DeleteMe acquires social media security tool Block Party
Tracey Chou founded Block Party in 2018 as a tool to help people stay safe from targeted harassment on Twitter, inspired by her own experiences.
Tech
Seiko resurrected a 44-year-old digital watch NASA astronauts wore to space
The Omega Speedmaster Professional, worn by Buzz Aldrin during the Apollo 11 lunar landing, is the most recognized watch to go to space. But the Seiko Rotocall, featuring a unique design that made it easier to switch between the watch’s various modes, could be a close second. Seiko has resurrected and rereleased the watch used […]
Google launches Lyria 3 Pro music generation model
Google is launching Lyria 3 Pro, an upgraded music model that generates longer, more customizable tracks, as it expands AI music tools across Gemini, enterprise products, and other services.
Russia arrests alleged owner of cybercrime forum LeakBase, report says
Russian state-owned media reported that police in Russia arrested the administrator of LeakBase, a large hacking forum.
Waymo relies on firefighters and police to bail out stuck robotaxis
In at least six instances identified by TechCrunch, first responders have had to take control of Waymo vehicles and move them out of traffic during emergency situations.
Reddit accounts with ‘fishy’ bot-like behavior will soon need to prove they’re human
Reddit is taking new steps to identify bots on the platform – a process that may require some users to confirm that they’re human. In a post on Wednesday, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman writes that the company will introduce a labeling system for accounts registered as bots, and ask users with “automated” or “fishy behavior” […]
Reddit takes on the bots with new ‘human verification’ requirements for fishy behavior
Reddit will require suspected automated accounts to verify they’re human, as it ramps up efforts to curb bot-driven spam and manipulation.
Google Lyria 3 Pro makes longer AI songs
Google is expanding the capabilities of its Lyria 3 music-making AI, enabling it to create tracks up to three minutes long and from within multiple other Google Products. Until now, Lyria had been limited to 30-second clips. Lyria 3 Pro not only increases the maximum length sixfold, it also allows the user to prompt for […]
How soap opera-TikTok hybrids became a billion-dollar business
Over the past few years, a new category of mobile apps has quietly exploded into a multi-billion dollar business. They’re called “micro dramas” — short-form, mobile-first scripted shows designed to be watched vertically on your phone. Think soap opera meets TikTok, complete with secret billionaire romances, disapproving werewolf mothers-in-law, and cliffhangers engineered to keep users tapping. The leading […]
