apple music Apple Music Slashes Subscription Prices to Compete in India Apple Music significantly reduces its monthly subscription fees in India to gain an edge over rivals like Spotify and local services. The price drop affects individual, student, and family plans as major tech companies battle for dominance in the crucial market.
robotics Carnegie Mellon Builds Wearable Robotic Arm to Assist Workers Carnegie Mellon researchers create a modular robotic arm that attaches to a backpack to give users an extra limb for complex assembly tasks.
spacex SpaceX Falcon Heavy Prepares for First Commercial Mission The SpaceX Falcon Heavy is set to launch its first real payload, the Arabsat-6A communications satellite, marking a significant shift in the heavy-lift space industry. This upgraded Block 5 rocket promises cheaper access to orbit for massive objects.
snap Snap Looks to Asian Messaging Apps by Launching Social Games Snap introduces multiplayer, ad-supported games inside its app to boost user engagement, taking inspiration from successful Asian messaging giants like WeChat.
google assistant Google Assistant Now Displays Standard Search Results and Ads on Android Google updates its Assistant on Android to match the visual style of standard Google Search, bringing interactive tools and fuller web results directly to the interface.
nlp Natural Language Processing Emerges as Essential AI Investment for Businesses Natural language processing takes center stage as the most visible form of AI, with experts predicting rapid enterprise adoption. Companies must invest in these communication tools to avoid falling behind and missing out on major productivity gains.
google Google Scraps Artificial Intelligence Ethics Council After Employee Backlash Google abruptly cancels its newly formed Advanced Technology External Advisory Council just one week after its announcement. The decision follows intense internal protests over the inclusion of a controversial conservative figure.
oculus quest Facebook Announces May 21 Release for Oculus Quest and Rift S Facebook reveals that both the standalone Oculus Quest and PC-tethered Rift S headsets launch on May 21 for $399, with pre-orders opening today. Both devices share the same Insight tracking technology and Touch controllers, but cater to different VR needs.
amazon Amazon Develops Alexa-Powered Wireless Earbuds to Challenge AirPods Amazon is creating its own true wireless earbuds with built-in Alexa support and gesture controls. The device aims to rival Apple's AirPods by promising superior audio quality.
australia Australia Enforces Strict Penalties for Violent Content on Social Media Australia passes a groundbreaking law that fines social media companies up to 10% of their annual profits and threatens employees with prison time if they fail to rapidly remove violent material.
google Google Dissolves AI Ethics Council After Controversial Appointment Backlash Google cancels its Advanced Technology External Advisory Council following intense internal and external criticism over the inclusion of a controversial Heritage Foundation leader. The company states the council cannot function as intended in the current environment.
samsung Samsung Faces Steep 60 Percent Profit Drop in Q1 2019 Forecast Samsung predicts a massive 60 percent plunge in operating profit for Q1 2019 compared to last year's record highs. The downturn stems largely from slowing smartphone sales and a weakening memory chip market.
snapchat Snapchat Lens Studio Adds Landmarker AR for Famous Global Monuments Snap introduces Landmarkers in Lens Studio, letting creators build augmented reality experiences for famous locations like the Eiffel Tower. The update also brings new tracking tools for hands, bodies, and pets.
yoshua bengio Turing Award Winner Bengio Warns Against Secretive AI and Self-Regulation Newly minted Turing Award winner Yoshua Bengio expresses deep concern over AI development happening behind closed doors in military and private labs. He argues that voluntary self-regulation fails and calls for strong international laws to prevent authoritarian abuse.
mit MIT Uses Machine Learning to Grow Super-Flavored Basil Plants MIT researchers use machine learning to optimize hydroponic growing conditions, creating basil with significantly stronger flavors. The experiment shows how cyber-agriculture can automate and improve farming by manipulating environmental variables.