Category: Technology

TikTok testing out advert-free monthly subscription Getty Images By Liv McMahon Technology team TikTok is testing a new monthly subscription which would get rid of adverts on the video sharing site. The BBC understands the Chinese firm is trying out the service in an English-speaking market outside the US, but has declined to comment on… Continue reading TikTok testing out advert-free monthly subscription

Apple to buck layoff trend by hiring UK AI staff Getty Images By Tom Gerken Technology reporter Apple’s chief executive Tim Cook said the firm wants to hire more staff in the UK, in contrast to redundancies seen across the tech sector. He said the company wants to take on more staff to work in… Continue reading Apple to buck layoff trend by hiring UK AI staff

ChatGPT can now access up to date information Reuters By Antoinette Radford & Zoe Kleinman, Technology Editor BBC News OpenAI, the Microsoft-backed creator of ChatGPT, has confirmed the chatbot can now browse the internet to provide users with current information. The artificial intelligence-powered system was previously trained only using data up to September 2021. The… Continue reading ChatGPT can now access up to date information

Meta announces AI chatbots with ‘personality’ Getty Images By James Clayton North America technology reporter Meta has announced a series of new chatbots to be used in its Messenger service. The chatbots will have “personality” and specialise in certain subjects, like holidays or cooking advice. It is the latest salvo in a chatbot arms race… Continue reading Meta announces AI chatbots with ‘personality’

Reddit to begin paying people for popular posts Reddit By Tom Gerken Technology reporter Reddit has unveiled plans to pay its top contributors cash for popular posts, starting in the US on Tuesday. The social media site will split revenue with people who are awarded “gold” by other users, who pay a fee. Gold awards… Continue reading Reddit to begin paying people for popular posts

Amazon Prime Video content to start including ads next year Amazon Studios By Lora Jones Business reporter, BBC News Amazon is set to introduce adverts to its Prime Video streaming service in 2024 as it seeks to put more cash into creating TV shows and films. UK Prime customers, along with those in the US,… Continue reading Amazon Prime Video content to start including ads next year

Google accused of directing motorist to drive off collapsed bridge Getty Images By Max Matza BBC News The family of a US man who drowned after driving off a collapsed bridge are claiming that he died because Google failed to update its maps. Philip Paxson’s family are suing the company over his death, alleging that… Continue reading Google accused of directing motorist to drive off collapsed bridge

Online Safety Bill: Crackdown on harmful social media content agreed Getty Images By Chris Vallance Technology reporter, BBC News Peers have passed a controversial new law aimed at making social media firms more responsible for users’ safety on their platforms. The Online Safety Bill has taken years to agree and will force firms to remove… Continue reading Online Safety Bill: Crackdown on harmful social media content agreed

Online Safety Bill will have failed if harm not stopped – Ian Russell Russell family By Emma Harrison BBC News A new law aimed at policing the internet will fail if it does not stop harmful content, online safety campaigner Ian Russell has said. Mr Russell said the test of the Online Safety Bill will… Continue reading Online Safety Bill will have failed if harm not stopped – Ian Russell

Greater Manchester Police officers’ details hacked in cyber attack PA Media Police officers’ personal details have been hacked after a company was targeted in a cyber attack. The firm in Stockport, which makes ID cards, holds information on various UK organisations including some of the staff employed by Greater Manchester Police (GMP). The force confirmed… Continue reading Greater Manchester Police officers’ details hacked in cyber attack