Here are the top tech news stories from the past week or so:
- Google’s AI-Generated Search Answers: Google has begun trialling AI-generated search answers in the UK. The feature, dubbed “Search Generative Experience”, has been available in the US for nearly a year. The UK experiment will involve a small slice of UK search traffic, selected from logged-in users.
- Unlocking Eternal Data with Silicon Carbide: Researchers at Linköping University have developed advanced neutron optics, improving the efficiency and precision of neutron scattering experiments. This development allows for enhanced analysis of materials at the atomic level, paving the way for breakthroughs across various scientific domains.
- Women Behind the AI Revolution: TechCrunch’s Dominic-Madori Davis and Kyle Wiggers have been interviewing women working in AI to learn more about their work and how they got into the world of artificial intelligence. The series has been running for some time now, shedding light on the significant contributions of women in this field.
- Ransomware Gangs Targeting Backups: A report reveals that 94% of organizations hit by ransomware in the past year said that the threat actors attempted to compromise their backups during the attack. This strategy increases the pressure on victims to pay the ransom, as it restricts their ability to recover encrypted data.
- Big Tech’s Race for AI Training Data: Big tech companies are in a race to acquire AI training data. Companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft-backed OpenAI are paying for content locked behind paywalls and login screens, giving rise to a hidden trade in everything from chat logs to long-forgotten personal photos from faded social media apps.
- TikTok Whistleblower’s Claims: Zen Goziker, a former TikTok employee turned whistleblower who claims to have driven key news reporting and congressional concerns about the app, has now come forward. His claims have drawn attention, but there are questions about whether they add up.
- Florida’s Social Media Law for Minors: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed legislation to ban minors from social media. The new law prohibits many platforms from allowing children younger than 14 to have an account.
