L4s Bot

Scores of US credit unions offline after ransomware infects backend cloud outfit::Supply chain attacks: The gift that keeps on giving

New study finds bots and fraud farms responsible for 73% of web traffic::undefined

US joins in other nations in swearing off coal power to clean the climate::The United States committed Saturday to the idea of phasing out coal power plants, joining 56 other nations in kicking the coal habit that’s a huge factor in global warming. U.S. Special Envoy John Kerry announced that America was joining the Powering...

Video of ceramic storage system prototype surfaces online — 10,000TB cartridges bombarded with laser rays could become mainstream by 2030, making slow hard drives and tapes obsolete::Ceramics-based storage medium consumes very little energy and lasts more than 5,000 years, creators say

Robinhood CEO defends payment for order flow, says practice is ‘here to stay’::That’s despite calls from notable consumer trading advocates and regulators for a ban on the practice.

Broadcom CEO tells VMWare workers to ‘get butt back to office’ after completing a $69 billion merger of the two companies::In a meeting on Tuesday after completing the $69 billion merger, Broadcom CEO Hock Tan told VMWare employees their days of working remotely were over.

How Googlers cracked an SF rival’s tech model with a single word | A research team from the tech giant got ChatGPT to spit out its private training data::A research team from Bay Area tech giant Google got OpenAI’s ChatGPT to spit out its private training data in a new study.

Walmart says it is not advertising on social platform X::Walmart said on Friday it is not advertising on social media platform X, one of the latest brands to say it has dropped the Elon Musk-owned site.

Microsoft guts Microsoft Rewards points, and its fans are outraged::Microsoft appears to be nickel-and-diming users and fans of its Microsoft Rewards program, which gives “frequent-flyer” points that can be traded in for gift cards.

Tesla’s reputation slumps as GM, Ford climb - Tesla ranked 62nd by reputation among the 100 most visible brands, tumbling from 12th last year and 8th in 2021.::undefined

Bill Gates feels Generative AI has plateaued, says GPT-5 will not be any better::The billionaire philanthropist in an interview with German newspaper Handelsblatt, shared his thoughts on Artificial general intelligence, climate change, and the scope of AI in the future.

AWS VP spins employee question about engineer turnover as a good thing — “It’s making us better.” & “Frugality breeds innovation for us.”::An AWS VP answered employee questions over attrition by spinning it as a good thing.

HP Smart app mysteriously appears on non-HP Windows PCs | Microsoft is investigating::undefined

Inside the ‘arms race’ between YouTube and ad blockers / Against all odds, open source hackers keep outfoxing one of the wealthiest companies.::YouTube’s dramatic content gatekeeping decisions of late have a long history behind them, and there’s an equally long history of these defenses being bypassed.

Broadcom to lay off over 1,200 Bay Area tech workers following $69B VMware deal::Broadcom to lay off over 2,000 employees after acquiring Bay Area tech company VMware in a $69B deal.

PlayStation To Delete A Ton Of TV Shows Users Already Paid For::Sony says Mythbusters and more Discovery TV shows are going away whether you bought them or not

Google Removes App That Helps People Boycott Pro-Israel Companies::NoThanks was temporarily suspended from the Google Play app store due to a line in its description speaking about Israel.

Tesla falls on long wait for Cybertruck payoff, hefty price tag / Tesla shares fell more than 3% on Friday::Tesla’s pricier-than-expected Cybertruck pickup, which offers driving ranges that fell well short of what CEO Elon Musk had promised, has deeply disappointed some but fascinated others with its futuristic, SUV-like feel.

The Cybertruck Is a Disappointment Even to Cybertruck Superfans / Looking at the specs alone, the car is delivering 30 percent less range than expected for 30 percent more money::Looking at the specs alone, the car is delivering 30 percent less range than expected for 30 percent more money.

Return to office is ‘dead,’ Stanford economist says. Here’s why::The share of workers being called back to the office has flatlined, suggesting remote work is an entrenched feature of the U.S. labor market.

SpaceX has revealed, through a company email invite, that its newest Starlink dish will cost $599.::undefined

Reddit updates look after rough 6 months and ahead of reported IPO::“Edit: Obligatory ‘F— Spez’ for karma.”

The LAPD Is Using Controversial Mass Surveillance Tracking Software::Cobwebs Technologies’ WebLoc software allows police to track individuals using geolocation signals displayed on a map interface.

Apple’s smart ring technology may not be limited to just fingers::Smart rings on fingers, smart bracelets on ankles, and smart lanyards around necks — far beyond the Apple Watch and AirPods, Apple has wide-ranging plans for a new wearable.

The US government is no longer briefing Meta about foreign influence campaigns::As Meta gears up for the 2024 election, the company is grappling with a new challenge that could slow its efforts to combat foreign attempts at election interference.

Montana Judge: TikTok ban likely a ‘fundamental constitutional violation’::A federal judge has put on hold a Montana law that would ban TikTok from operating in the state while the case is being litigated.

Who will partner with Apple Card now and what does this shakeup mean for its users?::Apple Card’s transition to a new partner won’t be easy. Here’s a look at the technology, which banks may step up, and the different acquisition scenarios.

Apple M1 Pro beats M3 Pro with Ableton, Logic and Pro Tools::undefined

Fake HDMI cable crackdown - Taiwanese police raid suppliers of counterfeit HDMI cables, seize $2.6 million in knockoffs in a single day::Police in Taiwan have cracked down on counterfeit HDMI cable sales, raiding online sellers across the island.

US military says national security depends on ‘forever chemicals’ / PFAS can be found in everything from weapons to uniforms, but the Department of Defense is pushing back on health concerns raised…::PFAS can be found in everything from weapons to uniforms, but the Department of Defense is pushing back on health concerns...

Detroit’s newest road can charge electric cars as they travel on it::undefined

Apple and Google avoid naming ChatGPT as their ‘app of the year,’ picking AllTrails and Imprint instead::Both Apple and Google today announced their best apps and games of the year, with the hiking and biking companion AllTrails winning as Apple’s iPhone App

Microsoft joins OpenAI’s board with Sam Altman officially back as CEO::Sam Altman is officially back as OpenAI’s CEO, and the board has been shaken up with new members Bret Taylor and Larry Summers. Microsoft is getting a non-voting seat.

The CEOs of Meta, X, TikTok, Snap, and Discord will testify before the US Senate on child safety::On January 31st, 2024, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, X CEO Linda Yaccarino, and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will testify before the US Senate during a hearing on child safety.

‘Your Turn’: United Auto Workers Launches Campaign to Unionize Tesla::After the UAW won contracts with the Big Three, it’s seeking to unionize 150,000 workers across a dozen companies including Tesla.

Canada says Google will pay $74 million annually to Canadian news industry under new online law::Canada’s government says it has reached a deal with Google for the company to contribute $100 million Canadian dollars annually to the country’s news industry

Bad Bots Account for 73% of Internet Traffic: Analysis::undefined

Fake babies, real horror: Deepfakes from the Gaza war increase fears about AI’s power to mislead::Among images of the bombed out homes and ravaged streets of Gaza, some stood out for the utter horror: Bloodied, abandoned infants.

Report: Apple to end partnership with bank that backs Apple Card, savings accounts::Goldman Sachs has lost billions of dollars on its consumer-focused businesses.

New Drug Could Extend the Lifespans of Giant Dog Breeds::The drug, LOY-001, could be available to the public as soon as 2026.

Blackstone acquires pet care app Rover in $2.3 billion all-cash deal::Private equity giant Blackstone will acquire the pet care app Rover in an all-cash deal valued at $2.3 billion, the companies announced Wednesday

Italy bans cultivated meat products::New law prohibits the production or sale of cultivated meat in Italy, with fines of up to €60,000

Early Ford carrier maintenance costs lower than planned, Navy says::Early Ford-class maintenance costs are lower than expected, meaning the aircraft carriers could save more than predicted compared to the Nimitz class.

Okta hackers stole data on all customer support users, company says::The hack was worse than initially believed, with every client having some data stolen in the breach, the cybersecurity company warned.

Amazon exec says it’s time for workers to ‘disagree and commit’ to office return — “I don’t have data to back it up, but I know it’s better.”::“We’re here, we’re back. It’s working,” an Amazon Studios head said in a meeting, before acknowledging a lack of evidence.

Amazon unveils Q, its AI chatbot for workers::Available to AWS users, Amazon Q aims to help workers draft emails, generate content, and fix bugs.

The frantic battle over OpenAI shows that money triumphs in the end::Private businesses, motivated by profit, can’t be relied on to police themselves against the horrors unfettered AI could bring

A Civil Rights Firestorm Erupts Around a Looming Surveillance Power Grab: Dozens of advocacy groups are pressuring the US Congress to abandon plans to ram through the renewal of a controversial sur…::Dozens of advocacy groups are pressuring the US Congress to abandon plans to ram through the renewal of a controversial...