Digital World



The video games bedeviling Elon Musk

AFP - 3h ago

Skepticism rages about whether Elon Musk actually put in the hours to become a top player of video games "Diablo IV" and …

Gamers tear into Musk for 'faking' video game prowess

AFP - 3h ago

Elon Musk's self-proclaimed persona as a top-class gamer took a thrashing on Friday, as video game enthusiasts …

'More sad than shocked': TikTok users brace for ban

AFP - 4h ago

"I almost, like, don't know how to define myself without TikTok," content creator Ayman Chaudhary sighed, reflecting the …

TikTok's US future in limbo after Supreme Court ruling

AFP - 7h ago

The US Supreme Court on Friday upheld a law that could force TikTok to shut down in the United States, potentially …

US Supreme Court upholds law banning TikTok

AFP - 1h ago

The US Supreme Court on Friday upheld a law that will ban TikTok in the United States, potentially denying the …

EU deepens probe into X after Musk outbursts

AFP - 10h ago

The EU on Friday demanded X hand over more details about its algorithms and any future changes as part of its …

EU has limited power to suspend Elon Musk's X

AFP - 11h ago

A suspension for Elon Musk-owned social network X in the European Union could be more difficult than some politicians …

Musk backing for European far right 'endangers democracy': Scholz

AFP - 7h ago

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday said US tech billionaire Elon Musk is threatening European democracy with his …

Nintendo shares down on detail-light Switch 2 teaser

AFP - 19h ago

Nintendo shares tumbled as much as seven percent on Friday after the Japanese games giant failed to impress with a …

'Mini-Musks' channel tech titan in EU Parliament

AFP - 16h ago

Fidias Panayiotou, a Cypriot YouTuber-turned-lawmaker who snatched his 15 minutes of fame by hugging Elon Musk, is …

Apple sidelines AI news summaries due to errors

AFP - 20h ago

Apple pushed out a software update on Thursday which disabled news headlines and summaries generated using artificial …

Nintendo shares tumble as Switch 2 teaser disappoints

AFP - 1h ago

Nintendo shares tumbled as much as seven percent on Friday after the Japanese games giant failed to impress with a …

Nintendo shares tumble as Switch 2 preview disappoints

AFP - 2h ago

Nintendo shares tumbled more than seven percent on Friday after the Japanese games giant failed to impress with a brief …

'Damaging' AI porn scandal at US school scars victims

AFP - 24h ago

Her voice tinged with anger, an American mother worried about what the future holds for her teenage daughter, just one …

Music industry girds for looming US TikTok ban

Jan 16 2025

TikTok has dramatically changed music discovery and marketing -- a reliance the looming US ban on the popular app has …

EU's ex-tech chief joins Bank of America as advisor

Jan 16 2025

The EU's influential former tech enforcer Thierry Breton will join Bank of America's advisory council, he told AFP on …

Nintendo hopes to reprise blockbuster Switch with 2025 successor

Jan 16 2025

Nintendo is betting on the 2025 release of a bigger, better version of its blockbuster Switch console to keep up the …

French researchers aim to ease X refugees' path with 'HelloQuitX'

Jan 16 2025

French researchers have developed an application to help users migrate their whole online community from Elon Musk's X …

China to probe US chips over dumping, subsidies

Jan 16 2025

China said Thursday it would launch a probe into US exports of chips used in everything from cars to home appliances …

Chinese apps including TikTok hit by privacy complaints in Europe

Jan 16 2025

Online privacy campaigners said Thursday they had filed complaints in several European countries against six Chinese …

Apple loses top spot in China smartphone sales to local rivals

Jan 16 2025

Apple lost its status as the best selling smartphone brand in the crucial Chinese market last year, new data showed …

Taiwan's TSMC says net profit rose 57% in fourth quarter

Jan 16 2025

Taiwanese chipmaking giant TSMC on Thursday announced a better-than-expected net profit for the fourth quarter as it …

Nintendo rumour mill in overdrive over new Switch

Jan 16 2025

Speculation over Nintendo's new console, a successor to the wildly popular Switch, reached a fever pitch Thursday with …

AFP strikes deal for France's Mistral AI to use news articles

Jan 16 2025

Global news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) and French artificial intelligence company Mistral AI have signed a deal …

Drake files defamation suit against Universal over Kendrick Lamar track

Jan 15 2025

Rapper Drake on Wednesday filed suit against his own label, saying Universal Music Group's release and promotion of a …

US tightens controls on advanced chips to curb flow to China

Jan 15 2025

The United States unveiled further export controls Wednesday on advanced computing semiconductors, increasing due …

US Supreme Court weighs Texas age-check for porn sites

Jan 15 2025

The US Supreme Court grappled with a challenge on Wednesday to a Texas law requiring pornographic websites to verify …

From ban to buyout: What next for TikTok in the US?

Jan 15 2025

TikTok faces an imminent shutdown in the United States after Congress passed a law last year forcing its Chinese owner …

Humanity has opened 'Pandora's box of ills,' UN chief warns

Jan 15 2025

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Wednesday that humanity had unleashed a "Pandora's box of …

Thai PM says nearly fell for foreign leader phone scam

Jan 15 2025

Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra almost fell victim to a phone scam using AI to impersonate a foreign …

Spanish youth ditch dating apps for 'real life' love

Jan 15 2025

Jilted on dating apps but undeterred in the quest for romance, 20 young singles gathered in Madrid to share activities …

German bourse banks on Trump-fuelled crypto boom

Jan 15 2025

As Donald Trump's looming return to the White House promises to boost cryptocurrencies, a German stock exchange is on a …

Meta to lay off 3,600 employees in performance-based cuts

Jan 14 2025

Meta plans to dismiss approximately 3,600 employees identified as low performers and replace them with new hires, …

'Take my data': US 'TikTok refugees' flock to alternative Chinese app

Jan 14 2025

Furious at the prospect of a US government ban on social media platform TikTok, American users have flocked to another …

UK launches probe into dominance of Google search

Jan 14 2025

Britain's competition watchdog Tuesday launched an investigation into Google's dominant position in the search engine …

TikTok calls report of possible sale to Musk's X 'pure fiction'

Jan 14 2025

TikTok on Tuesday labeled as "pure fiction" a report that China is exploring a potential sale of the video-sharing …

Thai man serving record royal insult sentence faces new charges

Jan 14 2025

A Thai man serving a record sentence for insulting the monarchy has been hit with three more charges, a rights group …

California governor spars with Musk over wildfire 'lies'

Jan 14 2025

California Governor Gavin Newsom has accused tech billionaire Elon Musk of spreading "lies" about the state's response …

Trial over Apple App Store 'surcharge' opens in UK

Jan 13 2025

Apple was accused Monday of abusing the dominant position of its app store at the start of a court trial in the UK, with …

Ubisoft bruised but not broken by 'Assassin's Creed' delay

Jan 13 2025

French video game publisher Ubisoft's second delay to the next instalment of its flagship "Assassin's Creed" series …

PM vows 'pro-growth' rules to make Britain an 'AI superpower'

Jan 13 2025

Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday laid out his vision to harness the power of artificial intelligence to boost …

British PM vows AI will usher in 'golden age'

Jan 13 2025

Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday laid out his vision to harness the power of artificial intelligence to boost …

Smart glasses enter new era with sleeker designs, lower prices

Jan 13 2025

Producers of hi-tech connected eyewear are multiplying their innovations with increasingly discreet models in an attempt …

China's women e-sports players defy sexism for love of the game

Jan 12 2025

For women e-sports players in China, mastering the game is just the first hurdle to carving out a space for themselves …

Tech sector's energy transition draws attention at Vegas show

Jan 12 2025

With its focus on innovative products and cutting-edge technology, the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has not …

Biden blasts 'shameful' Meta decision to scrap US fact-checking

Jan 11 2025

US President Joe Biden blasted Meta Friday for scrapping fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram in the United States, …

Supreme Court looks poised to uphold TikTok ban

Jan 10 2025

The US Supreme Court appeared likely on Friday to uphold a law that would force TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance to sell …

Robots set to move beyond factory as AI advances

Jan 10 2025

Today's robots perform safety checks at industrial plants, conduct quality control in manufacturing, and are even …

Pro-Russian disinformation makes its Bluesky debut

Jan 10 2025

The first symptoms of disinformation are emerging on the social media network Bluesky, with echoes of the pro-Russian …

Meta policy reversal puts question mark on future of fact-checking

Jan 10 2025

Media outlets around the world have been left scratching their heads over the future of their fact-checking operations …

Meta policy reversal puts question mark on furure of fact-checking

Jan 10 2025

Media outlets around the world have been left scratching their heads over the future of their fact-checking operations …

Ubisoft: the 'Assassin's Creed' maker targeted by suitors

Jan 10 2025

From its founding in 1986, French video game maker Ubisoft has grown into a giant of the sector with operations in 20 …

'Real-world harm' if Meta ends fact-checks, global network warns

Jan 10 2025

There will be "real-world harm" if Meta expands its decision to scrap fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram, a global …

Vietnam jails ex-lawyer over Facebook posts

Jan 10 2025

A Vietnamese court jailed a prominent former lawyer for three years on Friday over Facebook posts, a ruling condemned by …

AI comes down from the cloud as chips get smarter

Jan 10 2025

Artificial intelligence is moving from data centers to "the edge" as computer makers build the technology into laptops, …

Right-wing disinformation targets DEI, 'liberal' policies as LA burns

Jan 10 2025

Months of dry weather and recent strong winds created optimal conditions for the deadly wildfires engulfing Los Angeles, …

At CES, AI-powered garbage trucks reduce battery fire risk

Jan 10 2025

From laptops to EVs, lithium-ion batteries have fueled phenomenal growth in the 21st century, but businesses struggle …

US Supreme Court to hear TikTok ban case

Jan 10 2025

The US Supreme Court is to hear TikTok's appeal on Friday of a law that would force its Chinese owner to sell the wildly …

E-Power hits the slopes: new wave of snow sports emerges

Jan 09 2025

Following in the footsteps of electric scooters on land and wakeboards at sea, young entrepreneurs are bringing electric …

Ubisoft reviews restructuring options, postpones new Assassin's Creed

Jan 09 2025

Ubisoft said Thursday it would take decisive steps to reshape itself as the French video game publisher announced it …

Video game play gets frisky at CES gadget gala

Jan 09 2025

Video game play met romantic intimacy in a corner of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on Thursday -- but it hasn't …

Italy's Meloni denies discussing SpaceX deal with Musk

Jan 09 2025

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni denied Thursday talking to Elon Musk about a cybersecurity deal with the American …

China's electric and hybrid vehicle sales jump 40.7% in 2024

Jan 09 2025

Sales of electric and hybrid vehicles jumped more than 40 percent in China last year, as demand for new energy models …

Waymo exec hopeful Trump will boost autonomous driving

Jan 09 2025

A top Waymo executive said Wednesday the United States could lead globally on autonomous driving, expressing hope that a …

Australia frets over Meta halt to US fact-checking

Jan 09 2025

Australia is deeply concerned by Meta's decision to scrap US fact-check operations on its Facebook and Instagram …

Trade war worries loom over Las Vegas tech show

Jan 09 2025

Chinese companies have turned out in force again at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, with their prospects …

Campaigners fear spike in hate speech as Meta lifts restrictions

Jan 09 2025

Tech giant Meta has rolled back restrictions around topics such as gender and sexual identity, a sweeping move advocacy …

Political chess or true beliefs? Zuckerberg's surprise Trump pivot

Jan 08 2025

The clean cut hair has grown, his college kid's hoodie is now a gold chain, and his politics have swerved hard right.

Meta's 'Musk playbook' fans misinformation concerns

Jan 08 2025

Meta's decision to swap professional US fact-checkers with crowd-sourced moderation has raised fears that Facebook and …

US tech titans ramp up pressure on EU

Jan 08 2025

Mark Zuckerberg's U-turn on Meta's content rules piles pressure on the EU -- already in the crosshairs of Donald Trump …

Spanish PM says Musk 'stirs up hatred', warns against fascism

Jan 08 2025

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned Wednesday that fascism could return as X owner Elon Musk, an ally of US …

Nobel winner Ressa tells AFP 'dangerous times' ahead after Meta ends US fact-checking

Jan 08 2025

Philippine Nobel laureate Maria Ressa warned Wednesday of "extremely dangerous times ahead" in an interview with AFP …

France urges European Commission to be firm against Musk interference

Jan 08 2025

France on Wednesday urged the European Commission to protect its member states with "the greatest firmness" against …

OpenAI chief Sam Altman denies sister's sexual abuse accusations

Jan 08 2025

Open AI CEO Sam Altman denied on Tuesday allegations from his sister Annie Altman, who has filed a complaint accusing …

Big Tech rolls out the red carpet for Trump

Jan 08 2025

Tech leaders continue to fall in line around Donald Trump, with Facebook's announcement that it would end its US …

TVs get smarter as makers cater to AI lifestyles

Jan 07 2025

Dazzling televisions that routinely star at the Consumer Electronics Show opening here Tuesday are getting ever smarter …

Disinformation experts slam Meta decision to end US fact-checking

Jan 07 2025

Tech giant Meta's shock announcement that it is ending its US fact-checking program triggered scathing criticism Tuesday …

Invisible man: German startup bets on remote driver

Jan 07 2025

With no one in the driver seat, the SUV pulling up resembles an autonomous robotaxi like those becoming increasingly …

Meta abruptly ends US fact-checks ahead of Trump term

Jan 07 2025

Social media giant Meta on Tuesday slashed its content moderation policies, including ending its US fact-checking …

X's 'Community Notes': a model for Meta?

Jan 07 2025

Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg said Tuesday that the group's platforms including Facebook and Instagram would in future …

Meta announces ending fact-checking program in the US

Jan 07 2025

Social media giant Meta announced Tuesday a significant rollback of its content moderation policies, including the …

Microsoft announces $3 bn AI investment in India

Jan 07 2025

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Tuesday said the company plans to invest $3 billion in India on artificial intelligence …

Nvidia ramps up AI tech for games, robots and autos

Jan 07 2025

Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang made a rock star appearance at a packed arena late Monday, touting AI chips and …

Homes talk and tables walk at AI dominated CES

Jan 07 2025

Home appliances that do chores, cars that know your favorite cafe, and robot pets aiming to please are among artficial …

Meta Names UFC boss Dana White, a Trump ally, to board

Jan 07 2025

Social media giant Meta announced Monday the appointment of three new directors to its board, including Ultimate …

New Orleans attacker had recorded street using Meta glasses: FBI

Jan 06 2025

The man accused of the ramming attack that killed 14 revelers on a crowded New Orleans street had earlier visited the …

'Form of violence': Across globe, deepfake porn targets women politicians

Jan 06 2025

From the United States to Italy, Britain, and Pakistan, female politicians are increasingly becoming victims of …

At Las Vegas show, tech world turns to mental health tools

Jan 06 2025

Whether detecting rising anxiety or managing a full-blown panic attack, the tech industry is offering an array of new …

AI expected to star at CES gadget extravaganza

Jan 04 2025

Gadgets, robots and vehicles imbued with artificial intelligence will once again vie for attention at the Consumer …

Microsoft expects to spend $80 bn on AI this fiscal year

Jan 03 2025

Microsoft president Brad Smith on Friday said the company is on track to pump about $80 billion into artificial …

Indian food delivery app rolls out ambulance service

Jan 03 2025

A popular Indian food delivery app has started offering a private ambulance service, looking to use its logistics …

Beijing slams US over potential Chinese drone ban

Jan 03 2025

China said on Friday it would take "all necessary measures" in response to the United States announcing it was …

US court blocks Biden-era net neutrality rules

Jan 03 2025

A federal appeals court on Thursday ruled that US regulators overstepped their authority by reinstating "net neutrality" …

Apple agrees to $95 mn deal to settle Siri eavesdropping suit

Jan 02 2025

Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit accusing its digital assistant Siri of listening in on users' …

Extradited SKorean crypto 'genius' in court to face US charges

Jan 02 2025

The South Korean co-founder of Terraform Labs appeared in a New York court on Thursday to face fraud charges stemming …

Nick Clegg leaves Meta global policy team

Jan 02 2025

Former British deputy prime minister Nick Clegg said Thursday he is stepping down from his role as president of Meta's …

Secret lab developing UK's first quantum clock: defence ministry

Jan 02 2025

A top-secret lab in the UK is developing the country's first quantum clock to help the British military boost …

US mulls new restrictions on Chinese drones

Jan 02 2025

The United States is considering new rules to address risks posed by drones with tech from foreign adversaries like …

Sales surge in 2024 for Chinese EV giant BYD

Jan 02 2025

Leading Chinese electric car maker BYD's vehicle sales surged in 2024, the company said in a statement, as the firm …

Right-wing YouTubers back South Korea president's last stand

Jan 01 2025

Camped on the street winding up to the residence of South Korea's impeached president, protesters direct vitriol at …

Musk flummoxes internet with 'Kekius Maximus' persona

Jan 01 2025

Elon Musk adopted the moniker "Kekius Maximus" on X Tuesday, sparking speculation among his 210 million followers about …

German leaders hit back at Musk's support for far right

Dec 31 2024

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his deputy hit back Tuesday at Elon Musk's support for the far-right Alternative for …