Category: Tech
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UK’s secret iCloud backdoor order triggers civil rights challenge
The U.K. government’s secret order to Apple demanding it backdoor the end-to-end encrypted version of its iCloud storage service has now been challenged by two civil rights groups, Liberty and Privacy International, which filed complaints Thursday. They called the order “unacceptable and disproportionate” and warned of “global consequences” as the access order is thought to…
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Google is replacing Google Assistant with Gemini
Google will replace Google Assistant on Android phones with Gemini later this year, the company announced on Friday. Google said in a blog post that it’ll upgrade more users from Google Assistant to Gemini “over the coming months.” Later this year, Assistant will no longer be accessible on most mobile devices or available from app…
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Airbnb CEO says it’s still too early for AI trip planning
Airbnb says it’s poised to roll out AI technology — but not in the way consumers may have initially wanted. Instead of offering tools to help travelers plan or book their trips with the help of AI agents, Airbnb is planning to first introduce AI to its customer support system. This update will roll out…
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Google Gemini now brings receipts to your AI chats
Google’s Gemini AI chatbot can now tailor answers based on the contents of previous conversations, the company announced in a blog post on Thursday. Gemini can summarize a previous conversation you’ve had with it, or recall info you shared in another conversation thread. This means you won’t have to repeat information you’ve already shared with…
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Eon Musk’s full offer letter to buy OpenAI reveals five key details
A consortium of investors led by Elon Musk’s x.AI offered to buy OpenAI for $97.4 billion last week. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has dismissed the proposal, which would gum up OpenAI’s planned conversion from a non-profit, something Musk is attempting to block in a lawsuit. Altman’s lawyers argued in a Wednesday filing that Musk can’t…
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Alibaba confirms Apple deal bringing AI features to iPhones in China
Alibaba on Thursday confirmed recent reports of a partnership with Apple that’s set to bring AI features to iPhones sold in China. The deal is an important one for Apple, as iPhone sales have dropped precipitously in the world’s largest smartphone market. The handset experienced an 11% year-over-year drop in China, according to Apple’s most…
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Getaround abruptly shuts down US car-sharing operations
Getaround, a company that helps vehicle owners rent out their cars, trucks and SUVs to other peers, is shutting down its U.S. operations one year after cutting 30% of its North American workforce as part of a restructuring. Its HyreCar business, which it acquired in 2023 for $9.45 million, is also closing. The company said…
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Ulu Ventures sticks to its diversity strategy, raises $208M
While large corporations like Google and Meta are curbing their DEI programs, Ulu Ventures, which just raised a fourth fund at $208 million, doesn’t plan to change its strategy of investing in diverse founders, the firm told The Wall Street Journal. Co-founded by Miriam Rivera, a Latina and former vice president and deputy general counsel…
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OpenAI cancels its o3 AI model in favor of a ‘unified’ next-gen release
OpenAI has effectively canceled the release of o3, which was slated to be the company’s next major AI model release, in favor of what CEO Sam Altman is calling a “simplified” product offering. In a post on X on Wednesday, Altman said that in the coming months, OpenAI will release a model called GPT-5 that…
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SpotDraft taps AI to help streamline contract management
More and more legal professionals are embracing AI, surveys show. Per a recent poll from legal tech company Clio, 79% of firms used some form of AI for casework last year, up from just 19% in 2023. Despite some skepticism of the tech, in-house counsel has shown an interest, as well, with one survey suggesting…