Tag: twitter
Elon Musk launches ‘pro-humanity’ AI startup, xAI
Elon Musk (above) has launched an artificial intelligence startup that will be “pro-humanity”, as he said the world needed to worry about the prospect of a “terminator future” in order to avoid the most apocalyptic AI scenarios. Musk said xAI would seek to build a system that would be safe because it was “maximally curious”…
Threads signs up over 100 million users in five days
Threads, the social media app aimed at rivalling Twitter, has signed up more than 100 million users in less than five days. The platform, launched by Instagram-owner Meta, has beaten a record set by Open AI's ChatGPT app. Threads went live on Apple and Android app stores in 100 countries, including the UK, last Wednesday.…
Meta to launch ‘Twitter-Killer’ app, Threads, this Thursday
Facebook owner Meta is launching its new app to rival Twitter and says it will go live on Thursday. The app, which is called Threads and is available for pre-order on the Apple App Store, will be linked to Instagram. Screengrabs show a dashboard that looks similar to Twitter. Meta describes Threads as a "text-based…
ShinyShiny snippets: WhatsApp adds Twitter-like new ‘channels’ feature
WhatsApp is adding the Twitter-like ability to follow accounts outside your personal contacts. The new feature will be in a new section of the app called "updates", separate from your existing private chats, and behave similarly to news feeds on other social media platforms. Rather than needing to add a contact via their phone number,…
ShinyShiny snippets: Half of female gamers face abuse while playing
One in 10 women feel suicidal because of the abuse they face while gaming. New research for Sky Broadband shows that of 4,000 female gamers surveyed 49% have faced abuse or harassment when playing or streaming online - rising to 75% of those aged 18 to 24. The levels of harassment are so strong that…
ShinyShiny snippets: Wind is main source of electricity for first time in UK
Wind turbines have generated more electricity than gas for the first time in the UK. In the first three months of this year a third of the country's electricity came from wind farms, research from Imperial College London have shown. National Grid has also confirmed that April saw a record period of solar energy generation.…
ShinyShiny snippets: Sega buys Angry Birds creator, Rovio Entertainment
The maker of Angry Birds video games has agreed to be bought by the Japanese gaming giant behind the Sonic the Hedgehog character. Japan's Sega Sammy Holdings is paying €706m (£625m) for Finland-based Rovio Entertainment. Rovio has said Angry Birds was the first mobile game to be downloaded one billion times, and the brand has…
ShinyShiny snippets: ‘Russian and Chinese propaganda accounts thriving on Twitter’, says BBC
Hundreds of Russian and Chinese state propaganda accounts are thriving on Twitter after Elon Musk wiped out the team that fought these networks, the BBC has found. The unit worked to combat "information operations", coordinated campaigns by countries such as Russia, China, and Iran, made to influence public opinion and disrupt democracy. But experts and…
ShinyShiny snippets: Apple introduces yellow iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus
I'm a little disappointed that Apple didn't give a name to the yellow it splashed on its iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. It's just yellow, or Yellow iPhone 14. At least the really deep blue got 'Midnight' but Apple clearly had no interest in something like "Banana Yellow," "Sunflower Yellow," or "Merengue Yellow." The new color variant,…
Shiny Shiny snippets: Hate thriving on Twitter, insiders tell BBC
Twitter insiders have told the BBC that the company is no longer able to protect users from trolling, state-co-ordinated disinformation and child sexual exploitation, following lay-offs and changes under owner Elon Musk. Exclusive academic data plus testimony from Twitter users backs up their allegations, suggesting hate is thriving under Mr Musk's leadership, with trolls emboldened,…
