How fast can the Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet really fly?

Did China ask its people 'not to respond to aliens'? Origin of bizarre claim on social media

MS Dhoni-CSK Fallout? Report claims failed stake sale talks triggered rift

Scientists reveal the SAFEST COUNTRY when catastrophe strikes the planet

Serial killer on the loose in South Korea's Jeju Island? Fourth body found in three days as more than a dozen people go missing

2/3rd of glacier detached, collapsed: ISRO satellite images reveal what triggered Nepal floods

Trump once again claims without him there would be ‘no Israel right now’

Foreign espionage attacks against German companies surge to 37%, Bitkom report reveals

Blake Lively wins partial legal fee from Justin Baldoni after $8M request

Why is Pakistan deploying Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones near India border?

'OH MY GOD! We've found other agents!': Investigators discover not one or two, almost 700 OpenAI AI agents went rogue, hacked Hugging Face

Lunar eclipse 2026: India timings, places to see and more. August Blood moon factsheet

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on global outreach tour 

Both pilots killed as training aircraft crashes in Lucknow – What we know

16-year-old charged with preparing terror attack on kindergarten in Norway

How the S-400 protects itself from enemy attacks

Nepal floods: Over 165 dead, 400 missing; US, India, China, World Bank mobilise aid

India's multi-layered watch: The new surveillance war

5 doomsday planes spotted in US skies hours after CIA director's secret trip to Russia

9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to finally face trial in 2028, nearly 27 years after horrific attacks

Islamabad hospital fire: What we know about one of the biggest facility that housed Imran Khan

Workers run for life while filming Nepal flash flood: Scary new visuals emerge from Rasuwa

Russian military planes enter South Korean air defence zone amid rising tensions with North Korea: What's happening

Ron Weasley Is Back! Rupert Grint set to return to Harry Potter universe on Broadway

400-year-old 'vampire' grave in Poland reveals non-existent genetic lineage

Dolly Parton, global icon and queen of country music, dies at 80

Nepal flash floods: Kailash Mansarovar yatra affected, close to 400 pilgrims out of contact

'If he is dead, they're putting on a pretty good show': Trump casts fresh doubt over Mojtaba Khamenei's fate

Man arrested near US Capitol with guillotine in pickup truck: What happened?

Why the Su-30MKI cockpit is painted bright turquoise green

<p>The dawn of Instagram-linked Threads is being seen as threatening the social media heft created, moderated and expanded by the blue bird of Twitter that for years, has tweeted its way into 'global town square' of news, events, moments and opinions consisting of hundreds of millions worldwide.&nbsp;</p>

<p><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p dir="ltr">Mark Zuckerberg-owned Meta Platforms Inc. launched Threads app on smartphone application stores on July 5. Threads is available to download for both Android and iOS users, and already, millions across the globe have tried it out on their smartphones.</p>

<p>Threads has been described as a platform "where communities come together to discuss everything from the topics you care about today to what'll be trending tomorrow."</p>

<h2><strong>Threads App launch: Initial reception</strong></h2>

<p>Threads was the top global trend on Twitter on July 6. On Threads &nbsp;— well &nbsp;— there appears to be no way to configure real-time global trends either on iOS or Android versions of the application. Many loyal Twitter users accused Mark Zuckerberg of copying Twitter’s micro-blogging features while others wondered if their migration to the Threads was a casual check-in or a permanent social media refuge.</p>

<h2><strong>Threads App: What makes it Twitter like?</strong></h2>

<p>At its core, Threads — like Twitter — is a microblogging social media platform. One section of the thread can have as many as 500 characters against Twitter's 280 (for unverified users). Apart from sharing links and photos, one can share videos of up to 5 minutes in length (against Twitter's 2:20 minutes for unverified users).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/zuckerberg-launches-twitter-copycat-threads-app-to-outfox-elon-musk-at-microblogging-game-612460">Zuckerberg launches Twitter copycat Threads app to outfox Elon Musk at microblogging game</a></strong></p>

<p>You can like, repost or quote threads or send them to your Threads followers — most of whom could be your Instagram followers if you choose to sign in through Instagram. While a thread can be made on Twitter as well, on Threads — as the name suggests — opining or sending out information, memes or anything Insta-worthy/tweet-worthy in the form of threads remains the central pitch of the platform towards its potential users.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Threads: All about Meta's new app</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-threads-all-about-metas-new-app-611996/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Like Twitter, a user on the Threads app has the option to keep their Threads private or public.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Twitter owner Elon Musk even seconded a tweet that posted an image that described copy-paste attributes of a keyboard to suggest that 'the new Meta app' has been entirely copied and pasted.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="qme">😂</p>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1676783253766676483?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>To put it simply, Threads is Instagram morphed as Twitter with micro-blogging attributes.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Threads app: Advantages for Meta</h2>

<p>Instagram has more than 2 billion monthly active users. Since users can log in to Threads using their Instagram credentials and follow the same accounts they follow on Instagram, it makes an easy addition to the existing social media habits for Instagram's couple of billion monthly active users.</p>

<p>This means that Meta just needs one-fourth of its Instagram users to join Threads to rival Twitter's user base.</p>

<p>Responding to a question on whether Threads can become bigger than Twitter, Zuckerberg said, "It will take some time, but I think there should be a public conversations app with 1 billion+ people on it. Twitter has had the opportunity to do this but hasn't nailed it. Hopefully, we will."</p>

<p>Analysts have predicted a kickoff buzz among the advertisers to cash in on the initial momentum of growing Threads users.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Investors can't help but be a little excited about the prospect that Meta really has a 'Twitter-Killer' poised to launch on the app store," Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at investment platform firm AJ Bell, was quoted as saying by Reuters.</p>

<h2><strong>Threads App: Disadvantages for Meta</strong></h2>

<p>Mark Zuckerberg’s Threads pitch of pushing it as a platform that has “the best parts of Instagram” towards “a new experience” makes it an uneasy appeal for Twitter’s loyal user base.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The missing line in the ruling of Meta's Threads page is that a person conventionally does not follow the same set of people on Twitter as they do&nbsp;on Instagram. So while Meta's strategy of giving its user an option to follow its Instagram followers on Threads while signing up for it can quickly expand its user base, keeping those many users consistently active would be a challenge for Threads if it is to outfox Twitter in the microblogging game.</p>

<p>Minus the minority of brands, influencers and celebrities — for a vast majority of users — the social media space on Twitter represents a culture of consumption of news and information related to precise trends and world events in real-time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To keep track of that, users follow journalists, news platforms, celebrities, leaders, icons and brands to get a sense of what's happening in the world against what is happening in the lives of people they know in day-to-day life. While Instagram is a more visual platform, Twitter remains a nearly homogenous news-oriented platform.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


The dawn of Instagram-linked Threads is being seen as threatening the social media heft created, moderated and expanded by the blue bird of Twitter that for years, has tweeted its way into 'global town square' of news, events, moments and opinions consisting of hundreds of millions worldwide.

The dawn of Instagram-linked Threads is being seen as threatening the social media heft created, moderated and expanded by the blue bird of Twitter that for years, has tweeted its way into 'global town square' of news, events, moments and opinions consisting of hundreds of millions worldwide. Mark Zuckerberg-owned Meta Platforms Inc. launched Threads app on smartphone application stores on July 5. Threads is available to download for both Android and iOS users, and already, millions across the globe have tried it out on their smartphones. Threads has been described as a platform "where communities come together to discuss everything from the topics you care about today to what'll be trending tomorrow." Threads App launch: Initial reception Threads was the top global trend on Twitter on July 6. On Threads — well — there appears to be no way to configure real-time global trends either on iOS or Android versions of the application. Many loyal Twitter users accused Mark Zuckerberg of copying Twitter’s micro-blogging features while others wondered if their migration to the Threads was a casual check-in or a permanent social media refuge. Threads App: What makes it Twitter like? At its core, Threads — like Twitter — is a microblogging social media platform. One section of the thread can have as many as 500 characters against Twitter's 280 (for unverified users). Apart from sharing links and photos, one can share videos of up to 5 minutes in length (against Twitter's 2:20 minutes for unverified users). Also read | Zuckerberg launches Twitter copycat Threads app to outfox Elon Musk at microblogging game You can like, repost or quote threads or send them to your Threads followers — most of whom could be your Instagram followers if you choose to sign in through Instagram. While a thread can be made on Twitter as well, on Threads — as the name suggests — opining or sending out information, memes or anything Insta-worthy/tweet-worthy in the form of threads remains the central pitch of the platform towards its potential users. Also watch | Gravitas: Threads: All about Meta's new app × Like Twitter, a user on the Threads app has the option to keep their Threads private or public. Meanwhile, Twitter owner Elon Musk even seconded a tweet that posted an image that described copy-paste attributes of a keyboard to suggest that 'the new Meta app' has been entirely copied and pasted. 😂 — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 6, 2023 × To put it simply, Threads is Instagram morphed as Twitter with micro-blogging attributes. Threads app: Advantages for Meta Instagram has more than 2 billion monthly active users. Since users can log in to Threads using their Instagram credentials and follow the same accounts they follow on Instagram, it makes an easy addition to the existing social media habits for Instagram's couple of billion monthly active users. This means that Meta just needs one-fourth of its Instagram users to join Threads to rival Twitter's user base. Responding to a question on whether Threads can become bigger than Twitter, Zuckerberg said, "It will take some time, but I think there should be a public conversations app with 1 billion+ people on it. Twitter has had the opportunity to do this but hasn't nailed it. Hopefully, we will." Analysts have predicted a kickoff buzz among the advertisers to cash in on the initial momentum of growing Threads users. "Investors can't help but be a little excited about the prospect that Meta really has a 'Twitter-Killer' poised to launch on the app store," Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at investment platform firm AJ Bell, was quoted as saying by Reuters. Threads App: Disadvantages for Meta Mark Zuckerberg’s Threads pitch of pushing it as a platform that has “the best parts of Instagram” towards “a new experience” makes it an uneasy appeal for Twitter’s loyal user base. The missing line in the ruling of Meta's Threads page is that a person conventionally does not follow the same set of people on Twitter as they do on Instagram. So while Meta's strategy of giving its user an option to follow its Instagram followers on Threads while signing up for it can quickly expand its user base, keeping those many users consistently active would be a challenge for Threads if it is to outfox Twitter in the microblogging game. Minus the minority of brands, influencers and celebrities — for a vast majority of users — the social media space on Twitter represents a culture of consumption of news and information related to precise trends and world events in real-time. To keep track of that, users follow journalists, news platforms, celebrities, leaders, icons and brands to get a sense of what's happening in the world against what is happening in the lives of people they know in day-to-day life. While Instagram is a more visual platform, Twitter remains a nearly homogenous news-oriented platform. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained: Threat of Threads? How Meta's version of Twitter is not new at all

<p>ChatGPT saw a drop in its active monthly users and website traffic in June, a first&nbsp;since its launch. The monthly traffic to the AI chatbot website dropped by 9.7 per cent in the last month from May, while unique visitors dropped by 5.7 per cent. As per the data available, the time spent by users on the website also decreased by 8.5 per cent.</p>

<p>Experts believe the drop in usage was an indication that there was more demand for generative AI with real-time information.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Similarweb's Senior Insights Manager David Carr said that the decreasing traffic is a sign of the “chatbot's novelty wearing off".</p>

<h2><strong>Fastest-growing consumer application ever</strong></h2>

<p>Despite the recent setback, ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, has gained massive popularity and achieved significant milestones since its launch. In just two months, it attracted a staggering 100 million monthly active users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application ever. Currently, ChatGPT boasts an impressive 1.5 billion monthly visits, securing its position as one of the top 20 websites worldwide.</p>

<p><strong>Also read<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/over-100000-hacked-chatgpt-accounts-sold-on-dark-web-india-pak-top-the-list-607764">:&nbsp;Over 100,000 hacked ChatGPT accounts sold on dark web, India, Pak top the list</a></strong></p>

<p>Its popularity is such that it has already dwarfed Microsoft's Bing in terms of monthly users, a search engine utilising OpenAI's technology. Although a few competitors like Google's Bard chatbot have entered the market recently, Bing continues to provide its users with a chatbot powered by OpenAI at no cost.</p>

<h2><strong>Possible reasons for the drop in usage</strong></h2>

<p>In May, OpenAI further expanded ChatGPT's reach by launching the ChatGPT app on iOS devices. While this move may have diverted some traffic away from the website, analysts speculate that the decrease in usage could also be attributed to the summer break, with fewer students seeking homework assistance.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;OpenAI, creator of ChatGPT sued for 'stealing' people's data</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/openai-creator-of-chatgpt-sued-for-stealing-peoples-data-611205/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>According to data.ai, the iOS version of the chatbot has been downloaded over 17 million times globally as of July 4. Notably, the peak in downloads occurred on May 31, and the app remains popular in the United States, averaging 530,000 downloads per week during its initial six weeks of availability.</p>

<h2><strong>Decreasing traffic, good news for ChatGPT?</strong></h2>

<p>The recent growth slowdown may have a positive effect on managing the operational costs associated with running ChatGPT. OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman once referred to the cost of running the service as "eye-watering."</p>

<p>While ChatGPT is free to use, OpenAI also offers a premium subscription that allows users to access the more advanced GPT-4 model for $20 per month. According to YipitData's latest estimates, approximately 1.5 million people in the United States have subscribed to this premium service.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


ChatGPT saw a drop in its active monthly users and website traffic in June, a first since its launch. The monthly traffic to the AI chatbot website dropped by 9.

ChatGPT saw a drop in its active monthly users and website traffic in June, a first since its launch. The monthly traffic to the AI chatbot website dropped by 9.7 per cent in the last month from May, while unique visitors dropped by 5.7 per cent. As per the data available, the time spent by users on the website also decreased by 8.5 per cent. Experts believe the drop in usage was an indication that there was more demand for generative AI with real-time information. Similarweb's Senior Insights Manager David Carr said that the decreasing traffic is a sign of the “chatbot's novelty wearing off". Fastest-growing consumer application ever Despite the recent setback, ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, has gained massive popularity and achieved significant milestones since its launch. In just two months, it attracted a staggering 100 million monthly active users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application ever. Currently, ChatGPT boasts an impressive 1.5 billion monthly visits, securing its position as one of the top 20 websites worldwide. Also read: Over 100,000 hacked ChatGPT accounts sold on dark web, India, Pak top the list Its popularity is such that it has already dwarfed Microsoft's Bing in terms of monthly users, a search engine utilising OpenAI's technology. Although a few competitors like Google's Bard chatbot have entered the market recently, Bing continues to provide its users with a chatbot powered by OpenAI at no cost. Possible reasons for the drop in usage In May, OpenAI further expanded ChatGPT's reach by launching the ChatGPT app on iOS devices. While this move may have diverted some traffic away from the website, analysts speculate that the decrease in usage could also be attributed to the summer break, with fewer students seeking homework assistance. Watch: OpenAI, creator of ChatGPT sued for 'stealing' people's data × According to data.ai, the iOS version of the chatbot has been downloaded over 17 million times globally as of July 4. Notably, the peak in downloads occurred on May 31, and the app remains popular in the United States, averaging 530,000 downloads per week during its initial six weeks of availability. Decreasing traffic, good news for ChatGPT? The recent growth slowdown may have a positive effect on managing the operational costs associated with running ChatGPT. OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman once referred to the cost of running the service as "eye-watering." While ChatGPT is free to use, OpenAI also offers a premium subscription that allows users to access the more advanced GPT-4 model for $20 per month. According to YipitData's latest estimates, approximately 1.5 million people in the United States have subscribed to this premium service. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

ChatGPT sees massive drop in website traffic. Here are possible reasons

<p>The Threads is now live and users across the world have started downloading another social media offering of Mark Zuckerberg's Metaverse. The Instagram-linked social media platform is being dubbed as 'Twitter killer', as it is expected to deliver a blow to Elon Musk-owned microblogging platform amid intensifying rivalry between Zuckerberg and Musk.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Threads App: How to use&nbsp;Instagram-linked Twitter like platform?</strong></h2>

<p>Users can download Threads App from Google or Apple play stores. It's available for both Android and iOS users. One can log in to Threads using Instagram credentials and surf through the dawn of Threads. A user has the option to keep their Threads private or public and can link through their Instagram and follow the same set of accounts to start with.</p>

<h2>How Threads App is different from Twitter?</h2>

<p>From preliminary surfing of the Threads, it appears that one Thread on the Threads app can have as many as 500 characters, unlike Twitter's 280 characters. While a thread can be made on Twitter as well, it is not the central part of the platform's appeal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On the other hand, Threads App's primary interface is&nbsp;— as the name suggests&nbsp;— is based on making threads.</p>

<h2><strong>Threaders are threading on Threads but Zuckerberg reacts with a TWEET</strong></h2>

<p>Instagram users worldwide are beginning to acquaint themselves with Threads. But Mark Zuckerberg has chosen to react on Twitter. Zuckerberg posted his first tweet in eleven years in a veiled jibe at Twitter owner Elon Musk. Meta founder appears to poke fun at Musk as Threads launched since his newly launched social media service may be the most potent threat to Twitter as yet.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="zxx"><a href="https://t.co/MbMxUWiQgp">pic.twitter.com/MbMxUWiQgp</a></p>
— Mark Zuckerberg (@finkd) <a href="https://twitter.com/finkd/status/1676747594460962817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Shortly after, Zuckerberg took to Threads to state that the platform has over five million people signing up within few hours of its launch.</p>

<p>"Just passed 5 million sign ups in the first four hours..." Zuckerberg said on his official Threads account hours after its launch.</p>

<h2><b>Threads is launched: What it means for Twitter?</b></h2>

<p>Since users are able to log in to the Threads using their Instagram credentials and follow the same accounts, it makes an easy addition to existing habits for Instagram's more than 2 billion monthly active users.</p>

<p>"Investors can't help but be a little excited about the prospect that Meta really has a 'Twitter-Killer' poised to launch on the app store," said Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at investment platform firm AJ Bell, was quoted as saying by Reuters.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/twitter-rival-metas-threads-app-will-not-launch-in-eu-heres-why-612446">Twitter rival, Meta's Threads app, will not launch in EU. Here's why</a></strong></p>

<p>Elon Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion last October. However, its value has declined over&nbsp;an exodus of advertisers amid deepening content moderation controversies.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the&nbsp;record doesn't exactly speak alright for&nbsp;Meta as it has suffered multiple failures launching standalone copycat apps in the past, such as&nbsp;its Lasso app aimed at competing with short video rival TikTok.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Threads: All about Meta's new app</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-threads-all-about-metas-new-app-611996/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>According to Jasmine Enberg, principal analyst at Insider Intelligence, a&nbsp;potential strike against Threads is that the news-oriented culture on Twitter is different from that on Instagram, a more visual platform.</p>

<p>"The main use cases for Twitter still remain keeping up with news and world events," Enberg told Reuters. "I find it hard to imagine that the most avid loyal Twitter users who go to Twitter for that type of culture will defect and go immediately to Threads."</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


The Threads is now live and users across the world have started downloading another social media offering of Mark Zuckerberg's Metaverse. The Instagram-linked social media platform is being dubbed as 'Twitter killer', as it is expected to deliver a blow to Elon Musk-owned microblogging platform amid intensifying rivalry between Zuckerberg and Musk.

The Threads is now live and users across the world have started downloading another social media offering of Mark Zuckerberg's Metaverse. The Instagram-linked social media platform is being dubbed as 'Twitter killer', as it is expected to deliver a blow to Elon Musk-owned microblogging platform amid intensifying rivalry between Zuckerberg and Musk. Threads App: How to use Instagram-linked Twitter like platform? Users can download Threads App from Google or Apple play stores. It's available for both Android and iOS users. One can log in to Threads using Instagram credentials and surf through the dawn of Threads. A user has the option to keep their Threads private or public and can link through their Instagram and follow the same set of accounts to start with. How Threads App is different from Twitter? From preliminary surfing of the Threads, it appears that one Thread on the Threads app can have as many as 500 characters, unlike Twitter's 280 characters. While a thread can be made on Twitter as well, it is not the central part of the platform's appeal. On the other hand, Threads App's primary interface is — as the name suggests — is based on making threads. Threaders are threading on Threads but Zuckerberg reacts with a TWEET Instagram users worldwide are beginning to acquaint themselves with Threads. But Mark Zuckerberg has chosen to react on Twitter. Zuckerberg posted his first tweet in eleven years in a veiled jibe at Twitter owner Elon Musk. Meta founder appears to poke fun at Musk as Threads launched since his newly launched social media service may be the most potent threat to Twitter as yet. pic.twitter.com/MbMxUWiQgp — Mark Zuckerberg (@finkd) July 6, 2023 × Shortly after, Zuckerberg took to Threads to state that the platform has over five million people signing up within few hours of its launch. "Just passed 5 million sign ups in the first four hours..." Zuckerberg said on his official Threads account hours after its launch. Threads is launched: What it means for Twitter? Since users are able to log in to the Threads using their Instagram credentials and follow the same accounts, it makes an easy addition to existing habits for Instagram's more than 2 billion monthly active users. "Investors can't help but be a little excited about the prospect that Meta really has a 'Twitter-Killer' poised to launch on the app store," said Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at investment platform firm AJ Bell, was quoted as saying by Reuters. Also read | Twitter rival, Meta's Threads app, will not launch in EU. Here's why Elon Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion last October. However, its value has declined over an exodus of advertisers amid deepening content moderation controversies. Meanwhile, the record doesn't exactly speak alright for Meta as it has suffered multiple failures launching standalone copycat apps in the past, such as its Lasso app aimed at competing with short video rival TikTok. Also watch | Gravitas: Threads: All about Meta's new app × According to Jasmine Enberg, principal analyst at Insider Intelligence, a potential strike against Threads is that the news-oriented culture on Twitter is different from that on Instagram, a more visual platform. "The main use cases for Twitter still remain keeping up with news and world events," Enberg told Reuters. "I find it hard to imagine that the most avid loyal Twitter users who go to Twitter for that type of culture will defect and go immediately to Threads." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Zuckerberg launches Twitter copycat Threads app to outfox Elon Musk at microblogging game

<p>In a first, South Korea's national orchestra was conducted by an android robot that stunned the sold-out crowd in Seoul on June 30. The audience was awestruck after the flawless performance by the robot in place of a human maestro.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The South Korea-made robot called EveR 6 was designed by the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology. It has a humanoid face and was programmed to replicate the movements of a human conductor.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Before starting the performance in front of nearly 1,000 people, it bowed to the audience. The orchestra was playing traditional Korean instruments. To make it more like humans, the robot even started waving its arms to control the tempo when it was performing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Three of the five pieces played by the orchestra were guided by EveR 6, one of which was jointly led by a human conductor, named Choi Soo-yeoul.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">VIDEO: 🇰🇷 Orchestra-conducting robot wows audience in South Korea<br />
<br />
The robot made its debut as an orchestra conductor in front a sell-out crowd in Seoul. Named "EveR 6", the five-foot-ten-inch (1.8m) automaton guided more than 60 musicians playing traditional instruments <a href="https://t.co/ujuQi5m3yE">pic.twitter.com/ujuQi5m3yE</a></p>
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1675172418325987328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>As quoted by BBC, Choi Soo-yeoul said: "Movements by a conductor are very detailed. The robot was able to present such detailed moves, much better than I had imagined."</p>

<p>He added, "I think it was a recital that showed that (robots and humans) can co-exist and complement each other, rather than one replacing the other."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The human conductor Choi also explained one disadvantage of EveR 6 as he said that it never listens.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said, "EveR 6's critical weakness is that it cannot listen. What was a bit interesting during the rehearsal was that I and other musicians were making a lot of efforts to understand the robot as we knew it could not listen, which made us feel like we were connecting to it."&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


In a first, South Korea's national orchestra was conducted by an android robot that stunned the sold-out crowd in Seoul on June 30. The audience was awestruck after the flawless performance by the robot in place of a human maestro.

In a first, South Korea's national orchestra was conducted by an android robot that stunned the sold-out crowd in Seoul on June 30. The audience was awestruck after the flawless performance by the robot in place of a human maestro. The South Korea-made robot called EveR 6 was designed by the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology. It has a humanoid face and was programmed to replicate the movements of a human conductor. Before starting the performance in front of nearly 1,000 people, it bowed to the audience. The orchestra was playing traditional Korean instruments. To make it more like humans, the robot even started waving its arms to control the tempo when it was performing. Three of the five pieces played by the orchestra were guided by EveR 6, one of which was jointly led by a human conductor, named Choi Soo-yeoul. VIDEO: 🇰🇷 Orchestra-conducting robot wows audience in South Korea The robot made its debut as an orchestra conductor in front a sell-out crowd in Seoul. Named "EveR 6", the five-foot-ten-inch (1.8m) automaton guided more than 60 musicians playing traditional instruments pic.twitter.com/ujuQi5m3yE — AFP News Agency (@AFP) July 1, 2023 × As quoted by BBC, Choi Soo-yeoul said: "Movements by a conductor are very detailed. The robot was able to present such detailed moves, much better than I had imagined." He added, "I think it was a recital that showed that (robots and humans) can co-exist and complement each other, rather than one replacing the other." The human conductor Choi also explained one disadvantage of EveR 6 as he said that it never listens. He said, "EveR 6's critical weakness is that it cannot listen. What was a bit interesting during the rehearsal was that I and other musicians were making a lot of efforts to understand the robot as we knew it could not listen, which made us feel like we were connecting to it." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Watch: Robot conducts orchestra in South Korea, stuns audience

<p>The rabbit hole of the internet can be a scary jungle sometimes. Going online was a deliberate act just 15 years ago. It has now become a perpetual state thanks to smartphones, smart this, smart that and whatnot. What was once the promise of a free and equal virtual world soon attracted the attention of big corporate companies and maybe thus started the cat-and-mouse game of regulations, laws and tactics to bypass them.</p>

<p>It is perhaps fair to charge users for services they choose to avail from companies and social media platforms. What is problematic is the tactics that compel users to pay without their knowledge or in ways that entice users to do something that they normally would not have done. When we study these tactics, we encounter what are known as dark patterns.</p>

<h2><strong>What are dark patterns?</strong></h2>

<p>Dark patterns are unethical tactics from companies to entice users to pay up for things, and services they would normally not have shelled out money for. Such tactics involve unethical user interface designs that may make your internet experience harder than it should be in order to even exploit you.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Mobile phones to be banned in classrooms from next year in Netherlands</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/mobile-phones-to-be-banned-in-classrooms-from-next-year-in-netherlands-612180/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Tech firms often use deceptive tactics to make users accept, for example, certain terms and conditions or products and services. For this, tech firms or other companies may flood your inbox with promotional emails or tweak their websites or apps in a way that users may think acceptance or certain conditions is the only way forward. This may not always be the requirement but a user may be tricked into thinking as a result of the design of the website/ app.</p>

<h2><strong>So how are dark patterns used by the companies?</strong></h2>

<p>Social media companies and tech giants like Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Skype, LinkedIn, Microsoft and Google have used dark patterns.</p>

<p>Amazon faced heat in the European Union (EU) over its multi-step cancellation process for Amazon Prime subscriptions. It was reportedly noted by the EU that if a user wished to subscribe to Prime, the process was much simpler as opposed to if he wanted to unsubscribe.</p>

<p>This year, Amazon made the cancellation process simpler for its customers in Europe.</p>

<p>Another example of dark patterns is the unsolicited, sponsored messages one gets from influencers. It is often seen that disabling the reception of such mail is a difficult process. It is often a multi-step process and requires familiarity with the platform's controls, which not many users may have.</p>

<p>Media has reported users complaining that Meta-owned Instagram was suggesting posts they did not want to see and that they were not able to set preferences permanently.</p>

<p>Another darf pattern is the use of videos scattered between reels and stories without the label "sponsored".</p>

<h2><strong>Why are dark patterns bad for users?</strong></h2>

<p>Dark patterns affect the user experience and even make them vulnerable to financial and data exploitation by Big Tech firms. Dark patterns may confuse users, and introduce online obstacles that make a simple function take too much of time.</p>

<p>They can even make users sign up for services and products they would not normally want. Dark patterns may also make users pay more money or share more personal data the user is comfortable with sharing.</p>

<h2><strong>What is the government's response to dark patterns?</strong></h2>

<p>Governments and regulators are slowly turning their gaze to the dark patterns. India warned last week that online players will face action if they don't stop using dark patterns. India's consumer affairs secretary Rohit Kumar Singh briefed the media about this.</p>

<p>&nbsp;"We took a soft approach and told them on June 13 not to indulge in this. On June 28, we wrote a tough letter and asked them not to stop this, otherwise will take action," he said. He was quoted by Press Trust of India (PTI).</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/century-old-mystery-behind-antarcticas-blood-falls-finally-solved-612218">Century-old mystery behind Antarctica's Blood Falls finally SOLVED</a></strong></p>

<p>Singh added that it was possible that after a couple of months, the department will issue specific guidelines on dark patterns.</p>

<p>He said the dark pattern has caught the attention of the government and consumer protection regulator amid a rise in online shopping and an increase in the number of internet users, which is expected to touch 900 million by 2025.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/deep-sea-marvel-extraordinary-octopus-nursery-found-in-costa-ricas-waters-612210">Deep-sea marvel: Extraordinary octopus nursery found in Costa Rica's waters</a></strong></p>

<p>"We were not aware of the dark patterns. Then we started reading what is happening in other geographies and countries and realised that this is a big problem. We have identified nine dark patterns and told the industry not to indulge in them," he said, as quoted by the PTI.</p>

<p>The department conveyed its views to online players in a meeting held in Mumbai on June 13.</p>

<p>Singh said that enforcement against online players for adopting dark patterns has begun. He further said that the consumer affairs department will take complaints from consumers and send them to the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Right now, dark patterns have been noticed as part of misleading advertisements. "We are yet to classify them as dark patterns. We have started doing it now," he said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><em>You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>

<p><strong><em>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</em></strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The rabbit hole of the internet can be a scary jungle sometimes. Going online was a deliberate act just 15 years ago. It has now become a perpetual state thanks to smartphones, smart this, smart that and whatnot.

The rabbit hole of the internet can be a scary jungle sometimes. Going online was a deliberate act just 15 years ago. It has now become a perpetual state thanks to smartphones, smart this, smart that and whatnot. What was once the promise of a free and equal virtual world soon attracted the attention of big corporate companies and maybe thus started the cat-and-mouse game of regulations, laws and tactics to bypass them. It is perhaps fair to charge users for services they choose to avail from companies and social media platforms. What is problematic is the tactics that compel users to pay without their knowledge or in ways that entice users to do something that they normally would not have done. When we study these tactics, we encounter what are known as dark patterns. What are dark patterns? Dark patterns are unethical tactics from companies to entice users to pay up for things, and services they would normally not have shelled out money for. Such tactics involve unethical user interface designs that may make your internet experience harder than it should be in order to even exploit you. Watch | Mobile phones to be banned in classrooms from next year in Netherlands × Tech firms often use deceptive tactics to make users accept, for example, certain terms and conditions or products and services. For this, tech firms or other companies may flood your inbox with promotional emails or tweak their websites or apps in a way that users may think acceptance or certain conditions is the only way forward. This may not always be the requirement but a user may be tricked into thinking as a result of the design of the website/ app. So how are dark patterns used by the companies? Social media companies and tech giants like Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Skype, LinkedIn, Microsoft and Google have used dark patterns. Amazon faced heat in the European Union (EU) over its multi-step cancellation process for Amazon Prime subscriptions. It was reportedly noted by the EU that if a user wished to subscribe to Prime, the process was much simpler as opposed to if he wanted to unsubscribe. This year, Amazon made the cancellation process simpler for its customers in Europe. Another example of dark patterns is the unsolicited, sponsored messages one gets from influencers. It is often seen that disabling the reception of such mail is a difficult process. It is often a multi-step process and requires familiarity with the platform's controls, which not many users may have. Media has reported users complaining that Meta-owned Instagram was suggesting posts they did not want to see and that they were not able to set preferences permanently. Another darf pattern is the use of videos scattered between reels and stories without the label "sponsored". Why are dark patterns bad for users? Dark patterns affect the user experience and even make them vulnerable to financial and data exploitation by Big Tech firms. Dark patterns may confuse users, and introduce online obstacles that make a simple function take too much of time. They can even make users sign up for services and products they would not normally want. Dark patterns may also make users pay more money or share more personal data the user is comfortable with sharing. What is the government's response to dark patterns? Governments and regulators are slowly turning their gaze to the dark patterns. India warned last week that online players will face action if they don't stop using dark patterns. India's consumer affairs secretary Rohit Kumar Singh briefed the media about this. "We took a soft approach and told them on June 13 not to indulge in this. On June 28, we wrote a tough letter and asked them not to stop this, otherwise will take action," he said. He was quoted by Press Trust of India (PTI). Also Read | Century-old mystery behind Antarctica's Blood Falls finally SOLVED Singh added that it was possible that after a couple of months, the department will issue specific guidelines on dark patterns. He said the dark pattern has caught the attention of the government and consumer protection regulator amid a rise in online shopping and an increase in the number of internet users, which is expected to touch 900 million by 2025. Also Read | Deep-sea marvel: Extraordinary octopus nursery found in Costa Rica's waters "We were not aware of the dark patterns. Then we started reading what is happening in other geographies and countries and realised that this is a big problem. We have identified nine dark patterns and told the industry not to indulge in them," he said, as quoted by the PTI. The department conveyed its views to online players in a meeting held in Mumbai on June 13. Singh said that enforcement against online players for adopting dark patterns has begun. He further said that the consumer affairs department will take complaints from consumers and send them to the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA). Right now, dark patterns have been noticed as part of misleading advertisements. "We are yet to classify them as dark patterns. We have started doing it now," he said. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Explained | What are 'dark patterns' and how they harm internet users

<p>Google was fined $2.2 million by the French authorities on Tuesday over incomplete results in its search engine and app store.</p>

<p>The Competition, Consumer and Anti-Fraud Office said the US tech firm’s search engine&nbsp;failed&nbsp;to provide adequate information concerning the ranking criteria of results.</p>

<p>It said that the results for searches on tourism accommodation lacked explanations for the prices.</p>

<p>The watchdog also said that the Google Play Store lacked information on the ranking criteria of results, payment information and dispute resolution procedures.</p>

<p>Additionally, the Google Play Store did not allow consumers to publish their reviews of apps in the store, the agency said.</p>

<p>The competition agency further said that Google has since "corrected part of the sanctioned shortcoming".</p>

<p>Responding to the charges, a Google spokesman expressed dissatisfaction with the order saying that the watchdog agency did not take the changes undertaken by the US tech giant into consideration, AFP news agency reported.</p>

<p>“We have always been transparent with our users about how our products work," the spokesman said, adding that it was open to working "constructively" with French and European regulators.</p>

<h2><strong>Not the first time</strong></h2>

<p>This is the second time that Google’s France unit was fined for providing misleading hotel rankings in its search engine.</p>

<p>In February 2021, Google France was fined 1.1 million euros after a probe found that Google's hotel rankings could be misleading for consumers.</p>

<p>The US tech giant had been applying its own algorithmic system of ratings for hotels via its search engine and on Google Maps.</p>

<p>This came after the French national competition and consumer watchdog DGCCRF initiated a probe in 2019 following a number of complaints by hoteliers against this propriety rating system.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/instagrams-twitter-like-app-threads-to-be-launched-this-week-611815">Instagram’s Twitter-like app ‘Threads’ to be launched this week</a></p>

<p>The probe revealed that the tech giant had replaced the standard classification system of the public tourist board (Atout France) with a star rating system powered by its own criteria — and which it had applied to more than 7,500 establishments.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/twitters-ultimatum-to-tweetdeck-users-verification-required-in-these-many-days-611590">Twitter's ultimatum to TweetDeck users: Verification required or else</a></p>

<p>The DGCCRF concluded that Google had engaged in a deceptive business practice — and, with the public prosecutor, it proposed the sanction announced today on Google Ireland (the tech giant’s European HQ) and Google France.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p id="6"><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Google was fined $2.2 million by the French authorities on Tuesday over incomplete results in its search engine and app store. The Competition, Consumer and Anti-Fraud Office said the US tech firm’s search engine failed to provide adequate information concerning the ranking criteria of results.

Google was fined $2.2 million by the French authorities on Tuesday over incomplete results in its search engine and app store. The Competition, Consumer and Anti-Fraud Office said the US tech firm’s search engine failed to provide adequate information concerning the ranking criteria of results. It said that the results for searches on tourism accommodation lacked explanations for the prices. The watchdog also said that the Google Play Store lacked information on the ranking criteria of results, payment information and dispute resolution procedures. Additionally, the Google Play Store did not allow consumers to publish their reviews of apps in the store, the agency said. The competition agency further said that Google has since "corrected part of the sanctioned shortcoming". Responding to the charges, a Google spokesman expressed dissatisfaction with the order saying that the watchdog agency did not take the changes undertaken by the US tech giant into consideration, AFP news agency reported. “We have always been transparent with our users about how our products work," the spokesman said, adding that it was open to working "constructively" with French and European regulators. Not the first time This is the second time that Google’s France unit was fined for providing misleading hotel rankings in its search engine. In February 2021, Google France was fined 1.1 million euros after a probe found that Google's hotel rankings could be misleading for consumers. The US tech giant had been applying its own algorithmic system of ratings for hotels via its search engine and on Google Maps. This came after the French national competition and consumer watchdog DGCCRF initiated a probe in 2019 following a number of complaints by hoteliers against this propriety rating system. Also read | Instagram’s Twitter-like app ‘Threads’ to be launched this week The probe revealed that the tech giant had replaced the standard classification system of the public tourist board (Atout France) with a star rating system powered by its own criteria — and which it had applied to more than 7,500 establishments. Also read | Twitter's ultimatum to TweetDeck users: Verification required or else The DGCCRF concluded that Google had engaged in a deceptive business practice — and, with the public prosecutor, it proposed the sanction announced today on Google Ireland (the tech giant’s European HQ) and Google France. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

French officials fine Google $2.2 million over incomplete search results

<p>Instagram's potential rival to Twitter has been released on the iOS App Store in the United States. The app, named Threads, is expected to launch officially on July 6, as reported by several media outlets.</p>

<p>This is a strategic move for Instagram, as its competitors, such as Spill, Bluesky, and Post, experienced significant growth over the weekend due to Twitter's rate-limit errors.</p>

<p>However, Threads has an advantage since it directly imports your Instagram followers and the accounts you follow. Instead of starting from scratch, Threads users will already have their existing Instagram community available.</p>

<p>According to the description on the App Store, Threads is a platform where communities can gather to discuss a wide range of topics. Users can follow and connect with their favourite creators and others who share the same interests. Alternatively, users can build their own following and share their ideas, opinions, and creativity with the world.</p>

<h2><strong>Features of the ‘Threads’ app</strong></h2>

<p>Although Threads is closely connected to Instagram, it functions as a separate app. Limited information is available from the App Store listing alone, but it appears that users can like, comment, repost, and share posts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The screenshots on the App Store also suggest that users can choose the audience who can reply to their posts, including everyone, people they follow, or only those mentioned in the post.</p>

<h2><strong>Threads, a ‘decentralised’ app</strong></h2>

<p>The announcement of Threads doesn't come as a surprise since details about the app have been gradually leaking over the past few months. According to an Instagram spokesperson quoted by Money Control, Threads is described as "decentralised."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Twitter thread about woman's sex trafficking tale now a movie</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/twitter-thread-about-womans-sex-trafficking-tale-now-a-movie-394746/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Leaked slides from a briefing with top creators indicate that Threads will be compatible with Mastodon, a decentralised network hosted on ActivityPub. However, the compatibility with Instagram, a centralised app, raises some questions that remain to be clarified.</p>

<h2><strong>Previous failed ventures of Meta</strong></h2>

<p>Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has had mixed success with its side apps in the past. Some of their previous ventures, such as the anonymous teen app tbh, the Cameo-like app Super, and others, have been discontinued.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/twitter-vs-threads-musk-takes-a-dig-at-metas-upcoming-app-611675"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Twitter vs Threads: Musk takes a dig at Meta's upcoming app</strong></a></p>

<p>Nevertheless, Threads is launching at an opportune moment to take advantage of Twitter's ongoing issues. Ultimately, it will be up to consumers to decide if they want Meta to dominate yet another aspect of their social media experience.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Instagram's potential rival to Twitter has been released on the iOS App Store in the United States. The app, named Threads, is expected to launch officially on July 6, as reported by several media outlets.

Instagram's potential rival to Twitter has been released on the iOS App Store in the United States. The app, named Threads, is expected to launch officially on July 6, as reported by several media outlets. This is a strategic move for Instagram, as its competitors, such as Spill, Bluesky, and Post, experienced significant growth over the weekend due to Twitter's rate-limit errors. However, Threads has an advantage since it directly imports your Instagram followers and the accounts you follow. Instead of starting from scratch, Threads users will already have their existing Instagram community available. According to the description on the App Store, Threads is a platform where communities can gather to discuss a wide range of topics. Users can follow and connect with their favourite creators and others who share the same interests. Alternatively, users can build their own following and share their ideas, opinions, and creativity with the world. Features of the ‘Threads’ app Although Threads is closely connected to Instagram, it functions as a separate app. Limited information is available from the App Store listing alone, but it appears that users can like, comment, repost, and share posts. The screenshots on the App Store also suggest that users can choose the audience who can reply to their posts, including everyone, people they follow, or only those mentioned in the post. Threads, a ‘decentralised’ app The announcement of Threads doesn't come as a surprise since details about the app have been gradually leaking over the past few months. According to an Instagram spokesperson quoted by Money Control, Threads is described as "decentralised." Watch: Twitter thread about woman's sex trafficking tale now a movie × Leaked slides from a briefing with top creators indicate that Threads will be compatible with Mastodon, a decentralised network hosted on ActivityPub. However, the compatibility with Instagram, a centralised app, raises some questions that remain to be clarified. Previous failed ventures of Meta Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has had mixed success with its side apps in the past. Some of their previous ventures, such as the anonymous teen app tbh, the Cameo-like app Super, and others, have been discontinued. Also read: Twitter vs Threads: Musk takes a dig at Meta's upcoming app Nevertheless, Threads is launching at an opportune moment to take advantage of Twitter's ongoing issues. Ultimately, it will be up to consumers to decide if they want Meta to dominate yet another aspect of their social media experience. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Instagram’s Twitter-like app ‘Threads’ to be launched this week

<p>Twitter has announced that users will now be required to opt for account verification in order to access and use TweetDeck. According to a tweet by the company on Monday, the changes will be enforced in 30 days. Users will have an option to copy their search, list, and profile columns into the new TweetDeck. "This is a one-time option to copy this information into the new TweetDeck," the statement said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Among few of the new features in TweetDeck 2.0 will be an advanced search to look for content efficiently,&nbsp;&nbsp;decks for cleaner workspaces, and a Column Creator that offers a more intuitive way to create columns.&nbsp;TweetDeck is not available on mobile, and one will need a viewport resolution greater than 500px in width and 500px in height to access the new version of TweetDeck.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We have just launched a new, improved version of TweetDeck. All users can continue to access their saved searches &amp; workflows via <a href="https://t.co/2WwL3hNVR2">https://t.co/2WwL3hNVR2</a> by selecting “Try the new TweetDeck” in the bottom left menu.<br />
<br />
Some notes on getting started and the future of the product…</p>
— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) <a href="https://twitter.com/TwitterSupport/status/1675990712297443330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The introduction of charges for TweetDeck, a previously free tool widely utilised by businesses and news organisations for content monitoring, could potentially generate additional revenue for Twitter.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is TweetDeck?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>TweetDeck is a valuable tool for Twitter users who want to efficiently manage multiple accounts, track conversations, schedule tweets, and stay engaged with their audience. It allows users to view, organise, and engage with their Twitter feeds all in one place.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-police-offer-hk1-million-bounties-for-hunt-of-exiled-democracy-activists-uk-hits-back-611558">Hong Kong police offer HK$1 million bounties for hunt of exiled democracy activists, UK hits back</a></p>

<p>It offers multiple columns that can be customised to display various aspects of Twitter, such as the main timeline, mentions, direct messages, lists, search results, and more.&nbsp;The ability to schedule tweets is particularly useful for individuals or businesses who want to maintain an active presence on Twitter but may not always be available to post in real-time.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-witnesses-its-hottest-june-since-records-began-nearly-140-years-ago-met-office-611507">UK witnesses hottest June since records began nearly 140 years ago: Met Office</a></p>

<p>With TweetDeck, you can compose your tweets in advance and specify the exact date and time for them to be published, ensuring a consistent flow of content.</p>

<h2><strong>Twitter now requires login to view site?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>As per reports, it appears that Twitter is now limiting access to its platform for individuals who are not logged into an account.</p>

<p>Previously, non-users or those not logged in could freely browse Twitter's homepage and view public accounts and tweets.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Japan set to release contaminated Fukushima water into Pacific, angering China</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/japan-set-to-release-contaminated-fukushima-water-into-pacific-angering-china-611537/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>However, starting this week, these users are now greeted with a screen urging them to either sign up or log in to Twitter. The changes were observed by many internet users.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Backlash over limited post access</strong></h2>

<p>Elon Musk recently announced that both verified and unverified users would face limitations on the number of posts they could read per day.</p>

<p>Musk cited the need to address concerns related to excessive data scraping and system manipulation. However, this declaration triggered a strong backlash from Twitter users, while advertising experts expressed concerns that it could undermine the authority of new CEO Linda Yaccarino, who assumed her position last month.</p>

<p>Individual users are required to pay $8 per month for account verification, whereas organisations are charged $1,000 per month for the service.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Twitter has announced that users will now be required to opt for account verification in order to access and use TweetDeck. According to a tweet by the company on Monday, the changes will be enforced in 30 days.

Twitter has announced that users will now be required to opt for account verification in order to access and use TweetDeck. According to a tweet by the company on Monday, the changes will be enforced in 30 days. Users will have an option to copy their search, list, and profile columns into the new TweetDeck. "This is a one-time option to copy this information into the new TweetDeck," the statement said. Among few of the new features in TweetDeck 2.0 will be an advanced search to look for content efficiently, decks for cleaner workspaces, and a Column Creator that offers a more intuitive way to create columns. TweetDeck is not available on mobile, and one will need a viewport resolution greater than 500px in width and 500px in height to access the new version of TweetDeck. We have just launched a new, improved version of TweetDeck. All users can continue to access their saved searches & workflows via https://t.co/2WwL3hNVR2 by selecting “Try the new TweetDeck” in the bottom left menu. Some notes on getting started and the future of the product… — Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) July 3, 2023 × The introduction of charges for TweetDeck, a previously free tool widely utilised by businesses and news organisations for content monitoring, could potentially generate additional revenue for Twitter. What is TweetDeck? TweetDeck is a valuable tool for Twitter users who want to efficiently manage multiple accounts, track conversations, schedule tweets, and stay engaged with their audience. It allows users to view, organise, and engage with their Twitter feeds all in one place. Also Read | Hong Kong police offer HK$1 million bounties for hunt of exiled democracy activists, UK hits back It offers multiple columns that can be customised to display various aspects of Twitter, such as the main timeline, mentions, direct messages, lists, search results, and more. The ability to schedule tweets is particularly useful for individuals or businesses who want to maintain an active presence on Twitter but may not always be available to post in real-time. Also Read | UK witnesses hottest June since records began nearly 140 years ago: Met Office With TweetDeck, you can compose your tweets in advance and specify the exact date and time for them to be published, ensuring a consistent flow of content. Twitter now requires login to view site? As per reports, it appears that Twitter is now limiting access to its platform for individuals who are not logged into an account. Previously, non-users or those not logged in could freely browse Twitter's homepage and view public accounts and tweets. Watch | Japan set to release contaminated Fukushima water into Pacific, angering China × However, starting this week, these users are now greeted with a screen urging them to either sign up or log in to Twitter. The changes were observed by many internet users. Backlash over limited post access Elon Musk recently announced that both verified and unverified users would face limitations on the number of posts they could read per day. Musk cited the need to address concerns related to excessive data scraping and system manipulation. However, this declaration triggered a strong backlash from Twitter users, while advertising experts expressed concerns that it could undermine the authority of new CEO Linda Yaccarino, who assumed her position last month. Individual users are required to pay $8 per month for account verification, whereas organisations are charged $1,000 per month for the service. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Twitter's ultimatum to TweetDeck users: Verification required or else...

<p>Reddit began shutting down some third-party apps after weeks of outrage over its API pricing beginning July 1. The API changes entail Reddit disallowing free API access except for certain non-commercial apps, The new API pricing ($12,000 per 50 million API requests) is now a reality.</p>

<h2><strong>Apollo, BaconReader, Sync appear&nbsp;to have shut down</strong></h2>

<p>Apollo, an iOS app, no longer loads any content from the platform. In a Reddit post on the eve of its death, Apollo thanked its users. "If they wanted something that could work for everyone, they would have simply made an effort to listen, instead of being dishonest, callous, and punitive in pricing," it wrote.</p>

<p>BaconReader, another popular app, shows an error message: "Request failed: client error (429)."&nbsp;<br />
Sync, an Android app, has also stopped working.</p>

<h2><br />
<strong>Outrage over new API pricing</strong></h2>

<p>More than 8,000 communities have gone dark in recent weeks in the protest of Reddit's API pricing. Many apps, such as Narwhal, Now and Relay, remain available.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-why-thousand-of-subreddits-are-going-dark-on-reddit-603320">Explained: Why are thousands of subreddits going dark on Reddit?</a></strong><br />
<br />
More than 2,000 subreddits remain private in protest of the API changes. Makers of popular game Minecraft also joined in on the online show of protest against Reddit this week when it announced that they will no longer share updates related to their game on the platform.<br />
<br />
"Because of these changes, we no longer feel that Reddit is an appropriate place to post official content or refer our players to," a developer from Minecraft’s development company, Mojang, was quoted as saying by Forbes.<br />
<br />
Reddit has reasoned that it requires millions of dollars in costs to support the third-party apps.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Popular online game Wordle bought by New York Times</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/popular-online-game-wordle-bought-by-new-york-times-449821/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Reddit CEO Steve Huffman told <em>The Verge</em> that his company incurs "about $10 million" in infrastructure costs as a result.<br />
<br />
API, or Application Programming Interface, is data that developers have been using to create their third-party apps.</p>

<p>The uproar appears to have diluted since the third week of June. However, its lasting effects are being seen in conversations across internet.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe></p>


Reddit began shutting down some third-party apps after weeks of outrage over its API pricing beginning July 1. The API changes entail Reddit disallowing free API access except for certain non-commercial apps, The new API pricing ($12,000 per 50 million API requests) is now a reality.

Reddit began shutting down some third-party apps after weeks of outrage over its API pricing beginning July 1. The API changes entail Reddit disallowing free API access except for certain non-commercial apps, The new API pricing ($12,000 per 50 million API requests) is now a reality. Apollo, BaconReader, Sync appear to have shut down Apollo, an iOS app, no longer loads any content from the platform. In a Reddit post on the eve of its death, Apollo thanked its users. "If they wanted something that could work for everyone, they would have simply made an effort to listen, instead of being dishonest, callous, and punitive in pricing," it wrote. BaconReader, another popular app, shows an error message: "Request failed: client error (429)." Sync, an Android app, has also stopped working. Outrage over new API pricing More than 8,000 communities have gone dark in recent weeks in the protest of Reddit's API pricing. Many apps, such as Narwhal, Now and Relay, remain available. Also read | Explained: Why are thousands of subreddits going dark on Reddit? More than 2,000 subreddits remain private in protest of the API changes. Makers of popular game Minecraft also joined in on the online show of protest against Reddit this week when it announced that they will no longer share updates related to their game on the platform. "Because of these changes, we no longer feel that Reddit is an appropriate place to post official content or refer our players to," a developer from Minecraft’s development company, Mojang, was quoted as saying by Forbes. Reddit has reasoned that it requires millions of dollars in costs to support the third-party apps. Also watch | Popular online game Wordle bought by New York Times × Reddit CEO Steve Huffman told The Verge that his company incurs "about $10 million" in infrastructure costs as a result. API, or Application Programming Interface, is data that developers have been using to create their third-party apps. The uproar appears to have diluted since the third week of June. However, its lasting effects are being seen in conversations across internet. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Third-party apps shut down as Reddit rolls out API pricing

<p>Australia has announced the cancellation of a billion-dollar space satellite programme. The decision to axe the programme has been taken as the nation tries to cut costs, and deal with financial constraints caused by an economic downturn and high cost of living.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Talking to public broadcaster ABC on Friday, Australia's Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic characterised the move as "making tough calls" and prioritising "broader environmental things" while fighting inflation.</p>

<h2><strong>Australia's space satellite programme</strong></h2>

<p>The National Space Mission for Earth Observation, with a budget of AU $1.2 billion or USD $770 million, was introduced last year. At the time, it was hailed as a crucial component in the development of Australia's space industry.</p>

<p>The primary objective of the programme was to create, construct, and operate four satellites that were to be launched between 2028 and 2033, gathering vital data for Earth observation. This data was to play a crucial role in weather forecasting, disaster response, and environmental management.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/europes-space-telescope-to-target-universes-dark-mysteries-610172">Europe's space telescope to target universe's dark mysteries</a></strong></p>

<p>However, the country's centre-left government has decided to abandon the initiative as part of "budget repair", resulting in Australia relying on Earth observation data from international partners.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Industry and Science Minister explained that prioritising "broader environmental things" during a period of economic inflation necessitated difficult choices. He said that if funds were not cut from this programme, they would need to be sourced elsewhere within the portfolio.</p>

<p>"If I don't cut a billion there, I've got to find it somewhere else in the portfolio."</p>

<p>"There are other ways we can build capability — we're certainly interested in doing that. We just have to make the call on this," he added.</p>

<p>Despite sluggish economic growth and a steady increase in defence expenditure, the government has committed to achieving a balanced budget this year.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Industry experts say the decision is 'shortsighted'</strong></h2>

<p>While the cancellation of the billion-dollar satellite programme reflects the government's need to address financial challenges, critics assert that it may hinder progress in various sectors.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The decision to cancel the satellite programme has been criticised by the Space Industry Association of Australia, which considers it a short-sighted move.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/godfather-of-ai-calls-for-action-before-ai-is-smarter-than-us-warns-looming-takeover-isnt-science-fiction-609899">Godfather of AI calls for action 'before AI is smarter than us', warns looming takeover isn't science fiction</a></strong></p>

<p>The association argues that this decision undermines the government's agenda on climate change, defence, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), advanced manufacturing, and the creation of tech jobs.</p>

<p>"It will undermine the Albanese government's agenda on climate, defence, STEM, advanced manufacturing and building tech jobs," said the lobby group for Australia's space industry.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Australia has announced the cancellation of a billion-dollar space satellite programme. The decision to axe the programme has been taken as the nation tries to cut costs, and deal with financial constraints caused by an economic downturn and high cost of living.

Australia has announced the cancellation of a billion-dollar space satellite programme. The decision to axe the programme has been taken as the nation tries to cut costs, and deal with financial constraints caused by an economic downturn and high cost of living. Talking to public broadcaster ABC on Friday, Australia's Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic characterised the move as "making tough calls" and prioritising "broader environmental things" while fighting inflation. Australia's space satellite programme The National Space Mission for Earth Observation, with a budget of AU $1.2 billion or USD $770 million, was introduced last year. At the time, it was hailed as a crucial component in the development of Australia's space industry. The primary objective of the programme was to create, construct, and operate four satellites that were to be launched between 2028 and 2033, gathering vital data for Earth observation. This data was to play a crucial role in weather forecasting, disaster response, and environmental management. Also read | Europe's space telescope to target universe's dark mysteries However, the country's centre-left government has decided to abandon the initiative as part of "budget repair", resulting in Australia relying on Earth observation data from international partners. The Industry and Science Minister explained that prioritising "broader environmental things" during a period of economic inflation necessitated difficult choices. He said that if funds were not cut from this programme, they would need to be sourced elsewhere within the portfolio. "If I don't cut a billion there, I've got to find it somewhere else in the portfolio." "There are other ways we can build capability — we're certainly interested in doing that. We just have to make the call on this," he added. Despite sluggish economic growth and a steady increase in defence expenditure, the government has committed to achieving a balanced budget this year. Industry experts say the decision is 'shortsighted' While the cancellation of the billion-dollar satellite programme reflects the government's need to address financial challenges, critics assert that it may hinder progress in various sectors. The decision to cancel the satellite programme has been criticised by the Space Industry Association of Australia, which considers it a short-sighted move. Also read | Godfather of AI calls for action 'before AI is smarter than us', warns looming takeover isn't science fiction The association argues that this decision undermines the government's agenda on climate change, defence, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), advanced manufacturing, and the creation of tech jobs. "It will undermine the Albanese government's agenda on climate, defence, STEM, advanced manufacturing and building tech jobs," said the lobby group for Australia's space industry. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Budget constraints force Australia to abandon billion-dollar space satellite programme

<p>The latest to join the layoff spree is the Pokemon Go maker Niantic, which on Thursday (June 29) said that it would let go of 230 employees as a part of a restructuring that is aimed at stabilising the organisation's finances.</p>

<p>As per an email from Niantic CEO John Hanke, which was shared on the company's website, the major organisational changes, apart from layoffs, also include game shutdowns and the closure of its Los Angeles studio where most of the employees that will be affected, are based.</p>

<p>The company will stop production on its Marvel game, Marvel World of Heroes and will also cancel NBA All World.</p>

<p>"We will be closing our LA studio, reducing our game platform team and making additional reductions across the company. As a result, we will be sunsetting NBA All-World and stopping production on Marvel: World of Heroes. This means we are laying off around 230 Niantics," Hanke said.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/national-geographic-magazine-lays-off-last-remaining-staff-writers-609951">National Geographic magazine lays off last remaining staff writers, to stop newsstands' sale from 2024</a></p>

<p>Further elaborating on the reasons behind the crucial decision, Hanke said that the move was taken because of “internal and external factors."</p>

<p>"There are both internal and external factors. We are operating in a tough market environment due to the overall global macroeconomic slowdown, as well as unique challenges in the mobile gaming and AR markets. In the years since Pokémon GO’s launch, the mobile market has become crowded and changes to the app store and the mobile advertising landscape have made it increasingly hard to launch new mobile games at scale. We also face an AR market that is developing more slowly than anticipated, because of technology challenges and because larger players are slowing down their investments in light of the macro environment," he wrote.</p>

<p>Hanke's letter emphasised on the strategies Niantic will adopt moving forward, highlighting how the company will continue to invest in AR platforms in order to develop and monetize AR experiences.</p>

<p>"We will continue to invest in our AR map and AR platform to enable developers to build, grow and monetize their own AR experiences. Our highest priority in this area is building an ecosystem of developers who create cross-platform, web (using 8th Wall) and Unity-based AR experiences. In the upcoming world of headsets, we expect much fragmentation and we believe, as was the case in mobile, that content creators will demand cross-platform solutions that enable them to leverage their content investment across the greatest number of devices and users. Our Visual Positioning System and human-centric AR map will provide them with the industry’s best tools for creating entirely new ways for people to see and explore the world," his letter read.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


The latest to join the layoff spree is the Pokemon Go maker Niantic, which on Thursday (June 29) said that it would let go of 230 employees as a part of a restructuring that is aimed at stabilising the organisation's finances.

The latest to join the layoff spree is the Pokemon Go maker Niantic, which on Thursday (June 29) said that it would let go of 230 employees as a part of a restructuring that is aimed at stabilising the organisation's finances. As per an email from Niantic CEO John Hanke, which was shared on the company's website, the major organisational changes, apart from layoffs, also include game shutdowns and the closure of its Los Angeles studio where most of the employees that will be affected, are based. The company will stop production on its Marvel game, Marvel World of Heroes and will also cancel NBA All World. "We will be closing our LA studio, reducing our game platform team and making additional reductions across the company. As a result, we will be sunsetting NBA All-World and stopping production on Marvel: World of Heroes. This means we are laying off around 230 Niantics," Hanke said. Also read: National Geographic magazine lays off last remaining staff writers, to stop newsstands' sale from 2024 Further elaborating on the reasons behind the crucial decision, Hanke said that the move was taken because of “internal and external factors." "There are both internal and external factors. We are operating in a tough market environment due to the overall global macroeconomic slowdown, as well as unique challenges in the mobile gaming and AR markets. In the years since Pokémon GO’s launch, the mobile market has become crowded and changes to the app store and the mobile advertising landscape have made it increasingly hard to launch new mobile games at scale. We also face an AR market that is developing more slowly than anticipated, because of technology challenges and because larger players are slowing down their investments in light of the macro environment," he wrote. Hanke's letter emphasised on the strategies Niantic will adopt moving forward, highlighting how the company will continue to invest in AR platforms in order to develop and monetize AR experiences. "We will continue to invest in our AR map and AR platform to enable developers to build, grow and monetize their own AR experiences. Our highest priority in this area is building an ecosystem of developers who create cross-platform, web (using 8th Wall) and Unity-based AR experiences. In the upcoming world of headsets, we expect much fragmentation and we believe, as was the case in mobile, that content creators will demand cross-platform solutions that enable them to leverage their content investment across the greatest number of devices and users. Our Visual Positioning System and human-centric AR map will provide them with the industry’s best tools for creating entirely new ways for people to see and explore the world," his letter read. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Pokemon Go maker Niantic lays off 230 employees, shuts down some games

<p>A California-based automaker has been given the first-ever approval to have a car flown in the air on an experimental basis. The retro-futuristic hybrid, developed by San Mateo-headquartered Alef Aeronautics, was awarded a Special Airworthiness Certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Alef Armada Model Zero can be driven on the road like a regular car or flown like a VTOL aircraft.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We are excited to receive this certification from the FAA," Alef CEO Jim Dukhovny said in a statement.</p>

<p>"It allows us to move closer to bringing people an environmentally friendly and faster commute, saving individuals and companies hours each week."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/a-real-ufo-man-made-flying-saucer-takes-over-skies-of-china-watch-603998">A real UFO? Man-made flying saucer takes over skies of China</a></strong></p>

<p>But some issues remain.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US Federal Aviation Administration told <em>Flying</em> that it issued the certificate for a precursor to the production model (the Armada Model Zero, not the Model A).&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What does it mean?</strong></h2>

<p>This means that Alef Model A, which is currently on pre-sale, will also need to be cleared to fly by the FAA, and will also require to meet the safety standards of the country’s National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).</p>

<p>It must also be noted that the approval only allows the hybrid to be used for experimental purposes. They include exhibitions, research and development purposes.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Tech It Out: This flying car is officially certified to hit the skies</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/tech-it-out-this-flying-car-is-officially-certified-to-hit-the-skies-448757/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>According to Alef, the Model A has a 200-mile driving range and a flight range of 110 miles. After presales began last October for $300,000 (with a $150 regular queue or $1,500 priority queue deposit), Alef says it had collected over 440 reservations by the end of the year.</p>

<h2><strong>The flying car's roll out for public: Expected Timeline</strong></h2>

<p>It will be at least a couple of years before the flying car is rolled out to the public, reports in automobile news portals said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The company will have to wait for the FAA to certify eVTOLs for commercial use before it can sell, fly, or drive the Model A.</p>

<p>Alef said it has received “strong pre-orders” from individuals and companies for the $300,000 Model A. The company expects the first deliveries will happen in the fourth quarter of 2025.</p>

<h2><strong>Other Flying Cars approved by the FAA</strong></h2>

<p>The FAA has also awarded approvals to at least two similar models, including Terrafugia’s Transition and Samson Sky’s Switchblade.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe></p>


A California-based automaker has been given the first-ever approval to have a car flown in the air on an experimental basis. The retro-futuristic hybrid, developed by San Mateo-headquartered Alef Aeronautics, was awarded a Special Airworthiness Certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

A California-based automaker has been given the first-ever approval to have a car flown in the air on an experimental basis. The retro-futuristic hybrid, developed by San Mateo-headquartered Alef Aeronautics, was awarded a Special Airworthiness Certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The Alef Armada Model Zero can be driven on the road like a regular car or flown like a VTOL aircraft. "We are excited to receive this certification from the FAA," Alef CEO Jim Dukhovny said in a statement. "It allows us to move closer to bringing people an environmentally friendly and faster commute, saving individuals and companies hours each week." Also read | A real UFO? Man-made flying saucer takes over skies of China But some issues remain. The US Federal Aviation Administration told Flying that it issued the certificate for a precursor to the production model (the Armada Model Zero, not the Model A). What does it mean? This means that Alef Model A, which is currently on pre-sale, will also need to be cleared to fly by the FAA, and will also require to meet the safety standards of the country’s National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It must also be noted that the approval only allows the hybrid to be used for experimental purposes. They include exhibitions, research and development purposes. Also watch | Tech It Out: This flying car is officially certified to hit the skies × According to Alef, the Model A has a 200-mile driving range and a flight range of 110 miles. After presales began last October for $300,000 (with a $150 regular queue or $1,500 priority queue deposit), Alef says it had collected over 440 reservations by the end of the year. The flying car's roll out for public: Expected Timeline It will be at least a couple of years before the flying car is rolled out to the public, reports in automobile news portals said. The company will have to wait for the FAA to certify eVTOLs for commercial use before it can sell, fly, or drive the Model A. Alef said it has received “strong pre-orders” from individuals and companies for the $300,000 Model A. The company expects the first deliveries will happen in the fourth quarter of 2025. Other Flying Cars approved by the FAA The FAA has also awarded approvals to at least two similar models, including Terrafugia’s Transition and Samson Sky’s Switchblade. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

From sci-fi to real world: US approves world's first fully electric flying car

<p>Maneki-neko ('beckoning cat') is quite a common Japanese figurine, popularly believed to bring good luck to the owner. Not just in Japan, they are popular across the world and seen in shops and homes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Cat owners in Japan spend big bucks on their care and would go to a substantial extent for their well being, but it is also important for them to know how felines are feeling, whether or not they are down.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Now, they can receive the necessary assistance&nbsp;as a Tokyo-based tech firm and university have collaborated to create an app trained on hundreds of cat images that can inform them when their pet is in agony.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/dolphins-pamper-their-little-ones-with-baby-talk-a-study-tells-how-609366">Dolphins pamper their little ones with ‘baby talk’, a study tells how</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>A report published by the news agency AFP mentioned that since its release last month, "Cat Pain Detector" has racked up 43,000 users. Go Sakioka, head of developer Carelogy, said that most of the users are in Japan, but some are also in Europe and South America.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report has mentioned that the software is part of a growing array of technology for pet owners, who are worried about the well-being of their pets. Some similar apps are mood and pain trackers produced in Canada and Israel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Carelogy and Nihon University's College of Bioresource Sciences jointly collected 6,000 cat pictures and closely examined the postures of the ears, noses, whiskers, and eyelids of cats.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-are-concerned-by-skin-disease-in-endangered-killer-whales-610294">Scientists are concerned by skin disease in endangered killer whales</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>After that, they used a grading system developed by the University of Montreal to distinguish between healthy cats and those in pain owing to difficult-to-diagnose disorders.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sakioka said that the app developers then fed the information into an AI detection system. They were helped when around 600,000 photos were uploaded by users. &nbsp;</p>

<p>He told AFP that the app "has an accuracy level of more than 90 per cent".&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the Japan Pet Food Association, 60 per cent of owners take their cat to a veterinarian at most once a year.</p>

<p>"We want to help cat owners judge more easily at home whether to see a vet or not," Sakioka said.</p>

<p>"Cat Pain Detector" is already being used by some vets in Japan, the land of Hello Kitty, where tourists flock to cat cafes and some small islands are overrun by stray felines.</p>

<p>But "the AI system still needs to be more precise before it's used as a standardised tool", he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Maneki-neko ('beckoning cat') is quite a common Japanese figurine, popularly believed to bring good luck to the owner. Not just in Japan, they are popular across the world and seen in shops and homes.

Maneki-neko ('beckoning cat') is quite a common Japanese figurine, popularly believed to bring good luck to the owner. Not just in Japan, they are popular across the world and seen in shops and homes. Cat owners in Japan spend big bucks on their care and would go to a substantial extent for their well being, but it is also important for them to know how felines are feeling, whether or not they are down. Now, they can receive the necessary assistance as a Tokyo-based tech firm and university have collaborated to create an app trained on hundreds of cat images that can inform them when their pet is in agony. Also read: Dolphins pamper their little ones with ‘baby talk’, a study tells how A report published by the news agency AFP mentioned that since its release last month, "Cat Pain Detector" has racked up 43,000 users. Go Sakioka, head of developer Carelogy, said that most of the users are in Japan, but some are also in Europe and South America. The report has mentioned that the software is part of a growing array of technology for pet owners, who are worried about the well-being of their pets. Some similar apps are mood and pain trackers produced in Canada and Israel. Carelogy and Nihon University's College of Bioresource Sciences jointly collected 6,000 cat pictures and closely examined the postures of the ears, noses, whiskers, and eyelids of cats. Also read: Scientists are concerned by skin disease in endangered killer whales After that, they used a grading system developed by the University of Montreal to distinguish between healthy cats and those in pain owing to difficult-to-diagnose disorders. Sakioka said that the app developers then fed the information into an AI detection system. They were helped when around 600,000 photos were uploaded by users. He told AFP that the app "has an accuracy level of more than 90 per cent". According to the Japan Pet Food Association, 60 per cent of owners take their cat to a veterinarian at most once a year. "We want to help cat owners judge more easily at home whether to see a vet or not," Sakioka said. "Cat Pain Detector" is already being used by some vets in Japan, the land of Hello Kitty, where tourists flock to cat cafes and some small islands are overrun by stray felines. But "the AI system still needs to be more precise before it's used as a standardised tool", he said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Cat Pain Detector': This app helps owners know if their pet is in agony, needs vet visit

<p>Google will remove links to Canadian news from search results and other products in&nbsp;Canada&nbsp;when a law requiring internet giants to pay news publishers comes into effect, the Alphabet-owned company said on Thursday.</p>

<p>Google joins Facebook-owner Meta Platforms Inc in announcing an end to news access for Canadian users of their platforms after Bill C-18, or the Online News Act, was passed into law last week. The law is expected to come into effect in six months.</p>

<p>Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, who introduced the bill last year, has said platforms do not have any obligations under the act immediately and that the government was open to consulting with them on the regulatory and implementation process.</p>

<p>Canada's media industry has called for tighter regulation of tech companies to prevent them from elbowing news businesses out of the online advertising market.</p>

<p>"We have now informed the government that when the law takes effect, we unfortunately will have to remove links to Canadian news from our Search, News and Discover products in&nbsp;Canada," Google said in a blogpost.</p>

<p>"We don't take this decision or its impacts lightly, and believe it's important to be transparent with Canadian publishers and our users as early as possible," it said.</p>

<p>The act outlines rules to force platforms such as Facebook and Google to negotiate commercial deals and pay news publishers for their content, a step similar to a groundbreaking law passed in Australia in 2021.</p>

<p>The U.S. technology companies have said the proposals are unsustainable for their businesses. Google has argued&nbsp;Canada's law is broader than those in Australia and Europe, saying it puts a price on news story links displayed in search results and can apply to outlets that do not produce news.</p>

<p>The search engine giant had proposed that the bill be revised to make the displaying of news content, rather than links, as basis for payment and to specify that only businesses that produce news and adhere to journalistic standards are eligible.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Google will remove links to Canadian news from search results and other products in Canada when a law requiring internet giants to pay news publishers comes into effect, the Alphabet-owned company said on Thursday.

Google will remove links to Canadian news from search results and other products in Canada when a law requiring internet giants to pay news publishers comes into effect, the Alphabet-owned company said on Thursday. Google joins Facebook-owner Meta Platforms Inc in announcing an end to news access for Canadian users of their platforms after Bill C-18, or the Online News Act, was passed into law last week. The law is expected to come into effect in six months. Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, who introduced the bill last year, has said platforms do not have any obligations under the act immediately and that the government was open to consulting with them on the regulatory and implementation process. Canada's media industry has called for tighter regulation of tech companies to prevent them from elbowing news businesses out of the online advertising market. "We have now informed the government that when the law takes effect, we unfortunately will have to remove links to Canadian news from our Search, News and Discover products in Canada," Google said in a blogpost. "We don't take this decision or its impacts lightly, and believe it's important to be transparent with Canadian publishers and our users as early as possible," it said. The act outlines rules to force platforms such as Facebook and Google to negotiate commercial deals and pay news publishers for their content, a step similar to a groundbreaking law passed in Australia in 2021. The U.S. technology companies have said the proposals are unsustainable for their businesses. Google has argued Canada's law is broader than those in Australia and Europe, saying it puts a price on news story links displayed in search results and can apply to outlets that do not produce news. The search engine giant had proposed that the bill be revised to make the displaying of news content, rather than links, as basis for payment and to specify that only businesses that produce news and adhere to journalistic standards are eligible. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Google to remove news links in Canada over law on paying publishers

<p>It is now widely accepted that there is a possibility of artificial intelligence (AI) replacing humans at work. Despite experts raising concerns, tech entrepreneurs have been upbeat about the potential benefits of using AI.</p>

<p>The CEO of Indian IT behemoth Infosys, Salil Parekh, recently said the firm has been using generative AI to service 50 of its client projects.</p>

<p>“We have today 50 active client projects where we are using generative AI and this is becoming an increasing part of the new world which is going to be defined on an AI-first basis,” Parekh said, according to Moneycontrol.com.</p>

<p>These remarks came during Infosys’ 42nd annual general meeting on Wednesday, where the use of AI was discussed prominently among shareholders.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During the meeting, Infosys rolled out its artificial intelligence (AI)-the first strategy with a sharp focus on generative AI.</p>

<p>Parekh has been the driving force behind the integration of generative AI into Infosys’ service offerings. He believes that this technology has the capability to strengthen the future of businesses worldwide.</p>

<h2><strong>Generative AI</strong></h2>

<p>Generative AI refers to AI systems that generate new content, ideas, or solutions based on existing data or patterns. It has the potential to enhance productivity, automate tasks, and drive innovation across various industries.</p>

<p>By leveraging generative AI, Infosys can provide its clients with advanced solutions and services that harness the power of artificial intelligence, Infosys said, according to its website.</p>

<p>The company further said that it was engaging with over 300 clients regarding integrating its AI services, called Infosys Topaz.</p>

<h2><strong>Nilekani cautious </strong></h2>

<p>Chairman Nandan Nilekani, however, struck a cautionary note saying that despite the progress in generative AI, complexities and unresolved issues are associated with its implementation.</p>

<p>Practical considerations, ethical concerns, and intellectual property-related matters must be addressed when scaling&nbsp;AI&nbsp;in the enterprise, he said.</p>

<p>“The AI-first strategy we have embraced is already working for us. We have redesigned our organisation to judiciously balance people, technology, and process while also executing work by segmenting it into cognitive tasks. Today, we can bring to our global clientele the same ability to accelerate business value and amplify human potential using AI technologies with Infosys Topaz,” said Nilekani, according to Business Standard newspaper.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p id="6"><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


It is now widely accepted that there is a possibility of artificial intelligence (AI) replacing humans at work. Despite experts raising concerns, tech entrepreneurs have been upbeat about the potential benefits of using AI.

It is now widely accepted that there is a possibility of artificial intelligence (AI) replacing humans at work. Despite experts raising concerns, tech entrepreneurs have been upbeat about the potential benefits of using AI. The CEO of Indian IT behemoth Infosys, Salil Parekh, recently said the firm has been using generative AI to service 50 of its client projects. “We have today 50 active client projects where we are using generative AI and this is becoming an increasing part of the new world which is going to be defined on an AI-first basis,” Parekh said, according to Moneycontrol.com. These remarks came during Infosys’ 42nd annual general meeting on Wednesday, where the use of AI was discussed prominently among shareholders. During the meeting, Infosys rolled out its artificial intelligence (AI)-the first strategy with a sharp focus on generative AI. Parekh has been the driving force behind the integration of generative AI into Infosys’ service offerings. He believes that this technology has the capability to strengthen the future of businesses worldwide. Generative AI Generative AI refers to AI systems that generate new content, ideas, or solutions based on existing data or patterns. It has the potential to enhance productivity, automate tasks, and drive innovation across various industries. By leveraging generative AI, Infosys can provide its clients with advanced solutions and services that harness the power of artificial intelligence, Infosys said, according to its website. The company further said that it was engaging with over 300 clients regarding integrating its AI services, called Infosys Topaz. Nilekani cautious Chairman Nandan Nilekani, however, struck a cautionary note saying that despite the progress in generative AI, complexities and unresolved issues are associated with its implementation. Practical considerations, ethical concerns, and intellectual property-related matters must be addressed when scaling AI in the enterprise, he said. “The AI-first strategy we have embraced is already working for us. We have redesigned our organisation to judiciously balance people, technology, and process while also executing work by segmenting it into cognitive tasks. Today, we can bring to our global clientele the same ability to accelerate business value and amplify human potential using AI technologies with Infosys Topaz,” said Nilekani, according to Business Standard newspaper. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Infosys using generative AI to handle 50 client projects, says CEO Parekh

<p>Google has admitted that the blackout protest by thousands of subreddits earlier this month had a negative effect on user experience. The search results yielded generic outcomes, often boosted by SEO algorithms which did not answer a user's query adequately.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to a CNBC report, Prabhakar Raghavan, Google’s senior vice president in charge of search, told employees that despite making new changes, the search results were not as comprehensive as Reddit search results during the blackout.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Many of you may wonder how we have a search team that’s iterating and building all this new stuff and yet somehow, users are still not quite happy,” Raghavan said. “We need to make users happy.”</p>

<p>Raghavan was responding to an employee's comment about negative user feedback.&nbsp;“What can we do to improve the user experience on the core product that made Google a household name,” the employee asked.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While Google yielded exhaustive search results in its initial years, lately it has been offering robotic responses that do little to answer the query.&nbsp;As a result, most Google users employ adding 'Reddit' to any query to receive better results which an ordinary Google search is not able to provide. However, since major subreddits had gone dark (private or closed), as a sign of protests, the queries lost relevance and returned empty results.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-why-thousand-of-subreddits-are-going-dark-on-reddit-603320"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Explained: Why are thousands of subreddits going dark on Reddit?</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Why did the subreddits go dark?</strong></h2>

<p>The blackout decision was taken by moderators after Reddit announced plans of charging developers, for access to its API (Application Programming Interface), starting July 1.&nbsp;The changes clocked in will introduce hefty charges for "premium access" to Reddit's data which will effectively kill third-party apps such as Apollo, Narwhal, Relay, and Infinity.</p>

<p>The aforementioned apps would have to fork out as much as $5 per user each month simply to pay the new fees to Reddit, according to Christian Selig, Apollo's sole developer. At their current rate of API usage, the ballpark annual figure would be more than $20 million.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-us-to-ban-kids-from-social-media-platforms-586781"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: US to ban kids from social media platforms?</strong></a></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-us-to-ban-kids-from-social-media-platforms-586781/embed" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-why-thousand-of-subreddits-are-going-dark-on-reddit-603320#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></p>

<h2><strong>What is Reddit saying?</strong></h2>

<p>Reddit has claimed that it needs to be paid adequately for the millions it spends on operating the platform. It adds that the knowledge the platform has amassed over the years is too prized to give away for free.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>“More than any other place on the internet, Reddit is a home for authentic conversation. There’s a lot of stuff on the site that you’d only ever say in therapy, or AA, or never at all. But we don’t need to give all of that value to some of the largest companies in the world for free,” Reddit’s CEO and co-founder Steve Huffman said in an interview with the New York Times.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Google has admitted that the blackout protest by thousands of subreddits earlier this month had a negative effect on user experience. The search results yielded generic outcomes, often boosted by SEO algorithms which did not answer a user's query adequately.

Google has admitted that the blackout protest by thousands of subreddits earlier this month had a negative effect on user experience. The search results yielded generic outcomes, often boosted by SEO algorithms which did not answer a user's query adequately. According to a CNBC report, Prabhakar Raghavan, Google’s senior vice president in charge of search, told employees that despite making new changes, the search results were not as comprehensive as Reddit search results during the blackout. “Many of you may wonder how we have a search team that’s iterating and building all this new stuff and yet somehow, users are still not quite happy,” Raghavan said. “We need to make users happy.” Raghavan was responding to an employee's comment about negative user feedback. “What can we do to improve the user experience on the core product that made Google a household name,” the employee asked. While Google yielded exhaustive search results in its initial years, lately it has been offering robotic responses that do little to answer the query. As a result, most Google users employ adding 'Reddit' to any query to receive better results which an ordinary Google search is not able to provide. However, since major subreddits had gone dark (private or closed), as a sign of protests, the queries lost relevance and returned empty results. Also read | Explained: Why are thousands of subreddits going dark on Reddit? Why did the subreddits go dark? The blackout decision was taken by moderators after Reddit announced plans of charging developers, for access to its API (Application Programming Interface), starting July 1. The changes clocked in will introduce hefty charges for "premium access" to Reddit's data which will effectively kill third-party apps such as Apollo, Narwhal, Relay, and Infinity. The aforementioned apps would have to fork out as much as $5 per user each month simply to pay the new fees to Reddit, according to Christian Selig, Apollo's sole developer. At their current rate of API usage, the ballpark annual figure would be more than $20 million. WATCH | Gravitas: US to ban kids from social media platforms? × What is Reddit saying? Reddit has claimed that it needs to be paid adequately for the millions it spends on operating the platform. It adds that the knowledge the platform has amassed over the years is too prized to give away for free. “More than any other place on the internet, Reddit is a home for authentic conversation. There’s a lot of stuff on the site that you’d only ever say in therapy, or AA, or never at all. But we don’t need to give all of that value to some of the largest companies in the world for free,” Reddit’s CEO and co-founder Steve Huffman said in an interview with the New York Times. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Google admits Reddit blackout affected search experience as users were 'unhappy'

<p>HMD Global, the company that makes Nokia smartphones, launched a new smartphone on Wednesday that can be repaired by users if its parts get damaged. The smartphone was launched in a beautiful purple shade which can be repaired by customers using parts provided by iFixit, the repair advocacy organisation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The device is currently available in the UK, starting Wednesday. HMD Global did not provide details on US availability. In India, the phone is set to be available for purchase in the third quarter of the year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-gets-imf-support-months-after-indias-credit-line-extension-for-economic-recovery-609961">Sri Lanka gets IMF support months after India's credit line extension for economic recovery</a></p>

<p>The G42 5G is a more premium-feeling upgrade of the company’s first user-repairable G22 phone, which was unveiled at the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona earlier this year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Nokia’s parent company, HMD Global claims that the model is affordable, sustainable and durable, which is why, they collaborated with iFixit to launch a device with replaceable parts including the display, battery, and charging port.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Nokia G42 5G price and availability</strong></h2>

<p>The phone is currently available in purple and grey colour options, and is available in two storage configurations. The 6GB + 128GB variant is listed at £199 ($252). The company said that the Nokia G42 5G will launch in India within the third quarter of the year, which encompasses the months of July, August and September.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>‘Right to repair’</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>In the recent past, smartphone companies have been increasingly working to make phones last longer amid pressure from regulators to make electronic devices more sustainable.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For instance, lawmakers in the European Parliament are calling for legislation that would force manufacturers to give users the “right to repair”. This refers to a movement among consumer rights campaigners to make it easier for consumers to repair their gadgets.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/good-news-for-indias-credit-card-spenders-abroad-on-tax-collected-at-source-tcs-609907">Good news for India's Credit card spenders abroad on Tax Collected at Source (TCS)</a></p>

<p>The European Commission’s Green New Deal seeks to make the bloc a circular economy by 2050, making it so that almost all physical goods can be repurposed, repaired, reused or recycled to minimise waste.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Repairing phones, in particular, has gotten more complex due to how tightly the battery and other components are sealed by glue.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Apple has long been reluctant to make changes to its repair policies. But in November 2021, the company decided to launch a self-service repair programme that lets customers buy parts to fix their own devices.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/national-geographic-magazine-lays-off-last-remaining-staff-writers-609951">National Geographic magazine lays off last remaining staff writers</a></p>

<p>In December, the iPhone maker expanded this programme to eight European countries, including Belgium, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


HMD Global, the company that makes Nokia smartphones, launched a new smartphone on Wednesday that can be repaired by users if its parts get damaged. The smartphone was launched in a beautiful purple shade which can be repaired by customers using parts provided by iFixit, the repair advocacy organisation.

HMD Global, the company that makes Nokia smartphones, launched a new smartphone on Wednesday that can be repaired by users if its parts get damaged. The smartphone was launched in a beautiful purple shade which can be repaired by customers using parts provided by iFixit, the repair advocacy organisation. The device is currently available in the UK, starting Wednesday. HMD Global did not provide details on US availability. In India, the phone is set to be available for purchase in the third quarter of the year. Also Read | Sri Lanka gets IMF support months after India's credit line extension for economic recovery The G42 5G is a more premium-feeling upgrade of the company’s first user-repairable G22 phone, which was unveiled at the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona earlier this year. The Nokia’s parent company, HMD Global claims that the model is affordable, sustainable and durable, which is why, they collaborated with iFixit to launch a device with replaceable parts including the display, battery, and charging port. Nokia G42 5G price and availability The phone is currently available in purple and grey colour options, and is available in two storage configurations. The 6GB + 128GB variant is listed at £199 ($252). The company said that the Nokia G42 5G will launch in India within the third quarter of the year, which encompasses the months of July, August and September. ‘Right to repair’ In the recent past, smartphone companies have been increasingly working to make phones last longer amid pressure from regulators to make electronic devices more sustainable. For instance, lawmakers in the European Parliament are calling for legislation that would force manufacturers to give users the “right to repair”. This refers to a movement among consumer rights campaigners to make it easier for consumers to repair their gadgets. Also Read | Good news for India's Credit card spenders abroad on Tax Collected at Source (TCS) The European Commission’s Green New Deal seeks to make the bloc a circular economy by 2050, making it so that almost all physical goods can be repurposed, repaired, reused or recycled to minimise waste. Repairing phones, in particular, has gotten more complex due to how tightly the battery and other components are sealed by glue. Apple has long been reluctant to make changes to its repair policies. But in November 2021, the company decided to launch a self-service repair programme that lets customers buy parts to fix their own devices. Also Read | National Geographic magazine lays off last remaining staff writers In December, the iPhone maker expanded this programme to eight European countries, including Belgium, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the UK. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Nokia G42 5G launched: Company's first user-repairable, more sustainable 5G smartphone, see details

<p>Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick appeared in court on Wednesday to defend Microsoft's intended $69 billion takeover of his video game company against a federal regulator's attempt to halt the deal.</p>

<p>Kotick told a federal judge in San Francisco on Wednesday that there is no basis for Microsoft to deprive Sony of the acclaimed Activision game Call of Duty. Kotick stated that making the game exclusive to Microsoft's Xbox console or offering poor versions on other systems, such as Sony's Playstation, is not in his company's best interests.</p>

<h2>If we remove Call of Duty from Playstation, it would cause serious reputational damage to company:&nbsp;Kotick&nbsp;</h2>

<p>He added that making a subpar version for PlayStation would cause “vitriol from gamers” and is not something Activision developers would do.</p>

<p>Kotick's comments were intended to undermine a key allegation made by antitrust enforcers at the United States Federal Trade Commission, who contend that the acquisition will hurt competition in the video game industry.</p>

<p>On the fourth day of a court hearing in San Francisco, Kotick testified before U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley. The hearings are expected to make or break what would be the most expensive technological acquisition in history. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella was also set to testify on Wednesday.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/eu-greenlights-microsoft-takeover-of-activision-blizzard-592727">EU greenlights Microsoft takeover of Activision Blizzard</a></strong></p>

<h2>98%&nbsp;of Activision Blizzard shareholders voted for deal</h2>

<p>The hearing is a crucial test of the FTC's increased scrutiny of Big Tech under Chairperson Lina Khan, who has been open about her conviction that US regulators were overly permissive in previous accords that enabled giants like Amazon, Google, and Facebook to&nbsp;gain their dominance. Six months ago, the FTC brought Facebook owner Meta Platforms to court in Silicon Valley to try to prohibit a buyout of a virtual reality fitness startup, only to be turned down by the judge.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/microsoft-activision-69bn-deal-temporarily-blocked-in-us-604191">&nbsp;Microsoft-Activision: $69bn deal temporarily blocked in US</a></strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/microsoft-activision-69bn-deal-temporarily-blocked-in-us-604191/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Microsoft has praised the agreement with Activision Blizzard for making popular Activision games&nbsp;like Call of Duty more broadly available. The US Federal Trade Commission is attempting to persuade Corley to issue an order halting the takeover before a more detailed administrative trial begins on August 2 in Washington. Microsoft is battling to conclude the transaction by the July 18 deadline, which could compel it to pay a $3 billion breakup fee to Activision.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick appeared in court on Wednesday to defend Microsoft's intended $69 billion takeover of his video game company against a federal regulator's attempt to halt the deal.

Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick appeared in court on Wednesday to defend Microsoft's intended $69 billion takeover of his video game company against a federal regulator's attempt to halt the deal. Kotick told a federal judge in San Francisco on Wednesday that there is no basis for Microsoft to deprive Sony of the acclaimed Activision game Call of Duty. Kotick stated that making the game exclusive to Microsoft's Xbox console or offering poor versions on other systems, such as Sony's Playstation, is not in his company's best interests. If we remove Call of Duty from Playstation, it would cause serious reputational damage to company: Kotick He added that making a subpar version for PlayStation would cause “vitriol from gamers” and is not something Activision developers would do. Kotick's comments were intended to undermine a key allegation made by antitrust enforcers at the United States Federal Trade Commission, who contend that the acquisition will hurt competition in the video game industry. On the fourth day of a court hearing in San Francisco, Kotick testified before U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley. The hearings are expected to make or break what would be the most expensive technological acquisition in history. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella was also set to testify on Wednesday. Also read | EU greenlights Microsoft takeover of Activision Blizzard 98% of Activision Blizzard shareholders voted for deal The hearing is a crucial test of the FTC's increased scrutiny of Big Tech under Chairperson Lina Khan, who has been open about her conviction that US regulators were overly permissive in previous accords that enabled giants like Amazon, Google, and Facebook to gain their dominance. Six months ago, the FTC brought Facebook owner Meta Platforms to court in Silicon Valley to try to prohibit a buyout of a virtual reality fitness startup, only to be turned down by the judge. Watch | Microsoft-Activision: $69bn deal temporarily blocked in US × Microsoft has praised the agreement with Activision Blizzard for making popular Activision games like Call of Duty more broadly available. The US Federal Trade Commission is attempting to persuade Corley to issue an order halting the takeover before a more detailed administrative trial begins on August 2 in Washington. Microsoft is battling to conclude the transaction by the July 18 deadline, which could compel it to pay a $3 billion breakup fee to Activision. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick defends firm’s proposed acquisition by Microsoft in court

<p>Geoffrey Hinton, a prominent figure in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) who is often called one of the 'godfathers of AI', has called on governments to intervene and prevent machines from taking control of society. Speaking at the Collision tech conference in Toronto, Hinton emphasised the importance of understanding how AI might attempt to take control before it surpasses human intelligence.</p>

<p>Hinton, who recently left Google to speak more openly about the risks of AI, expressed his concern that the risks associated with AI should not be dismissed as science fiction or fear-mongering.</p>

<h2><strong>Take action now "before AI is smarter than us"</strong></h2>

<p>Speaking at the conference that brought together more than 30,000 investors, tech workers and startup founders, Hinton said: "Before AI is smarter than us, I think the people developing it should be encouraged to put a lot of work into understanding how it might try and take control away."</p>

<p>"Right now there are 99 very smart people trying to make AI better and one very smart person trying to figure out how to stop it taking over and maybe you want to be more balanced," he added.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/ai-attempts-to-bring-dead-back-to-life-give-people-closure-601951">AI attempts to bring dead back to life, give people closure</a></strong></p>

<p>Hinton emphasised that the risks associated with AI should not be dismissed as science fiction or fear-mongering. He stressed the importance of proactively considering and preparing for the real risks that AI presents.</p>

<p>"I think it's important that people understand that this is not science fiction, this is not just fear mongering," said the respected AI pioneer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It is a real risk that we must think about, and we need to figure out in advance how to deal with it," he insisted.</p>

<h2><strong>AI, social inequality and fake news</strong></h2>

<p>As per Hinton, it's not just the threat of a takeover, AI also threatens to deepen pre-existing inequalities. He argued that AI's benefits and productivity gains are likely to benefit the wealthy.</p>

<p>"The wealth isn't going to go to the people doing the work. It will go into making the rich richer and not the poorer and that's very bad for society."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/wion-explains-upcoming-us-uk-elections-and-the-threat-of-ai-fueled-disinformation-594516">WION Explains: Upcoming US, UK elections and the threat of AI-fuelled disinformation</a></strong></p>

<p>Hinton also highlighted the problem of fake news generated by AI-powered systems like ChatGPT. He suggested the possibility of marking AI-generated content as fake, similar to how central banks watermark cash money, though he acknowledged technical challenges in implementing such a solution.</p>

<p>"It's very important to try, for example, to mark everything that is fake as fake. Whether we can do that technically, I don't know," he said.</p>

<h2><strong>It's not all bad</strong></h2>

<p>AFP reports that while Hinton focused on the risks and challenges of AI, other discussions at the conference were more optimistic, focusing on seizing the opportunities presented by AI advancements.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One participant Venture Capitalist Sarah Guo suggested that concerns about AI as an existential threat were premature, likening them to "talking about overpopulation on Mars. "</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Geoffrey Hinton, a prominent figure in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) who is often called one of the 'godfathers of AI', has called on governments to intervene and prevent machines from taking control of society.

Geoffrey Hinton, a prominent figure in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) who is often called one of the 'godfathers of AI', has called on governments to intervene and prevent machines from taking control of society. Speaking at the Collision tech conference in Toronto, Hinton emphasised the importance of understanding how AI might attempt to take control before it surpasses human intelligence. Hinton, who recently left Google to speak more openly about the risks of AI, expressed his concern that the risks associated with AI should not be dismissed as science fiction or fear-mongering. Take action now "before AI is smarter than us" Speaking at the conference that brought together more than 30,000 investors, tech workers and startup founders, Hinton said: "Before AI is smarter than us, I think the people developing it should be encouraged to put a lot of work into understanding how it might try and take control away." "Right now there are 99 very smart people trying to make AI better and one very smart person trying to figure out how to stop it taking over and maybe you want to be more balanced," he added. Also read | AI attempts to bring dead back to life, give people closure Hinton emphasised that the risks associated with AI should not be dismissed as science fiction or fear-mongering. He stressed the importance of proactively considering and preparing for the real risks that AI presents. "I think it's important that people understand that this is not science fiction, this is not just fear mongering," said the respected AI pioneer. "It is a real risk that we must think about, and we need to figure out in advance how to deal with it," he insisted. AI, social inequality and fake news As per Hinton, it's not just the threat of a takeover, AI also threatens to deepen pre-existing inequalities. He argued that AI's benefits and productivity gains are likely to benefit the wealthy. "The wealth isn't going to go to the people doing the work. It will go into making the rich richer and not the poorer and that's very bad for society." Also read | WION Explains: Upcoming US, UK elections and the threat of AI-fuelled disinformation Hinton also highlighted the problem of fake news generated by AI-powered systems like ChatGPT. He suggested the possibility of marking AI-generated content as fake, similar to how central banks watermark cash money, though he acknowledged technical challenges in implementing such a solution. "It's very important to try, for example, to mark everything that is fake as fake. Whether we can do that technically, I don't know," he said. It's not all bad AFP reports that while Hinton focused on the risks and challenges of AI, other discussions at the conference were more optimistic, focusing on seizing the opportunities presented by AI advancements. One participant Venture Capitalist Sarah Guo suggested that concerns about AI as an existential threat were premature, likening them to "talking about overpopulation on Mars. " (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Godfather of AI calls for action 'before AI is smarter than us', warns looming takeover isn't science fiction

<p>Artificial intelligence is already making its presence felt across various sectors with many fearing that the tech may replace jobs making human intelligence irrelevant. A new survey now unravels how AI can play a dominant role in the hiring process in companies rendering the jobs of hiring managers meaningless and increasing the chances of making them unemployed.&nbsp;According to a recent survey by Resume Builder, currently, only 10 per cent&nbsp;of companies use AI interviews, but 43 per cent plan to incorporate them into their hiring practices by next year or are already using them.</p>

<p>The rise of AI chatbots in the form of interviewers has sparked interest among companies, with a significant number planning to incorporate AI interviews into their hiring practices but while there is optimism about improving efficiency, some companies are cautious about relying solely on AI for candidate selection.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-dhruv-advanced-light-helicopter-safety-flaws-addressed-says-report-609658">India: Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter safety flaws addressed, says report</a></p>

<p>Many companies are increasingly accepting AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and Bard for conducting interviews with job candidates.</p>

<h2><strong>Benefits and concerns of AI interviews</strong></h2>

<p>Of the companies that are either using or planning to implement AI interviews, around two-thirds believe that it will improve hiring efficiency. Over half of them expect AI to eventually replace human hiring managers.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sweden-police-allow-quran-burning-protest-outside-stockholms-main-mosque-609615">Sweden police allow Quran burning protest outside Stockholm’s main mosque</a></p>

<p>However, despite these expectations, companies are not ready to completely hand over the reins to robots. Approximately 80 per cent of the respondents stated that AI interviews are more likely to screen out qualified candidates. Only 15 per cent mentioned that AI would be used to make candidate decisions without any human input, as per reports.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Risks and challenges of AI Interviews</strong></h2>

<p>The challenges of potential bias and the unfamiliarity of candidates with AI interviews highlight the need for careful consideration and evaluation of these tools to ensure fair and effective hiring processes.</p>

<p>Stacie Haller, Chief Career Advisor at Resume Builder, acknowledged that AI tools can be biased, and managers need to be aware of these risks.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Concert economics explained: The craze for high-profile concerts</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/concert-economics-explained-the-craze-for-high-profile-concerts-609647/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The new AI tools being introduced are more advanced versions of an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), which also screens out candidates, Haller told FOX Business adding, the use of chatbot technology for interviews can be unsettling for job candidates.</p>

<p>Haller explains that most candidates today are not accustomed to interviewing with a bot, as it is a different experience than having a conversation with another human.</p>

<h2><strong>Impact on candidate selection and hiring process</strong></h2>

<p>In the survey, many managers agreed that AI interviews are likely to eliminate candidates that may not be filtered out by a human or an ATS. However, they also mentioned that AI interviews are used in an effort to expedite the hiring process.</p>

<p>Haller raises concerns about whether this approach will truly achieve the goal of hiring the best candidates for the position or if it will result in eliminating great candidates while advancing unqualified candidates, leading to higher turnover rates.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Artificial intelligence is already making its presence felt across various sectors with many fearing that the tech may replace jobs making human intelligence irrelevant.

Artificial intelligence is already making its presence felt across various sectors with many fearing that the tech may replace jobs making human intelligence irrelevant. A new survey now unravels how AI can play a dominant role in the hiring process in companies rendering the jobs of hiring managers meaningless and increasing the chances of making them unemployed. According to a recent survey by Resume Builder, currently, only 10 per cent of companies use AI interviews, but 43 per cent plan to incorporate them into their hiring practices by next year or are already using them. The rise of AI chatbots in the form of interviewers has sparked interest among companies, with a significant number planning to incorporate AI interviews into their hiring practices but while there is optimism about improving efficiency, some companies are cautious about relying solely on AI for candidate selection. Also Read | India: Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter safety flaws addressed, says report Many companies are increasingly accepting AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and Bard for conducting interviews with job candidates. Benefits and concerns of AI interviews Of the companies that are either using or planning to implement AI interviews, around two-thirds believe that it will improve hiring efficiency. Over half of them expect AI to eventually replace human hiring managers. Also Read | Sweden police allow Quran burning protest outside Stockholm’s main mosque However, despite these expectations, companies are not ready to completely hand over the reins to robots. Approximately 80 per cent of the respondents stated that AI interviews are more likely to screen out qualified candidates. Only 15 per cent mentioned that AI would be used to make candidate decisions without any human input, as per reports. Risks and challenges of AI Interviews The challenges of potential bias and the unfamiliarity of candidates with AI interviews highlight the need for careful consideration and evaluation of these tools to ensure fair and effective hiring processes. Stacie Haller, Chief Career Advisor at Resume Builder, acknowledged that AI tools can be biased, and managers need to be aware of these risks. Watch | Concert economics explained: The craze for high-profile concerts × The new AI tools being introduced are more advanced versions of an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), which also screens out candidates, Haller told FOX Business adding, the use of chatbot technology for interviews can be unsettling for job candidates. Haller explains that most candidates today are not accustomed to interviewing with a bot, as it is a different experience than having a conversation with another human. Impact on candidate selection and hiring process In the survey, many managers agreed that AI interviews are likely to eliminate candidates that may not be filtered out by a human or an ATS. However, they also mentioned that AI interviews are used in an effort to expedite the hiring process. Haller raises concerns about whether this approach will truly achieve the goal of hiring the best candidates for the position or if it will result in eliminating great candidates while advancing unqualified candidates, leading to higher turnover rates. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Survey reveals 43% companies set to use AI for hiring interviews by next year

<p>A report from an advertisement research firm has claimed that dozens of advertisers using TrueView, Google advertisement product, may not be getting what they paid for and that Google may have misled them about the viewership, reported The Guardian.</p>

<p>TrueView is Google's proprietary ad product that displays advertisements on YouTube and other apps on the internet.</p>

<p>The user can skip the ad after five seconds. The advertisers get charged if the user watches the ad for 30 seconds or throughout if the length of the ad&nbsp;is less than 30 seconds. Whether audio is playing or not is also important.</p>

<p>Guardian cited a report by Adalytics, an advertisement research firm, which said that advertisers may not be getting what they paid for.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Millions of Android users at risk as dangerous spyware found in over 100 apps on Google Play</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/millions-of-android-users-at-risk-as-dangerous-spyware-found-in-over-100-apps-on-google-play-607171/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The firm reportedly reviewed ad campaigns of more than 1000 brands across the internet. It found that TrueView ads did not meet Google's own guidelines. The firm reportedly found that some ads were run in small video players in the corner or at the side of the screen. They were fully muted and had no video content.</p>

<p>The websites running muted ads, included 'NYTimes, Reuters, Wired, Mashable and Gizmodo' as reported by The Guardian.</p>

<p>Adalytics has said that mis-identified adverstising has been running since 2020.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/firing-season-continues-google-lays-off-employees-at-its-mapping-app-waze-609587">Firing season continues: Google lays off employees at its mapping app Waze</a></strong></p>

<p>Google has rejected findings of the report. In a blog post, Google's director of global video solutions, Marvin Renaud has denied that Adalytics' findings were accurate. He said that the report contained “extremely inaccurate claims”. He further said that advertisers pay for ads only when they were being viewed.</p>

<p>“We use real-time ad quality signals to determine if people are present and paying attention that help us decide whether to serve a video ad in a Google Video Partner site or app,” he said.</p>

<p>Renaud stressed that Google monitors adherence to its policies and stops serving ads on over 143,000 websites after it found they were in violation.</p>

<p>He also added that report incorrectly claimed that most of ad campaigns are run on third-party sites rather than YouTube and said the opposite is true.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p>You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form"><strong>here</strong></a>.<br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


A report from an advertisement research firm has claimed that dozens of advertisers using TrueView, Google advertisement product, may not be getting what they paid for and that Google may have misled them about the viewership, reported The Guardian.

A report from an advertisement research firm has claimed that dozens of advertisers using TrueView, Google advertisement product, may not be getting what they paid for and that Google may have misled them about the viewership, reported The Guardian. TrueView is Google's proprietary ad product that displays advertisements on YouTube and other apps on the internet. The user can skip the ad after five seconds. The advertisers get charged if the user watches the ad for 30 seconds or throughout if the length of the ad is less than 30 seconds. Whether audio is playing or not is also important. Guardian cited a report by Adalytics, an advertisement research firm, which said that advertisers may not be getting what they paid for. Watch | Millions of Android users at risk as dangerous spyware found in over 100 apps on Google Play × The firm reportedly reviewed ad campaigns of more than 1000 brands across the internet. It found that TrueView ads did not meet Google's own guidelines. The firm reportedly found that some ads were run in small video players in the corner or at the side of the screen. They were fully muted and had no video content. The websites running muted ads, included 'NYTimes, Reuters, Wired, Mashable and Gizmodo' as reported by The Guardian. Adalytics has said that mis-identified adverstising has been running since 2020. Also Read | Firing season continues: Google lays off employees at its mapping app Waze Google has rejected findings of the report. In a blog post, Google's director of global video solutions, Marvin Renaud has denied that Adalytics' findings were accurate. He said that the report contained “extremely inaccurate claims”. He further said that advertisers pay for ads only when they were being viewed. “We use real-time ad quality signals to determine if people are present and paying attention that help us decide whether to serve a video ad in a Google Video Partner site or app,” he said. Renaud stressed that Google monitors adherence to its policies and stops serving ads on over 143,000 websites after it found they were in violation. He also added that report incorrectly claimed that most of ad campaigns are run on third-party sites rather than YouTube and said the opposite is true. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Google possibly misled dozens of advertisers about viewership, says report

<p>LetMeSpy, a spyware used to discreetly monitor a phone's data and location has been hacked, say media reports. The hackers have reportedly hacked the servers of LetMeSpy and deleted the data of thousands of users.</p>

<p>The phone monitoring app said on its login page on June 21 that “a security incident occurred involving obtaining unauthorized access to the data of website users​​”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“As a result of the attack, the criminals gained access to e-mail addresses, telephone numbers and the content of messages collected on accounts,” the notice read.</p>

<h2><strong>What is this app?</strong></h2>

<p>LetMeSpy is an app that markets itself as a way to enhance parental control or employee monitoring. Once installed on a smartphone, it discreetly uploads SMS messages, call logs and loaction information to its servers.</p>

<p>The app is reportedly often used by spouses and has been described in media reports as 'stalkerware'. The app is usually 'planted' on a phone and the information it collects on the person that's subject to spying can be accessed by the person who has planted the spyware. The information uploaded by LetMeSpy also enables the planter to spy on another person in real-time.</p>

<p>However, it has been reported that these apps are often buggy. For all the spying that they do, their own defence mechanism isn't as robust, said reports. This enables hackers to attempt to break in an steal/ delete data.</p>

<p>The hacking of LetMeSpy was first reported by Polish security research blog Niebezpiecznik.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The blog reportedly attempted to contact LetMeSpy but instead of a reply from the app, was contacted by the hackers. They claimed that they had access to wide domain of the app.</p>

<p>As per reports, it is not yet clear who is behind the hacking attack. The hackers have said that they have deleted data stored on LetMySpy servers</p>

<p>TechCrunch has reported that a copy of the hacked LetMeSpy data was sent to it by DDoSecrets, which is a nono-profit that indexes leaked datasets for public interest.</p>

<p>TechCrunch has reported that the dataset contains years of call logs of the victims and text messages dating back to 2013.</p>

<p>The database with the news outlet had records of at least 12,000 devices that were compromised. The data also has over 13,400 location data points for several thousand victims.</p>

<p>That's not all, the data reportedly also contains information about 26,000 customers who used the spyware for free in addition to customers who bought subscriptions.</p>

<p>You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


LetMeSpy, a spyware used to discreetly monitor a phone's data and location has been hacked, say media reports. The hackers have reportedly hacked the servers of LetMeSpy and deleted the data of thousands of users.

LetMeSpy, a spyware used to discreetly monitor a phone's data and location has been hacked, say media reports. The hackers have reportedly hacked the servers of LetMeSpy and deleted the data of thousands of users. The phone monitoring app said on its login page on June 21 that “a security incident occurred involving obtaining unauthorized access to the data of website users”. “As a result of the attack, the criminals gained access to e-mail addresses, telephone numbers and the content of messages collected on accounts,” the notice read. What is this app? LetMeSpy is an app that markets itself as a way to enhance parental control or employee monitoring. Once installed on a smartphone, it discreetly uploads SMS messages, call logs and loaction information to its servers. The app is reportedly often used by spouses and has been described in media reports as 'stalkerware'. The app is usually 'planted' on a phone and the information it collects on the person that's subject to spying can be accessed by the person who has planted the spyware. The information uploaded by LetMeSpy also enables the planter to spy on another person in real-time. However, it has been reported that these apps are often buggy. For all the spying that they do, their own defence mechanism isn't as robust, said reports. This enables hackers to attempt to break in an steal/ delete data. The hacking of LetMeSpy was first reported by Polish security research blog Niebezpiecznik. The blog reportedly attempted to contact LetMeSpy but instead of a reply from the app, was contacted by the hackers. They claimed that they had access to wide domain of the app. As per reports, it is not yet clear who is behind the hacking attack. The hackers have said that they have deleted data stored on LetMySpy servers TechCrunch has reported that a copy of the hacked LetMeSpy data was sent to it by DDoSecrets, which is a nono-profit that indexes leaked datasets for public interest. TechCrunch has reported that the dataset contains years of call logs of the victims and text messages dating back to 2013. The database with the news outlet had records of at least 12,000 devices that were compromised. The data also has over 13,400 location data points for several thousand victims. That's not all, the data reportedly also contains information about 26,000 customers who used the spyware for free in addition to customers who bought subscriptions. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Hackers hack LetMeSpy, a phone tracking spyware that spied on thousands

<p>What would you do if you could modify your body to add mechanical parts? If you could just go up to a shop and ask for cyborg arms or legs? What would the society look like? This scenario does seem like something straight out of a science fiction comic. However, it is the reality that has been made possible by a Japan-based researcher and his team.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Masahiko Inami and his team have come up with robotic arms that can be worn by a user and can move in tune with a human.</p>

<h2><strong>Jizai Arms</strong></h2>

<p>The technology named "Jizai Arms" takes inspiration from 'The Arm', a quasi-horror traditional Japanese story by novelist Yasunari Kawabata. The short story revolves around an ageing man who becomes obsessed with a beautiful young woman and borrows one of her arms for the night.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-shortage-hong-kongs-apartment-building-for-the-dead-offers-final-resting-place-at-58000-for-two-609053">Amid shortage Hong Kong's 'apartment building for the dead' offers final resting place at $58,000 for two</a></strong></p>

<p>As per Reuters, Inami and his team. are further developing a series of technologies, all rooted in the idea of "jizai". The Japanese term, as per Inami, roughly relates to autonomy and an individual's freedom to do as he pleases.</p>

<h2><strong>Why develop cyborg arms?</strong></h2>

<p>As per the researcher, the aim behind developing 'Jizai arms' is to foster a relationship similar to music and instrument between machine and man.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Lying somewhere between a human and a tool, like how a musical instrument can become as if a part of your body," is how the University of Tokyo researcher describes it.</p>

<p>He says that rather than replace humans, the technology aims to "support us" and "unlock creativity".</p>

<p>"This is absolutely not a rival to human beings, but rather something that helps us do as we please, like a bicycle or e-bike. It supports us and can unlock creativity," said Inami.</p>

<h2><strong>What can the robot arms do?</strong></h2>

<p>If you're wondering how it would feel to wear the cyborg arms and whether it'll feel bulky or weighed down. Inami has revealed that many wearers actually grow attached to the arms.</p>

<p>While testing the technology, researchers discovered that "Taking them off after using them for a while feels a little sad. That's where they're a little different to other tools."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/previously-undocumented-effect-of-ivf-uncovered-helps-1-in-5-women-conceive-naturally-second-time-around-606828">Previously undocumented effect of IVF uncovered; helps 1-in-5 women conceive naturally second time around</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>In a promotional video of the "Jizai Arms" ballet dancers can be seen performing a dance routine with the robotic arms strapped to their backs and torso. The humans and the machine can be seen moving in concert. The aesthetic dance routine ends with the two dancers embracing as their cyborg arms also envelop each other.</p>

<p>Watch the mesmerising video here:</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="es">🦾💡 Jizai Arms: los brazos robóticos portátiles impulsados por IA 🔬🤖<br />
<br />
Los primeros de su tipo, creados por una empresa robótica japonesa, ofrecen una interacción única y natural con la IA y los robots. ¡El futuro se vuelve realidad! 🌟💪 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tecnologia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tecnologia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JizaiArms?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JizaiArms</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rob%C3%B3tica?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Robótica</a> <a href="https://t.co/Z7x9J3Wq9O">pic.twitter.com/Z7x9J3Wq9O</a></p>
— iTree Training (@itreetraining) <a href="https://twitter.com/itreetraining/status/1671593830108528641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>These robot arms can do more than just dance or turn a novelist's imagination into reality. As per Inami, these can prove very useful in search and rescue missions. "In the future, we might see wings growing out of people's backs, or drones attached to people ... Maybe someone will come up with a sport that requires six arms or invent a new type of swimming," speculates the University of Tokyo researcher.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


What would you do if you could modify your body to add mechanical parts? If you could just go up to a shop and ask for cyborg arms or legs? What would the society look like?

What would you do if you could modify your body to add mechanical parts? If you could just go up to a shop and ask for cyborg arms or legs? What would the society look like? This scenario does seem like something straight out of a science fiction comic. However, it is the reality that has been made possible by a Japan-based researcher and his team. Masahiko Inami and his team have come up with robotic arms that can be worn by a user and can move in tune with a human. Jizai Arms The technology named "Jizai Arms" takes inspiration from 'The Arm', a quasi-horror traditional Japanese story by novelist Yasunari Kawabata. The short story revolves around an ageing man who becomes obsessed with a beautiful young woman and borrows one of her arms for the night. Also read | Amid shortage Hong Kong's 'apartment building for the dead' offers final resting place at $58,000 for two As per Reuters, Inami and his team. are further developing a series of technologies, all rooted in the idea of "jizai". The Japanese term, as per Inami, roughly relates to autonomy and an individual's freedom to do as he pleases. Why develop cyborg arms? As per the researcher, the aim behind developing 'Jizai arms' is to foster a relationship similar to music and instrument between machine and man. "Lying somewhere between a human and a tool, like how a musical instrument can become as if a part of your body," is how the University of Tokyo researcher describes it. He says that rather than replace humans, the technology aims to "support us" and "unlock creativity". "This is absolutely not a rival to human beings, but rather something that helps us do as we please, like a bicycle or e-bike. It supports us and can unlock creativity," said Inami. What can the robot arms do? If you're wondering how it would feel to wear the cyborg arms and whether it'll feel bulky or weighed down. Inami has revealed that many wearers actually grow attached to the arms. While testing the technology, researchers discovered that "Taking them off after using them for a while feels a little sad. That's where they're a little different to other tools." Also read | Previously undocumented effect of IVF uncovered; helps 1-in-5 women conceive naturally second time around In a promotional video of the "Jizai Arms" ballet dancers can be seen performing a dance routine with the robotic arms strapped to their backs and torso. The humans and the machine can be seen moving in concert. The aesthetic dance routine ends with the two dancers embracing as their cyborg arms also envelop each other. Watch the mesmerising video here: 🦾💡 Jizai Arms: los brazos robóticos portátiles impulsados por IA 🔬🤖 Los primeros de su tipo, creados por una empresa robótica japonesa, ofrecen una interacción única y natural con la IA y los robots. ¡El futuro se vuelve realidad! 🌟💪 #Tecnologia #JizaiArms #IA #Robótica pic.twitter.com/Z7x9J3Wq9O — iTree Training (@itreetraining) June 21, 2023 × These robot arms can do more than just dance or turn a novelist's imagination into reality. As per Inami, these can prove very useful in search and rescue missions. "In the future, we might see wings growing out of people's backs, or drones attached to people ... Maybe someone will come up with a sport that requires six arms or invent a new type of swimming," speculates the University of Tokyo researcher. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Japanese researchers turn horror story to reality, develop cyborg 'Jizai Arms' that can be strapped on. Watch!

<p>Facebook-owner Meta Platforms on Monday (June 16) launched Meta Quest+, which is a subscription-based service for its virtual reality headsets. The step is likely to shape a nascent but high-investment market. The announcement was made by Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg. He announced on a broadcast channel on Instagram that a Meta Quest+ subscription will be available from Monday at USD 7.99 per month. If a subscriber wishes to avail annual subscription, he/she will have to pay an&nbsp;annual fee of USD 59.99.</p>

<p>The subscription is for Quest 2, Pro and soon-to-be-launched Quest 3 headsets.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Apple has recently launched its first augmented reality headset and made a foray into the market segment. The Apple Vision Pro has been priced at USD 3499. Apple's headset is three times the cost of the costliest headset from Meta.</p>

<p>In the month of March this year, Meta cut the price of its headsets as its bold plans of metaverse have as yet&nbsp;failed to make a big splash.</p>

<p>Currently, Meta's flagship VR headset Meta Quest Pro is priced at USD 999.99. It is lesser than its launch price of USD 1499.99. Quest 2 is being sold for USD 299.99. The prices are mentioned on Meta's website.</p>

<p>Virtual reality headsets are widely considered to be the next big thing but the adoption has so far been limited to the gaming community. The situation persists in spite of the devices now having more advanced features. BBC reported that for the first three months of the year, Meta's virtual reality unit saw a loss of USD 4 billion.</p>

<p>Last year, Meta announced several artificial intelligence projects. Zuckerberg had described AI as "the key to unlocking the metaverse". Meta has reported a profit of USD 5.7 billion for the first three months of the year. But Meta's virtual reality division is reportedly struggling as of now.</p>

<h2><strong>Zuckerberg not impressed with Apple Vision Pro</strong></h2>

<p>Earlier this month, Zuckerberg dismissed Apple Vision Pro as he spoke with his employees, according to reports in US media. He reportedly said that Apple's mixed reality gear may be nice but it may not be his vision of the future.</p>

<p>"I mean, that could be the vision of the future of computing, but like, it's not the one that I want," Zuckerberg reportedly said while assessing what he has seen of Apple Vision Pro.</p>

<p>"There's a real philosophical difference in terms of how we’re approaching this."</p>

<p>"Our vision for the metaverse and presence is fundamentally social," Zuckerberg said, according to a transcript of remarks posted by tech news website The Verge.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><em>You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>

<p><strong><em>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</em></strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Facebook-owner Meta Platforms on Monday (June 16) launched Meta Quest+, which is a subscription-based service for its virtual reality headsets. The step is likely to shape a nascent but high-investment market.

Facebook-owner Meta Platforms on Monday (June 16) launched Meta Quest+, which is a subscription-based service for its virtual reality headsets. The step is likely to shape a nascent but high-investment market. The announcement was made by Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg. He announced on a broadcast channel on Instagram that a Meta Quest+ subscription will be available from Monday at USD 7.99 per month. If a subscriber wishes to avail annual subscription, he/she will have to pay an annual fee of USD 59.99. The subscription is for Quest 2, Pro and soon-to-be-launched Quest 3 headsets. Apple has recently launched its first augmented reality headset and made a foray into the market segment. The Apple Vision Pro has been priced at USD 3499. Apple's headset is three times the cost of the costliest headset from Meta. In the month of March this year, Meta cut the price of its headsets as its bold plans of metaverse have as yet failed to make a big splash. Currently, Meta's flagship VR headset Meta Quest Pro is priced at USD 999.99. It is lesser than its launch price of USD 1499.99. Quest 2 is being sold for USD 299.99. The prices are mentioned on Meta's website. Virtual reality headsets are widely considered to be the next big thing but the adoption has so far been limited to the gaming community. The situation persists in spite of the devices now having more advanced features. BBC reported that for the first three months of the year, Meta's virtual reality unit saw a loss of USD 4 billion. Last year, Meta announced several artificial intelligence projects. Zuckerberg had described AI as "the key to unlocking the metaverse". Meta has reported a profit of USD 5.7 billion for the first three months of the year. But Meta's virtual reality division is reportedly struggling as of now. Zuckerberg not impressed with Apple Vision Pro Earlier this month, Zuckerberg dismissed Apple Vision Pro as he spoke with his employees, according to reports in US media. He reportedly said that Apple's mixed reality gear may be nice but it may not be his vision of the future. "I mean, that could be the vision of the future of computing, but like, it's not the one that I want," Zuckerberg reportedly said while assessing what he has seen of Apple Vision Pro. "There's a real philosophical difference in terms of how we’re approaching this." "Our vision for the metaverse and presence is fundamentally social," Zuckerberg said, according to a transcript of remarks posted by tech news website The Verge. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Meta launches subscription service for its virtual reality headsets

<p>Alphabet-owned Google rolled out its 'Perspectives' tab feature this week. The Perspective search feature&nbsp;displays various perspectives, including those from humans.</p>

<h2><strong>What is Perspectives search on Google?</strong></h2>

<p>In a blog post from May, Google had explained that upon selecting the filter, users will be presented exclusively with long- and short-form videos, images, and written posts shared on discussion boards, Q&amp;A sites, and social media platforms.</p>

<p>Examples shown in Google's blog post include TikTok videos, YouTube videos, websites, tweets, Quora results, and Reddit posts.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/alphabet-ceo-sundar-pichai-earned-hundreds-of-millions-in-2022-584962">Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai earned hundreds of millions in 2022</a></strong></p>

<p>"You’ll now see more pages that are based on first-hand experience, or are created by someone with deep knowledge in a given subject. And as we underscore the importance of “experience” as an element of helpful content, we continue our focus on information quality and critical attributes like authoritativeness, expertise and trustworthiness, so you can rely on the information you find," Google said in a blog post.</p>

<p>The Perspectives results have been reported by&nbsp;<em>The Verge </em>as&nbsp;Pinterest-like layout rather than the traditional Google search results.</p>

<h2><strong>Why Google needs 'Perspectives' search?</strong></h2>

<p>The introduction of the Perspectives feed, which initially appeared as a carousel for specific search results, seems to be an attempt by Google to discourage users from solely relying on appending "reddit" to their&nbsp;<br />
searches in order to find information from real people.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Google urges caution with AI chatbots</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/google-urges-caution-with-ai-chatbots-605356/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>This tactic had become less effective for a while due to Reddit communities going offline in protest of Reddit's planned API changes.</p>

<p>However, many subreddits have since reopened and can now be accessed directly through search.</p>

<h2><strong>Is Google encroaching on Reddit's territory?</strong></h2>

<p>Considering the ongoing conflict between subreddit moderators and Reddit, critics say that Google is&nbsp;seeing an opportunity to encroach on Reddit's territory with its Perspectives feed. But it is possible that the timing is merely coincidental.</p>

<p>During a Google&nbsp;conference in May, when the new Perspectives tab was announced, Google mentioned that the feature would be gradually rolled out in the following weeks.</p>

<p>The launch of Perspectives comes&nbsp;after several weeks have passed.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe></p>


Alphabet-owned Google rolled out its 'Perspectives' tab feature this week. The Perspective search feature displays various perspectives, including those from humans.

Alphabet-owned Google rolled out its 'Perspectives' tab feature this week. The Perspective search feature displays various perspectives, including those from humans. What is Perspectives search on Google? In a blog post from May, Google had explained that upon selecting the filter, users will be presented exclusively with long- and short-form videos, images, and written posts shared on discussion boards, Q&A sites, and social media platforms. Examples shown in Google's blog post include TikTok videos, YouTube videos, websites, tweets, Quora results, and Reddit posts. Also read | Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai earned hundreds of millions in 2022 "You’ll now see more pages that are based on first-hand experience, or are created by someone with deep knowledge in a given subject. And as we underscore the importance of “experience” as an element of helpful content, we continue our focus on information quality and critical attributes like authoritativeness, expertise and trustworthiness, so you can rely on the information you find," Google said in a blog post. The Perspectives results have been reported by The Verge as Pinterest-like layout rather than the traditional Google search results. Why Google needs 'Perspectives' search? The introduction of the Perspectives feed, which initially appeared as a carousel for specific search results, seems to be an attempt by Google to discourage users from solely relying on appending "reddit" to their searches in order to find information from real people. Also watch | Google urges caution with AI chatbots × This tactic had become less effective for a while due to Reddit communities going offline in protest of Reddit's planned API changes. However, many subreddits have since reopened and can now be accessed directly through search. Is Google encroaching on Reddit's territory? Considering the ongoing conflict between subreddit moderators and Reddit, critics say that Google is seeing an opportunity to encroach on Reddit's territory with its Perspectives feed. But it is possible that the timing is merely coincidental. During a Google conference in May, when the new Perspectives tab was announced, Google mentioned that the feature would be gradually rolled out in the following weeks. The launch of Perspectives comes after several weeks have passed. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Google rolls out 'Perspectives' tab in major search-engine revamp

<p>The dark side of artificial intelligence (AI) was seen in an unprecedented case when a fine of $5,000 was imposed on two lawyers and a law firm as they were accused of using ChatGPT for their submission of fictitious legal research in an aviation injury claim.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A federal judge P Kevin Castel on Thursday (June 22) said that the intention of the lawyers was not good and they acted in bad faith.&nbsp;However, the judge further said that they issued an apology and also took appropriate steps to fix the issue.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said the main aim was to set an example for them and others so that the same mistake doesn't get repeated in future - a reason why harsher sanctions were not issued against them.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twitter-agrees-to-follow-eus-tough-anti-disinformation-laws-607894">Twitter agrees to follow EU's tough anti-disinformation laws</a></strong></p>

<p>As quoted by local reports, Castel wrote, "Technological advances are commonplace and there is nothing inherently improper about using a reliable artificial intelligence tool for assistance. But existing rules impose a gatekeeping role on attorneys to ensure the accuracy of their filings."&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the judge, the lawyers and their firm, Levidow, Levidow &amp; Oberman, P.C., "abandoned their responsibilities when they submitted non-existent judicial opinions with fake quotes and citations created by the artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT, then continued to stand by the fake opinions after judicial orders called their existence into question."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-introduces-ai-curriculum-including-chatgpt-for-junior-secondary-students-607900">Hong Kong introduces AI curriculum, including ChatGPT, for junior secondary students</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Hong Kong rolls out first AI curriculum</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hong-kong-rolls-out-first-ai-curriculum-latest-english-news-607873/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Meanwhile, the law firm responded to the judge's order, stating that they would comply with it. However, they also said that they "respectfully disagree" with the finding that "anyone at our firm acted in bad faith".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The firm added, "We have already apologised to the court and our client. We continue to believe that in the face of what even the court acknowledged was an unprecedented situation, we made a good faith mistake in failing to believe that a piece of technology could be making up cases out of whole cloth."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


The dark side of artificial intelligence (AI) was seen in an unprecedented case when a fine of $5,000 was imposed on two lawyers and a law firm as they were accused of using ChatGPT for their submission of fictitious legal research in an aviation injury claim.

The dark side of artificial intelligence (AI) was seen in an unprecedented case when a fine of $5,000 was imposed on two lawyers and a law firm as they were accused of using ChatGPT for their submission of fictitious legal research in an aviation injury claim. A federal judge P Kevin Castel on Thursday (June 22) said that the intention of the lawyers was not good and they acted in bad faith. However, the judge further said that they issued an apology and also took appropriate steps to fix the issue. He said the main aim was to set an example for them and others so that the same mistake doesn't get repeated in future - a reason why harsher sanctions were not issued against them. Also read: Twitter agrees to follow EU's tough anti-disinformation laws As quoted by local reports, Castel wrote, "Technological advances are commonplace and there is nothing inherently improper about using a reliable artificial intelligence tool for assistance. But existing rules impose a gatekeeping role on attorneys to ensure the accuracy of their filings." According to the judge, the lawyers and their firm, Levidow, Levidow & Oberman, P.C., "abandoned their responsibilities when they submitted non-existent judicial opinions with fake quotes and citations created by the artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT, then continued to stand by the fake opinions after judicial orders called their existence into question." Also read: Hong Kong introduces AI curriculum, including ChatGPT, for junior secondary students Watch: Hong Kong rolls out first AI curriculum × Meanwhile, the law firm responded to the judge's order, stating that they would comply with it. However, they also said that they "respectfully disagree" with the finding that "anyone at our firm acted in bad faith". The firm added, "We have already apologised to the court and our client. We continue to believe that in the face of what even the court acknowledged was an unprecedented situation, we made a good faith mistake in failing to believe that a piece of technology could be making up cases out of whole cloth." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US judge fines lawyers for using ChatGPT to produce fake legal history

technology

Technology, News on Technology, stories on Technology, articles on Technology, Technology stories at Wion, Technology news, Technology latest news