Tag: computer science and information technology

How to block graphic social media posts on your kids’ phones
Technology

How to block graphic social media posts on your kids’ phones

New York CNN  —  Many schools, psychologists and safety groups are urging parents to disable their children’s social media apps over mounting concerns that Hamas plans to disseminate graphic videos of hostages captured in the Israel-Gaza war. Disabling an app or implementing restrictions, such as filtering out certain words and phrases, on young users’ phones may be sound like a daunting process. But platforms and mobile operating systems offer safeguards that could go along way in protecting a child’s mental health. Following the attacks on Israel last weekend, much of the terror has played out on social media. Videos of hostages taken on the streets and civilians left wounded continue to circulate ...
The world will pay a high price if China cuts off supplies of chipmaking materials
Technology

The world will pay a high price if China cuts off supplies of chipmaking materials

Editor’s Note: Sign up for CNN’s Meanwhile in China newsletter which explores what you need to know about the country’s rise and how it impacts the world. Hong Kong CNN  —  Just one month after China announced it would curb exports of germanium and gallium, both essential for making semiconductors, its overseas shipments of the materials fell to zero. Beijing says it has since approved some export licenses but the restrictions are a stark warning that China has a powerful weapon it can deploy in the escalating trade war over the future of tech. The curbs came after the United States, Europe and Japan restricted sales of chips and chipmaking equipment to China to cut off its access to key technology that c...
Samsung flags 78% profit drop as chip demand remains weak
Technology

Samsung flags 78% profit drop as chip demand remains weak

Hong Kong CNN  —  Samsung warned that operating profit in the third quarter likely plunged 78% as it continues to contend with lower than usual demand for consumer devices. The South Korean tech giant released earnings estimates Wednesday, forecasting operating profit of about 2.4 trillion Korean won ($1.8 billion) for the three months ended September. That compares with 10.85 trillion won ($8 billion) in the same period last year. Revenue was also projected to drop 12.7% from a year ago. That continues a dreary run for the electronics maker, which has reported major losses in recent months as global economic uncertainty weighs on consumers around the world, leading many people to hold o...
South Korean firms get indefinite waiver on US chip gear supplies to China
Technology

South Korean firms get indefinite waiver on US chip gear supplies to China

Seoul Reuters  —  Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix will be allowed to supply US chip equipment to their China factories indefinitely without separate US approvals, South Korea’s presidential office and the companies said on Monday. The United States had been expected to extend a waiver granted to the South Korean chipmakers on a requirement for licenses to bring US chip equipment into China. “Uncertainties about South Korean semiconductor firms’ operations and investments in China have been greatly eased; they will be able to calmly seek long-term global management strategies,” said Choi Sang-mok, senior presidential secretary for economic affairs. The United States has already notified S...
Pixel 8: Google unveils new phones built for ‘the generative AI era’
Technology

Pixel 8: Google unveils new phones built for ‘the generative AI era’

CNN  —  There’s nothing particularly new about Google’s latest-generation Pixel 8 smartphone hardware. That’s why the company is pushing hard to tout its AI-powered new software, which Google says was built specifically for the “first phone of the generative AI era.” At a press event in New York City, Google (GOOG) showed off the new Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro devices, which largely look the same as the year prior, albeit with more rounded edges. But inside, its new G3 Tensor chip unlocks an AI-powered world aimed at simplifying your life, from asking the device to summarize news articles and websites to using Google (GOOG) Assistant to field phone calls and ...
Apple rejected opportunities to buy Microsoft’s Bing, integrate with DuckDuckGo
Technology

Apple rejected opportunities to buy Microsoft’s Bing, integrate with DuckDuckGo

CNN  —  Since 2017, Apple has turned down multiple opportunities to chip away at Google’s search engine dominance, according to newly unsealed court transcripts, including a chance to purchase Microsoft’s Bing and to make the privacy-focused DuckDuckGo a default for users of its Safari’s private browsing mode. The previously confidential records, unsealed this week by the judge presiding over the US government’s antitrust lawsuit against Google, illustrate the challenges that have faced Google’s rivals in search as they’ve tried to unseat the tech giant from its pole position as Apple’s default search provider on millions of iPhones and Mac computers. It’s a privilege for which Google has paid Apple at least $10...
Microsoft, Amazon facing UK antitrust probe over cloud serivces
Technology

Microsoft, Amazon facing UK antitrust probe over cloud serivces

London CNN  —  Microsoft and Amazon could be in hot water over apparently making it difficult for UK customers to use multiple suppliers of vital cloud services. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the country’s antitrust regulator, said Thursday it was launching an investigation into the UK cloud infrastructure services market to determine whether players were engaged in anti-competitive practices. Cloud computing firms, such as Microsoft and Amazon Web Services (AWS), use data centers around the world to provide remote access to computing services and storage. This “cloud infrastructure” forms the foundation for how software applications, such as Gmail and Dropbox, are developed and run. ...
SoftBank CEO says artificial general intelligence will come within 10 years
Technology

SoftBank CEO says artificial general intelligence will come within 10 years

Tokyo Reuters  —  SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son said he believes artificial general intelligence (AGI), artificial intelligence that surpasses human intelligence in almost all areas, will be realized within 10 years. Speaking at the SoftBank World corporate conference, Son said he believes AGI will be ten times more intelligent than the sum total of all human intelligence. He noted the rapid progress in generative AI that he said has already exceeded human intelligence in certain areas. “It is wrong to say that AI cannot be smarter than humans as it is created by humans,” he said. “AI is now self learning, self training, and self inferencing, just like human beings.” Son has spoken of the po...
Antitrust Trial: Microsoft CEO warns of impact of Google’s search monopoly on AI
Technology

Antitrust Trial: Microsoft CEO warns of impact of Google’s search monopoly on AI

CNN  —  Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella warned on Monday of a “nightmare” scenario for the internet if Google’s dominance in online search is allowed to continue, a situation, he said, that starts with searches on desktop and mobile but extends to the emerging battleground of artificial intelligence. Nadella testified on Monday as part of the US government’s sweeping antitrust trial against Google, now into its 14th day. He is the most senior tech executive yet to testify during the trial that focuses on the power of Google as the default search engine on mobile devices and browsers around the globe. Taking the stand in a charcoal suit and tie, Nadella painted Google as a technology giant that has block...
Apple working to fix iPhone 15 overheating issues
Technology

Apple working to fix iPhone 15 overheating issues

CNN  —  Apple is working on a software fix following reports that some of its new iPhone 15 models are overheating. The company told CNN the current overheating issues are not a safety risk and will not affect the long-term performance of impacted iPhone models. It also emphasized that iPhones have internal protections for components to help regulate the temperature if it gets too high. Apple also told CNN there are several circumstances that are causing its next-generation lineup to heat up. User complaints started to circulate after the latest iPhones hit stores on September 22. “We have identified a few conditions which can cause iPhone to run warmer than expected,” Apple told CNN in...