Digital World



Job threats, rogue bots: five hot issues in AI

AFP - 48m ago

As artificial intelligence evolves at a blistering pace, world leaders and thousands of other delegates will discuss how …

India hosts AI summit as safety concerns grow

AFP - 49m ago

A global artificial intelligence summit kicks off in New Delhi on Monday with big issues on the agenda, from job …

Interpol backroom warriors fight cyber criminals 'weaponising' AI

Feb 15 2026

From perfectly spelled phishing emails to fake videos of government officials, artificial intelligence is changing the …

New world for users and brands as ads hit AI chatbots

Feb 15 2026

The introduction of advertisements and sponsored content in chatbots has spawned privacy concerns for AI users as brands …

India plans AI 'data city' on staggering scale

Feb 15 2026

As India races to narrow the artificial intelligence gap with the United States and China, it is planning a vast new …

Crash course: Vietnam's crypto boom goes bust

Feb 15 2026

As a first-year computer science student in Hanoi, Hoang Le started trading crypto from his university dorm room, egged …

China top court says drivers responsible despite autonomous technology

Feb 14 2026

China's top court has issued a ruling confirming humans in cars with assisted driving technology are responsible for …

All-in on AI: what TikTok creator ByteDance did next

Feb 14 2026

After soaring to global attention with its hugely popular TikTok app, Chinese tech giant ByteDance is now positioning …

Europe's most powerful rocket carries 32 satellites for Amazon Leo network into space

Feb 13 2026

The most powerful version of Europe's Ariane 6 rocket Thursday carried 32 satellites into space for the Amazon Leo …

Ubisoft targets new decade of 'Rainbow 6' with China expansion

Feb 13 2026

Troubled French games giant Ubisoft will strive to project confidence this weekend with a massive esports event for its …

Nigerian conservative city turns to online matchmaking for love

Feb 13 2026

Aisha adjusted her beige veil over her circular-shaped headgear as a matchmaker scrolled through rows of dozens of …

AI's bitter rivalry heads to Washington

Feb 13 2026

Anthropic's major donation to a political group that competes with an OpenAI-backed organization has highlighted a …

Ukraine says Russia behind fake posts targeting Winter Olympics team

Feb 12 2026

Ukraine blamed a Russian disinformation campaign Thursday after fake news posted online about its Winter Olympics team, …

'Avatar' and 'Assassin's Creed' shore up troubled Ubisoft

Feb 12 2026

Strong performances from major franchises including an "Avatar" tie-in game and juggernaut "Assassin's Creed" buttressed …

Russia cracks down on WhatsApp as it pushes state-backed rival

Feb 12 2026

Russia has blocked the popular messaging service WhatsApp over its failure to comply with local legislation, the Kremlin …

Belgian museum blocks US firm's access to DRC mining files

Feb 12 2026

Belgium's AfricaMuseum is the country's biggest dedicated to the Congo, displaying millions of colonial-era objects and …

Russia is cracking down on WhatsApp and Telegram. Here's what we know

Feb 12 2026

Russia announced Thursday it had blocked WhatsApp over its alleged failure to comply with Russian legislation, days …

Pro-Kremlin accounts using Epstein files to push conspiracy: research

Feb 12 2026

Pro-Kremlin social media accounts are using the latest Jeffrey Epstein files to bolster efforts to spread baseless …

Russia confirms ban on WhatsApp, says it failed to abide by law

Feb 12 2026

Russia has blocked the popular messaging service WhatsApp over its failure to comply with local legislation, the Kremlin …

Pro-Kremlin accounts using Epstein files to push conspiracy: AFP research

Feb 12 2026

Pro-Kremlin social media accounts are using the latest Jeffrey Epstein document release to bolster their efforts to …

Samsung starts mass production of next-gen AI memory chip

Feb 12 2026

Samsung Electronics announced Thursday it had started mass production of next-generation memory chips to power …

Taiwan leader wants greater defence cooperation with Europe: AFP interview 

Feb 12 2026

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te called for greater defence and AI cooperation between Taiwan and Europe, as the …

Instagram CEO denies addiction claims in landmark US trial

Feb 12 2026

Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri on Wednesday rejected the notion that users could be clinically addicted to social media, as …

AI cracks Roman-era board game

Feb 12 2026

A smooth, white stone dating from the Roman era and unearthed in the Netherlands has long baffled researchers.

New drones provide first-person thrill to Olympic coverage

Feb 11 2026

Whether chasing skiers as they fly down the mountain or tracking the luge as it tears around bends, new drone-mounted …

Instagram CEO to testify at social media addiction trial

Feb 11 2026

Instagram's CEO Adam Mosseri takes the stand Wednesday in a landmark trial that could determine whether social media …

xAI sees key staff exits, Musk promises moon factories

Feb 11 2026

Half of the original founding team at Elon Musk's artificial intelligence startup xAI has now departed after two …

Actor behind Albania's AI 'minister' wants her face back

Feb 11 2026

An actor whose face was used by Albania's government for an AI chatbot that it promoted to be a "minister" told AFP on …

French AI firm Mistral to build data centres in Sweden

Feb 11 2026

French AI developer Mistral said Wednesday that it would build data centres in Sweden, its first outside France, as it …

Instagram boss to testify at social media addiction trial

Feb 11 2026

Instagram chief Adam Mosseri is to be called to testify Wednesday in a Los Angeles courtroom by lawyers out to prove …

YouTube says it is not social media in landmark addiction trial

Feb 10 2026

A lawyer for YouTube insisted Tuesday that the Google-owned video platform was neither intentionally addictive nor …

YouTube rejects addiction claims in landmark social media trial

Feb 10 2026

YouTube's legal team insisted Tuesday that the Google-owned video platform was not intentionally addictive or even …

Google turns to century-long debt to build AI

Feb 10 2026

Google-parent Alphabet will issue bonds maturing in 100 years as it continues to invest massively in infrastructure for …

Latam-GPT: a Latin American AI to combat US-centric bias

Feb 10 2026

Move over ChatGPT. Chile on Tuesday launched Latam-GPT, an open-source artificial intelligence model for the region, …

Moscow chokes Telegram as it pushes state-backed rival app

Feb 10 2026

Russia's internet watchdog on Tuesday announced it was throttling the Telegram messenger platform for alleged legal …

Europe's Ariane 6 to launch Amazon constellation satellites into orbit

Feb 10 2026

An enhanced version of Europe's Ariane 6 rocket will blast off Thursday to launch 32 satellites into orbit, forming part …

OpenAI starts testing ads in ChatGPT

Feb 10 2026

OpenAI has begun placing ads in the basic versions of its ChatGPT chatbot, a bet that users will not mind the …

Jury told that Meta, Google 'engineered addiction' at landmark US trial

Feb 10 2026

Meta and Google-owned YouTube were accused Monday of pushing highly addictive apps on children as a landmark social …

AI chatbots give bad health advice, research finds

Feb 10 2026

Next time you're considering consulting Dr ChatGPT, perhaps think again.

YouTube star MrBeast buys youth-focused banking app

Feb 09 2026

MrBeast, the world's most popular YouTuber, has purchased a Gen Z-focused banking app, he said Monday, marking another …

Meta, Google face jury in landmark US addiction trial

Feb 09 2026

Meta and Google-owned YouTube were vilified Monday for "engineering addiction" as a landmark social media trial began in …

US trial lawyer says Meta, YouTube 'engineered addiction' in children

Feb 09 2026

Meta and Google-owned YouTube "engineered addiction" in children, a lawyer for the plaintiff said on Monday as a …

Main trial begins in landmark US addiction case against Meta, YouTube

Feb 09 2026

A landmark social media trial began in earnest on Monday that could establish a legal precedent on whether Meta or …

Discord adopts facial recognition in child safety crackdown

Feb 09 2026

Messaging platform Discord announced Monday it will implement enhanced safety features for teenage users globally, …

Brazil seeks to restore block of Rumble video app

Feb 09 2026

Brazilian authorities were on Monday working to cut off access to the Rumble video app after it bypassed a ban imposed …

EU warns Meta it must open up WhatsApp to rival AI chatbots

Feb 09 2026

The EU executive on Monday told Meta to give rival chatbots access to WhatsApp after an antitrust probe found the US …

'Flood' of disinformation ahead of Bangladesh election

Feb 09 2026

Voters in Bangladesh elect a new government on February 12, but analysts warn their choice is threatened by a …

Arguments to begin in key US social media addiction trial

Feb 09 2026

Arguments are set to begin Monday in a landmark US trial that could establish a legal precedent on whether social media …

French police arrest six over crypto-linked magistrate kidnapping

Feb 08 2026

French authorities have arrested six suspects, including a minor, after a magistrate and her mother were held captive …

French police arrest five over crypto-linked magistrate kidnapping

Feb 08 2026

French authorities have arrested five suspects after a magistrate and her mother were held captive last week for around …

Opinions of Zuckerberg hang over social media addiction trial jury selection

Feb 07 2026

A jury has been confirmed in a landmark social media addiction trial in the US state of California, a process dominated …

Crypto firm accidentally sends $40 bn in bitcoin to users

Feb 07 2026

A South Korean cryptocurrency exchange apologised on Saturday after mistakenly transferring more than $40 billion worth …

EU tells TikTok to change 'addictive' design

Feb 06 2026

The EU said Friday that TikTok needs to change its "addictive design" or risk heavy fines under the bloc's digital …

France detects Russia-linked Epstein smear attempt against Macron

Feb 06 2026

France has detected a Russia-linked disinformation effort alleging President Emmanuel Macron's involvement with …

France detects Russia-linked Epstein smear attempt against Macron: govt source

Feb 06 2026

France has detected a Russia-linked disinformation effort alleging President Emmanuel Macron's involvement with …

Japan taps Meta to help search for abuse of Olympic athletes

Feb 06 2026

Japan's Olympic committee said on Friday it was working with tech giant Meta to monitor social media around the clock to …

AI tools fabricate Epstein images 'in seconds,' study says

Feb 06 2026

AI tools can easily fabricate convincing images of Jeffrey Epstein with world leaders, a study showed Thursday, …

Diplomatic shift and elections see Armenia battle Russian disinformation

Feb 06 2026

Armenia is facing an intensifying wave of disinformation and hybrid attacks from abroad ahead of parliamentary elections …

Argentina govt launches account to debunk 'lies' about Milei

Feb 05 2026

Argentina's right-wing government stepped up its standoff with the media on Thursday by launching a social media account …

Stocks fall as tech valuation fears stoke volatility

Feb 05 2026

Stocks fell broadly on Thursday, pulled down again by growing worries that hefty AI investments by tech heavyweights may …

EU defends Spain after Telegram founder criticism

Feb 05 2026

The EU executive on Thursday expressed support for Spain after Telegram founder Pavel Durov slammed Spanish Prime …

Sony hikes forecasts even as PlayStation falters

Feb 05 2026

Japanese giant Sony hiked its full-year forecasts on Thursday, as a weaker yen compensates for its ageing PlayStation …

Trump fuels EU push to cut cord with US tech

Feb 05 2026

Until President Donald Trump's return a year ago, when the EU talked about cutting economic dependency on foreign powers …

Countries using internet blackouts to boost censorship: Proton

Feb 05 2026

As countries step up their use of internet shutdowns to muzzle dissent, some are also taking advantage of the blackouts …

Google's annual revenue tops $400 bn for first time, AI investments rise

Feb 05 2026

Google parent Alphabet on Wednesday reported blockbuster earnings, its revenue climbing as it invests massively in cloud …

Telegram founder slams Spain PM over under-16s social media ban

Feb 04 2026

Telegram founder Pavel Durov on Wednesday joined fellow tech tycoon Elon Musk in slamming Spanish Prime Minister Pedro …

Whack-a-mole: US academic fights to purge his AI deepfakes

Feb 04 2026

As deepfake videos of John Mearsheimer multiplied across YouTube, the American academic rushed to have them taken down, …

'Unprecedented mass killing': NGOs battle to quantify Iran crackdown scale

Feb 04 2026

When the first pieces of information circumvented a near-total blackout during Iran's protests last month, rights …

AI, manipulated images falsely link some US politicians with Epstein

Feb 04 2026

Using AI-created or manipulated images, social media users have sought to falsely associate prominent US politicians …

Spain to seek social media ban for under-16s

Feb 03 2026

Spain will seek to ban social media for under-16s to protect them from harmful content such as pornography and violence, …

France summons Musk for 'voluntary interview', raids X offices

Feb 03 2026

France summoned billionaire Elon Musk to a "voluntary interview" as cybercrime authorities on Tuesday searched the …

French summons Musk for 'voluntary interview' as authorities raid X offices

Feb 03 2026

France summoned billionaire Elon Musk to a "voluntary interview" as cybercrime authorities on Tuesday searched the …

Waymo raises $16 bn to fuel global robotaxi expansion

Feb 03 2026

Self-driving car star Waymo on Monday said it raised $16 billion in a funding round that valued the Alphabet subsidiary …

Rural India powers global AI models

Feb 03 2026

Tending crops by day and then logging on for a night shift of data labelling, 27-year-old Chandmani Kerketta is part of …

Musk merges xAI into SpaceX in bid to build space data centers

Feb 02 2026

Elon Musk's SpaceX has taken over his artificial intelligence company xAI in a merger aimed at deploying space-based …

Snapchat blocks 415,000 underage accounts in Australia

Feb 02 2026

Snapchat has blocked 415,000 accounts under Australia's social media ban for under-16s, the company said Monday, but …

Level playing field? Tech at forefront of US immigration fight

Feb 02 2026

Technology has become a key battleground in the confrontation between US authorities and migrants along with their …

Nvidia boss insists 'huge' investment in OpenAI on track

Feb 01 2026

Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang has insisted the US tech giant will make a "huge" investment in OpenAI and dismissed …

Montreal studio rises from dark basement office to 'Stranger Things'

Jan 31 2026

The visual effects studio that worked on the hit Netflix show "Stranger Things" was born 20 years ago in a dim basement …

'Misrepresent reality': AI-altered shooting image surfaces in US Senate

Jan 30 2026

An AI-enhanced image depicting the moments before immigration agents shot an American nurse ricocheted across the …

Social media fuels surge in UK men seeking testosterone jabs

Jan 30 2026

Social media claims by clinics promoting testosterone treatment for men to improve their physique and mood are driving …

UK schoolgirl game character Amelia co-opted by far right

Jan 30 2026

A purple-haired anti-migrant cartoon character featured in a UK government anti-extremism programme has been co-opted by …

Artist chains up thrashing robot dog to expose AI fears

Jan 30 2026

The agile robot dog springs up on all fours, takes a step forward and charges at the tense crowd at a Tokyo exhibit, …

Dutch watchdog launches Roblox probe over 'risks to children'

Jan 30 2026

The Dutch consumer watchdog Friday launched an investigation into Roblox to see if the popular gaming platform was doing …

AI helps doctors spot breast cancer in scans: world-first trial

Jan 30 2026

Artificial intelligence helps doctors spot more cases of breast cancer when reading routine scans, a world-first trial …

Apple earnings soar as China iPhone sales surge

Jan 30 2026

Apple on Thursday said it saw record-high earnings in the final three months of last year, with iPhone sales surging in …

Waymo gears up to launch robotaxis in London this year

Jan 29 2026

US self-driving car company Waymo said Thursday it is working with UK partners to launch driverless robotaxis in London, …

China executes 11 linked to Myanmar scam compounds

Jan 29 2026

China executed 11 people linked to Myanmar criminal gangs, including "key members" of telecom scam operations, state …

Chinese quadriplegic runs farm with just one finger

Jan 29 2026

Quadriplegic and bedridden in a prefabricated home, 36-year-old Li Xia can only move one finger and one toe -- yet he …

Samsung logs best-ever profit on AI chip demand

Jan 29 2026

South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics posted record quarterly profits Thursday, riding massive market demand for …

As US tensions churn, new generation of protest singers meet the moment

Jan 29 2026

American singer-songwriters are taking up the protest torch like their forebears Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Joan …

Online platforms offer filtering to fight AI slop

Jan 29 2026

As "AI slop" floods the internet, efforts are mounting to stem an online deluge of shoddy images and videos made using …

Springsteen releases fiery ode to Minneapolis shooting victims

Jan 29 2026

American rock hero Bruce Springsteen dived into the outrage over the Trump administration's immigration crackdown with a …

Samsung Electronics posts record profit on AI demand

Jan 29 2026

South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics posted record quarterly profits on Thursday, riding strong market demand for …

Meta shares jump on strong earnings report

Jan 28 2026

Meta on Wednesday reported quarterly earnings that topped market expectations, as revenue grew along with investments in …

Google unveils AI tool probing mysteries of human genome

Jan 28 2026

Google unveiled an artificial intelligence tool Wednesday that its scientists said would help unravel the mysteries of …

UK proposes to let websites refuse Google AI search

Jan 28 2026

Britain's competition watchdog proposed Wednesday that websites be allowed to opt out of having content used by Google's …

US YouTuber IShowSpeed gains Ghanaian nationality at end of Africa tour

Jan 28 2026

Ghana has granted citizenship to US YouTuber IShowSpeed, the country's foreign minister announced, as the influencer …

Sweden plans to ban mobile phones in schools

Jan 28 2026

Sweden plans to ban mobile phones from primary and middle schools in order to ensure that children can focus on learning …

Will the EU ban social media for children in 2026?

Jan 28 2026

As France moves one step closer to banning social media for children, the European Union is seriously considering …

Amazon closing Fresh and Go stores in Whole Foods push

Jan 27 2026

Amazon on Tuesday said it is closing its Go and Fresh real-world stores to focus on its Whole Foods markets and online …

US banks fight crypto's push into Main Street

Jan 27 2026

The banking industry is pushing back against White House-aligned crypto companies seeking to expand their business to …