People — and robots — are getting ready to celebrate the Lunar New Year in China
BEIJING (AP) — China is getting ready to celebrate the Lunar New Year, and the festivities will include robots. Ahead of the celebration next week, some venues in Beijing have been setting the stages — such as those for robot shows in some malls. In one mall in the western part of the Chinese capital, there will be a fair devoted to technology, and robots will be the central character. They will be dancing, stacking blocks on top of others to make a little tower, putting hawthorns on a stick, or playing soccer. China has been scaling up its efforts to develop better robots that can perform different activities, powered by artificial intelligence and with less human intervention.
New astronauts launch to the International Space Station after medical evacuation
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The replacements for the astronauts involved in NASA's first medical evacuation are on their way to the International Space Station. SpaceX launched the fresh crew on Friday from Florida. The four astronauts are representing the U.S., France and Russia and should reach the orbiting lab Saturday. They'll fill the vacancies left by their evacuated colleagues. NASA had to put spacewalks on hold and defer other duties after an unidentified astronaut experienced a serious medical issue in January. The entire crew returned to Earth more than a month early, leaving three astronauts in orbit.
Buzz of the Olympics: How drone cams deliver high-pace visuals and add a new dynamic for TV viewers
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Drone cameras are changing how boradcasters show Olympic winter sports by chasing athletes down the course for fast and close-up shots. Martin Bochatay is the pilot who flies a drone cam tight behind downhill skiers through the narrow Tofana schuss at the Milan Cortina Games. Athletes say the drones do not distract them once they start moving. Modern drones are tiny and can top 100 miles per hour. TV crews control the main broadcast camera while pilots steer using goggles and hand controls. Pit crews batteries between runs. Some officials say the footage can feel nauseating.
As electricity costs rise, everyone wants data centers to pick up their tab. But how?
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Politicians from President Donald Trump to local lawmakers agree that tech companies should cover the power costs of artificial intelligence data centers. But they still fight over what “fair share” means. The debate ties directly to cost-of-living pressure ahead of the midterm elections. Data centers keep spreading fast, and some use as much electricity as a small city. Utilities often spread new power plant and grid costs across all customers. States have started writing rules that require long-term contracts and big upfront payments. Consumer advocates warn the short-term squeeze still pushes up bills.
One Tech Tip: All you need to know about the iPhone's Lockdown Mode
Apple's Lockdown Mode is gaining attention after it blocked U.S. federal authorities from accessing a reporter's iPhone. The FBI couldn't extract data from Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson's phone, which was in Lockdown Mode. This feature is designed for individuals at risk of sophisticated cyberattacks. It's available on newer Apple operating systems and limits app and website access to protect against spyware. Users must enable it on each device separately. Experts say passcodes are safer than biometrics, as law enforcement can compel biometric access. Lockdown Mode affects app functionality and connectivity.
Anthropic hits a $380B valuation as it heightens competition with OpenAI
Artificial intelligence company Anthropic says it is now valued at $380 billion. The maker of the chatbot Claude says its valuation grew after it raised a $30 billion round of funding led by Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC and the U.S.-based investment firm Coatue, along with dozens of other major investors. The surge of investment cements Anthropic's position alongside rival OpenAI and Elon Musk’s SpaceX in a trio of the world’s most valuable startups that investors will be watching closely this year to see if they will become publicly traded on Wall Street.
UN approves 40-member scientific panel on the impact of artificial intelligence over US objections
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to approve a 40-member global scientific panel on the impacts and risks of artificial intelligence, with the United States strongly objecting. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called it “a foundational step toward global scientific understanding of AI.” But U.S. Mission counselor Lauren Lovelace said: “We will not cede authority over AI to international bodies that may be influenced by authoritarian regimes seeking to impose their vision of controlled surveillance societies.” Thursday's vote was 117-2, with the United States and Paraguay voting “no” and Tunisia and Ukraine abstaining.
Instagram chief says he does not believe people can get clinically addicted to social media
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Adam Mosseri, the head of Meta’s Instagram, testified during a landmark social media trial in Los Angeles that he disagrees people can be addicted to social media platforms. The question of addiction is a key pillar of the case, where plaintiffs seek to hold social media companies responsible for harms to children who use their platforms. Meta and YouTube are the two remaining defendants in the case, which TikTok and Snap settled. Mosseri said it’s important to differentiate between clinical addiction and problematic use. The plaintiff’s lawyer, however, presented quotes from Mosseri in a podcast interview, where he said the opposite. Mosseri clarified that he was probably using the word too casually.
WhatsApp says Russia has tried to fully block the messaging app
Russia has attempted to fully block WhatsApp as it tightens control of online communication and pushes people toward a state-backed alternative. On Wednesday, WhatsApp says Russian authorities try to fully cut off access. WhatsApp says the goal is to steer users to the MAX messaging app. Critics describe MAX as a surveillance tool. The Kremlin says Meta can restore access if it follows Russian law. Russia has already blocked major platforms like Facebook since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Regulators also are targeting Telegram, but it still mostly works. Many people use virtual private networks, but Russia blocks many of them too.
2 Israelis charged with using classified military information to place bets
TEL AVIV (AP) — Two Israelis have been charged with using classified military information to place bets on how future events will unfold. Israeli authorities on Thursday accusing the individuals of “serious security offenses.” A joint statement by the Israeli Ministry of Defense, domestic security service Shin Bet and police said a civilian and a reservist are suspected of placing bets on the crypto-currency based prediction market Polymarket on future military operations based on information that the reservist had access to. The prosecutions follow a joint investigation by police, military intelligence and other security agencies. The two face charges including bribery and obstruction of justice.
