BATTERYFORPC BLOG
Ex-FTX executive sentenced to over 7 years in prison
Another former executive of FTX has been jailed over his part in the cryptocurrency giant's implosion in late 2022. Ryan Salame, who was the co-CEO of FTX's Bahamian subsidiary, was sentenced to 90 months in prison, US federal prosecutors said. Salame - who was a top lieutenant to Sam Bankman-Fried, the bankrupt crypto exchange's founder - pleaded guilty in September last year to violating polit ... Read more
2024-05-28 19:44:16
The influencers rallying South Africa's youth to vote
South Africa’s social media influencers, popular with the youth, have been stepping into a new role ahead of this week’s general election – political mobilisers. With 42% of registered voters under the age of 40, the younger demographic could have a big role to play in Wednesday's election. Nestled in between videos of jokes about power cuts and relationships, Karabo “Kay” Mahapa, a TikTok c ... Read more
2024-05-27 20:53:32
Glue pizza and eat rocks: Google AI search errors go viral
Google's new artificial intelligence (AI) search feature is facing criticism for providing erratic, inaccurate answers. Its experimental "AI Overviews" tool has told some users searching for how to make cheese stick to pizza better that they could use "non-toxic glue". The search engine's AI-generated responses have also said geologists recommend humans eat one rock per day ... Read more
2024-05-26 20:10:19
Scarlett Johansson 'shocked' by AI chatbot imitation
Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson has said she was left "shocked" and "angered" after OpenAI launched a chatbot with an "eerily similar" voice to her own. The actress said she had previously turned down an approach by the company to voice its new chatbot, which reads text aloud to users. When the new model debuted last week commentators were quick to draw comparison ... Read more
2024-05-22 03:47:51
Scarlett Johansson 'shocked' by AI chatbot imitation
Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson has said she was left "shocked" and "angered" after OpenAI launched a chatbot with an "eerily similar" voice to her own. The actress said she had previously turned down an approach by the company to voice its new chatbot, which reads text aloud to users. When the new model debuted last week commentators were quick to draw comparison ... Read more
2024-05-22 03:37:29
Can we really 'reset the internet' to make it safer for children?
“A major reset of the internet to make it much safer” is how Ofcom's Gill Whitehead described the communications watchdog's child safety announcements to me. But can it really deliver that kind of a sea-change in the protection of children online? Turning faulty tech off then on again is a tried and trusted fix, but "resetting the net" is considerably more challenging. First of all, c ... Read more
2024-05-08 19:54:17
Starliner: Nasa to fly new craft to space station
Two Nasa astronauts are due to head for the International Space Station aboard a new spacecraft. Boeing’s Starliner will blast off from Cape Canaveral in Florida, in its first crewed test flight. The mission has been delayed for several years because of setbacks in the spacecraft's development. If it is successful, it will become the second private firm able to provide crew transport to and fro ... Read more
2024-05-05 21:55:32
Instagram courts TikTok users with algorithm revamp
Instagram is overhauling its recommendations algorithms in what analysts say is an attempt to capitalise on TikTok's woes. Changes to its system for suggesting content, particularly on Reels - its short-form video service - will prioritise original content and "give all creators an equal chance of breaking through". Experts say the Meta-owned platform is trying to copy what has driven ... Read more
2024-05-05 00:39:50
US probes Ford hands-free driving tech after crashes
A US road safety agency is investigating Ford's BlueCruise driver assistance system following two fatal collisions. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) wrote in both cases Ford Mustang Mach-E cars collided with stationary vehicles at night, while the system was engaged. BlueCruise is a driver assistance technology that allows hands-free driving on certain roads, typically ... Read more
2024-04-29 23:37:53
World's biggest 3D printer whirs into action
A giant 3D printer, which is big enough to make a house, has been unveiled at the University of Maine. The university says it has beaten its own record for the world's largest polymer 3D printer - with the new printer four times bigger than the previous machine. The Factory of the Future 1.0 (FoF 1.0) can print objects 96ft (29m) long - approximately the length of a blue whale. But experts say, ... Read more
2024-04-27 19:37:13