Tech
informed Summary
- It may be worth the effort of choosing the right video-call background after all. Research from Durham University's psychology department found that bookshelves or house plants in the background of video calls make the best impression in online meetings.
Tech2 min readinformed Summary
- OpenAI has given its ChatGPT chatbot the ability to communicate by using voice and audio, positioning it as a competitor to the likes of Alexa and Siri. The chatbot can respond with one of five "personas" and is generally more conversational than other popular voice assistants.
Tech4 min readinformed Summary
- The etiquette of phone calls has evolved with technology, and it's important to adapt to these changes to avoid misunderstandings. Key guidelines include avoiding leaving voicemails, as they are often transcribed into text and may not be listened to. Instead, important information should be sent via text or email.
Tech5 min readinformed Summary
- Artificial intelligence programs have been used to generate news stories, but have often produced inaccurate or inappropriate content. This includes an obituary that described a former NBA player as "useless at 42" and a travel article that recommended tourists visit a food bank.
Tech4 min readinformed Summary
- RunPee is an app developed by Dan Gardner that tells moviegoers the best times to take a bathroom break during a film. The idea came to Gardner during a screening of Peter Jackson's King Kong in 2005.
Tech5 min readinformed Summary
- Amazon has previewed a new version of its voice assistant, Alexa, which is powered by "smarter and more conversational" artificial intelligence, similar to a chatbot.
Tech4 min readinformed Summary
- Walter Isaacson's biography of Elon Musk reveals that Musk's father, Errol Musk, owned a share of emeralds from three small black-market mines in Zambia, which he sold for around $210,000. However, the mines went bankrupt in the 1980s and little of the money ever made its way to Elon or his siblings.
Tech5 min readinformed Summary
- The author, Brian Merchant, identifies as a Luddite, not in the sense of being against technology, but in the spirit of resisting technologies that cause harm. He argues that the original Luddites were not against technology itself, but the ways it was used to exploit them during the Industrial Revolution.
Tech5 min readinformed Summary
- Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous (ITAA) is a growing fellowship that provides tools and support to deal with compulsive internet use. The 12-step program, based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous, was launched in 2017 and now has thousands of members worldwide.
Tech6 min readinformed Summary
- Tech companies such as Google, Meta, and Microsoft are increasingly using user data to train their artificial intelligence systems. This includes data from Gmail, Instagram posts, and Bing chats.
Tech6 min read- Tech9 min read
informed Summary
- It’s possible we’re at the dawn of an incredible era of toolmaking, with the emergence of ChatGPT marking a quantum leap into an awesome future, Josh Tyrangiel writes in the Washington Post.
Tech6 min readinformed Summary
- Experts suggest that most children should be ready for a smartphone between the ages of 10 to 14.
Tech4 min readinformed Summary
- The United Kingdom is set to host an international summit on the governance of artificial intelligence this November. The key decision that UK officials are grappling with is whether to extend an invitation to China or to keep the event exclusive to the G7 and other nations that are keen on preserving liberal democracy as the bedrock of a digital society.
Tech6 min readinformed Summary
- LinkedIn has seen a rise in personal posts as users share more about their mental health struggles, relationship statuses and family life. This trend has been driven by the blurring of work and home life during the pandemic, with many employees prioritizing well-being and family.
Tech6 min readinformed Summary
- The Digital Services Act (DSA), approved by the European Parliament in 2022, is now in effect. It aims to protect consumers online by enforcing transparency in how content or products are algorithmically recommended and ensuring the mitigation of disinformation spread. It also requires platforms to provide ways for users to flag illegal content.
Tech4 min readinformed Summary
- Many people are using podcasts as a constant source of background noise to help them focus, manage their emotions, or combat loneliness. This trend has been facilitated by technological advances such as discreet earbuds and a never-ending stream of audio content.
Tech6 min readinformed Summary
- More than 2 million people in the Philippines are involved in "crowdwork", annotating data to train AI models for American companies. This work is often low-paid and subject to exploitation.
Tech8 min readinformed Summary
- With advice from three expert posters, Shira Ovide of The Washington Post has put together a highly subject guide to the best social-media apps out there.
Tech5 min read
