Graphic video of Kirk shooting was everywhere online, showing how media gatekeeper role has changed
Traditional news outlets were careful in their coverage of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's assassination to not show graphic images of the event. But if people wanted to see graphic evidence of what happened to him, it was easily available online — and millions of people quickly sought it out. It showed how media's gatekeeper role had changed so markedly in the era of social media. Gory images — from different angles, with different perspectives — were up on X, Facebook, YouTube, even Truth Social, illustrating the difficulty of policing disturbing images in an era where nearly everybody carries a camera.
Apple's iPhone 17 line-up includes a new ultra-thin model and $100 price hike for Pro model
CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) — Apple has rolled out its next generation of iPhones that includes a new ultra-thin model and a slight price hike for one of its high-end models, while the company feels the squeeze of a global trade war. The iPhone 17 line-up includes a new slimmed-down model that will adopt the “Air” name that Apple already uses for its sleekest iPads and Mac computers. The new iPhones are the first to be released since President Donald Trump returned to the White House and unleashed a barrage of tariffs, in what his administration says is an attempt to bring overseas manufacturing back to the U.S. — a crusade that has thrust Cook into the hot seat.
Apple has unveiled its iPhone 17 lineup, including the first iPhone Air. Here's what's new
NEW YORK (AP) — Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup is here. The tech giant has unveiled four new models that mark the latest editions to its marquee product. That includes the introduction of the iPhone Air, which Apple says is its thinnest smartphone yet. And, as seen in years past, its newest phones boast better cameras, longer lasting batteries and a handful of other upgrades across the board. Tuesday’s lineup mark the first phones Apple has released since President Donald Trump returned to the White House and unleased a barrage of tariffs. But for the most part, Apple is sticking with the same price tags it’s slapped on its newest iPhones over recent years.
Silicon Valley enabled brutal mass detention and surveillance in China, internal documents show
BEIJING (AP) — An AP investigation reveals that U.S. technology companies to a large degree designed and built China’s surveillance state, playing a far greater role in enabling human rights abuses than previously known. Firms including IBM, Dell, and Cisco sold billions in technology to Chinese police and government agencies, despite repeated warnings that such tools were being used to quash dissent, persecute religious sects and target minorities. Critically, American surveillance technologies allowed a brutal mass detention campaign in the far west region of Xinjiang. Most of the companies told AP they comply with U.S. and Chinese laws and regulations.
Amazon's Zoox launches its robotaxi service in Las Vegas
Amazon’s Zoox on Wednesday launched its robotaxi service in Las Vegas, offering free rides through parts of the entertainment mecca for anyone willing to gamble on the safety of a driverless vehicle. The Las Vegas debut of Zoox’s long-planned ride-hailing service reflects Amazon-owned robotaxi maker’s confidence in the safety of its boxy vehicles after two years of testing them in the city. Zoox's robotaxis will pick up and drop off passengers at five designated locations, and the rides will be free for a few months.
Nepal internet crackdown part of global trend toward suppressing online freedom
Nepal’s crackdown on social media companies, which led to protests and police killing at least 19 people Monday, is part of a yearslong decline of internet freedoms around the world as even democracies seek to curtail online speech. The South Asian country’s government said last week it was blocking most social media platforms including Facebook, X and YouTube. That's because the companies failed to comply with regulations that required them to register with the government. The move was widely criticized as a tool for censorship and punishing opponents who voice their protests online. Nepal lifted the restrictions on Tuesday a day after mass protests against the ban.
Judge skewers $1.5B Anthropic settlement with authors in pirated books case over AI training
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal judge on Monday skewered a $1.5 billion settlement between artificial intelligence company Anthropic and authors who allege nearly half million books had been illegally pirated to train chatbots, raising the specter that the case could still end up going to trial. After spending nearly an hour mostly lambasting a settlement that he believes is full of pitfalls, U.S. District Judge William Alsup scheduled another hearing on September 25 to review whether his concerns had been addressed. The judge said he wants to ensure the authors don't “get the shaft” in the settlement and needs more assurances Anthropic won't be exposed to other lawsuits “coming out of the woodworks.”
AI shakes up the call center industry, but some tasks are still better left to the humans
NEW YORK (AP) — Artificial intelligence is transforming call centers by streamlining tasks and improving customer service. Armen Kirakosian, a call center agent in Greece, now uses AI to access full customer profiles and anticipate issues before speaking to callers. This technology is helping agents focus more on customer service. However, AI's role in call centers is complex. While AI can handle routine tasks, it struggles with more intricate issues, like identity theft. Companies like Klarna have found that relying solely on AI can save money but also hurt customer satisfaction. The future may involve AI handling simpler tasks, with human agents managing complex ones.
Warner Bros. sues Midjourney for AI-generated images of Superman, Bugs Bunny and other characters
Warner Bros. is suing the AI company Midjourney for copyright infringement. The lawsuit claims Midjourney allows users to create AI-generated images and videos of copyrighted characters like Superman and Bugs Bunny. This is the third lawsuit against Midjourney by a major Hollywood studio, following Disney and Universal's joint lawsuit in June. The lawsuit alleges Midjourney trained its AI on illegal copies of Warner Bros. works and misleads users into thinking the generated content is authorized. Midjourney has not responded to the lawsuit. The company's CEO previously compared the service to a search engine, suggesting AI learning is similar to human creativity.
Google hit with $3.5 billion fine from European Union in ad-tech antitrust case
European Union regulators on Friday hit Google with a $3.5 billion fine for breaching the bloc’s competition rules by favoring its own digital advertising services. This marks the fourth antitrust penalty for the company from Brussels. The European Commission, the bloc’s executive branch, also ordered Google to end its self-preferencing practices and address conflicts of interest in the advertising technology supply chain. Google plans to appeal, calling the decision “wrong” and claiming it will harm European businesses. The decision angered U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration has lashed out at the bloc over digital regulations and taxes imposed on U.S. tech companies.
