The Federal Trade Commission has taken action against General Motors and OnStar for allegedly sharing details about drivers to third parties without their consent. The agency launched an investigation into the automotive company after The New York Times found that GM had collected data about customers' vehicle use and sold it to third-party platforms used by insurance companies.The information came from the OnStar Smart Driver program, which customers with GM vehicles were encouraged to participate in or didn't realize they had agreed to join. The program gathered data about behaviors such as hard braking, late night driving and speeding and reportedly sold the information to LexisNexis Risk Solutions and Verisk, which in turn sold that data to insurance companies. Shortly after the Times report, GM said it had stopped sharing the sensitive information with the two data brokers.Today, the FTC proposed a settlement that will see both GM and OnStar banned from disclosing consumers geolocation and driver behavior data to consumer reporting agencies for five years. These companies will also be ordered to take additional steps to increase the transparency and choice for customers surrounding the information they collect and share."GM monitored and sold peoples precise geolocation data and driver behavior information, sometimes as often as every three seconds," FTC Chair Lina M. Khan said. "With this action, the FTC is safeguarding Americans privacy and protecting people from unchecked surveillance."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/ftc-bans-general-motors-from-selling-driver-data-for-five-years-000019615.html?src=rss

Looking for Quordle clues? We can help. Plus get the answers to Quordle today and past solutions.

The cuts are focused in Amazon's core retail unit, which spans a wide range of businesses, including fashion and fitness, Prime and private label brands.

In House of the Dragon Season 2, the Westeros world has turned even more magical with two incredibly beautiful wyverns named Moondancer and Silverwing. These animals with their fine detailing and realist movements have come out because of the hard work that Rodeo FX did with VFX. Advanced techniques at the studio brought these dragons to life, from the subtle shimmer of their scales to the fierce intensity of their fiery breath. The VFX team worked on every detail, ensuring the creatures not only fitted perfectly into the world of House of the Dragon but also stand out as some of the most realistic ever created on screen. The process was meticulous blending of live-action footage and CGI, to create seamless, dynamic interactions between the dragons and their environment. As Appreciate a Dragon Day is celebrated, Rodeo FXs work on these two wyverns stands as testament to the power of visual effects in bringing mythical creatures to life in ways that had never been possible before.The post House of the Dragon Season 2 VFX Breakdown by Rodeo FX appeared first on Vfxexpress.

In the great AI spending spree, does ROI matter?Thats a question that every tech-related company should be asking themselves. The right answer could save businesses a lot of grief while setting them up for success.There will be a projected $1 trillion in spending on artificial intelligence in the coming years. But not all spending is created equal. To give you an idea of how much economic value needs to be created with AI, lets consider chips. If AI providers spend $150 billion just on chips, assuming they need a 50-60% gross margin, they will need to sell $500-$600 billion in services. Those buyers will then need all those AI services to create $1 trillion in economic value.It may seem like a long way from here to ROI, but that math is similar to what the U.S. was facing at the start of the internet boom. Today, the debate about whether the U.S. is overspending on AI plays differently across industries, depending on how much your companys existence depends on it.I group companies into three categories:1. Big TechFor the hyperscalerstechs big cloud companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Meta, there are two sides to consider. AI could open paths to even greater success and relevance in the future. Or AI could create a whole new level of innovation that disrupts their core business. Either way, those companies have every reason to invest heavily.Without knowing where the payoff will come from or what the killer app will be, Big Tech will have to explore nearly every avenue. There will be plenty of unnecessary investments, a few dead ends and even some fortuitous outcomes, but it will take years for this to play out.Fortunately for these companies, ROI wont be an immediate pressure, as long as their overall financial performance is solid and they are generating enough cash to make massive AI investments.2. Supply chainFor companies that make chips, servers, or operate data centers, there is a need to overinvest in capacity. Their priority is to meet demand, even if it means overestimating and having a surplus. In times of major AI investment its important to have ample AI infrastructure available, or your customers will go somewhere else.Its the game of supply and demand. Some companies may overextend, and others will fall short. If some collapse, there will be consolidation. Assuming theres ongoing demand, valuations will return to market levels.Of course, when you are an AI infrastructure supplier, your attention is on the volume of demand right in front of youthat makes your ROI time horizon more of a secondary concern.3. Applied AIFor companies already using AI, its easier to take a more measured approach to spending. At Verizon, we aim to be the best applied AI company in the U.S., so we make careful investments by setting ROI targets.This approach also helps to develop an AI spending strategy that starts at the implementation level. Earlier this year I cautioned against a centralized AI decision process and instead suggested empowered teams closer to the actual work to provide the insights.The agentic intertwining of AI with frontline agents is a pioneering area of customer care thats already paying off. Weve seen improvements in areas like call efficiency and effectiveness, personalization and satisfaction.With the right input you can focus investment on areas where youve shown progressareas where AI measurably improves your KPIs.History lessonSo are we overestimating the potential value of AI? Maybe not.Twenty-five years ago, the dotcom boom fueled massive investment in internet-based startups and fiber infrastructure. The spending may have been irrational but if you thought the internet was going to play a big part in our future, the logic was sound.When the bust came and the exuberance finally faded, there were a few survivors who went on to prosper. Others went broke, leaving some very attractive assets, like MCIs fiber network, to fall into our hands.For the most part, the internet worked out pretty well. Today, AI presents another enormous opportunity. As history has shown us, you have to take big risks. Right now, the U.S. is in the best position to do that.Sowmyanarayan Sampath is CEO of Verizon Consumer.

Technology brand Leafypod has unveiled an AI-powered smart planter at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES).Made from durable plastic materials, the LeafyPod aims to address what the brand identifies as the four main causes of plant death: soil moisture, light, temperature, and humidity."The materials were chosen specifically for their resistance to water exposure and ability to maintain structural integrity over time", Cleo Song, co-founder of LeafyPod, told Dezeen.LeafyPod was revealed at this year's CESThe device has sensors that detect light, humidity, and temperature and relay the data to the LeafyPod app."Our AI-powered watering system automatically adapts to each plant's specific needs by monitoring environmental conditions and adjusting the watering schedule accordingly, ensuring optimal care regardless of the plant variety", Song said.The LeafyPod app works alongside the plant, learning its routine over time and automatically adjusting the watering schedule for optimised care."The planter's clean, minimalistic design in classic white conceals its sophisticated technology including multiple environmental sensors and watering systems", Song continued.LeafyPod is accompanied by an appUsers can recharge the device, while a built-in water reservoir ensures the plants stay hydrated, even during extended trips."The app sends timely notifications for all maintenance needs, from water refills to filter cleaning or replacement", Song said."The cordless design with USB charging capability further simplifies the user experience".Read: Hormometer provides instant at-home hormone level readingsThe gadget can be voice-controlled by integrating it with smart devices like Alexa and Google Assistant.The device features a dual-filter system, with a reusable filter on the pump that can be cleaned and a replaceable filter at the bottom of the transparent inner pot.LeafyPod's sensors can track light, humidity, and temperatureThe LeafyPod also has an adaptive watering system that adjusts based on plant type and real-time environmental data."We designed the water tank to require refilling only once every two weeks to a month, optimizing water usage while maintaining plant health", Song said."The system's AI-driven approach helps prevent both overwatering and under-watering by continuously monitoring soil conditions and adjusting water delivery accordingly."Other devices showcased at this year's CES fair include the Hormometer hormone testing kit and a solar-powered car.The post LeafyPod unveils AI-powered self-watering smart planter at CES appeared first on Dezeen.

Trophy off-road vehicles are powerful beasts with tons of torque and suspension systems crafted to bear the onslaught of the roughest terrain. Typically used for Baja 1000 or other endurance races, they can take on sand dunes, rocks and rough desert trails without breaking a sweat.The custom-built tubular frames and long-travel suspension system absorb the impacts of the rough terrain to handle anything from bumps jumps or uneven surfaces at high speed. Taking the stellar performance of a trophy off-roader and enhancing it with features like an in-built tent and added luxury for adventure trips is what the AMG HYPERVENTURE is about.Designer: H. David WillkeJust like a regular off-road trophy truck, this concept comes with a large V8 engine that can churn out a minimum of 500 and a maximum of 1000 horsepower over long distances. Keeping the overall body weight less is vital, so this modernized trophy truck uses lightweight yet robust body panel materials. The large heavy-duty tires for maximum off-road traction have very deep treads for superior grip on sand or rock trails. Wearing the signature AMG red and carbon gray colors, this Mercedes-branded off-roader radiates luxury in every aspect. Perhaps this has to be one of the most handsome off-road vehicles thatll charm itself into any adventure lovers garage.Since this truck is meant for adventure trips, the bed area is utilized to store the retractable rooftop tent and other essentials. On the inside, it is all about comfort and luxury redefined. The cockpit resembles a racing sportscar, especially with that yoke-styled steering wheel and reinforced racing seats. Unlike a racing trophy truck, this one is not reinforced with a 360 roll-cage frame. Still, there are safety measures in place including harness protectors, so that riders stay safe in the advent of an accident.The retractable seats ensure a maximized level of comfort after a long days drive in the Rockies. For the nights rest, the splittable tent ensures two people can safely sleep. AMG HYPERVENTURE is a well sought out design that fills the gap between a regular off-road truck and high-performance trophy trucks, to cater to the demanding needs of adventure seekers.The post AMG HYPERVENTURE off-road truck with concealed splitable tent is built for adventures unknown first appeared on Yanko Design.

A breach of AT&T that exposed nearly all of the companys customers may have included records related to confidential FBI sources, potentially explaining the bureaus new embrace of end-to-end encryption.

Spain uses an algorithm to score how likely a domestic violence victim is to be abused again. A Times investigation last year identified flaws in the system.

Apple is rounding out its third batch of developer betas for the current generation, handing out new builds of iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, macOS 15.3, and visionOS 2.3 for testing.Examples of Apple Intelligence at work. The third round of betas for iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, macOS 15.3, and visionOS 2.2 follow after the second, which appeared on January 7. The first round arrived on December 16.Subscribe to AppleInsider on YouTube Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums