Category: Technology

Pokemon Go maker Niantic cuts a quarter of its workforce Niantic By Annabelle Liang Business reporter The maker of the Pokemon Go video game, Niantic, says it will cut a quarter of its workforce as the gaming industry faces a slowdown in demand after downloads surged during the pandemic. The firm will also close its… Continue reading Pokemon Go maker Niantic cuts a quarter of its workforce

Cut low-cost broadband VAT to help more online, peers say Getty Images By Chris Vallance & Shiona McCallum Technology reporters Special internet deals for those on benefits should be free of VAT to get more people online, peers have urged. Those without internet are at a disadvantage when looking for jobs, for example, a report… Continue reading Cut low-cost broadband VAT to help more online, peers say

Jail terms for sharing or creating explicit images without consent Getty Images By Shiona McCallum Technology reporter People caught sharing or creating explicit images without consent could face time in jail in England and Wales. Amendments to the Online Safety Bill will introduce a six-month prison term for sharing deepfake and revenge porn. This would… Continue reading Jail terms for sharing or creating explicit images without consent

Students switch to AI to learn languages Christine Ro By Christine Ro Technology of Business reporter I tell my Argentinian pal that I’ve been using ChatGPT to practise my Spanish and, excitedly, I explain what it can do. It can correct my errors, I tell him, and it’s able to give me regional variations in… Continue reading Students switch to AI to learn languages

MOVEit hack: Gang claims not to have BBC, BA and Boots data By Joe Tidy Cyber correspondent Cyber criminals have told the BBC they do not have data belonging to large UK organisations thought to be victims of a mass hack. Firms including the BBC, British Airways and Boots have told staff that sensitive payroll… Continue reading MOVEit hack: Gang claims not to have BBC, BA and Boots data

Why Spotify’s big bet on Meghan Markle fell flat PA Media By Natalie Sherman Business reporter, New York When Spotify signed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex with an exclusive deal reportedly worth about $20m (£18m) in 2020, the royal couple were taking their first steps into the commercial world and podcasts were positively booming.… Continue reading Why Spotify’s big bet on Meghan Markle fell flat

Harry and Meghan: Spotify ends podcast deal with couple Reuters By Sean Seddon and David Willis BBC News, London and Los Angeles Spotify has ended its lucrative deal with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for the couple to produce podcasts. A joint statement from Harry and Meghan’s company and the streaming giant said they… Continue reading Harry and Meghan: Spotify ends podcast deal with couple

AI ‘godfather’ Prof Yan LeCun says it won’t take over the world META By Chris Vallance Technology reporter One of the three “godfathers of AI” has said it won’t take over the world or permanently destroy jobs. Prof Yann LeCun said some experts’ fears of AI posing a threat to humanity were “preposterously ridiculous”. Computers… Continue reading AI ‘godfather’ Prof Yan LeCun says it won’t take over the world

Microsoft-Activision: $69bn deal temporarily blocked in US A judge has granted a request by regulators in the US to temporarily block Microsoft’s $69bn (£56bn) purchase of Activision Blizzard. The court says the temporary restraining order “is necessary to maintain the status quo while the complaint is pending”. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says the… Continue reading Microsoft-Activision: $69bn deal temporarily blocked in US

US moves to block Microsoft’s Activision takeover Reuters By Michael Race Business reporter, BBC News Regulators in the US have asked a judge to block Microsoft from completing its $69bn (£56bn) purchase of Call of Duty publisher Activision Blizzard. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said the deal, which would be the largest in the… Continue reading US moves to block Microsoft’s Activision takeover