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Twitter Rebrands to ‘X’ and AI Porn Generators Raise Ethical Dilemmas: Week in Tech News
Welcome to TechCrunch’s Week in Review, where we bring you the latest updates from the world of technology. In this edition, we’ll be covering Twitter’s rebranding to X, the ethical dilemmas raised by AI porn generators, and much more. So let’s dive right in.
Twitter’s Iconic Bird Logo Takes a Backseat:
In an unexpected move, Twitter has bid farewell to its iconic bird logo and embraced a new identity as X. The decision, announced by CEO Elon Musk, signifies the platform’s intention to shift its focus away from text-based tweets and prioritize audio, video, messaging, and payment and banking features. While the rebranding effort aims to evolve the platform, the execution has been a bit rocky. Some parts of the site still refer to Twitter, causing confusion among users.
Securing the @x Twitter Handle:
As part of the rebranding process, Twitter failed to secure the @x Twitter handle, which was already claimed by Gene X Hwang, the owner of Orange Photography. Twitter later took control of the handle without notifying or compensating Hwang, leading to criticism over the company’s handling of the situation.
AI Porn Generators and Ethical Dilemmas:
The quality of AI-generated porn continues to improve, raising concerns about the ethical implications surrounding its use. These AI models can create explicit content featuring realistic-looking individuals who never actually participated in the production. This raises complex questions about consent, privacy, and the potential for misuse. As the technology advances, society must grapple with the legal and moral considerations involved.
Hacking Alert: Call of Duty Infected by Malware:
The gaming community recently faced a security threat as hackers targeted the popular online game Call of Duty. The hackers unleashed a self-spreading malware worm within online lobbies, affecting players of the older version, Modern Warfare 2. In response, the game’s publisher, Activision, took the Steam version offline temporarily while investigating the issue.
Chinese Mobile Payments Go Global:
WeChat Pay and Alipay, the dominant mobile payment solutions in China, announced that foreign users can now link their international credit cards, such as Visa, Mastercard, and Discover, to make purchases within the country. Previously, using these payment methods required a local bank account, creating challenges for short-term visitors. This move aims to facilitate transactions for foreign travelers and enhance convenience in an increasingly cashless society.
Sam Altman’s Worldcoin Launches Eyeball-Scanning Project:
Sam Altman’s ambitious Worldcoin crypto startup has initiated the global rollout of its services. Their goal is to develop a reliable solution for distinguishing humans from AI entities online. Users can download the World App, which is the startup’s protocol-compatible wallet software. Additionally, they can visit an Orb, an eyeball-scanning verification device shaped like a helmet, to acquire a unique World ID that verifies their authenticity.
North Korean Hackers Exposed:
A recent intrusion at enterprise software company JumpCloud has been attributed to North Korean hackers. Mandiant, an organization assisting one of JumpCloud’s affected customers, has attributed the breach to hackers associated with North Korea’s Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB). This hacking unit primarily targets cryptocurrency companies and is known for stealing passwords from executives and security teams.
Waymo Pivots from Trucks to Ride-Hailing:
Waymo, a leading autonomous vehicle company, has shifted its focus from self-driving trucks to ride-hailing services. After six years of testing autonomous vehicle systems in Class 8 trucks, the company believes the greatest commercial opportunities lie in ride-hailing. Waymo’s decision reflects the potential it sees in applying its cutting-edge technology to the ride-hailing sector.
SEC Investigates Bolt Ex-CEO:
Ryan Breslow, co-founder of Bolt, an e-commerce software company, and the company itself, were subpoenaed last year by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The letter authored by a lawyer representing Bolt investors indicated that the SEC is investigating potential violations of federal securities laws in connection with statements made during Bolt’s fundraising activities in 2021.
Wrap-Up:
That’s all for this week’s recap of the top tech news stories. We covered Twitter’s rebranding to X, the ethical questions related to AI porn generators, the hacking of Call of Duty, and various other significant developments in the tech industry. Stay tuned for more exciting updates from the world of technology.
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