A South Korean startup captures workers' techniques to develop AI brains for robots
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Workers at a five-star hotel fold napkins and wipe silverware with body cameras recording their every move. Their motions are then fed into a database that will one day teach a robot to do the same. Just as chatbots trained on vast troves of internet text, AI robots require extensive data on human movement to handle advanced physical tasks. A South Korean artificial-intelligence company is working to build an extensive library of human expertise to develop AI brains for robots possibly coming to industrial sites and homes. While it is unclear whether these machines will fully meet expectations, they are central to South Korea’s ambitions to leverage its semiconductor and manufacturing strengths to become an AI powerhouse.
Google disrupts hackers using AI to exploit an unknown weakness in a company's digital defense
Google said Monday that it had disrupted a criminal group’s attempt to use artificial intelligence to exploit another company’s previously unknown digital vulnerability, adding to heightened worries across government and private industry about AI’s risks for cybersecurity. Google shared limited information about the attackers or the target, but John Hultquist, chief analyst at the tech giant’s threat intelligence arm, said it represents a moment cybersecurity experts have warned about for years: malicious hackers arming themselves with AI to supercharge their ability to break into the world’s computers.
The barista is human but an AI agent runs this experimental Swedish cafe
STOCKHOLM (AP) — The coffee might be poured by a human hand, but behind the counter something far less traditional is calling the shots at an experimental cafe in Stockholm. San Francisco-based startup Andon Labs has put an artificial intelligence agent nicknamed “Mona” in charge at the eponymous Andon Café in the Swedish capital. While human baristas still brew the coffee and serve the orders, the AI agent oversees almost every other aspect of the business. The AI agent is powered by Google’s Gemini. It is not clear how long the experiment will last, but the AI agent appears to be struggling to turn a profit.
Lawsuit blames ChatGPT maker OpenAI for helping plan a school shooting
The widow of a man killed in a mass shooting at Florida State University is suing ChatGPT maker OpenAI, blaming the artificial intelligence chatbot for contributing to the tragedy. The lawsuit says the alleged gunman Phoenix Ikner relied on ChatGPT to determine what type of gun to use and which location would allow for the most potential victims, among other information. The lawsuit was filed by Vandana Joshi. Her husband was one of two people killed and six others were wounded. She said in a statement Monday that “OpenAI knew this would happen." OpenAI denies wrongdoing.
UCLA online textbook gives voice to Asian American, Pacific Islander history and cultures
A new digital textbook from UCLA aims to change stereotypes about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders by teaching their history. Launching Saturday, the $12 million project called “Foundations and Futures” is designed for high school and college educators. It covers a wide range of AAPI communities and historical struggles. The textbook, developed by 100 contributors, includes chapters on Vietnamese, Hmong, and Indigenous Hawaiians, among others. It debuts amid political challenges to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Despite potential resistance, the creators hope it will foster understanding and empathy by highlighting underrepresented stories.
Bolivia’s fuel shortages and 'junk gasoline' drive a surge in electric cars
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — A small but growing number of Bolivians are trading their fossil fuel-powered vehicles for electric ones. This comes as fuel costs in Bolivia have doubled after subsidies ended under President Rodrigo Paz. The country has faced fuel shortages with long lines at gas stations and complaints about poor quality gasoline. Electric vehicle numbers have surged from 500 to 3,352 in five years. They are mostly imported from China. Experts predict this trend will continue and will create new opportunities for electricians and mechanics.
A Canvas outage tied to a cyberattack has wreaked havoc on colleges' final exam season
Schools and universities across the country are recovering from an outage tied to a cyberattack that knocked down Canvas. The online platform manages exams, course notes, lecture videos and grades. The disruption hit in the middle of finals period for many colleges, a high-stress time when students and instructors rely heavily on the platform. Instructure is the parent company of Canvas and says the platform is available again to most users as of late Thursday. A threat analyst at the cybersecurity firm Emsisoft says the hacking group ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for the breach.
Canvas system is online after a cyberattack disrupted thousands of schools
A key online learning system used by thousands of schools and universities is back after a cyberattack knocked it offline, creating chaos as students tried to study for finals. A cybersecurity threat analyst says a hacking group called ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for breaching Canvas. Instructure, the company behind Canvas, said late Thursday that the system was available for most users. An expert says the hackers posted online that nearly 9,000 schools worldwide were affected, with billions of private messages and other records accessed. Teachers had to find workarounds to help students study for exams and submit final assignments, and some schools pushed back finals.
One Tech Tip: Why digital devices and online accounts need spring cleaning
Spring cleaning isn't just for homes. Carrying out the digital equivalent can help protect your personal data, according to cybersecurity experts. They say clearing out digital clutter like dormant accounts and forgotten files gives scammers fewer potential entry points. Start by deleting old photos and attachments to free up storage space. Cull your email by sorting your inbox by size, sender or date, and deleting the largest messages and big batches from prolific senders. Unsubscribe from unread newsletters and mailing lists. Free up more space by deleting unused apps, and make sure the apps you’re keeping are the latest versions. Experts also suggest reviewing your privacy settings. Upgrade to passkeys when possible for better protection.
Google settles racial discrimination lawsuit for $50 million
Google has reached a settlement with Black employees who alleged systemic racial disparities in hiring, pay, and advancement in a lawsuit filed in 2022. April Curley, a former Google employee, had sued the tech giant for racial discrimination, saying it engages in a “pattern and practice” of unfair treatment for its Black workers. The suit claimed the company steered them into lower-level and lower-paid jobs and subjected them to a hostile work environment if they speak out. Other former Google workers also joined the suit, which later received class action status.
