World’s first beauty contest launched for AI influencers
In an attempt to further blend emerging AI trends with reality, a new beauty pageant has been announced for AI influencers. Despite the event creators’ excitement, critics have warned we should approach with caution. Thought the world of AI influencers couldn’t get any weirder? Hmm.. think again. Fanvue, a...
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First solar-powered vinyl record press built in US
Dave Newell, a Florida-based musician and avid record collector, has, alongside environmentalist wife Betsy Bemis, created the first solar-powered vinyl record press in the US. They call it ‘Audiodrome’. The first sustainable vinyl record press has opened in the US for Earth Day, and it has nowt to do with...
Touchless tech is a huge gaming accessibility upgrade
Accessibility to games for disabled people used to require expensive specialist equipment. Now, sophisticated – and free – applications like MotionInput are helping to make the hobby more equitable. Picking up a controller or a mouse is second nature to the majority of game enthusiasts, but there is a large...
Creating deepfake porn is about to become illegal
A new law will serve to protect the overwhelming majority of UK-based women who believe deepfake technology poses a serious threat to their safety. As the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) advance, people everywhere have raised concerns about how this technology will impact job security, education, and our everyday lives. Women,...
Cosmologists convene to question accepted view of the universe
Some of the world’s top cosmologists are meeting at London’s Royal Society to scrutinise an accepted theory on the universe’s formation. The view, formed in 1922, suggests that the universe is a vast, even expanse with no notable features. We’re floating on a rock in a vast cosmic expanse, that...
Palmsy is the new anti-social media app feeding our tech addiction
With artificial likes and follows, Palmsy replicates the dopamine hits we receive from social media whilst protecting our private information. But are these projects doing more harm than good? Social media dominates nearly every interaction we partake in nowadays. Whether that’s a good or bad thing is still up for...
Facebook allegedly shared user messages with Netflix for a decade
In a shady bid to better tailor content for its subscribers, Netflix has allegedly been peering at our private messages on Facebook – get this, for as long as a decade. Facebook is back in court, again. The charges levelled at parent company Meta follows a long rap sheet of previous data privacy and anti-trust violations. On this occasion, however, the social enterprise is one of two defendants. The lawsuit, filed...
Are Gen Z less tech savvy than previous generations?
Despite being the first ‘digitally native’ generation, studies suggest Gen Z are struggling with tech illiteracy. Young people are somewhat synonymous with technology; well, with the smartphone at least. From Facetune to Capcut, Gen Z are well equipped with social-first skills – many of them have even established successful internet careers before they leave school. But recent studies show that despite being the first ‘digitally native’ generation, Gen Z are struggling...
Science confirms touch alleviates anxiety amid spiking levels globally
As the world grapples with a mental health crisis post-pandemic and in light of findings that record numbers of people are now suffering from anxiety, scientists have been looking for new ways to treat the condition. According to a recent study, hugs are one such solution. The world is grappling with a mental health crisis. In Europe, antidepressant consumption has more than doubled in the...
Spotify testing freemium e-learning video courses
E-learning video courses are Spotify’s next offering as the service pushes for better subscriber retention and growth. Third parties like Skillshare and BBC Maestro are on board and a freemium model will generate new revenue – if people take to the idea. Remember when Spotify was purely a music streaming service? Those days are well and truly done. Diversifying business is the name of the game for Daniel Ek and co....
