Better than JPEG? Researcher discovers that Stable Diffusion can compress images
Lossy compression bypasses text-to-image portions of Stable Diffusion with interesting results. Enlarge / These jagged, colorful blocks are exactly what the concept of image compression looks like. (credit: Benj Edwards / Ars Technica).....»»
Latest Google layoffs hit the Flutter and Python groups
The groups supported developers both inside and outside of Google. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | Alexander Koerner) Another day, another round of Google layoffs. TechCrunch reports the company has axed people across d.....»»
EU probes Meta for killing tool that enables real-time election monitoring
EU probes Facebook/Instagram owner for possible Digital Services Act violations. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | Chesnot ) The European Commission today accused Meta of violating rules related to deceptive advertising, p.....»»
Account compromise of “unprecedented scale” uses everyday home devices
Credential-stuffing attack uses proxies to hide bad behavior. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images) Authentication service Okta is warning about the “unprecedented scale” of an ongoing campaign that routes fraudulent login.....»»
UK outlaws awful default passwords on connected devices
The law aims to prevent global-scale botnet attacks. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images) If you build a gadget that connects to the Internet and sell it in the United Kingdom, you can no longer make the default password "pass.....»»
FCC fines big three carriers $196M for selling users’ real-time location data
FCC finalizes $196M penalties for location-data sales revealed in 2018. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | SOPA Images ) The Federal Communications Commission today said it fined T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon $196 million "fo.....»»
Critics question tech-heavy lineup of new Homeland Security AI safety board
CEO-heavy board to tackle elusive AI safety concept and apply it to US infrastructure. Enlarge (credit: Benj Edwards | Getty Images) On Friday, the US Department of Homeland Security announced the formation of an Artific.....»»
People put greater trust in news that leads them to be more politically extreme, says study
People not only think political news is likelier to be true if it reinforces their ideological biases, but will tend to trust news more if it leads them to adopt more extreme (and even incorrect) beliefs, finds a new study by a UCL researcher......»»
iPhone 16: Here’s another look at the rumored size and camera bump changes
As we’ve highlighted in the past, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro will feature a few notable design changes. New images posted on social media this week may give us our best look yet at some of these updates, including the size changes for the iPho.....»»
First post: A history of online public messaging
From BBS to Facebook, here's how messaging platforms have changed over the years. Enlarge (credit: Aurich Lawson | Getty Images) People have been leaving public messages since the first artists painted hunting scenes on.....»»
Elon Musk loses at Supreme Court in case over “funding secured” tweets
Musk can't kill SEC settlement that requires pre-approval of tweets about Tesla. Enlarge / Elon Musk speaks at the Satellite Conference and Exhibition on March 9, 2020 in Washington, DC. (credit: Getty Images | Win McNamee ).....»»
Webb captures iconic Horsehead Nebula in unprecedented detail
The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope has captured the sharpest infrared images to date of one of the most distinctive objects in our skies, the Horsehead Nebula. These observations show a part of the iconic nebula in a whole new light, capturi.....»»
Hornets found to be primary pollinators of two Angelica species
Researcher Ko Mochizuki of the University of Tokyo discovered that two species in the genus Angelica are pollinated primarily by hornets. This overturns the conventional belief that Angelica species are "generalists," meaning that there is not one pr.....»»
TikTok owner has strong First Amendment case against US ban, professors say
Professor: US faces "uphill battle" justifying law against First Amendment suit. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | NurPhoto) TikTok owner ByteDance is preparing to sue the US government now that President Biden has signed.....»»
Hackers try to exploit WordPress plugin vulnerability that’s as severe as it gets
WP Automatic plugin patched, but release notes don't mention the critical fix. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images) Hackers are assailing websites using a prominent WordPress plugin with millions of attempts to exploit a high-.....»»
Court upholds New York law that says ISPs must offer $15 broadband
New York obtains significant win for states' ability to regulate broadband. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | Creativeye99) A federal appeals court today reversed a ruling that prevented New York from enforcing a law requi.....»»
Putting Microsoft’s cratering Xbox console sales in context
Why declining quarterly numbers might not be awful news for Microsoft's gaming business. Enlarge / Scale is important, especially when talking about relative console sales. (credit: Aurich Lawson | Getty Images) Yesterda.....»»
Apple finally pulls generative AI nude apps from the App Store
Apple has removed apps from the App Store that claimed to make nonconsensual nude imagery, a move that demonstrates Apple is now more willing to tackle the hazardous app category.App Store iconThe capabilities of generative AI to create images based.....»»
Apple pulls AI image apps from the App Store after learning they could generate nude images
Apple is cracking down on a category of AI image generation apps that “advertised the ability to create nonconsensual nude images.” According to a new report from 404 Media, Apple has removed multiple AI apps from the App Store that claimed they.....»»
Russia stands alone in vetoing UN resolution on nuclear weapons in space
"The United States assesses that Russia is developing a new satellite carrying a nuclear device." Enlarge / A meeting of the UN Security Council on April 14. (credit: Fatih Aktas/Anadolu via Getty Images) Russia vetoed a.....»»
Millions of IPs remain infected by USB worm years after its creators left it for dead
Ability of PlugX worm to live on presents a vexing dilemma: Delete it or leave it be. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images) A now-abandoned USB worm that backdoors connected devices has continued to self-replicate for years sin.....»»