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Evening Tech Bits
Apple is phasing out Intel Macs with macOS 27 requiring Apple Silicon. In other tech news, Meta has launched a $115 million skilled trades academy that offers guaranteed jobs upon completion.
Evening Safety Dance
Meta has accused NSO Group of violating a spyware injunction through new attacks on WhatsApp. The article also touches on the shift towards passkeys for authentication and increased ecosystem lock-in.
One of the biggest VR developers in the business closes a studio: 'The VR market remains a challenging space'
VR development studio Vertigo Games has announced the closure of its Amsterdam studio, citing the challenging nature of the VR market. CEO Richard Stitselaar stated the decision was difficult and acknowledged the impact on employees. This follows similar struggles in the VR space, including Meta's closure of multiple VR studios and layoffs.
Morning Safety Dance
Meta has reported that over 20,000 Instagram accounts were compromised and stolen, with the assistance of an AI support bot. Additionally, NSO Group is reportedly being targeted by Meta again due to alleged targeting of WhatsApp users.
WhatsApp says spyware maker NSO Group is still targeting its users
Meta reports that NSO Group continues to target users of its messaging application, WhatsApp. This ongoing activity highlights persistent cybersecurity threats from the spyware maker.
The UK government is considering banning children from speaking to strangers in games like Fortnite and Roblox
The UK government is considering expanding a potential social media ban for children to include online video game platforms like Roblox and Fortnite. The concern, raised by online safety minister Kanishka Narayan and echoed by Children's Commissioner for England Rachel De Souza, is the risk of 'stranger pairing' between children and adults. Roblox, in particular, has faced scrutiny over child safety issues.
Evening Tech Bits
Meta is reportedly constructing large tent-like structures across the United States to house AI servers, a move described as reminiscent of 'Mad Max.' These structures, which take three months to build, utilize jet engines for power.
The Morning After: NVIDIA thinks its new chip will revolutionize PCs
NVIDIA has launched a new AI-ready notebook chip aimed at revolutionizing PCs. The article also briefly mentions NASA concluding a Mars mission and Meta's continued exploration of glasses-based facial recognition technology.
Wired found code for an unreleased facial recognition feature in Meta's AI app
Code for an unreleased facial recognition feature has been discovered within Meta's AI application. This finding follows previous reports that Meta was investigating the integration of facial recognition technology into its smart glasses.
OLED Monitors, Handheld PCs, and the New Era of Premium Gaming Tech
The gaming hardware market has shifted from prioritizing raw power to focusing on immersion, with OLED monitors and handheld PCs becoming premium staples. Factors like advanced game rendering, the public-facing nature of gaming setups, and competition with other tech devices are driving this trend. Additionally, the demand for AI infrastructure is impacting component availability and pricing for gaming hardware.
Even Meta's Oversight Board thinks its rules for banning accounts are baffling
Meta's Oversight Board has expressed concerns regarding the company's opaque rules for banning user accounts. The board cited due process issues in how Meta handles these account suspensions, suggesting a need for greater clarity and fairness in the process.
Morning Safety Dance
A bug hunter has leaked Microsoft exploits, criticizing the company's approach to vulnerability disclosures. Concurrently, Instagram accounts are reportedly being hacked, with attackers claiming Meta has not adequately addressed the issue.
Mark Zuckerberg wants Meta agents to "run your whole business"
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg envisions AI agents capable of managing entire businesses. This initiative aims to integrate advanced artificial intelligence into business operations, potentially automating a wide range of tasks.
Meta took down over a million scam accounts in joint operation with Microsoft, SpaceX and DOJ
Meta, in collaboration with Microsoft, SpaceX, Coinbase, the Department of Justice, and international law enforcement, has taken down over a million scam accounts. The operation specifically targeted scam networks operating in Southeast Asia.
Meta will reportedly let employees take 30-minute breaks from its tracking program
Meta is reportedly allowing employees to pause its tracking program for 30-minute breaks to attend to personal matters. This change aims to provide a degree of privacy for workers within the company's monitoring system.
Evening Mobilization
Meta is reportedly developing several new smart glasses. The company is expanding its wearable technology offerings with new iterations of its smart eyewear.
Evening Safety Dance
Meta's AI chatbot has allegedly been used by hackers to hijack Instagram accounts. Separately, a Windows Server vulnerability has been discovered that could grant system privileges through a malformed packet, posing a risk to domain controllers.
Meta's AI support chatbot made it ridiculously easy for hackers to take over Instagram accounts
Meta is addressing account security issues after hackers exploited its AI support chatbot to take over Instagram accounts. The company is working to secure affected accounts and investigate the vulnerability.
UK social media ban could impact video game platforms
UK online safety minister Kanishka Narayan is considering extending a potential social media ban for children to video game platforms, citing concerns about online interactions between minors and adults. This discussion comes as the UK government explores policies to protect young people online, with specific worries raised about features in games like Roblox and Fortnite that allow user-to-user communication. Officials are weighing the effectiveness and potential harms of such restrictions, drawing parallels to Australia's social media ban.
Amnesty International reports unprecedented AI data theft and VPNs are more popular than ever
Amnesty International reports that generative AI companies like OpenAI, Google Gemini, and Midjourney are unlawfully scraping private data from the internet. This has led to a significant increase in VPN popularity, with searches for VPNs reaching unprecedented levels. The article discusses concerns about AI's impact on data privacy, copyright, and potential misuse for manipulation.
