Technology

The Nobel Prize Organization awarded the 2024 Nobel Prizes in chemistry and physics to researchers linked to Google, including Geoffrey Hinton for his work in machine learning and Demis Hassabis for decoding protein structures. Adobe launches a Content Authenticity app to verify human-made art, while Meta expands its AI chatbot to the U.K. and Brazil. Google introduces Imagen 3 for image generation, Zoom unveils a customizable AI Companion for business tasks, and Amazon introduces AI 'Shopping Guides' for over 100 product types. Full Article

Walmart's Bliss Trade in sale offers a wide range of discounts on tech gadgets, home essentials, outdoor gear, and toys, with sales running until Oct. 13. Notable deals include Apple MacBook Air, Beats Solo 3 headphones, Dyson V8 Absolute vacuum, and Greenworks leaf blower. The sale is available to all customers, regardless of Walmart Plus membership, and shoppers can still find extended deals after Amazon Prime Day. Full Article

According to slides from an MSI presentation published by HardwareLuxx, the new AMD chips may offer impressive multicore performance gains, with the eight-core 9000X3D outperforming a Ryzen 7 7900X3D by up to 28% in Cinebench R23. However, preliminary testing by MSI shows minimal gains of only 2% in Black Myth: Wukong and Shadow of the Tomb Raider, with X3D performance being nearly identical to the vanilla Ryzen 9000 series. The presentation, which also discussed Intel's new Core Ultra 200S chips under embargo until October 10th, raises questions about the leak source and the relevance of unreleased AMD chips in the...

The National Labor Relations Board has accused Apple of violating employees' rights to advocate for better working conditions, alleging that the company illegally fired an employee for using Slack to push for workplace changes and forced another worker to delete a social media post. The case was initiated by Janneke Parrish, a #AppleToo co-organizer who was terminated for sharing confidential information while advocating for permanent remote work and addressing discrimination issues at Apple. The NLRB aims to change Apple's policies, seek reimbursement for Parrish's financial losses, and hold the company accountable for terminating employees engaged in protected activities. Full Article

Governor Gavin Newsom of California signed a new law (AB 2426) requiring online digital storefronts to clarify whether customers own the content they purchase. Steam has already implemented changes to inform customers that they are purchasing a license for the product, not ownership. This means that if the content becomes unavailable, customers do not have the right to access it in perpetuity. Full Article

Elon Musk is deeply involved in the US election, with the Trump campaign reportedly contacting him to prevent the circulation of a hacked JD Vance dossier. Musk is currently in Pennsylvania, leading his brain trust to support the election efforts and may even personally engage in door-to-door campaigning. Full Article

Max Buondonno from ZDNet offers 11 ways to improve iPhone battery life, including turning off the always-on display, disabling haptic feedback while typing, and reducing notifications. Other tips include using Focus Modes to limit notifications, turning off nearby AirDrop sharing, and avoiding Live Activities. These adjustments can help maximize battery life without sacrificing essential features on your iPhone. Full Article

Quordle, a popular Wordle alternative, continues to thrive with nearly 1,000 games under its belt. Offering a genuine challenge, the game provides hints and answers for players seeking assistance. Today's game (#991) includes words like "ZEBRA" and "ANIME," presenting a tricky puzzle for participants to solve. Full Article

Wikipedia faces an editing crisis due to AI-generated nonsensical information flooding the site, leading to the creation of WikiProject AI Cleanup. The task force of volunteers, led by Ilyas Lebleu, is working to detect and remove false information inserted by generative AI, such as a fictional Ottoman fortress called "Amberlisihar." The issue highlights the dangers of allowing unrestricted access to platforms like Wikipedia, where bad actors can manipulate content for various reasons, including illicit gain or simply for the sake of mischief. Full Article

LG Prime Big Deal Days may be over, but Best Buy continues to offer discounts on the LG 48-inch OLED TV for just $750, showcasing top-tier image quality with rich contrasts and deep blacks. This TV features Dolby Vision, Filmmaker Mode, AI support, and a 120Hz mode, making it ideal for movie nights and gaming. With a 50% discount, this TV provides comparable image quality to high-end OLED sets at a fraction of the cost, making it a must-have deal before it expires. Full Article