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.
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.
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.
China's Alibaba reports 38% jump in AI and cloud revenue as it races to grow
HONG KONG (AP) — China's Alibaba has reported accelerating AI and cloud revenue growth driven by the AI boom, which has jumped 38% in the January-March quarter compared to the year before. However, overall quarterly revenue rose only 3%. The Hangzhou-based company also recorded an operating loss of over $120 million, down significantly from a year ago, partly because of growing investments in its technology infrastructure. This week, Alibaba said it has fully connected its flagship Qwen AI app to its e-commerce platform Taobao, equipping it with natural conversation capabilities with a goal of boost demand. It also recently expanded its AI products for commercial customers and raised prices for some AI services.
Deal reached with hackers to delete data stolen from the Canvas educational platform
Instructure, the company behind the online learning system Canvas, has reached a deal with hackers to delete data stolen in a cyberattack. The breach caused chaos for students, many in the middle of finals. Instructure announced Monday that it reached an agreement with the hacking group, ShinyHunters, which had threatened to leak data from nearly 9,000 schools and 275 million individuals. The company received "digital confirmation" that the data was destroyed but acknowledged uncertainty about its complete erasure. Instructure is working with experts to strengthen its systems and conduct a forensic analysis.
