The Institute for Justice, a libertarian nonprofit, and the parents behind the lawsuit claim there’s no reason for the state to keep samples that long. “The New Jersey Department of Health has unilaterally determined that it can keep and store the unused blood from every baby born in New Jersey,” the lawsuit alleges. In the… Continue reading New Jersey Keeps Newborn DNA for 23 Years. Parents Are Suing
Author: Wired Magazine
Maybe (HBO) Max Just Isn’t Worth It
Max, the streaming service formerly known as HBO Max, has lost 700,000 subscribers in the past three months. Despite the huge drop, streaming revenue at Max, which is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, were up 5 percent—with a 30 percent year-on-year jump in advertising revenue. These numbers raise a big question for the streaming industry:… Continue reading Maybe (HBO) Max Just Isn’t Worth It
Government Surveillance Reform Act of 2023 Seeks to End Warrantless Police and FBI Spying
In 1763, the radical journalist and colonial sympathizer John Wilkes published issue no. 45 of North Briton, a periodical of anonymous essays known for its virulent anti-Scottish drivel—and for viciously satirizing a British prime minister until he quit his job. The fallout from the subsequent plan of the British king, George III, to see Wilkes… Continue reading Government Surveillance Reform Act of 2023 Seeks to End Warrantless Police and FBI Spying
YouTube’s Ad Blocker Detection Believed to Break EU Privacy Law
When YouTube detects an ad blocker or other privacy tool that blocks ads as part of its functions, you’ll see a warning stating that “Ad blockers violate YouTube’s Terms of Service” or “Ad blockers are not allowed on YouTube.” There are a few different versions of this message, including some that entirely prevent you from… Continue reading YouTube’s Ad Blocker Detection Believed to Break EU Privacy Law
A Major Alarm Is Flashing Under Greenland’s Ice
Climate change would be much worse if it weren’t for the oceans, which have absorbed 90 percent of the excess heat humanity has pumped into the atmosphere. That warming of the oceans has already been devastating for the organisms that live there, but it’s also come back to bite us in a more unexpected way:… Continue reading A Major Alarm Is Flashing Under Greenland’s Ice
WeWork Just Filed For Bankruptcy
WeWork has filed for bankruptcy. The move comes as the company is squeezed by mounting debts, high interest rates, and an increasing number of people working from home. WeWork filed for Chapter 11 protections, the company announced Monday night. The process allows a company to continue operating as it reorganizes. WeWork locations overall will remain… Continue reading WeWork Just Filed For Bankruptcy
Big Tech Ditched Trust and Safety. Now Startups Are Selling It Back As a Service
The same is true of the AI systems that companies use to help flag potentially dangerous or abusive content. Platforms often use huge troves of data to build internal tools that help them streamline that process, says Louis-Victor de Franssu, cofounder of trust and safety platform Tremau. But many of these companies have to rely… Continue reading Big Tech Ditched Trust and Safety. Now Startups Are Selling It Back As a Service
OpenAI Wants Everyone to Build Their Own Version of ChatGPT
OpenAI’s ChatGPT became a phenomenon thanks to its wide-ranging abilities including drafting college essays, writing working computer programs, and digging up information from across the Web. Now the company aims to further widen the range of tricks up ChatGPT’s sleeve by making it possible for anyone to build a custom chatbot powered by the technology—without… Continue reading OpenAI Wants Everyone to Build Their Own Version of ChatGPT
Elon Musk Announces Grok, a ‘Rebellious’ AI With Few Guardrails
Last week, Elon Musk flew to the UK to hype up the existential risk posed by artificial intelligence. A couple of days later, he announced that his latest company, xAI, had developed a powerful AI—one with fewer guardrails than the competition. The AI model, called Grok (a name that means “to understand” in tech circles),… Continue reading Elon Musk Announces Grok, a ‘Rebellious’ AI With Few Guardrails
Volvo EX30 Review: Fun but Flawed
Remember when Volvo was just a “safe” brand? Boxy, sturdy, reliable, and utterly sensible? For many, this image may still be the predominant view of the carmaker. But in truth that was many years ago. For some time now, though, Volvo has been keen to be seen as a premium marque. Indeed, this was clear… Continue reading Volvo EX30 Review: Fun but Flawed