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Tencent chief says gaming business under threat, catching up in AI Pony Ma, chief executive and co-founder of Tencent Holdings, has said that the company's video games business faces great challenges from competitors but is catching up in artificial intelligence (AI) development. Ma, speaking at Tencent's annual meeting in a stadium in Shenzhen on Monday, said that the company has been resting on its laurels in gaming while competitors have delivered new hits. Video games account for more than 30% of Tencent’s revenue. Chinese media outlet Jiemian published parts of Ma’s speech online. A person with direct knowledge of the matter, who declined to be named because they are not permitted to speak to the media, confirmed the contents. Ma’s speech underscores concerns whether Tencent, the world’s biggest gaming company and the operator of China’s biggest social network WeChat, can defend its status as China’s No.1 tech company at a time marked by intensifying competition and new ...

Alphabet, Meta ad sales in Q4 unlikely to reflect gen AI investments Despite the buzz over generative artificial intelligence last year, the technology's impact on the advertising business of Alphabet and Meta Platforms is likely to be muted when the companies report fourth-quarter results this week, though investors are mapping out its future potential. The search giant has rolled out AI tools that help advertisers target audiences in a less costly way and decide how their marketing budgets should be distributed across Google's ad network. Facebook parent Meta is using generative AI to create different variations of ad campaigns. Generative AI, which can create text and photos from prompts, is still in the "hype cycle," Bernstein analysts said in a research note earlier this month, but added that investors were now looking for "incremental use cases and revenue streams to spawn from these recent advancements." The core business of digital advertising is ...

Elon Musk's Neuralink implants brain chip in first human The first human patient has received an implant from brain-chip startup Neuralink on Sunday and is recovering well, the company's billionaire founder Elon Musk said. "Initial results show promising neuron spike detection," Musk said in a post on the social media platform X on Monday. Spikes are activity by neurons, which the National Institute of Health describes as cells that use electrical and chemical signals to send information around the brain and to the body. The US Food and Drug Administration had given the company clearance last year to conduct its first trial to test its implant on humans, a critical milestone in the startup's ambitions to help patients overcome paralysis and a host of neurological conditions. In September, Neuralink said it received approval for recruitment for the human trial. The study uses a robot to surgically place a brain-computer interface (BCI) implant in a region of the ...

How water batteries can bank energy when wind, solar fail Pumped storage hydropower has been in use for decades, but it's only recently that climate crisis is prompting a renewed interest in how power can be generated from renewable resources, wind and solar, placing a surmountable pressure on the industry. While expensive giant versions of the lithium-ion batteries are being deployed to store the intermittent output, it has yet to be commercialised and made more easily accessible. Pumped hydropower storage has, in comparison, already arrived supplying almost 90% of grid storage. It banks excess electricity when demand is low, particularly during the night, storing it as gravitational potential energy in the summit lake. Leading the world in renewable energy, China leads in pumped storage, with 66 new plants under construction, according to Global Energy Monitor. The Fengning plant near Beijing currently under construction, is set to become the world's largest with 12 turbine...

Five tips to discover the best of music through Shazam Shazam, the popular music identification app, has transformed the way we discover and connect with music. With just a tap, it can identify almost any song playing around you, providing not only the name and artist but also lyrics, music videos, and more. Whether you're a music enthusiast or just someone who enjoys discovering new tunes, here are some tips and tricks to make the most out of Shazam; 1. Identify Songs Without Internet Shazam can identify music even when you're not connected to the internet. Turn on Shazam, let it listen to the song and store its digital footprint. It will save the recording and identify the song once you're back online. 2. More Than Just Audio Shazam isn’t limited to audio; it can recognize visual QR codes and images. Use Shazam to scan QR codes related to music or entertainment for additional information and content. 3. Use Shazam in SnapChat Shazam is integrated into SnapChat. Press an...

Elon Musk says his AI startup xAI not raising capital Elon Musk said on Friday his artificial intelligence firm xAI was not in talks with investors to secure funding, following a media report earlier in the day on the startup's effort to raise up to $6 billion. "xAI is not raising capital and I have had no conversations with anyone in this regard," Musk said in a post on X. The Financial Times reported xAI was in talks to raise funding at a valuation of $20 billion. The startup is in talks with family offices in Hong Kong and is targeting sovereign wealth funds in the Middle East, according to the FT report, which cited multiple people familiar with the matter. The AI race has been heating up with several investors signing big checks for start-ups looking to capitalize on what has captured Silicon Valley's attention over the past year. Musk's office did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. Last week, Musk denied a report that xAI had secured $500 millio...

PM hints at ‘regulating’ social media in future to curb its ‘misuse’ Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Friday highlighted concerns about social media, indicating plans for regulations to curb its alleged misuse. In an interview with a private TV channel, the premier said that the previous governments worked to control negative aspects of social media and in future, a “national firewall” through the use of technology would be created to subdue the negative tendencies of social media. Reflecting on the May 9 events, Kakar criticised the elements involved, clarifying that his government did not target any specific political party. He stressed the importance of maintaining social order as a foundation for political stability. “May 9 [incident] was an attack on the concept of the state of Pakistan and from the very start I was very critical of the elements involved in the incidents,” he said. However, he added that the entire Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) could not be kept a...

US National Security Agency buys web browsing data without warrant, letter shows The US National Security Agency buys Americans' internet browsing information from commercial brokers without a warrant, the agency's director told Democratic Senator Ron Wyden in a letter made public on Thursday. Wyden, who released the Dec. 11 letter, called upon US intelligence officials to stop using Americans' personal data without their express knowledge and consent, saying it was unlawful. "Such records can identify Americans who are seeking help from a suicide hotline or a hotline for survivors of sexual assault or domestic abuse," Wyden said in a statement. The NSA responded that the information has significant value for national security and cybersecurity missions and is used sparingly. "At all stages, NSA takes steps to minimize the collection of US person information, to include application of technical filters," a spokesperson for the agency said in an email. ...

Tesla plans to build new electric vehicles in mid-2025 Tesla has told suppliers it wants to start production of a new mass market electric vehicle codenamed "Redwood" in mid-2025, according to four people familiar with the matter, with two of them describing the model as a compact crossover. Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed on a post-earnings call on Wednesday that the company expects to start production of its next-generation EV at its Texas factory in the second half of 2025. That will be followed by Mexico and another factory outside North America to be decided later this year, he said, noting that ramping up production of the new vehicle would be challenging. Musk has long whetted fans' and investors' appetites for affordable electric vehicles and self-driving robotaxis that are expected to be made on next-generation, cheaper electric car platforms. Those models, including an entry-level $25,000 car, would allow it to compete with cheaper gasoline-powered cars and ...

Spotify to start in-app purchases on iPhone in Europe after DMA takes effect Spotify users in Europe can start to buy audiobooks and subscription plans from within the music-streaming app from March as a result of the region's new competition law for Big Tech, the Swedish company said on Wednesday. The move will help the company avoid Apple's 30% fee for purchases through its App Store, which has long been a source of contention between app developers and the tech giant. Spotify has for years been in embroiled in a legal battle, alleging that it was forced to raise the price of its monthly subscriptions to cover costs tied to Apple's App Store rules. US-listed shares of the Stockholm-based company rose around 2%. "For years Apple had these rules where we couldn't tell you about offers, how much something costs, or even where or how to buy it," Spotify said in a blogpost. "The DMA (Digital Markets Act) means that we'll finally be able to share detail...

AI rise will lead to increase in cyberattacks, GCHQ warns The rapid development of novel Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will lead to an increase in cyberattacks and lower the barrier of entry for less sophisticated hackers to do digital harm, Britain’s GCHQ spy agency warned on Wednesday. That lower entry barrier will also likely contribute to the global rise in ransomware attacks, whereby criminals encrypt computer systems for a digital ransom, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which is part of GCHQ, said in a report. “AI will almost certainly increase the volume and heighten the impact of cyberattacks over the next two years. However, the impact on the cyber threat will be uneven,” the report said. It suggested the biggest increase in capability for malicious actors in cyberspace would go to opportunistic hackers who do not necessarily possess the skills needed to carry out higher-level attacks. At the very least, the report said, the use of generative AI tools like ch...

How to create your own custom GPT using ChatGPT OpenAI's custom GPT feature has become one of the most exciting things of the year, allowing you to build your own customised GPT bot with language, style, data, and their reason for being. Chatbots have become increasingly popular as users begin using these AI systems for information, learning new skills, helping with work tasks, or even a friendly conversation when low. However, when OpenAI introduced the custom GPT feature last November, users had the opportunity to customise their own AI assistant. Here's how you can create your own GPT with a ChatGPT Plus subscription ($20/month) and begin your first conversation with your AI friend: To create a GPT, open ChatGPT on your web browser and select Explore GPTs from the menu. Users will be presented with a few publicly available GPTs built for different purposes that can be used if they suit their purpose. To create your own, select Create+ and begin describing the kind of bot y...

iOS 17.3 is out with Stolen Device Protection iOS 17.3 has come out with new exciting features including a security tool that intends to prevent thieves from stealing the device and accessing private information on iCloud like bank details and emails. Instead of just a Lock Screen passcode for security, users will be expected to unlock accessibility to certain functions, with fingerprint or Face ID. To ensure high-end security, Apple has added a waiting period while performing certain sensitive actions that will require a "Face ID or Touch ID, an hour wait, and then an additional successful biometric authentication." This, however, will only be applicable when the device has been located in unfamiliar locations. To enable this function on iPhones, users will need to navigate through Settings, to Face ID & Passcode, enter the security passcode and toggle the feature. iOS 17.3 is also bringing collaborated playlists for friends to create their shared playlist on Apple Mus...

Bitcoin falls to $40,000, lowest level since bitcoin ETF launch Bitcoin fell to a seven-week low on Monday, hovering below $40,000 for the first time since the launch of 11 spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds on Jan. 11. The world's largest cryptocurrency was last down 3.98% at $39,938.00, trading at its lowest since Dec. 4 after a brief recovery. Ether , the second largest cryptocurrency, was down 6.37% at $2,328.30. Bitcoin had rallied on growing excitement the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) would approve bitcoin ETFs, opening up the cryptocurrency to a slew of new investors. Bitcoin gained around 70% from August, when a federal court forced the SEC to review its decision to reject Grayscale Investment's bitcoin ETF application. Some analysts said they had expected bitcoin to initially pare some of those gains. Other market-watchers said on Monday the cryptocurrency was having trouble competing with traditional stocks after the S&P 500 benchmark index notche...

Voice AI startup ElevenLabs gains unicorn status after latest fundraising Artificial intelligence (AI) startup ElevenLabs has gained unicorn status after its latest round of fundraising, a person familiar with the matter said, as surging investor interest for generative AI technology sends startup valuations soaring. ElevenLabs on Monday said it raised $80 million in Series B funding from investors led by venture capitalist Andreessen Horowitz along with entrepreneurs Nat Friedman and Daniel Gross, with participation from Sequoia Capital among others. The two-year-old firm did not disclose a valuation but the person said the round valued it at $1.1 billion, making it a unicorn - or billion-dollar startup. That marks a jump from the $100 million valuation in its previous funding around in 2023, showed data from PitchBook, reflecting expectations for a surge in adoption of AI voice generation by firms as varied as games giants and movie studios. Headquartered in London, ElevenLabs has ...

CD Projekt aims to start production phase of 'Polaris' in 2024 Polish video game maker CD Projekt aims to start the production phase of the next game in its blockbuster "Witcher" series this year, the company's new joint CEO Adam Badowski told Reuters. "We'd like to have around 400 people working on the project by the middle of the year", Badowski said. Badowski, a company veteran, took the helm at CD Projekt along with Michal Nowakowski at the start of the year. The project, called "Polaris", is a new trilogy expanding the universe of the "Witcher" medieval fantasy franchise, which has sold over 75 million copies since the first game was released in 2007. CD Projekt did not give a premiere date for the first game in the project, but analysts expect it to debut in 2026 or 2027. That leaves the company without major game release in the next couple of years. After a bug-ridden launch of another game "Cyberpunk 2077" in l...

Panasonic puts productivity boost ahead of new EV plant in US Panasonic's battery business must focus on boosting productivity, Group CEO Yuki Kusumi told Reuters, signalling the Tesla supplier may hold off building a third battery plant in North America as demand for electric vehicles cools. The battery unit, Panasonic Energy, had previously said, it aimed to decide on building the factory by the end of March. But Panasonic Holdings CEO Yuki Kusumi said in an interview that a decision would be made only "when the timing is right". "I keep telling people we need to think about thoroughly raising productivity before setting up a third location," he said on Friday at the company's Tokyo office. The comments come amid signs of cooling demand for EVs in the United States that have prompted some automakers, including General Motors and Ford, to scale back production plans. Panasonic Energy has a plant in Nevada and has broken ground on a second one in Kansas. I...

Five ways to elevate contact management with Google's powerful tool Google Contacts is a versatile and powerful tool that often goes underutilised. Integrated seamlessly with other Google services like Gmail and Google Calendar, it's not just a digital address book but a dynamic platform for managing your personal and professional networks. With its intuitive interface and cross-platform synchronisation, it streamlines the way you connect with people, ensuring that important contact information is always at your fingertips. Let's delve into some tips and tricks that will help you unlock the full potential of this essential tool. 1. Import/Export Contacts You can import contacts from other services or export your Google Contacts for backup purposes. This is particularly useful if you're switching to a new email provider or need a hard copy. Contacts can be imported/exported in formats like CSV or vCard. 2. Creating Groups Organise your contacts into groups for easier m...

ChatGPT effect: Coursera sees signups for AI courses every minute in 2023 US edutech platform Coursera added a new user every minute on average for its artificial intelligence courses in 2023, CEO Jeff Maggioncalda said on Thursday, in a clear sign of people upskilling to tap a potential boom in generative AI. The technology behind OpenAI's ChatGPT has taken the world by a storm and sparked a race among companies to roll out their own versions of the viral chatbot. "I'd say the real hotspot is generative AI because it affects so many people," he told Reuters in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Coursera is looking to offer AI courses along with companies that are the frontrunners in the AI race, including OpenAI and Google's DeepMind, Maggioncalda said. Investors had earlier feared that apps based on generative AI might replace ed-tech firms, but on the contrary the technology has encouraged more people to upskill, benefiting companies such as C...

Musk denies report his AI company secures $500m toward $1b funding goal Elon Musk has said a report that his artificial intelligence (AI) company, xAI, has secured $500 million in commitments from investors toward a $1 billion goal is inaccurate. "This is simply not accurate," he said in a reply to a user post about the Bloomberg article on social media platform X. The artificial intelligence (AI) startup xAI is discussing a valuation of $15 billion to $20 billion, though terms could still change in the coming weeks, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. xAI could not immediately be reached for comment. Musk and investors are expected to finalize terms in the next couple of weeks, and some parties are evaluating whether they can get computing power in addition to, or in some cases instead of, xAI equity shares, Bloomberg reported. Last December, Musk said his artificial intelligence company was not raising funds, a day after the startup filed with the ...

Google DeepMind scientists in talks to leave and form AI startup A pair of scientists at Google's artificial intelligence subsidiary DeepMind is in talks with investors to form an AI startup in Paris, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the conversations. Scientists Laurent Sifre and Karl Tuyls, who have already given notice to leave DeepMind, have held discussions with investors about a financing round that could raise over 200 million euros ($217.84 million), the report said. The company, known at the moment as Holistic, may be focused on building a new AI model, the report added. Google and DeepMind did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. DeepMind was acquired by Alphabet-owned Google around a decade ago to fuel AI research and has now deployed its own offerings in the race to compete with generative AI chatbots like Microsoft-backed ChatGPT. Paris-based Mistral AI, co-founded by a former DeepMind researcher, said in Decemb...

Google to invest $1 billion in UK data centre Google will invest $1 billion on building a data centre just outside of London, the US technology giant said on Thursday, in its latest investment in Britain as it meets growing demand for internet services in the region. The data centre, located on a 33-acre (13-hectare) site bought by Google in 2020, will be located in the town of Waltham Cross, about 15 miles north of central London, the Alphabet-owned company said in a statement. The British government, which is pushing for investment by businesses to help fund new infrastructure, particularly in growth industries like technology and artificial intelligence, described Google's investment as a "huge vote of confidence" in the UK. "Google's $1 billion investment is testament to the fact that the UK is a centre of excellence in technology and has huge potential for growth," Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in the Google statement. The investment follows Google...

Reddit seeks to launch IPO in March Social media platform Reddit has drawn up detailed plans to launch its initial public offering (IPO) in March, moving forward with a listing it has been eyeing for more than three years, according to people familiar with the matter. It would be the first IPO of a major social media company since Pinterest's debut in 2019, and would come as Reddit and its peers face stiff competition for advertising dollars from the likes of TikTok and Facebook . The offering would also test the willingness of some Reddit users to back the company's stock market debut. Many investors posting on the platform have helped fuel dozens of "meme" stock rallies in the last three years, from retailer GameStop to movie operator AMC Entertainment Holdings. Reddit, which filed confidentially for its IPO in December 2021, is planning to make its public filing in late February, launch its roadshow in early March, and complete the IPO by the end of March, ...

-Apple overtakes Samsung as top seller of smartphones Apple ended Samsung Electronics' 12-year run as the largest seller of smartphones in the world, after commanding a 20% market share in 2023, according to a report from International Data Corp. Samsung ended the year with a 19.4% share, followed by China's Xiaomi, Oppo and Transsion, preliminary data from IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker showed. The change in ranking comes after a tough year that saw consumers going slow on smartphone upgrades and choosing cheaper handsets due to high inflation and economic uncertainties. A slower-than-expected recovery in China, the world's largest smartphone market, also weighed on overall phone sales. Apple and Transsion, which sells Tecno, Infinix and itel brands, were the only two of the top five smartphone vendors to record sales growth last year, even though the overall market declined 3.2% to 1.17 billion units and hit a decade low. "While we saw some stro...

Apple Vision Pro debuts with 150 3D movies and more Apple is launching its mixed-reality headset, Apple Vision Pro, on February 2. The new headset will feature a variety of entertainment options including 150 3D movies and series, Travel Mode, and access to streaming services like Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video.The device supports streaming from platforms like Disney+, ESPN, MLB, and more. It also enables online video streaming through browsers like Safari. Notable movies like “Avatar: The Way of Water” and “Dune” will be available in 3D on the Apple TV app at no extra cost, and streaming services will offer 3D versions of their content. Read More Uber says it's working with Tesla to boost EV adoption among drivers The Vision Pro introduces Apple Immersive Video with 180-degree 3D 8K recordings and Spatial Audio. This includes immersive films and series such as “Adventure” and “Wild Life.” It also features a Travel Mode for stability during travel, a Guest Users option for sharin...