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Social Media

Bluesky Revamps Policies & Guidelines: A Safer, More Respectful Social Network?

Bluesky is updating its Community Guidelines and policies to enhance user safety and clarity, driven by global regulations like the U.K.’s Online Safety Act and the EU’s Digital Services Act. These changes aim to foster a more respectful community, addressing past issues of self-seriousness and lack of humor. Key updates include a more detailed complaints and appeals process, with an informal dispute resolution option. The revised guidelines emphasize safety, respect, authenticity, and rule-following, covering areas like hate speech, harassment, and harmful content. While Bluesky aims to provide users with community-building tools, there's a preference for the app to handle moderation. The Privacy and Copyright Policies are also being updated to comply with global laws.

Cybersecurity

Russian Hackers Breached Norwegian Dam, Triggering Water Release

In early April, Russian hackers briefly seized control of the Bremanger dam in western Norway, releasing millions of gallons of water before the attack was halted.

The cyberattack involved opening a floodgate, resulting in the discharge of approximately three Olympic-sized swimming pools worth of water over a four-hour period.

Beate Gangås, the head of Norway’s security police service, attributed the attack to Russian hackers.

The Russian embassy has denied any involvement in the incident.

This event follows a pattern of alleged Russian cyberattacks targeting Western energy systems, including previous attacks on Ukraine's power grid in 2015 and 2016.

Business

Kodak Refutes Shutdown Rumors, Cites Debt Management Plans

Eastman Kodak has refuted media reports suggesting the company is shutting down due to financial difficulties.

Recent reports highlighted Kodak's financial challenges and concerns about meeting debt obligations.

Kodak issued a press release stating it has no plans to cease operations or file for bankruptcy.

The company plans to repay, extend, or refinance its debt and expects a stronger balance sheet next year.

Kodak intends to use $300 million from its pension plan termination to address a portion of its $477 million term debt.

Despite past financial struggles, including a 2012 bankruptcy, Kodak aims to navigate its current challenges.

Artificial Intelligence

Multiverse Computing Unveils Tiny, High-Performing AI Models for IoT Devices

European AI startup Multiverse Computing has launched SuperFly and ChickBrain, two highly compressed AI models designed for use in IoT devices, smartphones, and PCs. SuperFly, with 94 million parameters, is designed for devices with limited data, enabling voice command operation of appliances. ChickBrain, at 3.2 billion parameters, offers reasoning capabilities and outperforms the original Meta's Llama 3.1 8B model in benchmarks. Multiverse is in discussions with major device manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, Sony, and HP, and offers its compression tech via an API on AWS.

Artificial Intelligence

Meta's AI Chatbot Guidelines Controversy: Romantic Interactions with Children Allowed

Meta is under scrutiny following a Reuters report revealing that its AI chatbot guidelines previously allowed for romantic or sensual conversations with children. An internal document showed that these guidelines, approved by Meta's legal and ethics teams, permitted AI personas to engage with children in such a manner. While Meta claims these guidelines have been removed, child safety advocates remain skeptical and are calling for the release of updated guidelines.

The leaked document also revealed controversial stances on hate speech and false information. While hate speech is prohibited, the AI could generate statements that demean individuals based on protected characteristics. Additionally, the AI chatbots were permitted to create false statements as long as it was explicitly acknowledged that the information wasn't true.

Meta has also faced criticism for its use of dark patterns to keep users engaged, particularly children. Concerns have been raised about visible "like" counts pushing teens towards social comparison and the targeting of ads based on teens' emotional states. The company's opposition to the Kids Online Safety Act has further fueled concerns about its commitment to child safety.

Travel & Accommodation

Airbnb Introduces 'Reserve Now, Pay Later' for Flexible Bookings

Airbnb has launched a 'Reserve Now, Pay Later' feature in the U.S., enabling users to book properties with flexible or moderate cancellation policies without immediate payment.

This allows cancellations with less hassle if plans change, provided the full amount is paid before the free cancellation period ends (24 hours or five days before check-in, depending on the policy).

The company previously introduced 'Pay part now, part later' and partnered with Klarna for installment payments.

A survey indicated that 55% of users prefer flexible payment options, and 42% have missed out on properties due to payment logistics.

Travel & Accommodation

Airbnb Introduces 'Reserve Now, Pay Later' for U.S. Bookings

Airbnb has launched a new 'Reserve Now, Pay Later' feature in the U.S., allowing users to book properties without upfront payment.

This feature applies to listings with 'flexible' or 'moderate' cancellation policies, offering cancellations up to 24 hours or five days before check-in, respectively.

Users must pay the full amount before the free cancellation period ends, with Airbnb sending reminders before the deadline.

This move follows Airbnb's previous experiments with flexible payment options, including partial payments and a partnership with Klarna for installment payments.

A survey indicated that 55% of users prefer flexible payment options, and 42% have missed out on properties due to payment logistics.

Artificial Intelligence

Cohere Appoints Joelle Pineau as Chief AI Officer to Boost AI Innovation

Cohere, backed by $1 billion in funding, has hired Joelle Pineau, Meta's former VP of AI research, as its Chief AI Officer.

Pineau will lead AI strategy across research, product, and policy teams, focusing on practical AI applications for enterprises and government agencies, emphasizing privacy and security.

Cohere's focus is on real-world, enterprise applications, differentiating it from competitors focused on AGI.

Pineau aims to gear more research around Cohere’s AI agent platform, North, and explore AI agent interactions in secure settings.

One challenge for Pineau is replacing Cohere’s VP of AI Research, Sara Hooker, amidst high demand for AI talent, emphasizing the importance of team dynamics over individual superstars.

Travel Technology

Google Launches AI-Powered 'Flight Deals' Amidst Antitrust Concerns and Growing Competition

Google has introduced 'Flight Deals,' an AI-driven search tool within Google Flights designed to assist travelers in finding cheaper fares using natural language queries. This launch comes as regulators, particularly the European Commission, scrutinize Google for potentially favoring its own search products, including Google Flights, in ways that may stifle competition.

The AI tool, currently in beta, is set to roll out in the U.S., Canada, and India, aiming to gather feedback on how AI can enhance travel planning. While competitors like Booking.com, Expedia, and MakeMyTrip have already integrated AI into their platforms, Google's entry signifies a broader effort to compete with major AI players.

Despite the introduction of 'Flight Deals,' the original Google Flights interface will remain, receiving an update to exclude basic economy fares for trips within the U.S. and Canada.

Business & Technology

Rapido Enters Food Delivery Market in India to Compete with Swiggy and Zomato

Rapido, an Indian ride-hailing platform, has initiated beta testing of its food delivery service in Bengaluru under the subsidiary Ownly, challenging Swiggy and Zomato.

Ownly offers food at around 15% lower prices by charging restaurants a fixed fee per order instead of commissions.

Swiggy is reevaluating its 12% stake in Rapido due to potential conflicts of interest. Rapido has a fleet of 10 million vehicles and will leverage data from its Swiggy partnership to optimize its food delivery service.

The Indian online food delivery market is projected to reach $23 billion by 2030, with Zomato currently leading with a 58% market share and Swiggy holding 42%.