Internet

In Vermont, pay phones return free of charge in cellular dead zone

An electrical engineer by trade, Patrick Schlott has spent countless hours tinkering with new and old technology. But it wasn't until he found himself living in rural Vermont that he realised his penchant for repairing old pay phones could provide a public service.

Internet

Opinion: As the Coldplay kiss-cam couple fades into the bushes, here’s what the Internet hath wrought

As the story of the Coldplay kiss-cam couple ducks out of camera range and into history, and we ride that dead horse into the sunset, let us take a moment to examine what the Internet hath wrought.

Technology

Amazon shuts down Shanghai AI research lab, FT says

(Reuters) -Amazon is shutting down its Shanghai artificial intelligence lab, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

AI

These tips from experts can help your teenager navigate AI companions

New research shows more than 70% of American teenagers have used AI companions and more than half converse with them regularly.

AI

Teens say they are turning to AI for advice, friendship and 'to get out of thinking'

For the past couple of years, concerns about cheating at school have dominated the conversation around kids and AI. But artificial intelligence is playing a much larger role in many of their lives. AI, teens say, has become a go-to source for personal advice, emotional support, everyday decision-making and problem-solving.

Technology

PayPal to launch cross-border platform with link to India's UPI payments system

MUMBAI (Reuters) -Payments firm PayPal has partnered with the operator of India's popular unified payments interface and others to launch a global platform through which consumers can make cross-border payments to businesses.

Mobile apps

Public Bank says PB Engage mobile app will be inaccessible from Aug 15 onward

Public Bank has announced that its PB Engage mobile app will cease to function after August 15, with customers advised to switch to the new MyPB app to continue accessing mobile banking services.

Technology

Taiwan plans AI projects to boost economy by $510 billion

TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan plans to launch its "Ten Major AI Infrastructure Projects" initiative, aimed at generating more than T$15 trillion ($510 billion) in economic value by 2040 as it strives to become a global leader in artificial intelligence.

Internet

Extreme weather misinformation 'putting lives at risk,' study warns

Major social media platforms are enabling and profiting from misinformation around extreme weather events, endangering lives and impeding emergency response efforts, a research group said July 22.

Technology

US nuclear weapons agency breached in Microsoft SharePoint hack, Bloomberg News reports

(Reuters) -U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration was among those breached by a hack of Microsoft's SharePoint document management software, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing a person with knowledge of the matter.

AI

Is AI the future of web browsing?

A test of the app Dia illustrates that the humble web browser may be the path to making artificial intelligence more natural to use.

Technology

Alibaba launches open-source AI coding model, touted as its most advanced to date

BEIJING (Reuters) -Alibaba Group announced on Wednesday the launch of Qwen3-Coder, an open-source artificial intelligence model for software development that the Chinese e-commerce giant described as its most advanced coding tool to date.

Video games

There’s a lot to dig in Donkey Kong Bananza

A Dante-like descent brims with valuable fossils and gold, but also sharp thorns, burning lava and icy water.

Technology

T-Mobile's 5G to power Comcast, Charter wireless business plans

(Reuters) -Comcast and Charter Communications said on Tuesday they would establish a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that will use T-Mobile's 5G network to serve wireless business customers, with plans to launch next year.

Technology

Amazon to buy startup focused on AI wearables

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -Amazon has reached a deal to buy San Francisco-based Bee, a startup making an artificial intelligence-enabled bracelet to listen in on and transcribe conversations.

Technology

Texas Instruments slumps as tariff uncertainty hits demand

(Reuters) -Texas Instruments' quarterly profit forecast failed to impress investors as it pointed to weaker-than-expected demand for its analog chips from some customers and underscored tariff-related uncertainty.

Technology

PNC taps Coinbase to create crypto trading offering for bank customers

(Reuters) -PNC Bank is working with cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase to offer crypto trading to the bank's customers, the companies said on Tuesday, in a sign that crypto is moving toward becoming increasingly interconnected to mainstream finance. 

Technology

Clorox accuses IT provider in lawsuit of giving hackers employee passwords

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Bleach maker Clorox said Tuesday that it has sued information technology provider Cognizant over a devastating 2023 cyberattack, alleging the hackers gained access by asking the tech company's staff for its employees' passwords.

Technology

Musk's xAI working to raise up to $12 billion, WSJ reports

(Reuters) -Elon Musk's artificial intelligence startup xAI is working with a financier to secure up to $12 billion more for its expansion plans, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the situation.

Technology

Exclusive-Apple set to stave off daily fines, EU to accept App Store changes, sources say

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Apple's changes to its App Store rules and fees will likely secure the green light from EU antitrust regulators, people with direct knowledge of the matter said, a move that would stave off potentially hefty daily fines for the iPhone maker.