Court orders Instagram and Facebook's Meta to pay $567M to address kids' mental health online
A New Mexico court has ordered Instagram and Facebook parent company Meta to pay $567 million to address harms to young people from its platforms. The order came late Thursday in the second phase of a landmark trial that the social media giant lost in March. Judge Bryan Biedscheid said $420 million of the money will be used for treatment services for young people. The rest will go toward awareness and prevention, screening services and other costs over the next five years. Meta said in a statement that it disagreed with the ruling and will appeal it. Meta added that it remains confident in its record of protecting teens online.
Meta says its AI model hacked another company, adding to worries about bots going rogue
Meta on Thursday said that one of its artificial intelligence models accessed the internet on its own and hacked another company, the latest in a series of disclosures about AI models going rogue. In recent weeks OpenAI and Anthropic also have described instances of AI models going beyond humans' instructions to access the web and find ways around other companies’ digital security. Meta said in a statement that a “misconfiguration” during cybersecurity testing by Irregular, an independent company hired by Meta, inadvertently allowed one of its models to access the internet. The disclosure has added to worries about AI models acting autonomously.
As AI ‘therapists’ dish out advice, California lawmakers try to set some limits
A chatbot called "Psychologist" offers empathy and advice, but it's not a real therapist. As more people, especially teens, turn to chatbots for mental health support, California lawmakers are trying to regulate this fast-evolving technology. A new bill aims to restrict chatbots from practicing psychotherapy. It would ban advertising them as therapy and require professional oversight for therapeutic decisions. Supporters say it's needed to protect consumers and professionals, while opponents argue it could limit beneficial AI uses. The bill is awaiting a vote. Similar laws have been passed in other states.
SpaceX shares rise even as company insiders get a chance to sell for the first time
NEW YORK (AP) — Stock in Elon Musk’s space company rose Thursday even after many SpaceX insiders were freed up to sell for the first time. Investors have dumped SpaceX shares in recent days in anticipation of insiders possibly selling in the first of several lockup expirations. More than 900 million shares became newly available to buy or sell with this latest release, doubling what was available previously. SpaceX stock rose 6% to $114.92 Thursday. A day earlier it had experienced one of the biggest routs in its short history as a public company, dropping nearly 14%.
Sydney Towle, content creator who documented life with cancer, dies at 26
Sydney Towle, known for her social media content about living with a rare cancer, has died at 26. Her family confirmed her death on her social media. Diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma in August 2023, Towle shared her journey with over a million TikTok followers. Towle's candid posts inspired many, showcasing her positivity despite the disease. A Dartmouth graduate, she worked at Epic Games and planned to run the 2026 New York City Marathon to raise funds for cancer research.
The atomic bomb, a world-changing invention, inflicted suffering and launched the nuclear age
The printing press, light bulb, internal combustion engine and computer moved the world into a mostly better future. The atomic bomb spawned suffering and fear and reordered human relations. The world’s first atomic bomb killed about 140,000 people by the end of the year and another 160,000 over the next seven decades. The U.S. bombing of Nagasaki killed another 70,000 people and left tens of thousands more with unspeakable wounds. Declaring the whole world shaken and devoting an army of scientists and spies to catching up, the Soviet Union went on to explode its own bomb in 1949. It was followed by the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, and North Korea. In the Middle East, nuclear capabilities remain contentious.
One Tech Tip: Using your smartphone to capture the August total solar eclipse over Europe
A rare total solar eclipse is set to sweep over parts of Europe next week, drawing millions of enthusiasts. The event is expected to boost tourism in Spain, where the path of total darkness will pass on August 12. Parts of Greenland, Iceland, and Portugal will also experience the eclipse. Many will document the event using smartphones, despite challenges like drastic lighting changes. Experts advise finding a clear view of the western horizon and using apps for planning. Safety tips include using solar filters and eclipse glasses to protect eyes and lenses.
Japanese game company Nintendo reports a jump in profit on the popularity of its Switch 2
TOKYO (AP) — Nintendo's first-quarter profit surged 53.5%, driven by the success of the Super Mario movie and strong demand for the Switch 2 console. The company reported a profit of $933 million from April to June, compared to $608 billion a year ago. However, quarterly sales dipped 9.5% to $3.3 billion. Challenges included U.S. tariffs and rising component costs. Nintendo expects a 27% drop in profit for the fiscal year ending March 2027. Despite this, the Switch 2 remains popular, with 3.82 million units sold globally. Nintendo shares rose 2.9% in Tokyo trading.
At colleges, the AI boom means everyone wants to dabble in computer science
Hiring for entry-level software developers has slowed, and college enrollment in computer science is declining. However, interest in artificial intelligence is growing among students from non-tech majors. Schools like VCU are offering AI minors, and universities like Purdue and Harvard are incorporating AI into their curriculum. Northwestern University is expanding AI courses for noncomputer science majors. Colleges are responding to changes in student demand. But they also recognize that new graduates — regardless of their field — are facing questions about their AI skills from potential employers.
France is banning unsolicited telemarketing calls starting next week
PARIS (AP) — France is banning unsolicited telemarketing calls starting next week following years of people's complaints. The new law aims to protect consumers from intrusive calls and fraud. It goes into effect on Aug. 11. Previously, people had to opt out of marketing calls. Now companies making illegal calls face hefty fines. Exceptions include calls to existing customers or those who have given explicit consent. Similar measures have been implemented in neighboring Germany. Other countries like the United States and Britain rely on opt-out systems. France’s new law has raised concerns in Morocco, where the minister of employment said up 50,000 jobs were at risk in the country’s call centers.
