Author: Frank Salvato

Meta’s messaging service WhatsApp is introducing a new system of parent-linked accounts designed specifically for children under 13, marking a significant shift in how the platform handles younger users. The new accounts will allow pre-teens to access WhatsApp’s core messaging and calling functions while placing strict oversight tools in the hands of parents or guardians. Parents will be able to manage privacy settings, approve contacts, and supervise group participation through linked controls, often secured with a parental PIN. The feature is being rolled out amid mounting political and public pressure on technology companies to better protect minors online and limit…

Netflix has reportedly agreed to acquire InterPositive, an artificial intelligence startup co-founded by actor and filmmaker Ben Affleck, in a deal valued at up to roughly $600 million, marking one of the streaming giant’s largest acquisitions and a significant signal that the entertainment industry is accelerating its embrace of AI-assisted filmmaking. The company, founded in 2022 and backed by investors including RedBird Capital, develops AI-driven tools designed to help filmmakers streamline post-production work—fixing issues such as lighting inconsistencies, continuity errors, and incomplete shots while preserving the director’s creative intent. Rather than replacing human creativity, the technology is positioned as a…

A pro-Iranian regime hacktivist group known as Handala has claimed responsibility for a disruptive cyberattack against U.S.-based medical device manufacturer Stryker, triggering widespread system outages across the company’s global network and underscoring how geopolitical conflicts are increasingly spilling into cyberspace. According to multiple reports, the hackers defaced login pages with their logo and allegedly wiped or disabled thousands of corporate devices while claiming to have stolen as much as 50 terabytes of data. Stryker confirmed that its internal systems were disrupted and that employees experienced significant access issues, though the company reported no clear evidence of ransomware or traditional malware…

Google has unveiled a significant overhaul of its Maps platform, introducing a new artificial-intelligence feature called “Ask Maps” along with a redesigned “Immersive Navigation” system that collectively represent one of the most consequential updates to the mapping service in more than a decade. The AI assistant, powered by Google’s Gemini technology, allows users to ask complex, natural-language questions—such as finding quiet restaurants with specific amenities or planning a multi-stop road trip—and receive tailored recommendations based on Maps data, user reviews, and location history. At the same time, the Immersive Navigation upgrade provides enhanced 3D visualizations of roads, terrain, buildings, and…

Ford has unveiled a new artificial-intelligence assistant for its commercial fleet customers that allows managers to monitor whether drivers are wearing seatbelts while also analyzing broader vehicle performance data, marking another step in the growing integration of AI into industrial operations. The system, known as Ford Pro AI, is embedded within the company’s fleet-management telematics platform and processes large volumes of vehicle data—including seatbelt activity, fuel consumption, idle time, speeding incidents, and vehicle health—to provide insights in plain language through a chatbot-style interface. Rather than delivering raw diagnostic codes, the AI aggregates data across entire fleets to help managers quickly…

Disney+ has begun rolling out a new TikTok-style feature called “Verts,” a vertical short-form video feed designed to help users discover content from the platform’s vast catalog through quick, swipeable clips optimized for mobile viewing. The feature presents short highlights and scenes from movies and television series—including titles from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars—and allows users to swipe through previews, add shows to their watchlist, or jump directly into full episodes and films. The initiative reflects a broader shift in the streaming industry toward short-form, mobile-first content consumption, mirroring the influence of platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube…

Tesla has taken a significant step toward transforming itself from a technology and automotive manufacturer into a full-fledged electricity provider after receiving regulatory approval to supply power directly to homes and businesses across Great Britain, positioning the company to compete with established energy suppliers such as Octopus Energy and others. Through a subsidiary called Tesla Energy Ventures, the company plans to leverage its solar installations, Powerwall battery storage systems, and virtual power plant model to sell electricity and potentially allow customers to store and resell energy back to the grid. The move signals Tesla’s broader strategy of integrating electric vehicles,…

Amazon has introduced a new adults-only personality setting for its generative-AI powered assistant Alexa+, allowing the device to use casual profanity and respond in a more irreverent tone while still maintaining guardrails against explicit or unsafe material. The optional mode is designed for adult users who want a less sanitized interaction with the assistant, but the system still refuses requests involving explicit sexual content, hate speech, illegal activities, or personal attacks. The update reflects a broader push by technology companies to make AI assistants feel more human and customizable while preserving strict safety limits. Amazon has steadily expanded Alexa+ with…

An international coalition of law-enforcement agencies has dismantled a sprawling cybercrime infrastructure known as the “SocksEscort” botnet, a malicious network composed of hundreds of thousands of compromised home routers and internet-connected devices that criminals used to mask their identities online and conduct fraud across the globe. Investigators say the network enabled cybercriminals to route malicious traffic through infected residential devices, effectively disguising their location while committing crimes such as credential stuffing, ad fraud, and account takeovers. Authorities coordinated the takedown through a court-authorized effort that seized dozens of domains and servers while also confiscating millions in cryptocurrency linked to the…

A journalist has filed a class-action lawsuit against Grammarly and its parent company, Superhuman, accusing the firm of using the names and identities of real writers to power an artificial-intelligence editing feature without their consent. The lawsuit centers on Grammarly’s now-disabled “Expert Review” tool, which generated writing suggestions presented as if they were coming from prominent journalists, authors, and academics—even though those individuals had no involvement in the process. The complaint argues that the company effectively appropriated the reputations and professional credibility of real writers to lend authority to AI-generated advice, potentially violating privacy and publicity rights under state law.…