CATEGORIES

FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM USERS IN EUROPE COULD GET AD-FREE SUBSCRIPTION OPTION, WSJ REPORTS

Meta plans to give Facebook and Instagram users in Europe the option of paying for ad-free versions of the social media platforms as a way to comply with the continent’s strict data privacy rules, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.

EU ANNOUNCES PLANS TO BETTER PROTECT ITS SENSITIVE TECHNOLOGIES FROM FOREIGN SNOOPING

The European Union announced plans to better protect its cutting-edge technologies from foreign snooping that might threaten its economy and security in the wake of repeated warnings that the bloc needs to “de-risk” its relations with China.

UNITED AIRLINES MAKES 2ND LARGE ORDER FOR NEW PLANES IN LESS THAN A YEAR AS IT RENEWS ITS FLEET

United Airlines is making its second large order of new planes in less than a year, more than 100 in all, as the carrier renews its fleet.

FACING INCREASING PRESSURE FROM CUSTOMERS, SOME MINERS ARE SWITCHING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY

Red hot sparks fly through the air as a worker in a heat-resistant suit pokes a long metal rod into a nickel smelter, coaxing the molten metal from a crucible at a processing facility on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.

AI IS ON THE WORLD'S MIND. IS THE UN THE PLACE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT?

Just a few years ago, artificial intelligence got barely a mention at the U.N. General Assembly's convocation of world leaders.

HUMANS TAKE A BACK SEAT IN THE STUNNING AI, SCI-FI EPIC 'THE CREATOR'

The artificial intelligence in Gareth Edwards’ “ The Creator,” a visually magnificent if by-the-books epic, is not the AI making headlines at the moment. This is AI in the classic sci-fi mold — the Roy Battys of “Blade Runner,” the Avas of “Ex Machina,” the ones whose sentience we question and debate endlessly. Will the machines kill us? Take our jobs? Or do something that the movies haven’t dreamed possible yet?

TOYMAKER LEGO WILL STICK TO ITS QUEST TO FIND SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS DESPITE FAILED RECYCLE ATTEMPT

Denmark’s Lego said this week that it remains committed to its quest to find sustainable materials to reduce carbon emissions, even after an experiment by the world’s largest toymaker to use recycled bottles did not work.

MICROSOFT'S REVAMPED $69 BILLION DEAL FOR ACTIVISION IS ON THE CUSP OF GOING THROUGH

British competition regulators gave preliminary approval to Microsoft’s restructured $69 billion deal to buy video game maker Activision Blizzard, easing a final global hurdle that paves the way for one of the largest tech transactions in history to go through.

THE HOLLYWOOD WRITERS STRIKE IS OVER AFTER GUILD LEADERS APPROVE CONTRACT WITH STUDIOS

Hollywood’s writers strike was declared over after nearly five months Tuesday night when board members from their union approved a contract agreement with studios, bringing the industry at least partly back from a historic halt in production.

A STAR-MAKING TURN FOR EVE HEWSON IN THE FEEL-GOOD 'FLORA AND SON'

John Carney, the Irish filmmaker of “Once,” “Sing Street” and “Begin Again,” makes the movie version of “three chords and the truth.”

AMAZON SUED BY FTC AND 17 STATES OVER ALLEGATIONS IT INFLATES ONLINE PRICES AND OVERCHARGES SELLERS

U.S. regulators and 17 states are suing Amazon over allegations the e-commerce behemoth abuses its position in the marketplace to inflate prices on and off its platform, overcharge sellers and stifle competition.

SUFFERING FROM GASOLINE PRICE ANXIETY? THESE ARE THE TOP 5 HYBRIDS OF 2023

Are high gas prices burning a hole in your wallet? Then maybe it’s a good time to consider a hybrid vehicle.

FORD PAUSING CONSTRUCTION OF MICHIGAN BATTERY PLANT AMID CONTRACT TALKS WITH AUTO WORKERS UNION

Ford Motor Co. said that it’s pausing construction of a $3.5 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Michigan until it is confident it can run the factory competitively.

META CEO MARK ZUCKERBERG KICKS OFF DEVELOPER CONFERENCE WITH FOCUS ON AI VIRTUAL REALITY

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg kicked off the tech giant’s Connect developer conference on Wednesday with a focus on virtual and augmented reality and artificial intelligence

AMAZON IS INVESTING UP TO $4 BILLION IN AI STARTUP ANTHROPIC IN GROWING TECH BATTLE

Amazon is investing up to $4 billion in Anthropic and taking a minority stake in the artificial intelligence startup, the two companies said this week.

A NEW BATTERY RECYCLING FACILITY WILL DEEPEN KENTUCKY'S TIES TO THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE SECTOR

A recycling facility will be built in Kentucky to shred electric vehicle batteries in a $65 million venture between American and South Korean companies that will supply material for a separate battery-related operation in the same town, the companies announced this week.

APPLE EXEC DEFENDS THE DECISION TO MAKE GOOGLE ITS DEFAULT SEARCH ENGINE ON IPHONES & MACS

A top Apple executive defended the tech giant’s decision to make Google the default search engine on Apple iPhones and Macs, saying there was no “valid alternative.’’

IS BROADBAND ESSENTIAL, LIKE WATER OR ELECTRICITY? NEW NET NEUTRALITY EFFORT MAKES THE CASE

Landmark net neutrality rules rescinded under former President Donald Trump could return under a new push by U.S. Federal Communications Commission chair Jessica Rosenworcel. The rules would reclassify broadband access as an essential service on par with other utilities like water or power.

Series 9

2023 GENERATION IMPROVEMENTS, UPDATES, AND NEW FEATURES

PHOTO GIANT GETTY TOOK A LEADING AI IMAGE-MAKER TO COURT. NOW IT'S ALSO EMBRACING THE TECHNOLOGY

Anyone looking for a beautiful photograph of a desert landscape can find many choices from Getty Images, the stock photography collection.

THE THREAT OF WILDFIRES IS RISING. SO ARE NEW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SOLUTIONS TO FIGHT THEM

Wildfires fueled by climate change have ravaged communities from Maui to the Mediterranean this summer, killing many people, exhausting firefighters and fueling demand for new solutions. Enter artificial intelligence.

THE AVERAGE LONG-TERM US MORTGAGE RATE REACHES HIGHEST POINT IN NEARLY 23 YEARS, HITTING 7.31%

Home loan borrowing costs climbed again this week, pushing the average long-term U.S. mortgage rate to its highest level in nearly 23 years, another blow to prospective homebuyers facing an increasingly unaffordable housing market.

ONCE RIVALS, NOW PARTNERS: PELOTON AND LULULEMON TO COLLABORATE ON CONNECTED FITNESS AND APPAREL

Peloton and athletic wear maker Lululemon have announced a five-year partnership, effectively closing the curtain on Lululemon’s recently acquired connected fitness device, Mirror.

DRIVE A HYUNDAI OR KIA? SEE IF YOUR CAR IS ONE OF THE NEARLY 3.4 MILLION UNDER RECALL FOR FIRE RISKS

Nearly 3.4 million Hyundai and Kia vehicles in the U.S. are under recall due to the risk of engine compartment fires and it’s important for drivers to check if their car is one of them.

IN HOLLYWOOD WRITERS' BATTLE AGAINST AI, HUMANS WIN (FOR NOW)

After a 148-day strike, Hollywood screenwriters secured significant guardrails against the use of artificial intelligence in one of the first major labor battles over generative AI in the workplace.

CALIFORNIA GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM SAYS HE WILL SIGN CLIMATE-FOCUSED TRANSPARENCY LAWS FOR BIG BUSINESS

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said that he plans to sign into law a pair of climate-focused bills intended to force major corporations to be more transparent about greenhouse gas emissions and the financial risks stemming from global warming.

UK'S NEW ONLINE SAFETY LAW ADDS TO CRACKDOWN ON BIG TECH COMPANIES

British lawmakers have approved an ambitious but controversial new internet safety law with wide-ranging powers to crack down on digital and social media companies like TikTok, Google, and Facebook and Instagram parent Meta.

DID YOUR KIDS BUY GEAR IN FORTNITE WITHOUT ASKING YOU? THE FTC SAYS YOU COULD GET A REFUND

Parents whose kids bought virtual gear without their knowledge on the popular Fortnite video game could soon be able to get a refund.

UAW STRIKE EXPOSES TENSIONS BETWEEN BIDEN'S GOALS OF TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUPPORTING UNIONS

Two of President Joe Biden's top goals fighting climate change and expanding the middle class by supporting unions are colliding in the key battleground state of Michigan as the United Auto Workers go on strike against the country's biggest car companies.

WHAT IF PUBLIC TRANSIT WAS LIKE UBER? A SMALL CITY ENDED ITS BUS SERVICE TO FIND OUT

When a small city abruptly parked all its buses to launch a publicly subsidized van service offering $1.50 trips anywhere in town, only one of its bus drivers — a big-city transplant — went along for the ride.