Trump’s Medicaid work mandates are meant to save money. But first states will have to spend millions

New Medicaid work requirements signed into law by President Donald Trump are meant to save money.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/trumps-medicaid-work-mandates-are-meant-to-save-money-but-first-states-will-have-to-spend-millions/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Polymarket Iran bets hit $529 million as new wallets draw notice

Six accounts on Polymarket made around $1 million in profit by betting on the U.S. to strike Iran by Saturday, according to analytics firm Bubblemaps SA.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/polymarket-iran-bets-hit-529-million-as-new-wallets-draw-notice/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

What to know about the clash between the Pentagon and Anthropic over military’s AI use

A high-stakes dispute over how the U.S. military uses artificial intelligence has led the Pentagon to cancel its contract with rising AI star Anthropic.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/what-to-know-about-the-clash-between-the-pentagon-and-anthropic-over-militarys-ai-use/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

The lesson of AI literacy class: Don’t let the chatbot think for you

Teachers say they want to equip high school students to drive artificial intelligence, rather than be mere passengers steered by chatbots.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/the-lesson-of-ai-literacy-class-dont-let-the-chatbot-think-for-you/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

OpenAI gets $110 billon in funding from a trio of tech powerhouses, led by Amazon

ChatGPT maker OpenAI has received $110 billion in investments from Amazon, SoftBank and Nvidia, putting the technology company’s pre-money valuation at $730 billion.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/chatgpt-maker-openai-receives-110b-in-investments-from-amazon-nvidia-and-softbank/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

South Korea allows Google to export map data after years of frustration over Google Maps

South Korea’s government says it will allow Google to export detailed mapping data of the country to overseas servers under certain security requirements.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/south-korea-allows-google-to-export-map-data-after-years-of-frustration-over-google-maps/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Anthropic refuses to bend to Pentagon on AI safeguards as dispute nears deadline

A public showdown between the Trump administration and Anthropic is hitting an impasse as military officials demand the artificial intelligence company bend its ethical policies by Friday or risk damaging its business.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/anthropic-refuses-to-bend-to-pentagon-on-ai-safeguards-as-dispute-nears-deadline/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

US military would only use Anthropic’s AI technology in legal ways, Pentagon says

The Pentagon’s top spokesman is reiterating that the military wants to use Anthropic’s artificial intelligence technology in legal ways and won’t let the company dictate any limits ahead of a Friday deadline to agree to its demands.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/news/us-military-would-only-use-anthropics-ai-technology-in-legal-ways-pentagon-says/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

What to know about Defense Protection Act and the Pentagon’s Anthropic ultimatum

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave Anthropic an ultimatum this week: Open its artificial intelligence technology for unrestricted military use by Friday, or risk losing its government contract.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/what-to-know-about-defense-protection-act-and-the-pentagons-anthropic-ultimatum/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Instagram says it will notify parents if teens ‘repeatedly’ search for terms related to suicide

Instagram will start alerting parents if their kids repeatedly search for terms clearly associated with suicide or self-harm.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/instagram-says-it-will-notify-parents-if-teens-repeatedly-search-for-terms-related-to-suicide/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

As electric bills rise, Trump says tech companies should pay more

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he was negotiating pledges from major tech companies to pay a greater share of the energy costs associated with data centers.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/as-electric-bills-rise-trump-says-tech-companies-should-pay-more/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Samsung rolls out more AI, new privacy shield mode with the new Galaxy S26 lineup

Samsung on Wednesday unveiled its latest Galaxy smartphones, which boast an even bigger toolbox of artificial intelligence technology than the previous two generations and introduce a new privacy shield that blocks snoopy bystanders from sneaking a peek at the display screen.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/samsung-rolls-out-more-ai-new-privacy-shield-mode-with-the-new-galaxy-s26-lineup/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Discord postpones age verification rollout amid criticism, promises transparency

Discord is postponing its controversial age verification policy after users of the popular platform for gamers to communicate online expressed strong objections and privacy concerns.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/discord-postpones-age-verification-rollout-amid-criticism-promises-transparency/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Tech leads a split US stock market ahead of Nvidia’s profit report

Nvidia is helping to lead a split U.S. stock market, ahead of the chip company’s highly anticipated profit report coming after trading ends for the day.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/asian-stocks-gain-after-optimism-about-ai-sends-wall-street-higher/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Russia opens criminal investigation against Telegram app founder Pavel Durov

Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram messaging app, said he is facing a Russian criminal investigation on charges of “aiding terrorism.”.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/russia-opens-criminal-investigation-against-telegram-app-founder-pavel-durov/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Reddit hit with $20 million UK data privacy fine over child safety failings

Britain’s privacy watchdog fines Reddit nearly $20 million for unlawfully collecting and using children’s personal data.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/reddit-hit-with-20-million-uk-data-privacy-fine-over-child-safety-failings/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Hegseth and Anthropic CEO set to meet as debate intensifies over the military’s use of AI

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth plans to meet with the CEO of Anthropic.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/hegseth-and-anthropic-ceo-set-to-meet-as-debate-intensifies-over-the-militarys-use-of-ai/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Paul Brainerd, conservationist who pioneered desktop publishing, dies at 78

Paul Brainerd, the businessman-turned-conservationist who helped pioneer the modern personal computing era, died Feb. 15. He was 78.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/local-business/paul-brainerd-conservationist-who-pioneered-desktop-publishing-dies-at-78/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Apple ramps up work on glasses, pendant, and camera AirPods for AI era

Apple is accelerating development of three new wearable devices, a category also being pursued by OpenAI and Meta Platforms.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/apple-ramps-up-work-on-glasses-pendant-and-camera-airpods-for-ai-era/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Police are finding suspects based on their online searches as courts weigh privacy concerns

Criminal investigators hoping to develop a suspect are turning to a powerful cyber tool by asking Google to disclose who had been searching for relevant information.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/police-are-finding-suspects-based-on-their-online-searches-as-courts-weigh-privacy-concerns/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Robotaxis are coming to London. The city’s famed black cab drivers are skeptical

London is becoming a major test bed for robotaxis as companies prepare for government trials in the spring.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/robotaxis-are-coming-to-london-the-citys-famed-black-cab-drivers-are-skeptical/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

How AI money is flooding into the midterm elections

The spending has been a good benefit for Republicans, who are seen as friendlier to the industry and more opposed to stringent AI regulations.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/how-ai-money-is-flooding-into-the-midterm-elections/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Health advice from AI chatbots is frequently wrong, study shows

A new study found that chatbots were no better than Google — already a flawed source — at guiding users to correct diagnoses, or helping with what to do next.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/health-advice-from-ai-chatbots-is-frequently-wrong-study-shows/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Social media can be addictive even for adults, but there are ways to cut back

Social media addiction has been compared to casinos, opioids and cigarettes.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/social-media-can-be-addictive-even-for-adults-but-there-are-ways-to-cut-back/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Microsoft gaming boss Phil Spencer will retire, AI leader to take his role

A major leadership shuffle is hitting Microsoft's gaming division as longtime video game boss Phil Spencer retires.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/microsoft/microsoft-gaming-boss-phil-spencer-will-retire-ai-leader-to-take-his-role/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

You can give old batteries a new life by safely recycling them

Safely disposing of household batteries is good for the home and good for the environment.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/you-can-give-old-batteries-a-new-life-by-safely-recycling-them/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

India joins US-led initiative to build secure technology supply chains

India joined a U.S.-led initiative to strengthen technology cooperation among strategic allies in a move Friday that underscores the nations’ warming ties after a brief strain over New Delhi’s unabated purchase of discounted Russian oil.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/india-joins-us-led-initiative-to-build-secure-technology-supply-chains/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Social media companies face legal reckoning over mental health harms to children

For years, social media companies have disputed allegations that they harm children’s mental health through the way they design their platforms, deliberately addicting kids and failing to protect them sexual predators and dangerous content.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/social-media-companies-face-legal-reckoning-over-mental-health-harms-to-children/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Modi’s AI summit turns awkward as tech leaders Sam Altman and Dario Amodei dodge contact

India’s prime minister has put AI rivals Sam Altman and Dario Amodei in an awkward spotlight at a summit in New Delhi.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/modis-ai-summit-turns-awkward-as-tech-leaders-sam-altman-and-dario-amodei-dodge-contact/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Bill Gates pulls out of address at high-profile India AI summit

The move comes amid continued scrutiny of Gates' past ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein although that was not given as a reason.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/bill-gates-pulls-out-of-address-at-high-profile-india-ai-summit/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Modi pitches India as global artificial intelligence hub at AI summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pitched India as a major hub for artificial intelligence, built at home and used worldwide.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/modi-pitches-india-as-global-artificial-intelligence-hub-at-ai-summit/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

World of Warcraft to partner with Zillow to display in-game homes

World of Warcraft is teaming up with Zillow to showcase in-game homes you can actually afford. No more scrolling Zillow window shopping mansions.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/world-of-warcraft-to-partner-with-zillow-to-display-in-game-homes/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Gabon suspends access to social media as critics accuse its leader of crackdown on dissent

Gabon has suspended access to social media and digital platforms throughout the central African nation until further notice as critics accuse the country’s leader of crackdown on dissent.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/gabon-suspends-access-to-social-media-as-critics-accuse-its-leader-of-crackdown-on-dissent/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

India boots a private university from an AI summit over a robot dog controversy

A private Indian university has been booted from a top artificial intelligence summit in New Delhi after one of its staffers displayed a a commercially available robotic dog made in China, claiming it was the university’s own innovation.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/india-boots-a-private-university-from-an-ai-summit-over-a-robot-dog-controversy/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Mark Zuckerberg set to testify in watershed social media trial

Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, will testify during a landmark social media trial in Los Angeles.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/mark-zuckerberg-set-to-testify-in-watershed-social-media-trial/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

One WA CEO makes 1,794 times his average employee. Here’s why

The upswing in CEO makes a bad look worse for Seattle’s large, publicly traded companies. For retail employers that rely on low-wage workers, the ratios show an extraordinarily wide gap. 

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/local-business/one-wa-ceo-makes-1794-times-his-average-employee-heres-why/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Warner Bros reopens takeover talks with Paramount after receiving waiver from Netflix

Netflix is granting Warner Bros.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/netflix-grants-warner-bros-a-7-day-waiver-to-reopen-takeover-talks-with-paramount/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Shein faces EU investigation over illegal products and addictive design features

EU regulators are investigating Shein over illegal products and an allegedly addictive app design under the bloc’s Digital Services Act.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/shein-faces-eu-investigation-over-illegal-products-and-addictive-design-features/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Warner Bros. is said to consider reopening talks with Paramount

Warner Bros. Discovery is weighing whether to reopen deal talks with Paramount, which last week submitted a new, improved offer.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/warner-bros-is-said-to-consider-reopening-talks-with-paramount/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Cloudflare reports issues as X and Amazon Web Services are disrupted

Cloudflare, the tech company that provides a wide range of services for apps and websites, said it was experiencing issues early Monday.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/cloudflare-reports-issues-as-x-and-amazon-web-services-are-disrupted/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

OpenAI’s biggest challenge is turning its AI into a cash machine

The San Francisco startup is scrambling to find new ways to generate revenue and balance its books.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/openais-biggest-challenge-is-turning-its-ai-into-a-cash-machine/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

What to Stream: Emma Thompson, Jennifer Garner, ‘The Night Agent,’ Dove Cameron and Hilary Duff

The Emma Thompson-led thriller “Dead of Winter” and Hilary Duff’s first full-length album in 11 years are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/what-to-stream-emma-thompson-jennifer-garner-the-night-agent-dove-cameron-and-hilary-duff/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Hollywood groups condemn ByteDance’s AI video generator, claiming copyright infringement

A new artificial intelligence video generator from Beijing-based ByteDance, the creator of TikTok, is drawing the ire of Hollywood organizations.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/hollywood-groups-condemn-bytedances-ai-video-generator-claiming-copyright-infringement/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Review: Apple’s new AirTag tracker is better, but not upgrade-worthy

After a few days of testing, the updated AirTag hasn't changed the calculus for how and where I use Apple's tracker. And I think that's exactly the point.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/review-apples-new-airtag-tracker-is-better-but-not-upgrade-worthy/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Another ‘millionaires tax’ finds Seattle is far richer than anyone knew

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson last week described the city as “filthy rich.” Impolitic as that may be, returns from a new tax on high pay packages show she’s not wrong.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/another-millionaires-tax-finds-seattle-is-far-richer-than-anyone-knew/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

A year after border agent’s killing, 7 Zizians fight criminal charges in 3 states

Seven people with ties to the group known as Zizians remain jailed in three states, but so far none of their criminal cases have gone to trial.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/a-year-after-border-agents-killing-7-zizians-fight-criminal-charges-in-3-states/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Seattle Amazon workers, activists rally outside Spheres against DHS ties

An Amazon employee-led advocacy group is among those demanding the company sever ties with immigration enforcement agencies.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/seattle-amazon-workers-activists-rally-outside-spheres-against-dhs-ties/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

Amazon scraps partnership with surveillance company after Super Bowl ad backlash

Ring is ending its planned tie-up with police surveillance company Flock Safety after critics raise fresh worries about neighborhood camera networks.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon-scraps-partnership-with-surveillance-company-after-super-bowl-ad-backlash/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

People — and robots — are getting ready to celebrate the Lunar New Year in China

China is getting ready to celebrate the Lunar New Year, and the festivities will include robots.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/people-and-robots-are-getting-ready-to-celebrate-the-lunar-new-year-in-china/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology

New astronauts launch to the International Space Station after medical evacuation

The replacements for the astronauts involved in NASA's first medical evacuation are on their way to the International Space Station.

source https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/science/new-astronauts-launch-to-the-international-space-station-after-medical-evacuation/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_technology