OpenAI film 'Artificial,' dropped by Amazon, finds a new home with Neon

NEW YORK (AP) — “Artificial,” Luca Guadagnino’s starry film about Sam Altman and OpenAI, has been acquired by the indie distributor Neon after it was dropped by Amazon MGM Studios. Neon said Tuesday that it bought the film following a bidding process. Amazon dropped the nearly complete $40 million film, starring Andrew Garfield as Altman, earlier this month, a surprise move that came just months after Amazon announced a $50 billion investment in OpenAI. Amazon said then that “Artificial” would “be better served if it were released by a different studio.” Neon said it will release “Artificial” this year and “compete in this year’s Oscar race.”

WhatsApp will allow users to go by usernames instead of phone numbers, closing a privacy blind spot

LONDON (AP) — WhatsApp users will soon have the option to use usernames instead of phone numbers. The company announced plans on Monday to address a privacy concern. Users can reserve unique usernames to be contacted without sharing their phone numbers. The feature is expected to launch later this year, though no specific timeline was given. There won't be a directory or suggestions for usernames. People will need to know the exact username to make contact. This change comes as many of WhatsApp's 3 billion users have requested more privacy options. Usernames will be limited to 35 characters.

EU issues new steel and e-commerce regulations to reduce trade imbalance with China

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union has introduced two measures to protect its steel industry and limit small e-commerce parcels. A new 3 euro ($3.42) customs duty on small packages which aims to address the trade imbalance with China came into effect on Wednesday. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said a surge in low-value online imports has disadvantaged EU retailers. The EU also set tariff-free quotas for steel imports and imposed a 50% duty on out-of-quota steel to protect its industry. Critics argue these measures may not significantly impact the trade deficit with China, which continues to rise.

Supreme Court rules constitutional privacy protections apply to cellphone users' location history

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has held that constitutional privacy protections extend to cellphone location information, ruling in the case of a bank robber whose identity was discovered through a geofence warrant. Justice Elena Kagan wrote for the 6-3 court Monday that people don’t forfeit expectations of privacy even when they opt into Google’s location history. Justice Samuel Alito wrote in dissent that the Virginia man at the center of the case had no expectation of privacy in information he voluntarily turned over to Google. The decision is the court’s latest effort to apply a constitutional provision ratified in 1791 to technology the nation’s founders could not have envisioned.

Nutrition apps can help build healthy habits. For some users, their gaming features carry risks

The next time you get a trophy on a smartphone app, it might not be from a game. Gamification has spread into all kinds of online areas. But its spread into nutrition apps has some researchers worried. Health professionals say the apps can be helpful for people managing chronic diseases. And they can motivate many people to reach fitness goals. But experts say the apps carry risks too. Isabella Anderberg is a psychologist researching digital dieting behavior. She says calorie-tracking apps can reinforce eating disorders. The badges, streaks, rewards and points are designed to bring people back even if they have set unhealthy goals. Anderberg says the key is to approach the apps with caution and listen to your body.

Four days to make victims fall in love: How global scammers use US tech to fleece people

Technology from American companies is being used to power a revolution in the scam industry, playing a key role in the industrialization and globalization of fraud in ways that have not been clear until now, an AP/“FRONTLINE” investigation has found. Watchdogs say these companies have the technical capacity to do more to protect against abuse but lack the legal, regulatory and business incentives to crack down on a crime the Federal Trade Commission estimates cost Americans nearly $200 billion in losses in 2024.

South Korean tech giants to build a $518 billion chipmaking hub to serve soaring AI demand

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean tech giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix plan to invest a combined $518 billion in a new computer chip manufacturing hub, capitalizing on surging artificial intelligence-driven demand. The project in South Korea's southwest also will support the government’s regional development agenda. President Lee Jae Myung joined the companies' chairs in announcing the plan Monday on television. Lee has made AI and balanced regional growth key policy priorities, urging businesses to expand investment beyond the greater Seoul metropolitan area. The southwest has been a particular focus, as it lacks major manufacturing hubs and has historically trailed other regions.

Nvidia's AI chip sales in China stall, as local chipmakers like Huawei take the lead

HONG KONG (AP) — In the race between the U.S. and China to develop artificial intelligence, the battle over hardware and computing power is heating up as Chinese companies like Huawei overtake global industry leaders like Nvidia in their home market. Jensen Huang, the CEO of computer chip giant Nvidia, is a celebrity in China but that's no guarantee of success as his company struggles to sell its advanced chips there. Controls imposed by Washington on exports of advanced technology initially stalled sales of Nvidia’s H200 AI chips to China. By the time Huang won a reprieve allowing them to be sold, Beijing had already switched to encouraging use of chips made by Huawei and other Chinese companies.

Kara Swisher took Silicon Valley by force. Now she's eyeing influence in the 2028 campaign

WASHINGTON (AP) — Kara Swisher is expanding her influence from tech journalism to politics. Swisher is known for her fearless interviews and has hosted figures like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk. Swisher's podcasts include “On with Kara Swisher” and “Pivot” and are gaining traction as political platforms. The former traditional print journalist often challenges guests like Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Swisher's goal is to engage a wide audience, including Republicans, despite her critical views on some. Swisher's podcasts are financially successful, reflecting the growing importance of digital media in political discourse. Swisher says from her Washington home she gets called by all the presidential candidates and she's "going to get to all of them.”