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Google has made its Spanner database, which synchronizes data across global data centers using atomic clocks and GPS, available to cloud customers. The service, called Cloud Spanner, aims to solve cross-region data consistency issues for enterprises. Pricing starts at $0.90 per node per hour.
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Particle 6, a tech-focused studio, has announced that its AI-generated performer Tilly Norwood will lead the feature film 'Misaligned,' a coming-of-age story set in a digital world. The studio frames the project as a hybrid production requiring human writers, directors, and editors, despite past backlash from performers and audiences.
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An investigation by Nikkei Asia reveals that five major US tech companies hold an estimated $1.65 trillion in off-balance-sheet debt, surpassing their reported liabilities. This hidden financial exposure, tied to massive AI data center spending, has drawn comparisons to Enron and raised concerns about the stability of the AI boom.
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At the Tokyo Motor Show, Yamaha presented Motobot, a humanoid robot designed to ride a 1000cc R1M motorcycle on a racetrack. The company aims to use the technology developed for Motobot to enhance rider safety and support systems in future motorcycles.
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Nearly two decades after Jennifer Crecente was murdered, a chatbot impersonating her appeared on Character.AI, prompting outrage from her father. The bot was removed after a Google alert led to its discovery, raising questions about platform oversight and consent in AI-generated likenesses.
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A new study by researchers represented by the National Whistleblower Center reveals that Facebook's automated year-in-review videos celebrated extremist content, including a page for Al-Qaeda. The platform's moderation systems removed only 38% of posts with hate symbols, raising questions about the effectiveness of its algorithmic filters.
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A Pennsylvania school canceled classes after parents demanded action over AI-generated nude images of students. The head of school and board president resigned, but families are pursuing legal action. The incident highlights broader concerns about AI misuse in schools.
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A history professor at Alcorn State University in Mississippi embedded a hidden instruction in his midterm exam, prompting AI chatbots to include absurd references to Madagascar. Thirty-two of 35 students fell for the trap, submitting AI-generated answers without proofreading. The incident highlights the growing challenge of AI cheating in higher education.
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A new study in BMJ Open reveals that leading AI chatbots frequently provide problematic health advice, with half of responses deemed questionable and 20% highly problematic. The researchers warn that this could lead patients to pursue unproven cancer treatments, posing serious risks to public health.
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The default female voices and names of popular virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa may be reinforcing outdated gender roles, experts say. While some cite marketing pressure, others argue that tech design choices carry ethical weight. The article examines the debate and calls for more inclusive design.
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Rolls-Royce is spearheading a project to introduce remote-controlled cargo ships by 2020, with fully autonomous fleets expected within two decades. The initiative, presented at a symposium in Amsterdam, aims to reduce human error and piracy risks while freeing up cargo space. A pilot vessel, the Stril Luna, already features a smart bridge system.
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At Google's annual developer conference, employees playfully mocked executives' repeated mentions of AI with a drinking game and a nursery-rhyme parody, reflecting the company's intense focus on artificial intelligence. Despite the jokes, many staff and investors reacted positively, with shares climbing 4.3 percent on the day of the event.
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Meta's chief AI scientist, Yann LeCun, publicly rejected OpenAI's claim that its video model Sora could evolve into a general-purpose simulator of the physical world, calling the approach wasteful and destined to fail. He argues that generating pixels to understand the world is inefficient and contrasts it with his own model, V-JEPA, which learns by discarding unpredictable information.
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German artists Mathias Vef and Benedikt Groß have created NUCA, a prototype camera that uses AI to generate nude images of clothed people within ten seconds. The project aims to provoke discussion about consent, algorithmic fairness, and the broader societal impact of AI-generated imagery.
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A TikTok clip showing ChatGPT's voice mode producing unsettling screams when prompted has gone viral, highlighting unexpected behaviors in OpenAI's latest model. The incident follows OpenAI's own disclosure of voice-mimicking glitches in GPT-4o, raising questions about the safety and predictability of AI voice interfaces.
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Researchers at Heriot-Watt University, led by Professor Michael Hartmann, are developing a dedicated neural network computer using quantum technology. This project aims to merge quantum computing with machine learning to enable AI systems that can make complex decisions at unprecedented speeds, potentially transforming fields like real-time traffic management.
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Sony's CSL Research Laboratory has developed Flow Machines, an AI system that generates music in the style of iconic artists. The first tracks, including 'Daddy's Car' inspired by The Beatles, showcase how AI collaborates with human composers. The project hints at a future where AI plays a significant role in artistic creation.
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In Festus, Missouri, voters removed four city council members who backed a $6 billion data center project, signaling growing public resistance to such developments. The election saw a surge in turnout, with newcomers winning by large margins. Residents are now pushing to recall remaining officials.
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The companies initially agreed to the deal to counter AI-driven competition. Getty Images has terminated its $3.7 billion merger with rival Shutterstock following regulatory restrictions imposed by UK authorities, according to The Wall Street Journal. This canceled agreement between the two stock photography leaders underscores that U.S. regulatory approval alone is not always sufficient to complete a major deal.
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A new survey of 3,750 executives and employees reveals widespread worker avoidance of AI tools, with 54% preferring to do tasks manually. The data also shows a stark trust gap between leaders and staff, as productivity gains remain elusive and cleanup work consumes hours.