CATEGORIES

FORTNITE PLAYERS 'TRICKED' INTO UNWANTED PURCHASES ARE STARTING TO GET REFUNDS. HERE'S HOW TO APPLY

U.S. consumers who were “tricked” into purchases they didn’t want from Fortnite maker Epic Games are now starting to receive refund checks, the Federal Trade Commission said this week.

Christmas FIND THE PERFECT GIFTS FOR EVERYONE YOU CARE ABOUT

Apple’s AirPods are some of today’s most recognizable and sought-after tech products.

GM TO RETREAT FROM ROBOTAXIS AND STOP FUNDING ITS CRUISE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE UNIT

General Motors said this week it will retreat from the robotaxi business and stop funding its money-losing Cruise autonomous vehicle unit.

CHINA'S BAN ON KEY HIGH-TECH MATERIALS COULD HAVE BROAD IMPACT ON INDUSTRIES ECONOMY

China has banned exports of key materials used to make a wide range of products, including smartphones, electric vehicles, radar systems and CT scanners, swiping back at Washington after it expanded export controls to include dozens of Chinese companies that make equipment used to produce advanced computer chips.

NEW JERSEY TARGETS PLASTIC PACKAGING THAT FILLS LANDFILLS AND POLLUTES

New Jersey is aiming to drastically reduce the amount of packaging material — particularly plastic — that is thrown away after the package is opened.

REMEMBER WHAT YOU SEARCHED FOR ON GOOGLE? HERE'S WHAT 2024 TRENDS REVEAL

Remember what you searched for in 2024? Google does.

DOORDASH STEPS UP DRIVER ID CHECKS AFTER TRAFFIC SAFETY COMPLAINTS

DoorDash will require its drivers to verify their identity more often as part of a larger effort to crack down on unauthorized account sharing.

APPLE'S LATEST IPHONES GET THE GIFT OF MORE AI AS HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON HEATS UP

Apple is pumping more artificial intelligence into the latest iPhones during the holiday shopping season with a free software update that includes a feature that enables users to create customized emojis within a matter of seconds.

7 CHINA BANS EXPORTS TO US OF GALLIUM, GERMANIUM, ANTIMONY IN RESPONSE TO CHIP SANCTIONS

China announced this week it is banning exports to the United States of gallium, germanium, antimony and other key high-tech materials with potential military applications, as a general principle, lashing back at U.S. limits on semiconductor-related exports.

FINANCIAL AND COMMUNITY HURDLES SLOW GEOTHERMAL ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Providing round-the-clock energy, using minimal space and considered a clean source of power-geothermal energy seems like an ideal option for countries like Indonesia and the Philippines, where the potential is high, and governments are seeking to transition away from highly polluting fossil fuels.

CANADIAN NEWS PUBLISHERS SUE OPENAI OVER ALLEGED COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT

A coalition of Canadian news publishers, including The Canadian Press, Torstar, Globe and Mail, Postmedia and CBC/Radio-Canada, has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI for using news content to train its ChatGPT generative artificial intelligence system.

AUSTRALIA IS BANNING SOCIAL MEDIA FOR PEOPLE UNDER 16. COULD THIS WORK ELSEWHERE - OR EVEN THERE?

It is an ambitious social experiment of our moment in history — one that experts say could accomplish something that parents, schools and other governments have attempted with varying degrees of success: keeping kids off social media until they turn 16.

BANK OF AMERICA SIGNS AGAIN WITH FIFA FOR US-HOSTED CLUB WORLD CUP THAT STILL HAS NO TV DEALS

World Cup sponsor Bank of America teamed with FIFA for a second time, signing for the Club World Cup that still has no broadcast deals just over six months before games start.

AT&T SEES EARNINGS GROWTH OVER NEXT 3 YEARS; EYES MORE THAN $40B IN ANTICIPATED SHAREHOLDER RETURNS

AT&T anticipates earnings growth over the next three years thanks to the momentum of 5G and fiber services.

IN A WORLD OF GREAT NEED THERE ARE MORE WAYS TO DONATE MONEY THAN EVER.HOW SHOULD YOU GIVE?

Millions displaced by global conflicts. Communities reeling from unseasonably strong natural disasters. Lives upended due to healthcare inequalities.

US EXPANDS LIST OF CHINESE TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES UNDER EXPORT CONTROLS

The U.S. Commerce Department has expanded the list of Chinese technology companies subject to export controls to include many that make equipment used to make computer chips, chipmaking tools and software.

INTEL CEO GELSINGER RETIRES; ZINSNER AND JOHNSTON HOLTHAUS NAMED INTERIM CO-CEOS

Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger has retired, the struggling chipmaker said Monday in a surprise announcement.

LANDLORDS ARE USING AI TO RAISE RENTS.AND CALIFORNIA CITIES ARE LEADING THE PUSHBACK

If you've hunted for apartments recently and felt like all the rents were equally high, you're not crazy: Many landlords now use a single company's software - which uses an algorithm based on proprietary lease information ― to help set rent prices.

TECH TIP: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS? SHOW RELATIVES YOU CARE WITH SOME TECH SUPPORT

It’s time for the holidays, which means robust family conversations and seemingly neverending courses of food. But for the more techsavvy among us, the journey home could also mean we’ll be called on to provide a backlog of tech support to parents, grandparents and other family members.

WHY TEMU AND SHEIN COULD GIVE WESTERN RETAILERS A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Shopping on Temu can feel like playing an arcade game. Instead of using a joystickcontrolled claw to grab a toy, visitors to the online marketplace maneuver their computer mouses or cellphone screens to browse colorful gadgets, accessories and trinkets with prices that look too good to refuse.

Starlink

GLOBAL CONNECTIVITY ON THE GO, RIGHT IN YOUR BACKPACK & PHONE

SPOTIFY WRAPPED IS FINALLY HERE.HOW CAN YOU SEE YOUR 2024 RECAP?

It's that time of year: Spotify has released its annual Wrapped, personalized recaps of users' listening habits and year in audio.

CAN AI CHATBOTS MAKE YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING EASIER?

Tired of thinking about what gifts to get everyone this year? Artificial intelligence chatbots might help, but don’t expect them to do all the work or always give you the right answers.

EUROPEAN SATELLITES LAUNCHED TO CREATE ARTIFICIAL SOLAR ECLIPSES IN A TECH DEMO

A pair of European satellites rocketed into orbit Thursday on the first mission to create artificial solar eclipses through fancy formation flying in space.

WAYMO UNVEILS PLAN TO BRING ITS ROBOTAXI SERVICE TO MIAMI

Waymo is gearing up to bring its robotaxi service to Miami which will accelerate an expansion that’s been happening while its hobbled rivals remain in its rearview mirror.

AS DATA CENTERS PROLIFERATE, CONFLICT WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES FOLLOWS

Richard Andre Newman thought he would live the rest of his life in his quiet, leafy neighborhood in suburban Virginia. He was born and raised in Bren Mar Park, where children ride their bikes and neighbors wave hello.

META TO BUILD $10 BILLION AI DATA CENTER IN LOUISIANA AS ELON MUSK EXPANDS HIS TENNESSEE AI FACILITY

The largest artificial intelligence data center ever built by Facebook’s parent company Meta is coming to northeast Louisiana, the company said Wednesday, bringing hopes that the $10 billion facility will transform an economically neglected corner of the state.

AUSTRALIA SHOULD DELAY SOCIAL MEDIA BAN FOR CHILDREN UNDER 16. BIG TECH SAYS

An advocate for major social media platforms told an Australian Senate committee that laws to ban children younger than 16 from the sites should be delayed until next year at least instead of being rushed through the Parliament.

APPLE AND GOOGLE FACE UK INVESTIGATION INTO MOBILE BROWSER DOMINANCE

Apple and Google aren’t giving consumers a genuine choice of mobile web browsers, a British watchdog said in a report that recommends they face an investigation under new U.K. digital rules taking effect next year.

DIRECTV CALLS OFF ACQUISITION OF RIVAL DISH, POSSIBLY ENDING A YEARSLONG PURSUIT

DirecTV is calling off its planned acquisition of rival Dish after the offer was rejected by bond holders at that company.