Digital World



TikTok creators fear economic blow of US ban

AFP - 1h ago

Ayman Chaudhary turned her love for reading into a living on TikTok, posting video snippets about books like those …

Aaron Sorkin working on new Facebook movie tied to Jan 6 riots

AFP - Apr 26 2024

Aaron Sorkin, Oscar-winning writer of "The Social Network," is working on a follow-up movie about Facebook that will …

Junta-led Burkina Faso suspends BBC, Voice of America for two weeks

Apr 26 2024

Burkina Faso has suspended the BBC and Voice of America radio networks from broadcasting after they aired a rights …

Cybersecurity firm Darktrace accepts $5 bn takeover

Apr 26 2024

Cybersecurity firm Darktrace said Friday it had accepted a $5.3-billion takeover bid from US private equity firm Thoma …

Kenyan rugby player turned TikTok star cooks to fight depression

Apr 26 2024

"Done!" -- the catchphrase punctuating former rugby player Dennis Ombachi's cooking videos is as famous as the balcony …

China's EV execs bullish on Western pressure at Beijing car show

Apr 26 2024

Electric vehicle executives at a top car show in China were bullish on prospects for growth, despite a gruelling price …

Rescue pup to meme star: the real-life 'Dogecoin' dog

Apr 26 2024

Her fluffy face now frail, Kabosu still flashes the enigmatic smile that made her the go-to meme dog for millennials and …

ByteDance says 'no plans' to sell TikTok after US ban law

Apr 26 2024

Chinese tech giant ByteDance has said it has no plans to sell TikTok after a new US law put it on a deadline to divest …

Japan anime studio draws on talent of autistic artists

Apr 26 2024

Diagnosed with autism, Shoko Sakuma says she struggled working in accounting but now she is putting her childhood love …

Snap shares pop after revenue tops expectations

Apr 26 2024

Shares in social media company Snap, which runs the youth-focused Snapchat, soared nearly 25 percent on Thursday after …

Microsoft expands its AI empire abroad

Apr 26 2024

Microsoft, the tech titan most closely associated with AI, has announced nearly $10 billion in investments in artificial …

Microsoft, Google earnings shine as AI drives revenue

Apr 25 2024

Microsoft and Google on Thursday drubbed quarterly earnings expectations as the tech titans continued investing heavily …

Google parent Alphabet's Q1 profits beat estimates: company

Apr 25 2024

Google's parent Alphabet on Thursday trounced revenue and profit expectations for the first quarter of this year, …

As 'news deserts' spread, US journalism fights on

Apr 25 2024

Baltimore Banner reporter Matti Gellman is first to leap in with questions during a recent press appearance by …

US conspiracy website Gateway Pundit declares bankruptcy

Apr 24 2024

US far-right conspiracy website Gateway Pundit is filing for bankruptcy, its founder said Wednesday, as it battles a …

Meta profits soar but costs of AI cause worry

Apr 24 2024

Facebook-owner Meta on Wednesday said its quarterly profits soared last quarter, but worries about the cost of …

Meta sees profits soar in first quarter

Apr 24 2024

Facebook-owner Meta on Wednesday said its quarterly profits soared last quarter as the company continues to see stellar …

TikTok to fight US ban law in courts

Apr 24 2024

TikTok's CEO vowed Wednesday to fight in the courts to overturn a newly signed US law that could see the popular app …

TikTok suspends rewards programme after EU probe

Apr 24 2024

TikTok on Wednesday announced the suspension of a feature in its spinoff TikTok Lite app in France and Spain that …

Italy fines Amazon over 'recurring' purchase option

Apr 24 2024

Italy's competition authority said Wednesday it had fined two Amazon companies 10 million euros ($10.6 million) for …

Chinese sellers go to TikTok school to reach buyers abroad

Apr 24 2024

Donning hijabs and floor-length abaya gowns over shorts and tank tops, Chinese students at an e-commerce school perform …

China, future HQ: New ASML boss faces bulging in-tray

Apr 24 2024

Frenchman Christophe Fouquet takes the reins of Dutch chip giant ASML on Wednesday with a daunting to-do list, top of …

Recycled 'zombie' misinformation targets US voters

Apr 24 2024

Migrants, vaccines, pedophilia rings -- old conspiracy theories are resurfacing ahead of the US election despite being …

'Harvesting data': Latin American AI startups transform farming

Apr 23 2024

For centuries, farmers used almanacs to try to understand and predict weather patterns.

Spotify swings to profit, paying subscribers rise

Apr 23 2024

Music and podcast streaming giant Spotify reported Tuesday an increase in the number of paying subscribers and a rare …

Musk lashes Australian order demanding X remove stabbing videos

Apr 23 2024

Tech bad boy Elon Musk on Tuesday vowed to challenge demands that his social media platform X take down videos of a …

In Brazil, hopes to use AI to save wildlife from roadkill fate

Apr 23 2024

In Brazil, where about 16 wild animals become roadkill every second, a computer scientist has come up with a futuristic …

EU threatens to suspend TikTok Lite app's 'addictive' rewards

Apr 23 2024

The EU on Monday launched a probe into TikTok's spinoff Lite app and threatened to suspend an "addictive" feature on it …

Musk says X will appeal Australia injunction on church stabbing videos

Apr 23 2024

Elon Musk said Tuesday his social media platform X will appeal against an Australian injunction forcing it to take down …

N. Korea animators may have worked on Amazon, Max cartoons: report

Apr 22 2024

North Korean animators appear to have worked on upcoming Amazon and Max cartoons, without the knowledge of either …

'Tomb Raider' owner Embracer splits into three companies

Apr 22 2024

Sweden's Embracer, owner of the "Tomb Raider" franchise, announced Monday it would split into three separate companies …

InstaDeep CEO takes AI from Tunis to London

Apr 21 2024

Karim Beguir launched the artificial intelligence start-up InstaDeep in Tunisia in 2014 with just two computers and …

Women journalists bear the brunt of cyberbullying

Apr 21 2024

Women journalists face greater threats online in the course of their work, and the trend is increasing, one expert told …

Bill to ban TikTok in US moves ahead in Congress

Apr 20 2024

The US House of Representatives approved a bill Saturday that would force the wildly popular social media app TikTok to …

Elon Musk's X fights Australian watchdog over church stabbing posts

Apr 20 2024

Elon Musk's X said Saturday it will fight an Australian watchdog's order to take down content related to the brutal …

AI's relentless rise gives journalists tough choices

Apr 20 2024

The rise of artificial intelligence has forced an increasing number of journalists to grapple with the ethical and …

'Halving' arrives for bitcoin miners

Apr 20 2024

The bitcoin market on Friday engineered the "halving" of the reward for operating the cryptocurrency, a much-anticipated …

Microsoft teases lifelike avatar AI tech but gives no release date

Apr 19 2024

Researchers at Microsoft have revealed a new artificial tool that can create deeply realistic human avatars -- but …

X owner Musk says opposed to US ban of competitor TikTok

Apr 19 2024

Elon Musk on Friday came out against banning TikTok in the United States, even if it would mean less competition for his …

US ski great Vonn hails use of AI to protect Olympic athletes from online hate

Apr 19 2024

US skiing great Lindsey Vonn has welcomed plans to use artificial intelligence to shield Olympic athletes from vicious …

Olympic chief Bach says AI can be a game changer for athletes

Apr 19 2024

IOC president Thomas Bach said artificial intelligence can help identify talented athletes "in every corner of the …

Quarter of UK 5 to 7-year-olds have smart phone: study

Apr 19 2024

Around a quarter of British children aged between five and seven-years-old now have a smart phone, a study by the UK …

Meta releases beefed-up AI models

Apr 19 2024

Meta on Thursday introduced an improved AI assistant built on new versions of its open-source Llama large language …

Apple drops WhatsApp, Threads from China App Store on govt order: reports

Apr 19 2024

Apple has removed Meta's WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China on orders from the country's internet …

Apple drops WhatsApp, Threads from China app store on official order: report

Apr 19 2024

Apple has removed the Meta-owned WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China following an order from the country's …

Japan doctors sue Google Maps over 'punching bag' reviews

Apr 19 2024

Around 60 doctors in Japan have accused Google Maps of ignoring vitriolic reviews of their clinics in a class-action …

Netflix beats expectations on profit and subscribers

Apr 18 2024

Netflix topped expectations Thursday as it reported 9.3 million new subscribers and profits of $2.3 billion in the first …

US Congress to take on TikTok ban bill -- again

Apr 18 2024

The US House of Representatives will again vote Saturday on a bill that would force TikTok to divest from Chinese parent …

X working with Pakistan govt to 'understand concerns' over ban

Apr 18 2024

Social media platform X said Thursday it would work with Pakistan's government "to understand its concerns" after …

Russian 'cyber sabotage' a global threat: security firm

Apr 17 2024

A cyber group with links to Russian military intelligence is set to become a significant global threat after playing an …

Meta shouldn't force users to pay for data protection: EU watchdog

Apr 17 2024

Facebook owner Meta and other online platforms must not force users to pay for the right to data protection enshrined in …

Court orders Pakistan to restore social media site X: lawyer

Apr 17 2024

A Pakistan High Court ordered the government on Wednesday to restore access to social media platform X within a week, a …

'GTA' video game publisher Take-Two cuts workforce

Apr 17 2024

Take-Two Interactive on Tuesday told US regulators it is trimming its workforce by five percent and eliminating some …

Digital 'sleuths' fuel misinformation after Iran strikes

Apr 17 2024

Terrified onlookers crouch behind a wall as lights streak across the night sky in what self-proclaimed digital …

Tech venture capital titan Andreessen Horowitz raises $7.2 bn

Apr 16 2024

Silicon Valley venture capital star Andreessen Horowitz said Tuesday it had raised $7.2 billion to invest in startups …

Trump media group plans TV streaming platform

Apr 16 2024

Donald Trump's media group said Tuesday it will launch a streaming television platform, but its shares continued to …

Meta 'supreme court' takes on cases of deepfake porn

Apr 16 2024

Meta's oversight board said Tuesday it is scrutinizing the social media titan's deepfake porn policies, through the lens …

Alexandre de Moraes: Brazil judge in feud with Elon Musk

Apr 16 2024

With his stern gaze and shiny-bald head, Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes has emerged as one of the most powerful …

Samsung returns to top of the smartphone market: industry tracker

Apr 16 2024

Samsung regained its position as the top smartphone seller, wresting back the lead from Apple as Chinese rivals close …

US to grant Samsung up to $6.4 bn for chip plants

Apr 15 2024

The United States announced on Monday grants of up to $6.4 billion to South Korean semiconductor giant Samsung to …

OpenAI comes to Asia with new office in Tokyo

Apr 15 2024

ChatGPT creator OpenAI opened a new office in Tokyo on Monday, the first Asian outpost for the groundbreaking tech …

Race for AI isn't zero-sum, says Amazon cloud boss

Apr 14 2024

As Google races with Microsoft and OpenAI to create world-changing generative artificial intelligence, some critics see …

After long peace, Big Tech faces US antitrust reckoning

Apr 14 2024

After more than a decade of leaving Big Tech largely to itself, US antitrust enforcers have cranked up the heat, with …

Google yanks California news sites over proposed law

Apr 13 2024

Google on Friday said it is testing removing links to California news sites for some users in the western US state as …

US House okays renewal of controversial surveillance program

Apr 12 2024

The US House of Representatives voted Friday to reauthorize an electronic urveillance program targeting foreigners, a …

Japan seeks to reclaim tech edge with overseas help

Apr 12 2024

Massive overseas and domestic investments offer Japan a chance to reclaim its tech crown, but to become a convincing …

Clouds gather over Japan's ambitious Osaka World Expo

Apr 12 2024

One of the largest wooden structures ever built is taking shape in Osaka, but hopes that Expo 2025 will unite the world …

Apple to fix 'bug' behind Palestinian flag emoji suggestions

Apr 12 2024

Apple on Thursday promised it would stop a Palestinian flag emoji from being suggested to some iPhone users when they …

Sam Bankman-Fried appeals fraud conviction, 25-year jail term

Apr 11 2024

Fallen cryptocurrency wunderkind Sam Bankman-Fried has appealed his federal conviction and 25-year jail sentence in a …

Embattled studio Paramount showcases 'Gladiator 2' footage

Apr 11 2024

Paramount Pictures unveiled gory first-look footage from "Gladiator 2" to movie theater bosses at Caesars Palace casino …

Bitcoin miners face survival test in 'halving'

Apr 11 2024

Miners of bitcoin will soon face a halving of the reward for operating the most popular cryptocurrency, in a pivotal …

'World of Warcraft', other top games to return to China

Apr 10 2024

"World of Warcraft" is returning to China this summer, its developer and local partner said Wednesday, more than a year …

New Binance chief stresses importance of compliance

Apr 10 2024

The new CEO of the world's top crypto platform stressed the importance of regulatory compliance for Binance's future …

Top games including 'World of Warcraft' to return to China

Apr 10 2024

"World of Warcraft" is returning to China this summer, its developer and local partner said Wednesday, more than a year …

German group mulls remote-controlled ships to fix skipper shortage

Apr 10 2024

With the flow of new recruits into the seafaring sector drying up, a German company is exploring a potentially …

Musk vs. Brazil Supreme Court: five things to know

Apr 10 2024

X owner Elon Musk is under investigation in Brazil after he accused a Supreme Court judge of censoring social networks, …

GM says Cruise robotaxis back on the road with human drivers

Apr 09 2024

GM subsidiary Cruise on Tuesday said it plans to get its self-driving cars back on the road without human drivers after …

South Korea to invest $7 billion in AI by 2027

Apr 09 2024

South Korea will invest almost $7 billion in artificial intelligence by 2027 in an effort to become a global leader in …

Social media supercharges South Korea's 'politics of hatred'

Apr 09 2024

Online disinformation and hate speech are poisoning politics the world over, but in South Korea there have also been …

Cash-strapped Argentines queue for eyeball scans

Apr 09 2024

Argentines eyeing a financial boost are lining up by the thousands to have their irises scanned in exchange for a few …

OpenAI's Sam Altman declared billionaire by Forbes

Apr 08 2024

Sam Altman, the CEO of ChatGPT creator OpenAI, has become a billionaire, Forbes said Monday.

Brazil judge orders probe of Musk over censorship charge

Apr 08 2024

A Supreme Court judge in Brazil ordered an investigation Sunday of Elon Musk after the mogul criticized the magistrate …

AI vs humans: influencers face competition from virtual models

Apr 07 2024

Social media influencers have embraced artificial intelligence to spice up their content but they are also facing …

Forecasting the future of science to keep Swiss diplomatic hub buzzing

Apr 06 2024

As technology and science advance at breakneck speed, a Swiss group is already looking beyond AI to the next big …

Elon Musk says Tesla will unveil robotaxi in August

Apr 06 2024

Elon Musk revealed Friday that Tesla will pull back the curtain on a robotaxi this summer, news that comes as adoption …

Meta asks US judge to toss blockbuster antitrust case

Apr 05 2024

Facebook giant Meta on Friday asked a federal judge to dismiss a case from a powerful US antitrust authority that could …

Microsoft says China using AI to sow division in US

Apr 05 2024

China is ramping up use of AI-generated content and fake social media accounts to inflame division in the United States …

Mission complete: Cubans defy odds to release first video game abroad

Apr 05 2024

Cuba's first independent video game launched internationally this week after its creators leveled up from an epic …

Meta to start labeling AI-generated content in May

Apr 05 2024

Facebook and Instagram giant Meta on Friday said it will begin labeling AI-generated media beginning in May, as it tries …

AI a 'game changer' but company execs not ready: survey

Apr 05 2024

A majority of corporate executives across leading economies believe artificial intelligence will be a "game changer" for …

Political spam sparks uproar in Greece ahead of EU vote

Apr 05 2024

Two months before Greeks vote in European Parliament elections, a political spamming scandal has forced a candidate to …

X gives free blue check to big follower accounts

Apr 04 2024

Users with big followings will receive a free subscription to X, formerly Twitter -- and the platform's famous blue …

Podcast sued for 'AI George Carlin' settles with comic's estate

Apr 04 2024

Podcasters who controversially used AI to emulate the late US comedian George Carlin in a recent comedy episode have …

Drones deliver drugs, food to French prison cells

Apr 04 2024

In the dead of night a drone hovers over a prison in southern France, secretly dropping packages to inmates inside. But …

The Crookie: the French pastry craze that took over TikTok

Apr 04 2024

A bemused Paris bakery owner has been besieged by smartphone-wielding youngsters over the past year, keen to snap …

Online hate sows Muslim fears as India votes

Apr 04 2024

After his brother was murdered in anti-Muslim riots, Pervez Qureshi watched the videos he believes incited the killers, …

Apple explores making personal robots: report

Apr 03 2024

Apple engineers are working on making personal robots, a report said on Wednesday, just weeks after the iPhone-maker …

Ghost in the machine: Deepfake tools warp India election

Apr 03 2024

Death has not extinguished the decades-long rivalry between two Indian leaders: both have now seemingly risen from the …

Smuggled Starlink dishes throw lifeline to some in war-torn Sudan

Apr 03 2024

On a street corner in the Sudanese town of Tamboul, dozens of people tap feverishly on their phones, calling loved ones …

Colombia guerrillas lure youth on TikTok

Apr 03 2024

With promises of wealth and images glorifying fighters among vast fields of coca leaves, Colombia's modern-day …

Eilish, Smokey Robinson urge protection against AI

Apr 02 2024

Hundreds of artists and songwriters including Billie Eilish, Smokey Robinson and the estate of Frank Sinatra signed an …

Will Musk help Trump with cash, not just tweets?

Apr 02 2024

Elon Musk, one of the world's richest people, says he won't directly back Joe Biden or Donald Trump in the US election …