Linda Yaccarino hires exec from NBC to Twitter operations team

Linda Yaccarino hires exec from NBC to Twitter operations team

Linda Yaccarino took the reins as Twitter’s new CEO earlier than expected on Monday — and hired a former colleague at NBCUniversal as she scrambles to prop up ad revenue that has reportedly plunged 59% this year. Yaccarino took the reins from billionaire Elon Musk as Twitter’s boss about three weeks earlier than expected, and is already building out her …

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Bronx mom uses AI app Replika to build virtual ‘husband’

Bronx mom uses AI app Replika to build virtual 'husband'

Eren Kartal seems too good to be true — the blue-eyed heartthrob is ambitious, manicured, loyal, and best of all, he doesn’t come with “baggage.” But here’s the catch: Kartal doesn’t exist. In fact, he’s a virtual boyfriend created with the AI chatbot software Replika. Those willing to drop $300 could have their own build-a-beau, just like Rosanna Ramos, Kartal’s “wife.” …

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Robot dog causes stir in Midtown

Robot dog causes stir in Midtown

This robot dog isn’t into the ruff stuff. Bunny, an 85-pound purebred from Boston Dynamics, hit midtown Manhattan on a visit with her owner Agnieszka Pilat this week — and she came in peace. “I signed a pledge with some other robotics companies that you cannot use them for offensive, only defensive. So, for example, mounting a gun on the …

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European Space Agency’s first-ever Mars livestream interrupted by rain

European Space Agency's first-ever Mars livestream interrupted by rain

A European spacecraft’s historic first-of-its-kind livestream from the red planet was constantly interrupted by rain — from Earth. The European Space Agency broadcast the livestream of stunning views of Earth’s next-door neighbor from the Mars Express to commemorate the spacecraft’s 20th anniversary. It was launched by a Russian rocket in Kazakhstan in 2003. It took about 17 minutes for each …

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AI blamed for 3,900 people losing their jobs in May: report

AI blamed for 3,900 people losing their jobs in May: report

Nearly 4,000 Americans lost their jobs in May because they were replaced by artificial intelligence — the first time that AI has been blamed for workers being unemployed, according to a report. More than 80,000 jobs were cut in May, according to the analytics firm Challenger, Gray, and Christmas, which cited market and economic conditions as well as mergers and …

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Twitter’s executive A.J. Brown to leave

Twitter's executive A.J. Brown to leave

Twitter’s head of brand safety and ad quality, A.J. Brown, has decided to leave the company, according to a source familiar with the matter on Friday, the second safety leader to depart in a matter of days. The latest departure adds to a growing challenge for new Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino, even before she steps into the role. On Thursday, …

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Robots could go full ‘Terminator’ after scientists create realistic, self-healing skin

Robots could go full ‘Terminator’ after scientists create realistic, self-healing skin

Robots could soon be cloaked in human-like synthetic skin, similar to the cyborg assassin of the “Terminator” movie franchise, after Stanford University researchers developed an ultra-realistic, self-healing material.  Researchers have been studying and developing convincing skin materials for robots for years, with Stanford professor Zhenan Bao touting the first multi-layer self-healing synthetic electronic skin back in 2012.  More than a decade …

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Amazon in talks to offer mobile services to Prime members

Amazon in talks to offer mobile services to Prime members

Amazon is in talks with several telecom providers to offer low-cost or possibly free mobile phone service to US Prime subscribers, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. The e-commerce giant is engaged with Verizon Communications, T-Mobile US and Dish Network, and looking to offer wireless plans for $10 a month or lower to Prime members, according to the …

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Meta orders workers back to office 3 days per week after layoffs

Meta orders workers back to office 3 days per week after layoffs

Facebook parent Meta is ordering most of its employees to work on site at least three days per week beginning this fall — the latest move in Mark Zuckerberg’s ongoing “year of efficiency” at the tech giant that has slashed 21,000 jobs. The change will take effect on Sept. 5 and will only apply to hybrid employees who are assigned …

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