European Union residents will have a new place to turn to settle disputes with Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. A new Appeals Centre, certified by Irish regulators, will soon begin accepting complaints about content moderation decisions.
The concept is similar to Metas Oversight Board, which weighs in on content moderation decisions across Facebook, Instagram and Threads. Meta has long suggested that other social media companies should use its Oversight Board, though theres been little incentive for them to do so. Europes Digital Services Act (DSA) changed that calculation somewhat, as it enabled the creation of Out-of-Court Dispute Settlement (ODS) bodies that have the ability to help resolve user complaints.
And while the Appeals Centre is a separate entity, there are some notable links between the two organizations. The new Appeals Centre will be led by Thomas Hughes, who was previously the CEO of the Oversight Board Administration. The Oversight Board Trust, which oversees the board's budget, also helped fund the new Appeals Centre with a one-time grant, according to a statement from its chair of trustees, Stephen Neal. And, the first non-executive trustees of the Appeals Centre are also trustees on the Oversight Board.
The Appeals Centre says it expects to be up and running in late 2024, at which time individuals and organizations will be able to request appeals through its website. Users wishing to appeal a moderation decision from Facebook, YouTube or TikTok will be required to pay a nominal fee that will be refunded if the group rules in their favor, according to information posted on its website.
However, its not clear exactly how this process will work or how many cases the group will be able to take on. Metas Oversight Board, which has been up and running for years, received nearly 400,000 appeals and issued just 53 decisions in 2023. The Appeals Centre may also end up being less influential than the Oversight Board. A press release from Ireland's media regulator notes that the decisions of ODS bodies are not binding. Still, it could increase the visibility of the kinds of content moderation issues that often frustrate users and give some hope that their situation may be reconsidered.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/eu-residents-will-have-a-new-way-to-dispute-content-moderation-decisions-by-facebook-youtube-and-tiktok-190221606.html?src=rss
Hearst has become the latest major US publisher to sign an agreement to license its content to ChatGPT creator OpenAI. As part of a partnership announced on Tuesday, content from more than 60 Hearst-owned publications will appear in ChatGPT and other OpenAI products. Some of the publishers more notable properties include Esquire, Cosmopolitan and Elle. It also owns newspapers like the San Francisco Chronicle. When Hearst content appears in ChatGPT, the software will provide citations and direct links.
The organizations did not disclose the financial terms of the agreement. Unlike the partnership OpenAI signed with Dotdash Meredith in May, its deal with Hearst doesnt appear to include a plan for the two firms to collaborate on ad tech.
As generative AI matures, its critical that journalism created by professional journalists be at the heart of all AI products, said Jeff Johnson, president of Hearsts Newspapers unit. This agreement allows the trustworthy and curated content created by Hearst Newspapers award-winning journalists to be part of OpenAIs products like ChatGPT creating more timely and relevant results.
The announcement comes less than a week after news broke that OpenAI had recently raised a record-breaking $6.6 billion in new venture capital funding. Since the start of 2024, OpenAI has signed licensing agreements with The Financial Times and Condé Nast, the owner of publications like Vogue, The New Yorker and Wired. At the same time, not every publisher has been so keen to work with the AI giant. At the end of last year, The New York Times sued OpenAI, with Alden Capital Group, the owner of publications like The Chicago Tribune and New York Daily News, later launching a suit of its own.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-partners-with-cosmopolitan-and-elle-publisher-hearst-180517248.html?src=rss
Roli is no stranger to quirky musical instruments. After all, it pioneered the idea of a squishy MIDI controller. The companys latest tool, however, could be its weirdest. The Roli Airwave is an AI-infused piano teaching gadget that also doubles as a digital theremin. Yes, the same high-pitched theremin that has appeared on hit records like The Beach Boys Good Vibrations and Erykah Badus Incense.
The Airwave is basically a tall stand with a camera on top. This camera points downward to track the players finger movements on a connected MIDI keyboard. Movements are tracked in real time and beamed to a tablet, which then displays visuals to teach users how to correctly play a song and fix any mistakes they are making. It'll even try to fix bad playing posture.
The Airwave uses machine intelligence and computer vision to track the players hands and to offer its advice on where those hands should be placed. Theres some machine learning baked into this system when analyzing live footage to come up with accurate teaching methods.
The affiliated app also integrates with ChatGPT, allowing for natural language queries. For instance, users can ask relevant questions about the song being learned or general-use queries about music theory. Being as how a players hands would be occupied when in the midst of a piano tutorial, these questions can be asked by voice instead of by typing into a virtual keyboard. This wont beat interacting with a real piano tutor, but itll likely be easier than hunting for a needle in the YouTube video haystack.
Basically, 100 percent of your time when you practice, you're going to practice correctly now, Rolis CEO, Roland Lamb, told Wired. So you'll be developing good habits over time.
The Airwave isnt just for students. The device is also being marketed as an outlet for experimental music-making. There are five inputs that adjust various parameters via hand movements. This means that players can use one to radically change the sound of the instrument being played.
With the simple raise of their hands, creators can transform a piano into a full orchestra, just as a conductor would, or morph mellow synth pads into searing leads with a tilt of a wrist, Roli wrote in a press release.
Now onto the caveats, and there are a few. This is nifty tech, of that theres no doubt. However, theres a significant barrier of entry. First of all, the Airwave itself will cost $300 when it releases in February. The device cannot be used on its own. It requires a pre-existing Roli keyboard, like the $1,400 Seaboard Rise 2 or the much cheaper Lumi (now called the Piano M.) Also, to access the teaching tools, users will need to bring in their own tablet. There are apps for both Android and Apple devices, but only newer iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab models will be supported.
Finally, budding piano players will also have to fork out $15 a month to access the Roli Learn music education subscription service. If moneys no object, this looks like a fairly novel way to learn the piano.
Roli says the Airwave is just the first release in what its calling its Music Intelligence (MI) platform. The company writes that the Roli MI platform will be the foundation of a roadmap of future intelligent products, starting with Airwave. Preorders for the Airwave are available right now.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/music/the-roli-airwave-is-a-high-tech-keyboard-teaching-tool-inspired-by-the-theremin-172342147.html?src=rss
Its Prime Day again, and Amazon has the Sonos Era 100 speaker, the critically acclaimed successor to the Sonos One, on sale for $50 off. The deal could be worth a look if youre eyeing a terrific-sounding home speaker or want to expand your existing Sonos setup. Usually, it is $249, but you can order the Sonos Era 100 today for only $199. If home theater is your priority, you can also save up to $110 on the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) or Ray soundbar.
The Sonos Era 100, which only arrived last year, sounds better than its successor and has more convenient controls and easier TruePlay tuning. The latter automatically adjusts its sound based on your rooms acoustics. Previously requiring a phone (and iPhone only, leaving out Android users), the feature now uses the speakers built-in mics for Quick Tuning. (iOS device owners can optionally still use the more advanced TruePlay tuning for a more thorough setup.)
The speaker is surprisingly loud and has more potent bass than the Sonos One lineup it replaced. It has two tweeters for better high-end output. Engadgets Nathan Ingraham found the speakers sound quality to surpass that of the One, offering a full-bodied listening experience.
You can optionally buy two (or a second while on sale if you already own one) for a stereo pair. Use the Sonos app (which has had problems lately, but the company is working to improve it) to link your two speakers, providing a richer listening experience with stereo separation. It also supports Amazon Alexa and Sonos assistant for voice control. If you have a Sonos soundbar, you can set it up as a rear speaker for surround sound while watching TV or movies.
Speaking of soundbars, Amazon Prime Day also has a couple of those on sale, too. The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) soundbar, typically $499, is available for $399. The speaker has a compact design and enhanced sound quality with Dolby Atmos support. The Sonos Ray, the companys entry-level soundbar, is on sale for $110 off. An upgrade over your TVs built-in speakers, the solid speaker is good for TVs in smaller spaces. You can get the Sonos Ray for $169 (typically $279).
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.This article originally appeared on Engadge at https://www.engadget.com/sonos-speakers-and-soundbars-are-up-to-20-percent-off-for-prime-day-162830423.html?src=rss
Prime Day is here and we've been busy rounding up the best deals we can find. There's an iPad offer in particular that matches one we've seen before, but it's definitely worth highlighting. The 9th-gen iPad has dropped back down to $199, which matches a record low. That's 40 percent off the regular price of $329.
Let's be very clear: this iPad is quite old at this point. Apple released it in 2021 and the company has since rolled out another base iPad, along with several mini, Pro and Air models. If you're looking for a more recent model that Apple will support for longer, you can check out our guide on how to pick the best iPad for you. This sale feels very much like a case of trying to clear out old stock, but there are plenty of valid reasons to opt for the 9th-gen iPad instead of a more powerful model.
We gave the 9th-gen iPad a score of 81 in our review, due to its solid camera, performance and base storage (64GB) upgrades and the solid battery life. It lasted for 14 hours on a single charge during our initial video-streaming tests. It even has a headphone jack, which is a definite plus point.
The tablet will certainly do the trick if all you really need is a tablet to catch up on reading, browse the web, handle some emails and watch videos more so if you're already in the Apple ecosystem. You'll be able to doodle on this iPad with the original Apple Pencil, but this model is not best suited for professional-level design work or productivity.
Apple tends to support iPads for at least five years in terms of iPadOS updates, so it's likely (but not a sure thing) that you'll be able to install up to iPadOS 20 on this thing. As such, you should be able to stream video via the likes of Netflix to this tablet for several years to come.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-9th-gen-ipad-returns-to-an-all-time-low-of-199-for-prime-day-155016921.html?src=rss
Google is making it easier for drivers to find and reserve parking. Starting today, its possible to access SpotHero, a service that allows people to book parking spaces online, directly through Google Maps and Search.
The next time you use either app to find parking, a Book Online button will appear if the lot you find is available to reserve through SpotHero. Tap the button and Google will send you to SpotHeros website, where you can pay for a spot over a secure connection. The entire process is handled through Maps or Search, with no bouncing between the app of your choice and a browser.
No surprise, its also possible to book parking spots ahead of time, with SpotHero offering the option to filter by date and time. You can also search for facilities that offer EV charging, wheelchair accessibility and more. Google has been testing SpotHero integration with select users since April, with today marking the first time the feature is available to everyone.
However, even with the expansion, you may not see the feature in your area. According to SpotHero, its possible to use its service to book 8,000 spots in 300 cities across the US and Canada. Some of the more notable locations where its possible to use SpotHero to secure parking include Madison Square Garden and the SAP Center.
As TechCrunch notes, SpotHero has been finding its way into more high-profile platforms as of late. Lyft has offered SpotHero integration since 2022, for instance. More recently, SpotHero made its way to Apple Maps. As for Google, todays announcement represents the latest effort by the search giant to keep Maps and Search relevant in two increasingly competitive markets.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/google-maps-now-lets-you-reserve-a-parking-spot-inside-the-app-154846343.html?src=rss
LittleBigPlanet 3 has been around for a long time. The beloved game was released in November 2014 for both the PS3 and PS4. But after just about a decade, gamers wont be able to purchase it and its DLC after October 31 because Sony will delist it.
To be clear, the game and DLC wont be available for purchase anymore after the end of the month, but you can still keep your copies and enjoy them. Sadly, ever since the PS4 servers were shut down back in April this year, fan-created levels that werent already saved locally aren't available to download and play anymore. At this point, youre limited to the base game something worth playing, but much of the games charm came from all its user-generated content.
Sony didnt say why it is delisting LittleBigPlanet 3, but its possible that the games music licenses are expiring after 10 years. No matter the reason, its best to grab a copy of the game if you want to enjoy your adventures with Sackboy.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/sony-will-delist-littlebigplanet-3-and-its-dlc-on-october-31-154650421.html?src=rss
Fourteen states have just filed lawsuits against TikTok that claim the social media platform damages the mental health of young users and collects their data without consent. Each lawsuit was filed individually. The suits, which are led by the attorneys general of New York and California, say the platform violated the law by falsely claiming its platform is safe for young people.
The lawsuits spotlight what the plaintiffs call addictive features. These include the kinds of things present with many modern social media apps, like 24/7 notifications and autoplay videos. However, the lawsuit also focuses on dangerous TikTok challenges. There have been plenty of these, from challenges that task people with taking an excessive amount of Benadryl to messing with an electrical outlet.
Young people are struggling with their mental health because of addictive social media platforms like TikTok, New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement. TikTok claims that their platform is safe for young people, but that is far from true.
Its worth noting that the aforementioned challenges were issued by other TikTok users, and not by the platform itself. However, the suits do attempt to illustrate TikTok's underlying business model, which is accused of maximizing young users times on the platform so the company can boost revenue from selling targeted ads.
The various lawsuits even suggest that TikTok allows for the sexual exploitation of its younger users, via a proprietary currency and a live streaming component. The TikTok Live platform is technically only for adults, but one of the suits alleges "lax age verification measures incentivize US minors to lie about their age to gain access."
Once live, users can receive currency from viewers. The suit suggests that this practice enables other serious harms to minors including sexual exploitation" and that "TikTok is fully aware that these features combine to create an environment where children are often sexually exploited by users but has chosen to turn a blind eye in favor of increasing its profitability."
The suits also accuse TikTok and parent company ByteDance of collecting the data of young users without consent. This is not a new complaint, as the Department of Justice filed a suit back in August that charged TikTok of collecting the personal information of children on the platform and failing to comply with requests for that data to be deleted. Texas also recently sued the platform for violating child privacy laws.
Todays suits seek to impose financial penalties on the platform, including the disgorgement of all profits resulting from the fraudulent and illegal practices, and to collect damages for users that have been harmed.
Our statement on today's Attorneys General lawsuits: "We strongly disagree with these claims, many of which we believe to be inaccurate and misleading. We're proud of and remain deeply committed to the work we've done to protect teens and we will continue to update and improve TikTok Policy (@TikTokPolicy) October 8, 2024
TikTok has responded to the suits, saying "we strongly disagree with these claims." The platform went on to call the claims "inaccurate and misleading." It listed all of the various "robust safeguards" it has put in place to protect kids, including "default screentime limits, family pairing, and privacy by default for minors under 16."
This is all happening as parent company ByteDance faces a decision to either sell TikTok to a non-Chinese buyer or experience a nationwide ban. The current deadline for this decision is January 17, but the companys lawyers recently argued that the terms of this law were unconstitutional.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/more-than-a-dozen-states-sue-tiktok-alleging-that-its-designed-to-addict-kids-151242893.html?src=rss
Fourteen years after it debuted on PS3 and Xbox 360, and endless rumors later, Red Dead Redemption is finally coming to PC. It will hit the Rockstar Store, Steam and the Epic Games Store on October 29 with the Undead Nightmare standalone expansion included.
Developer Double Eleven helped Rockstar with the port, which has many of the bells and whistles you'd come to expect from a PC version of a classic. Rockstar says RDR will run at up to 144Hz (no unlocked framerates, sadly) in a native 4K resolution if you have capable hardware. There's support for HDR 10 along with Ultrawide (21:9) and Super Ultrawide (32:9) monitors. You'll be able to play with a keyboard and mouse too.
Upscaling tech in the form of NVIDIA DLSS 3.7 and AMD FSR 3 is supported. So too are NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation, adjustable draw distances, shadow quality settings and other things that would sound like newfangled gobbledygook to John Marston.
Rockstar brought RDR to PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch last year, but it's the PC version that many folks have long been waiting for. I can't wait to see what modders do with this one.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/red-dead-redemption-finally-comes-to-pc-14-years-after-its-original-release-141709270.html?src=rss
As TikTok faces the possibility of a ban in the United States, a new study sheds light on the type of accounts US adults follow on the platform. According to the report, published by Pew Research, political content and news are only a small fraction of the accounts US adults follow in the app.
The report is based on an analysis of 227,946 accounts followed by 664 TikTok users who participated in the study. Of those accounts, less than one percent were politicians, civic actors or traditional media outlets and journalists, Pew found, noting that the typical U.S. adult on TikTok follows no accounts in each of these categories.
Instead, people were more likely to follow accounts that posted about entertainment and pop culture, humor and viral dance clips. To the extent Americans followed accounts discuss politics, it tends to be mixed with other topics, Pew writes. Some 43% of all followed accounts that discussed politics or current events during the study period also discussed entertainment and pop culture.
Pew Research Center
The content of users' following feeds doesn't offer a complete picture of what people see on TikTok. The app defaults to the algorithmic for you feed, which is made up mainly of recommendations. And even though most users may not choose to follow explicitly political accounts, previous research from Pew found that 45 percent of US TikTok users report seeing at least some content about politics or political issues in the app.
The question of what US users see on TikTok has been more closely scrutinized over the last year. Some lawmakers stepped up calls for a ban of the app last fall after TikTok critics used hashtag data to suggest that the app was disproportionately recommending pro-Palestinian content. The company said such takes were the result of unsound analysis. TikTok stopped showing view counts for specific hashtags earlier this year.
While Pews report doesnt touch on TikToks algorithmic recommendations, the authors note that follows are an important signal for the app. User interactions with posts from the accounts they follow play a nontrivial role in shaping their For You page, the report says. And studying these followed accounts can give us a better understanding on the content that users actively choose to look for on the platform.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/most-us-tiktok-users-arent-following-political-accounts-study-says-140053492.html?src=rss
