An aid ship heads to Gaza, as hunger increases and Congress ponders a ban
The US House of Representatives has voted to ban Chinese-owned video app TikTok over its “anti-American content”. The bill was introduced by Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove, who said that TikTok’s staff may be able to access American users’ data and spread pro-China propaganda. TikTok had been banned from the US in December 2019 for not complying with anti-pornography laws.
The bill that was passed by the House could ban TikTok
TikTok’s parent firm ByteDance said it removed the Chinese influence operation from its platforms in November of last year. This comes after US intelligence officials said that the Chinese government used TikTok to influence the upcoming mid-term elections and promote their propaganda. The lawmakers said the bill could not be used against American social media companies or individual social media users.
But not to win, the new artificial intelligence will play video games with you
Google has created an artificial intelligence (AI) system, called SimA, that will be able to “learn to do random things in games and videos”. SimA was developed by a team led by Google’s Senior VP of AI Harley Schramm. SIMA is being used to control Goat Simulator-3, a video game where players can take their domesticated ungulates on wild adventures.
Why the House seems ready to ban a toy
The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that would ban Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok within six months of the law’s enactment. The legislation requires ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, to quit the app within six months. Notably, TikTok had said that American user data wouldn’t be accessible to anyone in China.
Airbnb doesn’t allow all indoor security cameras
Airbnb has revised its privacy policy which includes more rules on the use of outdoor security cameras. The policy bars hosts from using outdoor cameras to track indoor spaces, and bars them from certain outdoor areas where there’s a greater expectation of privacy. The new rules also require hosts to disclose to guests whether they are using noise decibel monitors or outdoor cameras.
The fear that led to the creation of OpenAI is what inspired it
Elon Musk-led AI startup OpenAI said that it has received $1 billion funding commitment for its “deeply artificial intelligence (DIA) research”. This comes after Co-founder Aaron Altman was ousted from OpenAI’s board for his alleged conflict of interest and involvement in a dispute with another board member. Altman has also apologised for thinking that a former board member was harming OpenAI.
The teens were arrested for making nude images of their classmates
No arrests have been disclosed in the publicly reported cases in which minors allegedly created artificial intelligence-generated nude images of classmates and shared them without consent. No arrests have been disclosed in the publicly reported cases, at Issaquah High school in Washington, Westfield High school in New Jersey, and Beverly Hills Vista Middle School in California.
Europe’s Tech Crackdown, Musk vs. Openai, and a month with the Vision Pro
Apple CEO Tim Cook on Tuesday said the company is committed to comply with the US’ Digital Markets Act, which regulates privacy for AI-based products. He added that Apple will comply with all the US’s digital privacy laws, including California’s new Privacy Act, as soon as it’s in place. Cook also talked about the use of Apple’s Vision Pro on flights.
Rivian has R3 and R3X electric SUVs
Amazon-backed electric vehicle (EV) startup Rivian has revealed that it will launch its R3 and R3X electric SUVs in the second half of the year. The two models are “designed with even tighter dimensions, and at a lower price point, than the R2,” the company said. Rivian is expected to produce about 57,000 units in four years, less than the 80,000 produced last year.
Rivian R2 is an electric off-roader
US-based electric vehicle startup Rivian has unveiled its new all-electric R2 sedan that will have an estimated range of 330 miles. Priced at $45,000 (nearly 3.5 lakh), the R2 will feature a zero to 60kmph time of three seconds and a 0-100kmph run time of less than five seconds. It will also be available with a rear-wheel drive system.