Iran war energy shock drives interest in ethanol and other biofuels across hard-hit Asia
BENGALURU, India (AP) — Nations across Asia are pushing for the use of more biofuels in transportation in order to slash dependence on imported fossil fuels, which have been disrupted by the Iran war. Asia is hardest hit by the ongoing energy shock since most of the fossil fuel shipments through the now-closed Strait of Hormuz were Asia-bound. India is considering allowing vehicles to run on 85%, or even 100% ethanol. Meanwhile, Indonesia and Malaysia are both racing to increase fuel blending with similar ambitions of cutting back on imported fuels. Experts are split on the climate benefit of these fuels, with some stressing that other forms of renewable energy would likely be more efficient.
Lawyers for Elon Musk and OpenAI make their final case in a trial that could shape AI's future
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Lawyers for Elon Musk and OpenAI made their final arguments Thursday in the landmark trial whose outcome could shape the future of artificial intelligence. Musk, the world’s richest man, was a co-founder of OpenAI, the company that launched in 2015 and went on to create ChatGPT. After Musk invested $38 million in its first years, his lawsuit filed in 2024 accused OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and his top deputy of shifting into a moneymaking mode behind his back.
Some parents don't want their kids to use tech at school. But districts are pushing back
ARDMORE, Pa. (AP) — Parents across the country who are worried about excessive screen time in schools are lobbying educators to go back to pencils and paper. In places like Pennsylvania's Lower Merion School District, some families are taking it even further. Over 600 people have signed a petition asking to preserve parents' ability to opt their children out of digital devices, setting off a clash with the school district. At a meeting Monday night, school board members said it’s not feasible to let hundreds of students opt out of technology that is essential to the curriculum.
Tech CEOs summoned to Congress for another hearing on social media's risks for children
Social media CEOs have been called to testify before Congress amid growing pressure to protect young users. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has invited the CEOs of Meta, Alphabet, TikTok, and Snap to a hearing titled “Examining Tech Industry Practices and the Implications for Users and Families.” The hearing is set for June 23, which is recognized as Social Media Victims Remembrance Day. This comes as court cases and proposed legislation increase pressure on tech companies to safeguard children. Recent verdicts have held social media companies accountable for harm to young users.
After bombs, blackouts and bank restrictions, Gaza’s digital workers are still coding
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — A small corps of remote workers in Gaza has provided coding, graphic design and digital marketing services to international clients through more than two years of war. They have improvised coworking spaces and relied on solar generators to stay online as infrastructure across the enclave has been devastated. They face persistent challenges getting paid through banks and wire transfers. The work has become somewhat steadier seven months into a fragile ceasefire, even as broader recovery and reconstruction efforts are at a standstill.
UK media regulator says X promises to crack down on terrorist and hate content
LONDON (AP) — Elon Musk's social media platform X is pledging to crack down on hate and terrorist content in Britain. The country's media regulator, Ofcom, announced Friday that X will restrict access to accounts linked to banned terrorist groups. It said the platform promised to review suspected illegal content within 24 hours. A spokesperson for X in the U.K. said the company did not immediately have a public comment. Ofcom said it expects firm action against the persistence of illegal content on social media. Britain's Jewish community has faced growing attacks, making this issue particularly urgent.
Pope decries the rise of AI-directed warfare, saying it leads to a spiral of annihilation
ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV has denounced investments in AI and high-tech weaponry, warning they lead to a “spiral of annihilation.” He called for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine during a visit to Rome’s La Sapienza University on Thursday. This marked the first papal visit to the campus since 2008. The pope was warmly welcomed, including by young Palestinians who arrived in Italy this week to study. Leo criticized increased military spending at the expense of education and healthcare. He emphasized the need for responsible AI development and highlighted the importance of valuing life and peace.
Meta launches WhatsApp 'incognito' mode to address privacy concerns for AI chats
LONDON (AP) — Meta Platforms is introducing an "incognito" mode for WhatsApp to allow private conversations with its AI chatbot. The feature aims to address privacy concerns about sharing sensitive information. Messages in this mode will be processed securely, won't be saved by default, and will disappear upon exiting. Generative AI systems have faced privacy issues due to their data training methods. Meta's move follows similar privacy features by rivals like Google's Gemini and ChatGPT. The incognito mode includes safety measures to prevent harmful interactions and requires users to confirm their age.
Americans love their iPhones (though sometimes they wish they could live without them)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The American obsession with the iPhone is complicated, as most love-hate relationships are. It sometimes seems like a talisman so magically powerful that we can’t fathom living without it. The iPhone, and its smartphone brethren, enable pictures that can almost instantly be posted on social media, play a video game, watch a video, listen to music, send a text, check email, surf the internet, catch up on on the news, get directions, tap to pay at the checkout stand. Oh — and, every once in a while, it can even make or answer a phone call. At other times, it seems like a drug-dealing pusher preying on our weaknesses and worst impulses while deepening our addiction.
OpenAI chief Sam Altman makes a high-stakes appearance in his court bout with Elon Musk
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — OpenAI CEO Sam Altman took the witness stand Tuesday to defend his business record in a trial pitting him against Elon Musk, rebutting testimony that disparaged his leadership at a pivotal time for the ChatGPT maker. Musk, the world’s richest man, is seeking Altman’s second ouster from the company leadership as part of a civil lawsuit accusing him of betraying their shared vision for OpenAI. Altman testified to a number of concerns he had about Musk’s attempts to gain more control over OpenAI, which was aiming to safely build a better-than-human form of AI called artificial general intelligence.
