Cyberattack hits Canvas system used by thousands of schools as finals loom
A cyberattack has caused chaos for students at thousands of schools as they study for finals. The attack Thursday targeted a system that schools and universities use to manage grades, assignments and lecture videos. The hacking group named ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for the breach at Instructure, the company behind the learning management system Canvas. An expert says the hacking group posted online that nearly 9,000 schools worldwide were affected, with billions of private messages and other records accessed.
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.
Worries about AI's risks to humanity loom over the trial pitting Musk against OpenAI's leaders
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Questions about the dangers of artificial intelligence have been looming over the trial pitting Elon Musk against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The trial in Oakland, California, centers on Musk's accusation that his fellow OpenAI co-founder betrayed promises to keep the company a nonprofit. The judge has warned lawyers not to get “sidetracked” by questions about AI threats, but witness testimony has touched on concerns around workforce disruptions and the prospect raised by Musk that superhuman AI might one day kill us all. Musk has since started his own AI company, and both he and Altman argue they are working for humanity's benefit.
Tech is turning increasingly to religion in a quest to create ethical AI
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tech companies are increasingly seeking guidance from faith leaders to shape artificial intelligence. Last week, the inaugural “Faith-AI Covenant” roundtable took place in New York, organized by the Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities. The goal is to create a set of norms informed by various faiths. Baroness Joanna Shields, a key partner, emphasized the importance of this dialogue. However, some critics argue this approach may distract from broader AI issues. While companies like Anthropic actively engage with faith leaders, skeptics question the sincerity and effectiveness of these efforts in addressing AI ethics.
French prosecutors seek charges against Elon Musk and X over child sexual abuse images
French prosecutors are seeking charges against Elon Musk and X for child sexual images on the platform, deepfakes, disinformation and complicity in denying crimes against humanity by Grok. The Paris public prosecutor’s office said Wednesday it has opened an investigation into X on charges including complicity in possessing and distributing child sexual abuse images, unlawfully collecting personal data and without ensuring data security. Other potential charges include disseminating non-consensual images or other content and denial of crimes against humanity by the platform’s AI system, Grok.
The rapid embrace of AI in China, its biggest testing ground, may shape how AI is used globally
HONG KONG (AP) — More than a year after the Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek, a main rival to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, stunned the world with its own advanced AI model, China has become a testing ground for mass use of AI tools. In March, groups of Chinese lined up get help setting up the AI agent OpenClaw on their laptops, a reflection of China's edge as a massive testing ground. Its ability to foster mass adoption, rather than just AI model advancements, is helping to shape how AI is used around the world, potentially giving it an upper hand in its tech rivalry with the U.S.
Greece, birthplace of democracy, seeks to put humanity ahead of AI in updated constitution
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece is preparing sweeping constitutional reforms that would require artificial intelligence to serve human society and protect individual freedoms. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the proposed amendment Thursday as governments worldwide debate AI regulation and democratic oversight. The revisions would also expand postal voting, extend mandatory schooling and ban retroactive taxation. Greek officials say the AI provision would act as a long-term safeguard as technology platforms gain greater influence over daily life. The reforms must pass votes in two successive parliaments, a process that typically requires cross-party backing in Greece’s legislature.
Air conditioning battery program for renters could help cities manage grid stress during heat waves
NEW YORK (AP) — A renter-friendly pilot program in New York City is aiming to reduce strain on the power grid while helping customers with power bills. It uses plug-in batteries that can power air conditioners offline during peak demand, helping take pressure off the grid at its most stressed moments while still keeping residents cool. The devices, about the size of a microwave, charge when electricity demand is low and then run window AC units for a few hours when demand spikes. It’s one of many partners participating in Con Edison’s demand response programs, which pay customers to reduce or shift electricity use to support the grid.
Dear Readers: Yes, pen pal programs still exist in a digital world
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A recent trip to New Zealand to visit her pen pal of 40 years made an Associated Press reporter from New Hampshire wonder about the history of programs that bring strangers together to write letters. While the program that matched them as teenagers folded years ago, others are still going strong. And even though the government postal service in Denmark recently stopped delivering letters altogether, some see signs of a letter-writing resurgence. More than 15,000 people signed up for a pen pal program created by a writer for The New Yorker during the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, an app called Slowly that mimics the anticipation of receiving a letter by delaying digital message deliveries has 10 million users.
Associated Press global investigation into government surveillance efforts wins Pulitzer Prize
NEW YORK (AP) — The Associated Press has won a Pulitzer Prize for international reporting for stories on the expansion of government surveillance efforts in China and the role that U.S. tech firms played in it. The Pulitzer board recognized AP staffers Dake Kang, Garance Burke, Byron Tau and Aniruddha Ghosal, along with contributor and independent journalist Yael Grauer for what it called “an astonishing global investigation into state-of-the-art tools of mass surveillance." Also included was a story about the expansion of license plate surveillance of drivers in the United States.
