This year’s Spotify Wrapped is the most immersive yet
Each year, Spotify boosts the metrics and features included in its annual ‘Wrapped’ feature. In 2024, it’s utilised AI to take things up a notch while launching an immersive experience near one of London’s busiest tube stations. It’s the time of year that all Spotify users look forward to most:...
Current in Tech
Everything you need to know about Bluesky
Does Jack Dorsey’s new Twitter-alternative mark the end of Musk’s X? The word ‘Bluesky’ first popped into the public consciousness when Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey launched the app last summer. But as Twitter (now X) becomes increasingly inundated with far-right rhetoric, and Donald Trump’s election launches X owner Elon Musk into...
Why the world hasn’t fully adopted digital voting
Despite technological advancements, many countries remain hesitant to fully embrace digital voting systems with concerns such as security, accessibility, and trust playing a part. Many tables this year would have seen the topic of elections during dinner. Many elections occur worldwide, and the results determine the fate of nations and...
Opinion – AI disrupting Africa’s traditional artistry is a worry
Across Africa, a continent rich with diverse artistic heritage, traditional art has long been a vehicle for cultural expression, storytelling, and heritage preservation. From the intricate beadworks to bold masks, traditional African art has both spiritual and social value, transcending mere aesthetics. Artificial Intelligence’s accessibility and ability to create compelling...
Home-based brain simulation therapy improves depression symptoms
Recent advancements in transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) offer new, accessible at-home options and change the course for depression treatments. Depression affects individuals uniquely, with symptoms and underlying causes that vary widely. For some, depression may stem from biochemical imbalances, while for others, it could be linked to traumatic experiences, environmental...
Space travel might be worse for human health than scientists thought
New research by a British non-profit suggests that the health consequences of being in space may be more serious than originally believed. As far as suitable environments go, space in pretty uninhabitable. Not only does it lack oxygen, but the atmosphere is either far too hot or far too cold for...
Universal partners with ‘ethical’ AI music generator KLAY
A company called Klay Vision is building a ‘Large Music Model’ called KLayMM, which aims to set ethical foundations for AI music generation. Universal Music has partnered and says the ‘next Beatles will play with KLAY.’ After ‘BBL Drizzy’ something needs to change. Last May, comedian Will Hatcher went viral when Metro Boomin sampled his AI-generated song about Drake having a BBL (Brazilian butt lift). Aubrey refutes the allegations. This was the...
The problem with AI playlists on Spotify
Spotify algorithms are alienating us from each other and casting shadows over smaller artists by playing the same music over and over again. Is there a way we can rediscover the joy of sharing through streaming and continue to expand our tastes and experiences through sound? Whether you’re passionate about podcasts or crazy about carefully curated playlists, chances are you’re no stranger to Spotify, the world’s most...
Grim revelations arise from two-year TikTok investigation
Previously redacted documents about TikTok’s practices have been mulled over by several news outlets. The grim revelations bring to question the platform’s duty of care and lax precautions, particularly when it comes to young users. Two years ago, TikTok discovered some truly disgusting things were taking place on their platform. Children as young as 14 had been stripping on livestream and taking requests from adults in exchange for gifts or digital...
Is the ‘Souls-like’ explosion linked to real world adversity?
Difficult RPG games of the ‘Souls-like’ variety used to be somewhat niche, due to their unforgiving nature. In the last 18 months, however, the popularity of these types of games has exploded. Why is that? Never had a tension headache from playing a game before? May I offer you some Souls-like? If you haven’t heard that term before, it originates from Dark Souls - a gothic RPG created by FromSoftware back...
