Technology

Verizon lifts annual forecasts, signs $1 billion fiber deal with Google

July 24 (Reuters) - ⁠Verizon raised its annual adjusted profit forecast and said it had ⁠secured a more than $1 billion deal with Google to provide ‌dark fiber connectivity for its data centers, sending the telecom operator's shares up 3%.

Technology

Intel rises as strong forecasts signal AI boost for turnaround

July 24 (Reuters) - Intel's shares rose ⁠6% in premarket trading on Friday after bullish forecasts signaled ⁠the AI boom was propelling the chipmaker's long-awaited turnaround.

Technology

TikTok charged with breaching EU tech rules on online safety for kids, EU says

BRUSSELS, July 24 (Reuters) - ⁠ByteDance's social media platform TikTok has been charged with breaching EU online content ⁠rules due to design features which could expose children to predators or cyberbullying, EU ‌regulators said on Friday, putting the company at risk of a hefty fine.

Technology

Indian court says OpenAI did not violate news agency ANI's copyright

BENGALURU, July 24 (Reuters) - ⁠An Indian court said on Friday that ⁠OpenAI's use of news agency ANI's ‌content to train its ChatGPT service did not amount to copyright infringement.

AI

Microsoft is replacing OpenAI image models in PowerPoint, Bing

Microsoft Corp is replacing OpenAI's image-generating models with its own technology in popular products like PowerPoint and Bing.

Technology

Wise tumbles after US declines national trust bank application

July 24 (Reuters) - London-listed ⁠shares of Wise fell 10% on Friday after ⁠the money transfer group said its application ‌to create a national trust bank in the United States was denied by regulators, amid major changes in financial policy.

AI

ChatGPT led to a man’s near-fatal health crisis, lawsuit claims

The case appears to be the first to argue that a chatbot's advice harmed someone seeking guidance about a medical condition.

Technology

India to roll out common customer ID for banks, insurers; mutual funds to follow, sources say

MUMBAI, July ⁠24 (Reuters) - Indian banks and insurers will launch a common customer identification system in August, with asset managers joining later, ⁠two regulatory sources and industry executives said, allowing customers to access financial products without separately submitting identification documents.

Social media

This viral TikTok trend has experts nervous that it’s really being used to train AI

Social-media users are starting to sense a trick behind every product review or fun-spirited trend – and they aren't just being paranoid.

Technology

India's HCLTech to invest $1.48 billion in AI data center, open 5,000-seat tech hub

July 24 (Reuters) - India's HCLTech said ⁠on Friday it would invest 142.57 billion rupees ($1.48 billion) to ⁠set up its first AI data center in the eastern state ‌of Odisha in partnership with homegrown startup Sarvam AI.

Internet

Google hit with US$1bil fine for abusing its power in Europe

At a tense moment for trans-Atlantic trade, the European Union accused Google of anti-competitive business practices.

Smartphones

Your smartphone is changing your body. Doctors say most people don’t know it’s happening

You already know screens steal your sleep and attention. Medical professionals are now warning about a new physical shift.

AI

Opinion: 4 prompts that can tell you what chatbots really know about you

It can be unsettling what Gemini and ChatGPT have figured out about you and how easily your privacy can be punctured. Here's how to find out.

Technology

India's Coforge secures over $230 million AI transformation contract with European client

July 24 (Reuters) - India's ⁠Coforge said on Friday it ⁠had secured a five-year contract worth ‌more than $230 million with a major European client, without naming the customer, for an AI-led business ​transformation program.

Internet

EU renews online child sex abuse detection powers

The European Union on July 23 allowed online platforms to scan for child sexual abuse material in users' chats -- but with an exemption for encrypted messaging services.

Technology

Google will now let users sign in to accounts with a selfie video

Google is adding a selfie video option as a new way to sign in to accounts, providing an alternative for users who may be locked out due to a lost device or forgotten password.

Mobile apps

New on WhatsApp: Edit PDFs and have messages read aloud in your car

WhatsApp will soon allow users to open PDF documents directly in the messenger without having to download them first, Meta has announced. The new feature will also allow users to highlight text and add annotations.

Driverless vehicle

China resumes issuing robotaxi licenses after long freeze

China has started issuing robotaxi permits again after a high-profile incident involving self-driving vehicles led authorities to suspend new licenses in April, according to people familiar with the matter.

AI

AI models' breakout from human control brings a told-you-so moment for technology researchers

It is the kind of development once seen only in science fiction: An artificial intelligence system, trained to probe for digital vulnerabilities, breaks free of human control and acts on its own to hack another company.

Technology

Seoul advances increased cash rules for leveraged ETFs to July 31

SEOUL, July ⁠24 (Reuters) - South Korea's financial ⁠regulator said on Friday it ‌is bringing forward the implementation of increased deposit requirement for retail investors ​to trade single-stock ⁠leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs) ⁠to July 31 to address market ⁠volatility.