Tech Digest daily roundup: Meta to launch ‘Twitter-Killer’ app, Threads
Facebook owner Meta is launching its new app to rival Twitter and says it will go live on Thursday. The app, which is called Threads and is available for pre-order on the Apple App Store, will be linked to Instagram. Screengrabs show a dashboard that looks similar to Twitter. Meta describes Threads as a “text-based conversation app”. The move is the latest in a rivalry between Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter owner Elon Musk. Last month, the pair agreed to a physical fight, though it is unclear how serious the two men were about actually holding a bout. BBC
Twitter users will soon need to be verified in order to use the online dashboard TweetDeck, the company announced on Monday. The popular and previously free tool allows users to organize the accounts they follow into different columns to easily monitor content. It has been popular with businesses and news organizations. The new policy will take effect in 30 days, the company said in a tweet, and could bring a revenue boost to Twitter, which has struggled to retain advertisers under Elon Musk’s ownership.
The US Air Force is gambling big on artificial intelligence (AI). The world’s leading air arm plans to acquire a thousand AI-controlled armed drones in the coming years. It’s betting that these “loyal wingman” drones will be nimbler and cheaper than traditional manned fighter jets. It’s a solid wager. A recent experiment proves why. In early 2019, the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) – the Pentagon’s fringe-science agency – recruited eight teams of coders to develop the first-ever dogfighting AI under the auspices of the AlphaDogfight project. Telegraph
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 was one of the best folding smartphones of 2022, and many are expecting Samsung to deliver yet another winner with its successor. The company is expected to unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 5 later this month, and multiple leaks over the past few weeks have already revealed quite a bit about it, including its key specifications. Now, new hands-on images have revealed a key design upgrade. Images posted on Twitter by tipster @AhmedQwaider888 (since deleted) seem to show that the new hinge will close almost completely flat when the phone is folded up. XDA Developers
Some of the country’s top universities will adapt their teaching and learning to incorporate the “ethical” use of artificial intelligence. A set of principles that will help universities take advantage of AI has been published by The Russell Group – which includes institutions such as Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol and Durham. Backed by the vice chancellors of the 24 Russell Group universities, the statement said it hopes to support the ethical and responsible use of tools such as ChatGPT, while making an effort to uphold academic integrity. Sky News
If you’re holding back on an EV purchase because of a lack of guidance on how and where to use it, Vauxhall thinks its new ‘Guide to Electric Vehicle Etiquette’ could be for you. The guide has been compiled in partnership with Debretts, most commonly known these days for its A-Z of Modern Manners and a Wedding Handbook which outline established protocol and form for those who like to make the right impression in posh social circles. Vauxhall says it produced the guide after its own research found that 90 per cent of drivers felt uncertain about using public chargers. AutoExpress
