Key TakeawaysReddit has launched a few new content tools that will make it easier for users to connect and contribute across the platform.These tools will help in finding the right communities to post and ensuring that your content does not violate any guidelines.The features are available on both mobile and desktop to users worldwide.On Thursday, Reddit launched a new set of content moderation and analytical tools that will help create a better experience for its users online and boost engagement.These tools are designed to help users find communities, contribute new posts, and ensure that they dont break any community guidelines. This will be especially helpful for new users who might not know where or how to post.Reddit is dedicated to enhancing user contributions and community interactions, paving the way for innovative experiences. Rosa Catal, Senior Director AI & Machine Learning at RedditLets quickly take a look at the new changes Reddit has made.Post CheckThe first feature is Post Check which runs an automatic check on content to ensure its well within the community guidelines. Sometimes a user might have accidentally broken a rule, which would cause the post to be removed later.You can access this feature from the little wand icon on the bottom left corner of your screen. The tool will highlight the parts that are against the rules, making it easier for you to fix them.In case your post is removed because of community guidelines issues, you can now easily post it to a different subreddit. The platform itself will recommend which other communities you can post it on without violating their guidelines.Another feature addition is Community Suggestions. If you are unsure about the community where you should make a post, this feature will be handy.Once you click on the drop-down menu from the Pick a Community option, it will suggest the most relevant communities based on your posts content. This will help you connect with the right audience and increase engagement on your post.Sometimes you might not be able to contribute to a community because of some other criteria that you dont meet. In that case, Reddit will help you understand how you can overcome it.For example, if you are unable to contribute because of low karma points, this new feature will notify you about the same and tell you that you can increase your karma points by commenting and posting on the platform.Post InsightsLast but not the least, Reddit has also introduced Post Insights which will give you better information on how your post is doing in terms of views, shares, and upvotes. This in turn will help you understand which kind of content does well and which does not.The best part is that Reddit went for a global rollout. These features are now available to all Reddit users both on mobile and desktop.These features are the latest in the line of Reddits growing number of innovative tools. The platform has been heavily investing in new technology to keep up with its rivals.In December, it launched a new feature called Reddit Answers (which is still in beta mode and only available in the US), which summarizes community discussions.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic 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.

Key TakeawaysGoogles new Vision Match AI feature lets you describe your dream outfit in your own words and then helps you find the perfect match.It has also introduced an AR-powered makeup try-on feature where you can see how certain makeup products look on your face before purchasing them.A similar try-on feature is also available for garments. You can now visualize a wide range of outfits on real-life models with their sizes ranging from XXS to XXL.On Wednesday, Google announced a new AI feature called Vision Match that will allow you to describe your complex fashion needs and find your perfect match.As per Google, people shop more than a billion times a day on that platform. However, not all shopping experiences are smooth. Its easy to find skinny jeans or a long evening gown, but when you have a very specific need, for instance, a knee-length green dress with polka dots and spaghetti straps, it can get complex. But not anymore.With this new AI feature, users can describe the product they are looking for in their own words and Google will create a few sample pictures using AI image generation to show what it might look like and also suggest similar products.How To Use It?Taking the example of the green dress mentioned above, lets say the first sample image is in mint green, so when you click on it, youll be able to see a bunch of mint green dresses. Similarly, if the next sample has an emerald-colored dress, when you click on it you will be shown a bunch of matching emerald dresses.Note: You can also access this feature by scrolling to the left-hand panel of the Shopping tab. There will be a button labeled Create & Shop.Trying on Makeup Looks with ARAlong with outfits, users can now also try on makeup products and makeup looks with the help of Googles new AR feature.For example, if you want to buy lipstick but youre not sure whether the shade will look good on you, you can try it on virtually.Similarly, if theres a whole makeup look that you like, you can try it on with the help of AR. Whats more, youll also get recommendations on similar products to use to create that exact look.How To Use It?The virtual try-on feature is also for garments. This feature was introduced in 2023 but was quite limited back then. Now you can visualize any garment, be it a skirt, top, pants, or a dress, on real-life models with their sizes ranging from XXS to XXL.All these exciting new features are limited to US users for now. But who knows, Google might soon plan a global roll-out.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic 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.

Key TakeawaysIn a speech on Tuesday, Trump criticized the CHIPS act and called for it to be removed.He wants the remaining money to be put to some good use, such as clearing off some of the USs debt.However, as per inside sources, theres no real threat to the act yet. Its not going anywhere.On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said that the US should get rid of the 2022 CHIPS act that gave a $52.7 billion subsidy to semiconductor manufacturers. He called it a horrible, horrible thing.We give hundreds of billions of dollars and it doesnt mean a thing. They take our money and they dont spend it. TrumpTrump told House Speaker Mike Johnson to get rid of it immediately and use the remaining money (approximately $36 billion has already been paid out) for something fruitful such as paying off debts.However, as per inside sources, this is still just Trumps personal feelings and not an official decision. Theres no political basis to remove the act yet. In fact, in the current budget proposal as well, there was no sign of the act being in danger.What Is the CHIPS Act?The CHIPS Act was introduced by Joe Biden in 2022. While the world was slowly coming out of the two-year pandemic and lockdown, the US was hit by a massive chip crisis. Thats because the country was heavily reliant on foreign countries for chip imports.So Biden decided to incentivize chip manufacturing to boost domestic production. This is what Trump wants as well to boost production within the US borders and to reduce reliance on other countries. But he has an issue with the approach.For instance, he worries that this act will benefit China indirectly because some of the companies receiving the funds have ties with China. He also has a problem with big corporations, which are already making a substantial profit, and benefitting from this scheme.Most importantly, he is worried that while the act was a step in the right direction, it was not enough to boost domestic production. There needs to be a more rigid framework to ensure that the beneficiary companies are actually using the money to give back to the US.Is Dumping the CHIPS Act a Legit Solution?Trumps concerns are certainly valid but removing the act out of nowhere might not be the best way to handle it. For instance, companies like Intel have secured $7.86B from the CHIPS Act for its semiconductor manufacturing projects in Arizona, New Mexico, Ohio, and Oregon.Clearly, the Act has helped speed up the chips shortage in the face of growing demand for AI. A better solution can be to resolve the issues within the act.For starters, Trumps administration can create a tighter framework around who benefits from the scheme. Companies that are already financially stable or those who have ties with China can be excluded.Similarly, they can also create a set of guidelines that each company will have to follow if they want to benefit from this scheme. For example, they can direct companies to make their supply chain 100% US-based and to hire more local talent to boost employment.The ultimate goal is to make the US independent in terms of technology and the CHIPS act is a great tool for that. All that it needs is better execution and a little more control.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Alpa is a senior editor with a wealth of experience in alternative finance, fintech, cryptocurrency, app security software, and the medical industry. She's currently an in-house managing editor with the Techreport team.Alpa is passionate about breaking down complex topics and sharing informative content that provides value. View all articles by Alpa Somaiya 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.

Key TakeawaysElon Musks plea to block OpenAIs transition to a for-profit entity was rejected due to a lack of sufficient evidence, but an expedited trial will be held later this year.Musk argues that OpenAIs shift goes against its original mission, while OpenAI insists that the move is necessary for growth and maintaining its values.OpenAI took a jab at Musk after the courts decision, claiming the lawsuit is about competition, as Musks own AI company, xAI, is also trying to raise funds.The courtroom drama between Elon Musk and OpenAI has taken another twist. The billionaires plea to block OpenAIs transition to a for-profit entity was rejected by federal court judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers on the premise of insufficient evidence to justify the injunction.The yearlong battle still doesnt seem to be over, though, as the judge says shes set to hold an expedited trial later this year considering the public impact this decision holds. Using the publics money to fund a non-profits conversion into a for-profit organization should be justified, and the court believes itll deliver a final verdict on it soon.Understanding the CaseTo give you context on the entire fiasco, OpenAI has been trying to transition from a non-profit entity to a for-profit entity. The reason for this, as stated by the company, is that it needs capital for development, as the current structure is making it difficult for the company to grow to its full potential.Now, Elon Musk, one of the initial investors in the AI giant, is against this decision and claims that it goes against the vision of benefiting humanity that was fed to him while seeking investment.Elon has since been trying everything in his power to make things hard for OpenAI from adding Microsoft as a defendant with accusations of handing too much control to including federal antitrust claims in its lawsuit.While Musk left the AI company before it even took off, he has been active and vocal about his views on OpenAIs policy and updates often through his Xeets (formerly known as tweets).OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, disagree with the X founders view and stand their ground that the for-profit model allows the company to raise funding while still upholding its non-profit ideals something that is important for the company to survive in the long run.OpenAI Took a Jab at Musk, attacking xAIMusks intention for trying to obstruct the AI companys transition seems to be more than what appears on the surface, at least according to OpenAI.After the courts decision was announced on March 5, OpenAI thanked the court and stated that the lawsuit has always been about competition. The statement is a direct attack on Elons own AI company xAI, which is apparently trying to raise funds for development as well.The claim holds some truth in it, especially since the X founder has been desperately seen protecting his seat at the table shaping AIs future. OpenAI enjoys immense computational power due to its partnership with Microsoft, which is something that even Musks company hasnt attained yet.So, while this move could be an attempt to gain control over this industry, its repercussions are sure to shake up development and business ethics in AI overall.Its also worth noting that less than a month ago, Elon Musk had offered to buy OpenAI for nearly $100 billion. Clearly, this is not a good look for Musk. It seems like he wants to either participate in OpenAIs success or drive it to the ground.Irrespective of what the conclusion of this lawsuit turns out to be, one major fear for the company right now is being left behind in the AI race due to the time being invested in this case. As of now, ChatGPT easily tops the list of AI tools, but losing pace right now could cost the company heavily. Especially with the likes of DeepSeek and other AI developments hovering around.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic 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.

Key TakeawaysRenowned Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC has promised to invest $100 billion in the US over the next 4 years.This money will be used for the construction of 3 manufacturing units and 2 packaging units in Arizona.The announcement of this investment coincides with Trumps proposed plan to impose higher tariffs on imported chips.Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC has pledged to invest at least $100 billion over the next 4 years in chip manufacturing plants in the US. This money will be used for the construction of three new manufacturing and two packaging facilities across Arizona.This was announced in a news conference by President Donald Trump on Monday, where he was joined by TSMC chairman and CEO C. C. Wei.We are going to produce many AI chipsto support AI progress Dr. C. C. WeiTSMCs Collaboration with the USThis isnt the first time TSMC is investing in the US. The company had previously invested $65 billion in creating US-based fabrication plants, bringing its total investment in the US to $165 billion.TSMC also received a $6.6 billion grant from the CHIPS Act during Bidens tenure. This money was used to construct 3 fabrication plants in Arizona, one of which is already functional and churning out 4-nanometer chips.Note: The CHIPS Act was introduced by Joe Biden to boost domestic research and manufacturing of semiconductors.TSMC has a friendly history with the US, but the timing of this new investment is interesting nonetheless. Previously, Trump had expressed concerns over TSMCs dominance in the chip manufacturing industry and urged the company to expand its manufacturing base to the US. This coincides with the presidents recent announcement that he might impose higher tariffs on imported chips.While some experts have criticized the tariffs move, I believe it could be one of the reasons why TSMC decided upon such a massive investment in the US. Were essentially seeing the exact same thing here as we did when Apple announced a massive $500 billion investment plan for the US.Taiwans Stance on This DealWhile this collaboration is a huge win for both the US and TSMC, Taiwanese citizens are not very happy about it. Theyre concerned that a deal like this could undermine the islands security.However, the Taiwanese government has stepped in and assured the people that its most advanced semiconductor technology will not be passed to the US. They also added that this deal will have to go through extreme scrutiny first, where the interests of all the parties, especially the citizens, will be evaluated.Its important to note that although the government offices were aware of the deal, TSMC hasnt yet applied for the approval, which is usually required for such massive foreign investment.TSMC is the biggest chip company in Taiwan, making it important for the small islands economy and security. A lot of people are worried that sharing this technology will weaken their defense. However, on the flip side, Taiwans defense minister is convinced that the US would protect them.Theres a lot of confusion regarding how this deal will pan out, but its important to note that the US hasnt explicitly promised any security in exchange for this deal.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Amy Clark has extensive knowledge of the SaaS market. She started her journey managing and supporting the content at systeme.io before becoming a writer and then in-house managing editor for Techreport, where she manages the delivery and quality of the content, spanning reviews, comparisons, and buyer guides. When she's not advocating for animal rights, you'll find her lost in the world of video games. View all articles by Amy Clark 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.

Key TakeawaysThe Reading Cooperative Bank (RCB) was recently hit by a phishing attack that exposed the personal data of more than 24,041 customers.The attack happened somewhere between August 2024 and January 2025. The exact date remains unknown as of now.According to investigations, the attack originated from a phishing email that was sent to an employee.A billion-dollar bank, the Reading Cooperative Bank (RCB), has been hit by a cyberattack, which has put over 24,041 of its customers at risk.A report was filed with the Office of the Maine Attorney General by RCB, which believes that the attack took place sometime between August 2024 and January 2025.What Exactly Happened?The investigation is still ongoing, but so far it seems like an employee of the RCB received a phishing email. And as it goes with phishing attacks, the sender of the email appeared to be from a known organization with whom the bank regularly does business; hence, the employee was not suspicious.Clicking on that phishing email then gave the attacker access to the companys internal network. Typical phishing!This has resulted in a lot of sensitive information, such as names and other personally identifiable information, of affected customers being compromised.The bank has been mostly quiet about the incident as investigations run their due course. But they did implement additional security measures.We are working closely with our internal and external experts to further enhance the security of our systems RCBAs for the customers, they need to wait for further updates from the bank. In the meantime, they can either freeze their account or call a fraud alert on their credit file.The Rising Instances of Cyberattacks in the Banking IndustryCyberattacks have been on the rise since 2020, and the banking industry has been one of its biggest victims, given the nature of their business. In fact, as per a 2024-2025 survey, more than one-fifth of the cyber attacks that happen are targeted towards banks and financial institutions.Attacks on banks are much more disastrous compared to others because the money of common citizens is also at stake, some of whom might not be able to bear the brunt of such an attack.The solution is simple, though. People need to be educated about the different ways scammers might try to trick them.For instance, in this case, it was a phishing email, which is honestly one of the oldest types of cyberattacks. Banks and other companies should invest in better security infrastructure and constant monitoring and reduce their reliance on third parties. Plus, even if they do invest in outside security, they should vet them first. Lastly, the government also needs to step up its game in apprehending such criminals.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Alpa is a senior editor with a wealth of experience in alternative finance, fintech, cryptocurrency, app security software, and the medical industry. She's currently an in-house managing editor with the Techreport team.Alpa is passionate about breaking down complex topics and sharing informative content that provides value. View all articles by Alpa Somaiya 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.

Key TakeawaysMozilla faced backlash after updating Firefoxs Terms of Use, which initially suggested the company could exploit user data under a broad license.Concerns grew when users noticed that Mozilla had removed a key statement from its Privacy Notice and FAQ, which previously assured them that Firefox did not sell personal data.In response, Mozilla admitted to poor wording, revised the terms, and clarified that it does not sell or claim ownership of user data.Mozilla rolled out new Terms of Use for Firefox and updated its Privacy Notice last week. However, the changes were not received well by the users, to say the least. A strong backlash from netizens started on social media soon after the update, as the new T&Cs raised concerns about how the company would use customer data.For starters, the Terms of Use initially stated that by uploading information on the platform, you can grant the company a nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use that information. The phrase use that information could mean that the company is imposing its own ownership on the data that users put there.What looked like a mere issue of wrong wording started a wave of concern among users, and the case went further downhill when users realized that the updated Privacy Notice and FAQ section no longer stated that the company isnt selling your data to advertisers.Earlier,the privacy notice read, The Firefox Browser is the only major browser backed by a not-for-profit that doesnt sell your personal data to advertisers while helping you protect your personal information, but it was then updated to exclude that doesnt sell your personal data to advertisers.Additionally, the FAQ Is Firefox Free? previously stated that it doesnt sell personal data. However, the statement about it not selling personal data is gone. The rest of the answer remains the same in the updated version: Yep! The Firefox browser is free. Super free, actually. No hidden costs or anything. You dont pay anything to use it.These policy changes come shortly after the company underwent major management changes in December, with new executives stepping in.Firefoxs Response to the BacklashAjit Varma, vice president of Firefox Product, accepted the mistake on their part. Weve been listening to some of our communitys concerns with parts of the TOU, specifically about licensing. Our intent was just to be as clear as possible about how we make Firefox work, but in doing so, we also created some confusion and concern Mozilla in a blog postMozilla added context to the controversial statement in its updated Terms of Service clause. It clarified that the said license does not give any data ownership to Firefox but only permission to use the information for making the platform useful for searching and enabling basic functionalities of Firefox.Ajit also addressed the users concerns by reassuring that the platform did not actually begin selling data anywhere. The only reason the terms were revised was because some jurisdictions define sell more broadly than most people would usually understand that word.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic 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.

Key TakeawaysChinese mobile company Honor has promised to invest over $10 billion in AI over the next 5 years.The company, which has primarily focused on mobiles so far, now wants to focus on developing an AI ecosystem consisting of a variety of devices.The company has also planned to join hands with Google to further its AI initiatives.Chinese mobile company Honor has promised to invest over $10 billion in developing AI for its devices over the next 5 years.The company has highlighted three major investment areas:Infusing AI into hardwareCreating a next-gen AI assistantCreating a platform for a wide array of AI devices, including those from other companiesThis is not limited to our own devices, but also AI devices from different partners, so the different kinds of AI devices can talk to each other, and consumers can have more choices and seamless experiences Honor spokespersonA small percentage of the money will also be used to prepare for the AGI era. The company did not specify how exactly this money will be used, though.The announcement was made on Sunday by CEO James Li at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) trade show in Barcelona. The company had focused on mobile phones forever, but it now wants to shift focus towards creating an AI ecosystem consisting of multiple types of devices, such as PCs, tablets, and wearables.Apart from this, the company also wants to expand its roots outside of China.Collaborating with GoogleIn addition to its independent pursuits, Honor has also decided to join hands with Google on its AI journey. Itll be working closely with tech giant Google and chip designer Qualcomm to create its new AI agents the ones we talked about above. These agents, by the way, will be built on the same technology as Google Gemini.Honor is keen to make its AI smarter than most of its contemporaries. The company showed a live demo in which the AI agent was given some dietary preferences and restrictions and was asked to make a reservation. And it passed with flying colors.However, the company hasnt yet specified an exact timeline for the release.A US-China TieThe timing of this collaboration is particularly interesting, seeing as Google is an American company and Honor is a Chinese company. Both countries have been involved in a tech war for quite some time now.Google hasnt collaborated much with Chinese companies so far. But looks like its about to break this status quo with Honor.On a related note, Honor has also made a 7-year commitment to use the Android operating system in its upcoming Magic series phones. Although this isnt a direct collaboration, Google is the creator of Android, and after Samsung and Xiaomi, Honor is on its way to becoming the next frontline user of this OS. A win-win for both companies? It certainly looks to be the case.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Amy Clark has extensive knowledge of the SaaS market. She started her journey managing and supporting the content at systeme.io before becoming a writer and then in-house managing editor for Techreport, where she manages the delivery and quality of the content, spanning reviews, comparisons, and buyer guides. When she's not advocating for animal rights, you'll find her lost in the world of video games. View all articles by Amy Clark 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.

Key TakeawaysThe UKs data watchdog has launched an investigation into three social media platformsTikTok, Reddit, and Imgurover their handling of the personal information of children.TikTok will also be judged on its data protection policies, whereas Imgur and Reddit will be scrutinized based on their age verification process for minors.TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur are under fire from the UKs data watchdog over how they handle the personal data of children those aged between 13 and 17.An investigation has been launched by the Information Commissioners Office (ICO), which is looking into how these platforms run their algorithms. For those unaware, these algorithms ultimately decide what content gets recommended to users.Some critics are worried that these algorithms can expose young users to harmful content and trap them in a vicious loop, where they get habituated (or even worse, addicted) to such types of content. These concerns are justified, too, as weve recently seen Instagram coughing up sensitive content out of nowhere.This isnt the first time authorities have raised questions on TikTok, either. Back in January, UK technology minister Peter Kyle said, I am genuinely concerned about the ownership model of TikTok.There have also been concerns over TikToks data protection given its track record. Just last year, the ICO fined it 12.7 million for failing to protect the privacy of children. According to the complaint, the company used the data of more than 1.4 million children without the permission of their parents to intentionally profile and target them with inappropriate content.The authorities are worried that a repeat of the 2023 events might be happening again.Reddit and Imgurs Age VerificationIn addition to the investigation over the usage of childrens data, Imgur and Reddit will also be questioned on their age verification process.While both platforms explicitly state that no one under the age of 13 is allowed on their platforms, its really not that hard to bypass these rules.And with the younger generation getting more tech-savvy, companies need to keep up.The authorities want to check exactly what these companies are doing to ensure underage users cant sneak in.What Do the Companies Have to Say?TikTok responded to the probe by saying that theyre deeply committed to creating a safe and positive experience for all their young users. The company is already taking a lot of measures, including best-in-class security and monitoring tools, to protect minors from inappropriate content.The other two platforms, Reddit and Imgur, are yet to respond.Ever since the UK introduced the Childrens Code, tech companies have been under greater pressure to step up their security game. This new set of laws holds online platforms to a higher standard where theyre expected to apply the highest privacy setting by default for all users under 18.Its also on these companies to protect young users from all sorts of online harm, such as exploitation, cyberbullying, and online sexual abuse.While most companies have been trying to adapt to the new changes, there have been instances of slip-ups, such as in the case of TikTok in 2023. However, the good thing is that slip-ups will no longer be ignored. The ICO has decided to fine every offense accordingly to reflect the severity of the issue.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Alpa is a senior editor with a wealth of experience in alternative finance, fintech, cryptocurrency, app security software, and the medical industry. She's currently an in-house managing editor with the Techreport team.Alpa is passionate about breaking down complex topics and sharing informative content that provides value. View all articles by Alpa Somaiya 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.

Key TakeawaysGoogle has launched a free version of Gemini Code Assist, an AI-powered coding tool that helps developers generate, debug, and optimize code across multiple programming languages with nearly unlimited capacity.Gemini Code Assist supports 128,000 input tokens and allows up to 180,000 code completions per month, enabling developers to analyze large code segments, detect errors, and improve efficiency.AI is enhancing coding but not replacing human coders yet, as Google still requires human review for AI-generated code due to an increase in bugs when relying solely on AI coding assistants.Coding is a demanding job, and with the additional time needed to find errors and fix bugs, it becomes even more stressful. This is where advanced tech like AI, which has been gaining momentum (and utility), comes into play.After giving Gemini a memory, Googles latest announcement has the potential to completely change how developers look at coding.Unpacking Googles Free Coding GeminiGoogle has launched a free Gemini version, which will allow users to code for free. Powered by Googles Gemini 2.0 AI model, Gemini Code Assist is equipped with tools to carry out coding-related tasks. It will do so by analyzing and validating a large number of real-world coding use cases.You can use this tool to generate code in any programming language, be it Python, JavaScript, C++, or anything else.The best part, if you ask me, is that it understands regular, everyday languages, too. So, you dont really need to know the subtle ins and outs of coding to have a code generated. Of course, implementing the code after getting it is a different ball game, so you might need expert assistance if youre a non-coder.Getting the first step done for absolutely free is huge nonetheless and can potentially change the entire web development industry. While there are several free coding assistants on the market, this one has an almost unlimited capacity.You get 180,000 code completions per month on the Gemini Code Assist a limit thats almost impossible to reach. Additionally, Google said that the AI supports over 128,000 input tokens, meaning its also capable of processing substantial code segments.In addition to generating codes, you can also use it to understand why your code isnt working. A simple prompt like Explain what this Python code snippet does and find any errors will get you an in-depth explanation of the code. You can even ask for improvements and suggestions.The good news keeps coming, as the tool can also review existing code in both public and private depositaries. Aspiring coders can dive deep into the work they love and upskill through case studies. Plus, even if you dont want to marry the tool, delegating basic reviews to an AI agent can significantly reduce the amount of time you need on a single project.Its worth noting that the free Gemini version has been released by GitHub, a Microsoft-owned developer platform.The Future of Code with AIAI has already taken over coding, and companies have been quick in adapting and accepting the AI tools available out there. Over 25% of all new code at Google is said to be AI-generated.While Im all in for AI advancement, its also true that AI is currently far from perfect when it comes to coding. In fact, reports suggest that developers have experienced a drastic increase in bugs (up to 41%) when they rely on AI coding assistants to write codes.Even Google only accepts AI-generated codes after a human has reviewed and approved them. So, while the dystopian nightmare of AI taking over coding jobs isnt actually here yet, with the new Gemini, Id say its good to be prepared.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic 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.

Key TakeawaysOn Wednesday, a group of 7 customers filed a lawsuit against Apple for falsely claiming three versions of its smartwatches to be carbon neutral.They said that if they knew beforehand that these watches werent exactly carbon neutral, they would have opted for other sustainable options.However, Apple stands by its claims that its watches are in fact carbon neutral.Apple is being sued by customers for falsely claiming that its smartwatches are carbon neutral.A complaint was filed on Wednesday in a California federal court by 7 buyers of green-tagged Apple Watches, i.e., the 9, SE, and Ultra 2 models. They said that had they known these watches were not actually carbon neutral, they wouldnt have bought them.Apples false advertising may lead [consumers] to choose its products over genuinely sustainable alternatives the complaintFor those who dont know, carbon neutral products mean that the company offsets the carbon emissions created during the creation of the product. However, in this case, the plaintiffs feel that Apples offset design is faulty, meaning it isnt properly removing the carbon emission.Therefore, the plaintiffs are seeking monetary compensation for damages (the amount is unspecified) and an injunction to stop Apple from marketing those three watches as carbon neutral.Apple seems to stand by its claims that its products are carbon neutral. Company spokesperson Sean Redding further added that theyre proud of their cutting-edge carbon reduction programs that have allowed them to innovate sustainably.As per him, Apple Watchs carbon emissions have been reduced by 75%. As for the remaining carbon emissions, they invest in nature-based projects that claim to remove thousands of metric tons of carbon from the environment.Now this is what the buyers have an issue with the remaining 25%. The company has invested in two forestry projects. The first is Kenyas Chyulu Hills Project, and the second is Chinas Guinan Project. Its worth noting that both these places were heavily covered by trees even before the project began.So, the buyers feel that this is no credit to Apple. The trees would have existed and continued to remove carbon even without Apples involvement or the projects existence. Hence, its not a genuine carbon offset.The company has promised to become completely carbon neutral by 2030, including its supply chain. So, an allegation like this really raises questions about how committed Apple is towards this goal.This is also not the first time that Apples carbon neutrality initiative has faced criticism. In 2023, the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs found that the carbon footprint of some of Apples suppliers was growing.Apples carbon footprint did reduce between 2021 and 2023, though, but it still churned out a whopping 16.1 million metric tons of CO2 emissions in 2023.All in all, the better way forward for the company would be to focus on carbon neutrality of its entire supply chain and shift from fossil fuels to green energy sources. As for Apples customers, the best way to support sustainability is to limit impulse buying and follow the reuse-recycle-reduce mantra.Read more: Apple pledges to invest $500B in the USAdd Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Amy Clark has extensive knowledge of the SaaS market. She started her journey managing and supporting the content at systeme.io before becoming a writer and then in-house managing editor for Techreport, where she manages the delivery and quality of the content, spanning reviews, comparisons, and buyer guides. When she's not advocating for animal rights, you'll find her lost in the world of video games. View all articles by Amy Clark 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.

Key TakeawaysOnce a pioneering video calling app with hundreds of millions of monthly users, Skype is officially being retired by Microsoft.Microsoft is urging users to transition to Microsoft Teams, its very own collaboration platform. To ease the switch, users can migrate their contacts, chats, and call logs seamlessly using Microsofts migration services.Users have until May 5 to export their Skype data before the app shuts down permanently.Skype, an app that was once synonymous with video calling, is officially going to be phased out. This marks an end of what the millennials would consider an era.The video calling app has been around for over 20 years and had a few hundred million people using it every single month at its prime. Whether it was corporate or leisure, Skype was one of the first apps to offer internet video calling. It even disrupted the telephone industry soon after its launch.However, the underlying technology of the app soon became obsolete when competitors like WhatsApp and Zoom introduced more user-friendly and advanced features, and users started switching to alternatives.Skype was bought by Microsoft in 2011 for $8.5 billion, but that didnt quite positively impact its growth either. Being unable to keep up with its growing competitors, Skype saw a gradual decrease in its number of users over the years.On the other hand, Microsoft Teams, introduced in 2017, is a similar app that has seen substantial growth post-COVID and continues to be a leading collaboration tool, especially in the corporate space.While announcing the retirement of Skype, Microsoft urged the users to try out Teams and move their data to the app while theres still time. Users have until May 5 to figure out what they want to do with their existing chats and data on Skype before theyre gone for good.Microsofts Attempt to Move Users from Skype to Microsoft TeamsA highly possible intention behind shutting down Skype is to shift the focus to Microsoft Teams.Microsoft is providing several perks to make the transition smooth. As mentioned earlier, users will be able to export and move data easily from Skype to Teams with Microsofts migration services. You can even use your Skype login credentials for Teams.Moreover, youll be able to preserve everything from your Skypes chat histories to call logs within the Teams environment. Teams, by the way, provides almost all the features that Skype does, except for the option to video call contacts or phone numbers, which was one of the core reasons why Skype gained popularity.Some of the common features between Teams and Skype include one-on-one and group calls, messaging, and file sharing. Teams also has some additional features, like the ability to manage calendars and join communities, that can come in handy for business networking.Users who do not wish to switch to Microsoft Teams can choose to export all their data from Skype.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Alpa is a senior editor with a wealth of experience in alternative finance, fintech, cryptocurrency, app security software, and the medical industry. She's currently an in-house managing editor with the Techreport team.Alpa is passionate about breaking down complex topics and sharing informative content that provides value. View all articles by Alpa Somaiya 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.

Key TakeawaysMicrosoft is planning to request Trump to ease up the restrictions imposed on chip export by Biden.It wants at least the allies of the US, such as India, Switzerland, and Israel, to be able to freely import US chips.However, as per reports, the Trump administration has been planning to strengthen these restrictions. So, a plea like this might not stand a chance.Microsoft has decided to urge President Donald Trump to ease the restrictions imposed on chip exports by the previous Joe Biden administration. The said restrictions were brought into place during the final days of Bidens tenure.Microsoft feels that at least the allies of the US should be spared of these restrictions. These countries include India, Israel, and Switzerland.Why Did Joe Biden Restrict Chip Imports?Joe Biden decided to impose more restrictions on the export of AI chips, especially those created by Nvidia. The initial purpose was to keep advanced AI computing powers within the US, with special focus on ensuring they dont end up in Chinas hands.However, the restriction soon expanded to other countries as well, which included some of the closest allies of the US.Biden thought that it would make the US a superpower in the AI race, but what he did not consider is that sooner or later, other countries would also figure out how to make equally good chips. And in that case, all the buyers that the US had would turn to those countries. This is exactly what Microsoft is worried about.By restricting exports, US chip makers are missing out on some of the biggest international markets, whereas China is taking up all the lost business right from under the USs nose.Left unchanged, the Biden rule will give China a strategic advantage in spreading over time its own AI technology, echoing its rapid ascent in 5G telecommunications a decade ago MicrosoftHowever, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first published this news, the Trump administration is actually planning to strengthen these restrictions. So, whether a plea to ease them up will work or not is hard to say.Should the US Really Restrict Chip Export?The biggest reason the US started restricting chip exports was to keep such advanced technology out of Chinas grasp. However, as mentioned earlier, China is an equally adept country when it comes to tech. So, if the US wont provide it with chips, its capable of creating its own.Look at DeepSeek, for instance. US AI startup OpenAI was one of the first companies to popularize the idea of GenAI, but within just a couple of years, China managed to create something better, and that too, at a fraction of the cost.Similarly, China might soon reach the USs chip prowess. The only ones that will actually lose in the process are the US chip companies, who will now have a limited customer base.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic 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.

Key TakeawaysWhatsApp experienced a temporary outage, preventing users from sending or receiving messages.Meta acknowledged the glitch and fixed the problem within a few hours. This was WhatsApps first major outage in four years, with the last one having occurred in 2021.In the same week, Instagram users reported seeing violent and disturbing content due to an algorithm malfunction. Even accounts with sensitive content filters were affected, raising concerns about Metas content moderation policies.On Friday afternoon, WhatsApp briefly glitched, and users were unable to send or load their messages.Within a matter of a few minutes, there were thousands of reports regarding WhatsApp being down on Downdetector, the tracker website. Several users took to X, too, to complain about being unable to send messages or use the app entirely.While a vast majority of the issues were reported from the UK initially, the outage seems to have been a global experience. Thats because there were more than 8,000 problems logged in the US in a matter of an hour.Besides WhatsApp, there were also reports about Facebook Messenger having issues, but the reports in this case were far fewer than those about WhatsApp.Read more: WhatsApp users targeted by Paragon solutionsMeta took care of this issue quickly, and the platform was back up and working in a matter of a few hours. A Meta spokesperson acknowledged the issues and said that everything has now been fixed.Its worth noting that a downtime on WhatsApp has resurfaced after four long years, with the last outage being a severe 7-hour one across all Meta platforms. It cost the tech company more than $100 million in revenue.Meta Parody of Glitches: Instagram Insensitive Content GlitchWhatsApp downtime isnt the only thing that went wrong in the Meta ecosystem this week. Just a couple of days ago, Metas Instagram suddenly started coughing up gross, violent content for no apparent reason.Even the users who had put a filter on sensitive content were shown reels that had extreme violence or crime involved in them. It seemed to be an algorithm glitch, but it was surely a very concerning one. Unprecedented, too.Good or not, most people open Instagram first thing in the morning. Imagine opening the app and seeing a guy being smashed across his head with a giant rod. Or getting shot at by a terrorist. Certainly a disturbing sight, right? This is what millions of users reported experiencing. Even worse, users less than 18 years old, too, came across such content.This glitch came soon after Instagram revised its policies to give users more freedom on what they want to see. Instagram is known for its stringent content policies and strong regulation systems, but few people consider it a way of content moderation.Keeping those remarks in mind, Instagram changed its content policy and attempted to censor only content that promotes illegal activities. But that clearly doesnt seem to be working efficiently enough.Interestingly, this isnt the first time that a breakout of harmful content has been experienced by the users, with a similar issue happening around the pandemic.Meta apologized for the inconvenience and explained that the glitch happened due to some technical issue. The tech giant is working to make sure that the platform is safe for all users, especially since now it has one of the biggest opportunities to expand amidst TikToks uncertainty in the US.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic 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.

Key TakeawaysOn Wednesday, Amazon unveiled the new version of its popular AI assistant. Enter Alexa+.This ones powered by GenAI, making it much more conversational, personalized, and smart.Although Alexa+ will typically cost you $19.99 per month, its completely free for Prime users.Amazons Alexa has now gotten a GenAI makeover that makes it more conversational and personalized. This is the biggest update ever to the assistant since its launch in 2014.On Wednesday, Amazon unveiled the new version of its popular AI assistant, which will now be known as Alexa+. The launch event took place in New York, and the first thing that struck me was how conversational the AI assistant has become.For instance, you can now speak to it just the way you speak to your friends and family in informal words and unstructured sentences. Itll still be able to understand you.Its worth noting that early predictions in January stated that the new Alexa might arrive in October, so the company has clearly fast-tracked its development.Alexas PopularityThere are more than 600 million Alexa devices out there. The product already enjoys the markets favor thanks to how easy it makes managing smart homes.Alexa+ takes its predecessors features to a new level. For example, if youre in the bedroom, you can command it to turn on the TV with your favorite show or movie on it in the living room. So, you can just step outside and fall flat on your couch. Your favorite video will already be playing.Similarly, you can also use Alexa+ to access Ring and check whether your package has been delivered or not.On top of that, the new Alexa+ offers much better personalization. Previously, it only stored information about you, but now you can ask it to remember that information and apply it to the suggestions it makes for you.If you tell Alexa that you make really good spaghetti and then ask it for dinner recommendations a few days later, itll give you a bunch of spaghetti recipes.Alexa+ can also take proactive action. For instance, if youve been browsing a product for a while, it will automatically notify you when its on sale.Last but not least, Alexa has been integrated with new-age LLM models, which expands its knowledge base. This makes it one of the smartest AI assistants out there. This integration not only allows you to ask random questions but also helps you in your day-to-day tasks.If you have a test coming up, you can share your notes with Alexa+ and ask it to turn your notes into a quiz. Similarly, you can share your work emails with it and ask it to set up your calendar accordingly.What About Privacy?If a tool knows so much about you, its quite natural to be concerned about your privacy. However, you dont have to worry about that with Alexa+.All personal information you share is centrally stored on the Alexa Privacy dashboard. Plus, the entire system is housed in Amazons secure AWS infrastructure, which provides world-class security and privacy.Theres another piece of good news. While Alexa+ costs $19.99 per month, itll be available for free to all Prime users. Rollout has already started in the US with devices like the Echo Show 8, 10, 15, and 21. Apart from that, you can also access it through the brand-new Alexa+ mobile app thats available on both Android and iPhone.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Amy Clark has extensive knowledge of the SaaS market. She started her journey managing and supporting the content at systeme.io before becoming a writer and then in-house managing editor for Techreport, where she manages the delivery and quality of the content, spanning reviews, comparisons, and buyer guides. When she's not advocating for animal rights, you'll find her lost in the world of video games. View all articles by Amy Clark 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.

Key TakeawaysGoogles Results about you tool lets users track and remove sensitive personal details, like phone numbers and addresses, from search results.The tool notifies users when new personal information appears online and allows them to easily request removals or updates.Besides this, Google has also introduced SafeSearch Blurring to hide explicit content by default, reinforcing its push for better privacy controls.Imagine a dream recruiter searches your name on Google, and it shows your phone number from two decades ago. Frustrating to have little control over this, right? Well, thats about to change. Google is taking steps to give you more control over the personal information that appears in search results through its new update.With the new Results about you tool, you can proactively monitor what sensitive information about you is appearing in Google search results, and you can request the removal or update of that information with just a few clicks.Weve significantly updated and improved the tool, helping you keep track of your personal contact information in Search and alerting you when we find it, so you can get it removed GoogleBesides this, you will also be alerted when new results from the web containing your contact information pop up in Google search. Although the tool isnt available everywhere at the moment, the company plans to slowly roll out the feature to all supported countries.Google has really been trying to up its game when it comes to privacy. For instance, it recently announced the replacement of SMS authentication with QR codes for GMail.Results about you is another tool in its arsenal that will help it achieve that. In addition, there have also been other privacy improvements, including a SafeSearch Blurring setting that blurs out any explicit content by default whenever it appears in search results.How to Use the New Google Privacy FeatureTo use this tool, you need to first input personal data, like your name, address, and phone number. Google will scan this data and notify you as soon as a match is found. Anything that you wish to get removed from the search results can be requested for removal by clicking on the three-dot menu next to the results and selecting the remove this result option.There will be three options to choose from:First is the straightforward personal information removal, which can be selected for removing PII or doxxing content.The second option is flagging illegal content like copyright infringement.The last one is a new feature for situations when the user has already submitted an update on the data, but search results havent reflected those changes yet. When you select the third option, aka the refresh option, Google will be prompted to recrawl the website and update its information.Its worth noting that this feature has actually been around for quite some time now, but it was only accessible through the Google app. On the mobile web and desktop, it was tucked away in the history settings that most users didnt even know about. By making it more visible and adding a healthy dash of new updates, users will certainly feel more in control of their information.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Amy Clark has extensive knowledge of the SaaS market. She started her journey managing and supporting the content at systeme.io before becoming a writer and then in-house managing editor for Techreport, where she manages the delivery and quality of the content, spanning reviews, comparisons, and buyer guides. When she's not advocating for animal rights, you'll find her lost in the world of video games. View all articles by Amy Clark 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.

Key TakeawaysOn Tuesday, a number of users reported that they were constantly being shown violent reels on Instagram.Meta has apologized for the incident and fixed the error within two days of the first report.However, we are yet to know the exact cause of the glitch or how many people were affected by it.Imagine you wake up and instinctively start scrolling Instagram and the first reel you see is of a man getting shot in the head. Not a good start to the day, is it?This is exactly what happened on Tuesday when Instagram was suddenly filled with gruesome and gore reels. Meta has now fixed the technical glitch that was causing a flood of violent and not-safe-for-work reels in users feeds. The tech company has also apologized for the inconvenience.We have fixed an error that caused some users to see content in their Instagram Reels feed that should not have been recommended. We apologize for the mistake. Meta spokespersonA Little BackgroundThe problem arose on Tuesday when a number of users complained that they were constantly being recommended videos featuring violent content such as someone being beaten or killed. Even those who had the sensitive content filter on were recommended such videos.The only silver lining is Meta was quick to fix the issue within 2 days, the glitch was completely fixed. But we are yet to find out what caused this glitch or exactly how many people were affected by it.Usually, Meta automatically removes such violent content from its platform. However, the company has a history of accidentally promoting harmful posts such as misinformation during the pandemic, violent clips from the Myanmar genocide, eating disorder content to teens, and so on.Meta raised a lot of eyebrows in January when the companys policies went under a change and it decided to shift away from third-party fact-checkers and rely on community-driven monitoring (just like Elon Musks X).Basically, its now the responsibility of the users to report content that goes against the platforms guidelines. On top of that, Meta is heavily dependent on automated tools for the processing of such reports.Previously these tools were instructed to scan all posts that violate the platforms content policy but now Meta wants to give its users more freedom of expression which is why it has instructed the tools to only look for posts that promote illegal activities such as terrorism and human trafficking. Due to this approach, a lot of offensive posts are making it to the main feed.Apparently, these changes have been made to align with the new Presidents views on this matter, who had previously criticized Meta for its stringent monitoring policies. However, as we can see from the Tuesday incident, this approach is clearly not working.This is a huge concern because Meta is now trying to expand its short-video user base amidst TikToks troubles with the US authorities. The latter has less than a month remaining to find a non-US buyer or it will be banned in the country.If the ban does go through, Meta will be the biggest beneficiary as it is the next best option. However, with such a great opportunity comes a great responsibility to create a safe space for all users, especially for underage users, which Meta hasnt been doing well so far.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic 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.

Key TakeawaysGoogle is replacing SMS-based two-factor authentication (2FA) for Gmail with QR code scanning to enhance security and convenience.The shift is driven by the increasing exploitation of SMS authentication by hackers through phishing, spoofing, and mobile carrier manipulation.QR codes offer a more secure alternative, as theyre unique to each session, cannot be intercepted, and eliminate risks tied to SIM card theft or fraud.A Gmail spokesperson recently confirmed that Google will let go of the current SMS two-factor authentication process. Itll bring in QR code scanning as a verification step instead, making the process more secure and convenient.Just like we want to move past passwords with the use of things like passkeys, we want to move away from sending SMS messages for authentication Ross Richendrfer, head of security and privacy public relations at GoogleCurrently, when you log in to your Google account on a device, you receive a six-digit authentication code on your registered phone number that you need to manually enter to complete the login process.This SMS-based two-factor authentication process is a widely used method by apps and platforms to ensure extra security. However, with the recent increase in the abuse of SMS verification systems, its evident that hackers have found multiple ways to exploit this tactic. Through phishing, spoofing, and other methods.One common instance of scammers tricking users into getting their verification code is by calling them disguised as representatives of banks or big companies. Then, they ask for the verification code as an OTP to move forward with a fraudulent online process that likely doesnt lead anywhere legitimate.Another concern is that SMS authentication relies on mobile carriers, and its possible to manipulate the carrier itself. This would involve generating fake requests and making money through the messages sent, or even worse, deflecting such important private messages to cybercriminals.Read more: Google will use AI to determine whether youre really 18+Why Are QR Codes a Better Alternative?Scanning a QR code will in all likelihood get rid of the security concerns mentioned above. The update is supposed to be rolled out soon.Its also worth noting that this update aligns with Googles long-term security strategy to reduce dependence on SMS-based 2FA and move towards a more seamless and convenient security system that doesnt put passwords at the forefront of security.Unlike SMS codes, QR cannot be intercepted. Theyre unique, meaning every user gets a different QR every time they initiate a session. Simply put, QR codes cannot be imitated that easily, either. Users will be required to scan the QR code displayed on the screen with their devices camera to authenticate the login.This mechanism solves one more major issue with SMS-style verification. Stealing or losing the SIM card. Such an unfortunate incident so far meant losing access to your Google account, putting the account at the risk of being used by the person who has stolen the SIM. Not anymore, says Google.QR codes make sure youre not dependent on your SIM, a small chip, for your digital privacy. It essentially puts the power back in your hands, as bad actors will now need physical access to your device to execute anything malicious.In addition to Google, WhatsApp Web is one of the famous platforms known for using QR codes for logins.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Alpa is a senior editor with a wealth of experience in alternative finance, fintech, cryptocurrency, app security software, and the medical industry. She's currently an in-house managing editor with the Techreport team.Alpa is passionate about breaking down complex topics and sharing informative content that provides value. View all articles by Alpa Somaiya 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.

Key TakeawaysOn Tuesday, iPhone users noticed that often when they said the word racist, it was transcribed to Trump by the phones voice-to-text software.Apple has addressed the issue and blamed it on a glitch that makes it difficult for the AI to differentiate between words containing r and having a phonetic overlap.However, experts are of the opinion that a phonetic overlap between these two words is just not possible.Nevertheless, Apple has started fixing the issue.iPhone users were in for a surprise on Tuesday when their phones voice-to-text feature suddenly started swapping the word racist with Trump briefly before correcting it to racist again. Although the glitch is not happening every time you say the word racist, its still a sensitive issue given the current political tensions across the country after Trumps elections.Apple has addressed the glitch and said that its caused by a bug that theyre working on to fix.We are aware of an issue with the speech recognition model that powers Dictation and we are rolling out a fix today Apple spokespersonApparently, the Dictation service was facing issues distinguishing between words containing r because of the phonetic overlap. However, the company did not elaborate on why the word racist was always confused with Trump.Is This Really an Honest Mistake?While this might look like an honest mistake on the surface, speech recognition experts are of the opinion that phonetic overlap couldnt be the reason behind this swap.Peter Bell, a professor of speech technology at the University of Edinburgh, said that although the two words contain the letter r, theyre not phonetically similar enough to confuse the AI. Its more likely that someone intentionally tweaked the underlying software to make this swap.This comes at a time when theres already a lot of tension between Trump and Apple. Firstly, Trump decided to impose an additional 10% tax on all the goods imported from China. Since most of Apples products are manufactured in China, it would be a disaster for the company. This is likely what prompted Apple to announce a massive $500 billion investment in the US. The tech giant plans to create new facilities and expand existing ones.Note: Apple didnt explicitly say that the increased taxes are the reason behind its investment. However, Trump feels that given the timing, theres no other plausible explanation.The second issue is regarding the DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion). After Trump came to power, he decided to dismantle all DEI initiatives and programs. However, during a recent meeting, Apples shareholders voted against scraping off DEI at the insistence of the board members.CEO Tim Cook said that their aim is to create an environment where everyone can deliver their best. Hence, Apple will be keeping the DEI framework. Still, considering the new legal landscape, theyll probably have to make some adjustments.This angered Trump, who lashed out at the company and said that it should completely ditch the DEI framework instead of making adjustments.Looks like theres enough reason for a disgruntled employee at Apple to tweak the software and make it replace the word racist with Trump. However, in the absence of any evidence, I guess well have to stick to Apples version of the events.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic 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.

Key TakeawaysApple and Indonesia recently negotiated the terms of their deals to uplift the 5-month-long ban on the sale of iPhone 16.In October 2024, Indonesias Ministry of Industry banned the sale of iPhone 16 and a few other Apple products citing Apples failure to meet investment conditions.As per the new terms of the deal, Apple will have to invest a total of $1 billion alongside training the locals in component manufacturing.The months-long struggle between Indonesia and Apple is finally coming to an end as the two parties have decided on terms to lift the ban on the sale of iPhone 16.In October last year, Indonesia decided to ban the sale and use of the iPhone 16 along with a few other Apple products such as the Watch 10 series. The ban extended to new devices as well as those that have already been sold. This means anyone within the borders of Indonesia, including tourists, could no longer use their iPhone 16 phones.Note: The ban was only on the latest iPhone 16 model. If you had an earlier model, you could continue to use it.The reason behind this ban was Apples failure to meet local guidelines. As per Indonesian law, it is mandatory for all domestically sold devices to have at least 40% of their components locally sourced. This is done to boost the local economy and employment.If a company doesnt want to source components locally, it can bypass this mandate by investing in the country.Apple took the second route and initially promised to invest $1 billion in building local development and research units. These units would develop the components used in Apple devices. However, the company failed to deliver on its promises which resulted in the ban.Given the gravity of the situation, Apple renewed the offer to invest $1 billion in the country which President Prabowo Subianto asked his ministers to accept. But last month, they suddenly backed out of the deal, hoping to negotiate for better terms.So now, on top of the $1 billion investment, Apple will also have to train local Indonesian companies in research and development to be able to manufacture similar components.This is a better deal for Apple, which was initially being forced to manufacture iPhones locally. However, Indonesia has been known to retreat from its promise, so until things are set in stone, theres still a chance for the deal to fall through.Apple was already struggling to gain traction in the Indonesian market. As of last year, its not one of the top 5 smartphones sold in the country. The biggest reasons behind this are the price of iPhones and the purchasing power of the locals. A lot of them cannot even afford the latest models such as the iPhone 16 and often resort to buying second-hand models.Regardless of that, the countrys 280 million population is too good an opportunity to let go. Now that the initial legal hurdles are out of the way, Apple might find a way to expand its market share in the country which, as of January 2025, is merely 7.3%.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Alpa is a senior editor with a wealth of experience in alternative finance, fintech, cryptocurrency, app security software, and the medical industry. She's currently an in-house managing editor with the Techreport team.Alpa is passionate about breaking down complex topics and sharing informative content that provides value. View all articles by Alpa Somaiya 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.

Key TakeawaysChegg has sued Google, claiming AI Overviews reduced its traffic and revenue by displaying answers directly in search results.Chegg is struggling financially, though. $6.1M net loss, a 24% revenue drop, and stock trading at just above $1.Google denies harm, arguing AI Overviews drive traffic to more sites. Also, users find the feature helpful for quick, reliable answers.Chegg, an edtech company that provides online learning resources, sued Google in federal district court. It claimed that Googles AI-generated summaries have adversely affected its revenue and traffic.The AI-generated summaries, or overviews, appear whenever you search for a query on Google. The intention of this feature is to combine the best pieces of information from multiple pages and present them to you so that its easier and quicker to find an accurate answer.Cheggs AccusationsChegg, however, believes that this feature has transformed Google into an answer engine instead of a search engine. Google uses the data on platforms like Chegg and displays it at the top (in overviews), keeping users from visiting real websites (like Chegg) and thereby reducing engagement on their pages.According to Chegg, Google isnt the only one stealing from them. In 2023, the then-CEO claimed that the advent of ChatGPT had significantly reduced student engagement on its platform.The anti-AI propaganda takes a break when Chegg itself partners with Meta Llama, OpenAI, and Mistral to make the platform AI savvy. It also offers AI-powered learning tools in addition to renting and selling textbooks.According to the evidence presented by the company, Googles AI overview feature uses around 135 million questions and answers from Chegg without any attribution. They also pointed out how this feature could be responsible for the lower search engine ranking of the platform.Chegg also referenced a federal judges ruling from last August that confirmed Google has a monopoly in search. This ruling came from a 2020 DOJ lawsuit, which claimed Google stays on top by making it hard for others to compete and reinforcing its own dominance.Cheggs Financial Condition and Its FrustrationRationalizing Cheggs claims becomes easier when we analyze the companys consistent downfall. It has reported a $6.1 million net loss on $143.5 million in fourth-quarter revenue, which translates to a whopping 24% decline year over year.The company is trading at just above $1 per share after the companys stock crashed. It was once worth billions, but its valuation is now under $200 million due to fewer students signing up. This means reducing demand for the learning platforms paid services.Lets unpack why Chegg thinks Google is responsible for its losses:Chegg made its money by helping students with their homework. It built a community of experts and students who could help each other out.With AI helping out students for free, the company lost a major chunk of its clients.Chegg has hired Goldman Sachs to explore the next steps, which would be either to sell the company or go private. Management projected first-quarter revenue of $114-116 million, falling short of analysts $138.1 million target.An Unfair Accusation?Every day, Google sends billions of clicks to sites across the web, and AI Overviews send traffic to a greater diversity of sites a Google spokesperson clarifiedAlso, Google Overviews rightly mention the sites its pulling data from. So, to say that it doesnt credit the original content providers would be unfair.Also, overviews, while helpful, are mere summaries of the actual answer. For detailed answers, the user must head over to the source article, which, as a matter of fact, benefits from its placement in Overviews.Looking from the point of view of a user, Google AI Overview is one of the best things that AI has given us because it not only saves a lot of time but also directly provides reliable and verified information at the top.Google has not directly commented on the matter but will defend itself in court.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic 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.

Key Takeaways1000+ artists have released a silent album called Is This What We Want? to protest against the new changes in the AI law proposed by the UK government.The proposed changes state that AI companies will be able to use copyrighted music for training their models unless the copyright holder opts out of it.The proposal is still under review. No final decision has been made.The music industry is witnessing another mass protest as artists from different walks have once again united in their fight against AI.On Tuesday, more than 1000 artists, including Damon Albarn, Annie Lennox, and Kate Bush, released a silent album in protest to the UK governments proposed changes that would make it easier for AI companies to train their tools on copyrighted work.The album is titled Is This What We Want? and was created with the hope that it will bring attention to the impact that AI will have on the livelihoods of these artists.It features a recording of empty music studios and an untouched piano with a simple message on the top The British government must not legalize music theft to benefit AI companies. All profits from this album will be donated to a charity called Help Musicians.So Whats the Proposed Change?The new law basically states that AI companies will be able to use copyrighted music for training their bots (even without a license) unless the owner of the music decides to opt out.However, many artists have pointed out that the opt-out solution is not practical. On the surface, it seems like the artists have a real choice but in reality, its quite impossible for a single artist or even their team to reach out to hundreds of AI companies and tell them not to use their music for training.And if a company uses their music despite them opting out, its again impossible to track them down.The government is still consulting on this matter and is yet to make a final decision. But on Tuesday, a spokesman for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) said that the current laws for copyright and AI are holding back both the industries (both music and AI) from realizing their full potential. This cannot be allowed to continue and thats why these new changes were proposed.But they also assured that no changes have been made yet. The government is consulting experts from both industries and only if they feel that this new initiative will meet all their goals without hurting any of the stakeholders will they set the plan in motion.However, all these explanations seem to have no effect on the raging group of protestors. For example, Ed Newton-Rex, one of the organizers of the album called this a disastrous movewhich is totally uncalled for. The UK could have progressed in the AI race without disadvantaging the musicians.Singer-songwriter Naomi Kimpenu also added how this initiative, if implemented, will make it almost impossible for new talents to make it in the industry. And those who are already here will also struggle to break even.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic 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.

Key TakeawaysAdobe has decided to bring Photoshop to mobile devices. It has already been added to iPhones, and by the end of the year, it will be added to Android as well.The company has also launched a new Photoshop Mobile and Web plan priced at $7.99/month, or $69.99/annually.Apart from the new plan, all existing paid plans will also allow access to Photoshops mobile app.Adobes iconic photo editor, Photoshop, will now be available on mobile, too. It has already been introduced to iPhones and its coming to Android later this year.The apps web version will also be expanded to provide better precision and control, simplify the editing process, and offer superior flexibility and accessibility to artists who can now access their work and make changes on the go.Pretty much like Google Docs? Impressive.In addition to this, professional editors can now integrate the new Photoshop app with Adobe Lightroom and Express to create a seamless workflow. Its worth noting that both Lightroom and Express already have mobile apps for both iPhone and Android.Whats more, it also opens doors for all the new artists who cannot afford a laptop or a PC at the moment. With Photoshops new app, they can continue to hone their skills right from their phone.The best part, though, is that this is the first time ever that editing software of this level will be available for free for all users. If you want more premium features, however, Adobe has added a new Photoshop Mobile and Web plan. Its priced at $7.99/month, or $69.99/annually. This includes additional advanced features as well as access to the web.Apart from that, the current paid plans that used to offer access to Photoshop on iPad and Web (Chrome, Safari, Edge, and Firefox) will now also offer access to its mobile app.Were excited to bring the limitless creative possibilities of Photoshop to mobile, making the apps iconic image editing and design capabilities accessible for everyone Senior Vice President Ashely StillAbout PhotoshopPhotoshop is one of the oldest pro-level editing software. The first version came out in 1990, and the software has since then managed to garner a massive user base of 33 million users. Thanks to its powerful designing capabilities and editing tools. Advanced features like masking, layering, and retouching, plus its vast library of stock images and assets, make it stand out from regular editing applications.Then, in May 2023, Photoshop got an AI makeover as Adobe Firefly was integrated into it. It brought additional features like Generative Fill, which lets you add new objects on the canvas with a simple prompt. Generative Expand was also introduced, which lets you expand the canvas and fill it with more objects.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Amy Clark has extensive knowledge of the SaaS market. She started her journey managing and supporting the content at systeme.io before becoming a writer and then in-house managing editor for Techreport, where she manages the delivery and quality of the content, spanning reviews, comparisons, and buyer guides. When she's not advocating for animal rights, you'll find her lost in the world of video games. View all articles by Amy Clark 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.

Key TakeawaysOn Monday, Anthropic released the latest Claude 3.7 Sonnet that can think for as long as you want.Users will be able to choose between instant responses or a step-by-step thinking process.The new AI is available to all users, both free and paid. However, the extended thinking feature is only for paid users.OpenAIs biggest rival Anthropic has launched its smartest model so far Claude 3.7 Sonnet. Its a hybrid model that can respond to your queries instantly or go through a detailed step-by-step thinking process, depending on what the user wants.In a blog post, the company announced the launch of Claude 3.7 Sonnet and added that it will be available to all users, both free and paid. However, the extended thinking feature is only limited to paid users for now.What Makes Anthropics Reasoning Model So Special?Anthropic isnt the first AI company to create a model that can think. OpenAI, DeepSeek, and xAI have done it before. But the difference is other companies position reasoning models as the future of AI whereas Anthropic views it as an addition alongside the existing model.This way, if you have a simple question like Who was the first female president?, youll get a quick and direct answer whereas if you have a complicated math problem, youll get a detailed answer with all the steps to help you understand the process better.What were really trying to do is make it really seamless to adopt this capability where it makes sense, but not have it brought to bear where it doesnt make sense Mike Krieger, Anthropics chief product officerThe second benefit is if you are using Claude 3.7 through API, you can customize the number of tokens it uses for each thinking process. For example, you can instruct the tool to think in no more than 100 tokens. The fewer tokens it uses, the faster the response will be.Note: Using fewer tokens is more cost-effective because paid plans for such AI tools are often priced per number of tokens.Speaking of the pricing, Anthropic has announced that the cost will remain the same for both standard thinking and extended thinking i.e. $3 per million input tokens and $15 per million output tokens which includes the thinking tokens.Who Is Claude 3.7 Sonnet Best For?Anyone can use this tool but we feel that its best for organizations that require extensive coding on a day-to-day basis. Early testing has shown that Claude is one of the best tools in the market to handle complex coding tasks, especially in planning code changes and dealing with full-stack updates.Its also one of the few tools to create production-ready codes with impeccable design taste and negligible errors. The best part is that the testing has been done by third parties like Cursor, Cognition, and Canva. So you can be sure that the results are completely unbiased.Read More: Anthropic CEO says human-level AI models might arrive by 2026Claude CodeIn addition to Claude 3.7 Sonnet, Anthropic has also announced the launch of Claude Code the first Anthropic agentic tool, in a limited research preview. This tool can search and read codes, edit files, write and run tests, and push codes to GitHub and the user will be kept in the loop for all of these stages.In early testing, it was found that tasks that manually take 45+ minutes to be done can be completed within minutes with the help of Claude Code.The tool is in the early stages hence developers are encouraged to join the preview and share their feedback to help create the ultimate AI coding tool for the future.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic 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.

Key TakeawaysChinese medical devices, like Contec CMS8000, carry cybersecurity risks, such as backdoors that could manipulate patient data.Chinas data collection through medical tech raises national security concerns, especially for high-profile individuals.The U.S. must reduce reliance on Chinese medical equipment by securing current devices and boosting domestic production.If theres one thing Chinese tech has lately made headlines for, its security concerns. After DeepSeeks ban and TikTok still living on the edge, the US government is now worried about its dependence on China-made medical devices.The concerns cropped up after the federal governments cyber watchdog, CISA, and the FDA discovered a backdoor in Contec CMS8000 that directs its data to a third-party university IP address not associated with a medical device manufacturer or medical facility.The Contec CMS8000, in case you didnt know, is a widely used medical monitor. Its used for tracking heart rate, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure. If the backdoor leads to someone unauthorized, the person at the other end will be able to manipulate data and show incorrect results.For instance, it can alter the data and make the monitor show a kidney malfunction or breathing failure when in reality that isnt the case. Remedying issues that dont even exist can deteriorate the health of patients to unrecoverable extents.While on the surface, we can just see one risky device, the issue is actually pretty huge if we consider how this could be affecting the entire US ecosystem. Since Chinese medical equipment is cheaper, it is widely used in the US. This FDA finding alerts us that China receives all this data and could be using it for more than just monitoring the performance of its devices.China has had a history of gathering data from other countries through tech, and something as sensitive as medical data can give a huge strategic advantage to the country since it can access the private circumstances of high-profile individuals.Many IT experts reacted by saying they saw something like this coming long back and it only serves as a reminder that the US needs to adopt tighter medical device security policies and work on its medical infrastructure.The American Hospital Association, representative of more than 5,000 hospitals across the US, agreed that this incident has highlighted a huge gap thats about to explode.What Steps Will the US Take NextRight off the bat, the first problem is that the US doesnt even know how many medical monitors there are in the country. So, completely removing them from the country will be a tricky procedure. Speculations say there are thousands of devices, but without a ballpark figure, it wont be possible to determine how many are required to be replaced.Next, the US is too dependent on Chinas facilities to just decide to cut off Chinese pieces of medical equipment. It will take at least a few years for the country to develop a medical infrastructure thats capable of taking care of the countrys demand for medical technologies.Now, the short-term solution is for hospitals to make sure these devices only run locally and disable any remote monitoring. If remote monitoring is unavoidable, they should start looking for alternative devices.Besides this, the U.S. should start incentivizing domestic production of medical tech to reduce reliance on such compromised foreign medical services.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Amy Clark has extensive knowledge of the SaaS market. She started her journey managing and supporting the content at systeme.io before becoming a writer and then in-house managing editor for Techreport, where she manages the delivery and quality of the content, spanning reviews, comparisons, and buyer guides. When she's not advocating for animal rights, you'll find her lost in the world of video games. View all articles by Amy Clark 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.

Key TakeawaysApple has decided to invest $500 billion in the US over the next 4 years. This is its biggest financial commitment so far.A part of this money will go into creating a new manufacturing plant in Houston. The remaining will go into the Advanced Manufacturing Fund and a manufacturing-focused educational academy in Michigan.Apple says that it wants to drive innovation in the country, but Trump feels that Apple is only making this investment to avoid the new tariffs.Most of Apples products are manufactured in China.On Monday, Apple announced that it will be investing $500 billion over the next 4 years in the US and hire 20,000 additional employees in the process.A huge chunk of this money will go into building a new 250,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Houston thats expected to become functional by 2026. This facility will manufacture the servers that will power Apples AI services and, of course, will also drive up employment at the same time.In addition to this Houston facility, Apple will also invest in new data centers acrossOregon, North Carolina, Iowa, Nevada, and more.The remaining amount will go into:Building a manufacturing-focused educational academy in Michigan.The Advanced Manufacturing Fund created to boost innovation across the country.We are bullish on the future of American innovation, and were proud to build on our long-standing U.S. investments with this $500 billion commitment to our countrys future CEO Tim CookWhy Is Apple Suddenly Making Such a Massive Investment?As mentioned, this is Apples biggest financial commitment. So, needless to say, it wouldnt be without a good reason. The most obvious reason is Trump. The president feels that Apples investment is a response to his proposal of imposing an additional 10% tax on imported goods.Basically, after Trump came to power, he decided to impose reciprocal taxes on all trade partners of the US in order to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. Now, Apple produces most of its products in China.So, if Trumps regulation goes into effect (which it will), then all Apple products from China will face an additional 10% tax. This, in turn, will jack up prices for Apple customers in the US. Something the company cannot afford to do.Trump feels that the only reason Apple is making this investment is to avoid the new tariff.On Apples side, the company has been trying to diversify its production chain outside China for a long time now. This is primarily because of the tough times it faced when the pandemic disrupted the global supply chain. However, so far, its expansion efforts have been focused on India and Vietnam.Regardless of the actual reason, Apples decision ultimately benefits the US, which has been running on a trade deficit for years now. In fact, the last time the country had a trade surplus was in 1975.Moreover, the US is also struggling with debt, owing to years of fiscal deficit. In a situation like this, such a massive investment from one of the worlds biggest tech giants will certainly be a huge boost.Another noteworthy perspective is how this move will reduce Americas reliance on China, which are not on good terms with each other. A recent example of this is the US considering moving away from Chinese medical devices due to potential cybersecurity risks.Read more: Apple removes cloud encryption feature from the UKAdd Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic 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.

Key TakeawaysAfter months of testing, Apple is finally launching a complete suite of hearing healthcare features to AirPods 2.The launch is expected to happen by the end of fall this year in the UK.Now, along with getting a hearing test, Apple users can actually wear the AirPods as hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss cases.Apple AirPods can now double up as hearing aids. The feature will first be added to Airpod 2 by the end of this fall in the UK.Airpod 2 already allows users to take a 5-minute hearing test to check their hearing levels which also comes with a detailed report indicating the amount of hearing loss in each ear. You also get an audiogram which is directly stored on your phones health app. In case you want to consult a licensed professional, this audiogram will come in very handy.And now with the new additions, Apple users in the UK will also get the ability to balance their hearing levels, especially in a crowded, noisy area.Explaining further about this revolutionary new tech, Dr. Sumbul Desai (the vice president of health at Apple) said that depending on how much an individuals hearing has been affected, the Airpod will increase the volume of the surrounding sounds, enabling them to hear better.On the flip side, if someone has sensitive ears and they have trouble adjusting to loud noises, the AirPod will bring down the volume through noise cancellation to ease their ears.Are AirPods the Future of Hearing Aids?Apples decision to integrate hearing healthcare into the AirPods is truly revolutionary. For starters, it improves accessibility people might be reluctant to step out of their homes for a routine hearing test.However, if they can get it done from their homes with just an Airpod, they are more likely to take the test. This helps in early detection and minimizes the chances of serious hearing loss.In addition to that, these AirPods can provide all the support needed for mild to moderate hearing loss cases. This means that people wont have to pay extra for a hearing aid which is not only expensive but also draws attention.A lot of people are not comfortable wearing clunky hearing aids out in public, so an Airpod will be a blessing for them, allowing them to manage their hearing without any social stigma.The timing of this release couldnt have been better. The Department of Health in the UK has just issued a new guideline allowing such over-the-counter devices to compete at par with traditional hearing aids.In the UK (and many places around the world), access to hearing healthcare remains a major issue. People often wait for months to get tested by a licensed professional. But with the advent of devices like Apples AirPods, more and more people will now have instant access to hearing healthcare.By harnessing innovation in UK healthcare, we can turn our country into a medical technology superpower Wes Streeting, the UK Health SecretaryDepending on the devices performance in the next few months, other countries might soon follow in the footsteps of the UK and join hands with Apple to streamline and transform their hearing healthcare industry.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Alpa is a senior editor with a wealth of experience in alternative finance, fintech, cryptocurrency, app security software, and the medical industry. She's currently an in-house managing editor with the Techreport team.Alpa is passionate about breaking down complex topics and sharing informative content that provides value. View all articles by Alpa Somaiya 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.

Key TakeawaysApple has discontinued its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature for UK users after the government demanded backdoor access to encrypted iCloud data.The UK law allows authorities to monitor online data, forcing Apple to either comply or stop offering encryption. The company chose to withdraw the feature instead of compromising global security.Apple emphasized its commitment to user privacy and clarified that it has not created a backdoor. The encryption feature remains available in other countries.Apple dropped its standout data security encryption feature for UK users after the government demanded backdoor access to user data stored on the cloud.Apple, of course, is known for being privacy-conscious. Its Advanced Data Protection feature, launched in 2022, made it possible to ensure airtight security, as only the users have access to their data on their trusted devices. Not even the company could get their hands on it.It was an opt-in feature and worked on all the data stored in iCloud photos, files, notes, etc. Users who didnt need this kind of protection could simply opt out of it, which will apparently be the only option for British users now.The problem, however, with this feature was that it made the conversations and everything else almost too hard for the government to track. The UKs argument, therefore, is that the feature makes it easier for criminals and illegal launderers to communicate and make malicious plans outside of government monitoring.Its also worth noting thatUK has had issues with end-to-end encryption since the day it was launched. It finally gave an ultimatum to the tech giant to either give them access to the data saved on the cloud or let go of their users in that country.Apples ConundrumWhile losing the UK market would have been a huge blow for Apple, there was no way it would compromise on its USP and put the data of not just UK users, but everyone else too, at stake for saving it.Agreeing to give backdoor access to the UK government could invite potential hackers to exploit this window and get access to user data for criminal activity. This would put Apples overall security in a compromising position. So, the company decided to opt for the next best alternative: removing encryption services in the UK.We are gravely disappointed that the protections provided by ADP will not be available to our customers in the UK given the continuing rise of data breaches and other threats to customer privacy AppleThe announcement was made on Friday that the Advanced Data Protection encryption feature will no longer be available to new users. The feature will soon be wiped off from existing devices as well.What This Means from the Security Front for the UKWhile reduced security is the obvious consequence of this update, its important to note that the notice served to Apple for providing a backdoor access to user data was in line with the UKs Investigatory Powers Act of 2016.This law gives British spies official authority to snoop on the online data of its citizens, including citizens outside the country. Moreover, it gives permission for internet eavesdropping and harvesting data for furthering the authorities own purposes. Whether this is on the right or wrong side of morality, I leave it up to you to decide.Even more concerning is the fact that the notices sent by this organization cannot even be publicly reported to the media, which is why Apple had to keep the reason under wraps when it removed data security features in the UK. The tech leader, however, made it a point to clarify that it still remains committed to offering the highest level of security to its users and has not agreed to build a back door of any sort. The feature shall continue to be operational in other parts of the world.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic 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.

Key TakeawaysSoon after Grok 3 was launched, some netizens found that it was programmed to leave out Donald Trump and Elon Musk when asked about Who is the biggest misinformation spreader?The company has fixed the issue now, stating that it doesnt align with the companys values.Questions still remain about why such a bias was allowed in the first place and if AI chatbots can actually be trusted.Ever since Musk started his journey with X and then xAI (his own AI company), he has always positioned himself as a staunch supporter of free speech. He used the same argument to justify removing censorship and guardrails from the social media platform X and the first two versions of Grok xAIs first generation of AI bots.However, soon after he unveiled Grok 3, an incident shook all his past claims of free speech and raised questions on whether Musk and his AI bots are as unbiased as they claim to be.What Is The Incident?Soon after Grok 3 went public, some users noticed a glitch (or probably an intentional tweak that the developers forgot to hide). With the Think mode on, which is what allows the user to see how the AI is arriving at an answer, the tool was asked, Who is the biggest misinformation spreader?In its chain of thoughts, it was clearly seen that the tool had been instructed to never mention Donald Trump or Elon Musk.This incident triggered widespread criticism, which traveled like wildfire and soon reached xAIs office. By Sunday the matter was addressed and Grok 3 began taking Donald Trump into consideration for the response.After this incident was resolved, another arose. The tool had been constantly saying that both Donald Trump and Elon Musk deserve the death penalty. This glitch was fixed soon, too.What Does Musk Have to Say?Musk addressed the glitches and blamed them on the training datasets. Engineering lead Igor Babuschkin also came clean about the matter on his X account. He said while the tool was briefly instructed to not mention Trump or Musks name for such queries, they decided to overturn this programming after the users began to point, stating that this move did not align with the company values to begin with. He also promised to make Grok 3 politically neutral.Even though the matter is now resolved, the larger question remains, i.e., whether the AI tools we use on a day-to-day basis are even giving us the truth or are simply a propaganda tool for powerful leaders.AI is quickly becoming a part of our daily lives. A lot of people rely on their favorite AI bots for any query they might have. In a situation like this, if the bot itself is biased and inaccurate, the users will also develop a distorted perception of everything around them. Not just that, such misinformation also takes away from an individuals right to unfiltered and unbiased truth.The scary part is we were only able to find out about Grok 3s biased programming because of the Think mode that displays the exact steps the bot follows to reach a conclusion. There are so many other tools out there that are not this transparent. So, we might never truly know whether what were being told is the absolute truth.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Alpa is a senior editor with a wealth of experience in alternative finance, fintech, cryptocurrency, app security software, and the medical industry. She's currently an in-house managing editor with the Techreport team.Alpa is passionate about breaking down complex topics and sharing informative content that provides value. View all articles by Alpa Somaiya 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.

Key TakeawaysBybit suffered one of the largest crypto thefts in history, with $1.5 billion stolen from its cold wallet during a routine transfer.The hack triggered a surge in withdrawals, as users feared Bybit might not recover. The crypto market also reacted negatively, with Ethereum dropping 6.7% and Bitcoin falling 3%.Blockchain firms Elliptic and Akram Intelligence linked the attack to North Koreas Lazarus Group, known for laundering stolen crypto to fund the regime.The popular cryptocurrency exchange, Bybit, recently fell victim to one of the largest crypto thefts in history, with around $1.5 billion in digital assets stolen. The attack specifically targeted the cold wallet of the exchange, a system designed for enhanced security.The hack wasnt a typical one either, it was a highly sophisticated attack and the hackers were apparently able to manipulate the transactions signing interface to divert 401,000 Ethereum to an unidentified address.It happened while a regular transfer from cold wallet to warm wallet was taking place. Despite strong safeguards in place, the stolen funds were quickly transferred across multiple wallets and liquidated through various platforms, making it difficult to trace.A surge of withdrawals happened right after the incident, with users being scared about losing their money as the company might not recover from such a massive loss. To stabilize things, Bybit secured a loan from undisclosed partners to cover the shortfall.Following the cybertheft, the crypto market saw a sharp fall as well. For instance, Ethereum dropped by 6.7%, while Bitcoin fell by about 3%. The decline reflected the users growing apprehension about investing in the industry.The incident has sent shockwaves through the crypto industry and given rise to security concerns. If an industry giant like Bybit couldnt protect itself against such an impact, where does the security standard actually lie for crypto companies managing billions of dollars?Ben Zhou, CEO of Bybit, took to Twitter to reassure users that the rest of the wallets remained secure and withdrawals were functioning normally.Elliptic Claims the Attack Was Done by North Koreas Lazarus GroupTop Blockchain Analysis firms like Elliptic and Akram Intelligence traced the stolen crypto and confirmed that the assets were moved swiftly.According to Elliptic, the attack may have been carried out by North Koreas Lazarus Group, a cybercriminal organization that is known for exploiting security vulnerabilities and laundering stolen funds through sophisticated methods. The group has a history of using stolen assets to finance North Koreas regime.In the past, Lazarus Group infiltrated 4 South Korean exchanges and took out bitcoin worth around $200 million. Elliptics co-founder, Dr. Tom Robinson, highlighted the importance of taking urgent action on large-scale thefts.The more difficult we make it to benefit from crimes such as this, the less frequently they will take place Dr. Tom Robinson. Chief Scientist and co-founder of EllipticThis incident now ranks among the most significant cyber thefts in history, alongside previous heists such as the $611 million stolen from Poly Network in 2021 and the $570 million stolen from Binance in 2022. The scale of these breaches continues to raise concerns about the security of even the most well-protected crypto exchanges.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic 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.