Perplexity teases a web browser called Comet
AI-powered search engine Perplexity says it's building its own web browser. It'll be called Comet, and it's set to arrive 'soon.'
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Scientists Tested AI For Cognitive Decline. The Results Were a Shock. : ScienceAlert
It's barely been two years since OpenAI's ChatGPT was released for public use, inviting anyone on the internet to collaborate with an artificial mind on anything from poetry to school assignments to letters to their landlord.
New AirTag 2 leak reveals when to expect product launch - 9to5Mac
Apple’s AirTag is long due for an upgrade, and now a new leak has revealed when exactly to expect AirTag 2’s release.
Asteroid 2024 YR4 is going to miss Earth, but the story doesn’t end there - Ars Technica
“The YR4 episode is just the beginning.”…
Steve Jobs Archive marks Apple co-founder's 70th birthday
On what would have been his 70th birthday, the late Steve Jobs has been remembered by the archive that bears his name.
Apple to Invest $500 Billion in U.S. as Trump Tariffs Loom
The company pledged the multibillion-dollar investment over the next four years, and said it would create 20,000 jobs. The new Texas facility is set to open in 2026.
Apple could bring out second-gen AirTag by May or June
The second-generation AirTag refresh could be arriving within months, with a leaker claiming that the tracking tag may land by May at the earliest.
Apple designer Susan Kare made 32 new, Mac-inspired, physical icons
Legendary Apple iconography artist Susan Kare has released 32 new retro-inspired icons as keyboard caps and necklace pendants.
All 50 States Have Now Introduced Right to Repair Legislation
The legislation hasn't yet passed everywhere, but all 50 states introducing some form of right to repair legislation is a "tipping point” for the right to repair movement.
Google replacing SMS with QR codes when creating Gmail accounts
SMS 2FA is not considered secure, and Google wants to replace that confirmation step with QR codes when creating a new Gmail account.
Apple promises $500 billion in US investment in wake of tariff threats - Ars Technica
Trump tariffs risk spiking costs of both Apple’s business and its products.
Apple prepares to add Google Gemini to Apple Intelligence
Code within the new iOS 18.4 beta shows that Apple appears to be readying an alternative to its ChatGPT integration in Apple Intelligence, with an option to use Google Gemini.
Apple Abandons Budget Phones; Inside Apple’s Modem; M4 MacBook Air Launch Timing
Feb. 26 — Amazon holds event to launch a version of Alexa with generative AI. At the end of 2023, Amazon.com Inc. held a product launch event that included the introduction of a brand-new Alexa built around ChatGPT-style generative artificial intelligence. But 2024 came and went, and there was no release. Well, now Amazon is finally ready. The company’s device and services business has been working to adjust the system and improve its features under new chief Panos Panay, and we’ll see the result of that on Feb. 26 in New York. Panay will unveil the overhauled Alexa and other new AI-related offerings, with a full public release scheduled for later in 2025. The event won’t include new devices, which are typically rolled out by Amazon in the latter part of the year.
MacBook Air stocks start to dwindle ahead of M4 update
A new report claims that Apple is running down its stock of the MacBook Air, in time for a refresh with the M4 processor in March.
Mozilla Wans to Expand from Firefox to Open-Source AI and Privacy-Respecting Ads - Slashdot
On Wednesday Mozilla president Mark Surman "announced plans to tackle what he says are 'major headwinds' facing the company's ability to grow, make money, and remain relevant," reports the blog OMG Ubuntu:
"Mozilla's impact and survival depend on us simultaneously strengthening Firefox AND finding...
Grok 3 appears to have briefly censored unflattering mentions of Trump and Musk
It appears that xAI's chatbot, Grok 3, briefly censored certain unflattering mentions of Elon Musk and Donald Trump.
Filing: Amazon estimated the fair value of its stake in Anthropic at $14B at the end of December 2024, after agreeing to invest $8B in Anthropic so far
By Eugene Kim / Business Insider. View the full context on Techmeme.
Did xAI lie about Grok 3’s benchmarks?
OpenAI researchers accused xAI about publishing misleading Grok 3 benchmarks. The truth is a little more nuanced.
Trump says Tim Cook told him that Apple “stopped two plants in Mexico” and will build products in the US instead, a move Apple hasn't publicly discussed
From Bloomberg. View the full context on Techmeme.
Asus Continues Fragrant Device Trend With an Aromatic Mouse - Slashdot
Asus has introduced the Fragrance Mouse, a hybrid wireless mouse that features a removable container for fragrance oils. Despite not being a gaming mouse, it includes premium features like PTFE pads, low-noise clicks rated for up to 10 million presses, and three fixed DPI settings (1200, 1600, 2400)...
President Trump signs a memorandum to consider retaliatory measures, including tariffs, on countries that impose digital service taxes on US tech companies
The digital service taxes aimed at dominant U.S. tech giants including Alphabet's Google (GOOGL.O), opens new tab, Meta's Facebook (META.O), opens new tab, Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab and Amazon (AMZN.O), opens new tab have been a longstanding trade irritant for multiple U.S. administrations. Britain, France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, India, Austria and Canada have levied the taxes on sales revenue by these and other digital services providers within their borders.
People are most worried about AI replacing these 2 jobs, according to the Max Planck Institute
A new survey asked 10,000 respondents how they feel about human versus AI doctors, judges, journalists, and more. Here's what they said.
Over $1.4 billion taken from Bybit crypto exchange
In what is looking like largest ever theft from a cryptocurrency exchange, attackers took control of a hot wallet belonging to the Bybit cryptocurrency exchange and moved a massive amount of ETH-based tokens amounting to approximately $1.4 billion in notional value (though it should be noted that that quantity of stolen tokens could not be quickly cashed out for that many dollars without affecting the ETH price).
In what is looking like largest ever theft from a cryptocurrency exchange, attackers took control of a hot wallet belonging to the Bybit cryptocurrency exchange and moved a massive amount of ETH-based tokens amounting to approximately $1.4 billion in notional value (though it should be noted that that quantity of stolen tokens could not be quickly cashed out for that many dollars without affecting the ETH price).
DeepSeek Promises to Share Even More AI Code in a Rare Step
Chinese AI sensation DeepSeek plans to release key codes and data to the public starting next week, an unusual step to share more of its core technology than rivals such as OpenAI have done.
Apple Removes Cloud Encryption Feature From UK After Backdoor Order
Apple Inc. is removing its most advanced, end-to-end encrypted security feature for cloud data in the United Kingdom, in a stunning development after the government ordered the company to build a backdoor for accessing user data.
The company said Friday that Advanced Data Protection, an optional feature that adds end-to-end encryption — a stronger form of security — to a wide assortment of user data is no longer available in the UK for new users. This layer of security covers iCloud data storage, device backups, web bookmarks, voice memos, notes, photos, reminders and text message backups.
Apple Inc. is removing its most advanced, end-to-end encrypted security feature for cloud data in the United Kingdom, in a stunning development after the government ordered the company to build a backdoor for accessing user data.The company said Friday that Advanced Data Protection, an optional feature that adds end-to-end encryption — a stronger form of security — to a wide assortment of user data is no longer available in the UK for new users. This layer of security covers iCloud data storage, device backups, web bookmarks, voice memos, notes, photos, reminders and text message backups.
The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper Returns with Bill Gates Interview
Sunday 8p Pacific
FTC investigates “tech censorship,” says it’s un-American and may be illegal - Ars Technica
“Tech firms should not be bullying their users,” Chairman Andrew Ferguson says.
FTC Launches Inquiry Into Tech ‘Censorship'
The Federal Trade Commission has launched a public inquiry into whether technology platforms “censor” users by denying access to services based on “the content of their speech or affiliations,” the agency announced Thursday. It’s the latest sign of how the Trump administration is pressuring tech companies, particularly social media firms, to pull back on content moderation.
FTC Chairman
Deborah Turness - AI Distortion is new threat to trusted information
Microsoft’s new AI agent can control software and robots - Ars Technica
Magma could enable AI agents to take multistep actions in the real and digital worlds.