Google won’t say if UK secretly demanded a backdoor for user data
Google said it has “never built a backdoor” for its services, but would not explicitly say if the company had received a secret U.K. surveillance order demanding access.
The Download: failed social media bans, and extending pets’ lives
This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. Kids are outsmarting social media bans. That’s not a problem we need to solve. —Michal Luria, Aliya Bhatia, and Danah Boyd Social media bans are stacking up. In July, France joined…
OpenAI launches Study Mode in ChatGPT
OpenAI’s Study Mode aims to help students develop their own critical thinking skills, rather than just giving answers.
Spotify hints at a more chatty voice AI interface in the future
Spotify says AI will allow for “much more interactive” consumer experiences in its app.
Tea app’s second data breach exposed over a million private messages
Dating safety app Tea experienced a second data breach in as many weeks, exposing over a million sensitive messages between users.
Starbucks Pins Its Turnaround Hopes on ‘Green Apron Service.’ What Is It, Exactly?
The coffee giant has made a spate of changes since CEO Brian Niccol took over last September.
This Meta Product Unexpectedly Tripled in Revenue Over the Past Year: ‘Major Milestones’
Sales for the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses have skyrocketed, leading others in Big Tech, including Apple and Google, to work on their own frames.
YouTube rolls out age estimation tech to identify US teens and apply additional protections
YouTube is introducing age detection technology to identify teens on the platform in the U.S. and apply prtections.
I Used to Think ‘Better for You’ Meant No Fun. Here’s What Changed My Mind.
Better doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to start. One choice, one swap, one moment at a time. The future deserves it (and so do we).
Telecom giant Orange warns of disruption amid ongoing cyberattack
The telecom giant, one of the largest in the world with customers in Europe and Africa, said customers are experiencing ongoing disruption to its services due to an unspecified hack.
Elon Musk’s Boring Company to build Tesla tunnels under Nashville
Construction could start fast — but that speed has edangered Boring Company workers in the past.