Tag: Computers
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The friendly chatbot that mimics your voice
Artificial intelligence often inspires talk of the end of the world. But a new app has a far friendlier goal: to be a “lifetime companion” that imitates your personality. Is it a good idea?
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Amazon boss set to become world’s richest man
Amazon’s bid to buy Whole Foods supermarkets has boosted the company’s value — and that of its boss Jeff Bezos. The acquisition will make Amazon more powerful than ever. Is this good or bad?
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Google unveils next steps in AI technology
At its annual developer conference, Google showed off new products that make use of artificial intelligence. A handful of firms are using AI to reshape our world. Is this a good thing?
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Cannes film festival goes to war with Netflix
This year, the festival’s line-up features two films from Netflix. Next year, it will refuse to show any more “on-demand” movies. In the digital age, should we still be going to cinemas?
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More cyber attacks on the way, warn experts
There was chaos after 150 countries were hit by a cyber attack over the weekend. The malicious bug was stopped but security experts say there may be worse to come. How worried should we be?
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Brilliant ‘S-Town’ breaks podcasting records
Since its release two weeks ago, the genre-defying S-Town has been widely acclaimed as the best podcast ever made. It has drawn millions of...
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The plan to merge human brains with computers
This week Elon Musk launched a new company which will meld minds and machines. Meanwhile, a paralysed man used electrical brain implants to move his hand. Is “the singularity” approaching?
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Google apologises for ads that fund extremism
Yesterday a senior Google executive apologised for giving advertising money to extremists. Google and Facebook are under fire for failing to police content, so is the criticism justified?
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Quantum computers: technology’s next frontier
IBM has announced plans to build the world’s first commercially available quantum computer. The technology could completely change how the world works. Would it be a good thing?
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‘Help me save the web’ says its inventor
Exactly 28 years and one day ago, Tim Berners-Lee proposed creating a world wide web. He hoped it would lead to a more equal world for all — but now he fears the opposite is happening. Why?
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Obama’s secret North Korea cyberwar revealed
On Sunday night North Korea defied a UN ban by launching four ballistic missiles. Now it has been disclosed that for years the USA has been engaged in a secret cyberwar against the country.
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Britain to ‘strike back’ against cyber attack
Yesterday the Queen opened the National Cyber Security Centre, which is designed to improve the UK’s resilience to cybercrime. How much should we worry about this 21st century menace?
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Farewell Vine, the ‘six-second sensation’
A week ago Twitter launched its replacement for Vine, having announced in October that it would close the service. What went so wrong for the app, and should we mourn its passing?
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Row deepens over Putin and US election hack
The CIA blames Russia. Trump says we ‘cannot be sure’. WikiLeaks says a 14-year-old could have done it. Did Vladimir Putin really hack the election in Trump’s favour? And so what if he did?
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Facebook’s Zuckerberg hints at politics move
Mark Zuckerberg has made a fortune at social media giant Facebook. Now his new year’s resolution suggests he may follow Donald Trump from business to politics. Do CEOs make good presidents?