Tech News from Simmons Systems (Page 581)

Tech News from Simmons Systems

Robots and Drones Take on Delivery Duties During Coronavirus Pandemic

As the COVID-19 crisis limits human contact, robots and drones step up to handle deliveries and reduce infection risks for essential workers.

FDA-Cleared AI Triage Tool Offered Free to Support Radiology Departments

Medical startup Nines provides its FDA-cleared AI triage software at no cost until June 30 to assist overwhelmed radiology departments during the COVID-19 pandemic. The tool automatically identifies potentially critical brain conditions on CT scans to help doctors prioritize urgent cases.

LabCorp Faces Shareholder Lawsuit Over Concealed Data Breaches

A LabCorp shareholder files a derivative suit accusing the company's board of hiding two major data breaches from investors and the public. The legal action claims inadequate cybersecurity measures exposed millions of patient records.

NASA Prepares Mars Helicopter for Historic First Extraterrestrial Flight

NASA plans to launch the Ingenuity helicopter to Mars later this year to attempt the first-ever powered flight on another planet. The four-pound craft faces immense atmospheric challenges but serves only as a technology demonstrator for future aerial exploration.

OpenAI Introduces Jukebox AI That Generates Music With Vocals

OpenAI unveils Jukebox, a new machine learning framework that generates raw audio music complete with lyrics and singer voices. While the output shows impressive local coherence, the AI still struggles to replicate larger musical structures like repeating choruses.

Visa and Safaricom Partner to Connect M-Pesa to Global Card Network

Visa and Safaricom forge a new partnership to link Africa's leading mobile money platform, M-Pesa, with Visa's worldwide merchant network. The collaboration aims to boost digital payments and e-commerce capabilities for millions of unbanked and underbanked users across East Africa.

Walmart Launches Premium Express Grocery Delivery to Cut Pandemic Wait Times

Walmart introduces a new "Express" grocery delivery service that allows customers to pay a $10 premium to skip long lines and receive their orders in two hours or less. The service responds to massive pandemic-driven demand that leaves standard delivery slots booked out for days.

Xiaomi Smartphones Secretly Record User Browsing and App Activity

Cybersecurity researchers discover that Xiaomi smartphones and browsers covertly track and transmit massive amounts of private user data to remote servers. The Chinese tech giant faces serious privacy accusations affecting millions of devices worldwide.

Majority of Startups Face Severe Cash Shortages Amid Pandemic Layoffs

A global survey reveals that nearly three-quarters of startups have reduced staff due to COVID-19, while 65% possess less than six months of operating cash. Venture capital funding drops significantly, leaving most young companies in a desperate fight for survival.

Apple Tests Faster iPhone Unlocking for Masked Users in iOS Update

Apple introduces a new feature in iOS 13.5 that automatically prompts for a passcode when Face ID detects a face mask. The upcoming update also includes a joint contact tracing API designed by Apple and Google.

New EventBot Malware Targets Android Banking and Crypto Apps

A sophisticated new Android malware named EventBot steals passwords and two-factor codes from over 200 banking and cryptocurrency apps. The threat exploits accessibility features to quietly siphon funds and remains actively under development.

Chinese EV Maker Nio Lands $1 Billion From State Investors

Nio secures a $1 billion investment from Chinese state-owned entities by agreeing to move its headquarters to Hefei and relinquish a minority stake in its new Nio China business unit.

Lyft Cuts Nearly 1,000 Jobs and Furloughs Hundreds Amid Pandemic

Lyft reduces its workforce by 17 percent, laying off 982 employees and furloughing 288 more as the COVID-19 pandemic devastates the ride-hailing industry. The company also implements widespread salary cuts for executives and staff to manage the financial fallout.