Home News Roundup of the Week: Metas Content Shake-Up, Nvidias Gaming Revolution, and More News News Roundup of the Week: Metas Content Shake-Up, Nvidias Gaming Revolution, and More9 min read Published: January 9, 2025 Key TakeawaysMeta Overhauls Content Moderation Policies, Axes Fact-Checkers.U.S. Adds Tencent and CATL to Military-Linked Firms List.Getty Images and Shutterstock Merge to Form $3.7 Billion Giant.Dana White Joins Metas Board amidst the transition of the Trump Administration.Nvidias New Gaming Chips Bring AI Power to PCs.Missed out on the key developments this week? Check out the top five news headlines you should know, as we get you covered!Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, is making sweeping changes to its content moderation policies, which has already sparked widespread debate.Recently, Mark Zuckerberg announced that Meta would be removing fact-checkers from Instagram and Facebook in an effort to prioritize free speech. While these measures will initially kick in the US, they will gradually be expanded globally.Instead of having fact-checkers, Meta will rely on a Community Notes system, which was previously used by X (formerly Twitter). With this approach, users will be able to add context and flag fake posts. However, critics are worried about the spread of misinformation due to the absence of fact-checkers.Zuckerberg, too, acknowledged the challenges involved with this approach, admitting that the platform would probably catch less bad stuff like severe violations of policies or illegal content.However, they are designing a new approach to reduce erroneous censorship and make room for more political content on Meta platforms. This way, the platform is preparing itself to support discussions on sensitive issues like gender and immigration.The content moderation teams of Meta will relocate to Texas from California. This move will address concerns about perceived political bias. The company also plans to stop proactively flagging policy violations in certain areas. Meta will be relying on reports from its users to manage infractions that are less severe.The ongoing changes of Meta coincide with a broader strategy to reintroduce political content to users feeds after the platform opposed it for years. Meta believes this move will lead to more engagement while respecting the preferences of users regarding what they see.Zuckerberg came up with this shift as a response to mounting global regulations on online content, particularly in Europe and Latin America, which he considers restrictive.On the other hand, critics suggest that this measure would make Meta platforms more susceptible to abuse and harmful content.Tencent and CATL Added to Pentagons Military-Linked Companies List Amidst US-China Tech TensionsThe U.S. Department of Defense has placed Chinese tech giants Tencent and CATL on its list of companies that it believes to have links with the PLA. While Tencent is a gaming giant and a social media platform, CATL happens to be the largest battery manufacturer in the world. These two companies have been added to the updated Section 1260H list, which is revised annually.This approach is a part of the Pentagons effort to counter the Military-Civil Fusion strategy of China. Its goal is to identify companies that have been helping the Chinese military to modernize by collaborating with civilian industries.Interestingly, Tencent is the parent company of WeChat and a stakeholder in global gaming hits like PUBG and Fortnite. The gaming giant denied the claims, calling that its inclusion in the 1260H list was a mistake. The company plans to work with the Pentagon to resolve the misunderstanding. Tencent may also proceed to take legal action if needed.As the worlds largest EV battery maker, CATL supplies its products to top companies like Ford and Tesla. It also refuted any involvement in military-related activities in China and stated that it would contest the designation.No immediate sanctions on these companies will be made after the Pentagon updated its list, but the move significantly impacted the reputation of these companies. The decision might discourage American businesses from engaging with them. Shares of Tencent fell 6.5% in Hong Kong, wiping $35.4 billion off its market value, while CATL saw a 4% drop in Shenzhen trading.This move from the Pentagon intensifies the ongoing rivalry between the US and China. Recently, Beijing banned exports of key EV mineral-extraction technologies and sanctioned seven American firms in retaliation for U.S. military aid to Taiwan.The US, on the other hand, has started controlling its semiconductor exports to China to slow its advancements in next-generation weaponry and AI development.Getty Images and Shutterstock Announce $3.7 Billion Merger to Counter AI DisruptionTwo of the largest stock photo and video providers, Getty Images and Shutterstock, have joined hands to counter disruption caused by AI in a transformative deal valued at $3.7 billion.Traditionally rivals, the two platforms have agreed to merge in a cash-and-stock transaction, announced last Tuesday. Following the deal, a new entity named Getty Images Holdings, Inc. will be created, and the business will continue operating under the ticker symbol GETY.The combined company will be led by Craig Peters, the CEO of Getty Images. As per the terms of the deal, shareholders of Getty Images will control 54.7% of the new entity.This merger comes amidst the global disruption caused by AI, which has been reshaping the stock image industry. Popular generative AI tools like MidJourney, Canva, and Dall-E are extensively being used to create custom images, which lands traditional stock image providers in mounting competition.The newly merged company aims to address these challenges and invest more in technology. The company now plans to integrate AI into its platform while expanding its library of visual content, comprehensively enhancing its offerings to users.Craig Peters stated that the merger was exciting and transformational. He pointed to its potential to deliver value to partners, contributors, and shareholders. Within the next three years, the merged company aims to achieve $150200 million in terms of cost synergies.Dana White, the president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and a vocal supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, has been appointed to the board of Meta.This appointment has been announced two weeks before the inauguration of the Trump administration. It comes at a time when Silicon Valley looks to mend its strained relations with the incoming administration.The selection of White demonstrates Metas consistent efforts to align with diverse leadership and strengthen its ties with influential figures. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, heaped praises on White as an entrepreneur who transformed UFC into one of the fastest-growing sports enterprises globally.White, on the other hand, seemed enthusiastic about his new role. He expressed his belief in the potential of social media and AI to revolutionize industries, including UFC rankings.This appointment invited controversy from various fronts. In the past, White had faced public criticism, including a backlash over his altercation with his wife during New Years Eve in 2021.However, his long-standing friendship with Trump, along with his significant influence in media and sports, positions him as a strategic addition to the board of Meta.The appointment of White comes at a time when Meta is undergoing a significant transformation. Zuckerberg explained the role of his board in creating fresh opportunities in AI, social media, and wearables.Some of the other board members include John Elkann, CEO of investment firm Exor and chairman of Ferrari, and Charlie Songhurst, a former Microsoft executive and AI strategist.With this expansion, Metas board now includes 13 members. It points to the ambitious approach of the company to diversify its expertise as it braces up for future opportunities and challenges.Nvidia Introduces New Gaming Chips Powered by AI Innovations at CES 2025Nvidia has released its new GeForce RTX 50-series gaming chips for desktops and laptops at CES 2025 in Las Vegas. It marks a significant leap in gaming technology, as the company integrates AI features from its data center GPUs.These chips are based on the advanced Blackwell architecture of Nvidia and have been designed to deliver unprecedented gaming performance. With realistic graphics and superior frame rates, gamers are set to enjoy a whole new experience with this launch.The chips are available in different configurations, which range from $549 to $1,999. They will be rolled out for desktops in January and for laptops in March. The flagship RTX 5090, retailing for $1,999, is twice as fast as its predecessor, boasting 92 billion transistors.It also supports features like DLSS 4, which is backed by AI. Thus, the chips ensure smoother gameplay and deliver better-resolution graphics. Developers can use these chips to integrate generative AI into games, thereby creating realistic faces for characters.Interestingly, the gaming division of Nvidia accounts for less than 10% of its overall revenue. This sector is largely overshadowed by its booming data center business.However, in the latest quarter, gaming sales of the tech giant soared by 15%. The RTX 50-series demonstrates how advancements in AI for data centers and enterprises trickle down to consumer products.Nvidia is also expanding its AI capabilities beyond gaming into sectors like robotics and automotive industries. The companys CEO, Jensen Huang introduced Cosmos, a foundation model for generating synthetic training data for robots and self-driving cars. Cosmos simulates real scenarios to reduce costs associated with traditional methods of gathering data.The company is also developing its first AI-focused desktop computer for developers, priced at $3,000. It integrates the same powerful chips used in data centers to ensure rapid testing and development of AI.With the companys stock hitting record highs, Nvidia continues to solidify its position as a leader in innovative technologies, driven by AI.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 Zoho Launches Ulaa a Highly Privacy-Centered Browser Vlad MelnicJanuary 8, 2025News YouTube Rolls Out New Upgrades For Premium Subscribers Vlad MelnicJanuary 8, 2025News YouTube Rolls Out Multi-Language Audio Dubbing Feature Vlad MelnicJanuary 8, 2025 View all

What just happened? If you have always hated paying your carrier the full bill amount despite suffering from extended periods of outages, AT&T has a new offer that may appease you. As part of a PR initiative, the telecoms giant is promising to issue bill credits to consumers who temporarily lose phone service or broadband connectivity. Called the AT&T Guarantee, the new initiative promises that users won't be billed for days when the company's network goes down. The offer, which goes live on Thursday, January 9, applies to fiber customers who suffer 20 minutes or more of outage and wireless customers who experience 60 minutes or more of downtime.In a press release, AT&T said that it would automatically apply a bill credit "equaling a full day of service" to all impacted customers. If the downtime lasts for more than 24 hours, AT&T will offer its customers credit "for each additional day of the outage."For small businesses, the carrier promised to "reach out" to address the issue and "help make it right." The offer will "set a new bar in customer experience," the company claimed.It is worth noting that, for cellular service outages, the guarantee only applies if 10 or more towers are impacted. The program also excludes outages suffered due to events beyond AT&T's control, like weather-related events, natural disasters, and problems originating with third parties.In addition to bill credits for network outages, AT&T is also offering reward cards to customers if their wait time for technical support exceeds five minutes. However, this offer only applies to people who did not get a callback from the company's support staff and customers who could not schedule a same-day or next-day fiber technician appointment. // Related StoriesThis announcement comes almost a year after AT&T suffered a massive cellular outage that was investigated by the FBI as a possible cyberattack. While that possibility was eventually ruled out, the carrier did not officially reveal the root cause of the problem. The company offered a $5 account credit as a token of apology to all affected customers.The AT&T Guarantee program is similar to Spectrum's existing compensation offer for its home broadband users. Last September, Spectrum announced that it would pay a full day's worth of credit to customers who experience network downtime for more than two hours. It remains to be seen if Verizon, T-Mobile, Comcast and others will follow in AT&T and Spectrum's footsteps by offering similar schemes going forward.

Through the looking glass: Users are eagerly waiting to see whether real-world performance tests back up the big promises Nvidia made when presenting its latest AI-powered game rendering technology at CES. Although those reviews are likely weeks away, Digital Foundry has provided an early third-party trial showcasing how DLSS 4 eliminates upscaling glitches and adds new AI-generated frames. Eurogamer has released a preliminary demonstration of Nvidia's newly announced DLSS 4 and multi-frame rendering functionality. The results indicate definitive improvements over what's currently available on RTX graphics cards, but the full extent of the costs involved remains unclear.Multi-frame rendering, exclusive to the upcoming RTX 50 series GPUs, generates additional frames to multiply the effect of the frame generation technology Nvidia introduced with the 40 series. By injecting two or three additional frames, multi-frame rendering can triple or quadruple a game's perceived framerate.However, frame generation adds input latency, and users are concerned that multi-frame rendering could compound the problem. Digital Foundry's test shows that, while the added frames aren't free, they cost less than the initial application of frame generation.In TechSpot's benchmark from 2022, introducing frame generation to Cyberpunk 2077 in DLSS performance mode added approximately 10 milliseconds of lag. However, the accompanying 60 percent increase in framerate easily outweighed the delay.Click to enlargeDigital Foundry ran an updated build of the game with similar DLSS settings on an engineering sample of the upcoming GeForce RTX 5080 and received a smaller penalty from multi-frame rendering. On top of the prior added latency, the second AI-generated frame introduced around four milliseconds, while the third frame added about two the price for a framerate increase totaling 71 percent. // Related StoriesAlthough Eurogamer didn't discuss how good those "fake" frames looked, multi-frame generation appears to offer a better deal than currently available frame generation tech. Meanwhile, DLSS 4's other changes promise substantially better image quality.Transitioning from a convolutional neural network to a vision transformer likely provides the biggest improvement to DLSS super resolution since Nvidia introduced DLSS 2 in 2020. Flaws such as smearing, ghosting, and shimmering are now far less apparent. Ray reconstruction is also notably improved.Click to enlargeThe vision transformer is likely DLSS 4's most significant feature because it supports all RTX graphics cards. Furthermore, the Nvidia app will allow users to update older games without waiting for patches from developers.What isn't clear is the performance cost. Future benchmarks should extensively test which RTX 20 and 30 series GPUs can handle DLSS 4. Furthermore, the VRAM impact of multi-frame rendering remains undisclosed. The RTX 5070's ability to implement the new feature with just 12 GB of memory will determine whether it lives up to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's claims that it can match the flagship 4090.

HBOTable of ContentsTable of Contents5. The Rehearsal season 2 (TBA 2025)4. Chad Powers (fall 2025)3. The Studio (March 26)2. Hacks season 4 (TBA 2025)1. The White Lotus season 3 (February 16)With a new year comes a new host of TV shows to look forward to, and 2025 stands to be a great one. With the return of several Emmy-winning comedies and a few highly anticipated new releases, there will be no shortage of laughs in 2025.With great comedies coming to Max, Hulu, Apple TV+, and more, theres bound to be a big comedy release on your preferred streaming service. These are the five most anticipated comedy shows of 2025, ranked.Recommended VideosLooking for more 2025 previews? Check out the 10 most anticipated movies of 2025.RelatedThe Rehearsal | Official Trailer | HBOIts hard to definitively describe Nathan Fielders aggressively meta semi-reality series a comedy, but its hard to categorize it as anything else. Fielder became a bit of a cult hit for his Comedy Central show Nathan For You, in which he played the worst consultant imaginable to real struggling small businesses. InThe Rehearsal, he takes the gag so much further by claiming that one can rehearse for all of lifes moments by simply rehearsing for them.Working again with real, unsuspecting people, he stages exacting, exhaustive rehearsals to prepare people for difficult conversations they want to have with people in their lives and, most jarringly, an entire child rearing trial for a curious but noncommittal potential mom. The controversial first season blew some minds and ruffled some feathers, so its somewhat surprising its coming back to HBO in 2025. We have no idea how weird Fielder is going to get this time, but we cant wait to see what he has in store.Chad Powers | Official Teaser | HuluGlen Powell is Hollywoods it man these days, but that hasnt stopped him from making Chad Powers, perhaps the goofiest TV show idea ever. But somehow, because its Powell, it might actually work. Based on Eli Mannings Chad Powers prank when he went undercover for a walk-on tryout at Penn State and played like, you know, borderline Hall of Fame quarterback Eli Manning, Chad Powers takes the bit to its logical conclusion.As the titular character, Powell dons prosthetics to start his own redemption tour on a new team under a different name after burning out in his first chance to be a star.Chad Powers will debut on Hulu, but has yet to announce a release date.The Studio Official Teaser | Apple TV+Slated for a March 26 release date on Apple TV+, The Studio is the next anticipated project from Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. This Hollywood satire stars Rogen as newly-appointed studio head Matt Remick, a man who just wants to make good films. Unfortunately, Continental Studios makesmovies money-making blockbusters for the masses. Remicks dream job might just be his greatest nightmare.The stars are out in droves in the trailer, and The Studio looks like it wants to be a real (fictional) show about Hollywood, filled with familiar references and stars.Karen Ballard / MaxAnother HBO awards darling,Hacks recently cleaned up the comedy TV awards at the Golden Globes after also cleaning up at the Emmys. Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder are outstanding as an intergenerational odd couple navigating the changing world of comedy. Smart plays Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas comic who is flirting with being officially over the hill.When she hires entitled 25-year-old outcast Ava Daniels to write some jokes for her, Deborah is her typical self: demanding, condescending, and kinda mean. But the two develop a strange chemistry, and a dark mentorship soon blossoms. The release date of season 4 of Hacks hasnt been announced, but HBO has said it will release sometime in 2025.The White Lotus Season 3 | Official Teaser | MaxOne of the best and darkest comedies on television, The White Lotusreturns for its third season on HBO with an entirely new ensemble (with the exception of Natasha Rothwell reprising her role as spa manager Belinda Lindsey). The first two seasons of Mike Whites anthology series received critical and audience acclaim for its unique conceit: following a completely new cast of characters on vacation at a different location of a White Lotus luxury hotel.First, it was Hawaii, second it was Italy, and now season 3 is set in Thailand. The cast is star-studded once again, headlined by Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, and Parker Posey. The story is only hinted at in the trailer, but expectations are high for the February 16 debut.Editors Recommendations

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" When it comes to smart home technology, smart locks are some of the most convenient gadgets you can buy. Theyll automatically unlock your door as you approach, making it a lot easier to get inside when your arms are full of groceries (only one trip, right?). On the other hand, they can sometimes unlock when you dont want them to like when youre looking out the window beside the door. The Schlage Sense Pro made its debut at CES 2025, and it practically reads your mind.OK, it cant actually read your mind, but its a bit mind-blowing what it can do. The Sense Pro reads your approach and responds accordingly. If you walk up to the door with purpose, it will unlock but a slow saunter wont trigger the lock. It reads your direction, speed, and movement to know whether to activate or not. Of course, its dependent on you having your mobile device on your person.Recommended VideosFor example, if youre on your front porch watering your plants, the lock will remain locked it wont open and close each time you come within range. But if you disturb a hornets nest while gardening and run for the door, it will be unlocked and ready for you to dive for cover.SchlageThe smart lock connects straight to Wi-Fi, so you dont have to worry about a hub unit. It can store up to 250 unique access codes and works with Matter-over-Thread for wider compatibility with other smart home devices. Combine this new lock with an updated and improved Schlage Home app, and you have a powerhouse of smart tech. The app makes it easy to manage settings like the auto-lock timer, use history, and much more.Please enable Javascript to view this contentYoull be able to see all of your connected Schlage locks at a glance and lock or unlock them with just a tap. And if thats not enough, Schlage also introduced the Arrive Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt with raised keys on the pad. The raised texture of the keypad makes it easier to use if youre wearing gloves, but its also an important step forward for those with visual impairments and other disabilities.RelatedThe updated Schlage Home app will arrive in early 2025. Both the Schlage Arrive and the Schlage Sense Pro will be available for purchase later this year, although the release window and pricing information are yet to be determined. As for installation, its designed to be an easy install that practically anyone can do.Editors Recommendations

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Imagine having fresh vegetables and herbs all throughout the year, no matter how cold the weather is. Sounds nice, doesnt it? At CES 2025, a device that looks straight out of the space age makes that a possibility. The PlantaForm Indoor Smart Garden is a fully enclosed system that uses fogponics (rather than aeroponics or hydroponics) to grow plants, and that means it uses a lot less water than traditional gardening methods.Its both environmentally- and space-friendly. The system solves one of the biggest issues with other smart gardens: the grow lights. While almost every smart garden uses artificial lighting to accelerate growth, the lights need to remain on for anywhere from eight to 16 hours per day. If the garden is in your living room, bedroom, or another space, it becomes uncomfortably bright and sometimes too loud when the water flows but they can work as an effective wake-up alarm in a pinch. The PlantaForm is enclosed with tinted glass that greatly reduces the brightness and makes it much more compatible with a smaller home.Recommended VideosFogponics works by delivering a fine mist straight to the roots. Since the plant doesnt need to expend as much energy to obtain nutrients, you get faster growth and higher-quality vegetables as a result. Theres no soil involved; instead, the seeds are placed in a pod of rockwool. Theyll be covered by a small plastic dome. When the plant sprouts and the leaves reach the dome, just pop it off and set it aside.Plants grow from pre-made kits that are roughly $30 each. As for what you can grow, PlantaForm offers lettuce mixes, cherry tomato mixes, and even edible flowers for use in cocktails. You dont need a green thumb, either; this smart garden is able to grow no matter how bad a gardener you might be. The app walks you through the process, guiding you each step of the way. By the way, the seeds used are non-GMO and pesticide-free.Please enable Javascript to view this contentEven the packaging is designed with the environment in mind, so this is one gadget you can feel good about using. Its just large enough in diameter to fit on an end table but is somewhat tall (but not nearly as tall as the Gardyn). You wont want to put it on the coffee table itll most likely block your view. Available in both black and white, you can opt for whichever style best fits your home.Patrick Hearn | Digital TrendsYou can pick up one of these futuristic smart gardens for yourself for $500. The PlantaForm is one of the most interesting smart gardens weve ever seen and improves upon a niche field of technology in tangible, noteworthy ways and thats why we also awarded it one of our Best of CES 2025 awards.Editors Recommendations

On Dec. 8, cybersecurity company BeyondTrust notified the US Department of the Treasury of a threat actor intrusion, according to a letter Treasury sent to the US Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.This incident joins the list of other attacks attributed to China state-sponsored advanced persistent threat (APT) actors. How was this attack executed, and what is the outlook for ongoing cyber threats from China?The US Treasury HackThe threat actor gained access to Treasury end user workstations via a compromise of BeyondTrust. The threat actor was able to use a stolen key to override the services security, remotely access certain Treasury DO user workstations, and access certain unclassified documents maintained by those users, according to the letter.As of Jan. 6, BeyondTrust fully patched vulnerabilities relating to the SaaS instances of BeyondTrust Remote Support, according to the companys security advisory.BeyondTrust previously identified and took measures to address a security incident in early December 2024 that involved the Remote Support product. BeyondTrust notified the limited number of customers who were involved, and it has been working to support those customers since then, a BeyondTrust spokesperson shared via email.Related:The threat actor targeted the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Office of Financial Research (OFR), and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellens office, The Guardian reports.OFAC administers a number of sanctions programs; threat actors could have targeted OFAC to gain insight into forthcoming US sanctions.It's a more targeted approach designed specifically to get an inside look [at], potentially, future US policy, John Ghose, government investigations and enforcement attorney and special counsel at law firm Baker Donelson, tells InformationWeek.It is also possible the hackers have other motivations. Their intention will probably be to manipulate or degrade the integrity of the data associated with the sanctioned personalities in China, says Tom Kellerman, senior vice president of cyber strategy at application security company Contrast Security. Is there a process ongoing right now to verify the integrity of the data associated with the multitude of Chinese citizens that have been sanctioned by Treasury?Chinese Cyber Threats and US ResponseChinese officials frequently deny involvement in hacking operations, but the US linked China state-backed threat actors to several major intrusions, including the Treasury breach.Related:The major telecommunications hack discovered last year was linked to APT Salt Typhoon. China state-backed actors were also found responsible for the 2015 breach of the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which impacted the data of 35 million government employees. In 2020, the US Department of Justice charged four Chinese military-backed hackers for their involvement in the 2017 breach of credit reporting agency Equifax.While the Treasury and telecommunications hacks have come to light recently, cyber threats from China are ongoing. Cyber insurgency within US critical infrastructure is far deeper than just Treasury, says Kellerman.China-backed APT groups may be lurking in US government and company systems as a part of espionage campaigns, but there is growing concern about the potential for disruptive cyberattacks that cripple critical infrastructure if geopolitical tensions boil over into outright conflict. What can be done as nation state cyber threats continue to loom?Sanctions are a common response. Shortly following the news of the Treasury hack, the federal department announced sanctions on a cybersecurity company based in Beijing, relating to its role in helping breach US communications systems between the summer of 2022 and 2023, The New York Times reports.Related:At this point when it comes to actors like China and Russia and others that are so heavily blacklisted to what extent do we have a response? We're already limiting trade significantly, he says. The response would require just more sophisticated hardening of our information systems including all levels of the supply chain, says Ghose.Hardening of the supply chain requires an understanding of common threat actor tactics.We need to pay attention to the Chinese modus operandi, which is [to] island hop through other parties, whether it be cybersecurity vendors or whether it be through telecommunications carriers, and the fact that they're developing zero days faster than any other nation state, which still allows them to bypass a lot of cybersecurity defenses, Kellerman tells InformationWeek.And zero-day exploitation is on the rise. Cybersecurity consulting company Mandiant, a part of Google Cloud, found that 70% of vulnerabilities exploited in 2023 were zero days, an increase compared to 2021 and 2022.Hacks like the one of Treasury could prompt more focus on the supply chain and third-party reliance.Is it possible that this then results in more internalization, less reliance on third parties because of the difficulty of securing the supply chain? Ghose asks. That'll be an interesting development to watch.The Treasury hack also comes just before the beginning of a second Trump administration, and President-elect Trump has been vocal about taking an aggressive approach to China.The timing is interesting just because we're about to have an administration change, Ghose points out. So the Treasury leadership is going to be turning over soon. So, OFAC policy could look very different in, say, a couple of months from now.The US response to nation state cyber threats, beyond OFAC, could change under a new administration.

This is today's edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. The worlds first industrial-scale plant for green steel promises a cleaner future As of 2023, nearly 2 billion metric tons of steel were being produced annually, enough to cover Manhattan in a layer more than 13 feet thick. Making this metal produces a huge amount of carbon dioxide. Overall, steelmaking accounts for around 8% of the worlds carbon emissionsone of the largest industrial emitters and far more than such sources as aviation.Read the full story.Douglas Main Green steel is one of our 10 Breakthrough Technologies for 2025, MIT Technology Reviews annual list of tech to watch. Check out the rest of the list, and cast your vote for the honorary 11th breakthrough. 2025 is a critical year for climate tech Casey Crownhart I love the fresh start that comes with a new year. And one thing adding a boost to my January is our newest list of 10 Breakthrough Technologies. As I was looking over the finished list this week, I was struck by something: While there are some entries from other fields that are three or even five years away, all the climate items are either newly commercially available or just about to be. Its certainly apt, because this year in particular seems to be bringing a new urgency to the fight against climate change. Its time for these technologies to grow up and get out there. Read the full story.This story is from The Spark, our weekly climate and energy newsletter. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Wednesday. A New York legislator wants to pick up the pieces of the dead California AI bill The first Democrat in New York history with a computer science background wants to revive some of the ideas behind the failed California AI safety bill, SB 1047, with a new version in his state that would regulate the most advanced AI models. Assembly member Alex Bores hopes his bill, currently an unpublished draft that MIT Technology Review has seen, will address many of the concerns that blocked SB 1047 from passing into law last year. Read the full story. Scott J Mulligan MIT Technology Review Narrated: How covid conspiracy theories led to an alarming resurgence in AIDS denialism Podcaster Joe Rogan, former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr, and football quarterback Aaron Rodgers are all helping revive AIDS denialisma false collection of theories arguing either that HIV doesnt cause AIDS or that theres no such thing as HIV at all. These ideas were initially promoted back in the 1980s and 90s but fell out of favor, as more and more evidence stacked up against them, and as more people with HIV and AIDS started living longer lives thanks to effective new treatments. But then coronavirus arrived. This is our latest story to be turned into a MIT Technology Review Narrated podcast, whichwere publishing each week on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Just navigate to MIT Technology Review Narrated on either platform, and follow us to get all our new content as its released.Ask our journalists anything! Do you have questions about emerging technologies? Well, weve got answers. MIT Technology Reviews science and tech journalists are hosting an AMA on Reddit tomorrow at 12 pm ET. Submit your questions now! The must-reads Ive combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Wildfires are sweeping through Los Angeles Unusually strong winds and dry weather are accelerating multiple fires around the city. (Vox)+ While California is no stranger to wildfires, these are particularly awful. (The Atlantic $)+ Five people are known to have died, and thousands have lost their homes.(NY Mag $)+ The quest to build wildfire-resistant homes. (MIT Technology Review) 2 AI can now predict how the genes inside a cell will drive its behavior Scientists are hopeful it could usher in cell-specific therapies to fight genetic diseases. (WP $)+ How AI can help us understand how cells workand help cure diseases. (MIT Technology Review)3 The Biden administration is planning a further chips crackdown One of its final acts will be a push to prevent sales of chips to China and Russia. (Bloomberg $)+ A group of tech representatives is begging the US government to reconsider. (Reuters)4 Elon Musks DOGE division wants to slash $2 trillion in federal spending But even he admits its a ridiculously ambitious goal. (WSJ $)+ He reckons he might be able to cut half that amount. (NBC News)5 Meta exempted its top advertisers from content moderation processesIt agreed to suppress standard testing for high spenders. (FT $) + Mark Zuckerberg appears to be following Xs playbook. (Wired $)+ Maybe the two platforms arent so different after all. (The Atlantic $)6 How one teenager embarked on a nationwide swatting spreeAlan Filions false shooting calls sent police into hundreds of schools across the US. (Wired $) 7 Blue Origin is limbering up to launch its new Glenn rocketIn the companys very first flight. (New Scientist $) + If successful, the flight could prove Blue Origins worthiness as a SpaceX rival. (The Register)8 Grok could be getting an unhinged modeWhatever that means. (TechCrunch) + Xs chatbot was one of the biggest AI flops of 2024. (MIT Technology Review)9 The secret to scaling quantum computing? Fiber optic cables Mixing quantum data with regular ole internet gigabits is one solution. (IEEE Spectrum) 10 This robot vacuum has limbs All the better to clean your home with. (The Verge)+ A Roomba recorded a woman on the toilet. How did screenshots end up on Facebook? (MIT Technology Review)Quote of the day I voted for TrumpI didnt vote for Elon. Preston Parra, chairman of the pro-Trump Conservative PAC, expresses his frustration with Elon Musks escalating involvement in US politics to the New York Times. The big story The weeds are winning October 2024 Since the 1980s, more and more plants have evolved to become immune to herbicides. This threatens to decrease yields, and in extreme cases can wipe out whole fields. At worst, it can even drive farmers out of business. Its the agricultural equivalent of antibiotic resistance, and it keeps getting worse. Agriculture needs to embrace a diversity of weed control practices. But thats much easier said than done. Read the full story. Douglas Main We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet 'em at me.) + Andrew McCarthy has taken more than 90,000 pictures of the sun, which is pretty amazing.+ Sciences most famous dogs? Yes please.+ What better time to reorganize your kitchen cupboards than at the start of the new year?+ The Robbie Williams biopic Better Man is completely bonkersand a whole lot of fun.

The reaction among creators to Meta's content-moderation changes has largely fallen along political lines.Some influencers worry the changes could cause harm to the LGBTQ+ community.Others questioned Meta's decision to feature more political content.Getting "Zucked" a term for having your account suspended or content removed due to community violations is a staple in the creator lexicon.Despite that, creators who spoke with Business Insider had mixed reactions to Meta CEOMark Zuckerberg'splans to reduce content moderation in the name of free speech.On Tuesday, Meta unveiled new policies that included winding down fact-checking, loosening content moderation, and introducing X-style "Community Notes."The creator community largely reacted along political lines, with some left-leaning influencers expressing disappointment."This is really about just pandering to the Trump administration in a way that feels extremely obvious," LGBTQ+ advocate and "Gay News" host Josh Helfgott told BI.Left-leaning filmmaker Michael McWhorter also said he felt the changes were catering to Trump and his MAGA base."You're not trying to balance things out," McWhorter said of Meta. "We are shifting to the other side of things."Elsewhere, some right-leaning creators cheered the changes.Christopher Townsend, an Air Force vet and conservative rapper with over 300,000 Instagram followers, told BI he thought the policy overhaul was "a great step toward the decentralization of information and the end to the control legacy media has had on the prevailing narrative."Instagram head Adam Mosseri posted a video on Wednesday outlining how the new policies would impact creators. He said the company would correct its "over-enforcement" of content moderation and begin recommending political content again."If you're a creator who likes to post about political content, this should mean that you feel comfortable doing so on any of our platforms," Mosseri said. "We will now show political recommendations."Meta didn't respond to a request for comment.Some are wary of Community NotesAs part of the policy overhaul, Meta is getting rid of fact-checkers in favor of Community Notes in the style of Elon Musk's X. Users will be able to volunteer to contribute to Community Notes, which will appear on content when people with a range of different perspectives agree a correction is in order."Like X, it gives the user community more authority over the platform instead of biased third-party administrators," Townsend said.McWhorter said that while Community Notes were a "great equalizer," he felt they were not an adequate replacement for fact-checking. He said he wished Meta would rely on a combination of both systems.A former Instagram staffer told BI that they felt placing the responsibility to moderate content on users and creators "on a platform with massive global reach and historical harmful content issues" was a step in the wrong direction. They asked for anonymity to protect business relationships; their identity is known to BI.Concerns about anti-LGBTQ+ discourseHelfgott expressed concern about Meta's plan to decrease moderation around certain political topics. The company's blog post specifically noted immigration and gender identity as areas of debate where it plans to decrease restrictions.Helfgott said that while Meta's plans were described in the language of "political discourse," he felt the changes could lead to bullying of the LGBTQ+ community.Alongside Tuesday's announcement, Meta updated its Hateful Conduct policy."We do allow allegations of mental illness or abnormality when based on gender or sexual orientation," the company wrote, "given political and religious discourse about transgenderism and homosexuality and common non-serious usage of words like 'weird.'""This is the most anti-LGBTQ announcement that a social-media platform has made in recent memory," Helfgott said.While McWhorter told BI he felt his content had been Zucked or unfairly suppressed in the past, he said he'd prefer a stricter moderating system even if it had "flaws.""I'd rather that I take the hit for a joke that it didn't understand than that stuff being allowed to be spread all over the platform," he said, referring to potentially harmful posts.Meta's increased political emphasis marks an about-faceSome creators were flummoxed by Meta's about-face on the amount of political content it plans to recommend. The company had previously cut back significantly on promoting political content in feeds in recent years.Malynda Hale, a creator and activist with 65,000 followers, said this change could benefit political creators but questioned the company's motives."I think the fact that Meta is going to be serving up more political content is actually positive for creators like myself, but I don't think it's with the intention to keep the community informed," she told BI.She said she felt Meta wanted to boost engagement even at the cost of division and disagreement.Despite some misgivings, the creators who spoke with BI said they weren't going anywhere."I'll work with the system as it's presented to me, and I'll find my way to work around it," McWhorter said. "I constantly have to do that on all different platforms."Helfgott said he felt "handcuffed" by Meta because if he stopped posting on Instagram, he would lose out on millions of people seeing his content each month."Meta knows this," he said. "They know that creators may not like this, but we need the reach, and we will keep posting there."

The President of Mexico has suggested renaming parts of the US to "Amrica Mexicana."Claudia Sheinbaum's sarcastic remark followed Trump's idea of renaming the Gulf of Mexico as "the Gulf of America."Sheinbaum added that she believed she would have a good relationship with Trump.Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has responded to President-elect Donald Trump's proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico as "the Gulf of America," suggesting that parts of North America should be renamed "Amrica Mexicana."During a press briefing on Wednesday, Sheinbaum pointed to a colonial-era 17th-century map showing parts of US territory that were once part of Mexico."Why don't we call it Amrica Mexicana? That sounds nice, no?" she said.Her remarks came after Trump, speaking at a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Tuesday, said he planned to rename the Gulf."We're going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America," he said. "What a beautiful name and it's appropriate."Following the conference, United States Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene posted on X: "I'll be introducing legislation ASAP to officially change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to its rightful name, the Gulf of America!"Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he was willing to work with Trump on renaming the Gulf, but only if Trump worked with Democrats on "an actual plan to lower costs for Americans.""That is what the American people want us to focus on first, not on renaming bodies of water," Schumer said.In the press briefing, Sheinbaum also hit back at Trump's claim that Mexico was "run by cartels," saying the "people are in charge" of the nation.The president added that Trump had "his own way of communicating" but that she believed she would still have a good relationship with him.