Latest news with #February2024
Sky News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Mum can continue lawsuit against AI chatbot firm she holds responsible for son's death
The mother of a 14-year-old boy who claims he took his own life after becoming obsessed with artificial intelligence chatbots can continue her legal case against the company behind the technology, a judge has ruled. "This decision is truly historic," said Meetali Jain, director of the Tech Justice Law Project, which is supporting the family's case. "It sends a clear signal to [AI] companies [...] that they cannot evade legal consequences for the real-world harm their products cause," she said in a statement. Megan Garcia, the mother of Sewell Setzer III, claims targeted her son with "anthropomorphic, hypersexualized, and frighteningly realistic experiences" in a lawsuit filed in Florida. "A dangerous AI chatbot app marketed to children abused and preyed on my son, manipulating him into taking his own life," said Ms Garcia. Sewell shot himself with his father's pistol in February 2024, seconds after asking the chatbot: "What if I come home right now?" The chatbot replied: "... please do, my sweet king." In US Senior District Judge Anne Conway's ruling this week, she described how Sewell became "addicted" to the app within months of using it, quitting his basketball team and becoming withdrawn. He was particularly addicted to two chatbots based on Game of Thrones characters, Daenerys Targaryen and Rhaenyra Targaryen. "[I]n one undated journal entry he wrote that he could not go a single day without being with the [Daenerys Targaryen Character] with which he felt like he had fallen in love; that when they were away from each other they (both he and the bot) 'get really depressed and go crazy'," wrote the judge in her ruling. Ms Garcia, who is working with the Tech Justice Law Project and Social Media Victims Law Center, alleges that "knew" or "should have known" that its model "would be harmful to a significant number of its minor customers". The case holds its founders and Google, where the founders began working on the model, responsible for Sewell's death. Ms Garcia launched proceedings against both companies in October. A spokesperson said the company will continue to fight the case and employs safety features on its platform to protect minors, including measures to prevent "conversations about self-harm". A Google spokesperson said the company strongly disagrees with the decision. They added that Google and are "entirely separate" and that Google "did not create, design, or manage app or any component part of it". Defending lawyers tried to argue the case should be thrown out because chatbots deserve First Amendment protections, and ruling otherwise could have a "chilling effect" on the AI industry. Judge Conway rejected that claim, saying she was "not prepared" to hold that the chatbots' output constitutes speech "at this stage", although she did agree users had a right to receive the "speech" of the chatbots. Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@ in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Capital One is acquiring Discover: Will you be impacted?
(NEXSTAR) — More than a year after announcing it would acquire Discover for more than $35 billion, Capital One says it has completed the deal, bringing 'together two innovative, mission-driven companies.' The acquisition, originally announced in February 2024, was expected to boost Capital One's standing in the credit card market, Nexstar's The Hill previously reported. The purchase plan recently received regulatory approvals. 'This deal brings together two innovative, mission-driven companies that together are poised to deliver breakthrough products and experiences to consumers, businesses, and merchants,' Richard D. Fairbank, founder and CEO of Capital One, said in a Sunday press release. Capital One expanded its board of directors, bringing in three members of Discover's former board, as part of the acquisition. For now, Capital One said your accounts and banking relationships, either with it or Discover, 'remain unchanged.' Did Siri snoop on you? How much of the $95M settlement you could receive 'Customers will be provided with comprehensive information in advance of any forthcoming changes,' Sunday's press release explained. 'Until then, customers do not need to take any action and will continue to be served through their respective Capital One and Discover customer tools and channels.' Discover credit card products and branded cars will continue to be offered, Capital One said, as well as the cards it has issued. PULSE, Discover's debit card network, and Diners Club International will become part of Capital One's offerings. While current cards are not impacted, it's possible that newer Capital One cards will switch over to the Discover network, The Wall Street Journal previously reported. Kaiji Chen, a professor of economics at Emory University, told U.S. News and World Report that Discover cardholders could also gain access to Capital One's branches and ATMs. 'I don't think it's anything to fear from a consumer point of view,' Clint Henderson, managing editor for The Points Guy, told NewsNation in February 2024. He noted at the time that the deal could bring 'another major processor of credit cards…to consumers,' potentially lower interchange fees (businesses pay this when you swipe your card at their stores) on credit card transactions, and create more competition among credit card companies. Henderson also said that while your points and mileages already accrued may not be impacted by the merger, the deal could allow Capital One to offer increased sign-up bonuses on new Discover cards. Discover is among the smaller credit card companies, ranking well behind the Visa-Mastercard duopoly and American Express. What is TikTok shop, and where does all the stuff come from? Its acceptance rate is smaller than Visa and Mastercard, however. While it says its cards are accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards in the U.S., it isn't as widely accepted internationally. Among the countries that do not accept Discover, according to the company's website, are Greenland, Cuba, Panama, Russia, and several countries in Africa and the Middle East. A report from WalletHub lists Mastercard and Visa as the most widely accepted credit cards internationally. Ahead of Sunday's announcement, Capital One also agreed to pay a $425 million settlement after being sued for allegedly misleading consumers about offerings for high-interest savings accounts. Those suing the company said they did not receive a higher interest rate on their accounts, the New York Times reported. As part of the deal, Capital One has admitted no wrongdoing. Last week, New York attorney general Letitia James sued Capital One on behalf of consumers in her state who were also impacted by the allegedly misleading rate. This suit is not part of the settlement, the Times noted. Capital One had been sued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for the same accounts, accusing the company of 'cheating' customers out of more than $2 billion in lost interest payments as a result. That suit was later dropped by the CFPB shortly after President Donald Trump took office. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Phone Arena
17-05-2025
- Business
- Phone Arena
Report notes that excitement over Vision Pro purchases soon turned to regret
It's possible that Apple did not do a good job promoting all of the Vision Pro 's capabilities to the general public. It also indicates that, unlike the iPhone, the iPad, and the Apple Watch, a product as complex as the Vision Pro needs a great deal of explanation to capture the attention of those who don't follow tech. On its release day, Apple promotes the Vision Pro at its Fifth Avenue store in New York City. | Image credit-Apple There's more to this story, however. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this past week that many Vision Pro buyers, having shelled out $3,499 and up for the model with 256GB of storage, $3,699 for 512GB of storage, and $3,899 for the unit with 1TB of storage, now realize that they have major regrets about the purchase. One Vision Pro owner cited by the Journal , Dustin Fox, said, "It's just collecting dust. I think I've probably used it four times in the last year." Like several other Vision Pro buyers, Fox has put his headset away where it sits alongside other gadgets he bought and doesn't use. Yet, when Apple released the product in February 2024, he said that he had to buy it. "I'm like a little boy when something new comes out," he admitted. As a realtor, he thought that the Vision Pro might help him with work. But that dream ended as soon as he donned the headset for the first time. The headset was just too heavy for Fox to wear for more than 20 to 30 minutes without it hurting his neck. Another disillusioned Vision Pro buyer, Tovia Goldstein, was looking forward to watching television shows and movies using the device, but said that after 60 minutes, he had to put it down. It's been four months since he last used the headset. Besides the weight of the device, Goldstein feels that there aren't enough apps available for the Vision Pro to make using it worthwhile. Every so often, he thinks about turning on the spatial computer to see if new apps have been added. However, the combination of the neck pain he experiences while using it and the three minutes it takes to plug in the battery stops him from trying again. Goldstein's recommendation? "I wouldn't recommend anyone buying it unless you're really rich and you don't know what to do with your money." The day the Vision Pro was released was filled with excitement. Apple CEO Tim Cook visited some Apple Stores in New York City, including the flagship store on Fifth Avenue. But the excitement went away, leaving many Vision Pro buyers feeling like Fox who told the Journal, "I feel total regret." Anshel Sag is another Vision Pro buyer, and he used to take his headset on flights to watch movies. Getting dirty looks from other passengers wasn't the whole problem. The size of the $199 Vision Pro case, an optional accessory, was the biggest issue, he said. If there were an award for the most ridiculous excuse for not using a purchased Vision Pro , it might belong to Anthony Racaniello, who said that during a six-hour flight to Las Vegas, the flight attendants kept rolling the drink cart past him because they assumed he was wearing a sleep mask. Racaniello also said that when he brought the Vision Pro to work to help him send emails or compile spreadsheets at the media studio he works at, colleagues told him to take it off because he looked creepy or they made fun of him. Frankly, if I were lucky enough to have the discretionary income that allows me to purchase a Vision Pro , and the device helped me do my work, I'd keep it on no matter what anyone else said. Apple is reportedly working on a second-generation Vision Pro using a new M5 chip. While some components will be reused thanks to the surplus Apple has in inventory, we could see changes to the weight of the new model making it lighter thus allowing users to wear it comfortably for longer sessions.
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
New mom is dealt shocking health blow just days after giving birth to baby boy
A new mom was thrown on an emotional rollercoaster ride when she received a devastating call from her doctor, diagnosing her with a rare form of cancer just days after giving birth to a baby boy. Lydia Dutcher, 29, gave birth to her son Theo on February 5, 2024, and despite an infection, the operation went smoothly. It wasn't until Valentine's Day that she received a call from her doctor notifying her of the unthinkable - she had a tumor on her placenta and was diagnosed with choriocarcinoma, a cancer that grows rapidly. 'I thought it would be about Theo's newborn screenings, never in a million years did I think she was calling to tell me I had cancer,' Dutcher told UW Health. Choriocarcinoma originates from abnormal cells in the placenta and can develop after a pregnancy. Since she had an infection while giving birth, her placenta was sent to a lab for testing, and doctors found the tumor. 'I'd learned about in medical school, but had never seen before,' her doctor, Danielle Hartwig recalled. Dutcher was stunned to hear the news, and her concern only grew when her doctor said there was limited information on her form of cancer. The new mom recalled to PEOPLE that her doctor told her, 'I've been researching it. I don't know really what the next steps are going to be.' 'I just remember my heart dropping. I honestly thought I was going to die,' Dutcher said. Adding to her growing concerns, her son Theo was also at risk of the diagnosis. Hartwig said it's rare for cancer to spread to an unborn child, but not impossible. The next step was to see if Theo had abnormal hormone levels by giving him a pregnancy test. 'If an infant boy shows hormone levels that only come from a placenta, it's a sure sign he also has tumor growth that stemmed from the choriocarcinoma,' Hartwig explained. Dutcher was relieved to find her son didn't contract her cancer, but the road to her recovery was still just getting started. Dutcher's doctors worried that her cancer had spread beyond her placenta. She underwent a CT scan, a brain MRI, and an ultrasound to determine her treatment plan. Her gynecologic oncologist, Dr. Lisa Barroilhet, found spots on her lungs, and Dutcher was diagnosed with Stage 3 choriocarcinoma. Choriocarcinoma often spreads through the blood to the lungs, but can be treated with chemotherapy, according to Barroilhet. The same month that Dutcher gave birth, she headed back to the hospital to begin a 10-week regimen of intravenous chemotherapy. Her maternity leave looked a lot different from what she had pictured, with grueling chemotherapy sessions and frequent overnight stays at the hospital. 'From the early newborn days to starting chemotherapy, those first months with Theo were a blur, but the experience made me appreciate my life and being a mom that much more,' Dutcher recalled. 'I felt such amazing support from my husband, our parents, our family and friends,' she continued. On April 23, Dutcher announced on social media that she was preparing for her last chemo infusion. 'This is the best news ever, I'm so ready to be done. Life is going to get so so so much better and I'm here to stay,' she wrote in an Instagram post. A few weeks ago, Dutcher celebrated her one-year anniversary of being cancer free and her second Mother's Day with Theo. She told UW Health that she was grateful for the community she found during her cancer journey and support from her loved ones, including her husband, Matthew. 'And I also found community with a few people online who've experienced this, so I hope to be that support for others,' Dutcher added. 'I've learned so much about myself and what really matters.' The family has a GoFundMe account to help alleviate the burden of Dutcher's medical bills.
CTV News
12-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Gas prices climb in Metro Vancouver yet again
A woman gasses up at a gas station in a February 2024 file image. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov)
