CNET Survey: 43% of Americans Use VPNs, Citing Privacy as the Primary Reason. Experts Expect That Number to Rise

CNET Survey: 43% of Americans Use VPNs, Citing Privacy as the Primary Reason. Experts Expect That Number to Rise

Virtual privacy networks are gaining popularity. Between January’s short-lived TikTok ban, the rise of AI scams and online privacy concerns, Americans are turning to VPNs to access restricted content or to increase their security. An exclusive CNET survey found that 43% of US adults are using VPNs, and nearly half do so to safeguard their … Read more

Engwe Mapfour N1 Pro e-bike review: the new ‘premium’

Engwe Mapfour N1 Pro e-bike review: the new ‘premium’

Europe has an electric bike problem. Direct-to-consumer e-bikes from inexpensive Chinese brands like Engwe and countless others can be easily purchased online despite openly flouting EU restrictions. They feature throttles and powerful motors that can be easily unlocked to far exceed the 25km/h (16mph) legal speed limit — no pedaling required. Here in Amsterdam, cheap … Read more

Google Gemini: Everything you need to know about the generative AI models

Google Gemini: Everything you need to know about the generative AI models

Google’s trying to make waves with Gemini, its flagship suite of generative AI models, apps, and services. But what’s Gemini? How can you use it? And how does it stack up to other generative AI tools such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Meta’s Llama, and Microsoft’s Copilot? To make it easier to keep up with the latest Gemini … Read more

Not all Echo devices will get Alexa+ – see if yours made the list

Not all Echo devices will get Alexa+ – see if yours made the list

Maria Diaz/ZDNET Amazon has announced a gen AI-powered Alexa+, a revamped version of its popular virtual assistant that leverages the power of generative artificial intelligence to enhance the user experience. Alexa+ is exactly what you may have envisioned when you first heard of voice assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google, but without the accompanying disappointment at their … Read more

TikTok’s latest trend mocks millennial burger joints

TikTok’s latest trend mocks millennial burger joints

Even if you don’t know it, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve been to a millennial burger joint. As TikTok has recently noticed, there are numerous tell-tale signs, including, but not limited to, reclaimed wood, metal barstools, truffle fries, $25 burgers, and a menu with sections like “shareable” and “handhelds.” SEE ALSO: TikTok’s My Emergency … Read more

Apple Says It’s Fixing Transcription Glitch That Transcribes ‘Racist’ as ‘Trump’

Apple Says It’s Fixing Transcription Glitch That Transcribes ‘Racist’ as ‘Trump’

Apple says it will issue a software fix for an unusual and ill-timed transcription issue that’s been shown in multiple TikTok videos. The issue led to some iPhones displaying the word “Trump” when performing voice-to-text transcription with words that include “racist.”   An Apple spokesperson said the company was aware of the problem, which it … Read more

DOGE Staffers at HUD Are From an AI Real Estate Firm and a Mobile Home Operator

DOGE Staffers at HUD Are From an AI Real Estate Firm and a Mobile Home Operator

The current balance in the LOCCS system, according to a record reviewed by WIRED, is over $100 billion—money Congress has approved for HUD projects but which has yet to be drawn down. Much of this money has been earmarked to cover disaster assistance and community development work, a source at the agency says. Normally, those … Read more

The latest on the WordPress fight over trademarks and open source

The latest on the WordPress fight over trademarks and open source

WP Engine, a private equity-backed company, made the unilateral decision, at its own risk, to build a multi-billion dollar business around Mr. Mullenweg’s website. In doing so, WP Engine gambled for the sake of profit that Mr. Mullenweg would continue to maintain open access to his website for free. That was their choice. Source link