close Sens. Fetterman, Britt seek 'Common Ground' tackling the harmful side effects of social media use Sens. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and Katie Britt, R-Ala., discuss bipartisan efforts to protect children and teenagers using social media on 'Special Report.' A 27-year-old grad student was just caught using pictures of real kids on the internet to make AI child porn for pedophiles. Even more disgusting? He worked by request. This story made my skin crawl, and it brings me to a question Ive been asked more and more often."Kim, I don't want pictures of my kids on social media. How do I tell friends and family not to post them without sounding preachy?"Im giving away an iPhone 16 Pro with Apple Intelligence. No purchase necessary; enter now!Your kids, your rulesYoure totally justified in wanting your kids faces off the web.pose as a kid and groom your child on Snapchat, Roblox you name it.BIOMETRIC DATA: IS IT SAFE TO HAND IT OVER TO ANY COMPANY THAT ASKS?Posting your kids to Facebook or Instagram basically gives Meta the thumbs-up for using those images totrain its AI models. The law is way behind here. As a parent, its up to you to protect your kids.Related:Stop Facebook from using your data to train AI Social media applications on an iPhone screen. (Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Keep things drama-freeSave yourself an awkward situation by telling people before a big get-together. Most folks mean well, but they might not know the risks of sharing kids photos online, especially if theyre not parents themselves.Its about you, not them. This is for your kids. Use "I" and "we" statements, and dont tell anyone else how to parent.Share your reasoning. Or just send them a link to this story!Be clear and firm. Dont leave any wiggle room on public posting.Do it one-on-one. If you have the convo over email or text, do it privately, not in a group message.SMARTPHONE TRICKS EVERY IPHONE AND ANDROID USER SHOULD KNOWI wrote up an example you can copy:"Hey, I wanted to let you know ahead of time wed like to keep photos of the kids off the internet for privacy and safety reasons. (We saw some stories that really spooked us!) If you could avoid putting pics of them on social media, wed really appreciate it!"Related:The secret to get better pics of you and your familyIf its already posted Dont panic. Reach out ASAP and ask them to remove it with a link to the specific post. Id go with a text. A comment on a public post feels like youre calling them out. As a parent, its up to you to protect your kids online. (iStock)Use this: "Hey, I totally forgot to mention this, but we're keeping pictures of the kids offline for now. Could you take this post down or repost it with their faces hidden? An emoji works great!Related:Posting pics of kids on social media: Dos and dontsThe safest way to share pics with friends?Not sharing photos of your kids publicly doesnt have to mean not sharing at all. My suggestion: Make an invite-only album for close family and friends.In Google Photos: You can do this on your phone or computer. Just open the Google Photos app orwebsite.THE $40K SCAM THAT ALMOST GOT ME + 3 MORE SPREADING NOWOn a computer: Click Photos and select one you want to share. At the top, click the + icon> Shared album > New shared album. Add a title, then hit Share. You can choose Create link, search for contacts or share on social media.On mobile:Tap the + icon > Album. Name your album and add the photos you want to share. Select Get Link to generate a private link, add specific email addresses or share through a messaging app or social media.Final step: Make sure the Link Sharing toggle is off for maximum privacy, so only invited users can view the album.In Apple Photos: You can create and share on your iPhone, iPad or Mac using the Photos app.First, you need to enable Shared Albums.On iPhone or iPad:Go to Settings > [your name]> iCloud > Photos, then turn on Shared Albums.On a Mac:Open the Photos app. From the menu bar at the top, choose Photos > Settings. (In macOS Monterey or earlier, choose Photos > Preferences.) Select the iCloud tab, then Shared Albums. The Instagram logo on a cellphone. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)Now create and share your album.On Mac or iPhone/iPad running iOS 18: In Photos, scroll down to Shared Albums > Shared Albums > Create. Add a name, images and then choose people from your contacts, type an email address or add iMessage phone number. Tap Done.On iOS 17 or earlier:Go to Albums > + (add button) > New Shared Album. Add a name, images and then choose people from your contacts, type an email address or add iMessage phone number.Get tech-smarter on your scheduleAward-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.National radio:Airing on 500+ stations across the U.S. Find yours or get the free podcast.Daily newsletter:Join 559,000 people who read the Current (free!)Watch: OnKims YouTube channelPodcast: "Kim Komando Today" Listen wherever you get podcastsCopyright 2025, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved.

Published November 26, 2024 10:00am EST close When a Facebook friend request turns into a hackers trap These scams can catch Facebook veterans and novices off guard. There are a variety of reasons why you could be locked out of your Facebook account. Such reasons can range from the mundane (forgetting your password) to the worst case scenario (being hacked or banned). Whatever the reason for being locked out of your Facebook account, there are different steps you can take to get back into your Facebook account.1 WEEK LEFT!IM GIVING AWAY A $500 GIFT CARD FOR THE HOLIDAYSEnter bysigning up for my free newsletter. Facebook app on smartphone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)If you forgot your passwordUnless youve got a reliable password manager, youre likely to forget your password once in a while. In order to gain access to your Facebook account without remembering your password, you would need to follow the steps below:Recovering your password on a desktop/laptop browser:Open your web browser and go tohttp://www.facebook.com/When prompted for login and password, clickForgot Password? Step to recover your password (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Follow theprompts to enter your email address or phone number associated with your account.Facebook willemailor text theemail addressor phone number associated with your account. Step to recover your Facebook password (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Recovering your password on your mobile device:Open theFacebook app on your mobile deviceOn the Facebook app's login page, tapForgot Password?On the next screen, enter yourMobile numberassociated with your Facebook account and clickContinue.If a Facebook account associated with your mobile number exists, itll send asecurity code to that mobile number, which you would enter in theEnter code field.SelectContinue for prompt to access your accountIf you dont know or no longer have access to the mobile number associated with your Facebook account, selectTry Another way, and you will be prompted to input other identifying information, such as your email address. Steps to recover your Facebook password on mobile device (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)If youve been hackedIf youve, unfortunately, been hacked, you have to follow different steps to access your account. Below are the steps to recover your account if your Facebook account has been hacked:Open a web browser and go tofacebook.com/hacked then click My account is compromised and follow the instructions to recover your account. Step to report compromised Facebook account (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)How to log back into Facebook if the hacker has logged you outYou may realize a hacker has taken over your account if you cant log in, or you may notice some red flags while still logged into your account, like posts you didnt create or friends letting you know you've been hacked. You may also notice that your account details, such as your name, birth date, etc., have been changed.If you know you've been hacked, and you've been signed out of your account:Go to the login screen and click Forgotten passwordThen follow the steps toreset your password and log back inLastly, Facebook suggests that you visithttps://www.facebook.com/hacked to secure your account. Here, they'll ask you to change your password and review your recent login activity. Facebook account on PC (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)How to recover your account if the hacker changed the email address on fileIf you've tried the above method, and you're still locked out of your account, it could be because the hacker has changed the email address and other verification information on file, which means any reset password links after that will go to them.The good news is that you can reverse this. When the hacker changes the email, Facebook sends a message to the previous email account with a special link to verify, aka your email. Search your inbox for an email from Facebook. Then, you can click this link to reverse the email change and follow the steps to secure your account. Facebook home page (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)How to recover your Facebook account if you no longer have access to the phone number or email associated with your accountIf you cannot access the phone number or email associated with your Facebook account (perhaps because the hacker has also compromised your email).Head tofacebook.com/login/identifyYou can fill out a form to have Facebook review your account while answering a few security questions to prove the account youre trying to recover is yours.Sometimes, youll have to provideproof of ID, like a photo of a drivers license, as they match the information you provided to Facebook when you first created your account. Facebook app on a smartphone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Help a friend recover their account (or ask your friend to help you)Facebook also allows friends to help each other recover their accounts. This is also true if your friend haspassed away or is incapacitated and can no longer use their Facebook. By doing this, you help prevent hackers from taking over a vulnerable account. The steps you'd take, though, depend on the situation. For instance, there are cases where hackers create fake profiles to impersonate you.How can I protect my account from being hacked in the future?Getting back access to a hacked account is our No. 1 question. However, if you've tried the above, and it doesn't work, there is currently no other way to get in touch with Facebook. Therefore, because of that, you should follow our tips to secure your Facebook account. Whether you get back into your account or end up creating a new one, you must take all the steps you can tosecure your account to prevent hackers from getting in:1) Visit Facebook'sPrivacy, Safety and Security settings in the Help Center.Open theFacebook appTap thethree horizontal lines (menu icon) in the bottom-right cornerScroll down and tapSettings & PrivacyTapSettingsHere, you can adjust various settings related to your account, including privacy options.2) Consider keeping your account asprivate as possible.3) Be sure to use astrong password that you aren't using for other accounts. Consider using apassword manager to generate and store complex passwords.4) Under your account settings, set up2FA via SMS. This means if someone changes your email or phone number, at least one of the methods can help you get back in.5)Log out from your Facebook account when you access it on a public or friends device.6)Dont share your login details with anyone, not even friends or relatives.7)Don't click on suspicious links or posts.The best way to protect yourself from clicking malicious links that install malware that may access your private information is to install antivirus protection on all your devices. This can also alert you of any phishing emails or ransomware scams.Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.8) Frequently dosoftware updates on your device to prevent malware from getting in.Kurts key takeawaysWhether youve forgotten your password or gotten hacked, recovering access to your Facebook account doesnt have to be hard. Facebook has multiple ways to access your account with appropriate security measures in place so that unscrupulous people dont try to use these methods to compromise your existing Facebook account. Even though it may feel like an annoying extra step, setting up the multifactor authentication option for your Facebook account can keep your account even more secure.What features or tools do you wish Facebook would implement to make account recovery easier or more secure for users?Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/Contact.For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Deals: Unbeatable Best Black Friday dealsCopyright 2024 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

visoot - stock.adobe.comNewsConservative peer urges government not to limit open source AIThe chair of the Lords Communications and Digital Select Committee calls for greater support for SMEs, competition and economic dynamism as artificial intelligence policies are developedByCliff Saran,Managing EditorPublished: 26 Nov 2024 16:58 In a House of Lords debate looking at large language models and generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), Tina Stowell, chair of the Lords Communications and Digital Select Committee, discussed the need for a UK AI strategy that focuses on supporting commercial opportunities, academic research and spin-outs.As the government considers AI legislation, it must avoid policies that limit open source AI development or exclude innovative smaller players, she told MPs.In September, the committee launched an inquiry into the UKs scaleup potential covering technology in the creative industries and AI. It is focusing on the specific barriers to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) scaling in those areas.Stowell believes that while it is difficult to predict the future of AI development, a few trends are becoming clearer. The shift towards consolidation at the top of the market suggests a growing concentration of power among a few large tech firms. At the same time, were likely to see a huge expansion of applications built on top of those which is perhaps where the UK can thrive, she said.Stowell believes open source is also likely to have a role. I think open source AI development is key to ensuring we can support and safeguard competition and economic dynamism. We need to ensure the UKs approach to AI is balanced and plays to our strengths. While we need to mitigate risks, of course, we need to ensure that, in doing so, we do not accidentally and unnecessarily stifle innovation, she added.Looking deeper into the role the UK can play in AI regulation, Stowell urged policymakers to ensure the UK is able to forge its own path on AI and regulation. We can learn from, but must not copy wholesale, the EU, US and also China. That means focusing on talent, compute, enabling standards that give businesses confidence to innovate, championing responsible practices, mitigating major risks and ensuring we can benefit from a healthy mix of approaches to developing AI, she said.Stowell also stressed the importance of the UK being cautious and nuanced about AI regulation and where the correct focus is, adding: The EU example shows that we mustnt rush to regulate particularly given complexities around liability and around anti-competitive practices.She also said it was important to ensure smaller organisations feed into policy discussions. I would encourage everyone to engage with the work of Parliamentary committees and to respond to industry groups and government consultations. This is a technology that will affect us all, so having more people feeding in will create better and more informed outcomes for all of us, she said.Stowell, alongside University of Cambridge professor Neil Lawrence and Stability AI, has been shortlisted for the OpenUK award recognising work in artificial intelligence.Read more from the Communications and Digital Select CommitteeHouse of Lords launches an investigation into generative AI: The government wants the UK to lead AI regulation, but technology is developing at a breakneck pace.House of Lords focuses on copyright and transparency: Large language models promise to boost UK productivity, but the tech needs greater scrutiny and questions remain over intellectual property.In The Current Issue:Computer Weekly announces the Most Influential Women in UK Tech 2024From beauty model to tech role model this years most influential woman in UK techComputer Weeklys Women in UK Tech Rising Stars 2024Download Current IssueAI and analytics? Been there, done that Write side up - by Freeform DynamicsNTT R&D Forum 2024: New horizons for photonics-based chips, clouds & qubits CW Developer NetworkView All Blogs

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), the quasi-government body that serves to wind-up and make safe the UKs oldest nuclear industry sites, has opened a dedicated cyber security centre in the hope of better safeguarding itself against cyber attacks on the civil nuclear sector.Its Group Cyberspace Collaboration Centre (GCCC) in Cumbria will bring together security, digital and engineering experts to work together on how best to adopt new technologies and defend against evolving threats.The GCCC is further enhancing our collective ability to keep us safe, secure, resilient and sustainable in cyber space, said NDA group CEO David Peattie.Enabling us to work together more closely means we can defend as one, benefitting the collective security of the individual organisations we serve.When it comes to security, we are never complacent, and we continually invest in our expertise and our technology to further strengthen our capability, he added.Warren Cain, superintending inspector at the Office for Nuclear Regulation, said: All nuclear sites must have strong cyber security systems in place to protect important information and assets from cyber threats.Cyber security is a key regulatory priority for the Office for Nuclear Regulation, and we welcome the NDAs commitment to strengthen their cyber defences with this new specialist facility.However, the move comes months after state-owned Sellafield Ltd, which operates the eponymous nuclear waste facility under the auspices of the NDA, pled guilty to three criminal charges relating to cyber security breaches dating back years.One of these charges concerned a failure to ensure adequate protection of sensitive nuclear information on the Sellafield IT network, and the other two related to failures to complete annual security audits.Data put at risk supposedly included the movements of hazardous nuclear inventory, waste management, planning information and services provided to Sellafield by third parties.The multifunctional GCCC space will be open to partners to explore how new security technologies can support the NDAs important mission, and facilitate cyber ops, exercising and training.It forms part of a wider portfolio of digital and security capabilities including a recently opened security operations centre, and will work closely alongside other related units located around Sellafield on the Cumbrian coast, including the Cyber Lab classroom at training centre Energus in Workington, Sellafields own Engineering Centre of Excellence in Cleator Moor, and the Robotics and AI Collaboration Centrein Whitehaven.The NDA has also been working alongside experts from the University of Lancaster after signing a memorandum of understanding last year, covering areas related to cyber security and other aspects of safety related to nuclear decommissioning, such as robotics, waste management, geological disposal and environmental forensics, to name but a few.This is in service of the NDAs mission to clean-up and make safe 17 pioneering nuclear sites across the UK, which besides Sellafield include Hinkley Point, Harwell, Dungeness, Bradwell and Sizewell, Trawsfynydd and Wylfa, and Dounreay.Barring climate collapse, alien invasion or an AI-induced singularity, the bodys core work will span many lifetimes yet to come, and is not set to conclude before 2333.Read more about security for critical infrastructureUK government escalates cyber rhetoric in a speech at a Nato event, saying Russian advanced persistent threats stand ready to conduct cyber attacks that could turn off the lights for millions.After years of lobbying, the UK government has agreed to classify datacentres as critical national infrastructure, with the tech industry claiming the move is long overdue, but also recognition of the importance of server farms to the economy.The UK government says that enforced cyber incident and ransomware reporting for critical sectors of the economy will help to build a better picture of the threat landscape and enable more proactive and preventative responses.

Black Fridaydeals are in full swing, and many retailers are offering early and eye-grabbing deals ahead of the major shopping event. Some of the most exciting deals include home theater bundles, as you can find many soundbar, subwoofer, and rear speaker bundles for hundreds of dollars off of their original price. So, if you or a loved one have expressed interest in revamping your home's audio equipment, there's no better time than Black Friday to take advantage of these deals.Also: Best Black Friday 2024 dealsIf home theater isn't your main concern, I've also included plenty of Bluetooth speaker deals for portable listening. Some speakers are ideal for outdoor listening, while others perform better in your home. Either way, there's something for everyone here -- and we've tested many of these products ourselves. Be sure to check back as we get closer to Black Friday, as I'll be updating this list with the latest deals.Shop deals at AmazonOur favorite soundbar and speaker deals for Black Friday 2024Sonos Era 100 Bluetooth speaker: $199 (save $50 at Sonos): This smart speaker is one of our favorites, thanks to its high-quality sound, sleek design, and ease-of-use features, like AirPlay and voice assistant integration.Beats Pill (2024) Bluetooth speaker (all colors except Light and Dark Gray): $100 (save $50 at Amazon): We love this Bluetooth speaker thanks to its USB-C charging, a new, muted design, and the same big bass synonymous with the Beats brand. An exclusive Dark Gray colorway is also on sale ahead of Black Friday.Sony S100F 2.0-channel soundbar: $98 (save $32 at Amazon): This simple yet powerful soundbar offers eARC and Bluetooth connectivity.Bose Smart Soundbar: $400 (save $100 at Bose): Bose's newest compact soundbar offers premium features like Dolby Atmos and AirPlay. The Bose Ultra Open earbuds act as personal rear speakers when with this soundbar, creating a private and immersive listening experience. This soundbar may be small, but its sound is big, full, and room-filling.Bose Soundlink Max Bluetooth speaker: $300 (save $100 at Bose): We love this Bose speaker for its high-quality sound, durable design, and lengthy battery life.Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8: $648 (save $202 at Amazon): This 11-speaker soundbar offers 360 spatial sound mapping, supports Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and IMAX Enhanced, and is compatible with Spotify Connect, AirPlay, Bluetooth, and exclusive features for PS5.LG S95TR soundbar, subwoofer, and rear speakers bundle: $1,000 (save $500 at LG): This LG home theater set includes an LG soundbar, subwoofer, and rear speaker pair. This set is recommended for LG OLED B4, C4, and G4-Series TVs.Sonos Beam Gen 2 soundbar: $369 (save $130 at Sonos): This midrange compact Sonos soundbar delivers premium features like Dolby Atmos, Wi-Fi connectivity, AirPlay, and room mapping for accurate sound tuning.Sony HT-S2000 3.1-channel soundbar: $298 (save $202 at Amazon): This compact Sony soundbar offers dual built-in subwoofers and three front speakers for deep bass and clear dialogue.JBL Flip 6 Bluetooth speaker: $80 (save $50 at Amazon): This rugged JBL speaker offers big sound in a compact build that can withstand short drops in the pool and offers up to 12 hours of continuous playtime.Sonos Arc Ultra + Sub 4 soundbar and subwoofer bundle: $1,678 (save $120 at Sonos): We love Sonos' latest premium soundbar and subwoofer for their easy integration, premium features, and sleek design. Jada Jones/ZDNET Current price: $400Original price: $500Bose's newest compact soundbar offers premium features like Dolby Atmos and AirPlay. The Bose Ultra Open earbuds act as personal rear speakers when with this soundbar, creating a private and immersive listening experience. This soundbar may be small, but its sound is big, full, and room-filling. View now at Bose Jada Jones/ZDNET Current price: $100Original price: $150The newest Beats speaker debuts with USB-C charging, a new, muted design, and the same big bass synonymous with the Beats brand. An exclusive Dark Gray colorway is also on sale ahead of Black Friday.Review: Beats Pill (2024) View now at Amazon Maria Diaz/ZDNET Current price: $199Original price: $249This compact smart speaker delivers room-filling sound and offers features like touch controls, AirPlay, Bluetooth connectivity, and voice controls. The Era 100 is also humidity-resistant, so you can bring it with you to any room in your house.Review: Sonos Era 100 View now at Sonos Artie Beaty/ZDNET Current price: $1,000Original price: $1,500This LG home theater bundle includes a soundbar, subwoofer, and two rear speakers. The soundbar is compatible with Dolby Atmos, DTS Digital Surround, and Dolby Digital. This bundle also includes a remote and wall mount bracket for the soundbar. View now at LG Best Black Friday soundbar dealsSonos Arc Ultra + Sub 4 soundbar and subwoofer bundle: $1,678 (save $120 at Sonos): We love Sonos' latest premium soundbar and subwoofer for their easy integration, premium features, and sleek design.Samsung Q-series 9.1.4-channel home theater bundle: $1,000 (save $400 at Best Buy): This Samsung bundle includes a soundbar, subwoofer, and two rear speakers. This set is compatible with Samsung Q-Symphony, which allows you to play audio from your Samsung TV speakers and soundbar for enhanced audio.Sonos Arc: $699 (save $200 at Sonos): Sonos' first-generation premium Arc soundbar is at its lowest price during Black Friday. It offers a suite of Dolby surround sound, wireless audio streaming, and a sleek, nondescript design.Vizio 5.1.2-channel home theater bundle: $475 (save $325 at Amazon): This set comes with two rear speakers, a soundbar, and a subwoofer. The soundbar is compatible with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X for an immersive listening experience.LG S70TR 5.1.1-channel home theater bundle: $300 (save $100 at Best Buy): This LG home theater bundle includes a soundbar, subwoofer, and two rear speakers. The soundbar is compatible with Dolby Atmos and the bundle includes a remote and wall mount bracket for the soundbar.Sony HT-A3000 3.1-channel soundbar: $428 (save $172 at Amazon): This Dolby Atmos-enabled soundbar is also compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, and includes Sound Field Optimization for optimal sound.Samsung B63C 5.1-channel soundbar: $178 (save $70 at Amazon): This Dolby Digital-compatible wireless soundbar includes a built-in center speaker for enhanced dialogue and Game Mode for enhanced gaming audio. This bundle includes a subwoofer for additional bass you can hear and feel.Vizio M-Series (2023) 2.1-channel soundbar: $142 (save $38 at Amazon): This soundbar is Dolby Atmos-compatible and includes left and right channels and a built-in subwoofer for added bass.Polk Audio soundbar + subwoofer bundle: $169 (save $80 at Amazon): This ultra-slim soundbar includes five full-range speakers for enhanced sound and is compatible with Dolby Digital for added clarity. This bundle includes a subwoofer for added bass.Best Black Friday home theater dealsKlipsch R-100SW 10-inch subwoofer: $199 (save $270 at Amazon): This compact subwoofer includes a 10-inch front-firing woofer. If you have Klipsch floor-standing speakers in your home audio setup and want a compatible subwoofer, take advantage of this deal.Sonos Sub Mini subwoofer: $343 (save $86 at Sonos): This compact subwoofer is perfect for smaller spaces but doesn't compromise the bass. Both woofers inside this sub are encased in a sealed cabinet for clear bass that never muddies or rumbles the unit.Sonos Sub 4 subwoofer: $679 (save $120 at Sonos): Sonos' latest subwoofer debuts with a new matte casing design and dual orientation. We love this subwoofer for its sleek design and powerful bass output.Polk Audio PSW10 10-inch subwoofer: $159 (save $90 at Amazon): This subwoofer includes a 10-inch dynamic balance woofer and up to 100 watts of power output.Sony CS-Series home theater speakers bundle: $838 (save $442 at Amazon): This speaker bundle consists of two floor-standing speakers, a subwoofer, a center channel speaker, and a bookshelf speaker. If you like old-school home theater speaker systems, this one is up your alley.Samsung SWA-9200S 2.0-channel rear speaker pair: $100 (save $50 at Best Buy): These Samsung surround speakers for compatible Samsung soundbars deliver left/right audio to enhance your home's audio setup.Sony SA-RS3S wireless rear speaker pair: $298 (save $52 at Amazon): These surround speakers offer left/right rear audio channels for the Sony Bar 9, Bar 8, HT-A7000, HT-A5000, and HT-A3000 soundbars.Best Black Friday Bluetooth speaker dealsSonos Era 100 Bluetooth speaker: $199 (save $50 at Amazon): This smart speaker isone of our favorites, thanks to its high-quality sound, sleek design, and ease-of-use features, like AirPlay and voice assistant integration.Beats Pill (2024) Bluetooth speaker (all colors except Light and Dark Gray): $100 (save $50 at Amazon):We love this Bluetooth speakerthanks to its USB-C charging, a new, muted design, and the same big bass synonymous with the Beats brand. An exclusive Dark Gray colorway is also on sale ahead of Black Friday.Bose SoundLink Flex Bluetooth speaker: $119 (save $30 at Bose):We love this Bose speakerfor its high-quality sound, durable design, and lengthy battery life.Sony SRSXB13 Bluetooth speaker: $38 (save $22 at Amazon): This ultra-portable Sony Bluetooth speaker delivers bass bigger than the speaker, up to 16 hours of playtime, and an IP67 rating, making it dust and waterproof.Sony Ult Field Bluetooth speaker: $100 (save $30 at Best Buy): We love this rugged Sony speaker for its durable water, rust, and shockproof design, its 30 hours of playback, and its USB-C charging port.FAQsWhen is Black Friday?Black Friday is on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, but retailers are gearing up for the shopping event now, so you don't have to wait until the 29th to take advantage of Black Friday deals.When is Cyber Monday?Cyber Monday is the following Monday after Black Friday. This year, Cyber Monday falls on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024.Are soundbar and speaker deals really better on Black Friday?Yes, you can usually find products that are rarely on sale with slashed prices during Black Friday. Many products on this list were released this year and are receiving discounts for the first time since their release. Additionally, Black Friday is a great time to buy home theater bundles instead of buying pieces of your home theater setup one by one.What's the difference between Black Friday and Cyber Monday?Historically, Black Friday sales were reserved for in-person shopping, while Cyber Monday deals were online only. These days, more people conduct their holiday shopping online out of convenience, and retailers often offer deeper discounts when customers buy online. As a result, the lines between Black Friday and Cyber Monday have blurred, but both days are opportunities to find the latest tech at lower prices.How did we choose these Black Friday deals?ZDNET only writes about deals we want to buy, including products we've tested, recommended, and used daily. Our experts find deals on products we've previously tested and compare prices across retailers to find you the best deal. However, some products are in such high demand that their discount barely scratches 20% off. We try to find deals with at least a 20% discount, but some devices are worth the money, and a little discount is better than no discount at all.We base our recommendations on our testing, extensive research, and comparison shopping. We aim to pair our hands-on experience with customer reviews and price comparisons to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter.Where can you shop the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals?You can find plenty of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals across many retailers, including Amazon and Best Buy, and directly from manufacturers. All retailers compete for your business this holiday season, so you can also find deals when buying directly from a manufacturer.Additionally, some retailers throw in a gift or subscription to entice you to buy from them. For example, Sony offers individual consultations when you buy its home audio products and Bose offers a 90-day return policy and holiday price-matching.What are the best Black Friday 2024 deals?ZDNET's experts have been searching through Black Friday sales live now to find the best discounts by category. These are the best Black Friday deals so far, by category:You can also find the best Black Friday deals by price:And the best Black Friday deals by retailer:Top holiday deals

We're just three days away from the biggest shopping extravaganza of the year, butBlack Friday sales and holiday savings are already hitting online and in-store retailers. Some of the largest retailers, like Best Buy,Walmart, and Amazon, are already underway with their Black Friday savings.The month of November is a great time to snag seasonal savings on top tech products, includingApple watches. And although Apple products don't frequently see savings, Cyber Week is a great time to save between 10-25% on select devices. Plus, Apple's Watch SE (2nd Gen), Series 10, and Series 9 are even seeing the lowest prices we've ever seen them for since their releases. I cover Apple Watches nearly every sale event with ZDNET, so rest assured I've tracked the best deals throughout every sale this year. Plus, I've gone hands-on with tons of watch accessories, like watch bands, chargers, and more.That's why I've rounded up all the best Black Friday Apple Watch deals you can shop now, including on some of the most popular models.Shop deals at AmazonOur favorite Apple Watch deals for Black Friday 2024Apple Watch Series 10 GPS 42mm: $329 (save $70 at Walmart): Apple's newest Watch Series 10 is already seeing savings at Walmart. Save $70 for the first time on the GPS, 42mm model in three sport band colors. The larger, GPS, 46mm model is also on sale for $359 (save $70) in two sport band colors.Apple Watch Series 10 GPS 46mm: $359 (save $70): If you prefer a larger watch face, the new Watch Series 10 46mm GPS model is also on sale for $70 off at Amazon.Apple Watch Series 9 GPS 41mm: $280 (save $119 at Amazon): Right now you can save $100+ on select Watch Series 9 models at Amazon, like the winter blue sport loop now.Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) GPS 40mm: $149 (save $100 at Walmart): One of the best deals on the Watch SE (2nd Gen), which is still the latest base model available, is at Walmart, where it's currently $100 off for the first time in the sport band iterations. The GPS 44mm model is availablefor $179. Kerry Wan/ZDNET Current price: $329Original price: $399Right now, you can snag Apple's newest Watch Series 10 for $70 off at Walmart for the first time. Snag the 42mm GPS sport band model now.Plus, there are savings on other color options as well. Amazon has similar offers on the Watch Series 10. Kayla Solino/ZDNET Current price: $149Original price: $250Walmart and Amazon have the best deal right now on Apple's latest base model SE (2nd Gen), which just dropped $20 lower than the lowest price we've ever seen. Snag one for only $149. This watch is GPS supported and comes in either a 40mm or 44mm size, thought the 44mm will cost more. You can also shop the Watch SE at Best Buy for $80 off. Max Buondonno/ZDNET Current price: $680Original price: $799Best Buy is offering over $100 savings on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 GPS+ Cellular 49mm with the ocean band in blue or white. View now at Best Buy Best Black Friday Apple Watch Series 8, 9, & 10 dealsApple Watch Series 10 GPS 42mm: $329 (save $70 at Amazon): Similar to Walmart's offer, Amazon is selling select models of the Watch Series 10 GPS 42mm for $70 off.Apple Watch Series 9 GPS 41mm: $280 (save $119 at Amazon): In addition to Best Buy, Amazon has the 41mm sport loop model in midnight blue for $60 off, too. Plus, you can save $100+ on select models, like the winter blue sport loop now.Apple Watch Series 8 GPS 41mm, Refurbished: $242 at Amazon: At this point, the Series 8 is two models outdated, but that doesn't mean it's not a great option. Plus, the Series 8 is the only Apple watch still available with the blood oxygen sensor feature. Snag a refurbished model at Amazon.Apple Watch Series 10 GPS 42mm: $329 (save $70 at Best Buy): The Series 10 features integrated GPS, 64GB of internal storage, and is water resistant up to 164 feet.Best Black Friday Apple Watch SE & SE (2nd Gen) dealsApple Watch SE (2nd Gen) GPS 40mm: $149 (save $100 at Amazon): If Amazon is your preferred retailer, you can score the same deal on the Watch SE (2nd Gen) in several sport loop iterations.Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) GPS 44mm: $179 (save $100 at Walmart): The larger face 44mm Watch SE (2nd Gen) is also on sale at Walmart in several colors.Best Black Friday Apple Watch Ultra & Ultra 2 dealsApple Watch Ultra 2 GPS + Cellular 49mm: $700 (save $99 at Amazon): Amazon has select models of the Watch Ultra 2 discounted by almost $100, including the indigo alpine loop.Apple Watch Ultra GPS+ Cellular 49mm, Refurbished: Various models of the Apple Watch Ultra are on sale at Best Buy. These are refurbished models verified by Best Buy's Geek Squad.Best Black Friday Apple Watch accessory deals Kayla Solino/ZDNETApple Watch USB-C Fast Charger: $24 (save $5 at Amazon): Fast charge your Apple Watch Series 7 or later.Belkin 3-1 Wireless Charging Stand: $96 (save $24 at Amazon): Belkin's MagSafe 3-1 charger is perfect for charging your Apple ecosystem at once, and right now, it's 20% off.Nomad Sport Apple Watch Band: $45 (save $15 at Nomad): Nomad makes some of ZDNET's favorite tech accessories, and right now you can save 25% on the classic sport band.AirPods Pro 2: $154 (save $95 at Amazon): You can now use your AirPods with your Apple Watch, and this is a great deal on one of our favorite AirPod models.Anker MagGo 3-1 Wireless Charger: $83 (save $27 at Amazon): Apple fans will love this versatile Qi2 charging station to boost your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch at the same time, and it easily folds up for travel.ESR Portable Apple Watch Charger: $30 (save $8 at ESR): This portable Apple Watch charger can fit inside your pocket and is perfect for frequent travel or to keep as a backup.FAQsWhat is the best Apple watch?ZDNET's tested top pick for thebest Apple watchis the flagship Apple Watch Ultra 2, which athletes and product testers have lauded as the best Apple Watch ever made thanks to its rugged durability, large and bright display, long battery life, water resistance, and more.Do Apple Watches track my AFib?Yes, your Apple Watch, as long as it is a Series 6 or newer, can track your AFib, or irregular heartbeat. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recentlyawardedmedical device development tool (MDDT) status to the Apple Watch's atrial fibrillation (AFib) history tracker. The feature is first piece of digital health technology to earn MDDT status, the FDA said in a statement.Apple Watch Series 10 vs Series 9: Which is the better buy?Both the new Watch Series 10 and last year's Series 9 are great watches, and ultimately, what's the better buy for you will come down to preference. We've already put these watches head to head, and think the main reasons you may choose to splurge on the newer Series 10 model really come down to these four factors: A lighter build and improved display, sleep apnea features, new finishes, and of course, price.Oura Ring vs Apple Watch: Which is the better buy?Black Friday is a great time to snag savings on popular health and wellness trackers, and both the Apple Wtach and the Oura Ring certainly make the cut. However, there's a few key differences between to two, and ZDNET health and wellness tech expert Nina Raemont recommends the Oura Ring for those looking for detailed sleep tracking, amongst other things. Apple Watches are great options for activity tracking and easy compatibility if you own an iPhone. The Oura Ring Gen 3 Horizon is on sale for up to $100 off at Amazon, too.What is the newest Apple Watch?Apple has a lengthy lineup of its flagship tech wearable, with several iterations over the last few years. The newest watch release comes in the Apple Watch Series 10, which was released in September 2024. The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) remains the most up-to-date base model, released in 2023, and the Ultra 2 the newest feature-packed option, released in 2023 and re-released in new finishes in 2024. With multiple models available, both old and new, you'll be sure to find a watch that fits your needs and your price point.Are there any alternative smartwatches worth considering?The Apple watch models are not the only options for smartwatches, despite their popularity. ZDNET has tested dozens of the best smartwatchesand fitness trackers (also on sale ahead of Black Friday) so you can scope more alternative deals, including the Fitbit Versa 4, Fitbit Luxe, Google Pixel Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, and more.What does "trade-in" mean?Similar to turning in an older cell phone to receive monetary credit towards purchasing a newer or more updated version, Apple and other major retailers often have options to "trade-in" other devices, like Apple watches.When participating in a trade-in offer, you are providing your previously used item to the retailer in exchange for a predetermined amount of cash back that can be directly applied to your next item purchase of the same product. Eligible trade-in items and the cash back offered for each product is decided by each individual retailer and is often determined by factors such as age, condition, and functionality of the item being presented for trade-in. Apple recently decided to even bump up the amount they offer for trade-ins as well, too.When is Black Friday?Black Friday always falls the day after Thanksgiving in the US. This year, Black Friday will be on Nov. 29, 2024.When is Cyber Monday?Cyber Monday is the Monday following Thanksgiving weekend, and the end of the "Cyber 5" savings week. This year, Cyber Monday falls on Dec. 2, 2024.Are Apple Watch deals really better on Black Friday?For the most part, yes. While we've seen plenty of offers on Apple watches throughout this year, including most recently during October Prime Day, Apple products don't frequently see major discounts, especially on newer products. For the most part, you can expect 10-20% in savings on Apple watches, and Black Friday and Cyber Monday create the best environment for these covetable wearables to be on sale for the largest margin and at as many retailers as possible (both online and in-person). Last year, we saw some of the first major discounts on the Watch Series 9 ahead of the 2023 holiday shopping season, so you may be able to score savings on the newest Watch Series 10 this year. We'll keep you posted.What's the difference between Black Friday and Cyber Monday?Semantics, mostly. Black Friday traditionally refers to the day of savings that follows Thanksgiving, which at one point was an in-store only event. Over the years, Black Friday sales have expanded and lengthened to include online retailers, hence "Cyber Week" and "Cyber Monday." Cyber Monday refers to the Monday following Thanksgiving weekend, and originally referred to online savings on lots of products. These days, both Black Friday and Cyber Monday offer similar savings in-store and online.How did we choose these Black Friday deals?Each holiday season, we carefully select the range of products we focus our coverage on, so we can be sure we're bringing you the best deals and the most information on products we're experts on. ZDNET also only writes about deals we want to buy -- devices and products we desire, need, or would recommend. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops.We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we're recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing -- in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter.Where can you shop the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals?You can find Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals pretty much anywhere (that means in store and online). Popular retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, Macy's, and more will all be offering holiday savings online and in their brick-and-mortar stores.What are the best Black Friday 2024 deals?ZDNET's experts have been searching through Black Friday sales live now to find the best discounts by category. These are the best Black Friday deals so far, by category:Top holiday deals

Jools Lebron, photographed in New York in September, inspired Dictionary.com's 2024 word of the ... [+] year.GC ImagesA very mindful Dictionary.com named its 2024 word of the year this week: demure, which has enjoyed a surge in popularity, and assumed new layers of meaning, since TikTok influencer Jools Lebron used it in an August post that went hugely viral.In Lebrons original satirical TikTok video, which has amassed more than 54 million views, the content creator shares how she ensures an understated workplace persona.You see how I do my make-up for work? Very demure, very mindful, Lebron tells her followers, who now number 2.3 million. A lot of you girls go to the interview looking like Marge Simpson and go to the job looking like Patty and Selma. Not demure. The very demure, very mindful catchphrase went on to appear in many thousands of videos, with multiple companies and brands deploying it in marketing campaigns and celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez hopping on the trend.Every year, Dictionary.com selects a word that captures the zeitgeist. At the height of the very mindful, very demure craze, the word demure had 200 times more searches on Dictionary.com than it did on dates before August, the site said in a Monday statement announcing its word of the year. Demure typically describes someone whos reserved and modest, but Lebron used it humorously in a way that appeared to challenge and poke fun at widespread societal expectations of how women are supposed to look and behave.Brat And Brainrot Make The List TooTo select its 2024 word of the year, Dictionary.com lexicographers analyzed data from headlines, social media trends and search results to identify words that reflect the cultural landscape of the past year.MORE FROMFORBES VETTEDThe rise and spread of the term on social media resulted in a similar increase in search interest on Google, Dictionary.com said. Between August 2023 and July 2024, there was no significant trend in the usage of the word demure. By the week of August 18, 2024, however, there was almost 14 times more interest in the term, highlighting the terms almost overnight explosion in popularity.Like demure, one of Dictionary.coms shortlisted words for 2024, brat, got a fresh twist in 2024. Musician Charli XCX turned it from an insult into a compliment to describe someone who is boldly confident when she tweeted that kamala IS brat, following Vice President Kamala Harris being announced as the Democratic presidential nominee.Shortlisted term brainrot, refers to the all-too-familiar effect of whiling away too much time consuming low-quality content on social media, Extreme weather also made the list. Searches for the phrase jumped, Dictionary.com noted, amid global discussions about record-breaking temperatures, catastrophic storms and widespread flooding.Dictionary.com 2023 word of the year was hallucinate, following woman in 2022, allyship in 2021 and pandemic in 2020.Lebron is clearly thrilled to be the driving force behind the sites top pick for 2024. She shared a playful TikTok video reacting to the announcement in which she preens and poses proudly. Her behavior in the vid is anything but demure, deliberately proving the point.

POLAND - 2024/01/31: In this photo illustration an Amazon Web Services AWS logo seen displayed on a ... [+] smartphone. (Photo Illustration by Mateusz Slodkowski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesAI is ahead of its time. For many organizations, the push to adopt full-blown cloud-native technologies (or at least those stemming from public cloud services, rather than a private cloud or hybrid halfway house) is still quite a leap. To suggest that cloud is a ubiquitous de facto standard for many application types is something of an exaggeration, even though migration and penetration is indeed moving on an upward trajectory (if not quite exponentially). With that grounding in mind, can we perhaps suggest that a chasm leap to productionalized, functional AI-based applications is also still some way off?Suitably sanguine yet technically realistic given his experience and position on this matter is Swami Sivasubramanian, VP for AI and data at AWS. Sivasubramanian suggests that as generative AI now transitions to production systems in 2025, early adopters are reaping rewards like accelerated productivity and customer experiences.So then, how do software engineers build this stuff?How To Build AI ApplicationsThe lines between data analytics and machine learning are blurring, reshaping the way we access and interact with our data, create predictions with ML and build the next wave of foundation models," suggests Sivasubramanian. Through a convergence of tools, data and AI, we are making it easier for ML scientists, data engineers and developers to access all they need to build generative AI applications in a single place, with principles like security and privacy built in from the start. This has allowed organizations of all sizes and across industries to unlock productivity improvements, delivering improved experiences and realizing substantial cost reductions by leveraging our services for generative AI.But there are some practical considerations to bring into question here i.e. when it comes to building and operating modern data strategies, at what level should architectural provisioning for data ingestion be part process of this and, are organizations ready to swallow what could be a relatively big spike in their data ingestion throughput, requirement and responsibility?MORE FROMFORBES VETTEDBuilding generative AI models requires a data ingestion infrastructure that can scale effectively with demand. Think of it like a highway that needs to accommodate fluctuating traffic patterns - if its too narrow, bottlenecks will form, explained Sivasubramanian. For organizations, this means planning data ingestion pipelines that not only handle current volumes but also adapt to future needs. With AWS, weve created flexible tools like AWS Glue for data preparation and integration, Amazon Kinesis for real-time streaming, Amazon S3 for durable storage to build data lakes and Amazon Redshift for data warehousing. These services scale as demand grows, so customers can ingest, manage and transform data efficiently and maintain control over costs and performance. By provisioning architecture thats adaptable and cost-effective, businesses can support the growing data needs of AI-driven applications without getting bogged down in complexity.Synthetic Data Is Getting RealAs we have been analyzing repeatedly this year, the use of synthetic data is also surfacing as an important element in the total data pipeline, especially in area where sensitive personal information is involved or where data generation sources are hard to find (such is rare medical event data) and where data diversity is limited. Its not surprising to see an organization as expansive as AWS working in this space.This approach allows for safer experimentation, faster model training and more equitable AI development. By incorporating synthetic data, we can accelerate model creation, reduce costs and build more inclusive AI solutions. However, advises Sivasubramanian, synthetic data is not a panacea as fully relying on it to train a model can potentially lead to "model loss" in his view. So, we need to have the right mix. With all these factors to juggle, how does the AWS AI leader think we can push past prototypes and start to productize AI?Today, the tipping point for productionizing AI is about providing organizations with robust, scalable and secure tools that integrate into existing workflows while maintaining high standards of governance. Rapid advancements in AI technology are transforming AI from an experimental tool into a production-ready, business-critical capability, said Sivasubramanian. At AWS, we focus on making AI not only more powerful but also practical, so it can be reliably deployed across industries. Our scalable infrastructure powered by Traininum and GPU instances, advanced model training powered by Amazon SageMaker and easy application development using Amazon Bedrock and generative AI assistants like Amazon Q allows organizations to integrate AI into real-world use cases, moving beyond prototypes into full-scale deployment.The AWS team say that were now seeing real world AI being used in scenarios stretching from software development acceleration to supply chain optimization and customer support enhancement. The key enablers are said to be trust, cost-efficiency and enterprise-grade performance. Sivasubramanian doesnt think the reason for this tipping point is a single chatbot or model, its a wider total play that encompasses a whole variety of factors. He suggests that generative AI application development requires developers to know how to pick the large language models they need and then have the competency to customize them with their own data, figure out the guardrails and then understand how to build AI agents.Amazon Q DeveloperUltimately, generative AI needs to meet people where they are working. That's why we launched Amazon Q. With Amazon Q Developer, we provide the a coding assistant which is used by Accenture, BT Group and National Australia Bank, amongst others. Additionally, with Amazon Q Business, business analysts can analyze data. For instance, Smarsheet can enable more than 3,000 workers to get insights from their data using Q without writing a single line of code, said Sivasubramanian. Generative AI is set to reshape the developer experience and were advancing quickly to make that transformation a reality. Amazon Q Developer gives organizations an AI-powered assistant that supports all phases of software development. It boosts productivity by generating code, providing real-time recommendations and enabling efficient workflows like debugging, security scanning and resource optimization across the AWS ecosystem.Software developers are able to customize Amazon Q with their organizations own codebase to get more relevant recommendations, which seems to be a pretty logical feature. That data is never shared with AI model providers or used to train the underlying models and this is a key aspect of any enterprise-grade solution.Also here we come into the realm of inline chat functions designed to enhance productivity in developer workflows, a function that is also powered by generative AI. But developers need contextual support right where they work i.e. whether in their integrated development environment, the AWS Management Console, or directly within code repositories. So Amazon Q Developers inline chat functions let developers ask questions, request code suggestions, troubleshoot issues, or perform environment within the same workflow and tools. This is said to reduce cognitive load and help developers make faster, more informed decisions.AWS also recently launched an enhanced local IDE experience for AWS Lambda developers, that sounds fairly technical, so is there a more digestible explanation of this technology that we need to take on board?The enhanced local IDE experience for AWS Lambda is an exciting development because it makes it far easier and faster for developers to build, test and deploy their applications directly from their local environment, enthused Sivasubramanian. This update brings AWS Lambda closer to the developers workflow, letting them code and debug in a familiar setup without needing to constantly switch between their local machine and the cloud. This means developers can test their code locally, troubleshoot issues quickly and iterate faster all of which lead to shorter development cycles and quicker time to market.From a business perspective, AWS says that this improvement helps organizations be more agile and efficient, as it reduces downtime, accelerates feature development and ensures a smoother transition to production. Plus, since it works with the AWS ecosystem, teams can take get additional scalability and security.No More Developers?Theres a huge amount of smart tooling for programmers on offer here, any suggestion that AI will replace coding and coders as a profession seems somewhat premature and unlikely. Sivasubramanian agrees with this sentiment and says that generative AI assistants when done right, (he again brings up Amazon Q as his favorite illustrative example) will come to take tasks that developers don't want to do. So in more realistic terms, well see AI coding robots will handle things like software upgrades, security scans and writing tests. Moreover, with generative AI assistants we can perhaps look forward to enabling everyone (including business analysts) to be deep experts in data and not have to wait for their data engineers or business intelligence experts to get them answers.While some jobs will inevitably become obsolete, using AI tools will transform the way people work for the better. The shift were seeing is about eliminating the undifferentiated heavy lifting so that developers spend less time on tedious, time-consuming work and have more time to focus on strategic and creative work. This shift is about augmenting developers capabilities. AI will open up new opportunities for developers to drive innovation at a faster pace. This is about equipping developers with better tools to enhance their work, said Sivasubramanian. Additionally, generative AI will democratize IT-related tasks because no-code and low-code tools will enable more tech-adjacent roles like sales, HR and marketing with the ability to create chatbots, analyze and summarize data, etc. We encourage organizations to upskill and reskill people to offset job loss as much as possible.AI As A Functionality, EventuallyAs we know then, AI discussions are ubiquitous. Every technology vendor wants as much share of voice and theres a lot of potential AI washing out there with what appears to be the entire tech trade now bolting on (sorry, theyd prefer us to say innovating) new AI services into their existing platform and tools. This landgrab throws up obvious questions i.e. surely not every database specialist, ERP vendor or CRM, HR and FinOps player can have all constructed new AI services at an advanced level that operates safely, without bias and within appropriate guardrails and governance, right?Given the level of prototyping and productization pandemonium, it is perhaps worthwhile listening to a player as large as AWS to attempt to get a realistic view on where we really are right now with AI. Sivasubramanian has said that AI is already on its way to becoming embedded functionality and the transition is happening faster than many realize.At AWS, were focused on integrating AI into everyday workflows, where it can provide real, tangible value without requiring special attention or complex setups. We see this happening in applications like (and I know Ive mentioned this tool already) Amazon Q Developer, where AI is already helping developers with tasks like code generation, debugging and even security scanning - all with minimal friction, concluded Sivasubramanian, in a private AI deep dive for press & analysts this month. In other industries, AI is powering customer support chatbots and virtual assistants - helping organizations address inquiries instantly and at scale - or handling predictive fraud detection in finance, where it identifies and flags potential risks in real-time. As AI continues to evolve, it will become more deeply embedded in business processes, powering everything from customer support to supply chain optimisation,In a few years, he believes AI will be ubiquitous in the background of many applications, working quietly and seamlessly to improve user experiences, drive efficiency and help organizations make data-driven decisions. Just as we now take for granted technologies like spellcheck that once seemed groundbreaking. Now that'll be smart.

Social network logos display on a smartphone screen and the Australian flag appears on a computer screen in this photo illustration. NurPhoto via Getty ImagesBy Rod McGuirk / APNovember 26, 2024 6:03 AM ESTMELBOURNE, Australia How do you remove children from the harms of social media? Politically the answer appears simple in Australia, but practically the solution could be far more difficult.The Australian governments plan toban children from social mediaplatforms including X, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram until their 16th birthdays is politically popular. The opposition party says it would have done the same after winning elections due within months if the government hadnt moved first.The leaders of alleight Australian states and mainland territorieshave unanimously backed the plan, although Tasmania, the smallest state, would have preferred the threshold was set at 14.But a vocal assortment of experts in the fields of technology and child welfare have responded with alarm. More than 140 such experts signed anopen letterto Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemning the 16-year age limit as too blunt an instrument to address risks effectively.Details of how it will be implemented are scant. Lawmakers debated the bill in parliament this week, and it was expected to be passed into law with the support of major parties.Here's a look at how some Australians are viewing the issue.The concerned teenLeo Puglisi, a 17-year-old Melbourne student who founded online streaming service 6 News Australia at the age of 11, worries that lawmakers imposing the ban don't understand social media as well as young people at home in the digital age.With respect to the government and prime minister, they didnt grow up in the social media age, theyre not growing up in the social media age, and what a lot of people are failing to understand here is that, like it or not, social media is a part of peoples daily lives, Leo said.Its part of their communities, its part of work, its part of entertainment, its where they watch content young people arent listening to the radio or reading newspapers or watching free-to-air TV and so it cant be ignored. The reality is this ban, if implemented, is just kicking the can down the road for when a young person goes on social media, Leo added.Leo has been applauded for his work online. He was a finalist in his home state Victoria's nomination for theYoung Australian of the Yearaward, which will be announced in January. His nomination bid credits his platform with fostering a new generation of informed, critical thinkers.The grieving mom-turned-activistOne of the proposal's supporters, cyber safety campaigner Sonya Ryan, knows personally how dangerous social media can be for children.Her 15-year-old daughter Carly Ryan was murdered in 2007 in South Australia state by a 50-year-old pedophile who pretended to be a teenager online. In a grim milestone of the digital age, Carly was the first person in Australia to be killed by an online predator.Kids are being exposed to harmful pornography, theyre being fed misinformation, there are body image issues, theres sextortion, online predators, bullying. There are so many different harms for them to try and manage and kids just dont have the skills or the life experience to be able to manage those well, Sonya Ryan said.The result of that is were losing our kids. Not only what happened to Carly, predatory behavior, but also were seeing an alarming rise in suicide of young people, she added.Sonya Ryan is part of a group advising the government on a national strategy to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse in Australia.She wholeheartedly supports Australia setting the social media age limit at 16.Were not going to get this perfect, she said. We have to make sure that there are mechanisms in place to deal with what we already have which is an anxious generation and an addicted generation of children to social media."A major concern for social media users of all ages is the legislations potential privacy implications.Age estimation technology has proved inaccurate, so digital identification appears to be the most likely option for assuring a user is at least 16.The skeptical internet expertTama Leaver, professor of internet studies at Curtin University, fears that the government will make the platforms hold the users identification data.The government has already said the onus will be on the platforms, rather than on children or their parents, to ensure everyone meets the age limit.The worst possible outcome seems to be the one that the government may be inadvertently pushing towards, which would be that the social media platforms themselves would end up being the identity arbiter, Leaver said.They would be the holder of identity documents which would be absolutely terrible because they have a fairly poor track record so far of holding on to personal data well, he added.The platforms will have a year once the legislation has become law to work out how the ban can be implemented.Ryan, who divides her time between Adelaide in South Australia and Fort Worth, Texas, said privacy concerns should not stand in the way of removing children from social media.What is the cost if we dont? If we dont put the safety of our children ahead of profit and privacy? she asked.More Must-Reads from TIMEWhere Trump 2.0 Will Differ From 1.0How Elon Musk Became a KingmakerThe PowerAnd Limitsof Peer SupportThe 100 Must-Read Books of 2024Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try HopeThe Future of Climate Action Is Trade PolicyFXs Say NothingIs the Must-Watch Political Thriller of 2024Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby DecisionContact us at letters@time.com

Home Tech Weekly Roundup: Top 5 News from the Week You Cant Miss News Tech Weekly Roundup: Top 5 News from the Week You Cant Miss7 min read Published: November 26, 2024 Key TakeawaysGoogle blocked 1000+ pro-Chinese sites that were spreading Chinese propaganda.Amazon decided to invest an additional $4 billion in Anthropic, bringing its total investment in the company to $8 billion.Amazon and Google mobile browsers might be under probe by UK regulators.Thousands of Amazon workers across the US, UK, Germany, and 17 other countries have decided to go on strike this Black Friday.Amid rising threats from Russia, the UK is seeking collaboration with its NATO allies to amp up its defenses against cyber threats.If you had a busy week and couldnt keep up with the latest happenings in the tech and business industry, weve got you covered. Heres a quick recap of the top 5 news from the week.Google Blocked a Number of Chinese Propaganda WebsitesGoogles Threat Intelligence Group recently revealed that it blocked over 1,000 news sites from Google Discover and Google News since 2022.These sites were backed by four small Chinese PR firms that spread pro-Chinese propaganda news at the order of an anonymous client:Times NewswireShanghai Haixun TechnologyDurinbridgeShenzhen Bowen MediaOut of these 4, Shanghai Haixun Technology dominated with more than 600 domains in its name, all of which were spreading the same propaganda content. All the 600 domains have now been removed by Google.These sites managed to stay in hiding for this long by pretending to be local news sites. They even published localized news content along with their propaganda campaign, which ranged from press releases to conspiracy theories, to appear genuine.According to Google, these PR firms pretended to be working independently. But in reality, they were all in this together. The tech giant has named this network of PR firms Glassbridge but they are yet to identify its leader (or if theres one at all).This isnt the first time that Google has caught illegitimate websites spreading pro-China content and it certainly wont be the last. For instance, another similar group known as Dragonbridge was also recently discovered, spreading similar pro-China content.Apple and Googles Mobile Browsers May Soon Be Under Probe from UK RegulatorsThe U.K.s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) might consider launching a probe into Google and Apples mobile browser market.On Friday, the regulator published a report based on the findings of an independent inquiry group which was asked by the CMA to carry out an in-depth review of the mobile browser market in the UK.Based on its findings, the group suggested that the CMA should take a closer look at Apple and Google and investigate their activities under the new Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCC).What Exactly Did Apple & Google Do To Provoke This Decision?The DMCC is an anti-competitive law that prevents companies from gaining an unfair advantage in the market.As per the groups report, Apples stringent Apple Store rules make it difficult for app developers to deliver new features to users. Some of the app developers also complained that they would like to be able to offer their apps outside of the Apple App Store. But theres no such provision on iOS devices right now.As for Google, the group found its revenue-sharing agreement with Apple to be problematic. As per this deal, the iPhone maker would make Google the default search engine on all its devices.Apple reacted to this news and denied all the findings by the group. It even added that the intervention of DMCC might hamper user privacy and make it difficult for Apple to continue creating the type of technology that sets it apart from others.Read More: Google Has Illegal Monopoly over Internet Search, US Judge RulesAmazon Decides to Invest Another $4 Billion In AnthropicOn Friday, Amazon announced that it has decided to invest another $4 billion in the AI startup Anthropic, bringing its total investment in the company to $8 billion.The company will start by making an initial transfer of $1.3 billion and the rest will follow soon.In addition to that, Amazon also decided to make AWS the primary cloud and training partner of Anthropic. This means from now on, most Anthropic models will be trained on AWS Trainium and Inferentia chips.This is a win-win deal for both companies. For Anthropic, the benefit is pretty clear. The artificial intelligence industry is fiercely competitive with big leaders like OpenAI and Google dominating the market. At a time like this, startups like Anthropic could use all the help they get.As for Amazon, this partnership will allow AWS customers early access to an interesting Anthropic feature that will allow them to tune up their data using Claude (Anthropics AI chatbot).Its important to note that despite this $8 billion investment, Amazon is still a minority investor in the company and doesnt have a seat on the board and we dont know if this status quo will change anytime soon.Especially because it looks like Google is also interested in Anthropic. Just last year, it confirmed that it has a 10% stake in the startup and has decided to invest an additional $2 billion in it.Thousands of Amazon Workers Have Decided to Go On Strike on Black FridayBlack Friday is the busiest day of the year for every retail company. But unfortunately for Amazon, at a time when it would need extra hands to manage the rush, thousands of workers have decided to go on strike instead.This includes warehouse workers and delivery drivers from over 20+ countries such as the UK, the US, and Germany.The protest is being led by the Swiss-based UNI Global Union and Progressive International. It has three main purposes:Amazons relentless pursuit of profit comes at a cost to workers, the environment, and democracy. Christy Hoffman, the general secretary of UNI Global UnionA spokesperson from Amazon UK has addressed this news and said that they are already taking multiple green initiatives to promote sustainability. For instance, the company is now the largest buyer of renewable energy.The spokesperson also added that while they are always open to feedback and willing to adapt, the company remains proud of what they are already offering their workers i.e. competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and a safe working environment for all.UK Seeks Collaboration with NATO Allies to Fight Against Rising Cyber Threat from RussiaUKs Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden has announced that Britain is planning to counter the rising cyber threat from Russia with a dedicated AI security lab.For that, it is seeking collaboration with its NATO allies as well as the Five Eyes countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.K., and the U.S.). The laboratory will receive an initial funding of 8.22 million ($10.3 million) from the government itself. In the future, they are hoping that other organizations (and hopefully its allies) might contribute to it. As for its purpose, itll be responsible for developing advanced cyber defense tools and improving intelligence sharing among its NATO allies.In the official release, McFadden said that the threat of AI in international warfare is no longer a concern of the distant future. In fact, its a daily reality that needs urgent attention from NATO members.This announcement follows in the footsteps of the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill which was introduced by the UK government in July to protect public services, especially critical infrastructure, from cyber attacks.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Krishi is an eager Tech Journalist and content writer for both B2B and B2C, with a focus on making the process of purchasing software easier for businesses and enhancing their online presence and SEO.Krishi has a special skill set in writing about technology news, creating educational content on customer relationship management (CRM) software, and recommending project management tools that can help small businesses increase their revenue.Alongside his writing and blogging work, Krishi's other hobbies include studying the financial markets and cricket. View all articles by Krishi Chowdhary Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.More from News View all News Samsungs Gauss 2 Model Pioneers AI Integration Aaron WalkerNovember 22, 2024News Google Gemini Gets a Memory Krishi ChowdharyNovember 21, 2024 View all