Meta proposes ad-free service for EU users — but you’ll have to pay for it
Meta is considering charging EU users €13 a month to access an ad-free version of Instagram or Facebook on their phones, the Wall Street Journal reports. The tech giant is…
German energy giant tests power-generating kite at new facility in Ireland
German energy giant RWE has put a new airborne wind test facility in Ireland to work for the first time, as it explores alternative forms of green electricity. The experimental…
With Spotify’s ‘Jam’ your whole squad becomes the DJ
Spotify has launched a new feature today called “Jam,” which will give you and your buddies a way to curate a shared playlist and listen to it together in real-time.…
EU blocks Booking’s €1.6B takeover of online travel agency Etraveli
The EU Commission has blocked Booking’s €1.6bn takeover of Swedish online travel agency Etraveli, citing competition concerns. “Booking’s acquisition of Etraveli would strengthen Booking’s dominant position in the online travel…
New erotic roleplaying chatbots promise to indulge your sexual fantasies
AI has thrust deeper into carnal pleasures with the launch of a new roleplaying chatbot system. The feature is the brainchild of Bloom, an erotic audio platform based in Germany.…
Bioniq taps big data algorithms to make supplements bespoke
London-based startup Bioniq, which creates hyper-personalised supplements for its customers — who range from pro athletes to regular people on the quest for longer life — has gone global. Founded…
EU online piracy on the rise as consumers feel the pinch
With the plethora of legitimate streaming options available today, you’d be forgiven for thinking pirated TV shows were a thing of the past. But a new study by the EU’s…
World’s first self-stabilising walking exoskeleton enters stroke rehab trial
The world’s first self-stabilising walking exoskeleton, Atlante X, has entered a rehabilitation trial in Germany. The exoskeleton will be provided to patients with hemiparesis, an after-effect of stroke that causes…
Virtual influencers: meet the AI-generated figures posing as your new online friends
The future of influence is here: a digital avatar that captivates millions of adoring fans while offering unparalleled customisation and round-the-clock availability. Virtual influencers are transforming the way content is…
Poland investigates ChatGPT after alleged data privacy breach
Poland’s data protection watchdog is investigating OpenAI’s ChatGPT after an unnamed complainant accused the company of GDPR breaches. “The case concerns the violation of many provisions on the protection of…
Microsoft’s $69B Activision merger on track for green light
The UK’s antitrust watchdog announced today that it has provisionally accepted Microsoft’s new terms for its $69bn acquisition of Call of Duty developer Activision-Blizzard, renewing hopes that the biggest-ever gaming…
A linguistic anthropologist explains how humans are like ChatGPT
ChatGPT is a hot topic at my university, where faculty members are deeply concerned about academic integrity, while administrators urge us to “embrace the benefits” of this “new frontier.” It’s…