Microsoft is reportedly in talks with advertising agencies on how to slot ads into the juiced-up Bing, particularly when it comes to the generative AI-powered chatbot. The company is already testing ads there, according to Reuters, including by slotting in traditional search ads. The ad agency talks are still said to be in the early … Read more

NBA Hall of Famer Paul “The Truth” Pierce agreed to pay $1.4 million to settle charges from the Securities and Exchange Commission over a cryptocurrency he promoted on Twitter. The SEC charged Pierce with making false and misleading promotional statements about EthereumMax (EMAX) and failing to disclose the $244,000 payment in tokens he received for … Read more

Zero-click attacks, which can install malware onto a device without the user clicking or tapping on anything, have been on the rise in recent years. To help fend them off, Samsung has developed a feature called Message Guard. It currently works on the Samsung Messages app and Google Messages on Galaxy S23 series devices, which … Read more

Tencent is reportedly bailing on its virtual reality hardware plans. Instead, it advised staff at its XR unit, launched last June to make VR hardware and software in the wake of metaverse hype, to “seek other opportunities.” “Difficulties in achieving quick profitability,” the size of the investment required to make a competitive VR headset and … Read more

The FBI is dealing with another attack on its digital infrastructure, although the severity isn’t yet clear. The law enforcement agency tellsCNN it has “contained” a recent cybersecurity incident on its network. The bureau isn’t commenting on the perpetrator, scope or damage, but says it’s gathering “additional information.” Sources speaking to CNN claim the intruders … Read more

The Federal Trade Commission is opening a dedicated technology office that will place Silicon Valley under more scrutiny and help it stay on top of emerging tech and trends in a fast-moving market. Commissioners voted 4-0 on Thursday to create the office. Under the direction of chair Lina Khan, the FTC has trained its focus … Read more

Microsoft has spent years teaching AI to play Minecraft, but it’s apparently making enough progress that the game needs very little human involvement. Semaforsources claim Microsoft has produced an internal demo that lets you control Minecraft simply by telling AI what to do. You may only have to ask the computer to build a structure … Read more

Samsung’s Smart Monitor M8 is one of the more versatile monitors you can buy: More than simply being a display for your computer, it can also function as a sort of tuner-less smart TV and smart home hub. We’ve seen the device go on sale a handful of times since it arrived last year, but … Read more

I wonder how often technology journalism is aspirational rather than useful, like when you watch car reviewers testing million dollar rides. I comfort myself knowing that while flagship laptops are pricey, there are few gadgets so eye-wateringly expensive that they’re just for one percenters. What then to make of Withings’ newest smart scale, the Body … Read more

Fitbit says it’s working on enhancing the app experience to focus on providing its users with the best fitness tools, and its efforts to do so apparently include sunsetting a handful of features. Starting on March 27th, open groups, as well as all Fitbit challenges and adventures, will no longer be available on the Google-owned … Read more