Two of President Trump’s sons made an announcement on Monday that they were investing in a new Bitcoin mining venture, further expanding the family’s business interests in the crypto industry.
Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. revealed their partnership with Bitcoin mining company HUT 8 to establish a new company called American Bitcoin. Bitcoin mining is a lucrative sector within the crypto industry, involving large companies that operate energy-intensive machines to process Bitcoin transactions.
“From the beginning, we have expressed our belief in Bitcoin both personally and through our businesses,” stated Donald Trump Jr. “But merely purchasing Bitcoin is only part of the equation; mining it with favorable economics opens up even greater opportunities.”
HUT 8 will oversee 80% of the new venture, with the remaining 20% held by a business entity named American Data Centers Inc., which includes investments from the two Trump sons. The announcement on Monday by HUT 8 named Eric Trump as the co-founder of the mining venture, where he will serve as the chief strategy officer.
This mining project marks the third major crypto venture launched by the Trump family in the past year. During the presidential campaign, Donald Trump and his sons introduced World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency company offering various digital currencies, including the recently announced “stubcoin.”
Subsequently, just before Trump’s inauguration, he and Melania Trump launched Memocoin, a cryptocurrency inspired by online jokes and mascots.
These business endeavors have raised concerns among government ethics experts due to potential conflicts of interest. Since taking office, Trump has relaxed regulations in the crypto industry and proposed the establishment of government reserves for Bitcoin and other digital currencies.
Four years ago, Trump was critical of Bitcoin and dismissed it as a “scam.” Now, he frequently touts plans to make the United States the “crypto capital of the world.”
Bitcoin mining has drawn significant criticism within the crypto industry. While Bitcoin initially attracted amateur investors, the process now requires substantial computing power, leading to the operation of large data centers by companies like Hut 8 to facilitate Bitcoin transactions.
The Trump family’s mining venture traces back to February when investment firm Dominali Holdings announced the creation of American Data Centers Inc. At that time, Eric Trump, a member of Dominari’s advisory board, stated that the venture aimed to develop computing infrastructure for the artificial intelligence industry.
However, the immediate focus has shifted to Bitcoin mining. The Trump family’s venture will concentrate on operating Bitcoin mining machines and amassing a significant cryptocurrency reserve, as disclosed in the announcement. In a recent post on the X platform, Eric Trump mentioned plans to present a “vision and strategy” for American Bitcoin in a live stream.
Over the past 12 months, Google’s efforts to accelerate drug design using artificial intelligence have achieved a breakthrough in mimicking human biology, with its top scientist receiving the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Now, within the software giant, Isomorphic Labs is taking another major step towards raising money from outside investors, with the aim of developing and commercializing technology.
Isomorphic is set to announce on Monday that it has raised $600 million, led by Thrive Capital, a venture capital firm that has placed a big bet on AI companies, including OpenAI. GV’s Venture Capital Arm and Google’s parent company Alphabet have also invested.
The announcement highlights Google’s ambitions for Isomorphic. This was spun from the company’s DeepMind Lab to focus on drug discovery. It is based on software developed by DeepMind, a central intelligence lab in London. This includes Alphafold, which can predict structures such as millions of proteins.
In its third iteration, Alphafold, which can predict complex behaviors of DNA and RNA, promises to reduce development time for new drugs. That’s how I shared with Demis Hassabis, co-founder of Isomorphic and DeepMind, John M. Jumper, who last year shared half of the Nobel in Chemistry.
Hassabis said the goal is to carry out most of the drug discovery process ultimately via computers rather than traditional labs that require biological materials, strict safety requirements and a lot of time.
“This is the most useful and number one application for AI,” Hassabis said in an interview. He added, “One day our mission is to solve all diseases.”
Allogeneity is studying potential treatments, including those focusing on cancer and immune disorders. Last year, they signed a research partnership with two major drug makers Elilily and Novartis, potentially bringing billions of payments through promising drug breakthroughs.
But like many things related to AI, the job, hiring top research talent to do it, is expensive. Hassabis said Isomorphic didn’t need capital — its parent company reported profits of more than $100 billion last year, but bringing in external partners makes sense.
Hassabis’s idea made it possible for a long time. However, he added that he wanted to pin the supporters over the long term, which also had a deep focus on life sciences.
Additional money will help Isomorphic expand its stable research model like Alphafold, recruiting the best talent across the science field.
“The company’s ambition is to become a fully stacked life sciences company, so it will require more capital to create more drugs and invest in technology platforms,” said Vince Hankes, a thriving partner who has led many of the company’s AI investments.
Hassabis added that he wants to be selective with a partner of the same type. Formal consultations with Thrive took place over several months.
Funding is another big bet by 15-year-old Thrive, who put together money to invest in companies like Instagram and Payments Processor Stripe. He recently focused on AI companies, leading the recent round at OpenAI, which nearly doubled its valuation to $157 billion, winning Analytics Provider Databricks and programming startup Anysphere.
“Our hope is for AI to fundamentally change the way drugs are created and discovered,” said Joshua Kushner, founder and managing partner of Thrive. “Isomorphisms push the boundaries of what small molecule drug discovery is possible.”
Over the next year or so, the isomorphism hopes to create more breakthroughs with computational models like Alphafold, perhaps bringing drug candidates closer to preclinical trials, Hassabis said.
Isomorphic will likely raise money from more outside investors, he added. The goal is for the company to become an independent business.
“This will be one of the most consequential companies,” he said. “We want it to be a real powerhouse in the industry.”
oThe NA shelf between the Alexander McQueen shoes, Louis Vuitton handbags and Versace heels in the police evidence room is an 18-inch machete and a serrated zombie knife. According to DCI Paul Curtis, the tools needed to achieve that are in addition to expensive fashion purchased along with serious fraud revenue.
“These are serious criminals, and for some reason they felt the need to have these to protect themselves,” he says. Another tool is “Sim Farms” purchased from Dark Web. This is used by scammers to send many text messages at once. Laptop stack. Mobile phone and payment card reader.
The corruption of tools and crime comes from raids led by dedicated card and payment crime unit (DCPCU). observer I visited this month. Taking responsibility for revealing payment fraud across the country and charging the perpetrators, London and a group of police officers from the metropolitan police are at the forefront of the fight against fraud.
DCI Paul Curtis says fraud is “underreported and causes great harm.”
The National Crime Agency (NCA) estimates that 40% of crimes are fraud-related. It places the amount lost to billions of people each year. Revealing the criminals behind payment fraud is a difficult struggle.
There are many problems. Criminals are often based overseas and take advantage of the constant advancement in technology that dupes victims. But one difficulty is simple and common. This means that people are so embarrassed that they fell for fraud that they can’t mention it to those around them. “It’s underreported and causes great harm,” Curtis says. “And the harm is not just financial.” Victims can lose their sense of self-confidence and create mental health issues, which can even lead to suicide.
“It’s really challenging to overcome people’s own embarrassment and shame,” he says. “It’s about getting comfort and communicating to people from that network around you, like from your family. [and] From your social network. And if people have that support, it can be very empowering to them [they can] They then report and engage with law enforcement. ”
Guardian Recently, we have revealed details of sophisticated mercenary tactics used by scammers in an elaborate business based in Tblisi, Georgia. Many were called again and again by criminals, and more and more persuaded to hand over money.
Curtis says criminals in fraud cases use similar methods to criminals who are sexual predators when grooming victims. “It works exactly the same as a scammer. They have to build confidence with the victim. They have to build that trust. So this may not be a quick process to become a victim of a scam,” he says.
Louis Vuitton’s bag was seized in the assault
Technological advances present a continuing problem with the DCPCU. Money can now travel across borders at a much faster rate than before, leaving it out of reach of law enforcement, and ads for fake investment vehicles are often praised for being supported by celebrities like those that happened in MoneySavingexpert’s Martin Lewis.
According to Bendaldson, managing director of economic crime for the UK Finance Association, a banking organization that funds the DCPCU, artificial intelligence can use patterns to create text, images or videos on existing data – the development of a generation AI that gives criminals new opportunities.
“I think it gives [criminals] There are a variety of features they didn’t have before, and… some of this technology is easy to use and easy to use.
“It’s much easier to do that [fraud] In a very convincing way [as] There are now a variety of capabilities available to criminals, changing the nature of the threat. Admission bar [with] That type of technology is always low,” Donaldson says.
Which of the UK’s finances and consumer groups this month? I wrote a joint letter to the British government They ask technology companies to “robust action” to offset the increased costs of fraud.
Donaldson says the majority of approved push payments (APP) scams involve training someone to voluntarily send money from a bank account. The decision announced in January to remove fact checkers and reduce censorship by Facebook raises concerns that it will make it even easier for criminals to exploit people, he says.
Police are seeking more effective user verification to prevent criminals from operating anonymously, and to share more information that can identify them.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, says it has begun mutual exchanges of fraudulent information. This allows banks to share information about fraud. This has deleted 20,000 accounts. Tiktok says each request for data from police will be investigated and evaluated before data is disclosed.
So, when scams swell and come to people through emails, texts, WhatsApp messages, and many social media channels, what can people do to stay safe?
Donaldson handles your personal information the same way you handle keys in your home. “Please do not hand over any aspect of your personal information unless you trust someone with the door key.”
tHis AI influence has been felt throughout the industry, from Hollywood to publishing, but now it’s venturing into modeling. H&M announced that it had permission from a model last week to create 30 AI “twins” for use in social media posts and marketing images.
Jorgen Anderson, chief creative officer at H&M, described the idea as a way to enhance creative processes and marketing without changing the human-centric approach. The retail giant has collaborated with successful models like Vilma Sjöberg and Mathilda Gvarliani, known for working with brands such as Vogue and Chanel, allowing each model to reserve twins for other brand projects.
The news was met with concern by the wider industry, reflecting similar worries in Hollywood in 2023 when AI was used in film and television productions. This isn’t the first time a major fashion company has explored AI models, as Levis and Hugo Boss have also delved into this technology.
Bectu, a union representing the creative industry, expressed concerns about the impact of AI on other fashion creatives and industry workers. Model advocates like Sara Ziff raised questions about fair compensation for digital twins, emphasizing the need for regulation.
The Model Alliance Fashion Workers Act, set to become law in June, will require consent from models for AI use in collaboration with state-based agencies. The EU will also introduce regulations for AI use in 2026, with H&M already implementing watermarks on images featuring AI.
While acknowledging the benefits of technology in fashion, concerns remain about the impact of AI on the industry. Models like Sjöberg and Gvarliani may see substantial compensation, but AI poses a threat to models primarily involved in e-commerce shoots. Critics argue that AI models could reduce costs and increase profits, potentially at the expense of human models.
Despite the potential benefits, worries persist about the implications of AI in the fashion industry. As the technology continues to advance, finding a balance between innovation and ethics will be crucial for ensuring a sustainable and inclusive future for modeling.
aT International Science Council has observed some intriguing trends recently. Certain American participants are opting to travel with a “Burner” phone or a minimalist laptop solely running a browser, reminiscent of security-conscious individuals from 15 years ago when traveling to China.
These scholars are keeping a close eye on the American political climate, particularly concerned about potential repercussions upon their return. They have been reading Robert Reich’s subsack, highlighting instances where scientists faced obstacles entering the US due to political opinions expressed in private messages.
Cases like Dr. Rasha Alawieh’s deportation despite having a valid visa and court order, and attempts to deport Columbia University alumni Mahmoud Khalil following a pro-Palestinian demonstration, are causing alarm among the academic community.
The Trump administration’s crackdown on pro-Gaza demonstrations and demands for the return of research funds from universities suggest a troubling trend of targeting academic institutions. This hostility towards universities, particularly elite ones, stems from a disdain for their wealth and independence.
The growing concerns among US researchers about potential crackdowns on certain fields of research, driven by political ideologies, resemble dark periods of history. Europe’s response, offering refuge to American researchers at universities like AIX-Marseille in France and VUB in Belgium, presents a glimmer of hope amid uncertainty.
As the academic landscape faces shifting political tides, the question arises: what proactive measures are UK institutions taking to navigate these challenges? The future remains uncertain as academia grapples with evolving geopolitical dynamics.
What I’ve read
How Trump’s Yemeni text was sent by mistake Jeffrey Goldberg Amazing story About the White House security leak Atlantic Ocean.
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sWith the introduction of ChatGpt in late 2022, generative artificial intelligence moved from adult users in office settings to college students in campus libraries and even teenagers in high school hallways. As the youngest among us start exploring AI technologies, parents and teachers are grappling with the responsibility of introducing children under 13 to these transformative tools. Though tools like Google’s Gemini and other AI models set age restrictions, many parents and teachers are taking it upon themselves to educate children about AI.
Inspired by stories of parents teaching their children AI skills to prepare them for success in school and beyond, we reached out to Guardian readers to learn how and why others are doing the same. While our original stories focused on parents, we also included responses from teachers, recognizing their role in preparing children for the future.
Some parents and teachers have embraced AI fully, integrating ChatGpt into everyday interactions with children, using it to explain concepts, answer questions, and share imaginative stories. Others approach AI cautiously, limiting its use to controlled settings due to the potential risks it may pose to young users.
On the other hand, some parents and teachers choose not to expose their children to AI at all, expressing concerns about potential harm and ethical implications that remain unresolved. While differing in their approaches, each perspective contributes valuable insights to the ongoing dialogue about AI education.
The responses below have been edited for brevity and clarity.
Parents Explain the World with AI’s Help
I’ve discovered that introducing AI to my children has been an unexpected joy of parenting. Instead of saying “Let’s google,” my 9 year old now asks, “Daddy, can you chat?” when he needs help with homework. He’s learning to seek guidance rather than just answers.
My 6 year old’s endless questions often test my patience. In those moments, AI comes to the rescue, keeping him engaged and imaginative with topics like dinosaurs and space. It’s a mental recharge for me.
With three daughters, we’ve moved from reading princess stories to creating our own imaginative adventures, thanks to AI.
– Matt, Consultant, 44, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
I use AI as an intellectual backup when I can’t answer my kids’ questions. We have AI voice assistants at home and in the car, helping us with random queries and homework tasks. It streamlines our discussions and keeps learning active. However, I caution my kids about the accuracy of AI responses, as they can sometimes be misleading.
– Graham, Writer, Lumberhurst Quarter
I incorporate AI tools into my daily interactions with my 3 year old, using them to explore nature and answer his questions about the world. I encourage his curiosity and engagement while limiting screen time and passive activities.
While AI is a part of our routine, it’s not the sole focus.
– Nate, Data Scientist, East Bay, California.
I’m introducing my eldest to Openai’s ChatGpt, portraying it as a creative assistant for generating ideas and resources. I teach her to approach AI skeptically and not to rely solely on its responses.
– Ben, 47, Entrepreneur, Germany
To showcase AI to my children, I use ChatGPT to generate stories and engage them in critical thinking by analyzing the authenticity of AI-generated content.
I also encourage them to question misleading information and develop a healthy skepticism towards online content.
– David, Software Developer, Ireland
For students struggling with writing, I recommend using AI for sentence-level feedback and grammar explanations, but caution against relying on AI to create complete essays.
– Jenny, English and Drama Teacher, Valencia, Spain
In my household, AI is used sparingly, with the children understanding it as a tool to enhance their learning and curiosity. We emphasize the importance of personal effort and creativity in achieving success.
– Anton, Fintech Director, Geneva
Rather than introducing AI directly, I stimulate my students’ imagination by using AI tools like Adobe Firefly to inspire descriptive writing and Character.ai to bring historical figures to life. I emphasize the creative potential of AI while also highlighting its limitations.
– Angie, Primary Teacher, Tunbridge Wells
I approach AI education as a generative tool, emphasizing its role as an aid rather than a replacement for imagination. By demonstrating AI’s creative capabilities, students learn to use it responsibly while appreciating its limitations.
– Adam, 28, High School Teacher, Christchurch, New Zealand
Hyundai, a motor maker, is currently facing legal action due to allegations that one of its most popular electric vehicle models can be easily stolen in seconds. Digital security expert Elliot Ingram was shocked to see CCTV footage of a hooded burglar stealing his Hyundai Ioniq 5 in under 20 seconds from his home.
It is believed that the thief used devices available online to replicate the car’s electronic key. This incident is just one of many thefts involving this vehicle, with many owners now resorting to steering locks for added security. Ingram’s car was eventually recovered by the police, but he has decided to terminate the lease and is seeking compensation from the car company. He argues that the Korean automotive giant should have informed customers about the security vulnerabilities.
“The security system is completely compromised, making it susceptible to attacks by anyone,” he stated. “It’s no longer effective.”
Hyundai has been promoting the convenience of digital and smart keys, allowing drivers to lock/unlock the door and start the engine with just the key fob or digital key. While the new technology includes various security measures, criminal groups have found ways to bypass them.
Ingram discovered a key emulator device being sold online for 15,000 euros. This device resembles Nintendo’s Game Boy Game Console and can operate in English or Russian. It has the capability to record signals from the car and replicate them within seconds, allowing for easy unauthorized access. Last year, the automotive industry admitted to ignoring warnings over a decade ago regarding the risks associated with keyless technology and vehicle theft.
Hyundai has responded by stating that there is an industry-wide issue with organized criminal groups using electronic devices to bypass smart key lock systems. They are collaborating with law enforcement to better understand these devices and track stolen vehicles. The company is working on an update to reduce the risk of keyless theft for vehicles sold since February 2024 and is planning to provide retroactive action for earlier models.
Vehicle theft has been on the rise in the UK and Wales, with a significant increase in the use of remote devices by criminals. Legislation is being introduced to ban electronic devices used for keyless vehicle theft, with severe penalties for those found in possession of, manufacturing, importing, or distributing such devices.
In conclusion, Hyundai is focused on enhancing vehicle security to combat theft, but they do not plan to recall the vehicle. Despite the updates and measures being implemented, the company acknowledges the challenge posed by determined criminals who will stop at nothing to steal vehicles for various purposes.
Numerous individuals worldwide protested against the efforts of Donald Musk and Donald Trump on Saturday to dismantle the US federal government.
The protest organizers called on people to refrain from buying Tesla, selling Tesla stocks, or participating in the “Tesla Takedown” movement.
One of the group’s taglines read, “To hurt Tesla is to stop Musk. Stopping Musk helps save lives and our democracy.”
Over 200 events were scheduled globally on Saturday, starting in Australia and New Zealand in front of Tesla showrooms before spreading to Europe in countries like Finland, Norway, Denmark, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and the UK. Each rally had a unique theme organized locally. In Ireland, it was “destroying the fash,” while in Switzerland, it was “down with the Doge.” Photos were posted on Bluesky by Tesla Takedown from San Jose, California, close to Tesla’s former headquarters, and from Austin, Texas, where the headquarters is currently located.
The world’s wealthiest Musk leads the so-called “Ministry of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), tasked with cutting the US federal budget, which includes laying off thousands of workers. Musk and Tesla did not respond to requests for comment.
Protested at a Tesla dealer in Austin, Texas on March 29, 2025. Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images
In San Francisco, around 200 people gathered in front of a Tesla showroom, urging others to disrupt busy streets and medians to oppose self-driving roads.
Many demonstrations included protests with signs and chants. Acts of disruption were seen, including impeding postal trucks, public buses, and fire engines. One group had signs with slogans like “Burn your sw before you burn,” and “doge bags no.” A massive American flag was also displayed upside down.
The Brocklong Tesla showroom had cleared out all cars with security guards inside and San Francisco police officers outside. A group wearing red maga hats and black dog shirts also passed through the crowd without incident.
Protester Myra Levy and friend Karen Heistler expressed their reasons for opposing the Tesla movement.
Protester Myra Levy at the San Francisco Tesla dealer held in San Francisco on Saturday. Photo: Dara Kerr/Guardian
Sales representatives in Berkeley, California, reported that Tesla showrooms were closed every Saturday due to weekly protests. A lively scene included spray-painting a cardboard cyber truck. The manager declined to comment on previous red paint incidents in the showroom.
Planet over Profit organizer Sophie Shepherd clarified that the London rally was not specifically against electric vehicles, but rather against the individuals associated with Tesla.
Marty, an 82-year-old protester, expressed concerns about the current state of the country and its leadership.
Protests occurred across the US, with numerous demonstrations planned across different states. London also saw dozens of demonstrators outside the Tesla showroom.
Organizers emphasized the importance of continued protest and peaceful demonstration against Musk, Trump, and Cruzi.
Organizers condemned violent acts against Tesla showrooms, affirming that they are a non-violent grassroots movement. They denounced vandalism and emphasized the importance of peaceful, lawful protests.
In In July 2022, Morgan Rose Hart, an aspiring veterinarian with a passion for wildlife, passed away after it was found unresponsive in the Essex mental health unit. She’s just turned 18. Diagnosed with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Hart’s mental health was affected by bullying, which forced her to move from school several times. She previously tried to take her life and was transferred to Harlow’s unit three weeks before her death.
Hart, from Chelmsford, Essex, passed away on July 12, 2022 after it was found unresponsive on the bathroom floor. The prevention report of future death reports issued after her questioning turned out to be overlooked, and it turns out that important checks were missed, observation records were forged, and risk assessments were not completed.
Investigation by observer And newsletter Democracy for Sale Her death has established that she is one of four, including a high-tech patient surveillance system called Oxevision, which is deployed in almost half of mental health struts across the UK.
Oxevision’s system allows you to measure the patient’s pulse rate and breathing, interfere with the patient at night, and also broadcast CCTV footage temporarily if necessary, without the need for a person to enter the room. The high-tech system can detect a patient’s breathing rate, even when the patient is covered with a futon.
Oxehealth, which was spin-out from the University of Oxford’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering in 2012, has agreed to 25 NHS mental health trasts, according to its latest account, reporting revenue of around £4.7 million by December 31, 2023.
However, in some cases, it is argued that instead of doing physical checks, staff rely too heavily on infrared camera systems to monitor vulnerable patients.
There are also concerns that systems that can glow red from corners of the room could exacerbate the pain of patients in mental health crisis, which have increased their sensitivity to monitoring or control.
Sofina, who had experience being monitored by Oxevision among patients and who asked not to use her full name, stated:
“The first thing you see when you open your eyes, the last thing you do when you fall asleep. I was just in a visually impaired state. I was completely hurt.
Advocates argue that the technology can improve safety, but this weekend there will be a call to stop the deployment of Oxevision, raising concerns about patient safety, privacy rights and the conflict of interest in research supporting its use. The campaign group said Oxevision was often installed in patients’ bedrooms without proper consent, with surveillance technology likely causing distress.
In a prevention report of future deaths issued in December 2023 after Hart’s questioning, the coroner pointed out that if a person was in the bathroom for more than three minutes, a staff member would “have to complete a face-to-face check.” Instead, “Oxevision Red Alert has been reset” by staff and Hart was not observed for 50 minutes, and was discovered to be “not responding on the bathroom floor.”
The coroner expressed concern that “some staff may have used Oxevision in their place of instead of just an aid to face-to-face observation.” The conclusion of the judge’s investigation was death from misfortune, which contributed to the contributions of negligence.
Two days before Hart’s death, Michael Nolan, 63, a warehouse operator at risk for self-harm, passed away as a mental health patient at Basildon Hospital. The study said staff used Oxevision as an alternative to physical observations and failed to carry out effective observations. The story’s verdict by the judge included the findings of inadequate training on the Oxevision system.
The following month, 27-year-old Sophie Alderman, who had a history of self-harm, passed away in a patient at Rochford Hospital under the custody of the University of Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Her family says the Ooshivision system caused her pain and hurt her mental health. A few months before her death, she complained about the camera in her room, but she believed it was hacked by the government.
Tammy Smith, Alderman’s mother observer: “I don’t think Oxevision is effective in keeping patients safe. It’s a major invasion of patient privacy.
“Staff aren’t properly trained or used properly on it. People have died while Oxevision is in use, and questions have been raised about its use. That’s enough to pause deployment and actually consider whether this technology will keep patients safe.”
The Care Quality Committee also raised concerns. “A sad death was found in the safety room,” said the NHS Foundation Trust’s testing report, which was released last February. [St Charles hospital in west London] If staff were not fully involved and monitored patients, they were dependent. [Oxevision] It was turned off at the time. ”
The Trust said this weekend that a “tragic death” in March 2023 led to the firing of three individuals, with the use of technology never being designed to replace responsibility and care from staff.
The Lampard study, which examines the deaths of mental health hospitalized patients under the control of the NHS Trust in Essex between January 2000 and December 2023, is being asked to investigate Oxevision.
Sophina of a former patient monitored by Oxevision.
Bindmans, a law firm representing Alderman’s family and another patient’s family, spoke to Baroness Lampard about the concerns about consent and the safety and effectiveness of the system. He said there are concerns that staff may delegate the responsibility to monitor patients to “Digital Eye.”
A review by the National Institute of Health Therapy, published in November and commissioned by the NHS England, examined nine studies on Oxevision along with other studies, finding “inadequate evidence” suggesting that inpatient mental health unit surveillance techniques achieve intended results and achieve “improve safety, improved costs, etc.”
Only one of these papers was rated as “high quality” for their methodology and no conflicts of interest were reported. All eight other studies report all conflicts of interest, all related to Oxehealth. In some cases, OxeHealth employees were co-authors of the paper.
“There’s no independent research done. There’s almost always been involvement of the companies that create and market these devices,” said Alan Simpson, professor of mental health nursing who co-authored the review.
The Stop Oxevision campaigner said he was worried about the threat that technology poses to patients’ “safety, privacy and dignity.”
Lionel Tarassenko, professor of electrical engineering at Oxford University and founder of Oxehealth, said Oxevision only intermittently broadcast CCTV footage of patients. This is up to 15 seconds, and if clinical staff respond to alerts, they will only see blurry videos.
Tarassenko Lord said the paper reviewed by the National Institute team showed the benefits of Oxevision, including reduced self-harm, improved patient sleep and safety. He added that it was written by an independent clinician who maintains editorial control and in some cases, OxeHealth co-authors were included to reflect their contributions.
He said: “There is no evidence that proper use of Oxevision technology is a factor that contributes to inpatient deaths. The experience of Oxevision patients is very positive.”
In a statement, the company said the Oxevision platform was NHS England Principles Regarding mental health digital technology, the decision to use technology, announced last month for inpatient treatment and care, said it must be based on consent.
The company said: “Oxevision supports clinical teams to improve patient safety, reduce incidents such as falls and self-harm, and ensure staff can respond more effectively to clinical risks,” he said, adding that it welcomed the dialogue on responsible ethical deployment of technology.
Paul Scott, chief executive of the University of Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), said that his patient’s death was devastating because he was in charge of caring for Hart, Nolan and Alderman, and that his sympathy was sympathetic to those who lost loved ones. He said: “We are constantly focused on providing the best possible care and use remote surveillance technology to enhance safety and complement the treatment care and observations our staff has implemented.”
A spokesperson for NHS England said: “Vision-based surveillance techniques must support a human-based rights approach to care, be used only within the scope of legal requirements, and ensure that patient and family consent is implemented.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Health’s Social Care said: “These technologies should only be used in line with robust staff training and appropriate consent, with robust staff training and appropriate consent, and are transforming the care that people facing a mental health crisis receive by modernizing mental health law.
The White House spent a week trying to downplay the revelation that national security authorities discussed plans for our strike in Yemen over Signal, a commercial messaging app.
In a spectacular violation of national security, Defense Secretary Pete Hegses revealed details of certain operations prior to the attack on group chat. National security adviser Michael Waltz, who added Goldberg to the chat, said he took “full responsibility” for the leak.
Several Democrats urged Hegses to step down. However, the Trump administration has tried to bypass or avoid the issue. (Trump said the scandal was a “witch hunt.”
As part of a regular check-in during Trump’s first 100-day inauguration, the New York Times asked five voters what they thought of the administration’s response.
Dave Abdallah wasn’t happy with the way Trump and those around him continued to play signal chat breaches downplay.
They are “completely wrong,” Adbola said.
He added, the violation could have cost us their lives. “This is a serious and serious mistake,” he said of the whole.
Abdallah, a real estate broker who moved to the US from Lebanon as a child, voted for Green Party candidate Jill Stein in the 2024 election. It was a protest against the Biden administration’s handling of the war in Gaza, and concerns that Trump would not help the situation. Still, Abdallah hoped that Trump’s foreign policy could bring peace and stability to the region.
So far, he’s disappointed.
The fighting recently resumed between Israel and Hamas. Now Abdallah believes Trump, his administration and supporters are proving hypocritical in the face of a backlash on signal issues.
He recalls watching a recent video of Tiktok showing old clips of Republicans criticizing Hillary Clinton for using private computer servers while he was Secretary of State during the Obama administration. The video then showed images of the same critic. He is now a Trump supporter and makes excuses for signal chat, not a big deal.
Such excuses struck Abdallah as dishonest. “I can’t understand that,” he said of the signal chat. “So you definitely should be on the table to get rid of someone.”
– Kurt Streeter
“I don’t think anyone should be fired for this because it’s not as serious as many people think.”
Born George Mpanga, poet George in northwest London in 1991, is a spoken language, writer, and podcast host. He studied politics, psychology, and sociology at King’s College in Cambridge and currently holds a PhD in the economic and cultural possibilities of black music from UCL. At the age of 22, he signed with Island Records and released an EP before leaving the music industry. His award-winning podcast, Have you heard of George’s podcast?, was released in 2018. He publicly shared his achievements last year in The War Between Music and Black. He performed at Stand up at the Royal Festival Hall at the South Bank Centre’s new art festival, Crowds, on April 25th.
“It has the feel of a family business, it offers truly amazing service.”
This is an amazing mixture of grilled meat and stew in Edgware’s comfortable and accessible restaurant. Coming from Uganda and Kenya, the food here brings back memories. The Kenyan music playing in the background and the familiar aesthetics make it a special place. They serve authentic local foods like Ugari, nyama choma, vegetable dishes, and more. It truly feels like a family business with exceptional service. My family and I love visiting this place on special occasions.
I discovered The Prince’s Key on social media, and its authentic visual style caught my attention. The music videos are shot in places connected to the African community in London, like material shops. The music itself is relaxing with Nigerian sounds and Yoruba influences. One of his songs that I’ve been hooked on is Gbe Mi de Be, featuring Bxujii.
R Discovery has revolutionized my academic research process. This tool, introduced by Dr. Amina Yonis, simplifies the search for academic papers based on themes, authors, and fields. It even offers AI features for listening to papers in audio format. It has been an invaluable asset in my PhD journey.
Ely Wananda, a YouTuber and data scientist, discusses various aspects of black life in the UK. His thought-provoking questions, like “What is holding back black British business from success?” and “Why do wealth and marriage go hand in hand?” are crucial conversations rarely explored online. His academic approach makes his content unique and insightful.
5. tv set
Squid Game Season 2
“Analysis of Capitalism”: Lee Jung Yi-Ae as Song Joon in Squid Game Season 2. Photo: Netflix
Season 1 of Squid Game was a thrilling experience for me with its raw analysis of capitalism and human behavior. The release of Season 2 brought new characters and captivating developments, making it just as engaging and enjoyable.
“What is particularly relevant to me is focusing on African children: Kunda and friends.
Kunda and friends is an educational and entertaining kids’ program that resonates with African children. It is essential for children to see representation on TV, and Kunda accomplishes that brilliantly. The show is fun, animated, and a refreshing change from typical children’s programs.
Elon Musk’s Xai artificial intelligence company has purchased Musk’s X, a social media platform formerly known as Twitter, for $330 billion, showcasing the billionaire’s rapid integration strategy.
The deal, announced on Friday, merges two of Musk’s numerous portfolio companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, potentially aiding Musk in training his AI model, Grok.
In a post on X, Musk declared, “The future of Xai and X are intertwined. Today, we have taken a step towards combining data, models, calculation, distribution, and talent.”
There has been no immediate response from X or Xai representatives to requests for comment. Many transaction details remain unknown, including investor compensation, integration of X’s leadership into the new company, and potential regulatory examination.
Paolo Pescatore, an analyst at PP, described the development as “surprising and somewhat unexpected.” He added, “To some extent, it marks the end of a tumultuous chapter for X.”
Gil Luria, an analyst at Da Davidson & Co, noted, “The $45 billion price tag is no coincidence, exceeding Twitter’s 2022 Take-Private Transaction by $1 billion. This move allows Xai investors to share the value of the business with X co-investors.”
Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual, has accumulated significant power in Washington, D.C., overseeing government efficiency and cost-cutting efforts during the Trump administration through Doge. This positions him to potentially influence the institutions overseeing his business dealings.
Xai investors, now part of the combined entity, expressed no surprises over the deal, viewing it as a merger of leadership and management teams within Musk’s own organization. They rejected the proposed name change.
While Musk did not seek investor approval, both companies are working closely together to deepen integration with Grok.
According to reports, Musk’s Xai startup commenced two years ago and secured $10 billion in funding, valuing it at $75 billion.
In February, Musk made a $97.4 billion bid for Openai, a ChatGpt maker consortium, which was subsequently rejected. Musk co-founded Openai in 2015 with CEO Sam Altman.
Musk has been involved in direct competition with Openai, filing a lawsuit in California federal courts to prevent rivals from transitioning from non-profits to commercial entities. A judge recently denied a request for a provisional injunction to block the conversion.
The widespread adoption of AI software has sparked increased investment and competition in Silicon Valley. Companies are seeking ways to integrate software across various business functions for improved efficiency.
As AI competition intensifies, Xai is enhancing its data centers to train more advanced models. Their supercomputer cluster, Colossus, located in Memphis, Tennessee, is touted as the world’s largest.
In February, Xai introduced Grok-3, the latest chatbot iteration, poised to compete with Chinese AI firms Deepseek and Microsoft-backed Openai. The X platform can facilitate the distribution of Xai products and provide real-time user feedback.
In 2022, Musk acquired X and subsequently Twitter for $44 billion, taking the platform private after its 2013 IPO and stating, “the birds will be released” post-acquisition.
Following the acquisition, Musk restructured the company, urged advertisers to leave the platform, resulting in a significant revenue decline. However, as Musk’s influence grew, the brand eventually returned to X.
Sources familiar with the transaction revealed that seven banks provided loans to Musk for the X acquisition, extending their loans to XK for the X deal, maintaining their book debt for two years, due to heightened interest in exposure to AI companies and improved X operational performance.
After the merger, investors who acquired debts from banks are expected to profit, according to Espen Robak, founder of Pluris Aluation Advisors. He stated, “Even if not fully repaid, the debt holds increased value.”
Additionally, a US judge rejected Musk’s attempt to dismiss a lawsuit alleging he misled former Twitter shareholders by delaying disclosure of his initial investment in the company.
Recent research indicates that supporters of “incel” ideology have repackaged “sub5” and embraced a shift towards the language of self-improvement on Tiktok.
Despite the prohibition of hateful content on social media platforms, accounts propagating these beliefs are reportedly cloaked in new terminologies and “socially acceptable” vernacular.
One key tenet of the incel ideology revolves around the notion that society is structured hierarchically based on physical appearance.
Previously characterized by misogyny, pseudo-scientific theories surrounding self-improvement and attraction are now being promoted and normalized.
Anda Iuria Solea, a researcher at the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice in Portsmouth, cited a theory mentioned in a Netflix show, suggesting that 80% of women are attracted to 20% of men.
Another concept gaining traction on Tiktok is the PSL scale, which ranks men from 1 to 8 based on their perceived attractiveness.
The acronym PSL is derived from the initials of three Incel websites: Puahate, Sluthate, and Lookism.net.
Men are categorized from “PSL Gods” (highly attractive men) to “Chad” (generally attractive men) and eventually “sub5” (unattractive men).
Men are encouraged to believe they can ascend the scales through a process called “lookmaxxing,” which involves activities like going to the gym or undergoing cosmetic procedures to enhance their appearance.
These theories promote an idealized form of masculinity and often attribute blame to women.
While searching for the term “Incel” on Tiktok triggers an error message cautioning against hateful content, searching for “sub5” yields a stream of related material on the platform.
“Through concepts like Lookmaxxing and the PSL scale, the promotion of misogynistic ideology is gaining mainstream acceptance.”
“These mechanisms facilitate the dissemination of toxic, misogynistic, and extremist rhetoric by cloaking it in the socially palatable discourse of self-improvement and racial and biological essentialism, widening its reach in the digital sphere.”
With over 1.9 billion users globally, Tiktok attracts a significant user base, including approximately 40.32% of UK users aged between 13 and 24 years.
A new paper submitted for peer review by the Crime, Media and Culture Journal analyzed five Tiktok accounts promoting incel theory.
Solea remarked, “They aim to broaden their audience, gain platform approval, and garner societal acceptance through rebranding. By showcasing terms like Sub5 and the PSL scale, they avoid direct attacks on women.”
Referring to the Netflix show, she added, “The 80:20 rule suggesting 80% of women prefer 20% of men is prevalent. These theories are insidious and more convincing when subtly presented, rather than outright derogatory.”
In response, a Tiktok spokesperson stated:
“We continuously enhance moderation efforts using technology and expert insights. In the last quarter, 93% of hateful content was removed before being reported.”
Emojis have become an integral part of Netflix, adolescence, and even US national security adviser Mike Waltz’s celebratory bombing of Yemen. Prince William is also a fan of emojis.
While some may view emojis as childish or insignificant, they have evolved into a language of their own that is constantly changing. What was once seen as a frivolous trend is now a crucial means of communication for conveying emotions quickly and effectively.
The use of emojis allows individuals to express their feelings in writing more accurately than with words alone. However, interpreting emojis can sometimes lead to miscommunication, highlighting the complexities of emoji culture.
The history of emojis dates back to the late 1960s and has since evolved into a mainstream form of communication. From ancient cave art to modern-day emojis, visual communication has always played a significant role in human expression.
Today, emojis are used by people of all ages, but their meanings can vary widely. Even a simple smiley face can be interpreted differently by different generations, showcasing the ever-changing nature of these visual symbols.
Emojis have become so influential that they were added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2015, reflecting their impact on modern language and communication. To underestimate the importance of emojis is to ignore a significant aspect of contemporary communication.
In a world where pictures speak louder than words, emojis have become a vital tool for expression and connection. The ubiquitous use of emojis in daily communication is a testament to their enduring relevance and power.
tESLA showrooms around the world are expected to face anti-Eron Musk protests on Saturday, as Musk’s senior roles in the Trump administration have sparked backlash from European consumers, including Tesla owners and potential buyers.
Tesla sales experienced a 44% decline on average last month, as reported by research platform Jato Dynamics. The European market share of Tesla dropped to 9.6% last month, the lowest recorded in February in the past five years.
However, in the UK, the Motor Manufacturers and Traders Association noted a nearly 21% increase in the number of new Tesla vehicles registered in February. The Model 3 and Model Y emerged as the second and third most popular models after the Mini Cooper.
The Guardian has received messages from hundreds of Tesla owners expressing their changing feelings about owning a Tesla. Here are some of their perspectives.
“Our daughter continues to ask us to sell it.”
My wife surprised me with a test drive of the Tesla Model S for my birthday in 2019. I was impressed by its performance and environmental friendliness, so we decided to purchase it.
We have driven around 80,000 miles, including a trip to Southern France from Italy. While the car has been reliable and cost-effective, we are troubled by the political affiliations of Trump and Musk. Our daughter, who is 26 years old, keeps urging us to sell it. The polarization on the Tesla Owner’s Forum is evident, making us feel conflicted.
We are currently grappling with a constant moral dilemma regarding our ownership of the car. Seeing models showcased outside the White House by Trump and Musk made us uneasy. The secondary market has seen a significant drop, and our warranty will expire in 2027, which adds to our uncertainty. Owning a car shouldn’t be this emotionally challenging.
I Do not play the game. Points are not displayed. I haven’t reread the book either and rarely re-watch movies or TV shows. There are so many new, bigger, better things that come out every day, and there’s too little time to consume them. However, I made an exception with the teenage mutant ninja turtles. Because the original was very special.
I’ve come towards the end of the ZX Spectrum play day. I was in college and was only interested in it if the teenage mutant ninja turtle was in tall glass and was in the Mandelabar for happy hour prices. However, the game went home in the summer to get me crazy and became the most difficult video game I’ve ever completed. And when I started re-releasing the PS4, which will be offered as part of the TMNT Cowabunga collection, it worries me. (PlayStation Plus Essentials March)
I’m worried that my gaming brain has played a lazy modern game. There, you are spoiled to vomit in the place and spitting collision detection, so it can become a priest, which will result in a discoloration of memory in this golden game.
I was right!
Collision detection is at the relentless Meinik Minor/Megaman level, but through trial and error, we have rediscovered what makes the game easier. The level structure is soft so you can kill enemies from platforms or walls above or below. I also remember that I can “hot swap” the turtle. This means using Donatello on long poles. The rhino is a small metal dagger, similar to the cutlery Elon Musk had balanced with Mar Lago’s fingers. It’s even less useful. To kill enemies with Raphael in this game, you need to get close enough to smell the toppings you had on pizza.
I played this for 2 hours after death. It was the first time I’d throw a controller at the wall since I stopped FIFA.
The night reminds us of an A-level exam as many of us have finished as it was back then, and at that bloody underwater level, we need to soften the bombs under the dam within time limits. You cannot overcome that level without hitting multiple radioactive weeds. I can’t believe I completed it that day and I’m worried that it was one of the things I imagined in the 90s.
Such a terrifying, clunky gameplay will not serve your purpose in 2025.
Or is that possible?
I endured on the second day. I thought the way to get through the bad dam levels was to crash all the enemies and exchange turtles hot when the energy was low. (And in the sense that it is “remembered,” it means “searched Reddit.”)
Most importantly, we discovered that this re-release has an inverted rewind button! You can go back 30 seconds for every failed pixel jump! I’d like to read the game manual, but I’m a guy in his 50s. I don’t read any more instructions than asking for directions when I get lost.
I completed the level and was treated with the sweetest sentence ever written in the history of video games. April said: “The dam is safe. Let’s go home.”
Supported by this, I broke the next few levels over the next few days. It’s difficult to have a rewind button, but it recalibrates the overall attitude of the game. You can’t charge it to the level you can do in today’s games. This was a time when we literally had to move forward, wait, and enemies appeared, learn patterns, and move. You need to slow down your full play method. And that’s not a bad thing. In 2025, life will move at 10 billion miles per hour. I wake up three times on the night to check who is trying to break into who.
My heart and mind are resumed and I reaffirm the greatness of this game. The scrolls and boomerang weapons are immeasurable. I put them there in pure fun with Doom’s BFG, Golden Eye’s Golden Gun, and Worm’s Holy Handren bullet.
I even learn to love the indecipherable nature of block-like graphics. The mutant toad looked recognizable, as did the shredder and his foot soldiers. So did the cheeky space monkeys, but they turned out to be in fact a giant flea. Most enemies are like an 8-bit Rorschach test, and their identity is the result of projections from my subconscious. So it could be the wild butterfly I’m trying to kill, but it could also be my feelings of inadequacy in men.
I’m so glad that I didn’t give up on this game. Because we’ve never done anything like children. You had one game a month. You played it. You continued doing that. We are now diletantes of games, jumping from one subscription service to another, but we may not even actually go through the list of games.
I’m only in the middle. But I will become a soldier through all my hard-earned inches. And it becomes completely Kawabunga.
‘wHats if a Cornoville disaster occurs in the UK? “Atomfall is pretty beautiful, according to the developer rebellion.
Using the 1957 front-scale fire as a launch pad, Atomfall thrusts you into post-war Britain, causing the accident to deteriorate dramatically, urge the government to send troops before it runs through much of the Lake District, sealing off everyone inside. Your character, the typical video game Amnesiac, will wake up in the exclusion zone a few years later. To escape, they must unravel what caused the disaster, who is responsible for it, and the mystery behind how to fix it.
This mystery and how it unfolds is the most interesting part of Atomfall. The story reconstructs traditional quests as “leads.” Here, collecting documents such as text and military reports and talking to surviving locals within the zone reveals points of interest. At the heart of Enigma is a vast underground research facility. It unlocks the entrance, places atomic batteries to power different sectors, and eventually unleashes the heart of the front scale, keeping it in a dark secret.
Icker’s manly style…Atom Fall. Photo: Rebellion
It’s a story that offers a lot of plot. Characters who support you on your journey, including soldiers, scientists and civil servants, have their own motivations to do so. These are often related to the transformations you see along the way. For example, infiltrate a castle occupied by a man-style druid of Wicker to retrieve special medicine and resolve the typical British murders in the church.
Solving these threads is fun, and the story benefits from harsher focus and pacing than most open-world adventures. Unfortunately, the accompanying game mechanics feel like they do more out of obligation than enthusiasm. With combat you can choose between serviceable but inconspicuous guns and brawl fights that will thank you for all the rusty firearms you have gathered. There is a basic craft system that is mainly used to make bandages and occasionally Molotov cocktails. Stealth systems exist in theory, but perhaps appropriately I have never seen it work in a meaningful way. The enemy can find you from half of the map and appears to be connected to telepathy with nearby allies.
Perhaps it’s rare in any part of the UK that it’s always bright and sunny in the Atom Fall exclusion zone, let alone the Lake District. Overall, there is a possibility that the Cambrian setting could be better utilized. The four maps of Atomfall are gorgeous and fun, including lumpy valleys filled with dry stone shells and the English villages that have been the most detailed reproduction since everyone went to the Rapture, but the world is not particularly atmospheric.
What’s more, enemy factions, druids, and crazy looters feel like crazy looters dressed in cricket gear as vague attempts to chase after strange gangs that have been swept away. Where is the Wild Rambler, a literati roving band over whether Wordsworth and Coleridge were better poets? Why are Pasties so abundant when Kendal Mint Cake and Grasmere Gingerbread absent? This may seem like a flicker, but given that you have recently seen such a great lambhoon in northern life where you are grateful to be here, I feel that the Northern depiction of Atom Fall, and in fact the UK is a superficial, coincidence collection, a confused collection of cultural touch.
To use another example, one of the key inspirations for Atomfall is Stalker. This is a series that specifically has the strengths of Ukrainians. Stalker and its sequels are totally unafraid of being strange, bold, challenging and desolate to completely envelop players in the country’s radioactive trauma. The “what if” scenario of the rebellion can only be in the shadow of Chornovir, as Britain does not share its trauma in the same way.
In two photos taken for fashion retailer H&M, model Mathilda Gvarliani can be seen posing in a white tank top and jeans. The images look like they were taken from the same shoot, but one of the photos shows Gvarliani the real Ms. Gvarliani, and the other is an artificially manipulated image of her.
Published this week Fashion businessOne image, an industry news outlet, shows Gvarliani holding the waistband of her jeans, while the other shows a “digital twin” with her arms crossed and staring at the camera.
The two images feature a quote from Gvarliani. “She’s like me. Gvarliani reported that this year is one of more than 20 models that H&M has partnered up to create digital replicas for use in its social media platforms and marketing campaigns, the publication reported.
Swedish retailer H&M is the latest company to pursue trends that have destabilized some fashion industry insiders. Using images that spreads artificial intelligence, critics have expressed concern about the impact on models and other independent contractors, including hair stylists and makeup artists, who are part of the photo shoot workforce.
According to H&M spokesman Hacan Andersson, the company is in the exploration stage of the project.
“We are simply exploring what is possible, and we work closely with other creatives in the industry, institutions and models themselves. We have full control over when the “digital twin” is used, and of course we are paid when it is used.”
Jorgen Andersson, chief creative officer at H&M, said the company will retain a “human-centric approach” in its use of technology.
H&M “was interested in exploring ways to showcase our fashion in new and creative ways, while still remaining true to our commitment to personal style,” he issued a statement in an email Thursday.
Fashion Worker LawNew York’s new law, which will come into effect in June, is expected to address some of the concerns about the use of AI by providing protection to the model, including requiring wage transparency and control over digital replicas.
State Sen. Brad Hoyleman Cigar, sponsor of the bill, said the labor law “protects fashion models from being financially abused and using images without their consent.”
Other states and Some European countries There is a law regarding individual rights via digital replicas, but New York law specifically covers the model.
Some models have complained that they have found unknown faces taking photos on their bodies and that they have no control over their finances.
“I think part of the impressive thing about the H&M Digital-Twin campaign is that the digital representation of the model is indistinguishable,” said Sara Ziff, former model and founder of the Model Alliance, on Friday. “It could really raise doubts about consent and compensation and replace many fashion workers.”
The alliance that provided input to the law in New York said models may use generated AI images without knowledge or consent, and without compensation. The new law states that modeling agencies cannot empower lawyers through digital replicas and must obtain written consent from the model for how they are used and compensation.
Models generated in AI are generally either human models or fictional representations of digital replicas, which are images of real people reused by technologies such as H&M “digital twins.”
The use of these digital forms in the lucrative fashion industry has been developing for many years as global retailers try to balance brand appeal with transparency and cost.
In 2011, H&M layered the heads of the actual models onto computer-generated mannequins for their online swimsuit campaign. 2023 denim brand Levi Strauss He said he plans to use AI technology. He added that the use of live models will not be reduced to reveal more images of different body types.
Last year, fashion brands Mangoes have been announced The campaign for the teenage line of clothing, using AI technology announced by Chief Information Technology Officer Jordia Rex, who said, “to make us more human or not.”
In this week’s newsletter, the Model Alliance said it is evaluating the H&M plan, which includes examples of other models next to the digital clone.
“Finally, how I’m in New York and Tokyo on the same day,” model Yar Aguer was quoted as saying he was paired with her digital twin.
Asked on Friday if the models really said those words, a spokesman for H&M said, “You can see that it’s a real quote from the model.”
Private equity giant Blackstone is evaluating Tiktok’s potential as the April 5 deadline set by President Trump for Chinese-owned apps approaches, which could result in US bans under federal law.
Investing in Tiktok would give Blackstone the chance to acquire one of the world’s most popular social media platforms, with over 170 million American users. It remains uncertain whether the investments, likely to be part of Blackstone’s typical portfolio, will proceed, as other investors are also considering apps owned by China’s Internet giant integration.
Should the investment go through, it could sway President Trump’s favor. Congress passed a law last year mandating the sale of the app due to national security concerns related to Chinese ownership.
Trump extended the deadline for the deal in January and hinted at a possible extension if an agreement is not reached next week. He also suggested easing tariffs on China in exchange for support for the deal.
Blackstone’s interest adds to Tiktok’s tumultuous history in the United States. The video app has faced political pressure to shut down domestically multiple times. In January, the app was temporarily disabled in the US for about 12 hours before coming back online. A Blackstone spokesperson declined to comment on the speculation. Both Tiktok and the White House did not respond to requests for comments. Reuters previously reported on Blackstone’s interest.
As the April 5th deadline approaches, discussions about potential suitors for Tiktok have escalated. Trump has been approached by various parties pitching their ideas, with his interest in different arrangements potentially changing quickly, according to sources close to the discussions.
The most probable scenario is a deal where current US investors in ByteDance transition their stakes into a new independent, global Tiktok company, with additional US investors like Blackstone brought in to reduce Chinese ownership. This setup would allow Tiktok to continue operating without a complete sale, as mandated by law.
“There are multiple options that we can discuss with President Trump and his team that would allow the company to keep operating. There may be some changes in control, but it doesn’t necessarily mean a full sale,” a source said.
Blackstone, a firm managing over $1 trillion, typically engages in large-scale deals and invests in a diverse range of companies like Rover, Spanx, and Jersey Mike’s.
Private equity firm chief Stephen Schwartzman has ties to China as a Republican mega-donor and Trump supporter, which could bring significant business advantages.
Current top investors in ByteDance include Susquehanna and Atlantic General, who are likely to increase their interest in Tiktok’s shares as part of any new deal. Oracle, which hosts Tiktok’s data, is also involved in consultations, according to sources.
Elon Musk announced on Friday that his social media company, X, sold its artificial intelligence startup, Xa, in a rare financial arrangement within the business empire of the world’s wealthiest man.
The total stock trading valued Xai at $80 billion and X at $30 billion. X’s price fell from the $44 billion it paid to social media companies in 2022, but it was still higher than the $12 billion valuation given by some X investors recently. Xai’s final valuation in the December funding round was about $40 billion.
The two companies are private and already share important resources such as engineers. Xai’s chatbot, Grok, is trained with data posted by X users and is available in X. A banker at X for X informed investors that a portion of the social media company’s revenue came from Xai.
In his post, Musk wrote, “The future of Xai and X are intertwined. Today, we have officially taken a step towards combining data, models, calculation, distribution, and talent. The total company will provide a smarter, more meaningful experience to billions of people, while still remaining true to our core mission of improving knowledge in search of truth.”
The deal highlights Musk’s ability to manipulate different parts of his business empire. He merged the company that had lost value, X, with the company that had gained value, Xai, in a strategic move. Musk previously executed a similar strategy in 2016 when he used Tesla’s stocks to acquire SolarCity.
While Tesla is publicly traded, most of Musk’s other companies, like SpaceX, The Boring Company, and Neuralink, are private and less transparent. Musk often reallocates resources and employees among his businesses, operating them as a single entity.
X’s CEO, Linda Jaccarino, expressed concerns about the future, indicating a downturn in fortunes. X and Xai operate in different orbits, with X being more widely known. Since Musk’s acquisition, X has struggled financially due to controversial decisions and a decline in advertiser confidence.
According to Fidelity, X’s valuation plummeted to $12 billion in December. Some advertisers have returned to X recently, hoping for Musk’s favor, but the company has not yet achieved financial stability.
Xai was founded by Musk in 2023 to compete with OpenAI. Musk’s strategic moves and financial decisions have had a significant impact on X’s performance and revenue generation.
Despite challenges, the company remains resilient and continues to work towards its revenue targets. X’s focus on innovation and growth reflects its commitment to delivering value in the tech industry.
Musk’s vision for Xai and X reflects a strategic alignment of data, technology, and talent. The convergence of these resources aims to revolutionize the user experience and enhance knowledge discovery.
With Musk at the helm, X and Xai are poised to unlock new potentials and drive growth in the tech ecosystem. The integration of their capabilities will redefine the boundaries of innovation and propel the companies to new heights.
As Musk continues to navigate the complexities of business and technology, his visionary leadership will shape the future trajectory of X and Xai. The synergy between these entities promises a transformative journey towards excellence and impact in the digital landscape.
News of the trading deal on Friday was met with enthusiasm within X. Jaccarino’s message to employees underscores the excitement and optimism surrounding the company’s future prospects.
As X and Xai embark on a new chapter of growth and innovation, the resilience and determination of the team will drive them towards success. Musk’s strategic vision and leadership will guide the companies towards a future filled with limitless possibilities and achievements.
The Federal Communications Commission chair said Friday that he has launched an investigation into Disney’s diversity, equity and inclusion program in his latest attempt under the Trump administration to stop such efforts.
In a letter to Disney’s CEO Robert Iger, chairman Brendan Kerr said the company’s program to increase job diversity and promote racial-based affinity groups appears to violate equal employment opportunities regulations.
“Disney wants to ensure that virtually all discriminatory initiatives will be completed, not just the name,” Kerr said in a letter sent Thursday. “In another case, Disney’s actions – whether they’re ongoing or recently terminated, we want to determine whether they’re always in compliance with applicable FCC rules.”
A Disney spokesman said the company is reviewing the FCC letter. “We look forward to being involved with the committee to answer that question.”
Veteran Republican regulator Kerr began his tenure as FCC chair in January by launching a drastic campaign to scrutinize the media, sought to eradicate left-leaning bias and policy allegations that were corned by the president.
Last month he began a similar diversity and inclusion investigation into Comcast, the parent company of NBCuniversal. Kerr also said the agency’s merger reviews will include a survey of the company’s DEI program.
The investigation continues Presidential Order Trump was banned from “illegal and immoral” DEI programs in the federal government on his first day. A day later, Kerr announced that he would be closing his promotion of diversity and equity in the FCC’s strategic planning, budget and economic reporting.
It is unclear whether the FCC, which normally serves as a cable television watchdog, distributing licenses to broadcast television and radio stations, has the power to punish media companies for its diversity initiative. Kerr argues that a wide range of “public interest” standards can be applied to scrutiny companies such as Disney, which owns ABC and ESPN, and Disney, such as television stations around the country.
FCC experts said Kerr’s investigation could be challenged in court.
“It’s about bullying and threats,” said Andrew Schwartzman, a senior advisor to the Benton Institute for Broadband Society. Kerr’s most powerful tool is his vote on the committee to approve mergers and acquisitions, he said.
Trump nominated Kerr has launched an investigation since he chaired several news outlets, including PBS and NPR, accused him of left-leaning political bias. He investigated an interview that CBS’s “60 minutes” was conducted with former vice president Kamala Harris and released an investigation by San Francisco radio station KCBS regarding reports of immigration enforcement measures.
Kerr publicly agreed to the administration’s promise to cut regulations significantly, chase big technology, and punish television networks for political bias. Kerr is restructuring independent bodies, expanding its duties and using it as a political weapon of rights, Telecommunications lawyers and analysts said.
Brooks Burns Contributed with a report from Los Angeles.
Shares of CoreWeave, the first artificial intelligence startup to be published, opened its first day of trading at $39 on Friday. This was a slight drop from the initial public offering price set by CoreWeave a day ago, after reducing the size and value of the IPO.
The company’s stock price, trading under the ticker symbol CRWV, shows concerns among Wall Street investors about the economy and CoreWeave’s business model.
The decline came amidst a sluggish stock market and uncertainty over inflation and President Trump’s tariffs. List lower prices – CoreWeave previously estimated the range between $47 and $55 Submit – Already reflects investors’ skepticism compared to a month ago. Our share price rose approximately 1% in early trading.
CoreWeave, a data center supporting Power Giant AI Systems, also raised just $1.5 billion in offerings that analysts had expected, less than $4 billion.
In an interview Friday, CoreWeave CEO Michael Intrator said concerns about the stock market and AI industry have cut the list to the company, but the timing of its offering will benefit the company in the long run.
“It’s just a day. I’ll get through this day and keep moving,” Intrator said. “It’s important for us to enter the open market.”
It is unclear whether the stock’s performance will mark the start of the IPO parade that some investors have been hoping for. Among the companies watching Coreweave’s public debut on Friday were online lending service Klarna and ticketing company StubHub, which is predicting the public list this year.
“This is not an easy IPO market,” said Samuel Kerr, head equity capital market analyst at financial insights firm Mergermarket. “The USIPO market shows that CoreWeave is probably not as strong as we thought it would be early this year.”
A more ideal time would have been at the end of last year for CoreWeave’s public list after Trump was elected, before the release of a new chatbot by Chinese AI company Deepseek, Kerr added.
Nvidia, a supplier of CoreWeave’s computer chips and one of its major investors, has not helped its share price fell 9% since Wednesday last week.
Some analysts are skeptical of CoreWeave’s substantial debt, and have been taken over to build more data centers, a large facility that houses AI chips. The company’s revenue rose from $1.9 billion from $229 million a year last year, but lost $863 million after spending nearly $1 billion to fund its debt.
“The very high debt profile is something IPO investors disliked for quite some time,” Kerr said.
CoreWeave was founded in 2017 as a cryptocurrency mining startup, but after Openai released its ChatGPT chatbot in 2022, it shifted to using powerful NVIDIA chips for AI development.
Some of CoreWeave’s customers include Microsoft, which accounted for a large portion of last year’s revenue, and Openai, which announced nearly $12 billion in deals with CoreWeave in the weeks leading up to its IPO.
Protests are set to take place at Tesla’s showrooms across the US and internationally this Saturday. Organized under the name Tesla Takedown, these demonstrations have been growing in size since Donald Trump’s presidency began. Over 200 Tesla locations worldwide, with almost 50 in California alone, will be the sites of these protests.
The goal of the protestors is to oppose the actions of Tesla CEO Elon Musk and send a message to the Trump administration. They are critical of Musk’s decisions including laying off workers, cutting department budgets, making fascist gestures, and dismantling government agencies.
Vicki Mueller Orvera, one of the organizers of the Bay Area Tesla Takedown protests, emphasized that Musk’s actions are undemocratic. She sees Musk as an unelected billionaire wielding power in destructive ways.
The Tesla Takedown movement is described as a decentralized grassroots initiative protesting Tesla’s operations as long as Musk undermines public services. Local organizers are planning demonstrations independently.
Orvera urges protestors to take action by boycotting Tesla purchases, selling Tesla stocks, and participating in Tesla Takedown protests.
Despite requests for comment, Musk has not responded to the criticism against him. He has clarified his government efficiency work as improving government operations.
As Tesla Takedown momentum grows, Tesla’s financial performance has suffered. Since Trump took office, Tesla shares have plummeted, impacting Musk’s net worth significantly. Some Tesla owners have sold their cars following controversial statements and actions by Musk.
The protest movement has gained attention from both supporters and critics. Jonathan V Last, editor of Bulwark, has highlighted the impact of Tesla Takedown protests on Musk’s net worth and influence.
Protest movement grows
Tesla Takedown protests originated in February and have expanded to various American cities. Social media has played a significant role in mobilizing participants, with suspected attacks on Tesla showrooms being condemned.
Recent developments have led to the involvement of law enforcement in investigating the vandalism. Tesla Takedown organizers emphasize peaceful protests and distance themselves from any violent actions.
Anti-Tesla sentiment and protest Go global
The anti-Tesla sentiment and protests are not limited to the US but have also spread globally. Cities like New York and Chicago have seen regular Tesla Takedown protests with significant online support.
Organizers are ensuring that the protests remain non-violent and focus on sending a clear message against the actions of Tesla and its CEO. They are calling for widespread participation in upcoming protests across various international locations.
In 2023, a group called California Forever funded by Silicon Valley billionaires, has introduced a flashy proposal to build a new city on tens of thousands of acres of farmland that has taken northeast of San Francisco.
The Solano County residents and officials, where the city sits, were dissatisfied with the lack of local opinions and concerns of wealthy outsiders with big plans to rebuild the area. California has forever changed its track after months of coverage and efforts to attract local leaders. They quickly tracked the plan and instead retracted voting measures that they had sought approval through the standard county process.
This month, California has been in the spotlight for a new proposal. And they were greeted much warmer, using the land they owned to create the shipbuilding hub. The Trump administration reportedly Presidential Order It will stimulate the US shipbuilding industry.
The company, which currently owns more than 65,000 acres in Solano County, said in a statement that Solano is “in its own craft to answer the call to rebuild our country’s naval power,” and that it can “promote economic revitalization” across the region.
“We are working very early in the process with elected officials and communities to explore ways to use these assets to support American sailors and stimulate economic growth in cities, counties and wider regions,” the company said in a statement.
The artist rendering provided by California shows the main street of the proposed new city in Solano County, California. Photo: AP
Located about 60 miles from San Francisco, Solano County lives around 450,000 people and has a history of shipbuilding. It was the site of the first US naval base in the Pacific, operating for over 140 years. Today, the region’s largest employer is Travis Air Force Base, the country’s busiest, with over 10,000 people.
California began purchasing land within the county to sensitivity before it was made public with plans for the new city. They promoted efforts as a solution to California’s housing crisis, saying the new city has pledged to bring widespread new job opportunities for the area with its green infrastructure and a utopian vision of a walkable area, and that the project will not impose financial obligations or taxes on residents outside the community. However, they soon encountered a fierce pushback.
The Sierra Club’s local branch has stated that the company’s efforts include:Hostile takeover”. Last year, they withdraw the measures from the vote and agreed to an environmental report and development agreement on the project.
Meanwhile, last year, Joe Biden expressed interest in bringing shipbuilding back to the US, so the company was in touch with local officials expressing interest in pursuing such opportunities on the West Coast.
after that last week Edwin Okamura, mayor of the Solano County town of Rio Vista, announced that he met with representatives from California Forever and met with retired military leaders and other officials in the county to discuss the issue.
Vacaville mayor John Carli also visited the area and said he met with retired military officials who described the site as one of the most ideal locations in the United States and described the shipbuilding efforts there as a “unique opportunity.” Its site, California, has forever stated in its statement, with over 1,400 acres of land actively zoned for “maritime industrial use.” Carli said the manufacturing and assembly locations will be used rather than ports.
The effort is still in its early stages, officials said they are holding the executive order.
But so far, officials in the area have expressed enthusiasm for their efforts to expand the maritime industry. Alma Hernandez, mayor of Swissun, about 30 miles northwest of Collinsville, said in a statement that the city supports the expansion.
“Suisun City supports the local efforts to invite the US government and key defense contractors to invest in the future of Solano County,” Hernandez said. “Our area has a proud history of shipbuilding. It’s part of our identity. We are keen to contribute in every way to ensure maritime success in our area.”
Carli said the profits are far beyond shipyards and refer to more than $2.7 billion in economic impacts that air force bases have in the area. And he said that maritime industrial bases would benefit the air force bases.
With the history of shipbuilding in the region and the role it plays in the US defense, it makes sense to have this kind of project here, state Rep. Lori Wilson said, and that would bring great opportunities. Going forward, Wilson hopes the shipyard will become the largest employer in the county.
Wilson said he’s heard of the project from many members, but most of them were supportive. Given the level of distrust present in the organization, some have expressed concern about the environmental impact of the maritime industry and the role of California. Lawmakers were skeptical of themselves about the company.
“It’s something I’m careful about as a legislative representative in this area, but that’s not something I can deal with. It’s up to them to build trust.”
Still, even those who don’t support planning for the new city are interested in the project, Wilson said. “People are really excited about this opportunity. [the potential] For the shipbuilding to return to Solano County. There is a groundwell in support for this project and I am truly excited to do my part to make this happen. ”
Carli hopes the community will see beyond landowners. “We are confident that if the opportunity appears here locally, residents will recognize and support the project,” Kari said. “It deserves a thoughtful discussion with the community to understand that this is different from the city being proposed.”
In today’s digital landscape, driving traffic to your website is crucial for success. Whether you’re a seasoned marketer or a budding entrepreneur, harnessing the power of traffic exchange platforms can significantly boost your online presence. These platforms serve as a hub where website owners exchange visits, increasing visibility and engagement. Here, we present the top 5 traffic exchange websites of 2024 that can elevate your online traffic game.
Trafficadbar stands out for its user-friendly interface and robust features. It offers targeted traffic options, allowing you to reach your desired audience effortlessly. With advanced analytics and real-time monitoring, Trafficadbar empowers users to optimize their campaigns for maximum impact.
Leadsleap boasts a diverse network of active users, ensuring a steady flow of traffic to your website. Its innovative credit system rewards engagement, incentivizing users to explore your content. Additionally, Leadsleap’s intuitive dashboard simplifies campaign management, making it an ideal choice for both beginners and seasoned marketers.
EasyHits4U takes a unique approach to traffic exchange by emphasizing community engagement. Through its interactive platform, users can connect with like-minded individuals, fostering meaningful relationships while driving traffic to their websites. EasyHits4U‘s emphasis on collaboration sets it apart as a dynamic traffic exchange option.
As the name suggests, HarvestTraffic delivers a surge of visitors to your website with its high-impact advertising solutions. From banner ads to pop-unders, HarvestTraffic offers versatile advertising formats to suit your promotional needs. With its expansive reach and customizable targeting options, TrafficJolt ensures your message reaches the right audience at the right time.
Infinity Traffic Boost has emerged as a popular traffic exchange platform, offering a range of features designed to help website owners amplify their online presence. With its user-friendly interface and intuitive functionality, Infinity Traffic Boost has garnered attention from individuals and businesses alike.
Conclusion
In conclusion, traffic exchange websites offer a strategic avenue for increasing website traffic and enhancing online visibility. By leveraging the power of these platforms, businesses can attract a steady stream of visitors and propel their growth in the digital age. With the top 5 traffic exchange websites outlined above, navigating the complexities of online marketing has never been easier.
President Trump’s new 25% tariffs on imported cars and parts have prompted automakers to consider various responses that come with financial implications, ultimately leading to higher car prices as analysts suggest.
Manufacturers may opt to shift production from countries like Mexico to the US, increase production of existing models made in the US, or cease sales of less profitable imported models. Regardless of the decision, consumers should expect to pay more for both new and used cars, with estimates indicating potential price hikes ranging from $3,000 to over $10,000 depending on the model.
In addition, potential additional tariffs announced by Trump could further impact car prices if implemented, especially in the midst of escalating trade conflicts.
The long-term effects of Trump’s tariffs on the automotive industry are expected to be disruptive and costly for American consumers, as noted by Michael Cusumano, a professor at MIT Sloan Management School.
Trump’s tariff threats, stated as permanent, have rattled automotive executives who hoped for negotiation leverage, leading to challenges in reshaping manufacturing and supply chains to comply with the imposed tariffs.
While Trump envisions tariffs as a strategy to revive American automobile manufacturing, the process of relocating production to the US involves substantial costs and complexities for automakers, potentially impacting prices for consumers.
The uncertainty surrounding tariffs has raised concerns among automakers about making long-term investment decisions, as the potential for policy changes under a new administration looms and could reverse current tariff implications.
While tariffs may incentivize choosing US-based production sites, consumer costs may rise as automakers prioritize compliance over manufacturing efficiency.
Major investment decisions impacted by tariffs could have substantial financial repercussions for companies, with potential risks if tariffs are subject to policy changes in the future.
Automakers may be cautious in passing on tariff costs entirely to consumers, as excessive price hikes could lead to reduced sales and revenue, potentially contributing to economic downturns.
In response to tariffs, some automakers have already raised prices, highlighting potential price increases for various car models as a result of imposed tariffs.
As the industry grapples with tariff impacts, automakers may explore strategies such as suspending sales of less profitable models and focusing on domestically produced vehicles to navigate the evolving landscape of trade policies.
Despite efforts to minimize tariff effects, most automakers rely on foreign-made parts, causing tariffs to impact overall vehicle costs and potentially leading to price adjustments across different car models.
As automakers navigate the challenges posed by tariffs, market dynamics and consumer responses could shape future decisions regarding production and pricing strategies in response to evolving trade policies.
CoreWeave, a cloud computing company, was the first major publicly released artificial intelligence startup. When it submitted its public listing documents earlier this month, it signaled optimism in the volatile IPO market.
However, optimism has waned as CoreWeave, based in New Jersey, significantly reduced the size and value of its offering on Thursday. The company now plans to price its shares at $40 when trading opens on Friday. Submit The stock price is expected to range from $47 to $55 per share.
Initially, CoreWeave was expected to raise around $4 billion at a $35 billion valuation. However, the company is now aiming to raise $1.5 billion on Friday, valued at $19 billion.
The decline in offerings reflects a sluggish stock market, impacted by inflation and uncertainty surrounding President Trump’s tariffs. It also raises concerns about AI developments given the slowing economy, as evidenced by a 7% drop in Nvidia’s stock, a Coreweave investor, since Wednesday.
“It was a challenging time for the market overall,” said Samuel Kerr, head equity capital market analyst at financial insights firm Mergermarket. “This indicates a lack of appetite for risky transactions like this at the moment.”
While CoreWeave will be the first major AI company to go public, it doesn’t serve as a definitive test for AI products. It falls in line with standard startups in industries such as Openai and Anthropic, creators of popular chatbots.
Kerr also noted that CoreWeave has unique challenges that make it a challenging IPO candidate, such as significant debt required to build a new data center and its unusual background as a cryptocurrency mining company.
“Using it as a precursor to all AI is not particularly wise,” Kerr added.
CoreWeave, founded in 2017 by Michael Intrator as a cryptocurrency mining startup, currently has Brian Venturo and Brannin McBee, three former merchandise traders, as its top executives. The company has built its business around Nvidia GPUs for analyzing vast amounts of data.
Following a crash in crypto prices in 2019, CoreWeave doubled its supply of powerful chips by purchasing from struggling crypto companies. With the release of Openai’s Chatbot ChatGpt in 2022, CoreWeave shifted its focus to using chips for AI development.
As a public company, CoreWeave provides insight into the profitability of the cloud computing and AI sectors. While revenue surged from $229 million to $1.9 billion last year, the company has not yet achieved profitability. It spent nearly $1 billion to service its debt last year.
Based in Livingston, New Jersey, CoreWeave emphasizes its relationships with prominent California companies like Nvidia and Openai, who are investors in the company. An agreement has been announced valuing CoreWeave at up to $12 billion.
Having raised $2.3 billion in venture capital funding, CoreWeave was valued at $19 billion in the private market last year. Intrator, Venturo, and McBee collectively own about 30% of the company, with special shares granting them approximately 80% of the voting rights.
The largest investor in CoreWeave is hedge fund magnetor, who injected $50 million into the cloud computing startup in 2021, owning roughly 25% of the shares. Nvidia, the main supplier of CoreWeave’s chips, holds a 4% stake in the company.
The IPO was managed by Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan, and Goldman Sachs.
Last year, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and one of his top EUs, Tom Allison, were discussing how to rebuild Facebook for the future of social networking.
Zuckerberg, who grew Facebook to a $1.5 trillion company renamed Meta from the dorm room project, wanted to regain some of the original rationales for social networks, or what he called the “OG Facebook” vibe, Alison said. After adding many years of features, executives felt that some of Facebook’s important features were dead.
So they asked themselves: Why not build some features similar to old Facebook?
On Thursday, Meta did it with a simple adjustment. The company now includes a separate news feed for users, featuring posts shared only by people’s friends and family.
A feature called The Friends tab replaces the app’s tab that displays new friends’ requests or suggested friends. Instead, Friends Tab will display a scroll feed of posts such as photos, video stories, text, birthday notifications, and friend requests. For now, Facebook users are only available in the US and Canada.
“We’re looking forward to seeing you in the facebook app,” said Allison, head of the Facebook app. “We’re making sure there’s still a place on Facebook for something like this, something you shouldn’t get lost in the modern social media mix.”
The new feed is a sudden departure from the way social media has evolved over the past decade. The rise of apps like Tiktok has become accustomed to seeing feed posts from influencers and content creators. Other companies followed suit. Meta’s apps, including Instagram, have begun to lean more towards recommended content to attract people for a longer period of time.
Now people see apps like YouTube, Instagram, Tiktok as something similar to TV.
Not everyone is welcoming shifts. When Zuckerberg founded Facebook in 2004, it was intended to help college students connect with friends on campus. As the app becomes more popular, it is now helping all users stay up to date with posts from friends and family.
So, when Zuckerberg announced in 2022 that Meta would insert recommended content on Facebook from people who were not connected to users, many users rebelled. Many people first discovered recommended content – it relied on surface suggestions – it was jarring. After some criticism, Zuckerberg slightly reduced the amount of such content added to people’s Facebook feeds.
Still, that didn’t stop meta from accepting algorithmically recommended content. In recent years, much of the people’s feed on Facebook and Instagram has been dominated by creators, businesses and brands. Recommended content, such as Meta’s video product Reels, has led people to spend more time on the app, the company said.
Meta has no plans to stop adding recommended content to users’ feeds, Alison said in an interview. For now, the company doesn’t think The Friends Tab is more popular than the recommended home feed.
And there could be more changes to Facebook. Meta is planning to bring in other features and updates to Facebook next year, making social media still “social,” Alison said.
Creating animated films like those by the renowned Japanese filmmaker Miyazaki Hayao is a meticulous process that cannot be rushed. The intricate hand-drawn details require time and attention, often taking years to complete.
Alternatively, ChatGPT offers the ability to transform old photos into Miyazaki-style artwork within seconds.
Many users have already utilized this feature following Openai’s update to ChatGPT, enhancing its image generation capabilities. Users can now see photos rendered in the Studio Ghibli style, evoking the essence of films like “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Spirited Away.”
Some users have shared Ghibli-style images on social media, ranging from selfies and family photos to memes. While some have used the technology to create renderings of darker images, like the 9/11 attacks or the murder of George Floyd.
Sam Altman, the CEO of Openai, humorously changed his profile picture to X’s. He jokingly mentioned the sudden rise in popularity of filters overshadowing his previous work.
A dietitian named Kouka Webb, residing in Tribeca, transformed her wedding photos into Studio Gibrick Frames. Having grown up in Japan, she found joy in stylizing herself and her husband in a nostalgic manner.
Webb shared one of these stylized photos on Tiktok and received criticism for using AI instead of human artists.
Some online users have raised concerns about the use of image generation technologies. Referring to a 2016 documentary where Miyazaki criticized AI as “an insult to life itself,” the recent surge in filters and AI art has sparked a debate.
As AI platforms gain more power and popularity, creatives including writers, actors, musicians, and artists express their frustrations about their work potentially being replicated.
In 2024, prominent figures like writer Ishikawa, actor Julianne Moore, and musician Thom Yorke signed an open letter criticizing the unauthorized use of creative works in AI models like ChatGPT.
The New York Times filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Openai and Microsoft, alleging the unauthorized use of publicly available works to train AI.
Some users, like sculptor Emily Belganza, have used ChatGPT to create Ghibli-style photos from memes, expressing concerns about the impact of such technology on creative work.
Openai spokesperson Taya Christianson emphasized the platform’s efforts to balance creative freedom while taking a conservative approach to image generation updates.
Belganza mentioned her evolving thoughts on the integration of AI into society, acknowledging the need to adapt to these advancements while preserving artistic identity.
IT is more or less impossible to put accurate numbers into the number of video games released each year. According to Published data, About 19,000 titles were released in 2024 on Digital Store Steam. This is on one platform. Hundreds of more have arrived on consoles and smartphones. In some respects, this is a positive sign of a vibrant industry, but how do you notice an entirely new project? When Triple A titles with a multi-million dollar marketing budget find it difficult to attract attention (Dragon Age: Bailguard, Final Fantasy VII Remake, and EA Sports FC have reported disappointing sales), is there a chance that a small team will break out?
Still, that happens. Last year’s surprise hit Baratoro shifted copies over 5m. Title Manor Rhodes, a complex medieval strategy, sold 1 million copies over the weekend. But what awaits a small developer after they succeed? And what does success mean in an ever-evolving industry?
James Carbutt and Will Todd of Coal Supper are still trying to figure it out. Their Aselvic satire will appreciate you being here!, players have gone through the strange quote scenarios of the fictional humble north town of Barnesworth, and are now an award-winning game. “It’s not registered as a success in my head at all,” Carbutt says. “The numbers were up on the screen, there was a YouTube playthrough and some erotic fan art. Beyond that, I won’t subscribe.”
After working on the project for three years, the pair now notices the confusing glare in the spotlight and asks questions about: “That’s scary,” joking Carbbit. “But we don’t think we’ll feel any kind of second-time out syndrome. The space where we can be a bit more introspective about what we want to do next is an interesting habit of successful indie games.”
Veteran indie developer Gabe Cuzzillo (Ape Out, Baby Steps) offered them the wisdom of the wise man. “He talked about not just about making something, but how to focus because it’s amorphous,” Todd says. “Instead, look at what we essentially want to explore and judge success based on whether we have explored it or not. The speed pressure on the market doesn’t apply to us.
Australian developer Grace Bruxner redefines success after leaving behind a trilogy of Bitize Size Adventures, which was developed in collaboration with Frog Detective Games: Thomas Bowker.
“Did that have a positive impact on people’s lives?”…Frog Detective. Photo: wormclub
“Success in the game has always been a bit of a lie and a bit of a illusion,” she says, pointing to typical markers such as cultural influence, number of players and financial gain. “Did the measure of my success create something I’m proud of and it has impacted my life and the lives of others in a positive way? And it was.
Bruxner began working on the series as an experiment in his final year at university to see if he could create a commercial game. After a relatively refreshing first outing, the second frog detective game demanded that Bruxner and Bowker lock in, spending most of their time on the project. In the third article, pressure was beginning to fall victim to, but the hard work paid off. Throwing out the pandemic as well as mental and physical health issues, Brooksner was ready to take a break. “I wasn’t crushed very hard, but I wasn’t having a great time either,” she says. “It was really good to make that choice.”
Bruxner still has the idea of a game that swirls around the back of her head, but she wanted to escape the endless production cycle that swallowed many of her mates, regardless of fatigue or burnout. “That’s not universal advice,” she says, “But if you’re a solo developer or a really small team, I don’t think there’s any shame to leave there. Unless you like making games, I don’t love making games.
Three years after the series’ swan song, she falls into an indefinite break, exploring alternative creative paths such as pottery. “I can’t imagine making a game because I am expected of me as a creator,” she explains. “I don’t even know where I’m going from here.”
Bruxner is amazed at his ability to maintain himself with the modest amounts offered by Frog Detective. “If the game keeps its tail and can live within its own means, it will lead to passive income that is not linked to being a scary landlord,” she explains. Still, she knows how taboo it is to talk about money explicitly, especially in creative circles like the indie gaming scene. “I have free time to chill and decide what I want to do, but at some point I think I need to have a career again. My biggest question is, will this money last forever? Perhaps not.
“Opportunities are limited”…consuming me. Photo: 66
It may seem like more indie items have fallen into the spotlight in recent years than ever before. However, the persistent turbulence in the gaming industry has become even more complicated by finding financial support for follow-up. “The elephant in the room is everything that’s happened over the past few years, evaporating a ton of layoffs, studio closures and funding opportunities,” says upcoming indie developer AP Thomson, who will consume me alongside fellow NYU arcade alumni Jenny Ziao Hosia. “Before that, there was a pretty big change in the mid-2010, when indie publishers and funders began to rise to prominence. Everything we’ve heard suggests that the same opportunities are no longer present or are incredibly limited.”
Consumes Me, the duo’s adult scheduling RPG has no release dates, but has been nominated for five gongs at the Independent Game Festival Awards. As such, Jiao Hsia and Thomson are already under pressure to decide on their next effort. “Several people have said that once it’s released we should move forward,” Thomson says.
Even with high expectations, the pair are not keen to move ahead of them. “Everything we’ve heard suggests that now is not the best time to pitch, so we focus our energy on the launch and then read the temperature in the room,” adds Thomson.
“I don’t feel like I have to show up at a job I’ve never applied to, I want to enjoy making art again,” explains Jiao Hsia. “The idea of creating art for fun without worrying about making money is something I can’t wait for.”
President Trump is being sued by two former Democratic Federal Trade Commission (FTC) commissioners for firing them, alleging it was an illegal executive overreach. Trump dismissed commissioners Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya on March 18, disrupting the bipartisan setup of the agency. In a U.S. District Court lawsuit, Slaughter’s and Bedoya’s lawyers claimed that their removal violated federal law. They referenced a 1935 Supreme Court precedent stating the president cannot fire members of an independent regulatory commission solely due to policy disagreements.
The White House did not respond immediately to requests for comment, previously asserting that Trump has the authority to manage administrative personnel. This lawsuit is part of a larger legal battle over Trump’s expansion of his powers, with over 50 court decisions temporarily halting his administration’s actions. The fight also extends to regulators who are meant to be independent of direct White House control.
Slaughter and Bedoya’s lawsuit named two Republican FTC commissioners and the agency’s executive director as defendants. They cited the 1914 law protecting commissioners from arbitrary removal, reinforced by Supreme Court rulings. Trump’s attempts to exert control over regulatory agencies have faced backlash from legal challenges.
Trump signed an executive order affecting several agencies, requiring proposed regulations to be submitted to the White House for review. This move tightens the White House’s grip on agency operations. Despite legal battles, Trump continues to assert his authority over regulatory bodies.
The FTC, involved in high-profile cases against tech giants like Meta and Amazon, faces ongoing disputes regarding corporate practices and antitrust issues. With a focus on online platforms, the FTC is navigating complex legal challenges under Ferguson’s leadership.
In a letter, the White House argued that the Supreme Court’s protections for FTC commissioners do not apply to current leaders. The lawsuit highlights the ongoing struggle between Trump’s administration and independent regulatory bodies.
The lawsuit alleges that Slaughter and Bedoya were abruptly removed from their positions at the FTC without justification. Their legal battle exemplifies the broader conflict over the administration’s attempts to exert control over regulatory agencies.
The lawsuit filed by Slaughter and Bedoya sheds light on the power struggles within the FTC and the broader implications of presidential authority over independent regulatory bodies.
The FTC’s battles with tech giants and corporate entities underscore the agency’s critical role in regulating antitrust practices and protecting consumers. Under heightened scrutiny, the agency’s actions reflect the evolving landscape of online platforms and corporate accountability.
Last year, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and one of his top EUs, Tom Allison, were discussing how to rebuild Facebook for the future of social networking.
Zuckerberg, who grew Facebook to a $1.5 trillion company renamed Meta from the dorm room project, wanted to regain some of the original rationales for social networks, or what he called the “OG Facebook” vibe, Alison said. After adding many years of features, executives felt that some of Facebook’s important features were dead.
So they asked themselves: Why not build some features similar to old Facebook?
On Thursday, Meta did it with a simple adjustment. The company now includes a separate news feed for users, featuring posts shared only by people’s friends and family.
A feature called The Friends tab replaces the app’s tab that displays new friends’ requests or suggested friends. Instead, Friends Tab will display a scroll feed of posts such as photos, video stories, text, birthday notifications, and friend requests. For now, Facebook users are only available in the US and Canada.
“We’re looking forward to seeing you in the facebook app,” said Allison, head of the Facebook app. “We’re making sure there’s still a place on Facebook for something like this, something you shouldn’t get lost in the modern social media mix.”
The new feed is a sudden departure from the way social media has evolved over the past decade. The rise of apps like Tiktok has become accustomed to seeing feed posts from influencers and content creators. Other companies followed suit. Meta’s apps, including Instagram, have begun to lean more towards recommended content to attract people for a longer period of time.
Now people see apps like YouTube, Instagram, Tiktok as something similar to TV.
Not everyone is welcoming shifts. When Zuckerberg founded Facebook in 2004, it was intended to help college students connect with friends on campus. As the app becomes more popular, it is now helping all users stay up to date with posts from friends and family.
So, when Zuckerberg announced in 2022 that Meta would insert recommended content on Facebook from people who were not connected to users, many users rebelled. Many people first discovered recommended content – it relied on surface suggestions – it was jarring. After some criticism, Zuckerberg slightly reduced the amount of such content added to people’s Facebook feeds.
Still, that didn’t stop meta from accepting algorithmically recommended content. In recent years, much of the people’s feed on Facebook and Instagram has been dominated by creators, businesses and brands. Recommended content such as Meta’s video product, Reels, has led people to spend more time on the app, the company said.
Meta has no plans to stop adding recommended content to users’ feeds, Alison said in an interview. For now, the company doesn’t think The Friends Tab is more popular than the recommended home feed.
And there could be more changes to Facebook. Meta is planning to bring in other features and updates to Facebook next year, making social media still “social,” Alison said.
President Trump announced tariffs on automobiles and auto parts on Wednesday, impacting U.S. and overseas automakers.
Each company has different vulnerabilities based on their circumstances.
Tesla
Tesla, led by Elon Musk, sells cars from its U.S. plants, potentially making it less exposed to tariffs.
However, Tesla sources parts internationally, with about a quarter of the car’s value coming from overseas.
Tesla’s global sales are declining, partially due to Musk’s political activities, making it a target for retaliation against Trump’s tariffs in some countries.
General Motors
GM, America’s largest automaker, imports many popular vehicles, potentially making it vulnerable to tariffs.
Despite strong profits, GM relies on overseas assembly for around 40% of its U.S. sales, which could be impacted by tariffs.
Ford Motor
Ford is less reliant on imports, with most vehicles sold in the U.S. being domestically produced.
However, Ford still depends on foreign factories for key components like engines.
Stellantis, formed by the merger of Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot, is facing sales challenges and CEO transitions, putting it at risk.
Toyota
Toyota, like other Japanese automakers, sells a significant number of cars in the U.S. but manufactures many vehicles overseas.
Despite the dependence on foreign production, Toyota is considered one of the strongest global automakers.
Volkswagen
Volkswagen, with limited U.S. factories, imports many vehicles, potentially impacting its operations.
Volkswagen has faced financial struggles, especially with declining sales in China and the rise of domestic electric vehicles.
Hyundai and Kia
Both Korean companies have seen growth in U.S. sales and are investing in local production to avoid tariffs on certain models.
Hyundai and Kia continue to import cars into the U.S., facing potential tariffs despite their investments in local manufacturing.
Donald Trump has expressed his willingness to reduce tariffs on Chinese trade in exchange for the sale of Tiktok, a social media app used by 170 million Americans, by its Chinese parent company.
He acknowledged China’s involvement in any agreement, stating, “China will have to play a role in it, perhaps giving approval, I believe they will.” Trump mentioned the possibility of offering China a concession to facilitate the deal.
Trump’s remarks indicate that the sale of Tiktok is a priority for his administration and that tariffs are being used as a negotiation tool with Beijing.
Tiktok did not provide an immediate response to the situation.
Bytedance, the parent company of Tiktok, faces an April 5 deadline to find non-Chinese buyers for the app or risk a US ban on national security grounds that was established in January under the 2024 law.
Washington’s concerns about Chinese ownership of Tiktok have led to the current situation, with fears that Beijing could exploit the app for malicious purposes and gather data on Americans.
Recently, Trump imposed an additional 20% tariff on all imports from China, demonstrating his administration’s firm stance on trade negotiations.
Securing a deal without Chinese control has been a key focus in finalizing the Tiktok transaction, with tariffs used as leverage in negotiations with Beijing.
In his earlier statements, Trump had warned China that failure to approve US deals with Tiktok could result in further tariffs being imposed.
Vice President JD Vance anticipates that the terms of the agreement regarding Tiktok ownership will be settled by April 5th.
Reports indicate that a White House-led meeting between investors is working towards securing US business interests for video apps, involving major Chinese stakeholders.
The fate of Tiktok, a widely-used app in the US, has been uncertain since the bipartisan decision to sell it by January 19th.
After initial turbulence in January, the app was temporarily banned but resumed operations shortly after Trump’s term began. He subsequently extended the deadline for the sale until April 5th and hinted at the possibility of further extensions.
The intense involvement of the White House in these trade discussions is unprecedented, resembling the role of an investment bank.
Critics argue that the ban on Tiktok infringes on Americans’ freedom of speech by restricting access to foreign media, potentially violating the First Amendment of the US Constitution.
In September, Openai announced a new version of ChatGPT, designed to infer through tasks that include mathematics, science, and computer programming. Unlike previous versions of chatbots, this new technology allows you to spend time “thinking” through complex problems before you settle for an answer.
Soon, the company said the new inference technology outperformed the industry’s leading systems in a series of tests tracking advances in artificial intelligence.
Currently, other companies such as Google, Anthropic, and China’s Deepseek offer similar technologies.
But can AI actually reason like a human? What does computers mean? Are these systems really close to true intelligence?
This is the guide.
What does that mean if an AI system infers?
Inference means that chatbots spend more time tackling the problem.
“We’re committed to providing a new technology to our AI startup,” said Dan Klein, professor of computer science at the University of California, Berkeley and chief technology officer at Scaled Cognition, an AI startup.
You could try to split the problem into individual steps or try to solve it via trial and error.
The original ChatGpt answered the question immediately. A new inference system can resolve problems in seconds or minutes before answering.
Can you make it more specific?
In some cases, the inference system will improve its approach to the question and repeatedly attempt to improve the selected method. Otherwise, you may try several different ways to approach the problem before you settle on one of the problems. Or maybe it’s back and check out some work that I did a few seconds ago to see if it’s correct.
Essentially, the system will try to do everything possible to answer your questions.
This is like an elementary school student struggling to find a way to solve a math problem, scribbling several different options on paper.
What questions should infer AI systems?
It can potentially infer about something. However, when asking questions that involve mathematics, science, and computer programming, reasoning is most effective.
How is inference chatbots different from previous chatbots?
You can ask previous chatbots and check your work to show how they reached a specific answer. The original ChatGpt also allows for this kind of self-reflection as they learned from texts on the internet, showing how people reached their work and how they checked their work.
However, the reasoning system is moving further. You can do these kinds of things without being asked. And you can do them in a broader and more complicated way.
Companies call it the inference system. Because it feels like it behaves like someone who is thinking about difficult problems.
Why is AI reasoning so important now?
Companies like Openai believe this is the best way to improve chatbots.
For years, these companies relied on simple concepts. The more internet data you pump to your chatbot, the better these systems were running.
But in 2024, they ran out of almost all of the texts on the internet.
That is, we needed a new way to improve chatbots. So they began building an inference system.
How do you build an inference system?
Last year, companies like Openai began to lean heavily towards a technology known as Rencemone Learning.
While this process can be extended over several months, AI systems can learn to do things through extensive trial and error. For example, by solving thousands of mathematics problems, you can learn which methods lead to the correct answer and which ones not.
Researchers have designed a complex feedback mechanism that shows the system when it does the right thing and when it does something wrong.
“It’s a bit like training a dog,” said Jerry Tworek, a researcher at Openai. “If the system works out, we give you cookies. If that doesn’t work, we say ‘bad dogs.’ “
(New York Times sued Openai and its partner Microsoft in December for copyright infringement of news content related to AI systems.)
Does reinforcement learning work?
It works very well in certain fields, such as mathematics, science, computer programming. These are areas where companies can clearly define good and bad behavior. There is a definitive answer to mathematics problems.
Reinforcement learning also does not work well in areas such as creative writing, philosophy, and ethics. Researchers say that this process can generally improve the performance of AI systems, even if it answers questions outside of mathematics and science.
“It gradually learns the patterns of reasoning that leads it in the right direction, and learns which isn’t,” said Jared Kaplan, chief science officer of humanity.
Are reinforcement learning and inference systems the same thing?
no. Reinforcement learning is the method companies use to build inference systems. Finally, the chatbot can infer is during the training phase.
Are these inference systems still making mistakes?
absolutely. Everything a chatbot does is based on probability. It chooses the path that most resembles the data it learns, whether it comes from the Internet or is generated through reinforcement learning. Sometimes I choose an option that’s wrong or makes no sense.
Is this the path to a machine that suits human intelligence?
AI experts are split on this question. These methods are still relatively new, and researchers are still trying to understand their limitations. In the AI field, new methods often progress very quickly at first.
Block, Jack Dorsey’s Financial Technology Company, is letting go of nearly 1,000 current employees while also implementing other changes to its business in its second major move in over a year.
Dorsey, who co-founded Twitter before founding the Block in 2009 and previously served as the CEO of Twitter, informed employees of the impending layoffs in an email titled “Small Block,” which was seen by the Guardian. The layoffs will impact over 930 employees, transition almost 200 managers to unmanaged roles, and close nearly 800 open positions.
Block operates payment platform Square, money transfer app CashApp, and music streaming service Tidal.
Dorsey stated in the email that the layoffs and organizational changes were not aimed at specific financial targets, replacing individuals with AI, or changing staffing limits. This reorganization follows a previous one in early 2024, where around 1,000 employees were laid off and Dorsey reduced the workforce to approximately 12,000 employees.
Instead, Dorsey explained that this latest reorganization is intended to raise performance standards, streamline the organization, and promote quicker decision-making. Last year, Dorsey used a similar approach in notifying staff about layoffs, emphasizing the need to “rebuild like a startup.”
In the recent email, Dorsey expressed that “we have been slow to act, and that is not fair to individuals or the company.”
The Block’s stocks have declined by 29% this year. Despite Dorsey taking on more operational responsibilities, concerns have been raised by shareholders about the company’s revenue and profits. Dorsey highlighted in the email that part of his role is to increase the company’s stock value, and the reorganization will enable them to focus and execute effectively towards that goal.
“When we identify a need for action, we must act decisively, and there has been a lack of action,” the CEO stated. “We need to enhance accessibility, transparency, and automation as our industry must evolve quickly to stay ahead of changing trends.”
A spokesperson for the Block did not respond to requests for comments or emails.
Welcome to opt-out. A semi-regular column that will help you navigate online privacy and show you how to say no to surveillance. The final column covered what to do with the 23andMe account after the company filed bankruptcy. If you would like to skip to a section for specific tips, click on the “Jump to Jump” menu at the top of this article.
If you are a visa or green card holder who has plans to travel to the US, reports that people have been ousted at the airport for messages found on their devices may encourage you to make a second trip plan. You may ask Customs and Border Protection (CBP) if you can search for your phone, if you can opt out, and what to do to minimize the risk.
The simple answer is yes, CBP can search for devices. Constitutional protections are generally weak at US borders, including airports. You can try to opt out, but in some circumstances you may be willing to risk the potential consequences of not complying, which can include confiscation of your device.
Privacy experts say everyone needs to conduct a personal risk assessment. This should include immigration status, travel history and data on your mobile phone. Depending on your situation, data that may not be sensitive to others will not fit every solution into every solution. For example, if CBP attempts to search for a mobile phone or wants to lock down your device before heading to the airport, it could affect its rating.
Although CBP said it searched only about 47,000 devices of 420 million people crossing US borders in 2024, it was not as easy to figure out whether there is a risk of device searching, as the Guardian said border enforcement was unpredictable under the Trump administration. French officials said French scientists were recently kicked out at a Texas airport after immigration officers found texts critical of Trump on his phone.
“The ultra-conservative perspective is to assume that they are completely hinged and that even the most benign reasons for travel are targeting non-citizens in searching for these devices,” said Sophia Cope, a senior staff lawyer at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a nonprofit digital rights group.
If you are a US citizen, you must be hospitalized in the country. That said, there are still some risks in some jurisdictions that devices are being searched for domestic reasons as CBP will allow them to work with the FBI or local police to proceed with domestic investigations.
There are steps you can take to make it difficult for CBP executives to access the device and its data. So, what should you do to protect your mobile phone data from searching? The main thing is to prepare before heading to the airport. This is what you should think about:
Determine whether to comply with phone searches
Before you travel, start preparing for the possibility of being drawn into a secondary screening. First, you need to determine whether immigration officers will comply with whether they ask if they can search for devices. They may request a password for your mobile phone, or you may unlock the device. Ideally, you will unlock your device yourself and will not share your password. You can decide not to give your consent, but it has its own risk.
From a Guide to the border From EFF: “This presents a no-win dilemma. If the traveler is compliant, the agent can scrutinize and copy sensitive digital information. If the traveler declines, the agent can seize the device and expose the traveler to additional questions and detention.”
If you reject a search, the officer may decide that you are not worth the trouble because you are not at high risk. They may let you go. However, on the back, the decline can lengthen the process or the border agent can confiscate the device. If they’ve confiscated your device, then you can confiscate your device so that they can document that they have your device when you try to get it back, and that they can document that they have your device when you try to get it back. Without giving up the password, immigrant staff can unlock it themselves using a variety of tools on their devices. You can also try to guess your password, so make sure you have a strong, long password.
There are many reasons why you might not want to risk being suppressed or confiscated from your device for longer than you have already done.
If you plan to adhere to phone searches to avoid further complications, you can search your phone manually or with forensic tools. It’s worth preparing for both types of searches.
Turn off your phone and ID before entering the US
EFF recommends turning off your device completely before entering the US. This could potentially bring your phone or laptop back to an enhanced security state, which could make it difficult for anyone to break the encryption on their devices.
Privacy advocates also recommend that you ensure that your device requires a password to decrypt or unlock it. For example, if you are using a Face ID or fingerprint to unlock your phone, it will allow executives to use it to access the device.
Please do not wipe the phone
You may think that the most protective option is to wipe your phone completely before traveling, use a burner without a phone, or travel. However, EFF’s COPE said it could actually raise doubts.
“If people do that, they’ll feel bad and they’ll just ignore them,” Coop said. “If you cross a border without data on your device, you can in itself consider it suspicious.”
Instead, we suggest selectively delete that information, rather than wiping the entire device, if there is data or text that appears to be cooperative but you don’t want to access, instead of wiping it all out.
The most important step to take before you travel is to encrypt the data on your device. This is different from using encrypted messaging services such as signals. Device encryption makes it difficult for CBP executives to access files on their phones or laptops or recover deleted files, even if they confiscate their devices and submit to sophisticated forensic tools.
Fortunately, All recent models Full device encryption will automatically be turned on for both iPhones and most Android phones. On Android, the “Security” menu is[詳細設定]Double check that yours is turned on in the tab. As CBP cannot walk through the front door of the device, you need to choose a strong password that is not easy to guess. Here is Good primer How to create a strong password.
“This encryption is as good as the encryption passphrase someone uses on their devices,” said Bill Buddington, senior staff technician at EFF. “So the best advice is to choose a powerful 9-12 random (or 4-5 words) passphrase for your device and make sure that biometric unlocks like face ID and touch ID rotate. off You can confiscate any device when passing through sensitive areas such as checkpoints or anywhere else. ”
On the other hand, laptops don’t come with all device encryption. Some encryption tools can be used to encrypt your data. MacOS has a tool called FileVault that can be accessed by searching in the top right corner of the screen. Some Windows computers come with a tool called a bitlocker that can be used to encrypt devices. EFF has a complete list of tools that can be used on various operating systems here.
For those traveling with devices owned by their employer or someone else, you should have conversations with them before you travel to make sure your devices are well protected.
How to safely delete data
In addition to encrypting your device, you should not want to delete certain text, apps, photos, etc. that you think are sensitive or show it to government agents.
To safely delete this data, there are several steps and limitations. If you haven’t wiped your phone completely, you may choose to delete certain files as there may be suspicion. That more practical option may be effective for manual searches and rough searches, but may not be sufficient if more sophisticated searches occur with US immigrant personnel. The files may not be completely deleted, or there may be references to these files that are still on your device.
In addition to ensuring that your device is encrypted, you must also make sure you have deleted the files from the Trash. For example, in iMessage, clicking Filter in the top left corner will find the “Recently Deleted” folder. Make sure you cleared the text from there. On iPhone, there is one file It has been deleted Both the main Imessage interface and the “recently deleted” file are permanently deleted, according to the company.
Cope recommends preemptively deleting apps you don’t want to search for. This protection method is incomplete as advanced searches may reveal that the app is installed, but for example, in manual searches, it is a way to avoid searching for WhatsApp messages.
Go to the cloud storage server
During a search for law enforcement within US boundaries, cloud storage servers are less protected than devices. However, at the border, there is currently a policy in place that prohibits CBP from searching for online cloud services. In reality, that means that immigration officers need to go into plane mode before searching for their mobile phones.
“They specifically say that executives are only allowed to consider data that they are "resident on the device,"” Cope says. “It’s data that’s actually on your phone, laptop, or camera hard drive. If it’s an internet-connected device, you’re supposed to be disconnected from the internet.”
If for some reason there is data that cannot be permanently deleted or cannot be deleted, you can delete it from your device and save it to cloud storage such as iCloud, Google Drive, or Microsoft One Drive.
This is a high-level guide that may not touch on the details of your situation. A complete comprehensive guide on how to protect your device with Electronic Frontier Foundation.
Elon Musk’s X stands to gain financially if the government removes £800 million in taxes on US tech companies as part of the economic deal with Donald Trump.
Dan Niedel, head of nonprofit tax policy, mentioned that social media platforms will be affected by the digital services tax in the negotiations between the US and the UK.
“It’s clear that X will be obligated to pay the DST,” he stated.
The Minister has been in talks about eliminating the DST as part of the negotiations with the US, in exchange for the Trump administration allowing the UK to avoid tariffs that would be imposed on April 2nd.
Technology secretary Peter Kyle emphasized that taxes are a crucial aspect and that they are exploring various concerns and opportunities for the future.
Prime Minister Rachel Reeves also expressed similar sentiments during a recent BBC interview.
Labour lawmakers are worried that dropping the DST under pressure from the Trump administration could result in revenue loss and cuts to essential services.
Reeves is under pressure to make spending cuts to comply with fiscal rules, including welfare reforms and civil servant layoffs.
On January 18th, I was one of millions of Americans, scrolling through Tiktok when the all-you-can-eat video buffet service suddenly stopped just before the federal ban came into effect.
It was a breathtaking moment when I was mourning me. For daily doses of Hollywood gossip, video game news, anime updates, where did I wonder where I was going now?
Tiktok, owned by a Chinese company, was bytedance, and rose to life the next day, facing legal deadlines to find or face a ban on US owners. President Trump then quickly signed an executive order extending the window for Tiktok’s sale to April 5th.
With that new deadline approaching, Tiktok’s fate, claiming more than 170 million American users, remains uncertain. However, for now, at least, it seems unlikely that there will be a repeated blackout in January.
Last month, Trump He told reporters That he can extend the deadline again. And while bytedance has not confirmed sales plans, Oracle, Data Center Company and others have emerged as potential suitors.
The latest deadlines provide convenient members to reflect on the role of apps in society. This is what I found.
Tiktok is still the best short video app
Tiktok started as Musical.ly 11 years ago. It’s an app for users to post lip sync videos, but over time it has evolved into a generic video app that lets people scroll through short clips of news and entertainment. Currently, there are over 1 billion users worldwide.
With Tiktok’s popularity surged worldwide over the past five years, Meta, Google and others have created clones that allow users to scroll through video clips endlessly. but Young users still prefer Tiktok To watch a short video, according to a survey by research firm Emarketer.
Tiktok’s preferences may be linked in part to product quality. Videos made on Tiktok generally look clearer, more rigorously edited and catchy than videos made with similar apps like Instagram reels. (Why drink lukewarm cola when you can get a classic cola?) Tiktok’s tools, including the editing app Capcut, streamline the production of video for your app.
For me, switching to the reel felt crazy when Tiktok was temporarily down. Many users have posted videos they found to be incomplete, including a video of sourdough bread that I was asked to read the caption to learn how to bake the perfect bread. Why don’t you explain it in a video instead of a small text caption?
Meta, who owns Instagram, catches up to Tiktok’s editing tools. An Instagram spokesperson mentioned a company spokesperson announcement The editor is CapCut’s competitor for editing reel videos and is expected to debut in the coming weeks. This tool allows Instagram users to upload videos to a higher resolution, improving image quality, among other perks.
Tiktok’s secret source, which others have not replicated either, is an algorithm for people to decide which video they want to watch next. Many people in their research say that Tiktok surfaces the type of video they want to watch for everything from diet ideas to video games, and glues them to the screen for hours a day.
Mental health concerns are rising
The effectiveness of Tiktok in keeping people scrolling has been a topic of widespread concern among parents and academic researchers wondering whether people could be thought of as obsessed with apps, just like video game addiction.
Research on this topic continues and remains conclusive. One, It was released last year He also looked into the overuse of Tiktok, led by Christian Montag, a professor of cognitive and brain science at the University of Macau in China. The study reported that although few people involved 378 participants of various ages, they were obsessed with Tiktok.
But broadly speaking, the consensus from multiple studies on Tiktok and other social media apps is that young people are more likely to report being addicted, Dr. Montag said in an interview.
“I don’t think kids should appear on these platforms at all,” he said of an app similar to Tiktok. People’s brains can take at least 20 years, mature and self-regulate, he added.
A Tiktok spokesperson said the app includes tools to manage screen time, including new settings for Tiktok to block children’s phone work during certain times.
Growth of a marketing platform for brands
Tiktok has become the main hub for companies to promote their products through posted videos and products sold at the in-app store, Tiktok Shop.
The company is working hard to make Americans realize the impact on the economy, running flashy advertising campaigns in newspapers and billboards, portraying them as a small business champion.
A Tiktok spokesperson cited a study claiming that Tiktok increased revenues for small businesses to $15 billion in 2023. This is the number that should be collected with salt grains because Tiktok asked for research. However, from scrolling through Tiktok, it is clear that many brands enjoy using it to spread videos showing quirky products.
Tiktok’s video confesses that he was inspired to buy expensive tools to remove dog fur from car seats and an automatic scrubber to clean the kitchen sink.
As for the so-called creators, the platform usually helps self-promotion rather than making money, as influencers post videos of Tiktok that often get viral, said actress Alyssa McKay, who has a follower of Tiktok in New Jersey.
The video, which earns 2 million views, can earn her a few dollars, she said. She added that it is because Tiktok only pays for the scenery that comes from people who have not yet followed you.
That’s still a national security concern
Tiktok was banned in the first place because he feared that US government officials could share data collected by American users with the Chinese government for espionage purposes.
These concerns peaked at the Supreme Court hearing in January. There, the Biden administration argued to ban the app. This cites concerns that Tiktok could create new pathways for China’s intelligence reporting agency that permeates American infrastructure. However, authorities did not provide evidence that Tiktok was associated with such a threat.
But Tiktok is linked to a small US data scandal. Tiktok confirmed in 2022 that four employees were fired for using the app to silly several journalists to track information sources.
Tiktok spokesperson pointed to a video This app protects the data of American users on server systems protected by Oracle, a collaborative US database giant, and prevents unauthorized foreign access.
Matthew Green, a security researcher at Johns Hopkins University and an associate professor of computer science, said that the US government’s security concerns about Tiktoc have been exaggerated as there has yet to be a major scandal, but it is effective because of the potential for hypothetical harm.
Many apps created by American companies are companies that collect information about us and sell insights to data brokers, marketers, including parts of China. But Tiktok in particular can gather sensitive data on Americans that are useful for hostile governments, such as address books, Dr. Green added.
“We’re leaking so much information, we don’t need Tiktok to make things worse, but with millions of different phones running this app, things get worse,” Dr. Green said.
Hey, do you want to send it to your group chat? Likewise, are you sure about 1,000%?
Just check it. It was a strange week in the history of group chats, so it’s a seemingly intimate textual conversation that goes back and forth between friends, family and apparently national security officials.
On Monday, Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg. I wrote it That he was accidentally added to group chat with encrypted messaging app signals. He announced plans for the attack on the base of Houthi in Yemen, followed when other national security officials came up with plans for the attack after the celebration emoji.
Just as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle condemned the security breaches, Americans were seen as perceived and distrustful with their own unruly group chat.
“It’s clearly a very relevant screw-in,” Goldberg said. Interview With Tim Miller of Bluwork on Tuesday. “We all texted the wrong people,” he added.
However, these careless texts do not contain high-stakes national security information that is usually shared outside of secure government channels.
The incident could be “the most shocking stupid group chat error in history,” said Tommy Beiotter, a liberal podcaster and former National Security Council spokesman. X’s Video. In the same post, he confessed that he was in an email thread that once mistakenly included singer Lyle Lovett in place of his colleague John Lovett. Approximately 30 emails had been sent before anyone noticed.
Group chat has quietly become a staple of modern communication since 2008, when Apple enabled text messaging with multiple recipients. Private group chats award a kind of juicy intimacy to a book club member, a neighbor’s mom, work friends, or a large family who exchanges hundreds of messages per day.
Feeds tend to be less self-conscious than posts on social media. In 2022, a guest essay from the New York Times declared the group chat “leave the last place online for real conversations.”
Even people with no security clearance are aware of what they share with the pleasant familiarity of group chats. Clayton Fletcher, 48, is part of the WhatsApp group, where he and about 35 other comedians roast each other and tackle new ingredients. He is wary high when a new phone number appears. It didn’t appear to happen when Goldberg was added to the signal chat.
“The wisdom of a comedian’s age is to know your audience,” Fletcher said. “In the modern world, I think it’s like knowing who’s in group chat.”
The intimacy of group chats is often elaborate when it spills into the public eye. In 2021, an anonymous leaker shared a group message from Sen. Ted Cruz’s wife, Heidi Cruz, where she planned a trip to Cancun, but millions of members of the senators had no electricity. (Heidi Cruz clearly didn’t understand that group chats didn’t know loyalty,” Jezebel said. read. )
In 2023, the New York Times published a text between the Fox News hosts, which were completely different from the official statement on the 2020 election results. And last year, Daily Beast reported Former House member George Santos texted the humiliation to a group chat that includes members of a New York Republican delegation.
“Sorry, new phone, who’s diss?” Representative Andrew Garbarino I responded.
Our group chats may include people who extend to our professionals and personal lives and who have strong and loose social connections to which we have. It could make them a “minefield” for error, said LM Chilton, author of the upcoming thriller “Everyone in the Group Chat Dies.”
The signal group chat incident was colloquial and especially uncomfortable due to just the tone of Amon Friends (including emojis). And while it may be easy to blame the technology for violations, it was a mistake by national security adviser Michael Waltz to make it accessible to journalists to group chats.
“At the end of the day, it was an artificial mistake and it was with us from the dawn of time,” Chilton said.
New York writer Matt Buquere, 35, found a bit of a dark humor in the way that members of the Signal Group introduced themselves one by one.
Everyone has been added to a group chat where they do not belong to completely. However, he suggested not to stand out unless he was certain he could trust the rest of the group.
“If you have a lot of numbers you don’t know, you should limit group chat participation to thumbs up or ‘haha’ reactions. There’s nothing else,” he said.
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