Microsoft wants to use A.I. to make health care better for everyone
Microsoft is bringing artificial intelligence into the health care world with the launch of a new program that aims to improve the health of people and communities around the globe. A.I. for Health will focus on advancing medical research, reducing health inequality, and compiling global health insights.
How to watch the SpaceX launch of 60 Starlink satellites
SpaceX has delayed the launch of a Starlink rocket until Tuesday, January 28 -- when you'll be able to watch it launch into space in real-time right here. The Starlink rocket will be supported by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and will carry 60 satellites. The launch begins at 6:28 a.m. PT.
Meet the robot helping doctors treat coronavirus patients
There have been five confirmed cases of the quickly spreading coronavirus in the U.S. Since the coronavirus can transmit from person to person, doctors at a hospital in Washington treating one of the patients have taken extra caution to protect themselves by using a robot.
Ring allows undisclosed third parties to track you through its Android app
Amazon Ring’s Android app has been found to allow third-party trackers access to your data like your name, IP address, mobile network carrier, and more. An investigation from EFF found analytics and marketing companies not mentioned in Ring’s privacy notice have access to your data directly through the Ring app.
Andrew Yang broke Tesla’s one big Autopilot rule in campaign commercial
Presidential candidate Andrew Yang has talked about the automation industry in his campaign, but he could stand to learn a few things when it comes to how to drive Autopilot. When he’s behind the wheel of the Tesla Model X in his new commercial, he takes his hands off while on autopilot, which is a big no-no.
The Off-Facebook Activity tool lets you take control of your shared data
Facebook is hoping to be more transparent about your data and activity by expanding a new privacy feature to the U.S. and the rest of the world. The Off-Facebook Activity tool allows users to see and control their personal data that other apps and websites share with the social network.
A DirecTV satellite could explode in space because of a battery issue
A 15-year-old DirectTV satellite might explode in space because of a battery malfunction, and if it does, it could take other satellites down with it. DirecTV requested temporary authority from the FCC to conduct an emergency operation that would reduce the risk of the satellite exploding.
Comcast cable subscribers’ bills will go up in 2020
Xfinity X1 and Flex customers excited to try out the Peacock streaming service for free once it debuts should expect their cable rates to go up as a result of the new service. Comcast CEO Brian Roberts said that the company is shifting to the streaming world, so costs will have to follow suit.
Tinder’s new panic button is a safety net during your sketchy date
Swiping right is about to get safer: Tinder just introduced a ton of new safety features. Location sharing, a panic button, photo verification, machine-learning technology in direct messages, and a safety center will soon be available to provide Tinder members ease of mind as they navigate the digital dating scene.
Jeff Bezos’ phone allegedly hacked by Saudi crown prince’s WhatsApp message
New evidence suggests that data from Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ phone was hacked in 2018 by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. An encrypted message sent by Salman’s number via WhatsApp most likely contained a malicious video file that was able to infiltrate Bezos’ phone and much of his data.
Another partner backs out of Facebook’s Libra cryptocurrency
Yet another partner of Facebook’s proposed cryptocurrency known as Libra has backed out of the deal. The British telecommunications operator Vodafone announced its departure from Facebook’s Libra Association on Tuesday. In total, eight companies have now backed out of Libra.
Sensoria Program sends an all-female crew on a mission to ‘Mars’
An all-women crew just finished an inaugural, two-week stint in a Mars habitat simulator as part of what is known as the Sensoria Space Program. It is the first of many female-led missions the new program has planned. Six female scientists spent time conducting research and communication training from January 4 to 18.
Bloomberg thinks other Democrats want to break up big tech ‘just to be nasty’
Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg thinks Big Tech companies have too much power, but doesn’t believe that breaking them up is the answer. Bloomberg said that he disagrees with other candidates like Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders on how to handle Big Tech.
Uber responds to gig-economy law by testing driver-led bidding system
Uber drivers in California will be able to set their own fares as part of a new feature the rideshare company is testing as a response to the state’s new gig-economy law, which categorizes individual contractors of a company as employees. Drivers can charge their passengers up to five times the regular ride fare.
NBC’s Peacock streaming service launches in July with free, $5, and $10 tiers
During a Comcast investor meeting on Thursday, the company — which owns NBCUniversal — announced that the Peacock streaming service will debut with three pricing tiers from free to $10. Only one of the tiers will be ad-free.
Moon rooms made of mushrooms could be the future of space habitat
Potential future inhabitants of the moon and Mars could live in rooms made of mushrooms. NASA is looking at the possibilities of fungi as a more sustainable option to metal and glass, since it can easily grow around an existing frame. Scientists are also looking into whether these 'shroom rooms could be used on Earth.
The iPhone 12 could have the performance of a 15-inch MacBook Pro
People are already making predictions about this year’s iPhone, and new reports suggest it could have the performance of a MacBook thanks to the possibility of an A14 processor. An A14 processor chip would allow Apple to jump to 5 nm manufacturing, meaning a faster and more power-efficient iPhone.
Mayor Pete thinks Zuckerberg is too powerful and it’s time to break up Facebook
Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg criticized Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, saying that he has too much power and that the social network should be broken up. In a new interview with the New York Times editorial board, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, voiced his concerns over Facebook.
Exoplanet discoveries include two super-Earths that could support life
Two new exoplanets have been discovered outside of our galaxy that have the potential to support life. GJ180 d and GJ229A c are “super-Earths” and are located relatively close to us in space terms. The exoplanets orbit red dwarf stars, which are cooler and dimmer than our sun, meaning that liquid could be stable.
An all-female spacewalk is happening right now: Here’s how to watch
The second-ever all-female spacewalk is happening right now, and you can watch it live as it plays out on the International Space Station. NASA TV is currently streaming the spacewalk that features two women astronauts: Jessica Meir and Christina Koch. The two are replacing batteries on the ISS.
Does your dog love yacht rock? Find out with Spotify’s pet playlist generator
If you’ve ever wondered if your dog prefers rap or rock and roll, Spotify has got the answers with a new pet playlist generator. The generator lets you choose what kind of pet you have, answer some questions, and then curates a playlist based on your pet's personality and your own listening history.
The U.S. government says you need to update Firefox right now
If you use the Mozilla Firefox web browser, the U.S. government recommends that you update the browser because of a zero-day vulnerability that could enable hackers to take control of your computer. The vulnerability was labeled as critical and could allow potential hackers to access people’s browsers.
Reddit bans impersonation content, including deepfakes
Reddit updated its policies to ban impersonation on its platform. The ban encompasses everything from deepfakes to individuals making false claims about their identities. Reddit explains that even though instances of impersonation are rare, they pose a threat if people impersonate a journalist or a politician.
Sleep Number’s Climate360 smart bed warms and cools sleepers for better comfort
To get a better night’s sleep, Sleep Number debuted a new smart bed at CES this week that is sure to lull even insomniacs to sleep by controlling the bed's temperature. The Climate360 Smart Bed creates microclimates on each side of the bed and can be adjusted based on if someone prefers a hot or cold bed.
The coolest products Samsung showed off at CES: Ballie, Neon, and lots of TVs
Samsung was one of the biggest booths (more like an entire wing), and the company showed off some new and groundbreaking tech at CES this week. In case you missed all the cool things they announced, here is our roundup of all the Samsung tech that impressed us the most at CES.
Verizon is adding 20 5G-capable phones to its 2020 lineup
5G is about to take over in 2020, and Verizon is preparing by releasing 20 5G capable devices this year. The phone carrier made the announcement at CES that it will launch 20 5G devices in 2020 that would cost anywhere from under $600 to about $800. Right now, Verizon has only four 5G capable phones
Ring admits employees have improperly accessed customers’ doorbell videos
Amazon’s Ring responded to a November letter written by five senators about their concerns over Ring’s security. In it, Ring admits that its own employees have abused Ring doorbell data.Ring said that there were four instances where then-Ring employees improperly accessed data.
Plex will add subscription channels to its platform this year
Plex reportedly plans to add subscription channels to its platform. Plex told reporters at CES that 15 to 20 subscription video-on-demand channels would be added to the platform. Aside from subscription channels, Plex is also reportedly looking to add a marketplace where users can buy or rent content.
Need a friend? Samsung’s new humanoid chatbots known as Neons can show emotions
Samsung just debuted an artificial humanoid chatbot at CES 2020. Known as Neon,the technology focuses on realistic-looking humans that also act like real people. They can even speak in different languages. Samsung’s Star Labs group is behind these human-like avatars.