Amazon’s dynamic pricing is causing chaos for school budgets
Amazon's dynamic pricing is causing chaos for school budgets School districts are paying extra for basic supplies thanks to unpredictable dynamic pricing on Amazon, which is costing them on average 17 percent more, according to a report by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR). Unlike the contracts schools and local governments would traditionally make with […]
Trump admin may deny H1-B visas to people who worked in content moderation, report says
Trump admin may deny H1-B visas to people who worked in content moderation, report says The Trump administration has ordered US consulates to consider rejecting H1-B visa applicants involved in content moderation or “censorship,” according to a report from Reuters. A State Department cable viewed by the outlet says officials should check an applicant’s resume […]
Microsoft is quietly walking back its diversity efforts
Microsoft is quietly walking back its diversity efforts Microsoft has been publishing data about the gender, race, and ethnic breakdown of its employees for more than a decade. Since 2019 it’s been publishing a full diversity and inclusion report annually, and at the same time made reporting on diversity a requirement for employee performance reviews. […]
Google’s AI model is getting really good at spoofing phone photos
Google's AI model is getting really good at spoofing phone photos These aren’t real people! | Image: Nano Banana Pro I’m starting to understand where Google’s visual AI model gets its name, because after playing around with it for a couple of days, that’s how I’d sum it up: bananas. The images it generates are […]
Ray-Ban’s Meta smart glasses are even cheaper than they were on Black Friday
Ray-Ban's Meta smart glasses are even cheaper than they were on Black Friday The last-gen model costs $155 less than the new pair. It sounds weird to say it’s a good thing if you missed the Ray-Ban Meta deal on Black Friday, but… it’s kind of true. The original Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses just fell to an […]
Amazon is reportedly ready to drop its USPS deal if negotiations fall through
Amazon is reportedly ready to drop its USPS deal if negotiations fall through After over 30 years, Amazon may be cutting ties with the United States Postal Service as it looks to expand its own delivery network, as reported by The Washington Post. The outlet, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, cites anonymous sources who […]
Amazon’s new color Kindle Scribe launches on December 10th
Amazon's new color Kindle Scribe launches on December 10th Amazon’s new Kindle Scribe Colorsoft | Photo: Todd Haselton / The Verge Amazon has finally given a release date for its new Kindle Scribe Colorsoft and Kindle Scribe: They’ll be available to purchase starting on December 10th, Amazon spokesperson Rachel Erickson tells The Verge. They’ll cost […]
AI chatbots can be wooed into crimes with poetry
AI chatbots can be wooed into crimes with poetry It turns out my parents were wrong. Saying “please” doesn’t get you what you want-poetry does. At least, it does if you’re talking to an AI chatbot. That’s according to a new study from Italy’s Icaro Lab, an AI evaluation and safety initiative from researchers at […]
Meta could axe up to one-third of its ‘metaverse’ budget next year
Meta could axe up to one-third of its 'metaverse' budget next year Meta may slash its budget for metaverse projects by up to 30 percent next year, according to a report from Bloomberg. Sources tell the outlet the potential cuts haven’t been finalized, but they would impact the unit that works on Meta’s Quest virtual […]
The 25 best gifts for travelers who are always on the move
The 25 best gifts for travelers who are always on the move I’m convinced that whoever said it’s about the journey, not the destination, has never traveled. Try sitting on a plane for 16 hours – plus delays, airport security, and a snoring seat neighbor – and then get back to me. While getting from […]