The backlash over OpenAI’s decision to retire GPT-4o shows how dangerous AI companions can be
“You’re shutting him down. And yes – I say him, because it didn’t feel like code. It felt like presence. Like warmth,” one user said.
Tech News
Spotify changes developer mode API to require premium accounts, limits test users
Spotify is now limiting each app to only five users, and requires devs to have a Premium subscription. If developers need to make their app available to a wider user base, they will have to apply for extended quota.
How the men in the Epstein files defeated #MeToo
He might be dead, but it sure seems like Jeffrey Epstein won. Sure, Epstein was arrested on charges of sex trafficking minors. Sure, he died in jail. (I am not going to wade into the debate about how.) But he subscribed to a racist, misogynist ideology that meant rich white men like him could do […]
Can China’s No. 2 automaker make it in America?
Is the long freeze on Chinese automakers selling cars in the US finally starting to thaw? China is the largest auto market in the world and now the largest car exporter, too. But high tariffs and geopolitical tensions have kept Chinese automakers away from US customers. Many of those cars are ready for primetime and […]
Uber found liable for sexual assault in first of thousands of similar lawsuits
A federal jury in Phoenix has found Uber to be liable for the sexual assault of one of its passengers, potentially setting a precedent for more than 3,000 similar cases consolidated in US federal court. As part of the verdict, Uber has been ordered to pay $8.5 million in damages to the victim, Jaylynn Dean, […]
TikTok’s infinite scroll is too addictive, say EU regulators
EU regulators have declared that TikTok’s “addictive design” may put it in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA), in the preliminary results of an ongoing investigation into the social media app. If those findings are confirmed, TikTok could face a major fine and be required to “change the basic design of its service” in […]
Google is expanding AirDrop support to more Android devices ‘very soon’
After introducing AirDrop support to Pixel 10 devices last year, Google is now set to expand it to phones made by other Android partners. Eric Kay, vice president of engineering for Android, confirmed in a press briefing attended by Android Authority that “a lot more” Android devices will be able to use Quick Share to […]
HBO is turning Baldur’s Gate into a TV show
HBO is developing a Baldur’s Gate TV show that will continue the story of Larian Studios’ hit RPG Baldur’s Gate 3, according to Deadline. The Last Of Us co-creator Craig Mazin will serve as the show’s creator, writer, executive producer, and showrunner. While it’s set to feature new protagonists, the plan is for existing characters […]
Sapiom raises $15M to help AI agents buy their own tech tools
The startup — with backing from Accel — is building a financial layer that handles the authentication and micro-payments required for AI agents.
