Tech
OpenAI releases reasoning AI with eye on safety, accuracy
ChatGPT creator OpenAI has released a new series of artificial intelligence models designed to spend more time thinking -- in hopes that generative AI chatbots provide more accurate and beneficial responses. The new models, known as OpenAI o1-Preview, are designed to tackle complex tasks and solve more challenging problems in… Read
Microsoft cutting more jobs from its gaming unit
Microsoft is cutting about 650 more positions from its gaming unit as it continues to tighten its belt following the blockbuster buyout of "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard. The elimination of mostly corporate and support roles across Microsoft Gaming is intended to "organize our business for long-term success" in… Read
EU consumer groups slam 'manipulative' video game spending tactics
European consumer groups on Thursday accused the world's biggest video game companies of "purposefully tricking" consumers, including children, to push them to spend more. Video games are wildly popular in Europe where more than half the population are players, according to industry figures published last month. Europe's BEUC umbrella consumer… Read
U.S. clears way for hearing aid feature in new Apple AirPods Pro
Apple on Thursday got a green light from U.S. regulators to add a feature that would let upcoming AirPods Pro ear pieces be used as hearing aids, potentially disrupting that market. Early this week the company added AirPods Pro 2 to its lineup, touting a pending software upgrade that will… Read
JR East to operate self-driving bullet trains on some sections in FY2028
JR East said it will start operating self-driving bullet trains on some of the sections of the Joetsu Shinkansen Line for commercial service in fiscal 2028 with a driver aboard to deal with emergencies, in what could be the world's first such high-speed train service. The autonomous trains will run… Read
Battery-powered devices are overheating more often on planes and raising alarm
Devices powered by lithium-ion batteries are overheating more often during airline flights and passengers often put them in checked bags that go into the cargo hold, where a fire might not be detected as quickly. Overheating incidents rose 28% from 2019 to 2023, although such events remain relatively rare, UL… Read
A quest to harness wind for offshore power generation in Japan
Offshore wind power generation, which involves building giant wind turbines in the ocean, could play a key role in helping Japan attain carbon neutrality. But despite its appeal for an archipelago nation, making the technology profitable for energy companies depends to a large degree on one essential factor -- knowledge… Read
Sony to release PlayStation 5 Pro on November 7
Sony said Tuesday it would launch an upgraded version of its flagship games console with better graphics and AI capabilities on November 7, calling it PlayStation 5 Pro. The Japanese firm's gaming division has endured tough times this year, with PlayStation 5 missing its sales targets and PlayStation announcing 900… Read
EU scores top court wins against Apple, Google
The EU's top court on Tuesday delivered two major victories in the bloc's battle against tech giants by ruling against Apple and Google in separate legal sagas with billions of euros at play. The decisions give a boost to the bloc's outgoing competition chief, Margrethe Vestager, who had suffered a… Read
China's Huawei unveils triple-folding phone with hefty price tag
Chinese tech giant Huawei on Tuesday unveiled the world's first triple-folding phone at more than three times the price of the newest iPhone, hours after its U.S. competitor lifted the curtain on its own new handset built for AI. The Mate XT was officially launched in a keynote presentation by… Read
