YouTube defends video that falsely claims Sydney massacre survivor is 'crisis actor'
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A Google executive has told an inquiry that a YouTube video that falsely claims a wounded survivor of an antisemitic massacre in Sydney is a crisis actor blooded with makeup met the platform’s standards and would remain online. Google Australia manager Rachel Lord was testifying at a government inquiry on Tuesday into the spread of antisemitism in Australia including an attack by two gunmen on a Sydney Hanukkah celebration in December that left 15 dead. Lord was questioned about a complaint made by survivor Arsen Ostrovsky about a video posted on YouTube that falsely suggested he had used makeup to fake the head injury he received when he was shot. Ostrovsky told the inquiry last month that he had been targeted by online hate, abuse, vilification and AI manipulation.
VR and gaming are adding a kick to taekwondo
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Virtual taekwondo is gaining popularity as a structured competitive discipline in Southeast Asia. Co-developed by World Taekwondo and Refract Technologies, the sport combines VR technology with traditional techniques to woo tech-savvy young players. Athletes wear VR headsets and motion sensors to control avatars in noncontact matches. Unlike conventional taekwondo, virtual matches aren't separated by age, weight, or gender. Once unfamiliar and experimental, the sport will make its debut at this year's Asian Games in Japan. Coaches and players say it reshapes perceptions of martial arts and gaming.
Microsoft cuts 4,800 jobs, including many at Xbox in a 'reset' of its gaming division
REDMOND, Wash. (AP) — Microsoft has announced it is cutting 4,800 jobs, including many in its Xbox division. This represents about 2.1% of its global workforce. The layoffs include 1,600 Xbox workers, with more expected this year. The move is part of a broader reorganization to "reset" Xbox amid increased competition. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, who took over earlier this year, said the business is not healthy. She noted that Xbox is operating at margins significantly lower than its competitors. Sharma also highlighted that the industry is facing a severe hardware crisis.
Ukrainian midrange drones reshape the battlefield by targeting Russian supply lines
KHARKIV REGION, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian pilots are using midrange drones to disrupt Russian supply lines. From a command post in Kharkiv, they target roads and logistics deep behind enemy lines. This strategy aims to cut off supplies like food and ammunition to Russian troops. The drones equipped with Starlink satellite communications fill the gap between front-line and long-range strike capabilities. Ukraine’s success increased after SpaceX blocked unauthorized Russian access to Starlink. Ukrainian commanders say the impact has been significant, slowing Russian advances. Russia is trying to counter with mobile fire groups and electronic warfare, but Ukraine’s campaign has kept them on the back foot.
Is AI ready to take over your prescriptions? Doctors are wary of Utah's automated refill program
WASHINGTON (AP) — An AI program in the state of Utah has sparked a vigorous debate about the role of the technology in health care. Utah is the first state in the nation to allow AI to renew prescriptions for patients. Previously, that role has always been reserved for doctors and other medically licensed professionals. Technically, state and federal laws don't allow AI programs to handle prescriptions. But officials in Utah have waived those requirements for Doctronic, maker of the AI chatbot that converses with patients and can send refill orders to their pharmacy. The federal Food and Drug Administration has signaled it doesn't plan to intervene.
Supreme Court won't block Texas from enforcing a law requiring age verification for app downloads
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to block Texas from enforcing a state law that requires age verification and parental consent for users seeking to download apps or make in-app purchases on mobile phones. In a pair of one-sentence orders on Monday, Justice Samuel Alito denied requests by plaintiffs who claim that the Texas App Store Accountability Act violates users’ constitutional rights to free speech. Last month, a three-judge panel from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the law can take effect. The panel suspended a district court’s ruling last December that the law is unconstitutional.
This high-tech ball was involved in one of the most dramatic moments in World Cup history
ATLANTA (AP) — FIFA's high-tech ball is responsible for one of the most dramatic climaxes to a World Cup match ever. What FIFA calls connected ball technology canceled Croatia’s equalizer deep in added time against Portugal late Thursday by detecting a touch that was undetectable to the naked eye or even video replays. Portugal won 2-1 in Toronto and advanced to the round of 16 leaving Croatia’s players and fans devastated. They believed Josko Gvardiol’s goal was wrongly called offside by the VAR and referee Espen Eskås. However FIFA insists it got it right with a ball fitted with “advanced sensors."
Heat adds to strains on areas with data centers, raising the temperature on AI debates
LOWELL, Mass. (AP) — Extreme heat like the weather sweeping the eastern U.S. drives up energy demands for data centers, adding to their strain on power grids and worsening air quality for surrounding areas. The impact on local communities that face increased pollution underscores why the artificial intelligence industry is feeling so much heat over the fast-sprouting facilities. Around the country, data centers have been blamed increasingly for a host of environmental ills. Some tech industry figures say the facilities have become lightning rods for concerns over broader economic and societal changes posed by the AI boom.
Australian prime minister condemns delay of changes to child social media ban
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned senators who blocked changes to the social media ban for children. The government recently introduced to Parliament amendments aimed at increasing the powers of the eSafety Commissioner to enforce the ban that took effect last December. But the conservative opposition Liberal Party and minor Australian Greens party referred the draft legislation to an eight-week Senate inquiry. Australia was the first nation to ban children younger than 16 from holding accounts on platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Albanese said Friday that tech giants would use the delay to destroy evidence.
Grieving South Koreans seek comfort in AI videos of deceased loved ones
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — In recent years, a growing number of bereaved people in digitally-savvy South Korea have been trying out tech startups that offer short simulated videos of dead relatives. Tech firms say they need just a few photos and short voice samples of the deceased and a script to animate a realistic-looking and -sounding video. Some customers said the emerging industry offers comfort, but some experts argue the practice raises thorny ethical, psychological and legal questions.
