Secret history: Even before the revolution, America was a nation of conspiracy theorists

Since the Salem witch trials, tales of dark plots and secret organizations have emerged time and again across the land that become the United States, and such conspiracies have influenced public opinion and even the outcome of elections.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/secret-history-even-before-the-revolution-america-was-a-nation-of-conspiracy-theorists/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny and others may vanish from TikTok as licensing dispute boils over

Universal Music Group, which represents artists including Taylor Swift, Drake, Adele, Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish, says that it will no longer allow its music on TikTok now that a licensing deal between the two parties has expired.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/taylor-swift-bad-bunny-and-others-may-vanish-from-tiktok-as-licensing-dispute-boils-over/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Meta, TikTok and other social media CEOs to testify before Senate committee on child exploitation

The CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies are testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday about child safety on their platforms.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/meta-tiktok-and-other-social-media-ceos-to-testify-before-senate-committee-on-child-exploitation/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Somalia’s intelligence agency says it blocks WhatsApp groups used by al-Qaida-linked militants

Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency says it has for the first time managed to shut down 20 WhatsApp groups allegedly operated by the extremist group al-Shabab for extortion and intimidation.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/somalias-intelligence-agency-says-it-blocks-whatsapp-groups-used-by-al-qaida-linked-militants/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Elon Musk says the first human has received an implant from Neuralink, but other details are scant

According to Elon Musk, the first human received an implant from his computer-brain interface company Neuralink over the weekend.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/elon-musk-says-the-first-human-has-received-an-implant-from-neuralink-but-other-details-are-scant/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

ChatGPT violated European privacy laws, Italy tells chatbot maker OpenAI

Italian regulators say they informed OpenAI that its ChatGPT artificial intelligence chatbot has violated European Union’s stringent data privacy rules.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/chatgpt-violated-european-privacy-laws-italy-tells-chatbot-maker-openai/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

X restores Taylor Swift searches after deepfake explicit images triggered temporary block

Elon Musk’s social media platform X has restored searches for Taylor Swift after temporarily blocking users from seeing some results as pornographic deepfake images of the singer circulated online.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/x-restores-taylor-swift-searches-after-deepfake-explicit-images-triggered-temporary-block/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

What to stream this week: Donald Glover, Run-D.M.C., ‘Choir’ and bye to ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’

This week’s new streaming entertainment releases include the launch of the final season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm" on Sunday, Donald Glover starring as a spy in the new TV series “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” and a documentary on Run-D.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/what-to-stream-this-week-donald-glover-run-d-m-c-choir-and-bye-to-curb-your-enthusiasm/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Amazon calls off bid to buy vacuum maker iRobot amid scrutiny in Europe and the US

Amazon has called off its proposed acquisition of robot vacuum cleaner iRobot, blaming "undue and disproportionate regulatory hurdles."

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon-calls-off-bid-to-buy-robot-vacuum-cleaner-irobot-amid-scrutiny-in-the-us-and-europe/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

X pauses Taylor Swift searches as deepfake explicit images spread

Social media platform X has blocked searches for Taylor Swift as pornographic deepfake images of the singer have circulated online.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/x-pauses-taylor-swift-searches-as-deepfake-explicit-images-spread/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

AI companies will need to start reporting their safety tests to the US government

The Biden administration will start implementing a new requirement for the developers of major artificial intelligence systems to disclose their safety test results to the government.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/ai-companies-will-need-to-start-reporting-their-safety-tests-to-the-us-government/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

US aid office in Colombia reports its Facebook page was hacked

The Colombia office of the U.S. government agency that oversees foreign aid and development funding says its Facebook page was hacked.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/us-aid-office-in-colombia-reports-its-facebook-page-was-hacked/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

That smartphone in your hand changes how you walk

Hunching over a device can mess with your gait, slow you down, and poison your mood. And that’s before you trip and fall.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/that-smartphone-in-your-hand-changes-how-you-walk/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Tesla recalling nearly 200,000 vehicles because software glitch can cause backup camera to go dark

Tesla is recalling nearly 200,000 vehicles in the U.S. because the backup camera may not display an image.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/tesla-recalling-nearly-200000-vehicles-because-software-glitch-can-cause-backup-camera-to-go-dark/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

T-Mobile: Q4 Earnings Snapshot

T-Mobile US Inc. (TMUS) on Thursday reported fourth-quarter net income of $2.01 billion. The Bellevue-based company said it had net income of $1.67 per share. The results missed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of eight analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.90 per share. The wireless carrier posted revenue of […]

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/t-mobile-q4-earnings-snapshot/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

George Carlin estate sues over fake comedy special purportedly generated by AI

The estate of George Carlin has filed a lawsuit over a fake hourlong comedy special that purportedly uses artificial intelligence to recreate the late standup comic’s style and material.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/george-carlin-estate-sues-over-fake-comedy-special-purportedly-generated-by-ai/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Temu is planning to open up its marketplace to U.S. and European sellers

Temu, the China-founded online retailer surging in popularity in the United States, is opening its platform to U.S. and European sellers.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/temu-is-planning-to-open-up-its-marketplace-to-u-s-and-european-sellers/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Microsoft cuts 1,900 jobs in gaming, including at Xbox, Activision

Microsoft will lay off 1,900 people across its video-game divisions including at Activision Blizzard.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/microsoft-cuts-1900-jobs-in-gaming-including-at-activision-2/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Nokia sales and profit drop as economic challenges lead to cutback on 5G investment

Nokia has reported a double-digit decline in sales and a fall in profit in the last three months of 2023.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/nokia-sales-and-profit-drop-as-economic-challenges-lead-to-cutback-on-5g-investment/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Ring will no longer allow police to request doorbell camera footage from users

Amazon-owned Ring will stop allowing police departments to request doorbell camera footage from users.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/ring-will-no-longer-allow-police-to-request-doorbell-camera-footage-from-users/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

New Jersey OKs two new offshore wind farms that would be farther from shore and beachgoers’ view

New Jersey utility regulators have given preliminary approval to two new wind farms off the state's coast.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/new-jersey-oks-two-new-offshore-wind-farms-that-would-be-farther-from-shore-and-beachgoers-view/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

A look at some of the companies in the technology sector that have recently made layoffs

Online retailer eBay Inc. will cut about 1,000 jobs, or an estimated 9% of its full-time workforce.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/a-look-at-some-of-the-companies-in-the-technology-sector-that-have-recently-made-layoffs/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Online retailer eBay is cutting 1,000 jobs. It’s the latest tech company to reduce its workforce

Online retailer eBay Inc. will cut about 1,000 jobs, or an estimated 9% of its full-time workforce.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/online-retailer-ebay-is-cutting-1000-jobs-its-the-latest-tech-company-to-reduce-its-workforce/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Mocked as ‘Pokémon with guns,’ Palworld becomes an instant it

Just days after it was released for early access, Palworld had became one of the most popular games on the planet despite having been rediculed.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/mocked-as-pokemon-with-guns-palworld-becomes-an-instant-it/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Airbnb donates $10 million to 120 nonprofits on 6 continents through its unusual community fund

Airbnb has donated a total of $10 million to more than 120 nonprofits in 44 countries on six continents.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/airbnb-donates-10-million-to-120-nonprofits-on-6-continents-through-its-unusual-community-fund/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Crypto firm Terraform Labs files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

Terraform Labs has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, less than two years after a collapse of the company’s cryptocurrency devastated traders around the world.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/crypto-firm-terraform-labs-files-for-chapter-11-bankruptcy-protection/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Insider Q&A: Small federal agency crafts standards for making AI safe, secure and trustworthy

A little-known federal agency, The National Institute of Standards and Technology, was tapped by the Biden administration to set testing parameters for ensuring generative AI systems are safe, secure, trustworthy and socially responsible.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/insider-qa-small-federal-agency-crafts-standards-for-making-ai-safe-secure-and-trustworthy/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

AI certification program verifies systems are ‘Fairly Trained’

A new initiative will evaluate and certify AI products as copyright-compliant, offering a stamp of approval to firms that submit details for independent review.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/ai-certification-program-verifies-systems-are-fairly-trained/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

The best and most frivolous car tech is going straight to EVs

Anyone looking for the latest, greatest and most frivolous in auto innovation will increasingly find it in an EV. Carmakers are sending more resources straight to battery-powered models.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/the-best-and-most-frivolous-car-tech-is-going-straight-to-evs/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

How to cut down your screen time but still get stuff done

Google’s Routines and Apple’s Shortcuts combine multiple steps into one command to make your phone or tablet do more of the work for you.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/how-to-cut-down-your-screen-time-but-still-get-stuff-done/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Flexible underpinnings of new big Stellantis vehicles will help company navigate political changes

On the surface, the platform beneath a new generation of automobiles has little to do with politics and elections.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/flexible-underpinnings-of-new-big-stellantis-vehicles-will-help-company-navigate-political-changes/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

At Davos, leaders talked big on rebuilding trust. Can the World Economic Forum make a difference?

Business and political elites descended on the Swiss Alpine snows of Davos to suss out “rebuilding trust” in a splintering world.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/at-davos-leaders-talked-big-on-rebuilding-trust-can-the-world-economic-forum-make-a-difference/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Ford cuts production of F-150 Lightning pickup on weaker-than-expected electric vehicle sales growth

Ford says it’s reducing production of the F-150 Lightning electric pickup vehicle as it adjusts to weaker-than-expected electric vehicle sales growth.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/ford-cuts-production-of-f-150-lightning-pickup-on-weaker-than-expected-electric-vehicle-sales-growth/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Apple offers rivals access to tap-and-go payment tech to resolve EU antitrust case

Apple has promised to open up its tap-and-go mobile payment system to rivals as a way to resolve an antitrust case and avoid potentially billions in fines.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/apple-offers-rivals-access-to-tap-and-go-payment-tech-to-resolve-eu-antitrust-case/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Small plane that crashed off California coast was among a growing number of home-built aircraft

A small airplane that crashed into the ocean off the California coast has been identified as one of tens of thousands of home-built aircraft that are part of a high-flying hobby taking off across the country.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/small-plane-that-crashed-off-california-coast-was-among-a-growing-number-of-home-built-aircraft/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

ET welcome: Kentucky city beams message into space inviting extraterrestrial visitors

A Kentucky city has come up with an out-of-this-world campaign to promote tourism.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/et-welcome-kentucky-city-beams-message-into-space-inviting-extraterrestrial-visitors/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Sheryl Sandberg, who helped to turn Facebook into digital advertising empire, to leave company board

Sheryl Sandberg, who helped to transform Facebook from a tech startup into a digital advertising empire, will step down from the board of Meta, Facebook’s parent company.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/sheryl-sandberg-who-helped-to-turn-facebook-into-digital-advertising-empire-to-leave-company-board/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

AI is the buzz, the big opportunity and the risk to watch among the Davos glitterati

Artificial intelligence is easily the biggest buzzword for world leaders and corporate bosses diving into big ideas at the World Economic Forum’s glitzy annual meeting in Davos.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/ai-is-the-buzz-the-big-opportunity-and-the-risk-to-watch-among-the-davos-glitterati/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Samsung vies to make AI more mainstream by baking in more of the technology in its new Galaxy phones

Smartphones could get much smarter this year as the next wave of artificial intelligence seeps into the devices that accompany people almost everywhere they go.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/samsung-vies-to-make-ai-more-mainstream-by-baking-in-more-of-the-technology-in-its-new-galaxy-phones/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Apple passed Samsung as world’s top phone maker in 2023

Apple's iPhone dethroned Samsung Electronics devices to become the best-selling smartphone series over the course of 2023.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/apple-passed-samsung-as-worlds-top-phone-maker-in-2023/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Musk demands bigger stake in Tesla as price for his AI work

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, stunned investors by demanding shares worth more than $80 billion if the company's board wants him to continue developing products based on artificial intelligence.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/musk-demands-bigger-stake-in-tesla-as-price-for-his-ai-work/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Billionaire backers of new California city reveal map, details of proposed development

The people behind a secretive Silicon Valley-backed ballot initiative to construct a new city on California farmland are releasing more details of their plan.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/billionaire-backers-of-new-california-city-reveal-map-details-of-proposed-development/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Here’s how ChatGPT maker OpenAI plans to deter election misinformation in 2024

ChatGPT maker OpenAI has outlined a plan to prevent its artificial intelligence tools from being used to spread election misinformation in 2024.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/heres-how-chatgpt-maker-openai-plans-to-deter-election-misinformation-in-2024/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

The Supreme Court allows a court order to take effect that could cost Apple billions of dollars

The Supreme Court has allowed a court order to take effect that could loosen Apple’s grip on its lucrative iPhone app store, and potentially affect billions of dollars in revenue a year.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/the-supreme-court-allows-a-court-order-to-take-effect-that-could-cost-apple-billions-of-dollars/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Synopsys buying Ansys in a cash-and-stock deal valued at about $35 billion

Software company Synopsys is buying Ansys in a cash-and-stock deal valued at approximately $35 billion.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/synopsys-buying-ansys-in-a-cash-and-stock-deal-valued-at-about-35-billion/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Fukushima nuclear plant operator in Japan says it has no new safety concerns after Jan. 1 quake

The operator of the wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan says it has no new safety worries and envisions no changes to the plant’s decommissioning plans even after a deadly earthquake on Jan. 1 caused minor damage to another idled nuclear plant.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/fukushima-nuclear-plant-operator-in-japan-says-it-has-no-new-safety-concerns-after-jan-1-quake/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Tech firm Baidu denies report that its Ernie AI chatbot is linked to Chinese military research

The technology company Baidu is refuting a newspaper report that said its artificial intelligence chatbot Ernie was linked to Chinese military research.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/tech-firm-baidu-denies-report-that-its-ernie-ai-chatbot-is-linked-to-chinese-military-research/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Nvidia rolls out new chips, claims leadership of ‘AI PC’ race

The new desktop graphics chips with extra components will let gamers, designers and other computer users make better use of AI on their personal machines

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/nvidia-rolls-out-new-chips-claims-leadership-of-ai-pc-race/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Conflict, climate change and AI get top billing as leaders converge for elite meeting in Davos

Climate, conflict, a divided world and the rise of artificial intelligence round out a to-do list of global priorities at this year’s edition the World Economic Forum’s gabfest of business, political and other elites in Davos, Switzerland.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/conflict-climate-change-and-ai-get-top-billing-as-leaders-converge-for-elite-meeting-in-davos/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

What to stream this week: Jason Momoa roaming, Green Day rocking and ‘Fast X’ exploding

This week’s new streaming entertainment releases include albums from indie rock heroes Sleater-Kinney and the pop-punk trio Green Day, the Finnish romantic comedy “Fallen Leaves,” and the big, fun action movie “Fast X” racing to Prime Video.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/what-to-stream-this-week-jason-momoa-roaming-green-day-rocking-and-fast-x-exploding/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology