EU Commission and Bill Gates target $1bn to accelerate clean technology
The EU Commission and Bill Gates are looking to mobilise as much as $1bn USD investment into sustainable tech such as clean hydrogen and green fuel sources. When self-made billionaires start to push bold eco-initiatives backed by serious money, the mind naturally starts to wonder about potential greenwashing, PR stunting,...
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TikTok users can now report and delete harassing comments in bulk
TikTok has finally simplified removing and reporting harassment comments in its latest update. Going forward, it aims to regulate content as thoroughly as its social network predecessors. TikTok’s algorithm can rocket both amateur and seasoned creators to viral stardom in an instant, and that throws up obvious red flags when...
Vocal synthesiser project Solaris begins crowdfunding
AI technology project Solaris is entering its crowdfunding stage, providing further evidence that the industry is about to be altered significantly. Ever wanted a singer for your new instrumental but lack the funds or contacts to hire someone? If you fit into that oddly specific niche than you may want...
Snapchat to shift further into ecommerce with AR features
It looks like Snapchat is headed down the same path as Instagram with its newly announced features intended to boost ecommerce opportunities. Long time Instagram users may remember when it decided to introduce a bunch of new features last year - for better or worse - that promoted shopping...
How Clubhouse is helping Thailand’s pro-democracy movement
The spontaneous audio chat app Clubhouse is providing a safe space for pro-democracy advocates to question Thailand’s powerful monarchy. In a nation where standing against the monarchy can lead to 47 years behind bars, Thai citizens eager to discuss politically taboo subjects are now flocking to emerging chatroom app Clubhouse. Originally...
Twitter pushes back against India’s social media control
India’s government has long sought to impose a nationwide bill enabling the review and removal of any social media content. With Facebook and YouTube said to be compliant, Twitter is pushing back in the name of free speech. Rumblings of India’s ‘digital media law’ have finally come to fruition, and...
New mosquito experiment could shape the future of disease control
According to scientists, cases of Dengue fever in Indonesia have been cut by 77% following a ‘ground-breaking’ yearlong experiment which manipulated the mosquitoes spreading it. A new approach to fighting the spread of Dengue fever has proven remarkably effective in Indonesia. By breeding special mosquitoes with a ‘miraculous’ bacteria that reduces their ability to transmit the deadly virus, scientists have successfully cut infection rates and hospital admissions by 77% in Yogyakarta...
Could satellite deepfakes become a national security threat?
Geographers are becoming increasingly concerned about the spread of AI-generated satellite imagery and its potential to create hoax content or skew visual reports. Some even suggest it’s a threat to national security. When discussing deepfakes, most of us think of Nicholas Cage memes, unresolved issues of non-consensual pornography, or doctored political propaganda. What doesn’t immediately jump out is the potential for AI-generated imagery to manipulate satellite photos of cityscapes and countryside. This...
Light Phone II removes social apps to reduce anxiety
The Light Phone II removes all social media apps to give users a minimal, stripped back experience that reduces user anxiety and encourages time away from your screen. If you’re sick of endlessly scrolling through social media feeds, you may want to check out the ‘Light Phone II’, a minimalist smartphone developed by two ex-Google employees that’s designed to alleviate anxiety and reduce your phone usage. You won’t be getting fancy...
Snapchat’s ‘Story Studio’ to make stories more professional than ever
Snapchat this week announced a slew of updates at the Snap Partner Summit, chief among them an overhaul of its Story editing software in the form of new standalone app Story Studio. Snapchat is embracing its evolution from a once key player in social media messaging to mobile’s chief creative hub. During its annual partnership summit this week, Snapchat announced a new project to conclude a year of what seems like...
