Science and Technology

A US federal court has upheld legislation requiring Chinese tech giant ByteDance to relinquish ownership of the popular social media platform TikTok in the US by early next year or face a nationwide ban. The ruling marks a significant victory for the Justice Department and TikTok critics, who have long expressed concern about the app's ties to China. However, the decision constitutes a major setback for ByteDance as it now faces the possibility of losing access to the app's 170 million US users. The ruling raises the likelihood of an unprecedented ban on a social networking app widely used in…

The US Supreme Court has announced that it will hear arguments on January 10, 2025 on the constitutionality of a federal law that could ban TikTok in the US unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells the platform. The case raises significant questions about free speech and national security, with implications for TikTok's 170 million U.S. users and its content creators. The law, passed in April with bipartisan support and signed by President Joe Biden, set a Jan. 19 deadline for ByteDance to divest TikTok or face a nationwide ban. TikTok has argued that the law violates the First Amendment…

TikTok has formally asked the US Supreme Court to review a federal appeals court decision that upheld legislation potentially banning the app in the US. The controversial law, backed by President Joe Biden's administration, requires the popular social media platform to sever ties with its China-based parent company, ByteDance, or face a nationwide ban. The legal documents, filed Monday, come on the heels of a ruling by a three-judge panel of the same appeals court. Last week the committee sided with the government, saying the law requiring TikTok to divest from ByteDance is constitutional. According to the document, if the…

Apple has launched a significant free software update, iOS 18, which introduces artificial intelligence features to its iPhone 16 series. This update comes shortly after the release of the new iPhone models, which are priced between $800 and $1,200 and are equipped with the necessary hardware to support these advanced AI functions. In addition to the iPhone 16 models, last year's premium offerings, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, also feature processors that will enable AI technology once the iOS 18 update is installed. Additionally, recent iPad and Mac models can benefit from the same software improvements.…

In a decisive move to strengthen national security, President Joe Biden has ordered the Pentagon and US intelligence agencies to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence. This initiative, outlined in a national security memorandum, aims to position the United States as a leader in artificial intelligence technology while safeguarding against potential threats from adversaries such as China. The memorandum highlights artificial intelligence as a transformative technology, establishing guidelines intended to prevent its misuse against civil liberties or human rights. A senior administration official, speaking anonymously, stressed the importance of aligning the implementation of artificial intelligence with American values. The official…

The collaborative relationship between Microsoft and OpenAI, once hailed as a tech power couple, is showing signs of strain. Despite a substantial $13 billion investment from Microsoft, OpenAI's ambitious AI projects and rising operational costs have put a strain on the partnership. The AI ​​landscape is evolving rapidly, and both companies are navigating the complexities of this dynamic field while seeking to maintain a competitive advantage. OpenAI's projected loss of $5 billion this year highlights the immense financial demands of developing and deploying cutting-edge AI systems. The company's pursuit of increasingly sophisticated models requires vast computational resources, pushing the limits…

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into Tesla's self-driving systems following numerous crashes, including a fatal accident involving a pedestrian. This investigation represents a significant obstacle for Tesla, which has ambitiously advanced its plans for fully self-driving vehicles. Tesla, under the leadership of CEO Elon Musk, has been at the forefront of developing technologies that allow cars to operate without human intervention for navigation, steering and braking. This technology, defined by Tesla as "fully autonomous and supervised driving", aims to revolutionize the way we move by reducing human error and increasing efficiency on the roads.…

In an exciting development in the media landscape, Amazon has announced its entry into the realm of live news coverage. This initiative will be led by none other than Brian Williams, a seasoned journalist renowned for his vast experience in the broadcast industry. Amazon's foray into this segment will begin with comprehensive live coverage of the upcoming Election Day, marking a significant milestone for the tech giant's streaming service, Amazon Video. Scheduled for November 5, the program titled “Election Night Live With Brian Williams” will begin broadcasting at 5pm Eastern Time from a state-of-the-art studio in Los Angeles. While the…

In the burgeoning sleep tech market, a new competitor has emerged: Oura Ring 4. Priced at $350, this device not only promises to monitor your sleep patterns, but also doubles as a fitness tracker, competing with heavyweights like Apple , Fitbit and others. Garmin. The ring, which masquerades as a fashion jewel, is equipped with sensors designed to collect crucial health data such as heart rate, body temperature and physical movement. The appeal of the Oura Ring lies in its sleek design and promise of better sleep analysis, an attractive proposition in an era when more and more Americans are…

The Department of Veterans Affairs is currently looking into Acadia Healthcare, a major operator of psychiatric facilities, for allegedly committing insurance fraud by extending patients' stays without medical necessity. This investigation arises from Acadia's own admissions to investors regarding ongoing investigations by various federal agencies, including prosecutors in Manhattan and a grand jury in Missouri, who rely heavily on revenue from government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid . The focus of these investigations is whether Acadia engaged in practices that unfairly increased their financial returns at the expense of government insurance programs. The Securities and Exchange Commission, along with…