelligence — to do the heavy lifting of writing a resume. But how good is ChatGPT at pretending to be a human?

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/chatgpt-wrote-cover-letters-for-these-job-seekers-can-you-tell/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Monday, February 20, 2023

High court takes 1st look at law that shields internet firms


The Supreme Court is taking up its first case about a federal law that is credited with helping create the modern internet.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/high-court-takes-1st-look-at-law-that-shields-internet-firms/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Google case at Supreme Court risks upending the internet as we know it


Here is a look at how several companies might be affected by a ruling in Gonzalez v. Google. The possibility of a serious Section 230 overhaul has frightened internet companies across the country.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/google-case-at-supreme-court-risks-upending-the-internet-as-we-know-it/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Wanted: Interns who can make TikTok hits


As the social media platform continues to explode in popularity, brands are hiring college students and other young people to help them navigate the app.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/wanted-interns-who-can-make-tiktok-hits/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

How India’s caste system manifests in Seattle-area workplaces and beyond


Maya thought she left caste-based discrimination behind when she came to the U.S. from India to pursue her studies. She was shocked to discover she was wrong.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/how-indias-caste-system-manifests-in-seattle-area-workplaces-and-beyond/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Sunday, February 19, 2023

Meta testing new subscription service for verified accounts


Meta is testing a new subscription service that would let Facebook and Instagram users pay for a verified account.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/meta-testing-new-subscription-service-for-verified-accounts/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

How to avoid getting tricked by the ‘you’re hired’ scams


Even on trusted job search sites that use fraud detection technology, employment scams have skyrocketed. Here are some tips to make sure the position you're applying is real.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/how-to-avoid-getting-tricked-by-the-youre-hired-scams/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Supreme Court weighs liability shield for internet giants


A lawsuit against YouTube from the family of an American college student who was killed by Islamic State gunmen in Paris in 2015 is at the center of a closely watched Supreme Court case being argued Tuesday.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/supreme-court-weighs-liability-shield-for-internet-giants/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Saturday, February 18, 2023

Tesla driver killed after plowing into firetruck on freeway


Fire officials in Northern California say a Tesla driver was killed and a passenger was critically injured when the car plowed into a firetruck that was parked on a freeway.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/tesla-driver-killed-after-plowing-into-firetruck-on-freeway/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

How to keep your Twitter account secure — without paying


Twitter has given users an ultimatum.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/how-to-keep-your-twitter-account-secure-without-paying/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Minimum wage ‘ghosts’ keep Google and Microsoft’s AI arms race from becoming a nightmare | Brian Merchant


Commentary: There's a certain cruel irony in the fact that as the highest-profile technology in years makes its debut, the ones best suited to keep it on the rails are also the most precarious at the companies that need them.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/minimum-wage-ghosts-keep-google-and-microsofts-ai-arms-race-from-becoming-a-nightmare-brian-merchant/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

The PlayStation goggles are a win for gamers. Not for the metaverse


Sony’s new $550 headset offers best-in-class virtual reality gaming, but it’s still hard to see why we need VR goggles at all.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/the-playstation-goggles-are-a-win-for-gamers-not-for-the-metaverse/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

How to address router privacy concerns | Q&A with Patrick Marshall


The main stated purpose for collecting data is to diagnose problems when they occur.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/how-to-address-router-privacy-concerns-qa-with-patrick-marshall/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Friday, February 17, 2023