Meta names Shengjia Zhao as chief scientist of AI superintelligence unit

Meta names Shengjia Zhao as chief scientist of AI superintelligence unit

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Friday that former OpenAI researcher Shengjia Zhao will lead research efforts at the company’s new AI unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL). Zhao contributed to several of OpenAI’s largest breakthroughs, including ChatGPT, GPT-4, and the company’s first AI reasoning model, o1. “I’m excited to share that Shengjia Zhao will be the…

A Tesla logo seen on a Tesla Model 3 car.

Tesla is reportedly bringing a limited version of its robotaxi service to San Francisco

Tesla is launching an even-more-limited version of its early robotaxi service in San Francisco this weekend, according to Business Insider, after an initial rollout began last month in Austin, Texas. The company plans to offer rides with a driver in the driver’s seat, which is necessary because Tesla does not have the proper permits for…

Sam Altman warns there’s no legal confidentiality when using ChatGPT as a therapist

Sam Altman warns there’s no legal confidentiality when using ChatGPT as a therapist

ChatGPT users may want to think twice before turning to their AI app for therapy or other kinds of emotional support. According to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the AI industry hasn’t yet figured out how to protect user privacy when it comes to these more sensitive conversations, because there’s no doctor-patient confidentiality when your doc…

Google took a month to shut down Catwatchful, a phone spyware operation hosted on its servers

Google took a month to shut down Catwatchful, a phone spyware operation hosted on its servers

Google has suspended the account of phone surveillance operator Catwatchful, which was using the tech giant’s servers to host and operate the monitoring software. Google’s move to shut down the spyware operation comes a month after TechCrunch alerted the technology giant the operator was hosting the operation on Firebase, one of Google’s developer platforms. Catwatchful…

Lyft to add autonomous shuttles in 2026 as Uber inks more self-driving deals

Lyft to add autonomous shuttles in 2026 as Uber inks more self-driving deals

Lyft will add autonomous shuttles made by Austrian manufacturer Benteler Group to its network in late 2026, the company announced Friday. The shuttles will be deployed in partnership with U.S. cities and airports, according to Lyft, but could expand out from there if things go well. The partnership will let Lyft use urban electric shuttles…

The Meta Platforms logo is seen displayed on a smartphone screen and the flag of the European Union in the background.

Meta to stop selling political ads in the EU from October

In response to the European Union’s incoming regulation of political advertising, Meta said on Friday that it will stop selling and showing political ads in the EU from October. Calling the legislation’s requirements “unworkable,” the tech giant wrote in a blog post that the law, dubbed Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA), introduces “significant,…

Google corporate logo hangs outside the Google Germany offices

Google’s new AI feature lets you virtually try on clothes

Google announced on Thursday that it’s launching a new AI feature that lets users virtually try on clothes. The tech giant is also rolling out updated price alerts and teased an upcoming feature that will let users explore shoppable outfits and room inspiration using generative imagery. The official launch of the virtual try-on feature comes…